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September is one of my favorite transitional months at the farmers’ market, when there is plenty to stir the senses. The rainbow of colorful produce; the bustle of busy shoppers; and the clean, fresh aromas wafting through the cool morning air all contribute a bit of excitement to a weekly ritual. There are also noteworthy deals on end-of-season fruits and vegetables, piled high alongside new fall crops like plump figs and grapes. (When the pears, persimmons, and pomegranates show up, we’ll know that autumn is officially here.)

But while the season for “real” tomatoes is waning and bargain-prices abound for overripe tomatoes at the market, smart cooks rush to capture a taste of summer that can be enjoyed for the rest of the year. When time permits, I go through the traditional canning routine: blanching tomatoes before peeling them; hours of bubbling sauce on the stove top; sterilizing jars and minding pH levels to ensure safety; wiping the jars clean and securing the lids; processing the hot-packed jars in a water bath to seal; yaddayaddayadda.

Other times–like this year–when I want a quick fix, I let my oven do most of the work. Although roasted tomato sauce requires significant cooking time, the actual hands-on activity in the kitchen is minimal and the relatively small yield makes preserving less of a chore—and something I won’t mind repeating several times over the next few weeks. As if that were not enough, there are even more benefits: locally-grown, vine-ripened tomatoes provide the kind of flavor you’ll never find in a can or jar; the sugars in the vegetables caramelize during cooking, providing added depth; and a healthy dose of California olive oil adds incomparable richness. I don’t even bother peeling the tomatoes. Instead, I puree the skins along with the other vegetables, adding a bit more fiber to the finished sauce.

Meaty plum or Roma tomatoes generally make the thickest sauce, but any flavorful tomato will do. Use whichever varieties are cheap and plentiful, and feel free to mix the “odds and ends” from any tomatoes you may have on hand. Last year I made a yummy oven-roasted yellow tomato sauce that always drew raves, substituting yellow bell peppers for the red or green. Yellow tomato sauce is unique in itself—but even more so when served in December.

Most of us automatically think” pasta” when we think of homemade tomato sauce, but there are zillions of ways to use it. Just add meatballs and a crusty roll for a first-class sandwich for football fans; make it the crowning glory for homemade eggplant Parmigiano or stuffed bell peppers; or ladle it over warm polenta, with or without a side of grilled Italian sausage. With only a little effort your freezer can hold the key ingredient for stellar soups and stews, as well as Chicken Scaloppine, Shrimp Creole, Steak Pizzaiola, or Osso Buco.

For a quick appetizer, place about 1 cup of Oven-Roasted Tomato Sauce in a small gratin or other baking dish. Slice 1/2-inch thick rounds from a log of fresh goat cheese and arrange them in a single layer over the sauce. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven until the sauce is bubbly-hot and the cheese is heated through but still holds its shape, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, heat in a microwave.) Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil or parsley, and serve warm as a spread for baguette slices or crostini.

You’ll be glad you’re seeing red. (Or yellow.)

 

Oven-Roasted Tomato Sauce

5 pounds vine-ripened tomatoes, preferably plum tomatoes or Roma tomatoes

2 large onions, coarsely chopped

2 bell peppers (red and/or green), seeded and coarsely chopped

4 to 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1/2 cup California olive oil

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1 tablespoon chopped fresh marjoram or oregano leaves, or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Core the tomatoes and chop into 1-inch chunks, reserving the juices.
2. In a heavy 5-quart roasting pan, combine the tomatoes and their juices, the onions, bell peppers, garlic, vinegar, oil, salt, and crushed red pepper. Toss gently to mix. Place in the oven and cook, uncovered, stirring once or twice, for 1 hour.
3. Stir in the basil and marjoram and cook until the tomatoes have broken down into a sauce and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 30 minutes longer. Taste, adding more salt if needed.
4. Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce to desired thickness—chunky or smooth, your choice. (Alternatively, let cool for 15 minutes. Then, working in small batches, puree sauce in a food processor or blender.)Use at once, or cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Freeze for longer storage. Makes 7 to 8 cups.

 

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.

 

I hear this every day. People generally believe that brain fog and memory loss are a normal product of aging. But that is just not the case. Most of the decrease of brain function is self-caused, like obesity or heart disease. Of course we see examples of brain degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, the “worse case scenario,” but this is not the main cause of brain degeneration in the U.S. More on that later.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR BRAIN IS DEGENERATING?

1)      Brain fog or fatigue. This kind of fatigue occurs from seemingly mild activities like computer work, driving, or even reading. It doesn’t take much work to overtax a degenerating brain.

2)      Short-term memory loss. You know, this happens when you go into the kitchen to get something and you can’t remember what it was.

3)      Sleeping difficulties. The brain controls sleep and so a brain that is not up to par will have difficulty with the complex neurological reflexes involved in restful sleep.

4)      Depression / Anxiety. These seem like opposites, and they are but to the brain under stress, it amounts to the same thing: unstable brain activity and neurotransmitters.

5)      Gut (gastrointestinal) problems. This one may be surprising but the gut is called “The Second Brain” by many researchers because of the complex network of nerves that add up to some 100 million neurons. This system controls digestion but also sends a great deal of information back to the brain. So we see that gut problems will dramatically affect the brain, and visa-versa.

Everybody knows how important the brain is but few people have taken it to the next step, realizing that it takes effort to keep our brains healthy in spite of long working hours, increased stress, the standard American diet (SAD) and increasing age. Most understand that you must spend some time with your weights or at a gym to maintain or grow muscle mass, but brains are strangely absent from the “use it or lose it” formula. Understandably, people tend to concentrate on things they can see, like biceps, abs and fat.

Brain tissue is very susceptible to damage from inflammatory responses, abnormal immune activation, weak liver detoxification, blood sugar surges, hormonal flux, lack of critical nutrients, sedentary life styles and passive entertainment (TV and video games). So it follows that one of the most effective ways to return to a “normal brain” is to control those things. This seems like a lot to concentrate on but with proper testing involving blood, gut and adrenal function, it usually quite clear where the concentration needs to be.

There has been a recent increase in self-help brain shows on TV suggesting that the best way to help the brain is by doing brain games like Chess or Cross Words. Yes, this can increase the activity in a small part of the brain but unfortunately we tend to stimulate the part of the brain that is at its best. But you’ve got to rally your efforts on your particular brain weakness in order to increase function and decrease symptoms. So at our clinic we evaluate what part of the brain has decreased activity and then create brain exercises and other stimulation techniques to address that problem.

All our brains will eventually degenerate but the speed at which that happens is often controllable (much more than you think). Ignoring it, or even worse, contributing to it with inactivity and poor diet will accelerate the rate of degeneration leading to irreversible damage. It may seem cute to loose track of your thoughts or quirky to forget appointments but this can lead to outright loss of your higher functions like, planning and decision-making, and this won’t be funny to you or your family.

Dr. Don Davis, D.C., DACNB is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek. He has been serving individuals with chronic pain for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free consultation with Dr. Davis, call (925) 279-4324 (HEAL). Visit us at WalnutCreekHealth.com.

 

 

Q. What’s the difference between a mole and a gopher? I believe I have a gopher in my garden; however, others say it’s a mole. Plants are disappearing and the roots on one of my roses have been eaten.

A. In California, moles and gophers are too different rodents with different controls. This is not the case in many other states, like Washington.

Gardeners and non-gardeners will refer to them interchangeably. The Nursery Professional(s) at your favorite garden center is an excellent resource to help with conflicting information. There are some physical differences between them, but few get that close so here is how to separate the two. Moles do not eat plants. Their diet is protein based, so they forge and tunnel the soil surface for insects, grubs and earthworms. The best way to control moles is to eliminate the food source forcing them elsewhere. Bonide Mole Med is a granular repellent made with Castor Oil. It coats the soil bugs making them not very tasty. Another option is Beneficial Nematodes. Beneficial Nematodes seek out and destroy grubs and soil insects but not earthworms. They’re both safe for people, pets and the environment.

Gophers, on the other hand, do eat plants and are know to pull them underground. They live in burrows, travel about two feet under the soil in runs and come to the surface with exit holes. Gophers are much more difficult to control than moles. Flooding, trapping, poison baits and gas are the primary methods of controlling gophers. In addition, they’re hundreds of home remedies. Unfortunately, there is no 100% sure proof answer. It’s all trial and error. The major mistakes people make with gopher controls is not wearing gloves. The traces of humans scent, alerts the gophers. Also, the controls need to be placed in the major runs not the exit holes. You are correct suspecting a gopher.

Q. I removed a patch of out of control Canna. My problem now is that I didn’t get rid of all of them. They’re starting to shoot up between the newly planted plants. Any suggestion on an herbicide I can use?

A. Canna Lilies can become a nuisance when left to grow unattended. They’re contained by dividing the clumps every three-years or so in the fall or spring. You don’t have to be particularly careful about it either. For this situation, Round Up or similar type product is the ideal herbicide to use. The leaves and not the roots absorb the herbicide, so it can be applied around plants without harming them. You protect desirable plants with a cardboard plant shield or you can use any type of plastic cylinder like, a beverage container. The herbicide should be applied with a tank sprayer rather than a hose-end sprayer. You’re now able to effectively pot treat the area, but more importantly minimize the spray drift that will damage the desirables. You’ll have to be persistent as it’s a battle of attrition but you should win it.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero

 

 

 

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is similar to its counterpart, Golfer’s elbow. The primary differences between these conditions are the location of the pain and the activity that leads to injury. However, both conditions are caused by overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, leading to inflammation and pain around the elbow joint, commonly called tendonitis. Tennis is one common cause of tendonitis, but many other sports and work related activities can cause the same problem.

The cause of tennis elbow can vary from a single violent action (acute injury) to, more commonly, a repetitive stress injury where an action is performed repeatedly and pain gradually develops.  In an acute injury of the elbow, inflammation occurs without substantial tissue damage. However, in a repetitive stress situation a person may experience damage to the tendon and surrounding soft tissue causing tissue degeneration over time. Inflammation from acute injury often responds quickly to rest and anti-inflammatory treatment. However, if the injury is due to tendon tissue degeneration, treatment will be longer and will be focused on improving the strength of the tendon as well as rebuilding tissues.

Tennis Elbow Symptoms

With tennis elbow the pain is on the outside of the elbow and may radiate down the forearm into the wrist.  It can be common to have pain and/or weakness when turning a door knob, holding a coffee cup or shaking hands.

Treatment for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow does not usually cause any long-term disability. However, the condition may become stubborn and proper rehabilitation will help alleviate the symptoms and get you back to life again.

Rest and Reduce Inflammation: The first step a person should take if tendinitis is suspected is to stop the activities that cause the pain and inflammation. Use a topical cream containing Arnica to begin to reduce the inflammatory process quickly.

Laser Therapy to Heal the Damaged Tissue: Ending the pain caused by tennis elbow requires healing the damaged tissue. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only form of therapy that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously.  Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser 1200 a Class IV Laser.  This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue.  During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, scar tissue and pain.

Correct the Mechanics of Motion: Assessing the forearm, elbow, shoulder and spine for proper postural feedback is done to diagnose and correct improper alignment.  After proper alignment is restored, specific muscular taping is applied to improve circulation and insure proper motion on a daily basis.  Lastly, specific strengthening and stretching exercises are given. By strengthening the muscles and tendons involved with tennis elbow, you can prevent the problem from returning.

At Align Healing Center we are having great success not only treating tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, but also treating plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, carpal tunnel, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even long-term residual pain. Ar­thritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.

 

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

 

 

 

Commercial office design and remodels are all about getting the most bang for your buck. Budgets are often lower for tenant improvements so cost-saving materials are a must. Most of the budget tends to go into flooring materials. We are seeing a huge improvement in the look and feel of vinyl flooring as a durable and cost effective material being used in high traffic areas. Durable commercial grade carpet gives a warm feel to private offices and conference rooms for a traditional or contemporary style.

Three types of vinyl floors that are very popular are Luxury Vinyl, Vinyl Sheet, and Vinyl Tile.  These three materials are made to resemble hardwood, stone and ceramic. Vinyl Tile can be installed with grout to really get that ceramic tile look without the cost and maintenance. Ceramic tiles are heavy and can sometimes be too heavy for standard sub-floors, vinyl sheet is light weight and won’t crack or chip like tile. Luxury Vinyl plank flooring is durable and waterproof unlike real hardwood materials. Install one of these products in break rooms, lobbies, and other high traffic areas where carpet might not be the answer.

Common Commercial types of carpet construction are Loop Carpet, Cut Pile Carpet, or Carpet Tile. Each have different advantages and installation options.  Loop Carpet is used in high traffic areas because it is looped through the backing and will hold its resiliency longer than cut pile. Cut pile is more luxurious and has a tighter, more plush look than loop carpet and usually used for carpet boarders or prints. Carpet tile comes in loop pile or cut pile construction and is set into a rubber backing so the loops cannot pull because they are individually set into the backing.

The cost of carpet tile has become significantly more affordable and popular in commercial applications. The main advantage of carpet tiles, while it is one of the most expensive options, is the ability to replace sections of the carpet without having to tear out large wall to wall areas. Most manufacturers have up to a 15 year warranty on their carpets which makes replacing a few carpet tiles easy and affordable in the long run. The new stick down application on all four corners allows installers to easily adhere the carpet to the sub-floor. Contact a design professional for affordable design options when it is time for your office space remodel.

 

Cameras everywhere. As we struggle as a society to come to some resolution in our minds of how much surveillance is too much surveillance, there is a case to look at which points out the usefulness of cameras everywhere.

As Law Enforcement agencies fanned out in search of Sandra Coke, who was missing from Oakland, they changed search venues of interest on a dime. Why? They had surveillance of her car crossing the Carquinez Bridge. That started them in another direction. Add to that, they got camera shots of the suspect in the case filling up the victim’s car with gas at another location.

There are massive traffic control centers in the Bay Area and other metropolitan areas.  All those cameras you see out there…see you. At the same time, the victim’s daughter was using the “Find My iPhone” app to help law enforcement track the path of travel.

So, it makes sense that on one level we can hate the thought that we are photographed almost everywhere we travel. Isn’t the freedom of movement one of the tenets of a free state?  Isn’t that one of the things we would fear if somehow our government was overthrown and we became a totalitarian state? Big Brother. Does it bother you, that government can track you by picking up the ping from your phone?  It knows where you go and it takes your picture.

In my mind, it should bother all of us. But flip it and take it to its most dramatic. What if Sandra Coke was still alive?  What if police and FBI, while combing thru all the surveillance footage, spotted her car, or the gas station camera ID on the suspect? What if law enforcement could respond, just in the nick of time and save her?

Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way, but the chances would be much slimmer without the cameras. Tough one huh? What if surveillance cameras could stop the punks who demonstrate and vandalize businesses time after time, or people who shoot guns at other people?  It would be right there in video. Is that a bad thing?  Isn’t it helpful?

In this case, it should at least aid the prosecution in making sure the right person is on trial, and is convicted and sent away forever. One of my favorite sayings is “life is a series of tradeoffs.” Do we trade off our unwatched freedom of movement for better and more efficient law enforcement?  Wow…what Makes Sense?

 

 

I cut my hair for ‘Locks of Love’ last week. Twelve inches pulled back into a pony tail and snip, it’s on its way to a child who may not be able to afford a wig after treatment for a devastating illness. I look at hair like I look at blood: A renewable resource.

While having my hair cut, my hairdresser mentioned that she was leaving for the 2013 NO BULL Teen Video Awards as a volunteer hair and make-up artist. Okay, she had me hooked and I wanted to learn more from this selfless woman.

Directed by Sundance and Emmy award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, Bully is a beautifully cinematic, character driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. Bully follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on the school bus. With an intimate glance into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children.

I truly cannot say that I enjoyed this film. But once in a while I need to see films like Bully. We all do. Without someone or many someones bringing issues like this to the surface, where would we be?  Social injustices buried deeper and deeper? By my very nature I am a “solution seeker.” I watched Bully, intently. I came to the conclusion that it is less of a checklist for eliminating abusive behavior than an emotionally powerful wake-up call for a society too long in denial.

I wondered why this powerful movie was filmed from the perspective of the victims. I did not find any real insight into the Bully. They prey on the small, the weak, the disabled, too smart, too dumb, too ugly, too beautiful, too rich, too poor, sexual orientation or maybe just a different color skin—but why? What makes a Bully be a bully?  Does it start small in kindergarten and end in high school by killing someone or driving them to suicide? I found more questions than answers. What does a bully look like?  I don’t know, but I do know they are on the school grounds and on the school busses. I have four beautiful grandchildren and that scares me, for they are faceless enemies.

So, what is being done about this national crisis? The Bully Project is an all-out war on the problem. To start with, over 2 million kids in schools all over America have screened Bully since it was released in 2012 and it doesn’t stop there. If you have a few moments go online and check it out!  You can even view the winners of the 2013 NO BULL National Education Conference and Teen Video Awards. I watched them and was amazed at the talent and conviction of these teens. I am inclined to stand back and let these kids find the solutions. One high school slogan: ”The bystander stops the bully,” is right on target!

School is back in session. Let’s raise our awareness of this diabolical issue. If everyone becomes part of the solution, we may not need a sequel to this eye-opening film. As always you can voice your opinion by emailing me at Chastings@rockcliff.com

Looking back over my years of wandering around this beautiful planet, I find that a great deal of my fondest memories dwell on some small plot of land – completely surrounded by water. You guessed it – ISLANDS! Now I know a lot of my readers will immediately focus on Hawaii. I have no problem with that, but eight or ten islands are head and shoulders stronger in my memory. The reasons for this are that each of these spots of land tickled my fancy or generated some emotion inside of me. And, they remain at or near the top of my “island” list.

Bear with me while I dredge up a few specifics about an island or two. Perhaps during your travels you stopped off at one or more of these isles, and I can shake a memory out of your storage banks.

Certainly the British call their land “an island.” I’m going to ignore that definition – it’s too big for me to include. But it has two very interesting islands just off its shores.

One of these gems is referred to as the Channel Islands – a group located in the English Channel. The one I particularly enjoyed was the Isle of Jersey. This island was occupied by the Germans during World War Two, and the remnants of their occupation have been preserved. Guns, uniforms, and an underground hospital – all well worth the visit.

Another enjoyable island off the British coast is the Isle of Man. This outcropping lies between England and Ireland in the Irish Sea. It, too, is loaded with early history. Certainly the Viking influence is mixed in with the British and the Scottish. There is a highway circumventing the island which gives you a great variety of scenery, from huge rock outcroppings to sandy beaches. The low rolling hills amid quaint little cities give it a life of its own. (For those of you who remember the movie Waking Ned Devine, it was filmed in the Isle of Man.)

For those of us who love animals, Kangaroo Island – a short sea trip from Adelaide, Australia – has to be near the top. Here, wandering around totally unchecked and free are wallabies, wombats, koalas, echidnas, as well as the island’s namesake – the kangaroos. No zoo in the world can come close to this collection of free-ranging animals on this small spot of land. Barb got to hold a baby wallaby in her arms, and it cuddled up like a little baby. That feeling is not to be missed.

It was not easy to call Kangaroo Island the best collection of free-ranging animals I’ve visited. The Galapagos run a very close second. The huge lumbering turtles and the blue-footed boobies have to make you smile. The animals, totally unafraid of humans, are a joy to behold. A seal lumbered out of the ocean up to the swimming pool of our hotel – and actually did a few laps in the water. Hard to believe. There are approximately twenty-one islands in this archipelago, and many are populated by only some specific species. Darwin wrote a book about the islands, and I can understand why.

There are innumerable tropical islands that are perfectly suited for relaxing. I could mention many, but the two that stand out for me are Rarotonga (part of the Cook Islands group), and the other – almost on the opposite side of the world – is St. Maarten in the Caribbean. One of the features that made Rarotonga unique for me was the preponderance of churches on this little bit of land. These white-painted houses, with their steeples and bells, are hard to resist. Although the language is quite different, the music tells the story. Most of the singing is acappella – with a leader as soloist and the congregation responding. .

St. Maarten is quite different. This island is owned by two European countries – France and the Netherlands. More on the expensive side and certainly quite cosmopolitan in the cities, but very friendly and congenial off on the back roads.

I did not mean to ignore the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps the best of many in this body of water, in my opinion, is Malta. It strikes a classic balance between sophisticated cities with elegant food and rolling hills with farms plowed by horses. A horse carriage trip around town is a must to study the history of this island. There are sites predating Christ and going back into early recorded history.

I could go on and on, but I’m getting this urge to go into my picture gallery and relive a few of the pleasant times I’ve spent in these places. Maybe I should check my atlas for island I’ve ignored.

 

 

I begin in the middle. I want to stop before I have started this month to acknowledge my time here with you. This marks the 13^th month that I have been writing for Alive. I am not one to acknowledge a milestone on credit, so hence the 13 months as opposed to the more popular one year mark.

My time with you has been spent well. I have continued to hone my writing craft and used my time with you as a Swiffer to my experiences in the restaurant game. So much so that I turned the Buson Burner up under my manuscript on the topic and have been fortunate enough to partner up with Eric and Alive Book Publishing to make the book dream a reality. Stay tuned for release dates and availability.

Okay, down to business.

I walked into Fresh Millions in San Ramon exactly ten days and two dining experiences after my co-worker. Twice she came back into the office saying, “Toby, you have no idea how right in your wheel house this place is!” As usual (except with wagers on The Bachelorette) she was correct.

So I went, and immediately felt that I had seen this place before. After the necessary research needed to order at the counter flawlessly, and after my selections were mentally ticked, I allowed my thoughts to wander back to where I had seen this healthy oasis. It had to be on one of those food network shows. The type of competitions that have entrepreneurs appeasing to the generosity of the food moguls that have come before them, in the hopes of securing the start-up capital to their dreams; the next “Chipotle” that will have mini-mall shoppers lining up. I was so convinced of this, that by the time I ordered from the jovial young lady at the counter, I was sure that she was the owner and I had seen her pleading with Gordon Ramsey….Suffice to say, I was wrong.

This is a pop-up (true to the definition). It wasn’t there yesterday, I swear, but now the second one is open in Dublin, and this is a franchise. “Join our team,” is not an invitation to work the wok.  This is the answer to the question that has loomed over so many of us: “Isn’t there something besides McDonalds?”

Here’s the deal: It’s fast, cheap, healthy and good.

If you recall, I am the, “let’s slow down at all costs,” guy, but mostly because quality seems to suffer, the faster we go. In relationships, business, technology, food…I digress. But not here.

Fresh Millions refers to the endless possibilities of the create-your-own menu and it does not disappoint. For the person whose tie is already flying behind them in an extra hurry to get through life, there are pre-set menu items, but for my under $10 you can’t beat the make your own salad or bowls.

Bowls: Start with your base: Noodles, Brown Rice, White Rice or Spinach. Add you sauce: Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour, Spicy, etc. Add your protein: Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, Bacon or Eggs. Then dive into their “mix-ins”! Over 40 prepared fresh, some organic, additions they throw into your bowl by the handful…not pinch. Then simply take a number. I have deduced that your raw bowl goes back to the kitchen in the searing hot wok waiting to blend your textures and flavors. Is there really a faster, fresher way to cook than by wok…NOPE! Help yourself to a complimentary glass of fruit infused water and wait the meager four minutes (give or take) for your creation to arrive at your table piping hot and mounded over the bowls edge.

Substitute “bowl” with “salad” and add dressing choice.

I think “millions” refers to the people and money that will flock to this place.

 

San Ramon: 2550 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, Suite #B2, San Ramon, CA

Dublin: 6599 Dublin Blvd, Suite F, Dublin, CA 94568

 

We all remember how the Super Bowl ended. The 49ers had three shots to score from the five yard line, failed to do so, and lost the ball on downs. The Ravens were able to run out the clock, giving up an intentional safety along the way, and win Super Bowl XLVII 34-31.

It is tempting to think the 49ers are in good shape to win this season’s Super Bowl.  They dominated the Ravens in the second half and they’ve improved both years under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. The quarterback is an emerging star and the defense is notoriously stingy.

History, though, would beg to differ.

** Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, 28 of the 42 Super Bowl losers haven’t won a playoff game the next season. Twelve of those teams missed the postseason and 16 lost their first playoff game.

** Seven of the 46 Super Bowl losers returned to the Super Bowl the next season. They went 2-5. The two teams to win it: the 1972 Dolphins and the 1971 Cowboys.

** The last team to play in a Super Bowl the season after losing it: The 1993 Bills, who lost back-to-back big games to the Cowboys.

Injuries to quarterbacks have factored into it. Tom Brady went out for the season with a knee injury in the first regular season game after New England lost Super Bowl XLII to the Giants;  Donovan McNabb missed seven games, Rich Gannon nine games and Kurt Warner 10 games after the Eagles, Raiders and Rams respectively, lost Super Bowls.

There is also a lot of luck involved in getting to the Super Bowl. Teams have to negotiate a 16 game season and then win two or three playoff games against top competition, often on the road. That is difficult to repeat.

Team chemistry is also an issue with contracts often dictating that key players move on. Age can be a factor as well since Super Bowl teams tend to be experienced, and there is a thin line between experienced and old.

Off the Bench says that the 49ers are in better shape to beat the odds than most. Health is an imponderable, but quarterback Colin Kaepernick is young and that somewhat lessens the chances that he’ll get hurt. No key players have left and the one major change, kicker, is likely to be an upgrade from what was a weakness last year. Defenses tend to be more consistent than offenses, and stopping opponents was the 49ers strength. The main concern is that if Kaepernick gets hurt there is no Alex Smith waiting to step in.

On the flip side the 49ers division is getting stronger with the Rams on the rise and the Seahawks featuring an elite young quarterback. They will also play a first-place schedule which the NFL makes more difficult to promote parity.

Still, the 49ers have an elite coach in Harbaugh and a young team that has become used to winning. That formula should take them to the playoffs, and from there anything can happen. It will be a fascinating story to follow in January and February.