Sparkling, Flat or Tap?

The reviews of La Sosta Enoteca which mentioned tab padding with expensive bottled water has been on my mind as of late. How can you criticize an establishment for giving you what you asked for? NEVER has a restaurant given me bottled water without my approval. It's important for all consumers to be aware of the inevitable question which is the title of this piece and to provide an answer that will make your experience as you wish. If you want to know how much the water costs, ask. Never be intimidated (by a waiter no less!) into ordering something you don't want.
The bottled water at a restaurant issue died a tragic death for me when I caught Penn and Teller's BULLSH**! show on the subject. It was hilarious and worth searching for. In the show they not only replaced the water in each of the fancy bottles with tap from a hose in the back of the restaurant, they also created a fancy water tasting menu and had many takers trying to discern the differences between them. The mind is a powerful thing and I guess if you are paying $10 to compare the taste and clarity of five different waters... well your brain just loves to be creative especially when under pressure from a snotty waiter hovering above your table at a fine dining establishment.
So, now I only order bottled water (flat, no bubbles for me please) when I'm in a foreign country whose water supply I do not trust OR if I try the tap water offered and find it nasty tasting.
If you don't want it, just say "No, thank you". It's as simple as that.

Mammoth Lakes - LuLu's and Parallax

I was able to get a good sampling of the food at both LuLu's (located in the Village) and Parallax (located at McCoy station) this week.
LuLu's does a Mediteranean menu served family style on large platters. It is one of my new favorite places in town. The food selection is something special for the High Sierra, with such specials as roasted rabbit over white beans, braised beef short ribs over root vegetable puree and pizzas from their wood fired oven.  The antipasto choices all freshly made are a welcome sight.

Fresh oysters, several varieties, all from WA, are offered and are quite expensive.  I wish I could say they were worth the price of shipping them to the mountain top, but 7 of the 12 we ordered (which came to at least $30, NOT A TYPO) contained a bit of shell.  LuLu redeems itself with a low key yet polished atmosphere and a wine list that is devine.  The large and diverse list contains choices from all over the world (they own the wine bar which is also in the Village).
We hit Parallax three times for lunch. The service is always spotty (NEVER enough staff) but friendly and even includes a sommelier (whom we ran into on a ski lift on day two). The fresh corn chowder with scallops was rich and creamy with perfectly poached scallops and fried shallots on top.  The strip steak special with Cabrales cheese was perfectly cooked to order.
There are three very great reasons to visit Parallax.

One - guaranteed seating for lunch on the hill.

Two - most ambitious menu to be found while still in ski boots.

Three -  There is nothing like watching the weather blow over the top of the mountain as tiny skiers drop down the Cornice run, gondolas coming and going, snowboarders catching rails, all while sipping a wonderful Italian Valpolicella.

So beautiful.
 

Gingered Trailmix

I found myself with WAY too much dried fruit in the pantry. I pulled it all out with thoughts of trailmix. I found California raisins, dried apricots, Craisins (dried cranberries), some peanuts, and then things got interesting. I found a ziplock back filled with whole almonds I had coated in a sesame and Chinese five-spice mixture for a dinner party recently. And to make things even more interesting, I ran into a can of the Ginger People’s candied ginger chunks. I threw them all in a bowl and cut the ginger into smaller bits. Wow, this stuff is really good. The kids like it too :^)