Author Archives: surrealist11

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About surrealist11

Writer. Born David J. Evangelisti in Colorado. David has lived in New Mexico, Colorado, Ohio and California. Enamored with movies from an early age, he enrolled in San Jose State University’s Journalism program. While studying journalism, public relations and filmmaking, he wrote and directed two films: “A Day in the Life of a San Jose Cockroach” and “Theft of a Shopping Cart” (in the vein of Vittoria De Sica’s “Bicycle Thief”). David earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, concentration in Film, from San Jose State University. He began working in the areas of sales and marketing as a writer. In addition, he has written travel articles, travel memoirs, advertising copy, comedy bits, feature film scripts, personal essays and short stories. To date, he has written three unproduced feature film scripts: “Treading Water”, “The Other Cinema” and “A Sympathetic Lie”. From 2003-2004 he was an official taster for the Royal Academy of Wine Tasters. The Royal Academy attempted to create an unbiased wine rating system available to every winery, vineyard or wine distributor across the United States and around the world. This blog is a compilation of the following: a slang dictionary; personal essays; comedic rants; travel memoirs; literary journalism; feature articles; recipes; restaurant reviews; wine reviews; slice-of-life vignettes.

Mona Lisa Cucina: Food Review…

We decided to venture out of our comfortable surroundings and finally get around to trying an interesting looking Italian restaurant in Huntington Beach.  It’s located in an old mini-mall and is likely the smallest café we’ve been to in years.

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Smoking: Flanken Beef Ribs…

I started my prep about 8:45am.  I learned a few more valuable lessons on this latest smoke-fest.  Our meats of choice were flanken beef ribs (think Korean ribs) and beef back ribs.

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O-Fine Japanese Cuisine: Food Review…

Bella found us another Japanese food restaurant via the Internet after viewing some innovative and striking photos of various dishes.  The restaurant is located in the shopping plaza across from the Montage Hotel & Resort.  It is ultra-modern inside with … Continue reading

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Villa Nova: Food Review…

I turned 41 today and Bella is taking me to dinner at the restaurant of my choice.  It used to be my tradition to eat at an Italian restaurant on my birthday and I’m attempting to resurrect that tradition today.

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“Holy Cannoli Quest, Part Deux”: San Francisco, CA

  “In San Francisco, you learn to expect that anything will happen.  It’s out of the ordinary for something unusual not to happen.” – Theresa Smith   We’re off for SF for the first time since our mini-honeymoon in July … Continue reading

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