Merry Christmas!

Wow, I just noticed that it's been since the end of October. Sorry to all of our loyal blog followers. Around mid-November we were awarded "Best Mexican" in the NZ Herald's annual survey, and we have been trying to keep the lid on it ever since. As I told my family, I feel like we are sitting on top of a volcano!

We just completed the most hectic (and profitable) week of our entire restaurant careers . . . including the heady days of Mexicali Rose. We hosted 5 giant Christmas parties with 80 - 200 people. All parties were complete with Salsa DJ and amazing Salsa Dancers - some of them having just returned from competing in the world championships in South America. JB and I managed to tend bar for the last and biggest event for Southern Hospitality, our major restaurant equipment supplier. It was a hoot, we haven't run out of beer since the Lions Tour in July 05.

We have had lots of visitors. Howard and Nancy Friedman, our friends from the old Bend days. They brought the most recent issue of Bend Living - amazing that even though we've been gone nearly 3 years we still know most everyone in the issue! Following the Friedmans came Andrew Boone and his new bride, then Larry and Cindy Murphy from the old Stereo Planet days. On Boxing Day (December 26) Cathie Gerlicher from my days at OrCom (Oregon Computer) - can it really have been 23 years ago? Say it isn't so!

In the lull between now and the New Year we are planning for our maiden voyage as caterer at the Big Day Out. We are planning on 2000 burritos and 2000 frozen margaritas for a crowd of 44,000, although the organizers can't believe that we can do that much. Excuuuuse me! That's the difference between Americans and Kiwis - we go big or go home. I can tell you what, we're not going home.

There's so much more to tell, but I will catch up after the first of the year. Happy Christmas to all!