Quiet Mike and other dearly departed

Water Spot

chris ahrens

Walking up the Swami’s stairs there’s a reminder of a friend, the appropriately named Joy, who surfed with us for a few seasons, helping make each session more enjoyable.

I don’t recall the date of her passing, but it was around the time another friend, Kenny “Tumbleweed” Mann drowned while night surfing the break he ruled in his prime.

On the pillar of the stairs is a more formal memorial, this one dedicated to David “Spyder” Anear.

The tiled wave is for another longtime Swami’s dominator, surf journalist Gary Taylor. Gary, as many of you will remember, wrote “The Surf Writer,” for this very newspaper. Gary probably lived closer than any other local, until Rob Machado moved across the street.

But until then, it was Gary alone who could be seen crossing the street, board in hand, jogging down the stairs followed by his dog named for the place he loved, before GT carved his initials on whatever sections he rode.

Near Gary’s memorial is a plaque to the brilliant scientist, inventor and kneeboarder Terry Hendricks. At the opposite end of the parking is a lone boulder dedicated to the passing of the youngest of those we have chosen to memorialize, the amazingly talented longboarder Syrus King.

Many of those I once surfed Swami’s with are gone now, and that may be one of the reasons I don’t visit there as often as I once did.

A few weeks ago, however, I decided to paddle out and was shocked to see a notice that my longtime friend “Quiet” Mike Romero was no longer among us. He was named “Quiet,” because he spoke in a whisper ever since a loose surfboard crushed his vocal cords.

I first met Mike and his brother, Ronnie, who worked as a chiropractor in Cardiff for years, about half a century ago. They both surfed well and regularly, and we would often find Mike in paint-stained overalls pulling into the Swami’s parking lot after a day plying his profession as a house painter.

Mike was never the best surfer in the lineup, but more than competent, often snagging one of the bigger sets, laughing shyly and quietly when paddling back out to sit before catching another wave. He was fun to surf with, good with a joke, afterward offering whatever snacks he had buried in that classic 1952 Chevy truck of his.

In the mid-’70s that truck belonged to me. That was until I blew the engine and sold it to the first person with 600 bucks. Mike paid me cash, removed the wooden camper I often slept in, rebuilt the engine

Lick The Plate

yields and requires a government committee to pass the wine via analysis, evaluation, and tasting.

After researching, both opinions were correct but potentially better when blended. This pun was intended. Per my research, Super Tuscans are classified as wines made in Tuscany, outside the well-known Chianti and lesser-known Tuscan regions per DOC guidelines.

In the 1970s, winemakers wanted to experiment with blending Sangiovese with Bordeaux varietals such as cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, petit verdot, malbec, and occasionally carménère.

Since this did not fit DOC guidelines for winemaking, at the time, the winemakers were forced to put the lower-end VdT (table wine) designation on these wines.

himself, painted it from green to blue, and restored it to better than new condition.

Not long ago, Mike showed me a note saying that my old truck was valued at around $40,000. If it had been anyone else, I would have been jealous. But with Mike I was glad. He made me feel like it was still mine, that he was simply keeping it for me and maintaining it better than I, or anyone else, ever would.

That’s the way it was with Mike. Even when he scored a better wave than me, I felt glad, feeling that he deserved it, and that he was sharing something, his stoke for life with me and everyone in earshot of his sweet and quiet voice.

CONTINUED FROM 19 with smoked gouda, arugula, onion, bacon and roasted tomato jam with a zesty aioli on a brioche bun. He placed it in the upper echelon of the many burger options in Encinitas. I will return for the Milanese Chicken Sandwich with a crispy fried chicken cutlet, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and lemon chipotle aioli on bolillo bread.

Several healthy bowls dishes and taco selections are also available. Nice to see that the Mahi-Mahi fish tacos offer the option of grilled or battered…given my preference for the battered variety.

The variety of creative coffee and beverage options make The Cottage a perfect spot to enjoy some hard kombucha, a glass of fabulous beer or wine, or a rice vodka-based cocktail that packs less punch than traditional vodka.

There is a full kid’s menu, and the dessert options look elegant and delicious with Raspberry and White Chocolate Bread Pudding, Chocolate Pot de Crème, and Lemon Cheesecake.

The Cottage Encinitas

127 N. El Camino Real Ste H. Open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phone: (760) 8544212. Access more information, menus and online ordering at www.cottageencinitas.com

But after wide acclaim and the introduction of the IGT (Typical Geographical Indication) level of designation, Super Tuscans were able to shift from Vdt to IGT, winning more recognition.

Some of the best Italian wines, such as Antinori’s Tignanello, are rated Super Tuscan, fetching over $150 per bottle.

Due to the flexibility of the IGT laws, Super Tuscans can range in a wide variety of blends and styles. More Frescobaldi wine info at frescobaldi.com/en.

Next up for Vittorio’s is a Cass Wine Dinner at 6 p.m. on March 30 with co-proprietor Ted Plemons traveling from Paso Robles. Cost is $75 per person + tax/gratuity. RSVP at 858-538-5884.

— Story by Rico Cassoni

Wine Bytes

Sal Ercolano, owner of West End Bar & Kitchen, is hosting a Duckhorn Wine Dinner at 6 p.m. on March 23. The main course features Beef Wellington tenderloin with creamy polenta paired with Paraduxx Red Blend. $85 plus tax/gratuity. RSVP at 858-259-5878.

Reach Rico and Frank at info@tasteofwineandfood.com.

The Senior Volunteer Patrol of the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station performs home vacation security checks, assists with traffic control, enforces disabled parking regulations, patrols neighborhoods, schools, parks and shopping centers and visits homebound seniors who live alone for the communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar.& portions of the county’s unincorporated areas. Volunteers must be at least age 50, be in good health, pass a background check, have auto insurance & a valid California driver’s license. Training includes a two week academy plus training patrols. The minimum commitment is 24 hours per month, & attendance at a monthly meeting. Interested parties should call (760) 966-3579 to arrange an information meeting.