Melanie Wong's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
HELP - Any ideas for last minute Thanksgiving dinner near Cupertino?
At the top end price and ambience-wise, Opentable is showing availability at The Plumed Horse in Saratoga. More chow intell at this link,
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/27151...
According to the restaurant's website, the Thanksgiving menu is $80 per adult and $40, child.
Chowhound Post
Does salt really "expire"
Those dates might be he expiration dates of the packaging's integrity, e.g., ability to keep moisture out, etc. to hold the salt in its original condition.
Chowhound Post
Cuban Sandwich @ Deli-Pan (Morgan Hill)
Are you saying that it was bad because a torta cubana is not a Cuban Sandwich or it was a poor example of a torta cubana?
Chowhound Post
Cuban Sandwich @ Deli-Pan (Morgan Hill)
My brother stopped here tonight on his way to Salinas to pick up a Cuban sandwich, $5.75. The same folks are still here. Sandwich the same, but I think it's better with a touch of mustard (I had a bite of what was left).
William reports that there was a sign up to "order your pork leg here". If this means pernil and you've tried it, please tell us about it.
Chowhound Post
Soy sauce turkey? Any ideas?
Master sauce duck or goose are traditional dishes cooked in this method. A duck's about 6 pounds and a goose would be 8 to 10 pounds, so those Teochew cooks are getting it done somehow.
Chowhound Post
Willie Bird Turkeys, Santa Rosa
Here's a photo from TLC Ranch in Aromas showing the truckload of organic pumpkins they got from a neighbor. They'll be fed to the pastured pigs.
http://tweetphoto.com/bs7yau5l
Chowhound Post
Thanksgiving Day Community Meals in Monterey County (11/26/09)
The Salinas Californian published lists of places to join a free or nominal cost Thanksgiving in the articles linked below. I thought I'd share them here if you're in need of a meal or can volunteer your time to help.
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article...
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article...
In addition, a list provided by the Food Bank for Monterey County includes:
Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, 12-3 (volunteers arrive by 8am)
Soledad - South County YMCA, 560 Walker Dr, 12-4 (volunteers arrive at 8am)
Pajaro - Pajaro Rescue Mission, 111 Railroad Ave, 3pm
Pajaro - Salvation Army, 112 Grant Ave, 4pm
Salinas - First United Method Church, 404 LIncoln Ave, 10am
Chowhound Post
Everything Thanksgiving 2009
I posted about the complete Thanksgiving dinner available as take-out from the Mi Pueblo Food Center in Salinas,
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/669840
I haven't had the dinner but have eaten from the in-store taqueria. The food is quite spicy hot and salty, and generally competent although not my first choice down there.
This Mexican supermercado chain has stores in Mountain View, Hayward, Oakland and San Jose. The Salinas store will be open the early part of the day tomorrow, other stores may be as well.
Chowhound Post
Take-out Turkey Dinner, $69.99 at Mi Pueblo in Salinas (or Ham or Ribs for $59.99)
This afternoon at Mi Pueblo I was handed a flyer for full family dinners for the holidays, so presumably orders are still being accepted.
Here's the ad from the website with more details.
http://mipueblofoods.inserts2online.c...
Chowhound Post
Butchers in Sonoma/Napa Area
The three cut and wrap butchers that 4H & FFA use are Bud's in Penngrove and Martindale's and Willowside, both in Santa Rosa. Who have you been using?
Chowhound Post
Butchery Classes
Here's an on-farm slaughter and butchery class coming up soon at TLC Ranch to the south of us in Aromas, CA about 1 1/2 hrs from Oakland.
http://www.tlcrancheggs.com/purchasin...
Chowhound Post
Bistro Liaison - Berkeley
There's a brand of ham and charcuterie called Zoe's out of Petaluma, I think. Maybe that's it.
Chowhound Post
Icing Down the Turkey Breast for More Even Cooking
I haven't read all the turkey cooking threads, so don't know if this has been mentioned. Rec'd this tip this morning from a friend, Ben, who said that he's done this for years. He chills the turkey breast with an ice pack for 30 mins to an hour before cooking, and this yields moist breast meat (internal temp of 160 deg) and well-cooked thighs (internal temp of 180 deg). Slowing down the cooking of the breast by having it start at a lower temperature, it ends lower.
There's a brief description of it on this website if you scroll down to the "Two Very Important Steps" section. This one says 20 minutes of ice.
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/madmaxturkey...
Chowhound Post
Kopitiam: New Singaporian Restaurant in Lafayette
More likely the messed-up search engine failed you.
And, here's a link to your Hainan Chicken request for folks to post their suggestions to the new topic.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/669695
Chowhound Post
Kopitiam: New Singaporian Restaurant in Lafayette
Too bad you missed this announcement that Kopitiam was closing.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/666980
You'd be better off starting a new thread with an appropriate title asking for Hainan chicken rice that will attract attention than appending it to this old thread for a restaurant that we know to be closed. I think you'll get more response that way.
Chowhound Post
Any Vietnamese closer to Merced than Modesto or Fresno? Or best in Modesto or Fresno?
You'd mentioned that you can get Thai food in Merced. Have you checked whether any of them serve boat noodles aka pho bo?
Chowhound Post
Larry’s Produce in Fairfield (Suisun Valley)
Thanks for the voice of experience. I had a shopping list, but didn't like the quality for any of the items I wanted to buy, e.g., leeks, cilantro. But it was a special event day, and maybe everything was picked over and wilted in the extreme heat. And, maybe I was disappointed that the mini-donut maker promised on the website was no where to be found!
I did almost buy some summer squash - zukes, crooknecks, etc. - that looked good in a big wooden picking bin for about 50¢ a pound. But I wasn't' willing to stand in the long line to check out for just one item.
Have you visited any of the farms around there? I liked the scenery in this area better than Brentwood.
Chowhound Post
Fresh Porcini Tortilla Española al Mateo Granados (Healdsburg)
The Sebastopol market is across the street from BBQ Smokehouse. PizzaVino 707 is right there too though I don't know if it is open for lunch.
If you can make it up to Healdsburg on Saturday, I'm planning to be at the market and will probably have my breakfast there. Join me.
Chowhound Post
Fremont: Sweet Orchid - Taro, sweet bean, sesame and chocolate bacon gelato?
Here's a report.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/666115
Chowhound Post
Soy sauce turkey? Any ideas?
There's a traditional blanching method called "chuet sui" that I've described when talking about making stock.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/4321...
I've found this site that describes what you do to prepare a whole chicken to clean off the blood and scum, plus sealing the skin. The chicken will be warmed up after this phase. Then follow the directions for the final steeping in the hot soy sauce brew. This is a different recipe seasoning-wise, but the procedure is the same. That's how you get that special succulence that Joel commented on in his initial post.
You'll need to experiment with your pots and how they well they hold temperature for the volume of liquid. Sometimes it's necessary to turn the heat up again to rewarm the liquid, but try not to let it come to a full boil and turn it off quickly.
http://lilyng2000.blogspot.com/2005/0...
Chowhound Post
Fresh Porcini Tortilla Española al Mateo Granados (Healdsburg)
Problem is, you don't know how old that listing is. Nov 25 was a Sunday in 2007.
When I wrote the original post, I did a quick search to see if I could find the closing date for the Sebastopol FM. I couldn't find one that I trusted, but again, that was a quick look. You might try calling the market manager at the number shown or sending an email to Granados if you need to know for certain.
Chowhound Post
Finally, finally, finally -- real bbq in Northern CA
The rib tips at MM are one of my favorite orders. I like the smooth, succulent texture of the meat next to the cartilage. It's not stringy like the rest of the sparerib. Maybe it's the Cantonese in me speaking, that's the same cut used to make the steamed spareribs offered at dim sum houses.
Oh, and congrats on your win in the chicken category at Konocti and placing fourth overall. Quite a feat! I was a little queasy after the contest and decided that i should just head home over the mountain road before it got too late. Otherwise, i would have taken the opportunity to come buy more to take home. As it is, I have a bunch of brisket frozen from the five contests I judged this year that are destined for a pot of chili sometime this winter.
Chowhound Post
"Hot Topic" markers on Restaurant & Bar pages
Maybe this is a clue, since no one from Chow is paying attention to this conversation. I've noticed that the google results that pull up the R&B pages have a tag line:
"Mentioned in X Chowhound discussons in the past 3 months"
Maybe the algorithm goes by the number of discussions or reviews in the last 3 months.
I also think that Chow is doing itself and the chowhound a community a disservice by having the cut-off point be 3 months. While it depends on the restaurant, I think that info that's 6 to 12 months old is usually still valid.
Chowhound Post
Soy sauce turkey? Any ideas?
Yes, that's correct. But I would advise against cooking lamb in one's master sauce if you want to re-use it. Again, don't simmer, turn off the heat. You can bring it back up to simmer if the amount of liquid isn't large enough to hold temperature, but try to keep the flame off.
Chowhound Post
Soy sauce turkey? Any ideas?
But turning off the direct heat is critical to the silky texture of the chicken. Simmering will make it coarser. Can't say about a turkey. I think the way to go is parts, as others have suggested.
Chowhound Post
Époisses de Bourgogne and a First Class Cheese Counter Come to Salinas
Here's the page on igourmet's site for Epoisses, 8.8 oz., $22.99.
http://www.igourmet.com/shoppe/prodvi...
Chowhound Post
Époisses de Bourgogne and a First Class Cheese Counter Come to Salinas
Well, the Epoisses price for the wheel comes out to about $40 per pound.
Does igourmet.com have free shipping?
Chowhound Post
Époisses de Bourgogne and a First Class Cheese Counter Come to Salinas
Where have you found P-R for less in Salinas?
P-R is $18 to $25/lb in San Francisco. TJ's does sell it for less, but there's no Trader Joe's in Salinas.
Chowhound Post
Époisses de Bourgogne and a First Class Cheese Counter Come to Salinas
Two weeks ago Star Market announced the opening of a new staffed cheese counter. I happened to be there on opening day when the cheeses were being set up in the display cases. I've been back in the store twice and there seems to be good interest with customers checking it out. The staff are generous with samples. One woman was gushing that she was so happy to be able to buy a whole wheel of Humboldt Fog in town and carted one off with glee.
The selection is particular strong in hard cheeses, smart first move for inventory that will keep until demand picks up. I counted six types of Gouda alone, plus old Mimolette (the french version of Gouda). There's a nice selection of Alpine cheeses and favorites from California, such as Fiscalini. Great price on Parmigiano-Reggiano, $15.99/lb., available in pre-cut weights or hacked off the big wheel. Rogue River's here too.
Époisses de Bourgogne is $22 for a wheel of Berthaut. I noticed a whole wheel of Delice de bourgogne too and other soft French cheeses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89po...
The department also has a full selection of membrillo, artisan crackers, Fra Mani sausage, andn other accompaniments for a cheese course. Definitely worth checking out, let's make sure this venture is a success.
Chowhound Post
Fife Red Wines For $6.99 @ Trader Joe's
My favorite wines from Dennis Fife were the Mendocino County Petite Sirah's. Did you spot any?
