Muskrat's Profile
Cocktail for BBQ suggestions?
Never thought of anything hard other than beer with BBQ. I'll be interested if anybody comes up with something that's traditional in some circles (as opposed to the random "how abut a grasshopper? " or "Have you thought of appletinis?")
How do people become food critics?
Having been a "critic" (I prefer "reviewer") in another field, I'll tell you how; it applies in pretty much any field: get somebody to publish your work. Convince an editor that you know what you're talking about and can express yourself in an interesting manner. That's pretty much it.
Now, how you're going to convince the editor? That's something else. I'd write a couple of sample reviews, and turn 'em in, if you can get anybody's attention. And the best way to get some editors' attention (well, publishers, but that's picking nits) is to work cheap. Most of us started out working for little or nothing; or, as the editors put it, "exposure." After you get some clips to prove yourself, with luck you can move on up the ladder.
It's changed a bit in the age of the Internet; you can just start a blog. Of course, anybody can start a blog, but that's another matter. Figure out some way to stand out from the competition.
Maybe a niche: French restaurants, food trucks, chain restaurants, whatever. A good hint is to find an area that nobody else is covering, but where there's an audience.
Note: it's strictly bush league to come up to a restaurant, announce yourself as a reviewer, and expect to get comped. People do it all the time (you may have read them, probably without knowing it), but word gets around the restaurants.
Good luck.
"Two eggs cooked any style"
I try to make it easy on the kitchen; don't have much regard for those who play "stump the cook.."
Killer Shrimp
I thought Killer Shrimp was owned by Lee Michaels, for '70s rock star. Maybe he was just fronting it?
Defunct Restaurants ......are these all long gone ?
"The Olympic Pioneers used to regularly put up a fried chicken liver special on the windows whenever I drove by."
-- How'd they know you were coming?
Great food and Music?
If Studio City is within your range, Vitello's might fill the bill
http://www.vitellosrestaurant.com/
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Vitello's Restaurant
4349 Tujunga Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
Casual quiet lunch place near Cedar Sinai?
There are a number of places right across 3rd Street from Cedars; I'd just look for one that looked appealing and not too crowded. Of course there's a cafeteria in the hospital (east office wing; third floor) that's...not very fancy, but right there.
Boston Creme Pie Please help
I have no reason to doubt your accuracy -- on the other hand, rejecting sponge cake (if the cook likes sponge cake) because it isn't "authentic" kind like dissing Panda Express Orange Chicken because that isn't how it's cooked in China? Personally, I'd go with what I like if it differs from what it's "supposed" to be.
On the third hand. it's good to know what the original BCP was/is.
A kitchen nightmare in the S.F. Valley?
A friend says he saw the truck unloading at La Frite. Any reports from out there?
http://www.lafritecafe.com/
McConnell's Egg Nog & Peppermint Ice Creams at Ralph's
Yeah, the McConnell's I see is at the Mayfair/Gelson's in Hollywood where I can't usually afford to shop. Can't remember what flavors I've seen in Ralphs..
McConnell's Egg Nog & Peppermint Ice Creams at Ralph's
Peppermint used to be a standard, year-round flavor for McConnells; I'd be surprised if it still isn't.
Of course back in my day, peppermint was pretty standard year-round everywhere. As was...anybody remember raspberry revel?
Lunch ideas within walking distance of Paramount Studios on Melrose Ave.
I concur with Lucy's. It's not terrible, a lot of atmosphere, and -- as sfgirl122 said, a real institution. Jerry Brown and Linda Ronstadt used to hang there when they were dating, and it's been around forever. And it's pretty much right across the street from Paramount, People on Chowhound tend to dismiss people's desire to eat in a certain area, and send 'em all over creation. Which may be OK for a local, but your logic makes perfect sense for someone passing through.
Koo Koo Roo is a yuppie Col. Sanders. But if you don't mind driving, Larchmont is only a few blocks west of Paramount, and there are all kinds of places to eat there; you can pretty much drive down the street (the commercial section is just a couple of blocks long) and find something that looks interesting. And is it a nice little area, a virtual small town just on the outskirts of Hollywood. Parking can be iffy.
Awkward situation - when is the correct time to put the money/credit card in the bill holder?
I put the payment in the holder (or ask for the check) as soon as I'm sure I'm not going to order anything more that (unlike, say, coffee refills) will be paid for. That way, with any luck, I'll be all paid up by the time I'm finished eating, and don't have to wait around, hoping to catch the server's attention then waiting for the payment to be processed.
Grill Marks on Steaks at General Consumer Restaurants
I'd follow this link and start investigating from the hints there (calling Sysco, for instance). Remember: Google is your friend!
http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=5019&page=2
Christmas Food Traditions
Many years ago -- late '50s or early '60s -- my father bought a customer, as sort of a business, a Mission Pak (sugared, dried fruit). Before he'd had a chance to give it, my father discovered that the customer was diabetic. So we wound up with it, under the tree, with the card reading "from a dear, dear friend."
Mission Pak is long gone, as is my father. But to this day, every year there's a gift platter of dried fruit under the tree..."from a dear, dear friend."
Pre-cooked dinners by mail?
My sister gave me a few dinners from Home Bistro. They're shipped in dry ice; then you put 'em in your freezer. You don't. however, microwave them; you drop the plastic bag in boiling water for several minutes. http://www.homebistro.com/
looking for good breakfast in moorpark area
You'd probably do better in Simi Valley or Thousand Oaks, both of which are a couple of minutes away from Moorpark and offer a lot more choice. That said, it's been so long since I've been in that area, I'll leave this question back in the capable hands of the 'Hounds.
Pumpkin Ice Cream is BACK at Trader Joe's!!!
The flyer made some reference to the supplier being "one of the most colorful" or something such, which I took as a reference to Double Rainbow. It may have been formulated to the Trader's specs, though. Personally, I love it.
Looking for great pies.
The last time this question came up (not too long ago), someone recommended Suga Pies. Good/bad news is that they seem to be delivery only.
http://www.sugapies.com/SugaPies.com/Home.html
Are you going to someone's house for Thanksgiving? What were you asked to bring? Care to share the recipe for whatever it is?
A friend chips in at a sort of pot-luck dinner every year, and winds up getting more praise than many of the more "difficult" items.
green beans (frozen, defrosted is fine)
Garlic
Butter
Salt & pepper
saute until some of the beans blacken. There is no such thing as "too much" butter or garlic.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay thread - 4th Quarter 2010 [OLD]
They were giving out tastes of pumpkin pie in my local store the other day; and, when asked, made a point of specifying that it was the fresh pie, rather than the frozen. The fresh pie was OK (if just), but ever so much better heated up and with a scoop of pumpkin ice cream!
Powerful blender for Quirky Single?
I used to have an Osterizer (!) with a separate ice-crusher attachment. It worked great, and was somewhat adjustable. It disappeared several moves ago and I have no need to crush ice, but maybe something like that is still available?
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay thread - 4th Quarter 2010 [OLD]
Strong approval from this corner for the pumpkin ice cream (on pumpkin pie, natch); and the crinkle-cut potato chips. The salt-and-pepper variety should be illegal, just because they're so damned tasty.
Restaurants unfairly snubbed by Jonathan Gold
I don;t know Jonathan to ask him, but...
Los Angeles is a huge area, with a lot of restaurants. And he has visited a lot of 'em. But if he hasn't got to your favorites -- and are you positive he hasn't? -- give him time. Better still, drop him a note,
Food Wars
The Camille Ford show lost me when they stopped doing blind tastings, and cut the number of judges to three. Amazing how she always has to break the tie. I like her a lot; just wish the fix wasn't so obviously in. The other show, the guy goes through all the judging stuff, then says the only opinion that counts is his. But again, he knows what he's eating, so his opinion isn't necessarily to be trusted as to being based on the food. Not that I (or you or anybody else) would necessarily pick the same one as him or Camille Ford.
Hell's Kitchen grr a rerun tonight
I'm sure they had the new episode scheduled for when they knew the series would be over. When it ended in 5, they were forced to change in a hurry, I'd be surprised if there were many, if any, new episodes on Fox this week.
That said, let me predict: somebody will drop something; a couple of contestants will get into a fight; somebody will spoil the risotto (or beef wellington), and Chef Ramsey will yell at everybody.
In-n-Out Burger's "Secret Menu"
The "secret menu" is so secret, In-n-Out put it on their website.
Great marketing tool, though.
http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp
Thanksgiving dinner in Santa Barbara
For years -- decades, maybe -- we had our family Thanksgiving at the Biltmore. Now it's down to me and my sister, but I'd heartily recommend the place. It's seaside, too.
http://www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara/dining/bella_vista/
Barefoot Contessa is back!! New Episodes Begin Oct 18
I get a little nervous when the chef doesn't wear shoes in the kitchen.
