Divamac's Profile
San Diego CLOSED Restaurants - Replacement for old board.
I don't know if this is old news, but Carnitas Uruapan in Lemon Grove is closed. Anyone know the story?
Orlando - Higher-end for a group?
I want to thank everyone for your suggestions. We ended up with a semi-private room at the Bull and Bear at the Waldorf Astoria. The guests were please, service was fantastic, and the food was excellent. Thanks for your help!
Costco Food Finds - 1st QTR 2011 - Old
Yes, the organic blueberries are very good and a good deal right now, too.
Orlando - Higher-end for a group?
Great suggestions, everyone. Thank you!
Any thoughts on Shula's?
Orlando - Higher-end for a group?
I am attending a trade show at Coronado Springs in the Magic Kingdom in late March and want to take a group of 20-30 out to a private dinner on a Monday evening. Budget of $100-125 per head. No specific cuisine required. Would like a high-end experience but I am utterly unfamiliar with the options. Looking for a private or semi-private room within reasonable distance of the park (I will be booking transportation to/from the hotel for them).
This will be a group of professional men, mostly in their 50's if that helps. Nice wine list would be appreciated. Plan to order off the menu unless the restaurant can offer a nice prix fixe.
Any ideas, 'hounds?
Costco Food Finds - 1st QTR 2011 - Old
San Diego, Mission Valley location: Morningstar Farms Chipotle Black Bean Burgers. Huge 1/4 pound veggie burgers that are full of flavor. I found them once before in early fall, then they disappeared until now. Different from (and better than) the Morningstar black bean burgers you can get in the regular market. 15 stacked in a box for ~$12.
Care to share your Costco grocery list?
For 2 adults and a puppy
Avocados
English cucumbers
Berries
Tomatoes on the vine
Salad greens
Lemons
Baguettes
Peanut butter
Almond butter
Strawberry preserves
Fage Yogurt
Parmesano Reggiano
Gruyere
Costal cheddar
Shredded Mexican cheese blend
Eggs
Tarantino Hot Italian Sausages
Organic ground beef
Oatmeal
Dried fruit (cherries!)
Canned beans
Canned tuna
Canned tomatoes
Sardines
Canned salmon
Frozen shrimp
Frozen salmon filets
Home Run Inn frozen pizza
Bao steamed pork buns
Trash bags
Cleaning products
Paper products
Fish oil pills (for the dog)
Dog treats
Books
I think the list would have been shorter if I listed what I bought elsewhere!
Where do they make the best French Dip sandwich in the county?
$7.99 for the 'wich and they are very generous. Their entire menu is online. They smoke their own meats on-premise. It's a real treat!
Where do they make the best French Dip sandwich in the county?
Motor City Deli in Miramar makes a great tri-tip sandwich. Not an authentic French Dip (the meat is no cut as thin) but good bread, GREAT meat and a side of jus.
http://www.motorcitydeli.com/
Cheese at Costco
These are the same 2 cheeses that I always buy. I adore that Costal cheddar!
Gino Giant
I lived around the corner from a Gino's (2nd and Roosevelt Blvd in Philly) and spent lots of time hanging out there. Wasn't that the first place you could ge Kentucky Fried Chicken?
Top Chef All-Stars - Ep. #4 - 12/22/10 (Spoilers)
Here's the recipe from the Daily Soup cookbook. It's not light in the least :)
Warning: The site plays an annoying jingle when you open the page.
http://www.shoprite.com/Wellness.aspx?resource=/assets/recipe/senegalese-peanut-soup/~default
Top Chef All-Stars - Ep. #4 - 12/22/10 (Spoilers)
There used to be a chain of soup restaurants in NYC (Daily Soup) that served a Senegalese Peanut Soup that was out of this world. As soon as I heard Carla describe her dish, I knew it was going to be memorable. I imagine everyone thought "peanut butter soup," which it is not. I *heart* Carla. I can't believe that everyone continues to underestimate her.
Top Chef All-Stars - Ep. #3 - 12/15/10 (Spoilers)
I thought the same thing when I saw it. Here's a pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlhacker/5203608350/
Price compare: BJs & Costco vs Target/other supermarkets
Here in California, I think Costco beats the supermarkets on price, quality and freshness most times. Luckily I live a few miles from a Costco so it's not a big deal to go in the evenings or within a hour of closing on weekends so crowds are not really an issue.
I find that, hands down, Costco beats the local supermarkets on price and quality fo many items. My regular purchases include: paper towels, english cucumbers, canned tuna and salmon, ground turkey, cereal, Fage yogurt, avocados, fresh bread, hearts of romaine, berries, almond milk, quality cheeses (parmesano reggiano, costal cheddar, gruyere, brie), grape tomatoes... It drives me crazy to have to buy any of these in a regular supermarket any more.
Ice Cream in San Diego, Ice Cream Cakes?
Thanks! The Cherry Vanilla was nostalgic for me - I love Breyer's from way back. I'll give a try to some other flavors since they are walking distance for me.
Ice Cream in San Diego, Ice Cream Cakes?
I have only had Mariposa's ice cream once - during the Adams Avenue Street Fair this year. It was a very hot day when most any ice cream would taste great, but I was very disappointed by their Cherry Vanilla. It was tasteless. Are there any flavors that stand out?
Too late to get a good turkey?
Fantastic! I was in a panic this morning thinking of a pending turkey disaster!
Too late to get a good turkey?
My husband just volunteered me to cook T'day dinner for 12 and that, of course, means turkey. Had I known earlier, I would have placed my order for a heritage bird at Iowa Meats. Am I out of luck finding a decent bird in San Diego at this late date? Any suggestions?
I don't eat a lot of meat, but when I do I prefer non factory farmed i possible.
Top Chef Just Desserts Anniversary Cakes Episode (Spoiler)
Agreed as well. In the end. I don't mind confidence - even bordering on arrogance -- on a competitive show especially if you have the talent to back it up. And Morgan has the talent. I grew tired of the Time Go-Diva early on, and while I was not bothered by Zac (in the same way one is not bothered by a cartoon character) I find Yigit insufferable, whiny and immature. Morgan's been the clear winner of this since about episode 5.
ChemoHounding
On my good days, I craved bean and cheese burritos. I had mouth ulcers and the soft texture was easy to eat without causing too much discomfort.
ChemoHounding
Anticancer is a great book - inspiring and informative and full of some great advice. Lots of info about avoiding foods that create inflammation in the body. Made a lot of sense to me. When I read it a couple of years ago I recommended it to everyone.
RECIPE: Chocolate Malt Cake
That's great to hear! I haven't made this in a couple of years. I'll have to find a reason to whip one up again.
ChemoHounding
Please don't take my post as recommendations. I was merely telling you my experience, not specifically making recommendations. Your friend's experience will be different than mine, and she will eat whatever she can stomach during her treatment.
Whole milk and chicken were the centerpieces of my diet during chemo - two foods I haven't eaten in the 12 years since. Depending on the regimen, there's not much you can do about some muscle wasting. But when it comes down to it, you feel so lousy that you are willing to eat anything you can keep down jus to get some calories in.
ChemoHounding
When I went through chemo, there were several stand-bys that I ate throughout. It all depended where I was in the cycle. Some days, it was all I could do to stand water. I also lost the ability to taste sweet, so everything tasted a little like sand. I lost 65 pounds over 3 months with muscle wasting, and it became really important that I get in as many calories as I could stand.
But the foods that got me through:
Farina or oatmeal with milk nearly every day. Choked down prune juice, too. There are side effects no one ever talks about.
I ate a lot of broiled or boiled skinless chicken and mashed potatoes that were light on the butter. As dehydration can be a concern, I saved the broth I cooked the chicken in to sip on. Sports drinks and I did not get along.
I craved miso soup.
By the end of treatment I had mouth ulcers that made it hard to chew, I drank a lot of whole milk to try and stop the weight loss, sometimes with a banana blended into it. Protein powder might have been a good idea. The taste of Ensure was terrible to me.
Best wishes to your friend.
Just Desserts 7: Dessert Wars!
I thought they deemed themselves Team Go Diva during a Godiva chocolate challenge somewhere around episode 3. Or maybe I dreamed that so that I could stomach their incessant "Go Diva!" cheers before the challenges. Seems like a clever Zac-ism.
I think Zac is funny and cute as a button plus I think he's savvy enough to have created a character for the show so that he gets camera time. I think he's given an obvious shout out to the sponsoring product in every episode so far.
Yigit and Heather annoyed to no end. I find Yigit's ego to be unbearable and he comes off insincere. Yigit's desserts also don't appeal to me. Does everything need to have a gelee? , Heather's sourpuss became too much to watch.
What do you use to store dry goods-- flour, lentils, etc?
I keep my more perishable things in the freezer, too (whole wheat flours for example). I have had issues with nasty creatures and I fear finding crawlies in my dry goods. The plastic SnapWare containers I use are freezer-friendly.
What is the next pedestrian food to go "gourmet"?
I would love to see that one. I recently noticed that the cookbook "Nourishing Traditions" has been creeping up on list of best selling cookbooks on Amazon. It's full of naturally fermented foods.
http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735
What is the next pedestrian food to go "gourmet"?
With the wedge salad popping up on every menu these days, they will have to up the ante somehow. I think you are on to something!
