sobriquet's Profile
Le Creuset Braiser uses?
It makes a fantastic fryer. I second the saute pan comment above, too. If you don't have a good cast iron pan, the large flat bottom and lower sides makes it good for making steaks.
Rub a ribeye steak with a tiny bit of canola oil, kosher salt, and black pepper. Put the pan in a cold oven and set it to 500 degrees. When the oven is up to temp, drop it to 450, take the pan out and put it over high heat. Add the steak, cook 4 minutes, flip, then 4 more. Put the whole pan in the oven and cook through until you reach your desired doneness. I like to deglaze the pan with some brandy, a splash of beef stock (sometimes some cream), and sauteed mushrooms. Ah-mah-zing and the best crust you'll ever get on a steak.
Help! Refrigerator FULL of shredded cheese! What now?
Nachos, mac n' cheese, baked ziti, cheesy rice, quesadillas, cheese soup (potatoes, leeks....), gougeres, pizza...
Mark Bittman: Expert in Residence!
Mark,
I'm a young man without much experience in the kitchen. I've gotten very good at cooking beef and pork, but I seem to have a habit of over-cooking chicken breasts. How can you tell when they're ready to come out of the saute pan?
Second question: I love firm white fish and salmon, but both seem to be very expensive these days. What fish do you recommend that won't break the bank for weeknight meals?
Finally, what staples do you keep in your pantry for whipping up a quick dinner when you don't have time to run to the store?
Thanks for sharing your time with us, Mark. I adore the baked ziti recipe I got from your column.
Orange County micro-brewery?
I heard somewhere (I can't remember where) about a micro-brewery in Orange County, CA that is using yams. It's relatively new, but supposedly has been getting a lot of attention.
I can't remember what it was or where I heard about it. Does anyone know what it is? If so, where it could be purchased in the Los Angeles area?
Thanks, Chowhounds.
Anyone else bought Intelligentsia flecha roja?
Has anyone else bought Intelligentsia's flecha roja? I normally adore their coffee, but this is so bright, I'd say it's actually sour. I'm totally not a fan and actually thinking of throwing away the rest of the bag.
Bad batch? Not great for drip preparations? I'm using a beehive filtercone and have tried both Swissgold filters and paper filters. The courseness of the grind doesn't seem to impact it, either.
Your favorite Le Creuset color
I have an embarrassing quantity of red Le Creuset products. I have a single orange 12" skillet I inherited from my grandmother now that it's too heavy for her to use. It's twice my age and looks brand new despite frequent use over the years.
Santoku knives -- are they that great?
Holy necropost.
My $0.02? They're fine, but just don't get anything with the dimples. They greatly reduce the life of the knife. Once you sharpen to the point of the dimple (which depending on the brand can be quite close to the factory edge), the knife is done. They also don't really do very much for food sticking.
Best Coffee in LA
I, too, replied quite a while ago. For beans, Intelligentsia is where it's at. For espresso, their Black Cat can't be beat. Just don't use it for regular coffee - it doesn't work.
Their other coffees are superb in Moka pots, french press, or my new obsession, a Chemex pot.
dinner on sunset
You want casual tacos near Sunset, eh? It's not *ON* sunset, but I think it's worth the 5 minute drive.
Cactus Taqueria
950 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 464-5865
The al pastor is fantastic. I also like their carne asada. The pollo is tasty, too. OK, everything's good.
Please help an Austrian tourist to find great food in Santa Monica
Please let us know how you enjoyed your trip, Guybrush.
As others have said, I'd also agree with going to Father's Office for a more high brow burger. In-N-Out for is great for that classic American burger.
As for pastrami, I think it's worth a little bit of a drive out of Santa Monica. Places to go are Junior's, Nate n Al's, Canter's, and Langers. I, too, would avoid Jerry's. It's ok, but LA offers much better options.
Guten Appetit!
Best place for loose leaf tea?
The pictures make it look more like a restaurant than a store, but reviews seem to indicate they sell them there, too. I plan on giving them a try. Thanks again, Servorg.
Best place for loose leaf tea?
Close and looks very interesting. Thanks very much. I assume they sell the loose teas in their store and not just the website?
Best place for loose leaf tea?
I'm a huge fan of the coffee from Intelligentsia, but I've been having problems with them being out of the tea I like when I go.
Where else can I go to get good loose leaf tea? I'm skeptical of chain places (their coffee stinks, why would the tea be better?), but I'll keep an open mind. I'm up in Hollywood.
Tea ball that fits in a thermos?
When I make a single cup of tea, I'm able to use wonderful Earl Grey that I get from Intelligentsia. When I need to make a full thermos, though, I end up reverting back to lousy Twinings teabags.
Can anyone recommend a tea ball/filter basket that will fit in a Nissan thermos? Every one I've come across is too darned wide to fit. Surely someone has recognized the problem and made a cigar shaped filter basket? I really don't want to mess around with making my own teabags.
Thanks!
those little wooden boxes for salt
A salt cellar (or salt pig) and a good pepper grinder are indispensable. I recommend something with a lid like Alton Brown's version:
http://catalog.fullpond.com/altonbrown/productdetail.aspx?CatalogName=General&CategoryName=All+Merchandise&ProductID=ABRN+AB1008
Wanted: retro melita coffee rig
I have that Zojirushi coffee maker and it just collects dust now. I only break it out when I have a large group of people coming over. The coffee isn't *bad*, it just isn't stellar. The only thing that gets use in my house these days are my two Bialetti Moka pots.
No, if you want a coffee maker, do yourself a favor and do it right the first time like I should have: get a Technivorm and be done with it.
where can i find a new jersey style diner in so cal
You want a dive diner? The Original Pantry downtown.
Stainless steel kitchen table
Save yourself money and the trouble of looking around. Just go to Surfas in Culver City.
Where to eat around the Convention Center?
I'll admit I've never done it in LA - but since the distance is so short, how about a cab? If you shared it with a few other people and all went to lunch, it couldn't be very expensive.
Where to eat around the Convention Center?
Langer's is not too far from the Convention Center. ~7th and Alvarado.
Best Earl Grey (Reposted)
Is there a Coffeegeek-like site dedicated to tea? I'm looking for somewhere with reviews.
Do i have to drive all the way to Pizzeria Mozza?
Not quite in the same league, but there's a CPK at Venice and Overland....
Best Earl Grey (Reposted)
I know this is a very old thread, but I want to see if tastes have changed - or if anyone has tried the Earl Grey from Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea?
Help me with knife storage please
I assume from your name you're in NYC? You have an excellent resource in Korin (57 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007 (bet. W Broadway & Church St.)).
You can also go into any Sur La Table or or a restaurant supply store. The latter is going to be a lot cheaper and probably just as good (if not better).
Cleaning Waffle Irons
I've found it's easier to just use one of those spray cans that you can pump with the lid. It's also great for grill pans. Fill it up with regular canola oil and you're good to go.
re: sharpening cheap knives
Honing is not the same as sharpening. Honing brings an edge back to true - sharpening actually creates a new edge.
Osteria Mozza - Disneylandesque and Terrible Service
Agreed. While my mother was in from out of town, we had a meal at Mozza. Nancy came over and struck up a conversation with my mom. She was extremely warm and we had a great meal.
I can't understand the criticism of Mozza (or Campanile for that matter). It's one of my favorite places in the area. I think the bottom line is that some people are just too hard to please.
The only thing I agree with is that the seating at Pizzeria Mozza is extremely uncomfortable. I'll put up with it for the good food. At the end of the day, if you're really a chowhound, everything else is unimportant.
