Claudette's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
Martha Stewart's opinions
I don't think Martha does any of that herself - I think her servants do it all for her. I stopped respecting her about 15 yrs ago when she wrote "scrub driveway" on her todo calendar. Scrub, indeed! I think she just takes all the credit for everything her staff does for her.
Chowhound Post
Tucson - Mexican restaurant?
Too bad you didn't enjoy it; that's why I suggested the Plato - at least one of the three would have been a home run for you. She has over a hundred recipes, it is said, and I can't remember having any mole repeated, but then we only dine there a couple times a year. Once we had a yellow almond mole over a fish, and it was divine.
Chowhound Post
How can I fluff up my already cooked, slightly soupy quinoa?
Can you drain it in a colander, then stir it over a low/med flame until it dries out? That works with potatoes prior to mashing. Your dish sounds wonderful.
Chowhound Post
Martha's pies
Dairy Queen - Bouchon's breakfast was indeed amazing! I ate there twice in two days. Still, everyone in our party was blown away by the inventiveness, variety, and deliciousness at Mesa.
Jeanmarieok - I had a shrimp dish at Tampolobampo that made me want to lick my plate and then run into the kitchen and lick Rick Bayless! One of the most memorable dishes I'd ever had. Ironically, nothing I ever ate at French Laundry, Alinea, nor Chez Panisse even came close...
Chowhound Post
Martha's pies
While all of that may be true, the dinner we had at Mesa was so delicious that it beat out, surprisingly to us, all of our other Las Vegas dinners (at Mario's, Colicchio's, and even Keller's restos).
Chowhound Post
What's the #1 Thing That You Eat and Say, "Wow That REALLY Hit The Spot"?
A Lindt dark chocolate bar.
Chowhound Post
Tucson - Mexican restaurant?
Be sure to order the Plato at Poca Cosa so you get a sampling. Otherwise, it's a huge plate of just one mole. BTW: they have the best margaritas, IMHO.
Have fun in Tucson - you'll love the weather.
Chowhound Post
Chinese BBQ turkeys in San Jose
I wondered about this. The hot Chinese ovens seem more suited to the fatty meats (pork, duck) than to turkey, which is pretty lean.
Chowhound Post
Ramekin Questions
You're welcome, and I hope you have fun experimenting.
BTW: not all ramekins are created equal. There are some really cheap ones out there (with no-name bottoms, or just marked "Made in China") that chip really easily, even from just stacking them. The ones from Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table are expensive, but they will last for years if you aren't abusive. Look at Cost Plus for possible mid-priced ones.
Even so, I've broken enough of them over the past 20 years that I now have 14 mismatched 8-oz ramekins, but no one's noticed nor cared. My husband wants everything to match, but I enjoy diversity. Hmmm...topic for another thread?
Chowhound Post
Omni Orlando at ChampionsGate?
I have to attend a conference there, and I suspect that the hotel restaurants won't be very chow-worthy. Am I wrong? Is there anything interesting nearby, or am I stuck? (I can borrow a car, or catch a cab.) TIA!
Chowhound Post
What is your favorite healthy snack?
Edamame, with or without chili salt. Foie gras. (Just kidding, but in my dreams...)
Chowhound Post
Ramekin Questions
The appropriate size depends on: what kind of filling? (chicken is cheaper than lobster, and would fill 8oz. nicely); will it be a main dish or a side dish? (Again, 8 oz for main, 6 oz for side); will it be for women, or mixed company? Lunch or dinner? (My girlfriends, for lunch, would prefer 6 oz with a salad; my husband would prefer 8 oz or more, with lots of mushrooms and cheese). I don't think there's a hard, fast rule, nor bad/best answers.
Chowhound Post
Martha's pies
Dairy Queen, I can hear Martha now: "Off with her head," as she whacks a hedgehog with a flamingo in your general direction.
Chowhound Post
Good almond croissants in/near San Jose?
Bay Bread has a stand in the Sunnyvale Farmer's Market on Saturdays; you have to get there early - there was only one almond croissant left when we got there at 10am.
Chowhound Post
Martha's pies
"like Scarlett O'Hara picking on Shirley Temple." - LOL!!! I love that visual!
Chowhound Post
Martha's pies
With a few exceptions, Martha is condescending to everyone - she never lets her guests finish their sentences, and just butts in with her gab. Jeremy Fox was on last week, and every time she asked him a question, she interrupted him midway through. I can't stand her, but I do like her guests.
Chowhound Post
Can any cake recipe be used to make cupcakes?
I got mine at Sur La Table a yr or two ago.
Chowhound Post
The Next iron Chef - Down to Two (spoilers, including for finale episode)
I've wondered about that, too. And cooking with "love" - huh? One of my friends loves to cook, and loves to cook for me, in particular, but her food still tastes really awful.
Chowhound Post
The Next iron Chef - Down to Two (spoilers, including for finale episode)
Do they get to skew the results so the nice guy wins? Or prevent a substandard guy who happens to be on top at the right time over a more qualified person?
I'm asking out of curiosity. It seems Top Chef couldn't, and got stuck with Ilan winning one season.
Chowhound Post
The Next iron Chef - Down to Two (spoilers, including for finale episode)
Jeffrey used to be mean and funny, but I've noticed that he's gotten just meaner w/o the wit and humor. He fights with all the judges now, not just a couple. Maybe he's having a hard personal life?
Chowhound Post
Tucson Chowhounds- How is Primo?
You could be right, even though we eat there every 3 months and have never seen her. I have to say that the things I love have always been good, and the things I don't (saltimbocca, fish) have not.
While even my favorite restaurants can't be always consistent, it's interesting how much they can differ from meal to meal, or even amongst the same table of diners.
BTW: we ate at Acacia once, and all three of us got three really odd-tasting dishes: not bad, not good, just strangely spiced, seasoned, and combined, almost like the cook had a cold and couldn't taste anything. If we went back, is there anything you recommend?
Chowhound Post
Tucson Chowhounds- How is Primo?
Primo is my favorite white tablecloth resto in Tucson. The onion foccacia is one of my all-time favorite breads; call ahead and ask the manager, Ian, to ask the chef if he'll put the saffron mussels app on the menu for the night that you'll be there - the mussels, sauce, and wood-smoked bread all make for a killer dish. Don't miss the zeppoli for dessert. We like the salumi app, too. If the weather is nice, they have a lovely patio and a nice sunset view.
Generally, most of the other dishes are fine, and the desserts are very good, but I've found the fish dishes are the weakest (one might ask, why fish in Tucson? but several other restaurants do fish very well). My daughter loves the signature saltimbocca, but I've always found it too bland and salty. Have fun!
Chowhound Post
Tucson - Mexican restaurant?
LOL!!! As my husband would say, "Why don't you tell us what you really think?" Thanks for the post!
Chowhound Post
Lunch near Stanford Med Center
My parents like California Cafe, but while the food is okay, I think it's a bit over-rated. I heard there's a nice little sandwich shop right next to it that's good. Across the street is Andronico's and we always grab stuff from the deli when we're in a hurry. Their roast chicken is pretty good, for "fast food." If you go there, don't miss the chocolate-dipped lemon sandwich cookie at the cookie counter (from Douce France, and it's divine even though I don't usually like chocolate and lemon together). They also have a standard selection of fresh sushi, and a good selection of single-origin chocolate bars.
Chowhound Post
Lunch near Stanford Med Center
If you're already paying for parking at the hospital, just walk to the Stanford Barn, since sometimes parking there can be an issue, too, esp. at lunch.
Chowhound Post
Baking pie on pizza stone? Yay or nay?
I leave my stones in the oven all the time because I'm lazy; regulating the oven temp is certainly a side benefit.
Chowhound Post
Baking pie on pizza stone? Yay or nay?
I've been baking my pies on my pizza stones for years, with much success (great bottom crusts). My pyrex pans haven't cracked, but the stories I've read have made me more careful. I always put a sheetpan between the pie and the stone, though, to catch drips. I hate cleaning stones!
Chowhound Post
Best restaurants near the Doubletree in Tucson, AZ?
I second the vote for Poca Cosa, and it's worth the cab ride. Feast is only a couple of miles, and most concierges discourage walking that distance, but if you're from NYC or SF, that should be a piece of cake, especially this time of year. (I wouldn't recommend it in the summer.)
Chowhound Post
Sponge Cake - ingredient substitution query.
MMRuth, I've seen lots of sponge cake recipes with water, so that shouldn't be a problem. But don't you like orange with hazelnut? I know that hazelnut and chocolate is a favorite combo at my house. Your plan sounds divine! Yum!
