Whatever recipe you use, chill the mixture before forming the balls. Then, chill the matzo balls before dropping them in boiling water. Keep us posted on the results :)

I agree with the French Dip. When I moved out to LA as a kid in the 60s it was the only thing in LA that we didn't have in Chicago (home of the Italian beef sandwich). The only Mexican food I remember from back then was taco stand food not much different from today's Taco Bell.

I live across the street from Jinky's in Sherman Oaks. I ate there when they first opened and wasn't impressed. Never went back. They are usually packed for Sunday brunch. I don't see what people see there. I ate at John O'Groats years ago when they opened on Pico. Hardly recall what I had. I guess it's really a matter of personal taste. ???

It's just a little coffee shop with old orange vinyl seating. Haven't been there on Sunday morning for a while but people lined up to get in for Sunday breakfast. Still my favorite place for diner food.

Of all the names mentioned in this topic, my favorite is Pacific Dining Car. Can't wait to read your reviews. Enjoy!

If I could only eat in one restaurant the rest of my life it would be Rae's on Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica. Eggs & toast, hamburger, chicken salad sandwich, hot beef sandwich, secret bakery chocolate cake :)

Thanks for the info. How's the French onion soup, if they have it?

La Frite was open as Yellowfingers when Gordon Ramsay was a mere laddie. I was eating their ratatouille crepes with delight when he was still a schoolboy! For a local, family-owned restaurant to be in business in Los Angeles county as long as La Frite has been is an accomplishment. La Frite has a devoted following and didn't need Ramsey's "help."

It's not just Pyrex that this happens to. I took a French Picardie glass off the dish rack and it shattered in my hand. I was finding glass shards in the kitchen for two (2) years. I took them back to Williams Sonoma and they exchanged them for me. The glasses, like Pyrex, are very sturdy and hold up to a lot of stress but suddenly, when the stress builds up, the object shatters.

Last time I moved, I moved less than a mile away. I took the kitchen drawers out, left the kitchen tools in them and drove them to the new place. I unloaded them and drove the empty drawers back to the old home. I think I either left the knives in the knife block or wrapped them in towels.

There weren't many dishes left to move (thank you San Andreas fault).

I've always wanted to go to Mistral but can never get in when I have the opportunity or occasion to dine there. It's been there for about 20 years. 13422 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks

The best pancakes I ever had were at DuPars. This past New Year's Day I wanted pancakes for my birthday breakfast. I decided to check out the pancakes at Philippe's and was pleasantly surprised. I guess I haven't had DuPars' pancakes for a while so I don't know if I've had the adulterated Naylor's recipe. Considering the price difference, I'm glad I tried Philippe's.

Intrigued by the sound of Crepes Suzette from the Patty Duke Show theme song, I attempted to make them. I didn't even know what they were but my mother humored me and let me have a go at it. I think I was about 9 at the time. There may have been earlier baking episodes come to think of it. :)

Yes! They have 8 ounce jars. What struck me was that I remembered a Chowhound post about Duke's from about 2 years ago. Can't wait to try it! :)

I used to love the Valley Ranch BBQ! Discovered it in 1975 and continued going there until about 2005. The beans were made with their BBQ sauce. The ingredient that was unique to the sauce, and the cole slaw, was celery seeds.

I found a supply of Duke's mayonnaise at a Dollar Tree Store in Southern California. Anyone want some? I bought a jar today because I recalled this post. Can't wait to try it!

Hi Ike!

I grew up on hot beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy and it's not the same as a French dip or an Italian beef sandwich. As a Chicago native living in LA,I love those sandwiches, too, but the hot beef is my favorite. I order mine dry with extra gravy on the side. I'm sure my arteries are thrilled.

Most of the places where I remember having the best hot beefs are long gone except for Rae's on Pico in Santa Monica. I'm pretty sure the potatoes are homemade and not instant.

I think I also had a decent hot beef at Vip's on Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana. Vip's is a little independent coffee shop in an office building. The late. great John Wooden ate breakfast there. :)

I recommend Mom's Barbecue on Vanowen at Hazeltine in Van Nuys. I've been given birthday cakes from Mom's. Not decorated but so good!

I love ketchup! Ironically, the largest size fast food packets I've ever seen were in Paris! They were filled with Heinz. I would probably die without ketchup LOL

Speaking of salad dressings, I haven't seen Creamy French (not like "real" French Vinaigrette) in years. The late LA restaurant Nickodell's had it. Okay, it's only ketchup, mayonnaise, etc. but I still miss having it in a restaurant.

I remember Reeds candy rolls that were similar to LifeSavers. They also made a sucker/lollipop. They were a little larger than a regular sucker and looked like a piece of stained glass. Beautiful. It was my favorite red sucker. Haven't seen Reeds in years.

Try Orange County Kosher Market
688 El Camino Road
Tustin 92780
714-838-3107

There are several kosher pareve (non-dairy) brands of chocolate chips. I think I still have a bag of Lieber.

Shortly after moving out, I attempted to make French onion soup. I was pretty good at home. Following the recipe, I sauteed batch 1 of the onions and was slicing batch 2. Distracted by the ringing telephone, I lost concentration and almost lost part of my index fingertip. I was disabled by the cut which was bleeding profusely, so I turned off the stove. I think i may have dripped into the soup ICK!

My finger healed rather quickly but it was a very long time before the onion smell left my place.

I went into my local McD's in the last waning moments of St. Paddy's day. There was hardly enough for one small Shamrock shake. I asked if they would mix with chocolate. (I love chocolate mint, but that's another post) They said they couldn't!

Rae's has been a favorite of mine for years. Great breakfast! :)

The Candy Factory is on the South side of Magnolia a half block west of Whitsett. For those of you in the West Valley, there is Kake Kreations on Sherman Way between Topanga and Canoga.

I saw an old Julia Child episode yesterday where some chef showed her the way to slaughter a lobster. It was as you describe. Brutal. They chef said it was less painful for the lobster than being put in boiling water alive.

Sounds about right. Ranch is everywhere. This English grocery store chain, Fresh & Easy opened up near my neighborhood. They have a limited selection of food items. They do, however, have no less than eight (8) varieties of ranch dressing!?!?!?!

Third Nat's! Absolutely!

Sounds great! I'll try to get there this weekend. I'd rather give THEM my money than Ralphs or Whole Foods! Thanks to the OP, Purple Teeth, for the suggestion.