Kate is always hungry's Profile
Pickle Bills
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. :)
fudgy, moist chocolate cake
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!
"Best Ketchup" ?
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
Can you name foods and drinks where the original recipe has almost disappeared from mainstream restaurants?
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.
What is your favorite hard to find candy?
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.
Where to get non-dairy mini chocolate chips in OC?
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.
When you first started cooking away from home, what were some of your disasters?
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.
Shamrock Shake 2010
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!
BEST hearty BREAKFAST in Los Angeles area! Bacon, Eggs, Potatoes, Pancakes, French Toast! The Works!
Rae's has been a favorite of mine for years. Great breakfast! :)
Candy boxes, etc needed...
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.
Whatever Happened to Roquefort Dressing in Restaurants?
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!?!?!?!
Fig Produce in trouble! Please consider this excellent eastdside store for shopping this Holiday.
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.
best cole slaw?
Your grandmother's cole slaw sounds like the one they serve at the Valley Ranch Barbeque on Sherman Way near Balboa. It's one of my favorite cole slaws. It has celery seeds. I'm not sure about the horseradish, but it has a bit of tang. Could be horseradish???
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Valley Ranch Barbeque
16623 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91406
What old fine restaurants left in the USA?
Lamb's in Salt Lake City since 1919. Ate there once after a day of skiing. I liked it. I'd go back. Anyone been?
Where should I store oatmeal? Location, not type of container.
I'm in L.A. My oatmeal stays in the freezer until I'm ready to cook. Too hard to see the bugs in oatmeal.
What do you love and collect?
Cake stands! That is one of my favorite collections. I would have more but they take up a lot of room. Do you have one that is square or rectangular? I can justify having lots because a homemade, decorated cake deserves a special plate.
Some of my food/drink/cooking related collections: shot glasses and barware; teapots; sifters; assorted cooking utensils, especially with red handles or nobs (see CookieWeasel's post); cook books and recipe clippings; restaurant dishes and cups; aprons; I cut off my salt shaker collection at about twelves pairs.
I stay away from EBay, garage sales, and flea markets--too much temptation.
Best Duck I've Ever Had
The best duck (a l'orange) I've ever had was at a restaurant, long since shuttered, call Gourmenauts. It was in Ocean Park. I've had duck a l'orange since, even in Paris--nowhere as good. The skin was amazingly crisp and the sauce was not overly sweet.
The second best was a charcoal broiled duck breast with raspberry sauce. I think it was on Lake in Pasadena???
Koji Truck sighting in Sherman Oaks
If anyone's interested, the Koji Truck is on Ventura Blvd. (north side) between Beverly Glen and Hazeltine. I saw it at 6:30. There was a line about half a block long.
Foods you can't keep in the house because you can't stop yourself eating them
No salty crunchy to be found in my house--wouldn't last long. I referred to Crunchy Cheetos as "snack crack" on a previous thread. Can't stop eating them. Same with chips, potato and Dorito Cool Ranch.
Best brownie mixes? Duncan HInes?
I usually do scratch but those Ghirardelli brownies were amazing! I've never seen a brownie so dark. Very rich and moist.
Calling all Pies! Dessert or main dish what is your favorite?
Chicken pot pie. They used to have an excellent one at the courthouse cafeteria in Van Nuys. Long gone.
My fresh strawberry or peach, my pumpkin pie.
Foods That Destroy the Roof of your Mouth
Hold your head up high!
By the way, what do you think of the new colors? Have you seen the limited edition swirly Trix?
For a delicious roof-damaging treat, try butter sauteed Cheerios. Salt lightly and drink a glass of chocolate milk on the side.
Steakhouse in San Fernando Valley (other than Ruth's Chris)
Larsen's Steakhouse on Ventura Blvd. at Woodley. I haven't been yet but I've heard good things.
Brooklyn Pizzeria is a gem
Hi Tom!
So glad you liked my favorite mom & pop hole in the wall pizza joint!
Brooklyn Pizzeria is a gem
On Tampa, southwest corner of the intersection of Tampa and Vanowen.
Sherman Oaks: is there any place worth crossing the hills for?
I vote for El Criollo, too. My favorite Ropa Vieja since they first opened. Love the place!
