Junoesq's Profile
Where to cater Thanksgiving meal from in Carlsbad?
Definitely try Tip Top in Carlsbad. They definitely roast Diestel turkeys to order and may well have full meals to go. This is a German butcher with grocery and restaurant so it is perfect for tasty comfort food like a Thanksgiving dinner.
Monterey Park Dim Sum for Beginners
We don't speak Mandarin.We are not up for braving a two hour line. We also want to get past Empress Pavilion.
So can we still go somewhwere in Monterey Park and enjoy Sunday dim sum?
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Empress Pavilion Restaurant
988 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
dirt cheap eats- less than 8 euros
I have not been, but in planning a trip for May, I came upon recommendations here for cous couse at Les Quatres Freres and it is soooo cheap. Will probably try it myself.
How to make Chicago-style crust
FWIW the recipe I have been using for years has a good dose of corn meal and a lot of olive oil in it. From a cookbook I bought at O'Hare.
SD: I got $10 bucks..where to go?
Dinner for two at McCormick & Schmicks during happy hour!
Lemon menrigue pie recipe
My Mom loves lemon meringue so I have experimented over the years. The key to enough lemon punch is lemon zest - not lemon juice. Frankly, I think the classic Joy of Coking recipe is great if you amp up the tartness with a few teaspoons of zest.
Thank you, Seattle - Three days, three dinners and I am ready for the next trip back (Long)
Lunch at Salumi met all expectations, an accomplishment in view of the rave reviews posted here. I arrived, suitcase still in tow, straight from the airport, and it was late in the lunch hour. Because I got the last, slightly undersized portion of porchetta, the counter staff suggested making it a combo and added a meatball to the empty spot on the end of the roll. Love the aged patina of the high ceilinged room and the communal elbow to elbow conviviality too. My only complaint about the communal seating is that I really felt constrained from moaning aloud as I ate! I also wonder if they have considered lobster bibs. My sandwich was a six napkin affair and the lady seated across from me bore a three inch long pesto drip on her jacket. I viewed it as a badge of honor and did not even point it out until she was done eating. Why interrupt a good sandwichgasm?
Dined alone at Café Campagne the first night and though I enjoyed the meal, this was the most mixed experience. Chose from the Restaurant Week prix fixe and was delighted with the room, the welcome and the staff. The Tarte Flambé was good but not great - I was fine with the restraint in the portion size and the quantity of the toppings but it was frankly burned. I appreciate a good char and normally like the European style willingness to go a bit beyond just “done.” This was pretty well scorched. That short coming was offset by the chicken-pistachio sausage on sautéed escarole which was superb – perfectly seared exterior with juicy chicken forcemeat redolent of allspice. I also ordered a side of pommes frites which were world class. Dessert was a cherry clafouti with a boule of decent vanilla ice cream, but it suffered from a sever paucity of cherries. I conceive of clafouti as a gratin filled with fruit lightly bound by the batter and this was more like a thick pancake sprinkled with cherries. What do you want for twenty-five bucks? BTW – the baguette and butter here are both really remarkable.
Steelhead Diner was a huge pleasant surprise. We chose it spontaneously after my sister vetoed a number of the chowder in a bread bowl caliber places in the Market. Again, we arrived for a late lunch, but the room was full enough to give it a congenial air. The whole grain bread, flecked with flax seed, arrived with a pat of melting sweet butter in a bright emerald pool of pureed spring garlic. Oh, man. The New Orleans influence really shines here. One of the best crab cakes I have ever had was served with a classic whole grain mustard remoulade. The red beans and rice with andouille would pass muster anywhere in NOLA. The mustard greens were graced by nice lardons of pancetta in pot liquor that cried out for corn bread.
Matt’s at the Market, by contrast, was a case of stellar food marred by service that king spirited but inept. We had a reservation for 8:15 and waited in a cramped and drafty vestibule a good fifteen minutes with four or five other parties while tables turned and were set back up. Not fully within the control of the house when earlier parties linger, so easily forgiven. However, by ten thirty, when we had only finished our first courses, my patience was gone. My sister got the impression that we were deliberately disregarded because we were not drinking with dinner. I only know that I tipped twenty percent and felt bad about it for encouraging continued mediocrity in a place where the food deserves the respect of great service.
Matt’s is in a great room, lively, warm, with a calm open kitchen, and great vintage market feel from the floor to ceiling demi lune windows. The food was pretty remarkable – we shared two entrees, a stew of halibut, manila clams, head on shrimp, and mussels in a light fennel broth. Every piece of seafood was a perfect specimen, perfectly cooked; broth seasoned to perfection; nice piece of toasted bread with a large dollop of rouille. The other selection was billed as “chicken and dumplings” but was a hotel breast of chicken with crispy skin sliced and served in a pool of light but intensely flavored brown chicken jus with herbed gnocchi. A handful of spring peas and brunoise of carrot and parsnip added a little counterpoint of color.
On our last night, the Dahlia Lounge delivered on all frontiers. Great food, room, service, bar, and fellow diners all made it a perfect last night. We ordered multiple small dishes and were wowed by all but one (the pedestrian shrimp scallion “pot stickers” which lacked flavor and suffered from a fully fried surface instead of the browned on the bottom, steamed on the top textural contrast of a pot sticker).
The Indian spiced “samo” looked like two little drumsticks instead of the traditional pyramid shape of a samosa, but the seasoning, the mint raita, chutney and sprout garnish made for a tasty mouthful. The fries were stellar and we equally loved the curried ketchup and aioli dips. Broccoli rabe sautéed with garlic was fabulous, just not particularly “caramelized” as billed. With all of those sides our small plate “mains” were perfectly portioned. Two exquisite diver scallops seared off and served atop tiny favas and a shower of herb chiffonade. Sis had a small filet of dorado crisply browned but juicy.
We were so full we had to cart the coconut cream pie back to the hotel. Creamy, cool and flavorful, its owes more to Grandma than Lenotre. If its slightly homely authenticity is representative, a trip to the Dahlia Bakery is on my mandatory list for return trips.
BTW – on a non-restaurant gustatory note: the salad, soup and olive bars at the Town & Country Market on Bainbridge Island, was a treat. We stopped in looking for a couple of apples and left with a dozen cold items. Along with hazelnut bread from the outdoor market, this yielded a great picnic in the sun on Saturday.
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Dahlia Bakery
2001 4th Ave, Seattle, WA
Steelhead Diner
95 Pine Street, Suite 17, Seattle, WA 98101
Campagne
86 Pine, Seattle, WA 98101
Salumi
309 3rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Dahlia Lounge
2030 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
HELP!!! GROUP DINNER FOR 24 MEN!!!
Defintely check out the steak house at Circus Circus. As funky as that casino is, the steak house is a great locals secret. Top notch dry-aged steak at more reasonable prices. My sister wrote the Best of Las Vegas for Gault Millau and this was the biggest surprise for me when I helped her review places.
Closest thing to good East Coast Diner Food in the OC?
There is a place in San Clement called Tommy's that comes closer than anything else I have ever seen. It has both the typical hugely varied menu and the all importantt Greek specialities. The chicken souvlaki is particularly good. The decor is a little odd - an over the top Holywood theme. However, there is nothing self conscious or dineresque about the food. Good burgers, homemade soups, chili, breakfasts.
It has a very high sign clearly visible form the 5 - drove by it for years without stopping. Soemone recommended ti to my husband and we are converts.
Where to get hot pepper hoagie relish in L.A.?
They serve it in a cheesecake shop called Phillie's Best and it is available (at least some of the time) in jars for sale there.
I am not even fromphildelphia and I have to say this stuff is very addictive . . .
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Finale Part 2 - 12/09/09 (Spoilers)
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Ideas for interesting vegetarian taco fillings?
I would steer away from these self conscious Americanized uber-veggie concoctions and simply go with classic Mexican fillings that happen to be all vegetable: rajas (poblano chili strips sauteed with onions and crema); mushrooms; squash blossom and cheese (though not very seasonal); potato and chili (or make it with soy chorizo).
help chopping chocolate
Huh. I always jsut use my trusty carving fork to the same effect.
Help with an afternoon tea menu (including another quiche question)
I have done potato kugel cut into 1" squares as an appetizer with sour cream and salmon and people were wild for them. It has the saem falvor profile as a potato pancake without the tedium of peparing dozens of silver dollar pancakes!
Have you ever cooked a recipe from a Williams Sonoma catalog?
I made a turkey white chili recipe in last year's fal catalog and it rocked - roasted Anaheim and jalapeno chilis, cannellini beans. It has been my go to chili recipe ever since.
Making Twinkies at home
I seem to recall that the King Arthur Flour people have pans and/or recipes for Twinkie-like sponge cake confections.
eeeek: urgent homemade jam food safety Q
I would eat it. You did not leave enugh "head space" when you filled the jars and they oozed when you boiled them. Since they are sealed, the ooze apparently did not interefer with the rubber gasket and they are probably fine. The big spoilage factor for jam is mold - which is usually quite visible. The high acid and sugar content make them pretty safe - as one poster pointed out, my granmother taught methe parafin eal and I did it fro years with no adverse conequences.
Olvera Street/China Town/Downtown recommendations
I would second the vote on Philippe's - I just love the place and it is a slice of history (they invented the French dip) and of old style LA. Very casual, sawdust on the floor, but the sandwiches are sublime _ I love beef, pork and lamb, but there is also turkey and ham available. Good soups, tatsty pies. I usualy order macaroni salad and a pickle too. They have a
For Chinese I stand by Yang Chow. We always order the slippery shrimp and Szechuan green beans with pork but there are a lot of very good dishes. It is dependable and not too far from the station.
The Gourmet Magazine redesign is terrible!
Gourmet is just floundering design-wise. I could not agree more with the comments others have made about the models. At least Gourmet seems to have steered away from the "dirty plates and crumbs" photos they were featuring, oh so artisitcally, for a while. This is not just a "food porn" issue. The point of showing the actual food was both instructive - to assist in execution of recipes - and inspirational. My ultimate indictment of the magazine nowadays is that I rarely come away itching to get in the kitchen and cook. What a pity.
Cooking a whole pig this weekend
Did you borrow a Caja China? I'm dying to get my hands on one. Your pic should only take 3-4 hours in one of those.
I alsways do whole pigs in a cuban mojo marinade - cumin, garlic, sour orange juice (or 50/50 lime and sweet orange), olive oil, S & P. People will absolutely love this so relax!
Ideas for Greek-themed dinner party?
If you have access to a wood burning fireplace, go on line and find instrucitons for Gigot a la Ficelle. It realy amounts to rubbing a leg of lamb with garlic, herbs (I used rosemary) and olive oil, tying a piece of butcher's twine around the bone and hanging it from the mantelpiece in from of the fire. Fantastic. Several guests last weekend said it was the best lamb they have ever had. Took about two hours but only needed to keep the twine wet and baste occasionally. The momentum of the twisting keeps it winding and unwinding with no real assistance needed. Also stunning from a visual and olfactory point of view.
Dinner from Knotts Berry Farm back to San Diego
There are two places that fit the bill in my mind. Right on the main drag in old downtown San Clemente - Avila's La Ranchita. Really excellent home made Mexican in a nice room with a great back patio for outdoor eating. I took my parents there yesterday from out of town and they loved it.
Also in San CLemente - on PCH right off the freeway is a place called Tommy's. You can see their very high sign from the 5 FWY but we had never considered going there. Weird diner decor filled with Hollywood kitsch, but very broad menu. Classic burger type choices are good and big surprise is the Greek food - home made and quite reputable.
Theatre District Desperation
Thanks so much everyone! We were trying to be, uh, frugal, and ended up calling Becco even though Open Table showed nothing available for four, Sure enough, they were willing to accomodate us as walk ins and were delightfully warm and welcoming. Waltzed in at 11:30 ate ourselves silly for $150 including tax, tip and a round of Bellini's. TKTS half off for the matinee of Hair and we had a great day for less that $100 per person.
Theatre District Desperation
Going to a matinee today and I've got no lunch reservation. What to do?
gourmet grocer in north county san diego?
I am afraid some of the posters are not in North County and/or have never been to Balducci's or Zabar's! The only suggestion that comes close IMHO is Seaside Market in Solana Beach. For good meat, some cheese selection and good European pantry items, Tip Top meats in Carlsbad (off the 5 at Palomar Airport road.
For me, the whole Henry's/ Whole Foods/Wild Oats vibe is thrown off by the health food, organic, hemp clothing bent of it selections. The exception, however is the Whole Foods in Tustin which is an like an amazing Disney Gourmet World. It is worth a day trip. Not only is it huge (so that it's selection is incredible), but every department has a takeout selection of prepared food and/or an eat in location. So there are ceviche and chowder/fish soup bars in the Seafood Department, there is a smoked meats and BBQ sit down area in the Butcher Department, a wine bar with tasting ans small plates in the Liquor Department, etc. There is a taqueria, a sandwich deli, a pizza station, and a gelateria. There's an olive/antipasto bar that is pretty impressive. They even used to have a Sunday brunch deal! You can sincerely go there for lunch, spend a few hours shopping and get a little happy hour before you leave.
Rainy Day San Diego Worth the Drive Destination
The husband and I want to take a Sunday drive and have a great food adventure on this rainy weekend. What "worth the drive" destination is within reach? He is jonesing for fried chicken too.
We were thinkin about the Ramona Cafe after seeing Guy Fieri but reviews here and on Yelp are decidedly mixed. Ideas?
The Waffle: A Delighted Update
I totally agree and was pretty nervous about ordering it, but my fried chicken jones prevailed. Fortunately, the batter, seasoning and juciness combined to make this pass muster. It is quite thick too- not pounded out or butterflied like a cutlet. I bet the same cook, using chicken on the bone would really knock my socks off . . .
What's yummy @ Island Prime - SD?
This is quite a consensus forming. While I really love C-Level, Island Prime leaves me a little cold. Great giant slabs of grilled beef, but everything else pales by comparison to its "little brother" under the same roof. I have been underwhelmed by the potatoes at IP and was once served a foul dish described as a blue cheese souffle with figs in port which turned out to be a nasty little grainy flan 1/2' inch high drowned in raw port and a few figs.
You can only get the nut-crusted brie from C-Level (a decadent delight) at Island Prime if they are not busya nd you whine and beg.
If not for my carnivorous husband I would never go to Island Prime, but choose C-Level every time.
The Waffle: A Delighted Update
I have often relied on Chowhound to guide me to, or away from restuarants. All I can say today I am glad I did not check here before going to The Waffle on Sunset or I would have missed a great brunch.
My husband and I were heading south to Dupar's on Sunday around noon and there was some hideous traffic snarl involving the closure of streets and roadblacks at Melrose. I flashed on The Waffle and we headed up there.
My initial impression generated some nervousness: uber cool decor and a younger hipster crowd (including Mad TV cast member sighting). No need for worry as the entire staff was delightfully welcoming and friendly. The estminated 15 minute wait for a table was only about 5 and they accomodated my husband's request for a roomy booth.
An adorable waitress filled our coffee mugs and patiently, enthusistically and knowledgably descibed both breakfast and lunch favorites to us. She returned with our own private thermos pitcher of hot cofffee let us have a few extra minutes to decide.
I got the Jalapeno corn meal waffle with fried chicken and collards. Everey element of this was just exemplary - juicy chicken with a perfectly spiced, crisp greaseless mahagony crust, a light and crunchy and flavorful waffle and greens so delectable I want to ferret out their recipe - some smoke from bacon, a slight vinegar tang and nice chile heat to boot.. At the waitress's suggesiton, I mixed sryup and Tapaqtio hot sauce for some extra kick. - fabu!
I really regretted giving my husband half up front. Their is no way I would have shared this if I had tasted it first! It beat the bejeezus out of the Hash House-a-Go-Go version of the same dish.
Hubby had a Denver omellette which switched out the ham for bacon as he requested. Perfectly cooked with a side of shredded style hash browns. He asked for an order of biscuits and gravy (my boy was HUNGRY) and the waitress graciously steered him to ordering the biscuit in lieu of toast and brought him a small side of great sausage gravy gratis.
The sun shone in, the music was nice, we read our paper and no one rushed us in any way as we lingered.
We can't wait to go back.
Just a great time.
