EclecticEater's Profile
I need a slow cooking pork shoulder and persimmons recipe. Any ideas or successful recipes gladly accepted.
I recently ended up with an inexpensive pork shoulder and a pack of dried but moist persimmons. I'd love to do a slow cooking dish with them, and have an affinity for Ottolenghi type dishes.
Any ideas or successful recipes gladly accepted.
Wheat Buns or Rolls for sandwiches?????
I haven't been able to find good tasty, real chewy whole wheat buns or rolls for sandwiches in Orange County, where I live. Most of the whole wheat breads and rolls and buns are sweetened with sugars or fructose or something similar. So does anybody know of a bakery or store that sells such rolls or buns?
Need good restaurant for San Luis Obispo
My wife and I and three friends will be in San Luis Obispo area to attend a wedding at Avila Beach. We'd like to have dinner on Friday August 20th at a nice place (we all appreciate good food of any type) in SLO that isn't too expensive. All suggestions and comments are welcome. Thanks in advance.
Lamb Chops - OC
For a home based treat you can get either the lamb chops or rack of lamb from Costco. They're very good. Just broiled in an iron or blue steel pan, or on a good grill, oh my, nothing has tasted as good. You can also get rather good chops from almost any of the Middle Eastern markets, from Wholesome Foods and the one near the Caspian in Irvine, as well as the Jordan Market on Alicia by the 5.
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Jordan Market
24771 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Lobster for home cooking in South OC??
At one point I went to the Dory Fleet in Newport and they had west coast lobster, no big claws, very fresh and ever so sweet, and bought them at $13.99 a pound, as I recall. If you can find them, if they have them, that's the best lobster you'll get. By the way, when cooking lobster, as they taught us in the Maritimes in Canada last year, boil them for 3-5 minutes, then plunge them into ice water briefly. They'll come out of the shell, that way, easily and they will taste oh so good. Otherwise they tend to stick in the shell, both for Maine and West Coast lobsters.
Jidori chicken in a retail store?
I'd like to know where to buy Jidori chicken or any chicken that's really like Bell & Evans, for home cooking. Has anybody had experience eating them after being prepared at home? Supposedly chefs like them and use them at their restaurants for special chicken dishes.
Where to buy farro in OC?
On About.com: Italian food (http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0002.htm) they say farro is close to spelt but not exactly the same.
Where to buy turkey breast, thighs in South OC?
Of all places, I found them at Staley Brothers Markets which sells turkey breast and a nice thigh and it's very reasonable.
Where to buy farro in OC?
Actually faro is spelt, I'm told, and Trader Joes has had it in a package. I bought some farro from the Italian restaurant Il Farro (the name says it all) in Newport Beach that can be cooked like risotto; the owner suggested it; they also of course, given the name, offer farro pasta that's awfully good and home made bread that also is very good at $2 a loaf.
Where to buy capons in OC?
I'd like to know where to buy Jidori chicken or any chicken that's really like Bell & Evans, for home cooking.
Berkeley Dog opening in O.C.
Who has had experience with this chain of sausage sandwiches, originally based in Northern California in Berkeley? Are they any good? Anything special about them? They're opening on Marguerite on May First.
Best sourdough bread in Los Angeles?
The sour dough bread at Kings Seafood Restaurant is as good as most in the SF Bay Area, a worthy match of Acme Baking and that served at Tadish Grill. The Daily Grill's bread is a second to this bread. Haven't tasted much else that resembles what I believe is as good as Kings.
Bittman's new book FOOD MATTERS ... opinions, reviews, feedback?
Just got a copy and, since I'm working on losing weight and being healthy, it seems appropo (sp?) but I'm interested in your experiences with this book and with his approach. All feedback deeply appreciated (in advance).
Suggestions for Pan Searing Scallops?
I used some smoked paprika on them, sauteed them at high heat in a little oil, and were they good. Maybe some salt and pepper, white pepper, if you want a little more flavor. Serve them over sauteed greens or mashed potatoes, and, wow, you have a meal to remember.
Wheat or sprouted rolls (90 calories)?????
My wife is on a strict diet and she's looking for a 90 calorie whole wheat or sprouted roll. Alexia seems to sell on the East Coast, and they have such a product. Anyone of you know where she can find such a baked item here in the OC?
Plain Chow Mein in OC
Lately I've been hankering for a good plate of chicken or cha shew Chow Mein, Cantonese style, and for some reason I haven't been able to find it. I've given up on Pei Wei and Panda Express and such places of course. I used to get this in Chinatown at Man Fook Low and places like that. But I now live in Middle OC and I'd love to find a place like it. Maybe Sam Woo (which one?) or one of the Irvine Chinese restaurants? Help.
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Sam Woo Restaurant
15333 Culver Dr Ste 720, Irvine, CA 92604
Oysters in the OC?
I second Kings Fish House, with a wide selection of different types of oysters, very fresh, very tasty, opened as you watch at the oyster bar, with vinegary sauce and red cocktail sauce with freshly grated horseradish plus wonderful sourdough bread like that served in San Francisco. Kings is at El Toro right by the #5 for those who don't know. Pop in for half a dozen to a dozen; then get Wellfleets, I believe, in three shot glasses as a sort of after thought, for about $6 as "shooters". They serve very good oysters at Kings and, though not cheap, I believe are reasonably priced. They also have fresh oysters on the pier in San Clemente, but they can be variable and they all seem to come from Baja, and they don't have the selection that King's does. Kings also has a very wide selection of tap and bottled beers.
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Kings Fish House
24001 Avenida De La Carlota Ste B, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Where to buy NY style skirt steak?
I love skirt steak, NY style, and have often been told that "flap meat" is the same. Flap meat somehow seems wide of the mark. Since I live in Orange County (Irvine/LakeForest/Mission Viejo area) does anyone know of a market, supermarket or carneceria that sells skirt steak at reasonable prices?
Williams Sonoma Tomato Separator / Strainer
Bought one and have made two batches so far, both very fresh tasting. Easy to clean, seem sturdy enough. So for the $40-odd-dollars a good choice.
Best dumplings in Orange County - is there such a thing?
Living in the OC, I'd like to find both a restaurant and a market to buy dumplings in, both for the eating pleasure and re-heating at home. Pile on your suggestions, please, and we'll go after all of them.
Mozambique in Laguna on PCH - opinions, insights?
I had one of the best steaks there and a very hearty dish of chicken livers one night, very good service, nice ambiance. But I don't hear much about it.
Breakfast/Lunch in Newport Beach & Laguna Beach
You might try the LumberYard, new place, reasonable with very good food. Also Zinc can be just fine for lunch.
What's happened to Braun Aroma Coffee Maker?
First, we have two of these, using one for decaf whenwe have a get-together of friends. They both look alike, except one shuts itself off. They cost under $50.
Now it seems that every on-line and retail place is out of them, and the ones that are being offered cost about $120 - $150, a WHOPPING increase in price. Anybody have any idea what's going on?
They make great coffee that my wife and I have been drinking for years. We recently ordered a replacement filter holder top that cost $25, which was expenssive compared to the originaal price but OK enough with the value we've gotten out of the original coffee maker.
Is this inflation or the Euro or what? Almost THREE TIMES the original price?
Williams Sonoma Tomato Separator / Strainer
Anyone have experience with this item? It is red, shown in their catalog, and supposedly separates the seeds and skin so you can make sauce.
Loving Hut in Ladera Ranch
Went there with my wife for lunch this time and had the cha cha shrimp, awfully good for non-shrimp shrimp (I'm allergic to regular shrimp). We had the chix appetizer, also good for texture and taste. She ordered the curry which was more like a soup and they exchanged it for a veg stir fry which she polished off. Their short grain brown rice was good. I had a flan, which was OK. Yes, we'll go back; I really liked that shrimp.
Williams Sonoma
They have a red tomato strainer/mill that separates skin and seeds from flesh. Is this any good? I have a gift certificate I want to use and it has been hard to choose any of their gear because so much is for show or very expensive. Any one who has used this I'd appreciate your comments.
Loving Hut in Ladera Ranch
Any comments about this new vegetarian restaurant? My wife and I tried it one night and didn't find many people in it. Very well lit, clean, somewhat sterile in a strip mall. Food was tasty, including vegetarian wont ton and Viet rolls. Didn't have decaf coffee but the lemonade with crushed rose petals was interesting. I'll be interested in seeing if it lasts and if it starts to develop a following.
Scotts Seafood???
For our anniversary my wife has suggested Scotts in Costa Mesa. She thinks their seafood is the best. I'm open to your suggestions about alternatives in the general OC mid and southern areas; everything from crab cakes to grilled fish to oysters.
Opinions about Sprouts
Recently found out about, and visited, Sprouts in Irvine. What's the concensus about it? Compared to Henrys? Compared to Wholesome Foods? Compared to the produce place on 17th Street in Costa Mesa?
a week at Marriott Newport Coast
Go alittle further south and eat at Mozambique, a hidden gem. From the bar on the second floor you have a magnificent view of the Pacific; on the first floor the food is awfully good. There's parking in their lot and whether you choose the exotic African menu or the steaks/chops/seafood, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
