Daniellabelle's Profile
Top Chef - Jan 14th - Down on the Farm (spoilers)
I agree with you 100%...I kind of got the feeling that Ariane stepped in on everything because the two lovebirds were either too busy canoodling or too afraid to contradict each other.
Since Leah seemed to do nothing, and Hosea seems to be just whipped by her catty attitude, I definitely think the wrong person got eliminated. I hope she at least reaps the benefits for her restaurant as mentioned above.
Best Parmesan Cheese Recipe?
Hi everybody! My parents just got back from Italy, and brought me a huge chunk of real, geniune, yummy parmesan, as well as a not-so-big-but-just-as-yummy hunk of romano. I'd like to invite them over for dinner and make something that really showcases the flavor of both of these a little better than just an alfredo sauce or grating it on top of some red sauce. Can anyone give me some recipe tips or ideas?
Also, has anyone out there ever tried putting parmesean into their pasta dough when they make it at home? The thought is intriguing me but I don't know if it will work...
Rib Roast Side Dishes?
Agreed...mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes! With lots and lots of garlic and cheese...oh yum. I also always do homemade sourdough rolls (because I'm a carb whore) and then sauteed fresh green beans. Yummy.
Top Chef -- 12 Nights (spoilers)
Amen to the scallop thing... I think my favorite moment of the entire hour-plus was hearing Fabio say "This is TC, not top scallops".
And please let's get rid of Melissa...please?
Top Chef- Bridal Shower
Don't worry, all you missed was about 1000000 commercials for that real housewives show...I swear if I would have heard whats-her-face talk about how she was "obssessed with being young" one more time...
Food to eat while healing a sore throat
I'm going to echo everyone here and say, ice cream! ice cream! ice cream!
I get strep almost every winter (I don't know why, just a weird thing with me), and I LIVE on mashed potatoes and ice cream. Perhaps not the healthiest diet, but it's the only thing I can have thats not painful...and the cold ice cream is especially soothing.
Feel better!
Good zucchini bread?
I second that. Their blueberry muffins are also heavenly...I go there just for those.
Top Chef- Bridal Shower
I agree about Jaime--I would LOVE to eat at her restaurant...as long as I didn't have to look at or talk to her! :-p
Top Chef- Bridal Shower
Thanks Dave!
I would have liked to see them go to higher numbers as well...or have one chef guess until he was wrong and see if the other chef could guess more or something...oh well.
Top Chef- Bridal Shower
I'm not too familiar with mole sauce...but what was up with Carla's guess? Is peanut butter something usually found in mole? It seemed a little bit of an oddball guess to me, especially when the "holy trinity" were admissible as guesses.
Tangine - worth the money?
They sell them online at Sur La Table if there isn't one around you...www.surlatable.com
I got mine last night for 25$...woo!! I can't wait to make him fix me some good food :)
Packing food from SoCal to the midwest
I went to college in jersey, and every time I went home, it was like an adventure of how much food I could freeze and pack in my suitcase. I think my proudest achievement was freezing a tray of enchiladas and having it survive the plane ride in one piece. That's usually my strategy...freeze everything and make sure it comes out of your suitcase asap when you get where you're going.
Are you flying or driving? That could depend a lot on what survives and what doesnt. You'll need foods that wont spoil after a few days if you're driving, and if flying you'll need to pack everything really well (I used to pack it, then wrap it all in a towel in case it spilled everywhere).
One thing you will definitely not get in Ohio is good Mexican food. Go to your favorite local Mexican market and stock up on spices, herbs, and things like that. And tortillas. Tortillas were always my favorite thing to bring back to dirty jersey. :)
I will be permanently jealous of you for being able to eat at Cracker Barrel whenever you want, however. Just a warning.
Top Chef- Bridal Shower
Lol---I was falling off the couch as well when she was walking around WF making that absurd noise. Especially since it wasn't clear if she explained the whole "answering back" thing to her teammates!
Top Chef- Bridal Shower
I'm so tired of hearing all the contestants complain about Stefan's attitude--if you ask me, it's Jaime that's got the ego problem. You all are right--It was really Radhika who deserved to win last night...Jaime was way off by thinking she was entitled to it just because she put some special magic spice in her carrot puree. If Team Blue's food was old people food, Jaime's was baby food =p
Also I'm sick of Ariane calling herself "the old lady"...Carla's the oldest one there!
AND can we talk about Melissa's horrendous hat???!!! It's a good thing they didn't show much of her...she pissed me off so much last week that more than a couple words from her would have made me throw the TV out the window (or at least change the channel).
All complaining aside, it was a pretty good episode last night. I would've liked to see more creativity on Team Blue's part (although I loved Fabio's half-BS explanation of the yellow and the green in the color palette etc. etc.), it's not like I could have really been more creative, especially on a tight schedule.
Dear Bravo, Please stop showing me chef romances. Please.
Favorite Chocolate Bar
My go-to bar is usually a 3 musketeers, even though everyone I know thinks they're nasty.
However, the BEST chocolate I've ever had comes from Rome--a store called Ai Monasteri in Piazza Navona. All their products are made by the Benedictine monks who live in the area, and oh em gee are they to die for. When I can afford it, I order a few bars from their...although usually it's hit and miss on whether or not they'll ship to the us. Mmmm..
Famous dishes from famous movies!
How about stuffed crab/fried fish from Little Mermaid? "With the cleaver I hack them in two/I pull out what's inside/And I serve it up fried/God, I love little fishes/Don't you?"
Lingonberry Pancakes & White Russians from the Big Lebowski
And, because I can't resist...Goodburger and orange soda!!
MUST-Eat Christmas Foods in LA (or OC).......
It's a little out of the way (Ontario), but Logan's Candies is a must-visit if you've never been there. They do candy cane demonstrations where they show you how they make them (great for kids!), and their candy canes are just the best--SO much better than the ones you buy in grocery stores.
If you want to pop in for a tour before xmas, call (909) 984-5410...I think you need to make a reservation. It's been a while since I've gone.
www.loganscandies.com
Tamales by the dozen in Pasadena
There's a great place in El Monte called Maria's...it's on the corner of Peck Road and Lower Azusa Road right next to the CVS. They're gooooooood (although, as a "silly white girl" as my coworkers call me, I don't know how valid my opinion is =p). I've never had a problem with them running out unless I go late in the evening...usually if I'm going to stop by after work I just call in and make an order. Their number is (626) 444-8109. Enjoy!
Top Chef contestant Ariane's "Today Show" appearance
I'm sure they just meant of that challenge...that's how I took it, anyway, when I saw it. Maybe Tom just wanted to throw you off =p
Does seem like a weird little slip, though. I don't see her getting too much further either--maybe one or two more episodes. Hmm.
Tangine - worth the money?
Thanks for all the help guys---I think I will head over to Sur La Table and get the cheap one, since it doesn't seem to be REALLY a necessary item. I can't wait to see it hogging my precious little cupboard space...
And thanks for the spelling tips ;)
Tangine - worth the money?
Hi everybody--forgive me if this has been posted before, but I looked around and didn't find it, so here goes :)
My boyfriend REALLY wants a tangine for x-mas, after seeing it used on Iron Chef America so many times--he's convinced himself that he's got to have one. I've been thinking about getting him one for christmas, but I want to know if its worth the few hundred I'm planning to drop on it.
He's a very spoiled boy, but I'd hate to buy him something he uses once and it hides in the cupboard forever (especially since it's so big)
I know its used mostly for Moroccan food/stew, but does it have other uses? Can those Moroccan foods be cooked in another type of dish?
What are your experiences? Any advice or groovy recipes? Thanks!!
-Dani
