Azizeh's Profile
Matcha ... where to buy?
Whole Foods has a pretty good variety, especially if you go to a larger one. I buy DoMatcha brand there, and they have the regular, an organic one, and the ceremonial quality. Some of the specialty tea stores have it, but it's even pricier than WF.
Georgetown Cupcakes - Arriving in the Fall
I had them when I visited DC last year and I thought they were very good. I've never been a fan of the ones sold at the cupcake shops, but this was the exception. I remember there being a line out the door and they were bringing out fresh cupcakes at 9pm. I only recall the salted caramel, which was fantastic.
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO HATES TURMERIC?
That's what I've been reading, too. It's really making the rounds in all the nutrition/health magazines lately. They sell Curcumin supplements and some of them are enhanced with pepper for better absorption, allegedly. I take the Curcumin pills (no taste that I notice, but I like Turmeric.)
Obviously the fresh spice is the way to go, but since most of us won't eat enough Turmeric to get the benefits, they say do a combination of the supplement and add it to food whenever possible.
VALENTINE'S DAY CHOCOLATES
I really like the marshmallows they have at the Vosges store in Beverly Hills. I usually am not a marshmallow person, but these were really tender and not at all gummy.
http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/caramel_marshmallows_9cs/vosges-chocolate-snacks-and-treats
They do have truffles with various fillings. I remember they gave me a sample of one with balsamic vinegar in it, and it was delicious. I think they have an exotic truffle collection, too. Plus their purple heart boxes are romantic.
Lots of opinions, but what's the LAW???
Except in states (like California) that have laws stating gift cards with a remaining balance of under $10, I think it is, can be requested back in cash.
This seems to be about the extent of the CA law pertaining to gift cards:
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/s-11.shtml
Not a lot there. They basically tell you to know the merchant's terms before you buy it.
Saving recipes on macbook pro + viewing on iphone 4
I either bookmark them (my iPhone and MacBook sync bookmarks) or I cut/paste, then e-mail the recipe to myself and put them in a particular inbox that also syncs to my phone.
Lookinng for Salt Pork
I get it at Whole Foods. Even some of the smaller ones by me (Santa Monica) have it with the bacon and other packaged meats.
Giving Ground Turkey Another Chance - What Brand?
I made ground turkey kabobs when I couldn't find ground chicken for my Koobideh. I'm sure the pureed onion and its juice helped with the flavor and moisture, but it was good.
I usually put it in chili, but if you're not worried about fat content, add some butter or oil to the burger patties.
recipes using brown rice that taste good?
When buying Basmati (white or brown) there is a noticeable difference between American and Indian grown varieties. In my experience, the Indian rice is more flavorful and has a better texture.
Experiment with both if you're on the fence about brown rice. Brown Basmati cooked in my rice cooker is hardly any different than white.
Cooking For Our Four Legged Friends...
So, anecdotal evidence is basically "I haven't killed him yet!"? From my understanding chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol can stop a dog's heart. Sure, a safe food can be deadly if your dog ate a ridiculous amount of it and/or gave himself bloat. The differing factor is that a seemingly small amount of these substances can kill. Big difference.
For you to "safely" give him something that is considered a toxin, you'd need to know the dosage given, weight, other medications, the toll on his body function in relation to age, etc. etc. etc.. Seems like a lot of factors to be playing with.
Would love to replicate "Pill Pockets" for dogs
The chaser method always works on my dogs. Sometimes there will be an occasional spit out, which just means the dog has won the smaller battle and gets a little extra treat snuck in with the pill.
I'd still bake up the treats, pills or not. Anything you make at home is going to be better than most commercial dog food, anyway. Always a bright side, right?
Would love to replicate "Pill Pockets" for dogs
My dog takes fish oil pills for his allergies (helps with shedding, too) and they're rather big. I keep a little softened butter on the counter and dip it in there. He likes the taste and it helps it go down smoothly. Olive oil has been working, too. Not as foolproof, though. He's an English Bulldog, they aren't known to have big throats.
Another thing i learned is to let them see a chaser. Have a treat you know they like in your other hand, maybe give them a small taste before the process. My dogs have always been so eager to get to that next treat that they quickly swallow the pill to get to that other treat.
Is tipping in cash better for the server?
(Same person here. Not sure why I logged in with my old account.)
Nothing. Wasn't factored in. We were pretty high volume, not cheap, and most people do pay completely with cards, so it really didn't throw off the average.
I think the restaurants need to keep the original copies at least for a little while, in case of card disputes/chargebacks, but I still doubt that anyone actually leafs through each receipt unless they need to.
Is tipping in cash better for the server?
As a patron of a restaurant, you should care a little bit how the server gets paid. If you want good service, you need a good server.
Most restaurants only pay minimum wage, there's rarely health insurance, no sick days without a note from the ER, and all of the other common complaints there are about being a server. The upside to the job is a flexible schedule and cash in hand at the end of the night. Good servers only stick around good places to work. That affects the patron's experience.
Are we 'entitled' to return foods we didn't like to the store?
I'm far too lazy to return things, usually. But, I think of stores like Sephora that have a very generous policy of taking back any cosmetic that you just don't like. I'm sure they see their fair share of people using half of a bottle of perfume before deciding to bring it back.
For people like me, I spend way more money in that store because I know I can bring it back if it's worth it to me do to so. I'll buy that questionable item and figure it out later. I reason that the stores have done their research and know that these policies work out in their favor, despite the annoying people that come through and abuse it.
"Service Charge" Added Onto Bill, What Gives? [moved from LA]
The discretionary method seems like a good way to get sued or to build a reputation for racism, sexism, or any other ism's that exist.
When I was a server we HAD to add the auto-grat for parties of 6 or more. Sometimes it really sucked because you knew you had a great rapport with a table, you doted on them, and they seemed like the type that would reward you with more than the 18% automatically added.
But, not putting it on there could get you fired. We couldn't pick and choose who got it and who didn't. So, when people say they tip less because of it, it drives me nuts. Don't be insulted that a server may just be following policy to keep their job.
Food Truck Wedding - Would Like Advice (moved from L.A. board)
When i was a server, I worked a wedding that had the In N Out truck for dinner, along with appetizers and dessert from elsewhere. It was a sit down dinner with the proper number of servers for the amount of tables.
DISASTER.
The truck staff couldn't handle getting 100 orders in, so of course people were ordering their burgers at the same time and getting them 45 minutes apart. All the while getting upset for waiting and complaining that the truck didn't make fries. At the time I remember thinking that the only way this could have worked out decently was for guests to have ordered and waited for their own food, but I can see why the hosts didn't want their guests to stand around. It was otherwise a reasonably formal event with this one quirk.
The In N Out truck is pretty well run and I could tell they knew how to be as efficient as possible, but it's just not a substitute for a real kitchen. So, you really have to think about the size and style of your party before doing it.
How to suggest another restaurant?
If you really don't want to go there and you're willing, you can tell her that since she's doing all of the driving, you'd like to treat her to a nice dinner somewhere to celebrate the occasion of catching up.
Maybe you can still go to the market to walk around and shop before or after dinner.
Marukai Japanese Market Coming to Pico & Bundy WLA
Wonder what the parking situation will be. The garage under the building isn't that big.
Where can I purchase good popcorn kernels for home use?
When I lived in Boise during High School, there was a local farm that sold their popcorn. I remember it having a really fresh, almost grassy taste to it. I tried to do a search for that farm, to no avail.
Anyone know what I'm talking about? Sounds weird, but it's the best popcorn I had ever had and I'd love to find something similar.
Dinner for a crowd -- preferably somewhat cheap!
I made these chicken pot pies over the weekend and they were pretty good. I made 4 pies, but had enough filling to do at least 8. I froze the rest.
Not exactly buffet style, but you can make them ahead of time and then bake them all at once when it's time.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chicken-pot-pie-recipe/index.html
Does anyone (else) eat raw pasta?
When I was a kid I would snack on uncooked ramen. I'd break it up into a bowl, sprinkle some of the seasoning on it, and go to town.
I don't have ramen in the house anymore, otherwise I'd probably still do that. Regular pasta is a little too hard for me to eat raw.
Question Re. practical uses for a 2.5 Qt. Le Crouset Doufeu
I have the same size, not a Doufeu, though. It was my first piece of Le Creuset. I can't say I use it that often. I'll use it for side dishes, candy making, if I'm making a dip to take to a friends house, I'll use it. Not too heavy, but the lid stays on and it looks nice, so it travels well.
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably spend the money on another 5-6 quart dutch oven, which I can use for absolutely everything.
Manual can opener- which to buy? Such a disparity in pricing.
I never had good luck with can openers until I bought this one at Sur La Table. Even if a cans edge is slightly dented, it cuts right through it and has a magnet to pick the lid up out of the can. Love it.
http://www.amazon.com/Zyliss-20362-Lock-n-Lift-Manual-Opener/dp/B000HK03HI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1295511529&sr=1-2
LA Farm on Olympic?
I went on Thanksgiving day for their buffet. I think it was about $50 a person, and I was fairly disappointed. Everything was good, but not great. Choices were very limited, the food was lukewarm, and the service was pretty spotty. Stefan was chatting up a table nearby and so we spent the better part of our meal listening to him talk about how great he is.
Granted, it wasn't a normal dinner service, but I kind of feel that with such a limited menu, it could be a little easier to put emphasis on those dishes and make them more impressive than what a competent cook could make at home. I probably wouldn't go back for regular service unless someone else really wanted to. The indoor patio is really pretty, so I'd make sure to request a table in there.
Giving MIL Special Christmas Cookie Recipe
If you really don't want to share it, just tell her that it's all in your head, but next time you make it you will try to remember to write it down. Hopefully she forgets about it since it will likely be a year before you make it again.
Sure, it's a lie, but I understand the enjoyment of being able to contribute something that people love.
Cleaning burned LeCreuset
That's good advice. The discoloration on my white piece is on the outside. Namely on the bottom and the lower parts of the side.
If I do a kosher salt scrub or use the Barkeeper's Friend, it comes out. I just don't have the interest in doing that often. My red piece looks brand new, it's just the white that shows everything.
Anyone else have trouble creaming butter and sugar in a kitchenaid?
No, not at all. With the paddle attachment, it takes maybe 5 minutes, but it never fails.
I use a Beater Blade, which scrapes the bowl as it mixes, but the regular paddle should work.
http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=beaterblade
