elkgrovestella's Profile
Avoiding holiday cooking performance anxiety and neurosis
I totally agree. While yeah, it's great to have a delicious meal and hopefully have everything go well if not perfect while making it, I think sometimes people get so caught up in the moment of everything being perfect they forget it's truly about being with the people you care for. If having the chance to have one more Thanksgiving with all the people I love who are NOT around anymore meant that dinner was gonna be a bowl of cereal, then please pass the milk.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Munnerlyn's Ice Creamery in Pine Grove?
The canteloupe ice cream (they make a sorbet also) is wonderful.
Tamales and Ham...what to serve with it?
Ok, it's that time of year again. Christmas dinner with ham and tamales. Looking for any ideas on what to serve with it, especially any veggie dishes that are not a starch. Thanks in advance.
Sacramento cuban restaurant
If you go there, please report back how it was. The last good Cuban I had was a friend's place who unfortunately did not last.
Dorado Chocolate downtown Grass Valley?
mmmm......Dorado......such a fav. The fruit pates...I know, not chocolate....but my mom is addicted to them. The choco dipped apricots. The ones with all the names..which of course now escape me. Ones that are infused with tea, mint...the banana rum one. Sigh, my brain is having a "senior moment". May have to head of there now for a referesher course!
The food at Starbucks-Yay or Nay?
I would have to say yay. I do like their breakfast sandwich with the english muffin, although they do not have some of the types I like anymore. The ones with the ciabatta bread just look skimpy/pitiful. I've had some good sandwiches. My one issue is they seem to always discontinue the items I really like.
My co-worker buddy is tickled that they have some gluten-free items since she is allergic. The key though is to ask for it BEFORE they unwrap it. We've watched them unwrap and then plate it using tongs that have touched regular items, etc.
And I had the best ever anywhere banana nut bread smack in the middle of Nebraska last year. I got some every day I was there. My mom recently informed me that they used to make their baked goods "regional" for lack of a better word. However now I guess they are going to be more "consistent" and have a universal banana bread recipe store-wide They were offering the recipe in stores, mom brought one to me. I just looked at it and said, " I somehow doubt it's gonna be whatever recipe they used in Nebraska". Sigh.
Sacramento -- Inexpensive medjool dates??
The farmers market by Southside Park had a guy selling some that great....although I don't know that they would be the cheapest. Better then any I tasted in a store though
Evan's Kitchen - Sacramento
It's cooked nicely, tender, not a dried out breaded shingle like some I've had. But the best thing about it, at least for me, is the gravy. I have never been a huge gravy fan. I will ask for it on the side any time I order a CFS cause it just never does much for me. The first time there my mom got the CFS and I got something else. When she got her plate I looked at the gravy on it and asked if I could have a taste of it, cause it looked better then most gravy I'd seen before. It's a sausage gravy that you can actually see the sausage in. And it tastes GOOD, not like wallpaper paste with a little grease thrown in it. So, yeah, it's the gravy for me. It still tastes good without it, but it's the first CFS I've ever eaten where I've eaten all the gravy that comes with it.
Evan's Kitchen - Sacramento
I've only been for breakfast so far, but have enjoyed each time, esp. the chicken fried steak. The decor is still what it was when it was First Immigrant Cafe. Who cares if the food is good.
Starbucks New $3.95 Breakfast?
Oh, good, I wasn't the only one who heard that.
I will admit, the spinach piadini are not bad if I'm unable to make breakfast at home.
Chow Kids. Are you raising one?
While I don't have any kids of my own, you comment about when your daughter wanted Thai when she ws young reminded me of myself when I was around that age. My mom was of the "at least try it once" before turning a nose to it. If I didn't like it she would not push. So, I was pretty much eating all sorts of things my young friends would not touch. Also had grandparents on my fathers side that were of the "anywhere you want to eat" for my birthday. All the other kids were heading to McD's. Me? "Can we go to that French country place?" (At the time one of the nicest/most expensive places in out city) I think my poor parents swallowed hard at the thought of what it would cost. Grandpa didn't even blink. I still remember that meal...LOL
Italian in Sac...anyone been to Soprattutto Salumeria & Ristorante ?
Just an update....not sure when, but noticed this place has closed. Too bad.
Dare I ask...SIZZLER...has anyone tried this chain recently?
Remember going to one a million years ago with mom and dad when I was a kid. Nothing memorable. In the past few years mom went twice, months apart, to one here in Northern California. Both times made her puke after she got home. Needless to say she will never return and I have no desire to go and find out if it has the same affect on me.
Looking for a New breakfast spot in Sac
I'll second Evan's also, esp. the chicken fried steak. I tend to hardly ever eat the gravy that comes with a CFS....never like it, always ask for it on the side. My mom got the CFS at Evan's the first time we went.....took one look at it and got a spoonful of it....yum! I don't even order it on the side when I get it...love that gravy.
The End of the World as We Know it
Can't say for the freezer or water, but I have seen a house previously owned by Mormons that did have a space capable of storing a years worth of canned/dry goods-think long enormous pantry.
Schweppes Bitter Orange in San Diego? [Split from San Francisco board]
I'm up in Northern California........and have no knowledge of San D., However, if there is a Beverages and More (BevMo) down there near you, I have always found Bitter Lemon in there.
As for Bitter Orange. I didn't even know it existed....and suddenly think I've been missing out!! Darn it. I love bitter lemon......
elkgrovestella
Masullo Pizza in Sacramento
I read your post the other day and told my mom as that style of pizza is her fav. We went there tonight and throughly enjoyed everything we had. We both had the tomato salad. Different types of fresh tomatoes and lemon cucumber with basil and olive oil. Very fresh, all veggies perfectly ripe. Mom had the margarita pizza, I had the Eileen-oyster mushroom, Niman Ranch bacon, sage, cheeses. Yum! We passed on dessert tonight, but will definatley try next time. Met the owner, great guy. We will definately support this place and help spread the word. So glad you reported it! Thanks!!
What's for dinner?
Nothing very exciting, but all oh so good.....realized I've been sort of grazing from the afternoon on. Got home from work and had some great french bread topped with a soft sheep's milk cheese I put under the broiler just to get it melted and gooey. With that I had a sampler of all the fruit I bought at the farmers market today-all was ripe and fantastic-HUGE blackberries, Rainier cherries, apricots and some figs. All with a big glass of ice tea. Promptly fell asleep in the chair. A few hours later cooked a nice rib-eye that was on sale at the store today with some crimini mushrooms and summer pattie squash I also got at the farmers market. Had a orzo salad with mint, roasted tomatoes, and asparagus in it (got it at the store, but yum, gona make it one of these days).
I'll probably be back in those blackberries before the night is over......... wish I'd bought more.
2 Days in Portland (And a little Florence)?
It's not seafood, but there is a fantastic little bakery in Florence. It is called The Shed (cause it's pretty much literally in a shed). Some really yummy stuff. For the life of me I can't give you a street. If I was driving I'd probably go right to it like a homeing pigeon. I THINK it's in the quote "old town" of Florence. Sorry not much help, but it's well worth a visit.
What's the deal with chopsticks?
Dunno...guess I never really thought about it till now. I've always eaten with chopsticks when I've had Japanese food......not really ever with anything else. I learned how to use them when I was a kid when we went to the neighborhood place cause my mom would more often then not order a big combo thing we shared and if I hadn't learned how to use them quick I would have starved cause chopsticks were all they had. The place I go to now weekly just automatically gives them. They have forks, etc. if needed.
However, as I work with seniors, it does remind me of a time when I took a couple of Japanese residents out to dinner at a local place one night. I was sitting next to the eldest of the group, a 90-plus something lady that was usually very quiet. We were automatically given chopsticks and early in the meal given green salad with dressing. I carried on as usual and soon realized I was being "watched". I finished the salad and a few seconds later she leans over to me and says "you're very good with chopsticks". I smiled and thanked her. Does it make me more sophisticated and authentic-hell no. But far be it from me to turn down compliment from someone who's eaten with chopsticks a hell of a lot longer then me....just a great moment I'll never forget of a fantastic lady.
do you get crabby when hungry?
Oh yeah. If I don't eat I get a headache, feel downright sick. My mom and her dad were the same way. Grandma could never understand why they would get so cranky if they had not eaten at regular intervals and thought they were just being weenies. Finally one time grandma and I were coming down from Oregon and I was STARVING and beyond cranky. Lo and behold so was grandma as we were totally snarking at each other. We finally just stopped at some sub place. After about 3 bites we both calmed down and I looked at her and said "NOW do you get it?" She never gave us any crap after that.
Sac: 4 Guilty Pleasures!
Is the College Oak location still open or re-opening?? My mom said she had heard something through the grapevine.
Italian in Sac...anyone been to Soprattutto Salumeria & Ristorante ?
My mom and I went there last night and had a very nice dinner there. We didn't go on any recs, just saw it and stopped. We shared a salad that was romaine, peppers and onions that had been lightly cooked (which had never occured to me to do, made a different taste to it), green onions, with a light pomegranate/dijon mustard type dressing to it. I'm butchering the description of this..lol...it was good!!
Mom had the lasagna....a generous serving, very good. Nice sauce, good balance of ingredients.
I had the asparagus ravioli. They make all the pasta there. Very thinly sliced asparagus, with bufala ricotta, garlic, parmesan. Just barely dressed with butter and more parmesan. Very simple but satisfying.
The in house desserts have branched out from just the cannoli and tiramisu. I had a ricotta cake made with sheep's milk ricotta, lemon, pine nuts that the owner had made that morning. They also had a lemon goats cheesecake made there. Almost had it...maybe next time. Mom had one of the desserts not made in house and enjoyed it, a lemon custard type tart with limoncello in it.
Mom and I will definately go back, esp now that know about the offers in SN&R and Ticket. And we also met the chef/owner. Very pleasant gentleman.
All and all a very nice evening and meal.
New Sushi in Sac Taros by Mikuni
"Now if someone would just open a Ramen Bar/Shop in town we'd be good to go!"
While not strictly a Ramen shop/bar, Edokko (in a strip mall on Florin Rd. near where it dead-ends into Riverside Blvd.) has always given me a good bowl of ramen IMO.
'FESS UP! You know you love chains!
yeah.....i wish there was a Pollo Loco closer to my neighborhood. The closest one to me is not in the best of neighborhoods, but i still go!
