IIRC Julia Child made omelettes in nonstick pans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RThnq3...

TK Burger if you are ok with casual. It's in the same vein as a fast food burger, but a good one.

Try marsala.

You can use any dry white wine for fondue, so that would work for your mushroom sauce, too... Dry vermouth goes off pretty quickly, so if you don't drink vermouth regularly, I wouldn't buy a bottle.

Do it, it's not expensive. Delicious.

Brut champagne, I really don't enjoy it.

I flirt with the fish/meat guys at 99 Ranch all the time. Grocery stores are ripe for innuendo.

They told me they're working on getting investors for another location, westside, that will have tables.

There are a lot of gringos and Mexicans in the Vietnamese groceries in Little Saigon. I don't think anybody cares.

I don't think that having signs in another language is discriminatory or rude.

overnight is better than an hour.

Nice, I like that.

Dress code part is ridiculous. "wearing heels never hurts?" must be a man, because wearing heels and hurting go hand in hand.

Rum punches.

But bo kho really would go better with a red wine, I'm thinking.

I, too, use thick French bistro glasses at home. Mostly just don't want to deal with washing the thinner, more fragile stemmed glasses.

Going out to restaurants, though, I prefer the finest glass they have.

If it sticks, then it hasn't seared enough. It will release when it dries up enough.

I, also, never use oil. Oil is better for cooking evenly and distributing heat, but I hate the spattering.

So turn the heat down.

I'm not sure comparing the average person's weight to their postmenopausal grandmother's is really a good comparison. They were probably thin for most of their lives. Also the stereotype of your immigrant grandmother who is heavy set and thick around the middle is just that, a stereotype that recalls an idea of comfort, especially comfort food. My own Asian immigrant grandmother is overweight, but that is unusual. I see many aging/senior Vietnamese immigrants at work and most of them are not overweight.

I don't agree at all that the 21st century's standard for normal weight is on the thin side. In Little House on the Prarie, Pa could span Ma's waist with two hands, which I would say is a normal, healthy size.

Pan pizzas on sheet trays?

In the same strip mall as Chef Chen is Chong Qing Mei Wei, really good Szechuan. They have a very popular fried cubed chicken. Diced chicken with, I think a cornstarch coating, fried, and then anointed with super spicy chilis, some sliced garlic, and plenty of MSG. I have never tried kung pao chicken there, but I know they make it.

Is it a hardship to take two steps sideways?

I think it was called Myung In.

xanthan gum

It is called El Huarique. 1301 Ocean Front Walk, #10.

It is serious cooking in a most unexpected place. You have to enter this hallway that is I guess a food court. Seating is counter/bar style, no tables. They've been open for only 3 months.

I ordered a ceviche, as a matter of course. Juicy mussels, octopus, white sea bass, and shrimp. The fish changes based on what's available at the market, you get the feeling it isn't presliced halibut strips that they defrost.

El jefe let my friend and I sample the red corn chicha, with cinnamon and other flavors. I never order sodas or sweet drinks, but this was so good we both got one.

Panna cotta is delicious.

I'm in CA. Have found that nonfat milk sets very loosely. Full fat is best.

You can definitely use chicken. No need to make any changes.

you can always grind your pistachios, infuse your milk base, and then strain out it out for a smooth texture.

Distilled pistachio aroma, is that the same thing as commercial extract? This is real, not fake pistachio flavor, but I would probably try this recipe before setting up my own still. http://modernistcuisine.com/recipes/p...

This recipe, to me, calls for orange or lemon zest, fresh or candied.

2 T soy +1 tsp fish sauces doesn't see like a horrible amount of salt for 8 oz meat. Can always use low sodium soy sauce?

Huh. I work near there, I had no idea there was a courthouse.

Obviously there is a lot of Vietnamese food. Ha Noi Avenue for the turmeric dill catfish with bun. This dish is also popular at Canton Restaurant. Dim sum at Seafood Cove.

There is a Pakistani restaurant on Westminster Blvd named Usmania, recently reviewed in OCWeekly if you are interested.

For non Asian that's not a chain, you might have to go to Goldenwest Ave, there's Paul's Deli. I also like El Pico De Gallo for tacos or enchiladas. Don't get the ceviche, though.

Totally different.

You can just skip the salted shrimp if you don't have it.