mocro's Profile
Cafe Pinot questions re BYOB and theatre shuttle
It sounds like the shuttle is no problem, ditto pouring champagne + wine so thanks on that. Fingers crossed for a better experience than you had 2 years ago Jwsel. I'll report back.
Cafe Pinot questions re BYOB and theatre shuttle
We're going to Cafe Pinot for a Tuesday pre-theatre dinner. They don't charge corkage and I know we should bring good wine not on their list. I'm planning on bringing champagne + wine. Is it an impostion to do so when that'll entail 2 different glasses? If that's okay, how should we increase the tip to reflect the fact we BYOB'd?
Then a theatre shuttle question. Is there a Cafe Pinot-only shuttle or is it one shuttle that serves a number of downtown restaurants? I just want to make certain we're not waiting a long time for the shuttle on either end or that we'll be dropping off at a number of restaurants a la Super Shuttle at the airport which I did once and swore never again. We will have 2 cars so we could just leave one car and forgo the shuttle. Thanks.
Lukshon vs Akasha - Culver City
Lukshon it is. Thank you. And I have to laugh, Sonia, about your comment re the slingback chairs. I had a similar experience once and I'm just lucky I didn't end up under the table. And not because of the wine!
Lukshon vs Akasha - Culver City
The Tender Greens in Culver City was the first I went to and I'm now a regular at their newish Pasadena location, but for this dinner I want something a bit more upscale - but thank you.
Lukshon vs Akasha - Culver City
Thanks for the advice. By low-key I meant that we'd have time to chat and wouldn't be rushed, and that the tables are far enough apart for conversation; and in general it's not a scene. I have plenty of info above to make a decision so thank you.
Lukshon vs Akasha - Culver City
Normally I'd go to Saint Amour, but they're closed as is Fraiche. Opinion as to whether Lukshon or Akasha would be a better choice for a low-key dinner with friends? Both of the menus look great.
Chinatown biz dinner
A rec please for an attractive place in Chinatown for visiting execs. Usually I look for hole-in-the wall places but not this time. Hunan, Sichuan, preferred but Cantonese ok. Thanks so much.
Family dinner in San Francisco
As the original poster sorry to be MIA. We're going to be in d'town San Francisco. I checked out your recs and am thinking Capp's Corner might be a good choice both location and charm-wise. I didn't want to lead you astray re the teens as they're all 18-19 and pretty foodie-ish. It sounds like Capp's would be great. Thanks so much.
Family dinner in San Francisco
We're looking for a spot with charm in the city for 2 families with teens to meet on the Saturday night before Easter. Good food, but not a fancy atmosphere as we'll be coming off a day of touristing and will likely look a little ragged plus we will have had a high-end lunch. Am hoping for somewhere we can linger and talk over our meal.
I know Asian would be the typical go-to choice, but I will have come off 2 weeks in China. Mexican? Italian? Thank you for the advice.
SoPas Farmers Market
I'm just beginning to educate myself on the organic/vegan scene and I appreciate the advice. I see there's a new vegan restaurant in Pasadena on Fair Oaks Blvd. just south of Colorado Blvd. Has anyone been?
SoPas Farmers Market
This is probably a generic farmer's market question so thanks for your patience. I live in Pasadena and am beginning a transition to a vegan/organic eating plan. Are fruits and vegetables offered at a farmer's market - the SoPas one is convenient - automatically more pesticide-free than at a grocery?
Price and taste wise do you think there's a big difference between farmer's market fruits and vegetabales and organic offerings at Whole Foods or Vons? Thanks so much.
Easter brunch - San Jose
Sorry for the delay in replying as I've been traveling. We're staying on Santana Row and will be looking for somewhere Santa Clara University-ish area Easter morning with our daughter and possibly her friends before we head back to LA. Anywhere that does a good brunch in the San Jose/Santa Clara area would be great. We'd like an amazing breakfast at a cool place - doesn't have to be fancy - rather than a hotel buffet but at least we could make a reservation at a hotel. Thanks.
Easter brunch - San Jose
I'm a Los Angeleno looking for Easter Sunday brunch in Santa Clara/San Jose. We have a car and will have been in San Fran the day/night before so we don't want to head back to the city. My preference would be a restaurant that does amazing egg dishes and fancy french toast et al, but if we have to do the hotel brunch thing we will. Thanks so much for your help.
How long to keep smoked salmon
This relates to my smoked salmon appetizer recipe question below. Ha!
For Christmas I received a generous gift of a whole smoked salmon from Scotland. It's beautifully packaged w/plastic between the salmon layers making for easy serving. It has a March 2012 expiration date.
I served some Christmas morning and wrapped it up well and refridgerated planning to serve the rest this upcoming weekend. I just checked it and read the fine print which says when the vacume pack is opened you should serve within 3 days. :(
It tastes fine, perhaps a bit salty, but the edges of the top piece are slightly discolored...brownish. May I cut that away and serve or should I toss? Thanks!
Creme fraiche vs creme cheese
I do an easy appetizer by putting a dollop of creme fraiche on a fancy potato chip and then topping that with smoked salmon and a piece of dill. I have some leftover creme cheese I want to sub for the creme fraiche. I thought I'd thin the creme cheese a smidge. Should I use sour creme or Greek yogurt, both of which I have? Thanks!
Dinner guests who are chronically late and/or early...what to do?
The first thing I'd do is get 'locked out of the house' and require the emergency key and then not return it. Saves the cost of changing locks.
GF never eaten fish. Suggestions on the best fish you've eaten
Am guessing any self-respecting woman referred to in that manner will gladly comply with the 'we're over' part.
Help me get back to mom's meat loaf
It could be that the bread I use is so much more dense than my mom's good old squishy bread so it's not absorbing as much water.
Help me get back to mom's meat loaf
Both of these are great tips and I'll try next time. I think I may also be overcooking.
Thanks!
Best hot chocolate mix (moved from L.A. board)
My collage-age daughter and her friends begged for hot chocolate last night (which they had while they watched Love Actually - heaven!) and I used up the last of a Barefoot Contessa mix I'd been gifted with.
I've never been much of a hot chocolate maker so I'll need to lay in supplies for the holidays and wondered if anyone had an idea of a consistently good mix? I'm a Costco shopper and wondered if they had a Ghiradelli mix as that often carry that brand. Thanks!
Help me get back to mom's meat loaf
My mother's meat loaf was legendary and I'm certain the recipe came off a Cambell's soup can as it involves tomato soup as the sauce. Ground beef tossed w/celery, egg, onions, one wet slice of bread, parsley, smothered in tomato soup - couldn't be easier. It's best quality was it was crumbly - not hard as a rock like most meat loaf's.
I made it successfull in years past and now that I'm doing again mine is now rock hard. I've tried 3x. The only thing I can figure out is I'm using a denser slice of bread - Boudin sourdough instead of my mom's Wonder Bread style bread I was raised on. Does anyone have any ideas as to what makes meatloaf less dense? Thanks!
Dry stuffing shelf life?
Thanks so much for your spot-on advice. I'm determined not to make one last trip to the grocery store so this suits me just fine! Happy Thanksgiving.
Dry stuffing shelf life?
I have some Peppridge Farm stuffing mix upopened in a bag from last Thanksgiving. The exp date says 1/11/12. Do you think it'd still be okay to use? I don't want to ruin my stuffing for want of a bag of bread cubes. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Caphalon + burnt sugar = :(
I didn't intend my pre-Thanksgiving food prep to involve cleaning cookware.
I made applesauce and needed just 2 more apples so I threw them back into the pot that had held the prior sauce/sugar and left the heat too high so now I have a blackened burned mess. I cleaned away the apples, now what? Thanks!
Mashed potato + pork roasting temp ?
I just peeled some russet potatoes to mash just before dinner tonight. What's the best way to store them today (in fridge covered, in water?) so they won't brown before I mash them? Do potatoes brown like apples? Maybe there's no problem.
Making a top loin pork roast tonight. I have an insta-read digital thermometer and their read for pork being done is 170 degrees whereas my butcher and recipe says 160 degrees. I really don't want to start cutting into the roast and find it to be undercooked or dry. Any thoughts on best safe temp? Thanks.
Applesauce questions
Thanks tcamp. A friend just brought over a basket of apples (it's my b'day!) from her tree that she says makes great sauce so I'm halfway there.
Apple cider at SoPas Farmer's Market?
I'm on the hunt for some good quality apple cider for cocktails this weekend. Any ideas as to where I might buy in Pasadena area? I wondered if any of the vendors at the Thursday farmer's market in SoPas offered any? Thanks.
Applesauce questions
I'm making applesauce for the first time to go with a pork roast. Does anyone have experience using a microwave recipe vs stovetop? And can I make it today to serv eon Friday or is that too far in advance? Thanks!
Lunch option near 6th & 52nd please
I'm a former NYer taking 3 guests (2 chic LA guys & my NYC aunt) to lunch after a meeting on 6th Avenue between 52nd & 53rd. We will have had lunch at The Modern the day prior so do you have a slightly less pricy alternative that's not a chain? Maybe $30-35pp for food? My aunt has some mobility issues so it would be great if it weren't a long walk. Anything except sushi + Mexican okay. Thanks!
