Pizza Port in San Clemente is pretty fun. They have tons of games for the kids upstairs and good beer for the grown ups.

Thanks! I'll check that out.
Any recommendations for Colorado Springs?

On Friday my SO and I are flying into Denver and headed down to Colorado Springs for a wedding. We're planning to stop for a snack in Denver on Friday when we land before heading down to C.S. Having dinner in Colorado Springs on Friday night. Then we're meeting some of his buddies on Sunday again in Denver for lunch before we fly out.

So I need some good suggestions. The Denver buddies are new-to-the-area barflies so I'm guessing they have no advice for us. The Colorado springs folks will be busy with wedding stuff.

Where should we eat? Help!

Costco's Kirkland vanilla ice cream is some of the best I've ever had. Yes, it comes in bathtub-sized quantities, but it really is unbeatable for the price. It's much creamier than most regular grocery store brands.

New topic: What to eat when you're having PMS.
Yes?

I was in your position last night with some cookie bars in the oven. Luckily I found a jar of refrigerated chocolate fondue that I melted and poured over the top. Yummmm! Perfect for the PMS blues.

Sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce is nice... you'll have a dulce de leche cake! I poke holes in my cake with a chopstick first so it soaks in.

Good luck!

Drizzle some of that hershey's on it last if you're really in the mood for something sweet.

Polaroid camera. :)

Hear Hear!!

Are those bars made with soy or something? I know they're low in carbs, so what's the crunchy stuff? It lingers in my mouth forever and I can't stand it, but I love a breakfast option that's good for me and goes well with coffee.

"Sweet sand" is right, they're very gritty.

Great idea! How about you call it "Spratt's"??

I think the recipe I saw was for raw onions on white bread with generous amounts of peanut butter. I got the idea here:
http://www.sandwichproject.co.uk/

I use this website all the time. There are TONS! Some of them are pretty "eh" but there are some gems in there. I've made a few really good recipes.

http://southernfood.about.com/library...

You can get sweetbreads at this place in San Juan Capistrano. Not really game, but strange:
http://www.lhirondellesjc.com/Dinner_...

India Cook House is about a five minute drive, but I think it's worth it. The atmosphere is funky but the food is tasty. Be sure to try the chutneys on the table when you sit down.
http://www.indiacookhouseoc.com/

And to think that Williams Sonoma sells a stainless steel "bar of soap" to use when we all have spoons laying around to do the same thing! It's a fantastic hidden remedy for stinky food prep!

Agreed! Even though Orange County is not known for it's cuisine, we do have things to talk about. I would venture to say that LA is anti OC and vice versa.

When I first signed up I started posting in "California" because I thought L.A. would be such a stretch for my friendly neighborhood OC restos. But then I noticed "California" means San Diego.

Then again, I'm the first to suggest that you get a passport to visit L.A., it's so darned far.

I used to be a full-time bartender and I never blinked an eye when someone would come in solo, sit at my counter and order a salad and an iced tea. You don't need to order booze to sit at the bar.

I disagree. In my experience working in restaurants, when the owner knew something was happening he made certain it stopped. He would even have people come in like secret shoppers, only they were his friends so they'd look for details he knew needed tightening up.

Managers and owners know the difference between someone who respects them and wants the restaurant to do well, and those who are just going through the motions. Those who do not appear to care get the crappy shifts and repeated wrist slaps until they are fired or decide to get a job at T.G.I. Fridays.

IMO if you don't say something there's a good chance the manager doesn't know it is happening. Having worked in restaurants and tending bar during the day, I know that sometimes people do prefer tables over the bar... even if they're alone. Is it possible that the person you were talking to was the bartender, hoping to fill his/her counter? I know I was tempted to do that when I was working a slow shift.

Just a thought.

Toss in a little balsamic, a squeeze of lemon, and some fresh mint and you've got my favorite dessert!

I've actually heard that PB and onions is very good on soft, white bread.
I've never tried it, but I imagine that the peanut butter would cut the spice of the onion.

Laverne did this with Milk and Pepsi! I've always wanted to try it.

Epop:
I hear you, and the other side of my brain is saying this:

Typically American restaurants have moved toward not only providing quality food, but feeling the need to entertain their guests too. That entertainment usually means loud decorations/sound systems/atmosphere. So I hear what you're saying.

It's great when you can find a place that relies only on it's food and service and doesn't need to stimulate every one of your senses.

So I guess I can see both sides of the fence.

La Palapa Del Mar (in Long Beach) is a great, fun place for a group. The owners will take great care of you, and the bartenders are the best.
They just set up a new patio area right on the water, so the view is great. I've never had a negative experience there with either food or service.

http://www.lapalapadelmar.com/

This is my opinion, of course, but you're out in public at a restaurant. If you want it silent and bump free, stay home and hire someone to cook for you.

One of the best parts of L.A. is the variety of people out and about. While our culture is going in two directions (an interesting dichotomy where one is an influx of individualism, and one is communities drawing together) I'd rather be aware of those around me, and appreciate the fact that I'm at a restaurant where others are enjoying the food/atmosphere/service etc. The joy of being out can be quite contagious.

I also need to say that I'm somewhat happy that America could be veering away from the sterile individualistic style of dining. Ever eaten out in Europe? There are many places where you share the same table with (gasp) strangers! It really can be a beautiful thing if you're interested in letting it be.

"Apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze."

My grandma said that all the time, but she meant cheddar, not cottage.
I'll bet it's good though.

Mmmm, rhubarb pie. I haven't had a slice in years!

No, silly. It's just a name.
Gaw.

While I believe in always asking what I can bring to a dinner party, I would NEVER attempt to bring the main dish. It's the MAIN dish, which the entire evening is focused around. So yes, he's probably not mean spirited, if he was you'd know by now and would have never invited him over for your celebration. He's just a non-thinker who wants to show off his mad skilz at making the best ribs ever. Does he remind you of Tim the Tool Man Taylor at all? He sounds similar.

I think if you made one more call explaining that you're very excited about your ribs and since they are the main dish, his ribs are very unnecessary but he's welcome to bring rolls or a bag of ice he'd get the point. An added touch would be to imply that it is your "birthday wish" to show off your delicious recipe and you've been looking forward to it for a while. No one can argue with birthday wishes. Once he truly realizes that you mean it, he'll probably back off. And if he doesn't you might want to suggest that he seek psychological help.

The Velvet Margarita is really fun and tasty. You get a dipping tower when you first sit down and chances are good that you'll fill up on that, so be careful. They've got some great margaritas but don't be fooled by the ones served in pineapples, they're not anything to shout about.

Try Frieda's Brow... it's a drink. Probably the best name for a cocktail I've ever heard.