Can anybody lead me to the place that will have the appropriate traditional "sponges" to make a real British trifle for Boxing Day?

How my husband decided to put up a note on this thread is beyond me. He seems to have been so frustrated with the raccoons taking apart our pond pump EVERY NIGHT that he started fantasizing about eating them. I find this entire thing a bit unappetizing, and I wish he hadn't done this!!! NO way are we going to kill and eat a city raccoon! So I appreciate everyone's responses, but I'd like to bow out of this conversation, before I get queasier! How do I do that?

Well, I'd heard that kudzu was more like chard and raccoon was more like second class bear. Anyone like to stand in for kudzu?

Fabulous! Thanks!

We'll try NIcole's. Will they make up a basket lunch for you?

Thanks!

We'd like to get a nice picnic basket to take on an excursion for lunch tomorrow. Any suggestions for good places around Pasadena? Not over-the-top extravagant, but better than just a box lunch from the Corner Bakery.

Thank you, Peripatetic. How sad. But thanks for letting us know where the chef went!

We have just heard that Tre Venezie n Pasadena closed! How out of it are we? When did this happen? WHY did this happen?? PLease send details! Where has the great chef gone? I'm so sorry to hear about this!

Peripatetic, I thot this was very helpful and enlightening. From our interaction there a few weeks ago, I got the impression some new young chef had somehow taken over, and was very defensive about everything. That's what made us wonder what was going onb--the vibe was tense.

Good idea, nlk. Have you eaten there lately? Does anyone out there have any recent scoop on this?

Wow, thanks for that, Peripatetic. I thought we must just be out of the loop on this one. Oh, well, another one bites the dust. I will miss a nice place in the area to get good fried chicken.

We have had very nice breakfasts there, and their fried chicken used to be reliable. That's why we wonder if something has happened, and the original owners/managers aren't there anymore?

Can anybody tell us what is going on at Larkins in Eagle Rock? We went there about two weeks ago on a Wednesday night and everything was off: the chicken was way overcooked and had sweet breading unlike anything they've had before, they were out of greens and cole slaw (! How can you run out of cole slaw???), the fried okra was greasy, and the red beans were UNDERcooked. Did we just hit a bad night with amateur cooks, or has something fundamental happened, e.g., new owners?

Uh oh, we're probably way behind. Maybe I should start another thread about Larkin's?

Yes, Kevin, I knew what you meant. They must have sent their good people to the Mac n Cheese restaurant!

Yes, they've always had mac n cheese, and we didn't try that last time. You're probably right--often when restaurants expand, they get worse.

nlk: We used to go to Larkin's every once in a while and we could count on their chicken being good. Two weeks ago we got a take out order of Fried Chicken, Fried Okra, and Red Beans. We should have been alerted that something had changed when they said they were out of both greens and cole slaw! (What soul food restaurant runs out of cole slaw?) When we got the order home, it was completely unsatisfactory: the chicken was way overcooked, and iits breading was way too sweet, not at all like they used to have it. The okra was also overcooked, and the beans were UNDERcooked! This was on a Wednesday night, and we got the feeling new young cooks were in charge. Does anyone out there know if the original owners have left? We haven't gone back to see if it was just an off night, but it was definitely off.

Is that the one next to Super King (or King Super)? We have always wondered about that. Thanks for the endorsement!

Roscoe's does take out?

While I haven't tried LudoBites, I have tried a lot of "gourmet" food trucks, and I agree. They are often very overrated, and VERY pricey!

No, we haven't tried Roscoe's, even though it's very close to our house. We thought it was going to be super greasy and fast foodish...But we should give it a try!

Thanks! Does Ludotrucks get over this way very often? I couldn't figure that out on the website.

Now that Larkin's seems to have imploded (what HAPPENED there, btw?), we need to find a place for good fried chicken in the Pasadena/Eagle Rock/Glendale area. Any suggestions?

Precisely the kind of detail I wanted! The actual location! Thanks!

Wow, that's fresh! I would never have thought to look in Chinatown!

Thanks! This is a great site to know about!

Thanks for that, we've never seen it at Gelsons, but perhaps it's just not at the ones we go to. I'll ask there.