Dinner at Six

The Cooks Library

2008-04-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago while at Borders, I was thumbing through one of the countless cooking magazines and stumbled across a list of the top ten cook book stores. I was excited to find one right in backyard! The Cooks Library was everything I dreamed of and more! Located on W 3rd blocks from Beverly Hills, it sits quietly waiting for those who find it to come in, sit down and take your time looking through their impressive inventory of everything related to food and cooking. The manager Tim was extremely helpful answering my questions and offering me what would become coveted space on the nearby couch to review my perspective purchases.

My love affair with cook books (and cooking) came from my grandmother...Mildred. Just the name tells you she was a salt of the earth woman. She would stand at the door, as if to say "I've been waiting for you", cleaned and presses apron on and insist you sit down as she promised to "fix you a little something". I would spend every weekend I could with her. My grandpa would retreat to the garage while she and I got busy in the kitchen. I must have been 5 or 6, she'd tie a dish towel around my waste and pull a chair up to the stove so I could add the salt, or stir the pot. She gave me my first cook book The Encyclopedia of Creative Cooking. It's signed "To the sweetest granddaughter a Gram could ever want. Cook! Eat!! Enjoy!!!" 5-13-85. It's beat up, stained and barely held by it's binding, but it's one of most treasured possessions.

The Cooks Library reminds me of a place she would love. As I snap out of my fog I notice the store is hoppin. Two women are patiently waiting, books in hand for my coveted space on the couch. I just finished Anthony Bourdain's The Nasty Bits and was looking for a new read. My friend @ Chubby Panda recommended
The United States of Arugula, and I found an interesting cook book Salt and Pepper. Those will do for today.

Next time your in L.A., check out this gem. Get there when they open, find a few books and settle in on the couch. This could be addicting!

THE COOK'S LIBRARY

8373 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-655-3141
866-340-COOK (866-340-2665)
info@cookslibrary.com

Store hours:
Monday 1 - 5pm
Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm
Closed Sundays

Cook! Eat!! Enjoy!!!

I'm back....

2008-03-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

I know....trust me. I feel like a pathetic blogger (or ex-blogger) with not posting since Dec., but things really have been that busy for me.

I got married Feb. 18th on Maui! It was stunning. We decided to take all that dough ($$$) we would have spent on a celebration here, and spent it on a celebration there. Just the two of us....it was perfect.
We got married at Makena Cove and as you can see, it was a beautiful day. It was one wonderful week, everyday was like summer. We stayed at the Four Seasons and spent most of our time lounging by the pool doing absolutely nothing. It was perfect.

Where did we eat? Let me tell you what left us un impressed this trip. Roy's in Kihei. It was extra disappointing since this is one of Mike's favorite places. The atmosphere was drab, unlike the other lcoations we've been to in Fashion Island or on the other Hawaiian Islands. It was located in a strip mall, with an extremely dated interior. We order steak and seafood both of which were very 'common'. The quality of the steak was poor and again all very common, especially for the price (inflated Hawaiian price at that).

Mike and I both love to eat and try new places so he researched the web and found The General Store. The interior was nice, somewhat of a Hawaiian plantation feel. Plenty of local art displayed, but again the food did not match my expectations after reading reviews. Lunch for 2, $85. Just about then Mike and I were wishing we'd headed back to a favorite plate lunch joint. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem paying for a good meal, but I want just that. More often than not, I find that meal at a more local level. The establishment that's been in the family for years, or whatever they serve sends the message that they take pride in what the produce and serve it with a genuine love for what they do.

Spago @ the Four Seasons maybe? We failed to make reservations so no luck. We opted for the Quatro Steakhouse in the Four Seasons. This was the best fine dining decision we'd made. Our steaks were incredible, the service outstanding, and Maui provided us with another beautiful night to dine outside.

When lounging at the pool ordering margarita's, we had these incredible Kalua Pork Casadias The meat was tender and smokey and the margarita's paired perfectly. I've got to make a batch of those at home!

Still, it was my honeymoon and I was not in the 'blog, picture taking' state of mind. I have found that I miss this....writing about what I like and reading what you're chewing on. So with that said...I'm back.

Hope all is well for everyone out there and glad to be back. Keep writing...I'm reading!

Let's eat!

Casa De Liquid Muse!

2007-12-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

I know....once again it's been to long between posts and I have no other excuse than being butt kickin busy.

A couple of weeks ago I get an e-vite..how exciting! It's from The Liquid Muse...now I'm thrilled!! Cocktails with the girls at her place. This was my lucky day!!! Check out her blog...new book deal (yeah!), cocktail recipes, and local happenings!!!

I've been lucky enough to meet up with several O.C. Food bloggers; Chubby Panda and Monster Munching to name a couple. I million things go through my head before we meet for the first time. What do
they look like, are they funny, will we have a good time? I have yet to be disappointed! Charming, funny and a great time is what I walk away with.

I am flattered to be asked to someones home. What an intimate and gracious gesture! As I approached the door, it opened with a warm "You must be Deb!" and a big hug. We got right down to business and poured glasses of champagne. I like this girl! As the other ladies continued to stream in and introductions made, I felt like I was with a group of girlfriends catching up.

The food was wonderful. A beautiful "Oh it's sooo simple" salmon fillet was nestled between brie & blue cheeses. Wonderfully crisp flatbread was waiting to be layered with the delicious items one plate over. Hummus.....how come the most delicious things are the simplest? I love hummus....who am I kidding... I love just about everything! ;) The 'closer' was chocolate covered Fortune Cookies and more great conversation.

This is truly the time of year to embrace our gifts. Friends (new and old), time well spent (slow down) and open that bottle of wine you've been saving! Now is the best time to drink it!!

Break of Dawn

2007-11-10T18:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I met up with some of my favorite fellow food bloggers from O.C. Food Blogs for breakfast @ Break of Dawn in Laguna Hills. As soon as I receive the e-vite from Chubby Panda, I knew I was in for a treat!

Chef Dee Nguyen (formerly of the Ritz-Carlton) set up shop in a small Laguna Hills shopping center just off the 5 freeway and El Toro. Break of Dawn is a much over due breakfast alternative to Coco's and Mimi's. The small but airy interior reflects a sense of what I call 'Asian calm'. Inspirational writings grace the walls, reflecting his love of food and his joy in preparing it.

There was a good turn out and I love it. New friends and great conversation as I anxiously wait to see what everyone orders. That's half the fun I think....did they get something I wouldn't have given a second thought to? How was it prepared and what's in it? Is it good???? With Elmo from Monster Munching sitting right across from me, I knew I'd be good for one bite of his dish!

Elmo ordered Corned Beef with Sweet Potato Hash, Tarragon Braised Cabbage, Two Poached Eggs and Whole Grain Mustard Sauce. Yes.......it was delicious.

I landed on the Smoked Salmon & Egg: Oatmeal Galette, Herb Poached Eggs, Marinated Tomato & Preserved Lemon-Caper Emulsion. The eggs were not overpowered by the salmon (which I find with most salmon/egg combination dishes) and the lemon caper sauce complimented everything beautifully.

The menu offered an impressive selection of dishes without leaving me overwhelmed with choices. Open for breakfast and lunch, it's a welcome change from the bland and boring fare we are all to willing to ingest and call a meal.

The Flaky Puff Pastry with artichoke & roasted tomato puree, poached eggs, black forest ham, portobello cream and white truffle essence demands that I return. Who am I to say no? Get there.

Break of Dawn
24351 Avenida De La Carlota #N-6
Laguna Hills, Ca. 92653
949-587-9418

Oktoberfest!

2007-10-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

While cruising the web I've searched for an Orange County Slow Food convivia and finally hit gold! I sent them an e-mail and received a reply with a potluck invitation to boot! This was my lucky day!! Bring your best "Fall Harvest" side dish, they'll provide the sausages and great company. I'm in....

I head back to the Internet to find a recipe describing itself as 'authentically' German, and found Zwiebelkuchen (Onion Pie). I decide to cook a pie on Saturday to make sure it's 'worthy'. I figured if it wasn't a success, the chances of my teenage sons devouring it were pretty good. Saturday's pie was beautiful. The crust was substantial and was more 'biscuit like' than standard crust. Better to hold the caramelized onions and bacon I think!

Onion Pie
Title: Zwiebelkuchen
Servings: 8

1 pk Yeast; Active Dry
1 t Sugar
1 1/2 t Salt
3 c Unbleached Flour
1 T Shortening
1 c Water; 120 to 130 Degrees F.
6 Bacon; Slices, Cut Up
2 Onions; Medium, Sliced
1/4 t Cumin
1/2 t Salt
Pepper; As Desired
1 Egg Yolk
1 c Sour Cream

Mix yeast, sugar, 1 t salt, and 1/2 cup flour. Blend in shortening and warm water. Beat for 2 minutes. Add enough flour to make a soft dough.
Knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place dough in a
lightly greased bowl. Cover and let dough rise in a warm place 1/2 hour.
Pat dough into a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan or onto a lightly
greased baking sheet. Press up edges to make a slight rim.

Fry bacon until crisp. Remove from grease and drain on absorbent paper. Add onions to bacon grease; cook slowly until tender and caramelized.

Sprinkle onion,bacon, cumin, 1/2 t salt and pepper over dough. Bake at 400 Degrees F.for 20 minutes.

Brush crust with little yolk & water.Blend egg yolk and sour cream. Pour over onions. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer or until golden brown and sour cream is set.
Serve warm or at room temperature. Yum! We're good to go for Sunday!

I duplicate my success on Sunday, or so I thought! My pie looked beautiful, but since I cooked it earlier in the morning and refrigerated it, I re-heated it for 30 min @ 300 degrees. The result, a crust too hard to cut. The topping was delicious, but I needed the 2 glasses of wine I had just to cut through it! Don't you love wine?! Note to self, next time, don't re-heat, or consider a puff pastry crust. Hmmm....puff pastry sounds good. Next time!

As I gathered my empty dish and I said my good byes, I was grateful for a wonderful evening under the stars in beautiful Laguna Beach with such a welcoming & gracious group of people. It's not hard to live well. Connect with people that are passionate about food, drink and life. They'll show you how. Does it get any better??? Thank you!

Let's eat!

Cocktail anyone?

2007-10-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

A good cocktail and something wonderful to eat. I'm challenged to think of anything better. My favorite mixology blogger Natalie, over at The Liquid Muse has something fun going...Mixology Monday's, or Mix Mo. She and her mixologist friends are taking turns hosting this new Monday event (who better than Natalie, right??)and this Monday it's all her.

First off, let me come clean with my lack of experience of what cocktail pairs best with what dish….I just know what I like. Is that a crime??

My favorite food/meal/cocktail pairing is an easy one. I like my cocktails straighforward, my food reliable. That makes it easy...a big bone in ribeye, (medium rare), lobster mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus with lemon and butter, followed by a good single malt scotch.

Let’s just say that’s my favorite way to ‘get down to business”’. ;)

Elephant Delicatessen- Portland

2007-10-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

With most of my business travel over, I can now start back to posting. And I'm behind! Mike and I visited Elephant Delicatessen in Portland about 2 months ago and I have to say it's shaping up to be a favorite. I love the small food stations, that can accommodate whatever my taste may be for the day. Brick oven pizza, soothing soups, unique and classic sandwiches, pasta, coffee and yes....even cocktails! Place your order directly with the chef at each respective station then keep an eye out to pick it up. Not only is the food great, but the store is an epicureans dream to browse.The wine selection, the cases of prepared food & the deli case are screaming "come see".

The cheese case if phenomenal! Yes... I am a cheese hound. Andrew, the General Manager can be found behind the counter and is more than happy to to share his love for good food with samples from their case.The meats are all right there...making it easy (or hard) to pick what you'll be taking home!

I'm a staunch believer in good food. Be careful not to confuse this with expensive food. I mean fresh, high quality, simple and flavorful. Can it be expensive? You bet, but then wouldn't it be nicer to have a little bit of the best rather than a lot of mediocre? A little bit of the best, now that's living!

After my browsing, Mike and I were ready to order. Mike went for the Fish and Chips while I chose the Croque Monsieur sandwich with a side or their wild mushroom soup.Delish!

The baked goods, including breads are amazing. Their simple (but obviously delicious) Cowboy Cookies seem to be Mike's favorite.

With a menu that gives you choices like the Willamette Valley Salad with mixed greens, Oregon hazelnuts, bleu cheese, crispy Northwest apple slices & grapes, tossed with Elephants Own raspberry vinaigrette dressing or Picnic baskets and cheese trays to go, and catering to boot there's no excuse not to enjoy fine food.
You gotta go!

Elephant Delicatessen
115 NW 22nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97210
(503)299-6304

Aloha!

2007-10-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe last weekend I was in Hawaii. It was for our National Toyota Dealer Meeting in Waikiki. Toyota goes all out, great food (sushi as far as the eye can see) along with prime rib and lamb chops and the cocktails are flowing. We get a big name M.C. and entertainment each year. This year the Jay Leno M.C.'d it then we we treated to a concert with Stevie Nicks opening for Aerosmith. Good times but lets get back to the food!

I asked the concierge at the hotel for suggestions on a local plate lunch joint. He said the only place to send me was to The Rainbow Drive-in.
I got the combo plate...rice, mac salad (YUM!), bbq beef, fish & pork. I did not leave hungry! Hawaiian macaroni salad is my favorite. Real mayo and plenty of it. I know it may sound gross, but it tastes soooo good when it touches your lips!

After lunch I explored a little and discovered another local favorite, Leonards. It's a bakery that serves the donut of Hawaii, Masaladas. Although I don't like the taste of sweets, I love to look!

Great local places, beautiful weather, awesome eats.

Please forgive me on this not to descriptive post...traveling and spare time do not go together. Looking forward to being home for a while and getting back into the swing of things.

Eat up!

A new favorite!

2007-09-23T19:47:00.001-07:00

I picked up a copy of Tastes of Italia to read while lounging by the pool on a crystal clear day in Palm Springs. Let me think.. a glass of wine, a great food rag and someone new playing softly in the background.I keep listening, racking my brain for the name of this singer. Can't figure it out so I ask the bartender. He tells me "Everyone asks, it's Jane Monheit". What rock have I been under?? I all know is it can't get much better than that on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Flying out this Friday to Hi for a long weekend (yes...it's work) and back Monday eve. Behind as usual with posting, and I actually have plenty to post on. That damn time factor kills me. Hope you enjoy Jane as much as I did!

It's a matter of taste

2007-09-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

How can anyone not love sushi??? I do! There are those occasions it's not as fresh, traditional, creative as you'd hoped. Ahh...but then there are the times when the moment it melts onto your tongue the clouds part and the angels sing. I experienced just that Thursday afternoon @ Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills.
Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first US restaurant in Alaska. After loosing everything to a fire, he came to Los Angeles, opened Matsuhisa and the rest is history. Matsuhisa fathered the famous Nobu in NYC, and now several sister locations dotting the globe. Robert DeNiro is his longtime partner.

I had a lunch date with a client. He asked if I like sushi....was he joking?? He said he was going to treat me to something incredible and he was right. Mike bought me the Nobu cookbook a couple of years ago and sad to say I've merely toyed with it, browsing the pages, making a shopping list then setting it all aside. For me, it's not only a time thing, but who will eat it? My boys are the obvious candidates but are rarely home. That's the center of food and cooking isn't it? Feeding and sharing a meal with people we care about.

We started with Edamame & Red Miso Soup. Sometimes the simplest fare requires the most attention to get it right. This was outstanding. The edamame was sprinkled with a red salt. Hawaiian possibly? Regardless, it was enough to strike a note with me that this was going to be very good. The soup was no different. The deep rich flavor of the seaweed and just the right amount of miso. I'm amazed by the difference in quality when it comes to miso. My pallet is not as discerning as I'd like it to be, but I do recognize when the best ingredients are used. It's all about quality.

We moved on to Yellowtail Jalapeno. What rock have I been under???? This was incredible! No thick slabs of fish, but thin translucent slices of yellowtail topped with a shaving of jalapeno and drizzeled with ponzu. It was intoxicating. Before I could fully appreciate each bite, it melted away. Next we ordered Baby Abalone with asparagus, spring onions and light garlic sauce. The sauce was perfect. The ingredients glistened without floating in the sauce. Everything was in balance, without one ingredient overwhelming the other. Heaven.....
We moved on...A Soft Shell Crab Spring Roll. Everything wrapped neatly in rice paper and flashed fried. It was served pre-cut and sitting on a dollop of spicy cream sauce.

It is evident Nobu was far beyond his time when creating inovative yet approachable dishes. It was just right. When it comes to the new hot sushi place, the creativity factor can be over the top and dilute the experience. Not here. Nothing pretencious, just the highest quality ingredients with all the experimentation out of the way. I was surprised at how reasonable it was to! Next time you're in L.A., anywhere near La Cienega & Wilshire, GO!

Edamame $4
Red Miso Soup $5
Yellow Tail $20
Baby Abalone $15
Soft Shell Crab $17

All of these were more than enough for two. Love to hear from anyone that knows of an O.C. establishment that can rival this!

Think outside the box...

2007-08-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

No sorry excuses. I just haven't posted lately and I need to. I mean it, I really need to. Eating & drinking are way up there on my list of life's indispensable passions, so let's get busy with it!!!!

I'm getting married the beginning of next year and it's starting to sink in how much I need to do. Lot's going on. Mike is in Portland (which will be my new home) and most of the planning discussions are over the phone. We're getting married in Hawaii, then back to So Cal for an intimate dinner with close friends and family. Just what we want. I entertain a lot for work and get the opportunity to eat at some pretty incredible places, and although Mike & I love Roy's, when it comes to eating...we like to think outside the box. Who's cooking at that new little place downtown? It's so much fun to try places before everyone knows about them and things change.

In my search, I've found a wonderful hidden gem right in my own backyard (Irvine) called Lucca Cafe. Not tapas, but small plates, perfect for sharing. They pride themselves with serving incredibly fresh and innovative food in an unpretentious atmosphere. Their wine list is extensive with a price range for everyone, and over 60 wines by the glass! They're $10 reverse corkage ain't bad either......buy any bottle to take home and take $10 off the price.

I've been tossing them around as a location for our 'reception' dinner and decided I'd treat myself to a beautiful dinner to seal the deal. Elliott (owner/manager?) now knows me...this makes me feel very important. ;)
He shows me to a table and spends a minute to introduce a few new cheese finds from a purveyor in Dana Point. It's after work, I'm tired and hungry. I tell Elliott I'd love some cheese, but more importantly would like for him to decide on my meal for me. I love doing that and I've had some of my best meals from letting the staff decide! He leaves and a server appears to pour a glass of Terrabianca Campaccio 2001 Super Tuscan, which is their best seller for very obvious reasons. Very big red with a smooth finish. Nothing overbearing or shocking & left me noting the vintage.

Elliott chooses a 3 cheese plate (they serve a choice of 1, 3 or 5 cheeses). A little more than I actually needed, but should I care? I sampled a blue from Rogue Creamery on the Oregon Coast, Brie d' Meaux (triple cream...need I say anything more?) and a tart goat cheese from Midnight Moon Humbolt County. All this plated with beautiful berries, champagne grapes, flat bread & my glass of wine. Am I dreaming?.......

Next comes a plate of petite pork tenderloin. Spiced, peppered and cooked perfectly. It was thinly sliced and rested on a bed of caramelized new onions and strewn with fried leeks. On the side was a perfect little ramekin filled with polenta topped with sour cherries.

He finishes with their signature Lucca bread pudding. It looked crazy good, but I don't like sweets and didn't have the heart to tell him so I took it to go. My boys will happily finish off any leftovers I bring home! I have a cup of coffee, enjoy the sunset and wish Mike was there. Yes...it's a done deal. For our reception dinner, Lucca will work out beautifully.

Glass wine $16.50 (YES....I'm worth it!)
Cheese plate $13.00
Pork tenderloin $17.00
Bread Pudding $ 5.00
Coffee $ 1.75
--------------------------
$53.25

Food - Incredible
Ambiance- relaxed and unpretentious
Value- Outstanding!

Lucca Cafe
6507 Quail Hill Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92603
(949) 725-1773

Pok Pok PDX

2007-07-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

My last day in Portland Mike and I headed over to the latest hot Thai joint in PDX (aka Portland). It more than lived up to the streams of praise & accolades. Starting out as a small lunch cart, they've evolved and now occupy a small house right next door which they've named Whiskey Soda Lounge.

The reviews said we had to try the Papaya Pok Pok, a green papaya salad with tomatoes, long beans, Thai chili, lime juice, dried shrimp, ground pork & peanuts tossed in a coconut milk dressing. Just enough chili to give it a little kick!
We paired that with Kai Yaang, charcoal roasted game hen stuffed with lemongrass, garlic, spices and served with a sweet & sour dipping sauce.

I'm a Thai soup fan and we added an order of Kaeng Om Neua, a brothy beef jungle curry soup. This was my favorite! Pair these with a couple of Thai beers and it's a beautiful thing. Although eating outside was fine with us, if you prefer to eat inside the Whiskey Soda Lounge, they only accept reservations of 5 or more, and yes...reservations are needed. My only complaint was the rice. You actually have to order it separately (which is a little unusual that it doesn't come with any of the dishes) and it's $2.00 for about 1 cup?... Don't get me wrong it's no deal breaker, but it continues to nag me.

Good Thai, unpretentious and fun location. Next time your path crosses Portland, treat yourself to some amazing Thai.

Eat up!

The 'Vacation Five'

2007-07-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

You all know what I'm talking about...That "What the heck, I'm on vacation" attitude every time you pick up a menu. Well, I won't disappoint!I spent a wonderful week in San Francisco for a sales conference. LOVE that city!

I checked out the Cowgirl Creamery in the Ferry Building and checked out The Slanted Door for lunch. No photo ops here, but phenomenal food!

I flew home on Friday and flew out to Portland on Sunday for a week of R&R with my man. We spent the week exploring the Oregon Coast. Insanely beautiful and very relaxing!

We hit The Rogue Brewery for a cool one and some lunch. Kobe Beef Burger topped with Oregon Blue Cheese and a salad. Although beer is not usually my drink, I had a Will Ferrel Old School moment.. "It tastes so good when it touches my lips!". We also visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Pretty wild watching the process, but I have to say I prefer the romance of the beautifully over crowded cases @ Cowgirl Creamery.

On to the Inn at Cape Kawanda for (that's right), more eating drinking and a weak attempt to hike it all off. We indulged in a beer flight along with the 'Tower of Onion Rings', another Kobe Burger & Fish and Chips. I have to make this clear. I am a fish and chips snob. I like mine battered, not breaded. Lightly please so when it reaches my table, it's light & fluffy, not oily and dense. Unfortunately we did not hit the mark on this one, but the beers I'll give a 10. Finish and take that harrowing 50 yard walk to our place across the street. It's all good.

We do love the 'little guy'. You know, the guy just trying to make it and happens to put out incredible food. We landed on
Harvest Fresh River Deli. On a Tuesday "all you can eat" pasta night to boot! They had 5 pasta dishes to mix & max and eat your fill. It included soup or salad so we got one cup of Mushroom Barley & and one Potato Cheese soup. Mike had the sausage lasagna while I had Linguine with chicken, lemongrass pesto and chili. Round 2: It was so good we stuck with the same.

That's all for now. Next stop (post), Manzanita!

Eat up!

O.K.....I'll play.

2007-06-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Natalie @ The Liquid Muse. Seems she'd like to know 7 things about me that fellow bloggers don't know. Let me say that I'm fully aware none of this info might interest you, but what the hell...I'll play.

#1. Tomorrow I turn 47. yes...that's correct, THREE years from 50! I haven't decided whether I'm going to have issues with this or not.

#2 I'm engaged to a great guy and will be moving to Portland in a year to start a new chapter in my life).

#3 I was a stylist (old school definition: hair/makeup artist) @ Warner Bros in the early 80's.

#4 I up and moved to Colorado when I was 23. I lived @ 10 thousand feet in the middle of the Rockies. No phones (c.b. radio's), rode horses, 10 other people lived on "the mountain", snow 10 months out of the year. I escaped from a broken heart, & lived in a killer apt above the cafe/bar I ran with my aunt.

#5 I LOVE to cook & entertain...I don't do either nearly enough

#6 I HATE sweets (I know.... that's really weird)

#7 I grew up with 5 brothers....no ballet in my house. Strictly self defense!

Natalie...this does not replace our drink date. I'll e-mail you next week when I'm back in town! ;)

Who would have known?

2007-06-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

Work brings me to Culver City about once a week and each time I discover another gem. Although Cafe Surfas is not new to me...it's one of my favorites. Surfas restaurant and cooking supply has been around since 1937 and with this years addition of Cafe Surfas, it makes the perfect lunch time stop and shop. I'm like a kid in a candy store. The store offers gourmet foods and oodles of awesome cooking supplies for everyone from the recreational to professional cook. Today I picked up an OXO Mandoline. I've wanted a mandoline for a while and this one got great reviews by Gourmet Magazine so there you have it. All that walking up & down the seemingly endless isles of wares, made me hungry!

How convenient....the cafe is right through the doors! I take my usual stance in the center of the cafe. This way I can clearly see the beautiful cheese case, with a connecting case holding sandwiches just waiting to be dressed, grilled and served. The side salads are all wonderful. My favorite is a pea, minced red onion, Spanish ham salad dressed with creme fresh. Today I decide on the Roasted Turkey Club. Turkey, grainy mustard, sauteed arugula, Taleggio Cheese grilled on Rosemary Bread. Yes..... it was delicious. The sandwiches are served with baby greens lightly tossed with a raspberry vinaigrette and pickles. I pass on the hand crafted sodas and go with a simple bottled water for a near perfect lunch that never disappoints.

Everything from the Kobe Beef Haute Dog with horseradish mustard, blue cheese cream, cioppolini onions on a french baguette or the Kurobuto Ham Panini with Snake River Farms Kurobuto Ham shaved thin, Schoolhouse Kitchen Chutney, appenzellar cheese on rosemary bread are divine. They also serve some incredible breakfast sandwiches, soups and salads. Next time you find yourself in Downtown Culver City, swing over to Washington, do some kitchen shopping and grab a little something to eat!

Get to cookin!

2007-05-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been slackin....about cooking that is. I have 2 teenage boys (you'd think that would keep me busy in the kitchen!), but they're never home and so the dilemma continues. If I cook, who will eat it?? Well, I've been catching up on my favorite blogs which have inspired me to cook more, and blog one dish weekly.

Last night while laying in bed reading one of my (90+) cookbooks, I came across the following recipe in Jamie Oliver's The Naked Chef Takes off.

white risotto with lemon thyme, sliced prosciutto, percorino & crumbled goat's cheese
yum.........

As I'm finishing the dish, my 19 year old son Rob comes in for a taste. He loves it, but we have different opinions. Far too rich for me. The recipe called for 4 ounces of both freshly grated Parmesan and percorina cheeses. Top this with the goat's cheese and prosciutto and it was over the top. I'd make the dish again, but cut both cheese in half, add fresh peas and eliminate the goat's cheese.

I love the whole idea of how cooking gets our wheels turning. How can the dish be better? How would we put our 'stamp' on it? And when you land on the perfect recipe.....you share it with everyone you know.
What a great thing to love...this cooking..

Eat up!

Consumed....

2007-04-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

Just back from Boston...gotta love that city! Mike flew in from Portland (Oregon) and me from sunny SoCal for our annual trip to the Boston Marathon. No.... I'm not the one running it. The nor'easter kicked our @$#%!'s but we still managed to have a great time. Luckily most of the bad weather hit the night before and the day after the race. In the meantime....we filled in the blanks with some incredible food. Mike and I are passionate fans of the 'hole in the wall', the 'little guy', the 'OMG, I can't believe this place isn't packed every hour of the day' kind of place. Well, we hit em!

Our favorite part of town in the North End. It's got history, phenomenal food and a very cool vibe. The one spot we've got to hit...no exceptions, is Cibo (twice as a matter of fact!). We started with fried calamari, but what makes this one especially good are the slices of pickled peppers that are fried along with them. Just enough of a tangy hot kick to finish off each bite. I really like that they serve the marinara dipping sauce warm. Ever get fried calamari served with cold sauce? We ordered the following dishes (on different nights), all of which were incredible: Caprese Salad, Pan fried Italian Greens (INSANE!), Linguine Carbonara, Pollo Parmesan & Ribbon Pasta served with spicy shrimp & scallops in a wine sauce. Bread...wine.......ahhhhhhhhhh.

On to our fav follow up, Caffe Vittoria where we order up a Caffe Mocha,Caffe Latte and a Cannoli (chocolate dipped please!) for Mike this is a must. The nice guy in this pic is the head Barista. Friendly enough but he is serious about his work. Once you taste his caffe, you'd know what I mean. Did I already say 'ahhhhhhhhh' ?!

Tuesday, while looking at my carefully written directions to find Flour Bakery we got lost. I don't get it?! Well...in true 'Deb' style, I had written directions down for a completely different restaurant, Sorriso. Time for lunch? We started off with a wonderful Split Pea Soup with barley and panchetta. Then Mike ordered a Pizza Margherita with Fennel Sausage added. Straight from their brick pizza oven and very tasty. I had the Chicken, Pesto, Arugula & Tomato sandwich. Again, very good but served on Foccia and was a little more bread than I like (too filling).

For me, Boston presents some challenges. How can I walk away from the sure bets we love so much in the North End, while balancing it out with the multitude of other much deserved establishments? Next year....

Eat up!

Check this out!

2007-04-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

While blog browsing I came across this little jewel, Real Meals TV! Home cooks and pro's alike send in cooking videos, sharing recipes and techniques. I've spent the last haf hour watching and couldn't get enough. My mind went wild thinking of the bloggers out there I'd like to see on Real Meals TV, (you know who you are). Get cookin and send in those videos! (I'm not worthy). Such a cool idea...

Eat up!

Everybody loves pizza!

2007-03-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was my 'L.A. Day' for work. As I was driving into Beverly Hills, I was thinking Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali's new pizza joint Mozza just might be nearby. Punch it in my nav and there it was...3 miles away from my final destination!

You know, I read a lot of glowing reviews and then the ones that worn you about the long lines and craziness, but I encountered none of that. There were about 10 people waiting (it was lunchtime), and got in without a reservation. Since I was alone I opted to sit at the bar where you can watch them weave their pizza magic. The pie I ordered had spring onions, roasted garlic, Coach Goat Cheese and bacon. Coach Farms is owned and operated by Mario's in-laws. Keepin it in the family!

I've always made my first judgement of any pizza by the crust. It's got to be cracker thin and very crisp. They get an A+ here. The pizza was certainly tasty, (and I'm sure I could quickly become very unpopular here...) but I would have made some changes with the toppings. Don't get me wrong, great combination of ingredients, and not overpriced ($14), but some minor changes non the less. The roasted garlic was delish... but gigantic. Huge cloves dotted the pizza and I felt it would been more enhancing if the cloves were smaller. The cheese and the bacon were outstanding, but the springs onions were cut into 3 inch long stings, which promptly embedded themselves into every space between my teeth they could find.

Did all this stop me??? Pllllleeeeease! It was extremely good, just not one I'd order during lunch time again. The staff was unpretentious and attentive. Small space...fills up quickly. Go for the bar. It's much more fun!

I struck up a conversation with an older couple while waiting to get in. They lived near by and made a weekly lunch or dinner trip there. They did tell me dinner reservations are at 1 to 1 1/2 months out, but you can almost always get in for lunch with no problem. The husband said he was a 'pizza hound' and they hadn't served him a bad one yet. Would I go back for dinner (or on a weekend)?, no. Lunch....you bet!

Pizza $14
water- $0
___________

A

Mozza Pizzeria
641 N Highland
Los Angeles, Ca. 90036
323-297-0101

Can we eat or what?

2007-03-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

Should I be bragging about that??? When the food is great... I say yes!

Took a little mini vacation to see my fiance Mike in Portland. He planned a little over night road trip to Seattle and what a great time. We ate our way back to Portland! Thursday before we left we checked out Ken's Artisan Pizza. We ordered a classic Margarita. It was evident the ingredients were fresh and nothing beats a brick oven, but the crust was lacking. We like the classic Sicilian Pizza's. Paper thin and crisp. The center of the pizza needed just a few more minutes to get there. We ordered a Sausage & Olive to keep our Margarita company. They each served 1-2 and yes.... we polished them both off (along with some vino & beer!)
Forgive me... I thought I was being such a diligent food blooger by taking notes & menus, but got home and can't find them!

Friday we get to Seattle and check into our hotel in the Queen Anne neighborhood. We asked the front desk for a lunch recommendation and landed on Phuket. This was our lucky day!!

We started off with mini spring rolls, then Mike ordered Chicken Curry Rice and I had a Tom Kha Gai with Chicken Curry. We'd never seen Chicken Curry Rice prepared with the curry blended into the rice (versus laddled over it)but Mike was in love. My Tom Kha Gai was good, but a little sweeter than I like. I prefer it tart and spicy. NEXT!

Mike had stayed up late and researched someplace for breakfast (it's my favorite meal!)
So before heading back to Portland, we hit Portage Bay Cafe. This was a keeper! The picture does not do it justice! I ordered Eggs Benedict with a twist...Spicy black black bean-pancetta cakes, homemade organic cornbread, with our house-smoked tomato and saffron sauce. It was incredible!!!!

Once back in Portland we did what we do best....explore the city. Mike needs a little something to go with the pot and a half of coffee he's consumed, so how about some chocolate at Sweet Masterpiece!
He went for the beautiful Chocolate Tower...layers of chocolate on chocolate and a few additonal pieces 'to go'.

Vino Paradiso is the hot ticket for some great wine and even better small plates. The Cheese and Salami plates were great, but the real treat was the Filet topped with Sun Dried Tomato & Garlic Butter with a side of Butternut Squash & Parmesian Risotto.

Before this turns into something imitating a poorly written book...I'll shut it down, but not without leaving you with a 'closer'. ;)

Whaaa.....I miss my 'Joe'!

2007-03-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

I seem to be breaking down...literally. I've been exhausted (I mean REALLY exhausted) for some time now. Then I pinched a nerve in my back...this week I have the flu! What the #@*%?! On top of this..my doc says to cut the coffee. Talk about killing me!

Thursday I was heading into L.A. to see clients and thought it the perfect time to hit one of my favorite coffee/tea haunts, The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa in Culver City. It's a little joint that backs up to Sony Studio's on Washington. They roast their beans daily and the smell alone drove me crazy. I imagined diving head first into the sacks of beans waiting their turn to hop in the roaster. Knowing how great the coffee is, I thought I'd pick up some tea. There is nothing like great brewed tea. I know it sounds snobbish, but I won't get tea from Taco Bell unless it's brewed. That concentrate/machine stuff is horrible!

After perusing the large selection I landed on a quarter pound each of Yerba Mate',Cinnamon Apple Spice, Hibiscus Flowers & Cherry Senchea. I've had a cup of each and they're all very good. My favorite is Yerba Mate', I'm sure due to the small amount of caffeine it contains as well as it's neutral medium bodied flavor.

It was a little to dark to get a decent picture of the inside so you'll have to check it out for yourself. It's just what you'd expect...small, a little eccentric and a great cup of brew...whatever you choose!

The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa
10117 Washington Blvd
Culver City, Ca. 90232
310-558-0436
800-441-3796

The most beautiful things.......

2007-03-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to Dim Sum lunch with several food blogging friends and I asked the question "Anyone know of a good French Bakery". Who I am kidding.... I was in the presence of Chubby Panda and Elmo (O.K....I knew one of them could give me the skinny). Sure enough Panda Man gave it up. Not one, but TWO bakeries right next to each other. I thought Boulangerie Pierre & Patisserie was exceptional. You need to understand that I do not like sweets. I know.... it's weird, but I never have. I can't even get a graham cracker down, but I think baked goods and pastries are some of the most beautiful foods there are. So pictures and Boulangerie's reputation will have to do.

That's all I have to say about that!

Boulangerie Pierre & Patisserie
14352 Brookhurst St
Garden Grove, Ca. 92843
714-418-9098
&
801 E Valley Blvd.
San Gabriel, Ca 91776
626-571-0108

Good Reads!

2007-02-10T20:15:00.001-08:00

I love to cook...I love to read...so lucky me, Mike included these 2 in my Christmas gifts. I just finished Heat and started My Life in France. Heat was interesting, great writing style and literally sucked you into the experience of working in a kitchen. As with most food books, it made me aware of what actually happens in professional kitchens, things I do not wish to know. Yeah.... big baby! I subscribe to the 'What I don't know...' way of thinking. ;)
Julia's book is sweet and romantic. I love when people reminisce over times that provided them with boundless joy, not dependent on the amount of their pocket books.

After this, I'll start the Unprejudiced Palate.

Gotta go, I've got a lot of reading to do!

Cafe ZooLoo /Cafe ZooLu/ZooLoo Cafe??

2007-01-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

O.K., this is my favorite restaurant in Laguna Beach and until writing this post, I never realized it's got some a.k.a.'s!? Google it and you'll find it listed all 3 ways! Oh, well...the important thing is you'll find it. ZAGAT deems the swordfish "The best on the planet" and I won't argue that one. Besides, you gotta love any chef that enjoys a glass of wine while he's cooking!

Last night we celebrated Jamie's birthday and ZooLoo was the place. It's off the beaten path (so tougher for tourists to find) small, cozy, eclectic and always hoppin. The decor is reminiscent of my first apartment at the beach, functional, eclectic and cool (no interior decorator used here).

Swordfish is their specialty and the sampler platter is a must. Three (baseball sized) pieces of swordfish arrive on your plate, each served topped with it's own sauce and resting on a bed of mashed potatoes. The sauces (Macadamia Butter, Mango Papaya and Cajun Spiced) are distinctive yet don't 'get in the way' of the other.
This trio is outstanding and is what I order every time I go, so this time needed to be different. Jamie ordered the Cod Fish drizzled with coconut oil, fried leeks, shredded coconut and sprouts, and served with coconut mashed potatoes and peppered mango sauce .

I ordered the 16 ounce Cowboy Steak served with a beef stock pepper sauce and horseradish spiked mashed potatoes.

Perfect for sharing and it's a good thing....I was only able to knock off about 1/4 of that steak. Needless to say, my 16 year old was very happy to see that doggy bag!

None of us are big on deserts, so we asked the server to surprise us with a slice of something we could share...his choice was chocolate cake with raspberry cream sauce..

Dinner averages about $30 a plate and is worth every penny! I'll chalk this up to another outstanding evening of good wine, great food and incredible friends. To be 'rich in life'...it's all good!

ZooLoo Cafe
860 Glenneyre St.
(bet. St. Anne's Dr. & Thalia St.)
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-494-6825
A+!

Eat Your Veggies!

2007-01-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

O.K… time to come clean. I was a vegetarian for about 11 years (even through one of my pregnancies) and loved it! After my late husband had his kidney transplant, he was told to drastically (if not completely) cut meat from his diet, since animal protein is difficult to digest and hard on the new kidney. To support him, I went cold 'turkey' & cut out meat completely, while he continued to order his Porter House medium rare. Although I've been eating meat again for about the last 7 years I still crave that great veggie meal, the one that fills you up without that 'stuffed’ feeling as you push yourself away from the table.

Years ago I found a vegetarian gem in Newport Beach called The Last Mango. It was an upscale eatery with an eclectic menu, beautiful presentation and most importantly, delicious food. Everything was outstanding but for whatever reason, they closed shop. Since then, I've been searching the O.C. for something similar with no success....until now!

I LOVE innovative vegetarian fare...something more than the standard vegetable stir fry & rice, and The Veggie Grill has it! The menu includes hearty Wheat Meat & Tempeh based sandwiches and sides. I've been several times now and not a single disappointment. On one visit my son ordered the Chill Out Wings (bite size 'chickin' with tangy BBQ sauce). I've enjoyed the Philly Peppered Steak (pepper seasoned wheat meat w/mushrooms, caramelized onion & cashew cheese), and the Don’t be a Chicken ('chillin' chickin', chipotle ranch, lettuce, tomato & red onion) all served on a whole wheat bun with slaw or you can upgrade to Sweetheart (sweet potato) fries, steamin kale or spring salad. They serve a variety of teas, natural sodas, organic beers and organic & low-sulfite wines.

Last night I had an empty nest and decided to treat myself. I was determined to order something new (I tend to stick to my favorites) and went for the Papa's Portobello & Sausage. This baby is loaded with Portobello mushrooms, Italian sausage-spiced wheat meat, tomato, basil & garlic pomodoro, caramelized onions & pesto.....come hungry! The slaw is lightly dressed and not overly sweet. Couple this up with a glass of organic house red and you're set!

The crowd is diverse, as you'd expect since they're located across the street from UCI. The decor is fresh and clean, lending itself fun & relaxed. The service is fast and friendly with none of the inconvenient hic ups you might experience in a such a new establishment. It's the perfect pre-movie dinner spot or just the place to grab something that's quick and healthy. The menu includes starters, entree salads, soups, sandwiches & burgers as well as deserts and a kids meal!

I got plenty of ribbing from my family and friends while I was on my 'reprieve from meat', but I tell you, once you've had good vegetarian food...you'll be hooked. The Veggie Grill, you've got to try it!!!!!

Papa's Portobello & Sausage...$8.50
Organic Wine... $5.50

The Veggie Grill
4213 Campus Drive
Irvine, Ca. 92614
949-509-0003
11am-10pm

Sushi 5

2007-01-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

After reading Elmo's review @ Monster Munching I decided to call my blond haired sushi lovin 16 year old and ask if he was for up sushi with mom (it's the best way I know of to get him to eat out with me!). Was this a trick question??? He informed me he was 'in' and off we went.

Sushi 5 is owned by the same folks @ Sushi Laguna in Laguna Beach. I was impressed by the simple, clean decor and frankly.... I kind of like the revolving sushi bar. It's the perfect was to 'take the edge off' without the expense of the regular 'sushi induced coma' evening. There are several revolving sushi bars in the Portland area, and Mike & I make sure to hit them several times before I head back home.

We opened the place at 5 o'clock sharp and waited for the magic to begin. Our server explained how everything worked and we got busy. Some sushi & rolls are ordered, then sent 'down the line' numbered, matching the number of your seat. Pretty nifty I thought...I want everyone to know that's my yellow tail heading this way.

10 plates later and full bellies, the damage came to $25 (food only). We'll be back!

Sushi 5
13962 Newport Ave
Tustin, Ca. 92780
714/669-3124

Peace & Happy New Year!

2006-12-31T17:48:00.000-08:00

A little slice of heaven....

2006-12-31T13:56:00.001-08:00

Mike flew home to Portland this morning, so we decided yesterday to spend out last full day together at one of our favorite spots; Laguna Beach. Fifteen minutes on a beautiful winding canyon road and we're there. It's an eclectic, bohemian beach community studded with incredible restaurants and cafe's. Our favorite gem is Zinc Cafe.

The outdoor patio has a beautiful 'woodsy' feel to it, inviting locals to a leisurely meal with the sun on your back and blooming vines above.

Mike ordered Muesli with fresh cream topped with fruit & orange zest.

I ordered poached eggs with parsley on sourdough toast &
we topped it off with Peets coffee. YUM! I love this simple, beautiful, Slow Food feel to our meal. Nothing joins our souls more than sharing food with friends and loved ones. This meal with Mike was my favorite Christmas gift.

Zinc has 3 locations now all in local beach communities. This location (the original) has an adjoining market that sells sandwiches, cakes, baked goods and savory dishes.

Afterwards we strolled a couple of blocks to the beach. It was a perfect day. Plenty of people out enjoying it, but not over crowded. I'm looking forward to taking more/better pics with my beautiful new digital camera Mike gave me for Christmas!

I love the New Year. Not the New Years Eve hoopla, but the sense of a new beginning and the comforting strength of your feet firmly planted where they belong. I wish you all the best in the New Year; with laughter, food & love!

Zinc Cafe
350 Ocean Ave
Laguna Beach, Ca. 92651
949-494-6302

Help!

2006-12-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

While perusing my favorite food blogs, I came across a very cool offer!
Check out remarkablepalate.blogspot.com. If you need help this holiday season, they've made arrangements @ www.chefsline.com so you can get 30 free minutes of consultation with a live chef through Jan. 1, 2007.

Let's Eat!

Sorry about the not linking the sites...blogger trouble!?!

I can't wait!

2006-12-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I was lucky enough to join some L.A. & O.C. food bloggers for a awesome lunch...felt like I was eating with food blog royalty! I love to cook...love to eat even more, so I thought it was time to get a little food blog page all my own.

No camera with me , but found a great Thai food place today. My client’s girlfriend is Tai and a chef with her own place in Downey. She's attempting to buy this restaurant, Siam Chili Paste, in Anaheim. I let Troy do the ordering. Half lazy on my part and it doesn't hurt that he really knows what he's doing, so why not? We started with Tom Kah Kai soup. This heavenly blend of chicken, lemon grass, lime leaves, mushrooms, spices and coconut milk was amazing. Just the right balance of spices, leaving you wondering after every sip "exactly what is in this"? No one thing over powered the other.

Next we had Pa-Nang (beef & red curry) which was slightly sweet and a perfect 'medium' on the heat factor. I love hot/spicy food, but you never know....my '5' could be someone else's '10'. We also ordered Ginger Chicken that was very good. Each dish was a complete contradiction and compliment to the others. Yum!

It was clean and well done for a smaller place in a strip mall! Each dish below easily shared between two!

Tom Kah Kai $6.95
Pa-Nang $6.50
Ginger Chicken $5.95
Coke $1.25
------------------------
Total (food only) for 2 $20.65 ( and worth every penny!!!) ;)

Siam Chili Paste
1739 W. La Palma Ave
Anaheim, Ca. 92801
714-956-8444
Open seven days/nights