tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63754213558747958972024-03-29T02:30:46.688-07:00Here, Eat This!The Adventures of Kiki MaraschinoElise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.comBlogger364125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-78185644708387315572010-10-29T08:39:00.000-07:002010-10-29T08:39:47.490-07:00Kiki Maraschino is Moving!!!!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Kiki Maraschino has reached that age where it's time to slip away for a little work (this is Los Angeles, after all). Along with her new, improved looks she has new digs to match. So check her out at:</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kikimaraschino.com/"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">www.kikimaraschino.com</span></b></span></a><br />
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</div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-47957970881944332262010-10-26T19:49:00.001-07:002010-10-27T09:33:14.335-07:00How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich in the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojax1V9bD2HfS8mzfYvc4RQUsk67YgDmh05Ky-BFfoMiOyM8FzhzmWNvsY6PItVQU9ivcBQXnThnLyrb45p9tD-u4W3mvX6JyHpIRkGSyNGfWX46Hng6LnRodQeZVVac7ORrR69LetMXo/s1600/IMG_5208+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojax1V9bD2HfS8mzfYvc4RQUsk67YgDmh05Ky-BFfoMiOyM8FzhzmWNvsY6PItVQU9ivcBQXnThnLyrb45p9tD-u4W3mvX6JyHpIRkGSyNGfWX46Hng6LnRodQeZVVac7ORrR69LetMXo/s400/IMG_5208+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I spent some time hanging out with the guys from <a href="http://www.thefoundryonmelrose.com/">The Foundry</a>, kings of the world's best grilled cheese sandwich, last weekend at <a href="http://www.lamag.com/thefoodevent/">LA Magazine's Food Event</a>. I'm serious about this sandwich. They even have the trophies to prove it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Heat pan to pretty darn hot and spread raisin walnut bread with </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">apricot-caper puree and </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">taleggio cheese</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmM6Zjq0wGvvgqtu6JDY96N8KiYr-sNzChjDlz3akoiuiv1FcbYCkuj5AX9nMN01h4IjnRr3_278AeWcQF0V3QBLi28yPRuHTRqj2sulFacGGctcQMANoOPhu-OKHsP3OpXyTP68ZfbGs/s1600/IMG_5384+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmM6Zjq0wGvvgqtu6JDY96N8KiYr-sNzChjDlz3akoiuiv1FcbYCkuj5AX9nMN01h4IjnRr3_278AeWcQF0V3QBLi28yPRuHTRqj2sulFacGGctcQMANoOPhu-OKHsP3OpXyTP68ZfbGs/s400/IMG_5384+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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2. Add arugala and tomato confit</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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3. Add second piece of bread and press down firmly to seal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkYvmHSG1k1jHZ0UHmZOVgvsY2Q6gUB-FSFFejKC8ZF7QIFW4353OzsC4UwTNtTsNa2zEbfGky2BubPn4aJx61xlaru4MUFFIsvt5qk292s0ydIpujrra25Cf5yZdZXZUQnA7b25E2fIs/s1600/IMG_5395+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkYvmHSG1k1jHZ0UHmZOVgvsY2Q6gUB-FSFFejKC8ZF7QIFW4353OzsC4UwTNtTsNa2zEbfGky2BubPn4aJx61xlaru4MUFFIsvt5qk292s0ydIpujrra25Cf5yZdZXZUQnA7b25E2fIs/s400/IMG_5395+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
4. Keep checking the sandwich until it is just perfect. It may look burnt, but it isn't.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SsjaxYVIuBYYnWr1pERyKAE3MrbdyBtFO-i4a-XKVG6Ct5r18PSajtvFPNj2U3ZhVURaj3aO0dzZUTE_Za662zGoDrC0It_pQpAONC6aPUMStUUpJuwONKdh4dSK-sZ0fAq3XZfDN3rS/s1600/IMG_5376+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SsjaxYVIuBYYnWr1pERyKAE3MrbdyBtFO-i4a-XKVG6Ct5r18PSajtvFPNj2U3ZhVURaj3aO0dzZUTE_Za662zGoDrC0It_pQpAONC6aPUMStUUpJuwONKdh4dSK-sZ0fAq3XZfDN3rS/s400/IMG_5376+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
5. Present it to someone you deem worthy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pJ9cedNCJD8DvfcoThgv5JTct_LP6a-BH2NejQs89LHhkVBkqhEOBu3dtXdufUfko16kagI0YodXHmi_SJjTJrix4JNfaT7JEEmTgiUGTzZBLyeCLGo4ZNvZYYAOAP2A9N5Ee9j_pyw4/s1600/foundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pJ9cedNCJD8DvfcoThgv5JTct_LP6a-BH2NejQs89LHhkVBkqhEOBu3dtXdufUfko16kagI0YodXHmi_SJjTJrix4JNfaT7JEEmTgiUGTzZBLyeCLGo4ZNvZYYAOAP2A9N5Ee9j_pyw4/s400/foundry.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
</div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-39875132441703256362010-10-22T09:56:00.000-07:002010-10-22T10:01:14.991-07:00Remember to Pace Yourself Sunday at LA Magazine's Food Event from the Vine!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mGmAzK5ZVQqDj543_do9XnT6TmwG5MV6CFEcRvIm80TJrt_QrmNrpmfY4EuLFMuPatiXftMjSqBzfv5SSZSgXBgyrJJpRDN-7GBKe3UR2dnJ9ELVV6W0naAtPF1uoCEuqosUewYQ6-oy/s1600/lamagIMG_8910+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mGmAzK5ZVQqDj543_do9XnT6TmwG5MV6CFEcRvIm80TJrt_QrmNrpmfY4EuLFMuPatiXftMjSqBzfv5SSZSgXBgyrJJpRDN-7GBKe3UR2dnJ9ELVV6W0naAtPF1uoCEuqosUewYQ6-oy/s400/lamagIMG_8910+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>People, I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your stretches. This Sunday, LA Magazine will be hosting its <a href="http://www.lamag.com/thefoodevent/">5th annual Food Event</a> and you will want to be in it for the duration. Sure, you've been to big food events before, but <a href="http://kikimaraschino.blogspot.com/2009/12/los-angeles-magazine.html">did you ever have to outrun a camel</a>?</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year will also be a celebration of <i>Los Angeles</i> magazine's 50th anniversary and the November "Mexican Food Lovers Guide" issue, so they will be pulling out all of the stops. In addition to unlimited food and wine, there will be cooking demos by top chefs as well as panels under the cool shade of a giant tree in the Conversation Lounge.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The event takes place on the grounds of the Saddlerock Ranch in the Malibu Hills. We have visited the ranch's tasting events and frequently enjoyed their Semler and Saddlerock wines. Plus they keep a large array of animals, so if you see a zebra, no, you haven't had to much wine.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Favorite restaurants represented include Loteria! Susan Feniger's Street, The Capital Grille, and the Foundry on Melrose. Demos and panels will be presented by big names like Neal Fraser, Mark Peel, Susan Feniger, and mixologist Julian Cox. Panels will be moderated by Carrie Kommers and Lesley Bargar Suter</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
General admission is $95 including parking. The event runs from 1pm to 4pm, and you will have a lot of ground to cover, so remember to hydrate, wear comfortable shoes, and once again - start working on those stretches. <a href="http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3060265">Buy tickets here!</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few photos from last year:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNvAyryMKZOl-YKWQCd7H8ovbOWMMK4wZTMzylL28pH5p_YwK19zWIJP0jEfmbVQutG5cWjdOktatTXVv1BqHWVyoaPzGt3KGfRefX21Upqyz8YD2CN5EEy8iCIZpa6x1kaD2PeNd8MKH/s1600/LAMag_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNvAyryMKZOl-YKWQCd7H8ovbOWMMK4wZTMzylL28pH5p_YwK19zWIJP0jEfmbVQutG5cWjdOktatTXVv1BqHWVyoaPzGt3KGfRefX21Upqyz8YD2CN5EEy8iCIZpa6x1kaD2PeNd8MKH/s400/LAMag_16.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-lsXKe_JpyBj7OEEVhx7t5zu5YViCDtuHXFAhhfiYYw0leE5qDRDs5dswR2yWqqUzBTG83RUX_VSh8DVX8lPXGqludv-cXvkLfwe62JZHJIBYkiitEOWj_hPV1BwDmd2SU1khjutIT61/s1600/LAMag_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-lsXKe_JpyBj7OEEVhx7t5zu5YViCDtuHXFAhhfiYYw0leE5qDRDs5dswR2yWqqUzBTG83RUX_VSh8DVX8lPXGqludv-cXvkLfwe62JZHJIBYkiitEOWj_hPV1BwDmd2SU1khjutIT61/s400/LAMag_25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-19397746756104035612010-10-21T04:41:00.001-07:002010-10-22T09:10:14.854-07:00Oktoberfest at Rush Street<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1g9JQBe9gLSd5cbsqk6AE4cBJ2ib2RaqJ3KSVCkygqAqE5Itj76tspFPTLb-S78rrHySlIlUzGkKIkNi-7El8tvE2VwkevXBTYX2cZiEOjMZQ3XxY4x_yXphDevFcbuvu2sYfry1-_EC/s1600/IMG_5096+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1g9JQBe9gLSd5cbsqk6AE4cBJ2ib2RaqJ3KSVCkygqAqE5Itj76tspFPTLb-S78rrHySlIlUzGkKIkNi-7El8tvE2VwkevXBTYX2cZiEOjMZQ3XxY4x_yXphDevFcbuvu2sYfry1-_EC/s400/IMG_5096+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I grew up near Alpine Village where Oktoberfest is a big deal and frankly, kind of scary. But when <a href="http://www.rushstreetculvercity.com/">Rush Street</a> invited me to their Oktoberfest, I couldn't accept fast enough. I <i>love</i> Rush Street and there was no chance of being accosted by an oompah band.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There were two special beers on the menu, the bitter Paulaner Oktoberfest Draft and the more gentle, but still bocky and intensely flavored Spatan.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-PgbBTSlbdaH5RzQ4_S4qXO158w_4YUBysDnu1JvrQZwCv7BHuY8_T5Te9v_-evV-peE5yJjKq4y-Xd3rb4XI3y0LlWpJ-vSPOjPOmUMUyxyl80Bm7hQ39arAykvkkShSQq3gYayck4I/s1600/IMG_5060+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-PgbBTSlbdaH5RzQ4_S4qXO158w_4YUBysDnu1JvrQZwCv7BHuY8_T5Te9v_-evV-peE5yJjKq4y-Xd3rb4XI3y0LlWpJ-vSPOjPOmUMUyxyl80Bm7hQ39arAykvkkShSQq3gYayck4I/s400/IMG_5060+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whereas most restaurants would just boil up a sausage or toss a little sauerkraut around and call it a day, Chef Dave Northrup of Rush Street would never be so lazy. He came up with an ingenious version of the German Schweinebraten sandwich.<br />
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First he marinated a pork loin in Lost Abby Ale, then coated it with brown mustard and some caraway seeds. Thick slices of the pork were heaped onto pretzel bread, topped with a layer of melted Swiss cheese and the lightest touch of sauerkraut. You really have to be careful with that stuff, and Rush street knows when enough is enough.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBXKthOnBovh6J64zQcTExLRNs2swwz5RMG4b76waBY_LZaB6RxBrr2YGLdX8flMuWmXOpASaeW6mCnhNy2g_H9f_sHn5DPOXAOlDTwYeSTjk8MC3k2gceXn1nX5PujAlWWKUNmWoBceE/s1600/IMG_5072+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBXKthOnBovh6J64zQcTExLRNs2swwz5RMG4b76waBY_LZaB6RxBrr2YGLdX8flMuWmXOpASaeW6mCnhNy2g_H9f_sHn5DPOXAOlDTwYeSTjk8MC3k2gceXn1nX5PujAlWWKUNmWoBceE/s400/IMG_5072+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The sandwich could easily be gimmicky, but even the pretzel bread was just right. The Schweinebraten was so hearty and comforting, I told Bob, "I can see how you would want this around October, before the first snowfall. I could eat this sandwich, then crawl into my cave and be ready to hibernate all Winter."<br />
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"...then you'd wake up in Spring craving that sandwich."</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Owner Brian McKeaney</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOS7AJ79f86gtF8A_UVvqXqSypljMsgktuGayzSvw-IGT5V85FbCUeSOQBEvuzHmlY1p4FYa-zeJY0-xZLAezBLMfwKpMH-xg8iFztBDrSG-WI3YYwlYmIha9KhyphenhyphenjrlYAGqmuR6PVSWKc/s1600/IMG_5005+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOS7AJ79f86gtF8A_UVvqXqSypljMsgktuGayzSvw-IGT5V85FbCUeSOQBEvuzHmlY1p4FYa-zeJY0-xZLAezBLMfwKpMH-xg8iFztBDrSG-WI3YYwlYmIha9KhyphenhyphenjrlYAGqmuR6PVSWKc/s400/IMG_5005+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
There was the uhhh traditional Oktoberfest magician (what? You never heard of that tradition? See what Alpine Village teaches us)...Fantastic Fig. I noticed he had sparkly rings and fingernails to distract the eye, and some tape under the rings, but he picked our card every time so that's still damn impressive, so umm, Achtung! Errr, schnell! Dang, I learned all of my German from watching Hogan's Heroes. I don't know any German exclamations. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3MAfZbWLRm72htzA4F1r-ZRsubTMTl5lUdcgWPF9coSPMVBYs5iELy7Ae2fLCSkrNGcwCdwINkjLcbHAgEw5jW6UQJUY3GTRkPAHq48Q8g5Pp3mlx6YCVy1UexpafBvcxHxzGzSezmWG/s1600/IMG_5097+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3MAfZbWLRm72htzA4F1r-ZRsubTMTl5lUdcgWPF9coSPMVBYs5iELy7Ae2fLCSkrNGcwCdwINkjLcbHAgEw5jW6UQJUY3GTRkPAHq48Q8g5Pp3mlx6YCVy1UexpafBvcxHxzGzSezmWG/s400/IMG_5097+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh my God, the servers have no legs! Roll out the barrel!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLROrKXZ4GuEraUouqjWrMJfAU-fteymnyGZ3utBXiJdi2S1nAt30RjuOQG1tOORskdGz5QaUF4-5X7KqUkVVyjHWBDELveVL5Arakbvf_waiHXizy1Y28ewTc-zFrdToxHEA1ury_jrE/s1600/IMG_5016+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLROrKXZ4GuEraUouqjWrMJfAU-fteymnyGZ3utBXiJdi2S1nAt30RjuOQG1tOORskdGz5QaUF4-5X7KqUkVVyjHWBDELveVL5Arakbvf_waiHXizy1Y28ewTc-zFrdToxHEA1ury_jrE/s400/IMG_5016+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Again, no legs! Ach du lieber!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-RDg0fr8isRfmPFp9bX21QugBeND5SPBvaG0brjxzUVaha5Ak-AAsteJ7r1C7Dos2EH8c-e45SH2gLuJ0H7U8mpR7uxZIkGa9qpk1DjTV_-lTJRp8VdcAVIq4WLI0u2oWDJ1pdULjlAF/s1600/IMG_5093+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-RDg0fr8isRfmPFp9bX21QugBeND5SPBvaG0brjxzUVaha5Ak-AAsteJ7r1C7Dos2EH8c-e45SH2gLuJ0H7U8mpR7uxZIkGa9qpk1DjTV_-lTJRp8VdcAVIq4WLI0u2oWDJ1pdULjlAF/s400/IMG_5093+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It's hard to rock a Tyrolean hat and still be so cool. Weinerschnitzel! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sH66yzz80QUaDWL6rrxPt32kLIA6lZRnJnG9wY7LyNrmHlDW740KMkMUTYOMnpS6bdEdAq1E0tazilG_dEVnDDzJ18qbVWliZa78ozec31FyPu7GbU5Rr2gcVq2VChOxNS5v07fcsRgs/s1600/IMG_5086+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sH66yzz80QUaDWL6rrxPt32kLIA6lZRnJnG9wY7LyNrmHlDW740KMkMUTYOMnpS6bdEdAq1E0tazilG_dEVnDDzJ18qbVWliZa78ozec31FyPu7GbU5Rr2gcVq2VChOxNS5v07fcsRgs/s320/IMG_5086+%28Small%29.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Seriously, that sandwich is worth driving across town any day. I hope Rush Street makes the Schweinebraten a permanent menu item, or at least until it's time to hibernate. </div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-21554503475005191832010-10-20T03:46:00.000-07:002010-10-21T18:13:35.549-07:00Roy's Unveils its Fall Fusion Menu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0FJqxdGA-mbfTqiSJ86hONzMoaUamJn0rx9tUsEdVdEHW8d0WAfYmHJTlXYFWV4vlSbtMA41QOTwj4XU91dsTRwutAkfv_33bmF7pv-mMRkSCMd43WgEeukOJtvkXWuV8xCu2DUOjZzZ/s1600/z5102299232_d0f7823616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0FJqxdGA-mbfTqiSJ86hONzMoaUamJn0rx9tUsEdVdEHW8d0WAfYmHJTlXYFWV4vlSbtMA41QOTwj4XU91dsTRwutAkfv_33bmF7pv-mMRkSCMd43WgEeukOJtvkXWuV8xCu2DUOjZzZ/s400/z5102299232_d0f7823616.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will confess that I had not seen the inside of a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_949672114">Roy's </a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.roysrestaurant.com/locations/CA/los_angeles.asp">Restaurant</a> prior to an invitation to join <a href="http://blogging.la/?s=queequeg">Queequeg</a> for a special sampling of their Fall Fusion Prix Fixe menu. I had always assumed Roy's would all be sticky, sweet sauces, pork and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pineapple. The delicious 1988 Martini with grapefruit and pomegranite juices was the only tropical treat we sampled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roy's is more of an upper middle-class restaurant with a varied menu. Although it is a chain, the chefs are allowed leeway beyond Roy's signature dishes and special event menus, so each restaurant features a number of different options. For example, Roy's Pasadena offers opah, and Anaheim features barramundi, while Roy's LA is much more meat-heavy.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIqcd32MJtMkBa6JsXILZ72PZNbgaHyTPRjnRofkcvRv9rFsGV6pxzDAVDwmCPID-C7fxkqILrDh0TDEwPEq1h8r5DXq1PtqI1sSnGiQxibZrU85G6WjWTOPF8rWqg5slV0W7AgdvTv3Y/s1600/zchef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIqcd32MJtMkBa6JsXILZ72PZNbgaHyTPRjnRofkcvRv9rFsGV6pxzDAVDwmCPID-C7fxkqILrDh0TDEwPEq1h8r5DXq1PtqI1sSnGiQxibZrU85G6WjWTOPF8rWqg5slV0W7AgdvTv3Y/s400/zchef.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roy's LA resident chef/partner, Garrett Mukogawa, hails from Torrance, which makes him a local boy for me. He is inspired by Japanese and Korean Ingredients, and of course, his grandmother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The restaurant has a very pleasant, warm interior that encourages lingering. We were guided to a private dining room with white tablecloths and mirrored walls with high-backed wooden banquettes. Cute little dishes began to arrive, the size of sampler plates at large foodie events.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOI81FpuVA98XAgLG3fIfKn6teU0OtRavPZZ9mtGpEz55dAhnG1am1HCBJLnkR8uwI8r1XGv-WOVVVvYQPoRWlnXI7JkC8ukP5jjsRXczgYnf2Lsod6jvIoMxyWiQrzJa8_uw-LmEXSfX/s1600/zsoup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOI81FpuVA98XAgLG3fIfKn6teU0OtRavPZZ9mtGpEz55dAhnG1am1HCBJLnkR8uwI8r1XGv-WOVVVvYQPoRWlnXI7JkC8ukP5jjsRXczgYnf2Lsod6jvIoMxyWiQrzJa8_uw-LmEXSfX/s400/zsoup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Blackened Rock Shrimp and Red Bean Soup featuring Portuguese Sausage and Shishito Peppers was one of the more popular dishes of the evening. With a dark, rich broth it was reminiscent of a gumbo. The shrimp was extremely tender considering it was served in a hot soup -- I suspect it was added at the last possible minute.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BDFEoA11i4rjZP_hI5_QgN-2R-4y7ZSbnD0uYWI4dfK0cc8D9AO3gq3WqTyi_kJ7X6jH7I3uEAbQCJ97KbEdNU9mnx0s2mUEd9sd9n7v_oxZYwgN6ooW0Tqp-EZyNixo41eoEn8NCI9t/s1600/zz5102305052_4911cb6fba_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BDFEoA11i4rjZP_hI5_QgN-2R-4y7ZSbnD0uYWI4dfK0cc8D9AO3gq3WqTyi_kJ7X6jH7I3uEAbQCJ97KbEdNU9mnx0s2mUEd9sd9n7v_oxZYwgN6ooW0Tqp-EZyNixo41eoEn8NCI9t/s400/zz5102305052_4911cb6fba_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Elaine's Kabocha Squash Salad with Cinnamon Spiced Pepitas had a scrumptuous cranberry vinagrette. If I get that recipe, I will use it every holiday season from here on out.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-OJCK8cKxxU_yJXiffwpMld4RGysczmO36Gk-x36zJ0LiAcKMugoeX8ZTmJ67TEgL-rkXTSZ5bpBswQpvzG62vwVoSFmLZmpyNeRYK_hkyucoQVpJQcu7kaHEprbmOxRZeT0j4HD6lAu/s1600/zshrimp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-OJCK8cKxxU_yJXiffwpMld4RGysczmO36Gk-x36zJ0LiAcKMugoeX8ZTmJ67TEgL-rkXTSZ5bpBswQpvzG62vwVoSFmLZmpyNeRYK_hkyucoQVpJQcu7kaHEprbmOxRZeT0j4HD6lAu/s400/zshrimp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cilantro Tiger Shrimp was accompanied by bland curried lentils.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bland curry is almost an oxymoron, but they somehow pulled it off. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8UklMr6Z4hYLb-hfu8bwK-alT5F0G3v6s1sT8wjdU1YfH11yyV-L_kLvG9O_PGm57yZ2B7GAiTdUX6eMmZ0NUQGiLLsTR1wIza3vQrK-kUYkDm3htPBByF_IyXw_8SgAAe_R-kopRfyw/s1600/zsalmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8UklMr6Z4hYLb-hfu8bwK-alT5F0G3v6s1sT8wjdU1YfH11yyV-L_kLvG9O_PGm57yZ2B7GAiTdUX6eMmZ0NUQGiLLsTR1wIza3vQrK-kUYkDm3htPBByF_IyXw_8SgAAe_R-kopRfyw/s400/zsalmon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Artichoke and Goat Cheese Crusted Salmon with Sundried Tomato Sauce was the least successful dish of the evening (<i>said in Padma's voice</i>). I'm not a big fan of intensely flavored salmon in the first place, and cheese with fish is a tough sell. It's almost like they were given a basket of random ingredients like on Chopped and had to make do.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznIQ1bnb2snLwzVji1SXycUqRz2gtGtNMHtHuqlu0cYa8Xl2SU_VTs_U3FjRCKljuLgtIHCuHXO_Xr0OhuypOklQxaNI15rHEMbqqlsNLMWVZ41_XfoRIwlzXPjhjmQ4B1VlzmOtJjpop/s1600/zmeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznIQ1bnb2snLwzVji1SXycUqRz2gtGtNMHtHuqlu0cYa8Xl2SU_VTs_U3FjRCKljuLgtIHCuHXO_Xr0OhuypOklQxaNI15rHEMbqqlsNLMWVZ41_XfoRIwlzXPjhjmQ4B1VlzmOtJjpop/s400/zmeat.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tender Braised Beef Short Ribs was the <i>most</i> successful dish of the evening (<i>yes, I'm still Padma</i>). With the tender beef, rich sauce, and creamy mashed potatoes, this is the warm Autumn dish I would order.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The real stars of the evening were the desserts. It was clear that everyone at the table was tempted to ask for seconds. One person even did. Another writer commented, "I want these two desserts to have a baby," which caused some creative dessert-within-a-dessert attempts. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In spite of being a little outdated, the molten chocolate cake, errr, Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé, is destined to have a permanent place on menus, right up there with the perennial flourless chocolate torte, cheesecake and tarte tatin. Why? Because it is damn good. Roy's version of deep, rich chocolate lava flowing out of the tender cake was delicious with the vanilla ice cream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The texture of the Pumpkin & Ginger Cheese Cake with Pumpkin Anglaise was light and delicate, which went perfectly with the intense spices. It was a dish to return for. It's such a shame Autumn only lasts for 3 months.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d_Rhxmv9U7OTPLFPSWaT6nyHR5zZLHEmKrthAu3ubfA8mBNelnP3WykL67UBmcLGXIRPtGn7n7T6QWhAV-C-zrD3cXz1ADlb-dRz-Geg7fAF9wCPdjbHWSGzjmvgVweTl4IghCOzy0rJ/s1600/IMG_4972+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d_Rhxmv9U7OTPLFPSWaT6nyHR5zZLHEmKrthAu3ubfA8mBNelnP3WykL67UBmcLGXIRPtGn7n7T6QWhAV-C-zrD3cXz1ADlb-dRz-Geg7fAF9wCPdjbHWSGzjmvgVweTl4IghCOzy0rJ/s400/IMG_4972+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Michael of <a href="http://www.southbayfoodies.com/">South Bay Foodies</a>' camera has a function mine is missing - camouflage!!!</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The 3-course Fall Prix Fixe menu is currently available at Roy's for $35.95 per person, which includes a fresh and flavorful appetizer, entrée and dessert. You can <a href="http://www.roysrestaurant.com/cuisine/prix_fixe_menu.asp">view the menu online</a>.</i></span>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-10592408939845487742010-10-11T01:00:00.000-07:002010-10-21T18:16:06.421-07:00Jonathan Gold's Cocktail party to Benefit Zócalo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN48u8UQJ1AWRs66jauN2o791SREesk8_sMZZ8IimwISaACZYlnIHE5l7idRCG-xnsAdIO2FQUN9FJVE1vwR5ItbgNXA3wSwu49ZJstUmkB9BN15HjTSQn_7ycz1CCWQJM-4m_RJ1_gxXM/s1600/IMG_4320+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN48u8UQJ1AWRs66jauN2o791SREesk8_sMZZ8IimwISaACZYlnIHE5l7idRCG-xnsAdIO2FQUN9FJVE1vwR5ItbgNXA3wSwu49ZJstUmkB9BN15HjTSQn_7ycz1CCWQJM-4m_RJ1_gxXM/s400/IMG_4320+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pBezviqdQyCb6hyrFeVKvYIiJIGz_h9ncOp-U9XzPWfuxmm7HQzO8iCGN92R3EC2PKFnpXzBAR76tF-j5gCYWkc91TmoJStyurAgD_FEj9VOFutnvPrD7GvObtal5Sax-W09SU0v3gHt/s1600/IMG_4334+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pBezviqdQyCb6hyrFeVKvYIiJIGz_h9ncOp-U9XzPWfuxmm7HQzO8iCGN92R3EC2PKFnpXzBAR76tF-j5gCYWkc91TmoJStyurAgD_FEj9VOFutnvPrD7GvObtal5Sax-W09SU0v3gHt/s400/IMG_4334+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Zócalo</span></span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'s Gregory Rodriguez: Founder/Executive Director/Executive Editor, Swati Pandey: Managing Editor, Laura Villalpando: Media & Field Producer, Dulce Vasquez: Program Director with <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Zócalo </span></span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">supporter/award-winning author/bon vivant Jonathan Gold</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/">Zócalo Public Square</a> is a Los Angeles-based idea-wrangler. Their popular lectures and panels often focus on politics, food, and the politics of food. But it would be unfair to pigeon-hole them, as their mission is about offering a forum for the entire spectrum, bringing together disparate fields and giving a voice to the unheard since 2003.</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Zócalo also offers</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> screenings, conferences, and produces a web-based magazine. Focusing on community, they They reach out to "...a new, young, and diverse generation...Zócalo Public Square connects people to ideas and to each other in an open, accessible, non-partisan and broad-minded spirit."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jonathan Gold, who often volunteers with the organization to chair panels, hosted his second annual Cocktail Party at Union Square. It is the event of the season, with restaurants hand-selected by Gold and drinks organized by downtown mogul Cedd Moses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The room is gorgeous, and in comparison to the last Cocktail Party, the organizers have a very fast learning curve. Tickets were less expensive, the room was dotted with round bar tables instead of a theater-set-up, and they dispensed with the panel and entertainment that proved difficult given the acoustics and wild drinking last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that we did not get a little wild again this year. I decided to stick with one liquor so as not to suffer a hangover the next day. I enjoyed the Cruzan Ace of Spades from the Cana Rum Bar:</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cacao-tinged daiquiri get an herbaceous update via Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum and cacao-infused bitters.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It tasted like stone fruit to me, maybe peaches. They were mysterious about the ingredients in the eyedroppers decoratively dotted on the cocktail. I let them drop what turned out to be cacao bitters directly onto my tongue. The manager and mixologists were friendly and fun on my two, errrr three? trips back to the bar.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Over at Las Perlas, they were serving the Spiced PaQui Tequila Daisy, and Bob attested to its heat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PaQui Silver Tequila, fresh lime juice, organic agave nectar, fresh juiced jalapenos, basil and cucumber, Sal de gusano. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MQN-mlmooMoA7bv4np9MC_Bv-pzK_0J7jLf-38x57OYsEpYK-S6h0hhgicq4a2xE68iv3zGm7qUA_In52xX6x7OyFqqP_dWLb9n7qh-3HDPGrm5XYT1Cu-inKgEEFWCeAQczoOSYYtyj/s1600/IMG_4322+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MQN-mlmooMoA7bv4np9MC_Bv-pzK_0J7jLf-38x57OYsEpYK-S6h0hhgicq4a2xE68iv3zGm7qUA_In52xX6x7OyFqqP_dWLb9n7qh-3HDPGrm5XYT1Cu-inKgEEFWCeAQczoOSYYtyj/s400/IMG_4322+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure what was up with this lil feller. Maybe Golden Gopher will soon have a counterpart, The Rabid Raccoon? The Feral Ferret? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-c0SkXLXSb38hxO3fihbZ6ucabRgxCCXBFXbD2Smy8KTXCJVw2okQ-c3bKIx36kg38u-6Xm1aQiTq0tC971UxAD5343j3QZ1N0_izY71Aleatkvtf_DT2pKWYxRENvDqsUZirRl25lQ0/s1600/IMG_4169+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-c0SkXLXSb38hxO3fihbZ6ucabRgxCCXBFXbD2Smy8KTXCJVw2okQ-c3bKIx36kg38u-6Xm1aQiTq0tC971UxAD5343j3QZ1N0_izY71Aleatkvtf_DT2pKWYxRENvDqsUZirRl25lQ0/s400/IMG_4169+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other drinks featured were Seven Grand's Chivas Regal 12 year Highballs and the Varnish's Plymouth Fitzgerald</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A classic sour gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, shaken and served up and lightly drizzled with Angostura bitters </span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the mixologists was proving that he could get 12 drinks out of his giant shaker </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, on to the food! Whereas mood lighting makes for a beautiful setting, it makes food photography difficult. I try not to blind people with the flash too much, and that often makes the food weirder. So, no, it was not a theme party with red-only food.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My darling Rivera offered his Pre-Columbian and Post-Columbian gazpacho. I asked Alexia doubtfully, "Pre-Columbian?" She said, "Really. He researches this stuff." I was only disappointed that John himself was not there for me to fawn all over.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Comme Ca offered Gougeres, duck rilletes, and chanterelle cream. I cannot count how many of these I ate.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy729EpdqWxKUzL3T8goSaBdGawkL8EiVzw8_dLBWFsqCDCY_ptZkmhZP0u_MZegt-DxwiH-qKBBcVXi96bYhYVRSW67U_1xS_Kl-9uQKngfDqlRkFyDUsurjFCrxp9nPwF6UJjXdNbiq/s1600/cocktailbites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy729EpdqWxKUzL3T8goSaBdGawkL8EiVzw8_dLBWFsqCDCY_ptZkmhZP0u_MZegt-DxwiH-qKBBcVXi96bYhYVRSW67U_1xS_Kl-9uQKngfDqlRkFyDUsurjFCrxp9nPwF6UJjXdNbiq/s400/cocktailbites.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In a somewhat similar vein, Jar was serving Pork croissant with mustard sauce, Suzanne Tracht's take on dim sum. The mustard was insanely hot, so depending on who was adding the sauce, it was either a nice burn or your sinuses were cleared out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYmPlG7VvoYkkAu1UdhD6IOWXoiJ7XJQzAjlxXfAVO5aMtlxn4FKmDipc8Kj7No0-RP28cLLhRCO0NqeK1GB3jYdYlcL3iPkRO3pIlm9eAwGPWIK5MtJYBT0XxC0wSJnnZ4AY3ss8obBy/s1600/IMG_4340+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYmPlG7VvoYkkAu1UdhD6IOWXoiJ7XJQzAjlxXfAVO5aMtlxn4FKmDipc8Kj7No0-RP28cLLhRCO0NqeK1GB3jYdYlcL3iPkRO3pIlm9eAwGPWIK5MtJYBT0XxC0wSJnnZ4AY3ss8obBy/s400/IMG_4340+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t_sLQA8R429RnMAu_UP1IgDSWQnpJtnEaI1BjN1iquLigRKPDjfuiWl4KJAAE2ogyGYltZ01bhGgEuRXA2IGrgykH8E1teBN5j1NyidzrJ9-WVgF9F4vp0Vla7xEBHJSVDwQFGVCB7Ii/s1600/IMG_4361+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t_sLQA8R429RnMAu_UP1IgDSWQnpJtnEaI1BjN1iquLigRKPDjfuiWl4KJAAE2ogyGYltZ01bhGgEuRXA2IGrgykH8E1teBN5j1NyidzrJ9-WVgF9F4vp0Vla7xEBHJSVDwQFGVCB7Ii/s400/IMG_4361+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> First and Hope went upscale with a butternut panna cotta wth crab salad. A little part of me wished it was corn panna cotta, but even in LA we have to accept it is Autumn at some point.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb6usJvrK4JyoxCGbh0YFE7QAenx646GXZK3piKdLSSrZskHY3KNCuf4aikc1fwWL9CePHZo8_ZCJvgo_R8guJYmG4LxFQByFhQxfv43ZU_ttZTafJtgUSzs0s8CV4Ceb-jSP0gr-lsFt/s1600/IMG_4242+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb6usJvrK4JyoxCGbh0YFE7QAenx646GXZK3piKdLSSrZskHY3KNCuf4aikc1fwWL9CePHZo8_ZCJvgo_R8guJYmG4LxFQByFhQxfv43ZU_ttZTafJtgUSzs0s8CV4Ceb-jSP0gr-lsFt/s400/IMG_4242+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grace restaurant brought the pork with a delicious squash flan and smoked sage jus.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieLAu5bVN4Qhd-3T4t7WC3w6WSNTI2HtHochMhwjWkmG8LHy2UOwAWwTWX-BTR5NUy9469t-Ow4blpng_jS6Ti_RcwBDZyF0begti65hLXLAdjiv4mSbEGjS1HFvfgdtTPyrzCyMbXPEt/s1600/IMG_4188+%28Small%29+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieLAu5bVN4Qhd-3T4t7WC3w6WSNTI2HtHochMhwjWkmG8LHy2UOwAWwTWX-BTR5NUy9469t-Ow4blpng_jS6Ti_RcwBDZyF0begti65hLXLAdjiv4mSbEGjS1HFvfgdtTPyrzCyMbXPEt/s400/IMG_4188+%28Small%29+%282%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> At Lazy Ox Canteen we fell in love with yellowtail crudo with avocado, creme fraiche and white soy made into little taco-esque bites.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xF_tYEcdM7X57rplLX5lO7Nk1oZ-G_jT8lQhM0h1z8V-8CzBXd_CF1QfmAJL155jyCGBP6XTwlZjiJfGEonzE7MpAvrikAMe9FJVc73bH19xf4FqTRF2y0gn8bek0K2Gk-JO6Olr_Gcz/s1600/tartare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xF_tYEcdM7X57rplLX5lO7Nk1oZ-G_jT8lQhM0h1z8V-8CzBXd_CF1QfmAJL155jyCGBP6XTwlZjiJfGEonzE7MpAvrikAMe9FJVc73bH19xf4FqTRF2y0gn8bek0K2Gk-JO6Olr_Gcz/s400/tartare.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rustic Canyon pleased our palates with Black mission figs, roasted chestnuts, burrata, saba and toasts. I could have used a second toast for the generous helping of burrata.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeZlOR90lVuE3054VueWio868Pcw0WjCYCWPUIkJMiwb0aMBj6Gh-H3lMQ76ypkObj-ob1AiGqLVXdehFMsgRnV0DR-YU0nTi4nwGqN7hG5YDo20TMjxR5oZeFq_ht53fLKA1R9q64nhd/s1600/IMG_4270+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeZlOR90lVuE3054VueWio868Pcw0WjCYCWPUIkJMiwb0aMBj6Gh-H3lMQ76ypkObj-ob1AiGqLVXdehFMsgRnV0DR-YU0nTi4nwGqN7hG5YDo20TMjxR5oZeFq_ht53fLKA1R9q64nhd/s400/IMG_4270+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Susan Feniger's Street dished up a very refreshing watermelon salad with something like crunchy granola. The servers were so friendly the first time they scared me away. "Hi! Would you like to try Burmese melon salad???? It's VERY refreshing!" I needed another drink before I could handle the intensity. It was very refreshing. They were right.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmf3CDkg_xA63ZnmO-2RUSCisGJbC0vDjrAGQuYrhu995AYsj38YvGyT-W_fRTGTFaPXK63ZJc8n5UHMszMJcz0f5ikFq5tQoOIeacuAvDLjRyaoWG78UpwZN-K41LYcuXHpjvbFnnTzt/s1600/cocktailwatermelon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmf3CDkg_xA63ZnmO-2RUSCisGJbC0vDjrAGQuYrhu995AYsj38YvGyT-W_fRTGTFaPXK63ZJc8n5UHMszMJcz0f5ikFq5tQoOIeacuAvDLjRyaoWG78UpwZN-K41LYcuXHpjvbFnnTzt/s400/cocktailwatermelon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, I missed Providence's Japanese kanpachi sushimi. The Rustic canyon and Seven Grand crowds merged to hide them from sight. They got rave reviews, though.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an extremely successful party. It was so nice to see HC, and Lindsay, and everyone pictured here. I certainly hope I get an invitation next year! I have a fringe dress. We have a top hat. I'm already watching the mail.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA82DS_4no-Ls-Qr1miwttZruSDH_HFv-IO5PuBVa3rq_LtqeVx874ZCf5PzE3TGJspz58Vq63bTD9TkgDVjDK2V6ySBg82IA-jpUK_moT3LB_bVBYkksJQZMlrMaa7BiLzDia8nJ3lq7/s1600/IMG_4300+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA82DS_4no-Ls-Qr1miwttZruSDH_HFv-IO5PuBVa3rq_LtqeVx874ZCf5PzE3TGJspz58Vq63bTD9TkgDVjDK2V6ySBg82IA-jpUK_moT3LB_bVBYkksJQZMlrMaa7BiLzDia8nJ3lq7/s400/IMG_4300+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ludo Lefebvre, whose name I can only spell with assistance.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSHUFELuTr-m1TK9d7ntJDJE0ITvpDTsGb2Uh031YyQKU-7hyRPL4MIUI2hYEbWkYyWRewE2PJz58__V8IzdDcMjv3vZp44-UybF-Ww8rBI1lIiKRA331LnoVspwk3SPYl8m5XqxTg-tZ/s1600/IMG_4341+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSHUFELuTr-m1TK9d7ntJDJE0ITvpDTsGb2Uh031YyQKU-7hyRPL4MIUI2hYEbWkYyWRewE2PJz58__V8IzdDcMjv3vZp44-UybF-Ww8rBI1lIiKRA331LnoVspwk3SPYl8m5XqxTg-tZ/s400/IMG_4341+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Gotta love Hadley.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_nig46QtXRJegr2DlCAmJSvFmvUsRkFH1U23dymxFyMU8Db3Mb2XO-ewIuuOWQp_NzNvpFubqYc8lchlV_qEpvFhTFRxIcQ0JX6y929dI3kjBNk-mlt1vr1ld8NhL5JEdK62NvB5X25h/s1600/IMG_4309+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_nig46QtXRJegr2DlCAmJSvFmvUsRkFH1U23dymxFyMU8Db3Mb2XO-ewIuuOWQp_NzNvpFubqYc8lchlV_qEpvFhTFRxIcQ0JX6y929dI3kjBNk-mlt1vr1ld8NhL5JEdK62NvB5X25h/s400/IMG_4309+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i>Chef Rachel Narins</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxNsZ1UWkvm4bk741kb1eH3pJE5NKZhvGe-g7vKBEHgA6DIlLRlKn-Cpz9JNRb-K-wwrG4swi8pgq1TM96FUQ-AjcnZfohyphenhyphenfbKn-FJfRf5NRBCeEfvDfG_p-RGswRif5qEYkjzIVcPzMB/s1600/IMG_4220+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxNsZ1UWkvm4bk741kb1eH3pJE5NKZhvGe-g7vKBEHgA6DIlLRlKn-Cpz9JNRb-K-wwrG4swi8pgq1TM96FUQ-AjcnZfohyphenhyphenfbKn-FJfRf5NRBCeEfvDfG_p-RGswRif5qEYkjzIVcPzMB/s400/IMG_4220+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The lovely Alexia, and date, who is NOT from England</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XwWv5fbd2OZYDv6WwUH-0ePdOslHW1nrKMSHv87GPfQ3ppWFNZvbcDEKCM8W8DFpegOGbaVJeQ9rVlqxZPloaNOWjT_qiLe0SMVBhH3UmWaePhVw_m7Rc3nl_F2NT-6uSFuFh54GWa0d/s1600/IMG_4302+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XwWv5fbd2OZYDv6WwUH-0ePdOslHW1nrKMSHv87GPfQ3ppWFNZvbcDEKCM8W8DFpegOGbaVJeQ9rVlqxZPloaNOWjT_qiLe0SMVBhH3UmWaePhVw_m7Rc3nl_F2NT-6uSFuFh54GWa0d/s400/IMG_4302+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfmfyCB0on7tRt7sqwwzuOlUMcV_5EaeA77IGBmv5tDWb36EoXDUcuL0CTOYqsjR8-RhO-XQ79TsBv4M-aG-u49OfeHH7wrIpPUW25FpJaa91kMTFGaQ7bV-_jCkQO4vVxkVz3Fsj5VXF/s1600/IMG_4348+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfmfyCB0on7tRt7sqwwzuOlUMcV_5EaeA77IGBmv5tDWb36EoXDUcuL0CTOYqsjR8-RhO-XQ79TsBv4M-aG-u49OfeHH7wrIpPUW25FpJaa91kMTFGaQ7bV-_jCkQO4vVxkVz3Fsj5VXF/s400/IMG_4348+%28Small%29.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Who would have thought one could get so much mileage out of a top hat?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Someone told me I should have a blog where I just follow Ludo around taking pictures of him with his perennial 5 o'clock shadow. She said it would be the most popular food blog ever. Well, here's one for you where-ever you are. Hopefully not outside Ludo's bushes.</span></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVV19F9nj6eX4rlHH1Er2AcJW1Ou-vrxD7LTRP0gV3Fbk-xuzHOWG6yOBMV5O6BZIH7AOJvcXilLjRsBZa0ZviwRLb0K24pp5veTUJXljQz8h0tWR8E0zekn2Xq08_v5hRIFvRc4dxiWZ/s1600/IMG_4307+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVV19F9nj6eX4rlHH1Er2AcJW1Ou-vrxD7LTRP0gV3Fbk-xuzHOWG6yOBMV5O6BZIH7AOJvcXilLjRsBZa0ZviwRLb0K24pp5veTUJXljQz8h0tWR8E0zekn2Xq08_v5hRIFvRc4dxiWZ/s400/IMG_4307+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One rule: Do not lick the chef. </b></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-AHICAyrdKQmaSQ8-bcFWzYYtJyBPs3CAsHNdLrbWd-Uj4707T1yK3Z2RT9tpbNzXEdBeXF77VLSsu556HS0W6rd3NFGmMntV0dAKUMhMv7wyXqUxbCPU_oZ5KN9qDQO8dROq-RZrxo4/s1600/IMG_4371+%28Small%29+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-AHICAyrdKQmaSQ8-bcFWzYYtJyBPs3CAsHNdLrbWd-Uj4707T1yK3Z2RT9tpbNzXEdBeXF77VLSsu556HS0W6rd3NFGmMntV0dAKUMhMv7wyXqUxbCPU_oZ5KN9qDQO8dROq-RZrxo4/s400/IMG_4371+%28Small%29+%282%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_5g5cI4UYoxBZaYVcd13sA-2abqo153uxIeCiIQulswRG5umXFe7AyRlJjJm_Zcspud1ux3oW9DmHWVaaoum0p6Ul6Zx-fzUJAWPLNCtPEDJqpNvFvc3f3VXILwIeDB2E4O9u20h-fl/s1600/IMG_4373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_5g5cI4UYoxBZaYVcd13sA-2abqo153uxIeCiIQulswRG5umXFe7AyRlJjJm_Zcspud1ux3oW9DmHWVaaoum0p6Ul6Zx-fzUJAWPLNCtPEDJqpNvFvc3f3VXILwIeDB2E4O9u20h-fl/s400/IMG_4373.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The lovely Miss Caroline on Crack</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, Dulce!!! Thank you Jonathan! Thank you, Cedd! And to everyone who works so hard throughout the year!</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-1808488623664812352010-10-08T14:16:00.000-07:002010-10-10T14:44:25.206-07:00The Elusive Midnight Buffet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9D_ZLLURxS7UVVipiUH2QG7byRlrViEUMecTK9rS_ltzizoy6M99v7DaCDrllbcqIJOZKMtmwGvXFTSHkWGsDeOLukZ0ejnJjtVo9H2Xv3Gl15pMAFdyJhOxChTkrmN4rTBg1B1wn7Xj/s1600/DSCF2817+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9D_ZLLURxS7UVVipiUH2QG7byRlrViEUMecTK9rS_ltzizoy6M99v7DaCDrllbcqIJOZKMtmwGvXFTSHkWGsDeOLukZ0ejnJjtVo9H2Xv3Gl15pMAFdyJhOxChTkrmN4rTBg1B1wn7Xj/s400/DSCF2817+%28Small%29.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I grew up hearing my parents' stories about cruises they had taken with fabulous midnight all-you-can-eat shrimp buffets. Their descriptions bordered on the Bacchanalian. As I prepared for my most recent cruise, people commented, "Lucky you! You get the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">midnight</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I retorted, "I don't <i>believe</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">there <i>is</i> such a thing as a midnight all-you-can eat shrimp buffet! It's an urban legend. I have been on TWO cruises and there was no midnight buffet in sight.</span>"<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, color me surprised when this cruise actually had a midnight buffet! I walked along the line, silently thinking, "Please let there be shrimp. Please let there be shrimp. Prove me wrong." There was no shrimp. But there<i> was the next best thing - </i>crazy </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> melon carvings!</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, far better than shrimp -- they had lechon! Roasted Filipino suckling pig! I know, the eyes creep me out too. Just don't look at them. I asked for some cheek and a rib. I know my lechon. The cheek carving got perilously close to the eye, but just don't think about it. Look away.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The buffet also featured adorable little sandwiches, one with a very creative presentation of melon and prosciutto.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then there was just everything in the world. (Clockwise from upper right, rib, prosciutto, macaroni salad, pesto caprese sandwich and catfish). It is very hard to make a buffet plate look appetizing. The mish-mash of food is kind of icky. But the catfish was so delicious, I have to show it to you. In the end, it's all about the catfish, right?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg_uEcTEcfvtlBjA8PIA_zKFODL0Q_Yte7PVWGgLDForF_1NfScC37w6iF-SiJXiMVIkrMI-fgJKnCA1xatqiO2iVumqzl5qbCMvruKqPkByP7SNi5KKOrU7J6mISHjO0zDzU4_kQ0tgf/s1600/DSCF2824+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg_uEcTEcfvtlBjA8PIA_zKFODL0Q_Yte7PVWGgLDForF_1NfScC37w6iF-SiJXiMVIkrMI-fgJKnCA1xatqiO2iVumqzl5qbCMvruKqPkByP7SNi5KKOrU7J6mISHjO0zDzU4_kQ0tgf/s400/DSCF2824+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-7187594953768177842010-10-08T14:13:00.000-07:002010-10-10T14:43:02.004-07:00I love it when we're cruisin' together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglInAWo9UBGJH1mcm5B01bKf5hQ9EUMKCAs79ro-uQBB7wBQOV_GWLJH5u2w01M9jiYuyc1pFidJEsvIjw6OSUNETeDZmdPHQWT5ayzo-JnqmDd_9XiS5_C1Db7HeowNQb6GHbrL6Cb9Ka/s1600/DSCF2804+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglInAWo9UBGJH1mcm5B01bKf5hQ9EUMKCAs79ro-uQBB7wBQOV_GWLJH5u2w01M9jiYuyc1pFidJEsvIjw6OSUNETeDZmdPHQWT5ayzo-JnqmDd_9XiS5_C1Db7HeowNQb6GHbrL6Cb9Ka/s400/DSCF2804+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> So...by now you are probably all wondering how the food was on the ship.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">was a choice between a buffet and a sit-down dinner. There was also a little burger stand out by the pool. I didn;t make it to the two restaurants where you pay to dine. The buffet was the usual thing, not always my favorite. But they did have some wonderful international food, including a spectacular Indonesian chicken curry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> And of course the desserts at the buffets are always good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I loved the buffet breakfast, where they even had eggs over-easy instead of the usual spongy scrambled eggs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> But I mostly ate in the dining room because the dining room was awe-inspiring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">salad bar, only available at lunch, had a huge selection of ingredients, tossed to order.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The pastas were appealing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> But my favorite meal was this steak with gorgonzola sauce.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And of course the desserts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> On the night they made Cherries Jubilee I followed the server to the station to watch. I love things on fire! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-91151892607817261142010-10-07T00:46:00.000-07:002010-10-10T18:05:42.725-07:00The Pig Hands of Puerto Vallarta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDW9yO0RLknKM1tQp_sP8IH5Jdg6uhzMVpSDWSh_cI07fmNGMfTJF5HGDQE0sgmrXu4xSc1BIamHiUAno9TACojNt5nHy53HDsAVzb2eiIKvb7bxnpvUU91JbQrHVQ1PEIH_f2c8lCp08q/s1600/DSCF2910+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDW9yO0RLknKM1tQp_sP8IH5Jdg6uhzMVpSDWSh_cI07fmNGMfTJF5HGDQE0sgmrXu4xSc1BIamHiUAno9TACojNt5nHy53HDsAVzb2eiIKvb7bxnpvUU91JbQrHVQ1PEIH_f2c8lCp08q/s400/DSCF2910+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had an afternoon to myself to wander the streets of Puerto Vallarta. Why would they ban corgies? Those dogs never hurt anybody, and have no political leanings of which I am aware.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I asked the taxi drivers where they go to eat and they all said they only eat at home. Finally I said I wanted to go somewhere where a grandmother was cooking and they understood. I was delivered with haste to the door of Cenaduria Dona Raquel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was all about the pozole, and I could not be happier. The English side of the menu advertised "Delicious corn soup with pork, chicken or pork hands. Especial: with tripple portion of head meat." </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I totally ordered the head meat. The broth was so hot and comforting, intense with the taste of pork and hominy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I also ordered a pig hand tostada. Who can resist that? It was a ham hock so intensely cooked the cartilage was softened. The meat was rich and tender.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is what it looked like after I destroyed it. Yes, I felt very primal.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But my hunger was not yet sated. I needed some mole. I ate a stunning rich, dark enchilada mole and flauta combo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbAClg47ImE1Q3AnQHCwm63TDe0g31YbDMD7PowrGNCshaa4aE2aXqLfaPy_HiOhY22tU4y9XLLTMSD0rQPX0yCMerW5xkW4amC7ErE2__ctvKOZiw4IAkCLaaEBe1PhLXj1gUu_LRu3m/s1600/DSCF2941+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbAClg47ImE1Q3AnQHCwm63TDe0g31YbDMD7PowrGNCshaa4aE2aXqLfaPy_HiOhY22tU4y9XLLTMSD0rQPX0yCMerW5xkW4amC7ErE2__ctvKOZiw4IAkCLaaEBe1PhLXj1gUu_LRu3m/s400/DSCF2941+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So if you're ever wandering rudderless around downtown Puerto Vallarta, you know where to go! I even got a sign from above.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And if you get lost these little pebble trails lead you </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">back to the malecon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBrfUXKHyNO4R6-oOV1WWS7a7zx82_3_BXRHKMyndbfpnuiQu5VvFMAbKn4T8IVpwCLJdp0kBppddFiWLMauW1Lxq94jvs4vtMgNuveg95Gq_PSxkocSviDKwmKvZNfT0oE1lncaZeahq/s1600/DSCF2929+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBrfUXKHyNO4R6-oOV1WWS7a7zx82_3_BXRHKMyndbfpnuiQu5VvFMAbKn4T8IVpwCLJdp0kBppddFiWLMauW1Lxq94jvs4vtMgNuveg95Gq_PSxkocSviDKwmKvZNfT0oE1lncaZeahq/s400/DSCF2929+%28Small%29.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-65861539440160750542010-10-06T00:43:00.000-07:002010-10-10T14:15:01.149-07:00Puerto Vallarta, Land of the Iguana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next day we took a boat to the Island of Puerto Vallarta, where John Huston filmed <i>The Night of the Iguanas.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RTLIKPEGDwf4HV0ySIXUtP0pcUn93T0Dj6WsX9GBykbX3jPlP3brX8dGInUM8s1aBAuPs1Bvr3dKiuENDd3NGiuSLLbK0bOawLKW09a059fp-hFjh2Zs-Kd1aMI4kSvn1YP7teVtoY0D/s1600/IMG_0372+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RTLIKPEGDwf4HV0ySIXUtP0pcUn93T0Dj6WsX9GBykbX3jPlP3brX8dGInUM8s1aBAuPs1Bvr3dKiuENDd3NGiuSLLbK0bOawLKW09a059fp-hFjh2Zs-Kd1aMI4kSvn1YP7teVtoY0D/s400/IMG_0372+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is a remainder of the set</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW-vcQSAx4Brro3wwNRBVCaRAJsWWUxB5FivLKVb40fpq7Lmjzt1fGX7IoloE6j3PJTPe8x4fQi96HClX26DwjYDhybF1yvzCTNTDR48a4Tz_PY4B5QW3gcwVuCXurOOdKfrpGGFeFwYc/s1600/IMG_0386+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW-vcQSAx4Brro3wwNRBVCaRAJsWWUxB5FivLKVb40fpq7Lmjzt1fGX7IoloE6j3PJTPe8x4fQi96HClX26DwjYDhybF1yvzCTNTDR48a4Tz_PY4B5QW3gcwVuCXurOOdKfrpGGFeFwYc/s400/IMG_0386+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcKztxUHMuYVY7FTHDm17M3oW-zWU8D-fDkWGa89lPVpQ21TQarEcNd5HfHMwtGeF14vEw6Fb6t8FTUpq_ZfxRTcEvTko7e_IsNXrtE2iwz5DsDMuymYBzyeiP_t_Z1haH3pegtP6R0di/s1600/mexicocruise+097+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcKztxUHMuYVY7FTHDm17M3oW-zWU8D-fDkWGa89lPVpQ21TQarEcNd5HfHMwtGeF14vEw6Fb6t8FTUpq_ZfxRTcEvTko7e_IsNXrtE2iwz5DsDMuymYBzyeiP_t_Z1haH3pegtP6R0di/s400/mexicocruise+097+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a feast of paella, or uhhh arroz con mariscos y camarones y jaiba y otra cosas.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_UczBe36XWElJXzwDKgQNm2fW2i5C7byWmce67Rinu92_FoUmwfIb6sPQWwE3zBLT0s8_UX6ExXcu1rpxeyG81h1mmbINxB3ZDqWc6vSfXuZ6Liu9a2_l2IgnAjv2pq-z9NT8wg38kwO/s1600/mexicocruise+100+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_UczBe36XWElJXzwDKgQNm2fW2i5C7byWmce67Rinu92_FoUmwfIb6sPQWwE3zBLT0s8_UX6ExXcu1rpxeyG81h1mmbINxB3ZDqWc6vSfXuZ6Liu9a2_l2IgnAjv2pq-z9NT8wg38kwO/s400/mexicocruise+100+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The hornets loved the apricot cheesecake</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I loved the flan</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKwoUpmDanLneelen2pIb0gOdRSeC3mZ2vLfc5HeMGCDKl_bBLdXTiwpkwYNiUQ2oZgzLDDKzl6KIxXFhxufPB7S-HW_XrEaesoG9t_pGdfH2VqapHg7QaHctA02ymfWH1PBN5Gs0OArA/s1600/mexicocruise+105+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKwoUpmDanLneelen2pIb0gOdRSeC3mZ2vLfc5HeMGCDKl_bBLdXTiwpkwYNiUQ2oZgzLDDKzl6KIxXFhxufPB7S-HW_XrEaesoG9t_pGdfH2VqapHg7QaHctA02ymfWH1PBN5Gs0OArA/s400/mexicocruise+105+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz0OgbVr1ypHq-MHxWiX05TQPDI_M8xe8_EpnJKVkGEE1CUYnXne31XKtKLopyFViun7V69iZADmFmZ5Yott1IW1UZyfZTQIe6ZYivrW1JcR3Ippv9Vt5G0OEBY8SjArQ_2K6JgA5EA3S/s1600/mexicocruise+110+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz0OgbVr1ypHq-MHxWiX05TQPDI_M8xe8_EpnJKVkGEE1CUYnXne31XKtKLopyFViun7V69iZADmFmZ5Yott1IW1UZyfZTQIe6ZYivrW1JcR3Ippv9Vt5G0OEBY8SjArQ_2K6JgA5EA3S/s400/mexicocruise+110+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A gorgeous tropical island beach, the big blue sea, fresh seafood, what on earth could make it better? How's about monkeys???</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmssxhd_lsGUw9QlxVoRsvBKCgLfXKKUy3me4UbPtnT4wTWyheyxQTODxaqB1jIlx2oKP860mzNg8u8EP50Aqqkv-w8oY-XdUwnYQjqRFOz05LVQ4zr72hrFZp6nkvgCEV0zjyPTgpue50/s1600/DSCF2860+%282%29m9onkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmssxhd_lsGUw9QlxVoRsvBKCgLfXKKUy3me4UbPtnT4wTWyheyxQTODxaqB1jIlx2oKP860mzNg8u8EP50Aqqkv-w8oY-XdUwnYQjqRFOz05LVQ4zr72hrFZp6nkvgCEV0zjyPTgpue50/s400/DSCF2860+%282%29m9onkeys.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Requisite Corona shot</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and a rainy trip home</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgir90-7l4i7o_B44b2Rnbk4TqBWRg07y3TJK0W80vcNuT02tRZKdIV8AGtvzKKcOnOIVPsiv-3Y3v2_irJHrFxjGWnr4Rk_4ywp7u1PtYnFOf8FVif9OkGOWjOUanqyyiFrMk64VLunU2/s1600/mexicocruise+131+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgir90-7l4i7o_B44b2Rnbk4TqBWRg07y3TJK0W80vcNuT02tRZKdIV8AGtvzKKcOnOIVPsiv-3Y3v2_irJHrFxjGWnr4Rk_4ywp7u1PtYnFOf8FVif9OkGOWjOUanqyyiFrMk64VLunU2/s400/mexicocruise+131+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vFzqTKJRmlWSfxp31bUS8TH3D_M27Yyt7UuzRxTSw0ZA4Vfnjdc8QuLcRvayG51fSjxUjQtNzwqSdRqgfS58f8x6m_Yyocx8xPYlXA3CqmI2BN2tP5-N7M5ngNkND8tPb_wH4ajFTlEK/s1600/mexicocruise+132+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vFzqTKJRmlWSfxp31bUS8TH3D_M27Yyt7UuzRxTSw0ZA4Vfnjdc8QuLcRvayG51fSjxUjQtNzwqSdRqgfS58f8x6m_Yyocx8xPYlXA3CqmI2BN2tP5-N7M5ngNkND8tPb_wH4ajFTlEK/s320/mexicocruise+132+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" /></a></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-85452154549269515822010-10-05T01:59:00.000-07:002010-10-08T23:32:05.750-07:00Boating in Cabo<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One day we took a boat out to Cove to snorkel. Everything was so relaxing and calm, it was strange when they started cranking metal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was a little apprehensive since I haven't been snorkeling since my 20s. I was worried I would flail and swallow water and have to stay right next to the boat. But as soon as I looked down into the cool water the world disappeared and I felt as if I could swim for miles. I felt so close to my father, remembering the times he took me snorkeling. I also feel close to him every time I'm near the water, as if when we lowered his ashes we released his spirit into the sea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There were angel fish, both large and small, and I even saw a white-spotted black puffer fish. The further I allowed the tide to pull me, the more fish I saw. At one point the brain coral beneath me became rock and I realized I was dangerously close to being smashed into the rocks. I turned to start swimming back and saw a boatload of people waving me back in panic. So I started swimming overhand instead of the breast stroke so they would know I was coming back. But I wish I never had to stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Back at the harbour I wandered around Cabo some and glanced over the touristy 2 for 1 margarita restaurants. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't know if this is child exploitation or if it is adorable</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then I started asking the employees where they ate. Everyone pointed me towards a vacant lot behind a mall. There I found a taco truck where I ordered octopus ceviche. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The man insisted I mix the octopus, so I added shrimp. It wasn't the best ceviche I've had in Mexico, but better than anything in the US.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8-YQ-TpoCLgDOaG3kcykUKoQjzXOH6khvr28NXCwwj2_PoK9uOEGgKRKL5nfTLrTeqUZBvLkOx_AWnLIhlp0dc5OyUSRiWkXAkSwdb4OGpzKMRo9e-nOEMJYgIYaLNK_EhDLMDfjuY-I/s1600/mexicocruise+015+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8-YQ-TpoCLgDOaG3kcykUKoQjzXOH6khvr28NXCwwj2_PoK9uOEGgKRKL5nfTLrTeqUZBvLkOx_AWnLIhlp0dc5OyUSRiWkXAkSwdb4OGpzKMRo9e-nOEMJYgIYaLNK_EhDLMDfjuY-I/s400/mexicocruise+015+%5B1600x1200%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I also enjoyed three baja fish tacos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everyone was really surprised to see me there, but very friendly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I recently went on a cruise to Mexico. The ship was gorgeous. Upon first embarking, we were greeting by huge glass sculptures reminiscent of Chihuly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was amazed by the modern art in the halls and stairwells, wandering from deck to deck just to look at the walls. This was one beautiful ship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The spa was friendly and comforting, and the gym even made me wish I worked out. There was a climbing wall and even an ice rink for people who do those kinds of things. There were two pool areas, one for grownups that were like Roman baths. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And a kind of psychedelic one for kids</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There were like eight million opportunities to get your photo taken.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">There was a gorgeous sitting area/bar where the music seemed a little intense for the mellowness of the room. First, the Sorcerers Apprentice, then the William Tell Overture. What next, the Ride of the Valkyries?</span><br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X6e-4cpeAaQ?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X6e-4cpeAaQ?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The casino had a country fair theme. This piggie was laquered into the floor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The rooms were spacious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The inner cabins were bigger and more comfotable than any I had seen yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One evening the steward made the towel into a ZZ Top style biker, which made me totally love her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> I made only one visit to the medic. After getting eaten alive in Puerto Vallarta, the nurse passed me some of their secret potion - a green goo comprised of aloe vera, a topical anaesthetic, an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic. It immediately stopped the maddening itching. They should market it.</span>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-2506561236182947112010-09-23T14:03:00.000-07:002010-09-26T16:55:56.675-07:00Blogger Prom 2010 at Yamashiro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPuphw6Pe9RrOsmqidg-GGzL-5QTNHWQOkeYsTX6XwGMfb76yp0WptEMPsE-OeZ4H9AeNlGx1le3iC-c2dLWatE79YJOHT8ROOOdtlstSD6LMPPWXcaZrNKr3S4qn0y1mxGmSEBhUyzwl/s1600/BloggerProm2010-0192heatherkinkaid+(Small).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPuphw6Pe9RrOsmqidg-GGzL-5QTNHWQOkeYsTX6XwGMfb76yp0WptEMPsE-OeZ4H9AeNlGx1le3iC-c2dLWatE79YJOHT8ROOOdtlstSD6LMPPWXcaZrNKr3S4qn0y1mxGmSEBhUyzwl/s400/BloggerProm2010-0192heatherkinkaid+(Small).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faithful readers may be wondering where Kiki Maraschino has been lately. Just the usual really, living a life of glamour and intrigue. Last night we attended the <a href="http://www.blogger-prom.blogspot.com/">Blogger Prom</a> soiree at <a href="http://www.yamashirorestaurant.com/">Yamashiro</a> above the glittering lights of Hollywood. Yamashiro, set on the hill above The Magic Castle is so glam The L Word used it for Jenny's movie premiere, and we all know what a diva <em>she</em> was.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hE9AWNXH96Va2Hy0Cb_UvvdB1DrRpYzCxUx1E1j9bZqa66NvPgptvsCl5JLUQyL8tgeXNerTnNDF21D0Ao-QY5e2i_qdk1TxiGpqBXIapYfyzjHwsYEHBdowP2znam802i7O0S6Dq0I-/s1600/IMG_0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hE9AWNXH96Va2Hy0Cb_UvvdB1DrRpYzCxUx1E1j9bZqa66NvPgptvsCl5JLUQyL8tgeXNerTnNDF21D0Ao-QY5e2i_qdk1TxiGpqBXIapYfyzjHwsYEHBdowP2znam802i7O0S6Dq0I-/s400/IMG_0645.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I wore a metallic knee-length dress and my favorite long burgundy smoking jacket. Bob told me I looked like movie theater curtains. I had my hair done in waves at Frenchy's salon. It was serendipitous that I had found a top hat at It's a Wrap the week before made with a fur felt, such a score. I returned for a cummerbund and white tux scarf later. Super dapper.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I chose to bring my little point-and-shoot and not to bring my heavy camera. It seems that there was a ghost following me around all night jumping into all of my pictures, so thank goodness for ace photographer <a href="http://www.heatherkincaid.com/blog/">Heather Kincaid</a>, who took all of these gorgeous black and white pics. This is the Committee, who put on one hell of a party. Shout out <a href="http://laist.com/">Lindsay!</a> <a href="http://www.carolineoncrack.com/">Caroline!</a> <a href="http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com/">HC</a>! <a href="http://www.estarla.com/">Esther!</a> And all the Superbloggers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Passed hors d' ouvres and a taco station were provided by Yamashiro's Chef Brock, whose fish is just slammin'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">They offered our favorite, ahi sashimi on a tortilla chip as well as charred albacore on a crisp. Also passed were ribs, chicken skewers coated in crushed rice cakes, and salad on a skewer. Figure that one out. Too bad the ghost got in the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The tacos were Cabernet and soy-braised short rib, a very meaty Miso-sake black cod, Hoison smoked duck confit with black plum salsa, and the special, Klewno Farms with maple-black pepper aioli. smoked sausage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But have we mentioned the drinks? We started out with Dalmore Whisky. The bar served up a variety of drinks, including <a href="http://www.pinkyvodka.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/pinky/Pinky.php?redirect=/index.php">Pinky Vodka's</a> Pinky Confidential created by<strong> </strong>Natalie (a.k.a <a href="http://www.theliquidmuse.com/">The Liquid Muse</a>).</span> <br />
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<strong>Pinky Confidential</strong><br />
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2 ounces Pinky vodka<br />
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1 ounce Chambord<br />
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1 ounce fresh lemon juice<br />
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½ ounce simple syrup<br />
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½ ounce egg white (optional & NOT used in the bloggerprom version)<br />
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Powdered sugar (for garnish)<br />
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds. Add ice, shake again. Strain into a powder sugar-rimmed martini glass.Then there was <a href="http://www.cabanacachaca.com/">Cabana Cachaca</a>, used to make caprinhas, which is where I went astray.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Cheese Godess, umm I mean, The Cheese Impresario (she is a goddess to meeee) was there, but I missed out on Cheese SEX!!!! Grrr. I chatted her up and may just follow her around one day. Seriously, this woman knows her cheese. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Coolhaus was on hand, and there is nothing more VIP than eating Coolhaus without waiting in line! I tried the green tea and went bonkers for the salted caramel.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were also yummy Sprinkles cupcakes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The set-up was well thought-out, with tables scattered around the space. It seemed like we were always in transit. There were a lot of people I wanted to chat with, but we were being pulled this way and that way as everyone alternately craved ice cream, tacos or more drinks. Fun to hang with Joz, trying to get her name projected on her face...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The ultracool Julie and ice man Michel</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Real women aren't aghast at wearing similar dresses. They celebrate it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsnO5p0uhog5HT9FmN4v56TBuoFym3kBCc3KmPMmHv30ggDAeafwQSFV_a8fcY4gJiLfLeJ5psKS08ddn8n57FdgZoJ498ZiD2ztLoV7n24EBxJEle1jQ0WHa3vXgjYC3n-aIyulMhjAM/s1600/BloggerProm2010-0245me+and+who.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsnO5p0uhog5HT9FmN4v56TBuoFym3kBCc3KmPMmHv30ggDAeafwQSFV_a8fcY4gJiLfLeJ5psKS08ddn8n57FdgZoJ498ZiD2ztLoV7n24EBxJEle1jQ0WHa3vXgjYC3n-aIyulMhjAM/s400/BloggerProm2010-0245me+and+who.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What else? There was a table for <a href="http://www.thebeerchicks.com/">Beer Chicks</a>, Y Drive LA, an amazing idea finally here from Europe where sober drivers arrive on fold-up scooters, stick them in your trunk, and drive you home. Lots of people push it and don't call taxis because they don't want to leave their cars behind. Y Drive leaves your car safely at home and gets you safely to bed! There was also a raffle table and a display for the official charity, <a href="http://www.operationfrontlinela.blogspot.com/">Operation Frontline</a>, for which Blogger Prom raised over $2,000,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The official prom queen (ahem) leading lady was <a href="http://twitter.com/jozjozjoz">JozJozJoz,</a> and the "leading man" was Neil of <a href="http://twitter.com/foodmarathon">"Food Marathon".</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I apologize to everyone who was obliterated by the ghost. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...AND it was a full moon! well, a waxing gibbous moon anyways...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-24576400666164153922010-09-22T00:25:00.000-07:002010-09-13T07:03:04.991-07:00Cacao: Are You Game?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwVi3eA0fGYFFye2-g1rfD_MPSWUAVXPAz6FxoQLKVko-l898qzYkN0KwzzDrG7NKi7hmg6ik0CgaueDBJMYCFceiP8aKMGVpRiCVE_2EREd_i3crizjy-hE1rvmhCOckZOhZnuoA8ItQ/s1600/cacao%2520018%2520%5B1600x1200%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwVi3eA0fGYFFye2-g1rfD_MPSWUAVXPAz6FxoQLKVko-l898qzYkN0KwzzDrG7NKi7hmg6ik0CgaueDBJMYCFceiP8aKMGVpRiCVE_2EREd_i3crizjy-hE1rvmhCOckZOhZnuoA8ItQ/s400/cacao%2520018%2520%5B1600x1200%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
With beloved eateries like Casa Bianca Pizzaria and Oinkster, Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock is quickly becoming "home to all things delicious." One restaurant at East LA Meets Napa had served wild boar tacos -- and I missed it. So it was like instant karma when I met a friend for lunch at CaCao in Eagle Rock. What was that on the menu? Wild boar! This was the place. Colorado Boulevard scores again.<br />
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Other exciting items on the menu are duck confit, venison, and huitlacoche. For those new to huitlacoche, it it commonly referred to as "corn smut". It is a fungus that grows on corn and is a delicacy, like truffles. Some diners may turn up their nose at something called "smut", but remember where mushrooms grow compared to pristine corn cobs.<br />
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Cacao's duck confit is defined by Jonathan Gold and more of a confit-carnitas hybrid. The rich meat is succulent, and probably makes for the best taco. The boar chorizo is ground, dark and nicely charred. The char mixes with an intense flavor that only vaguely hints at pork. Tacos are also an ideal vehicle for venison. The combination of gaminess and sweetness in the meat can be slightly offputting. But the smoky salsa dominates any funkiness.<br />
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CaCao allows you to choose your vehicle, and I also chose quesedillas for the huitlacoche. It was a perfect match. The cheese softened the earthiness of the smut without overwhelming the smoky corn flavor. In a taco, served with green salsa and cotija cheese, the woodsiness is more pronounced.<br />
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If duck confit is too intense for a burrito, try the chicharron de pato, or fried duck skin. Mixed in with a bean and rice burrito, the rich, crunchy bits are sublime. Other intriguing house specialties are cochinita pibil, "smoked pork in achiote and citrus", and tocino enchochocolatado "house cured bacon, salsa de cacao, crema, bean puree, serrano chiles with a handmade flour tortilla". That's right, bacon and chocolate.<br />
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Vegetarians are not ignored, but are pampered. Besides the usual cheese dishes plus calabacitas and nopales, CaCao offers squash blossoms, hibiscus blossoms, portobello mushrooms and the swoon-worthy huitlacoche.<br />
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In addition to their regular menu, CaCao offers happy hour and weekly specials. This week the special was rabbit in a sauce of orange and pomegranite. The fruit brought out the sweetness in the meat and made it very juicy.<br />
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The CaCao comes into play with their hot chocolates, with ingredients like cinnamon, almonds, chiles and chamomile. The menu runs the gamut from street food like our favorite bacon-wrapped hot dogs, to modern snacks like mole fries all the way uptown with filet mignon. In spite of the exotic and the upscale, I will probably return for the pinches nachos. With a name like that, they must be good.<br />
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The room is brightly painted and casual. Order at the counter and grab a table. They also have a deli where you can grab some chile rellenos to go, and a small selection of Mexican imports.<br />
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They are closed Mondays. Check out <a href="http://www.cacaodeli.com/">their website</a> for hours, which vary throughout the week.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9FUvx9MhoginkIrC6NTO_r18Jiv8OEvpTFe3vjKNXJNP_bDOwteOtknf0V0nLu5Da6PUtLa2CdSXynz8SLYXYM9JkrFwrjo-1TJ_ZxqmoAzYR7eWK61zgEHRn5opQIjCwDZ9n5qbM0fe/s1600/cacao%2520048%2520%5B1600x1200%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9FUvx9MhoginkIrC6NTO_r18Jiv8OEvpTFe3vjKNXJNP_bDOwteOtknf0V0nLu5Da6PUtLa2CdSXynz8SLYXYM9JkrFwrjo-1TJ_ZxqmoAzYR7eWK61zgEHRn5opQIjCwDZ9n5qbM0fe/s400/cacao%2520048%2520%5B1600x1200%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-91625973946278731562010-09-10T06:31:00.000-07:002010-09-13T06:35:55.158-07:00Chicken in a Can<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We eat chicken in a can, just like tuna, but for some reason I found this can really disturbing. ONE WHOLE chicken. Do you open it up and pull out a whole chicken? If it said entire chicken it would have a different meaning. This implies you get beak, feet and all. Well, except for the giblets.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMNPK7wNYjgNnFOAghyphenhyphen8953KhhpRAdS9IoerR_eKP2R_lxlesfxcRNxbdh687HIuXke9EU6mfGHIllydY6rV9zc4jXk4YqQkbXJ-5KeyFXnXpdNUI2SGz8NRlMhW4kr1wbpTdgu5M3rdX/s1600/IMG_0197+(Small).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMNPK7wNYjgNnFOAghyphenhyphen8953KhhpRAdS9IoerR_eKP2R_lxlesfxcRNxbdh687HIuXke9EU6mfGHIllydY6rV9zc4jXk4YqQkbXJ-5KeyFXnXpdNUI2SGz8NRlMhW4kr1wbpTdgu5M3rdX/s640/IMG_0197+(Small).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-11445743498761540382010-09-01T00:34:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:23:07.994-07:00Oreo Pancakes!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKoct5cpJBbULRJKS_dCbJFMaDxikDOFer-VXFsoKKaN-RX90eEFhV_X8An4Udq3XEhf0ZtbtSQZboh0mg2cHcF_FtfEhOKodJUNH1y5PTSdhbsYc8G0MJdhds-PH_9BokbLUSTqWt9mM/s1600/oreopancakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKoct5cpJBbULRJKS_dCbJFMaDxikDOFer-VXFsoKKaN-RX90eEFhV_X8An4Udq3XEhf0ZtbtSQZboh0mg2cHcF_FtfEhOKodJUNH1y5PTSdhbsYc8G0MJdhds-PH_9BokbLUSTqWt9mM/s400/oreopancakes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Burbank is rife with coffee shops, yet somehow good food manages to elude them. At least Frank's makes real milkshakes from real ice cream, but I'm still pissed off that the attached motel tore down the zigzag Googie roof. And don't even get me started on the Coral Cafe and Lancers, where the customers all look like Ralph Steadman drawings.</div><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burbank-CA/Bea-Beas/215911686420?v=wall&__a=5&">Bea Bea's</a> opened this year to save our mornings. There is no other place to hit for breakfast brunch, or even lunch anymore. Sure, we still go to Porto's for takeout, but for a delicious and comfortable sit-down breakfast, Bea Bea's has stolen our hearts away.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_3kToNYvflStvT2VxL805d5lHx9TEdI9Cm7YIpUBRI5JJNpyAHrRMeuXdBqp2r7S6sP4z-W7fLjTAr5k6_BQOqnxUTZE7XVfXtmdn1u7z-qt5o58Kt1_nlblpxQ0oIwWeBvPPxi353yx/s1600/DSCF2315+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_3kToNYvflStvT2VxL805d5lHx9TEdI9Cm7YIpUBRI5JJNpyAHrRMeuXdBqp2r7S6sP4z-W7fLjTAr5k6_BQOqnxUTZE7XVfXtmdn1u7z-qt5o58Kt1_nlblpxQ0oIwWeBvPPxi353yx/s400/DSCF2315+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Service runs the gamut from shy and unobtrosive to friendly and flamboyant, but always competent.In spite of its location next to the pet shop, Bea Bea's manages to eke out a little style with its hip 70s surf color palette and geometric chairs. In fact, the chairs are so simple and square they kind of remind me of Barbie or Lego chairs blown up to human proportions. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-vgqs3H8RCjXjEzy8kl2VDVPRgSEpcJUpKyAku19RypqXvTwWEry-VqEunmryaqmAh_fwsTv0mTTBn-H0VTQF-WjoG6Q7lQOvq7GCUb6s_FXMcRpn6dsQiOWg5R5shsKGLsUoFRNezVQ/s1600/Copy+%284%29+of+DSCF2312+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-vgqs3H8RCjXjEzy8kl2VDVPRgSEpcJUpKyAku19RypqXvTwWEry-VqEunmryaqmAh_fwsTv0mTTBn-H0VTQF-WjoG6Q7lQOvq7GCUb6s_FXMcRpn6dsQiOWg5R5shsKGLsUoFRNezVQ/s400/Copy+%284%29+of+DSCF2312+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The extensive menu hits on the usual morning fare, scrambles, omelettes, and pancakes. And then Bea Bea's takes it one step beyond. The "Volcano Scramble" mixes in chicken-tequila sausage, ortega chiles, jalapenos, cilantro, tomato, tortilla strips, avocado, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, sour cream and tomatillo sauce. The make-your-own omelettes can be made with dozens of fillings, and the pancakes are lip-smacking, tooth-rotting sweet. </div><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be careful bringing children here because they will be bouncing around the room all day after one of these concoctions. The "Piggie Delight" crepe combines ham and chocolate chips. Yes, really. The enormous "Going Bananas" waffle include bananas, Oreos and peanut butter with chocolate chips and vanilla ice cream. The "Crunchy Cornflakes" is french toast dipped in cornflakes and almonds.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskmrvN017Sh0xrTTSLHrEUrGHVh6PLrDk-GQUwOfc_jhCcZUVBxRhlVeKpYBOqINY2Tda90qRLMVmdM8dI8Fnui20jxvjFrxEZghxclg1IULOLboYim0Nwd3ijhGYcQudx9MlA_gKuMWe/s1600/pumpkin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskmrvN017Sh0xrTTSLHrEUrGHVh6PLrDk-GQUwOfc_jhCcZUVBxRhlVeKpYBOqINY2Tda90qRLMVmdM8dI8Fnui20jxvjFrxEZghxclg1IULOLboYim0Nwd3ijhGYcQudx9MlA_gKuMWe/s400/pumpkin.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the breakfast that makes me scream for it in the night is the "Just for You Pumpkin" pancakes topped with a pumpkin cream cheese marmalade and whipped cream. Another favorite is "Jacinda's First Blush", eggs any style with strawberry french toast, bacon and breakfast potatoes. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-lR1iPJ9tG5vKXwriPoDb-GohSzark3Rc0eu_2DPPJcd87mIq3gZMfNmnQnjL9-wRcREDPslneKg0Ca42SzGVRPoG7Lm8Mw6GjZ-TW1DIYs0lnJuq9Q24maCbwMK-abI3cZc4WAedwkr/s1600/scrambled+eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-lR1iPJ9tG5vKXwriPoDb-GohSzark3Rc0eu_2DPPJcd87mIq3gZMfNmnQnjL9-wRcREDPslneKg0Ca42SzGVRPoG7Lm8Mw6GjZ-TW1DIYs0lnJuq9Q24maCbwMK-abI3cZc4WAedwkr/s400/scrambled+eggs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj-l9q7DWR_WeXaZCG98d48O2QR4f-bxH1liGittC2GcMwUY-wJNt4eyxWSPn4rRkCP6VU7GXwanHiJ4E80juib6FJ2iYQtLbkc2QzLdJ_FduwAsozWiXMlrAVURKJYgxW3FyUER5RyrP/s1600/DSCF2426+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj-l9q7DWR_WeXaZCG98d48O2QR4f-bxH1liGittC2GcMwUY-wJNt4eyxWSPn4rRkCP6VU7GXwanHiJ4E80juib6FJ2iYQtLbkc2QzLdJ_FduwAsozWiXMlrAVURKJYgxW3FyUER5RyrP/s400/DSCF2426+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The french toast is very thick and could be improved by being soaked a little longer to moisten deeper inside. Eaten cold out of the fridge in the middle of the night, though, the french toast seems just right.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMg9n4gPWzTVHcESliPBgYEbS7R2era-hp2iExnY_jj0BFZZUPxI-lfmkEZR_XU_bKAeC4AdwYKawrRXiJFgyQIA8-n_HEVl-zifDRRrv3uH_guG-1wd6DeP_wlkU1T3YmQV0x3gW7ubI/s1600/DSCF2337+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMg9n4gPWzTVHcESliPBgYEbS7R2era-hp2iExnY_jj0BFZZUPxI-lfmkEZR_XU_bKAeC4AdwYKawrRXiJFgyQIA8-n_HEVl-zifDRRrv3uH_guG-1wd6DeP_wlkU1T3YmQV0x3gW7ubI/s400/DSCF2337+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The benedicts are another area where Bea Bea excels. The ham is thicker than thick. Only once did a dining partner send back their eggs because they felt the white was runny. "The Crab Cake Benedict" and "Eggs Florentine" were also popular amongst fellow diners. Seriously, check out how thick this ham is.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASxuPLMswsjjAeDwhFBSasrsknzyZfJFRMzuUIZbsbqAZvhyphenhyphenzyQfHmIckV5ZGSRqGGmBde5LfsSDiyqGJ-7BPnB9qkZ6WZsMhdkoPqQM0ooJFZoul0izkeF4WNj030m6x-zNcU8jaxoIY/s1600/DSCF2355+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASxuPLMswsjjAeDwhFBSasrsknzyZfJFRMzuUIZbsbqAZvhyphenhyphenzyQfHmIckV5ZGSRqGGmBde5LfsSDiyqGJ-7BPnB9qkZ6WZsMhdkoPqQM0ooJFZoul0izkeF4WNj030m6x-zNcU8jaxoIY/s400/DSCF2355+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The restaurant is open until 4pm and also has a complete lunch menu. Besides your wraps, salads and sandwiches, Bea Bea's also served pastas and burritos. The burgers are massive and you can even order them rare. The tuna salad is popular. The spicy tuna wrap is seriously spicy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhSZBM7nlt795WUB3kAkeXLISgBs4zHou2O8AbCkQX36Q-jzor3s4Ap44qIvW2t-PzIvPZoFAQXmYjkiK26hEfEza3q1zfmBMhKEHES8hHHom50ietpaGZIA_Tg086U6Un30umw-l5TUr/s1600/alltimefaveburger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhSZBM7nlt795WUB3kAkeXLISgBs4zHou2O8AbCkQX36Q-jzor3s4Ap44qIvW2t-PzIvPZoFAQXmYjkiK26hEfEza3q1zfmBMhKEHES8hHHom50ietpaGZIA_Tg086U6Un30umw-l5TUr/s400/alltimefaveburger.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FWH5ckANhjc7S6CpYXaWmlnySSOUgtjQLeTNq1zjFk_qoh5exa8pYa3KNLstNIZVMwanAJ59rDWISDIXu_MwHlB3SXSFcoU4QdC0lgQ2iZvuBx6N1kUXpcYDprqoCOKcypWNEs0aipgj/s1600/DSCF2323+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FWH5ckANhjc7S6CpYXaWmlnySSOUgtjQLeTNq1zjFk_qoh5exa8pYa3KNLstNIZVMwanAJ59rDWISDIXu_MwHlB3SXSFcoU4QdC0lgQ2iZvuBx6N1kUXpcYDprqoCOKcypWNEs0aipgj/s400/DSCF2323+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are a number of veggie items and lots of tofu on the menu. Whether or not they are vegan friendly is unclear, but probably so. They do have three different kinds of iced tea, so they seem to be all about promoting choice.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be prepared for sticker shock. The average price is $10, averaging around $35 for two after drinks and tip, a bit much for breakfast. But considering the massive servings, you can always split a dish or take half home for later. Once you have eaten their pancakes, no price is too high. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVLLOk2ldMp1ANCm4EjNc26QALYZFfvOO2u1r1SW_G-RWXmoCm_DH1IuZty1EuRJAOg3zw_H1IBg6RKIGUlkZ4cA5-brLP1IOkO9BRCBHIYNcWvcGGaHDAKi6dJxUDS5-9H5XoaaUI2Tc/s1600/DSCF2317+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVLLOk2ldMp1ANCm4EjNc26QALYZFfvOO2u1r1SW_G-RWXmoCm_DH1IuZty1EuRJAOg3zw_H1IBg6RKIGUlkZ4cA5-brLP1IOkO9BRCBHIYNcWvcGGaHDAKi6dJxUDS5-9H5XoaaUI2Tc/s400/DSCF2317+%28Small%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The whimsical names on the menu, the ultra-clean hotel style restrooms and fine decor hint at a feminine hand. True to the subtle hints, there is a Bea Bea who runs the coffeeshop. She got her experience at her sister's popular restaurant, CiCi's Cafe in Tarzana. There are more sisters in the family, so let's keep our fingers crossed. </div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh, and don't forget to order a honey latte.</div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-69681235413595690812010-08-30T03:06:00.000-07:002010-09-04T03:11:59.074-07:00Spam Spam Spam Spam<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tired of your Spam not falling into into lovely, even slices like you see in the ads? Sick of the hassle of pushing around that rusty old Spam knife? Well, have we got an answer for you! Worry no more! Call now to take advantage of this one-time offer!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpchLw1uze8xhlxEgOp9N87DNBy9FVez5plWkkbX_MfPifpab3Qgy_FGdhC7oBGS2yKk3XbOVmDTTQa2WZV814ETArYhlz0IS9uzup_Yt2Qp0EHZNvtI2Y0RD57jvrE5edM7PN9ZdzN0e/s1600/DSCF5262+%28Small%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpchLw1uze8xhlxEgOp9N87DNBy9FVez5plWkkbX_MfPifpab3Qgy_FGdhC7oBGS2yKk3XbOVmDTTQa2WZV814ETArYhlz0IS9uzup_Yt2Qp0EHZNvtI2Y0RD57jvrE5edM7PN9ZdzN0e/s640/DSCF5262+%28Small%29.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-85713765153839882432010-08-23T22:45:00.000-07:002010-09-13T06:38:17.531-07:00Cake Divas Sugar Coats Rachel Rosenthal's Birthday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At performance art legend Rachel Rosenthal's birthday, Cake Divas set up a sugar-coated wonderland of candy and miniature goodies.</span> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm2qNTakv9Tb2pJ9xrD__llNNtfauXy_-IBc3_QpmOEbz_Xpzr5xtAzhodLYAIOoMs18of1XR6lgcqwazYUfFWM6llowFvsV3iyRMhE8coELPxDhlI6txENflrgaGkUaJ1znYwYWLtVEl/s1600/IMG_1179%2520(Small).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm2qNTakv9Tb2pJ9xrD__llNNtfauXy_-IBc3_QpmOEbz_Xpzr5xtAzhodLYAIOoMs18of1XR6lgcqwazYUfFWM6llowFvsV3iyRMhE8coELPxDhlI6txENflrgaGkUaJ1znYwYWLtVEl/s400/IMG_1179%2520(Small).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The red velvet mini-cupcakes were popular, but the teensy eclairs and chocolate petit-fours were swoon-worthy.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Au-ZZUmniPtoVkwoYyq6Qe0Rv1Urj850wc62O0sbwZRt-c8mLdLss6brbQkU0M_AwFeJJPzMqeX7EGiJ4HBaBLj5NI5qxMZgVhBMnICQ8CxmBfJzlBTkYD0ppn1gpmVICD6geBp4jkAr/s1600/IMG_1139+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Au-ZZUmniPtoVkwoYyq6Qe0Rv1Urj850wc62O0sbwZRt-c8mLdLss6brbQkU0M_AwFeJJPzMqeX7EGiJ4HBaBLj5NI5qxMZgVhBMnICQ8CxmBfJzlBTkYD0ppn1gpmVICD6geBp4jkAr/s400/IMG_1139+(Small).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The cake was so perfect at first we thought it was a decoration. It was vegan for animal-lover Rachel.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candy apples brought a lot of whimsy to the event</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one could keep their fingers out of the goodies</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbzswSkAQG10FtCVYqNt2OqDl02rf-coCNY3u6-cswUmZKLYyQsAOzWtDDwkntqZXsb6UXfC_8smAUy0B5099Zr1GQMoV3_yGmYMcApORdHHSrgEAM1adhn5VBNyOIxD3mW1FhSFF7f8p/s1600/IMG_1167+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbzswSkAQG10FtCVYqNt2OqDl02rf-coCNY3u6-cswUmZKLYyQsAOzWtDDwkntqZXsb6UXfC_8smAUy0B5099Zr1GQMoV3_yGmYMcApORdHHSrgEAM1adhn5VBNyOIxD3mW1FhSFF7f8p/s400/IMG_1167+(Small).JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pink champagne</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sexy cupcakes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyQVh6wNt-y9rA6Fe6DMiyiAG68vVdX8-6pmA6sPLcQA08m5P73g4aJX9vVhWxx0d71GWQXQcorsI_M7TXv1PPzPPfEdX1AB6o0IpfaVcFazk2g1ePvVyRBgNu35yLxlV5zXsSF6S38mA/s1600/IMG_1189+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyQVh6wNt-y9rA6Fe6DMiyiAG68vVdX8-6pmA6sPLcQA08m5P73g4aJX9vVhWxx0d71GWQXQcorsI_M7TXv1PPzPPfEdX1AB6o0IpfaVcFazk2g1ePvVyRBgNu35yLxlV5zXsSF6S38mA/s400/IMG_1189+(Small).JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Random chef</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2280Prinopqge-hrIE1AUZSc1897xnK9ygQb3MS1pbFQRNZKRWli6rv91dJusDBQPQ3yYWinJ83IpmANoyKUQ8xvLdiO9xkwaY1yGNzcCBAZl2uXjc4h4yUXWOboE990_d4VcyoMfGog/s1600/IMG_1406%2520(Small).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2280Prinopqge-hrIE1AUZSc1897xnK9ygQb3MS1pbFQRNZKRWli6rv91dJusDBQPQ3yYWinJ83IpmANoyKUQ8xvLdiO9xkwaY1yGNzcCBAZl2uXjc4h4yUXWOboE990_d4VcyoMfGog/s400/IMG_1406%2520(Small).jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The birthday girl</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-ykFuxx1Q8IhRO6oQlnAdmVeUN7RTRw1Pek-U1-04nSYg21JpJ8roT7z8wqa-10f0bbkqqWfyvDytt3YxNeSHypbNgc46AjJcsHgES2OSAQd1FWo5t5d4Mu9VebzxySqWRgoq00YqLm5/s1600/IMG_1113+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-ykFuxx1Q8IhRO6oQlnAdmVeUN7RTRw1Pek-U1-04nSYg21JpJ8roT7z8wqa-10f0bbkqqWfyvDytt3YxNeSHypbNgc46AjJcsHgES2OSAQd1FWo5t5d4Mu9VebzxySqWRgoq00YqLm5/s400/IMG_1113+(Small).JPG" width="267" /></a></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-42622612568273054912010-08-21T22:25:00.000-07:002010-08-28T00:05:35.619-07:00John and Elise's Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A giant old Craftsman in Echo Park made a beautiful setting for John and Elise's wedding reception. Her dress was simple and elegant, the weather was beautiful and fun won out over stuffiness. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmuD0wDtp07Md2t9mWQnVo7rHKxqz8Be6ZPWo4Wk50prCSH2li1VW4wwZXwVI87-YAFMCVp4Na7yYcV06iVRFizurJl5CG8jh0d7vu_J9-ZBsDytrF6syyVOB9u_UgV0KijY9em-Ju1hn/s1600/DSCF9278+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmuD0wDtp07Md2t9mWQnVo7rHKxqz8Be6ZPWo4Wk50prCSH2li1VW4wwZXwVI87-YAFMCVp4Na7yYcV06iVRFizurJl5CG8jh0d7vu_J9-ZBsDytrF6syyVOB9u_UgV0KijY9em-Ju1hn/s400/DSCF9278+(Small).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside the dining hall, the linens were gorgeous and reminiscent of New Orleans ironwork, as was the entertainment later in the evening.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMWKSSOglf7Gvs1AB29mmpP-xPRICp-XYAf-Bov8LbOpU2j1jTklV8_q7qOCatCU6wgfVVPwnKDpOs4qUA70TJvJONcSMaLNxaebXYXeZHyZ67aPOt0xW5s6mZufKu2ipxji1wLj0iZAL/s1600/DSCF9286+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMWKSSOglf7Gvs1AB29mmpP-xPRICp-XYAf-Bov8LbOpU2j1jTklV8_q7qOCatCU6wgfVVPwnKDpOs4qUA70TJvJONcSMaLNxaebXYXeZHyZ67aPOt0xW5s6mZufKu2ipxji1wLj0iZAL/s400/DSCF9286+(Small).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A simple salad of mixed greens and edible flowers was topped with deep-fried goat cheese.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I stopped photographing food because it was a buffet, which never turns out pretty and I was having too much fun!</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwqkvyySmA6NncDheBSeg6LDNAxL0vADHncQ5-HwR88pXBFOHMDK0QTfYn2R0wIfJzTijEPh4a1ImtWoqV28wtUAX3RFFgD9K21LkVOkY974aYCsipjjOfV9XTbCQdfezt_dVtWRIJfsA/s1600/DSCF9281+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwqkvyySmA6NncDheBSeg6LDNAxL0vADHncQ5-HwR88pXBFOHMDK0QTfYn2R0wIfJzTijEPh4a1ImtWoqV28wtUAX3RFFgD9K21LkVOkY974aYCsipjjOfV9XTbCQdfezt_dVtWRIJfsA/s400/DSCF9281+(Small).JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The March 4th Marching Band rocked the party</span><br />
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</div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-85582308639893718662010-08-20T00:16:00.000-07:002010-08-26T00:23:28.765-07:00Chef Marilyn's Soul Food Express<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooWJ2O5VFpKryibYcySq6PXNc8dvfVDeLUB2p2iIPix3TB6pYFLtrHOJXOqL5YTbpdBVYvkMj4l28uGXpjxvyWdhsOM8haBuT_5rd6cL_r0UG-vI8GZ-vlUE8C-0ETg-NZOTIWWEBqDfJ/s1600/DSCF6576+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooWJ2O5VFpKryibYcySq6PXNc8dvfVDeLUB2p2iIPix3TB6pYFLtrHOJXOqL5YTbpdBVYvkMj4l28uGXpjxvyWdhsOM8haBuT_5rd6cL_r0UG-vI8GZ-vlUE8C-0ETg-NZOTIWWEBqDfJ/s400/DSCF6576+(Small).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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It’s easy to find Chef Marilyn’s Soul Food. Just head south off the 10 at Crenshaw and look for the line that stretches out the door from 10:30am to 9pm. It’s easy to be tempted away by the smoke from Phillips Bar-B-Que, but Chef Marilyn’s has a line for a reason. Advertising “99-cents and up”, the tiny cafeteria-style eatery sells food a la carte (or a la Chinese buffet). The prices range from 99 cents for dishes like lima beans, neck bones and links to $8 for oxtails. There is also a location on Pico.<br />
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The menu rotates, with check marks on the chalkboard next to items in that day's hot buffet. Know what you want and don’t dawdle. Service is friendly, but there are 15 people behind you. You pay the cashier at the end, just like at a cafeteria. The next thing you know, the line moves you right on out the door. This is a place to pick up your plate and go home, or enjoy it on the hood of your car. Remember, there is no shame in eating on your bumper.<br />
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Chef Marilyn was brought up in Louisiana on creole and Cajun food. It especially shows in her cornmeal-crusted catfish, perhaps their best dish. With main dishes, you can't go wrong with anything smothered or fried. Some people go crazy for the meatloaf, but I haven't tried it myself. I always order the catfish; it's so good I could eat myself to death like a goldfish and float up to the top of the fishbowl.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ocqbQ-25XuUrSuymPFF1FofimGh04HCo3qodlrpJBU4t2x1KFbstfEbX1ceHg1hwGmABwknqJEQRJFF6SCmvOAw7iJU7Yqrdl-HydSfuL779PjlFlp_NFQr5LnSghba3j9JnB1UidBYc/s1600/DSCF6589+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ocqbQ-25XuUrSuymPFF1FofimGh04HCo3qodlrpJBU4t2x1KFbstfEbX1ceHg1hwGmABwknqJEQRJFF6SCmvOAw7iJU7Yqrdl-HydSfuL779PjlFlp_NFQr5LnSghba3j9JnB1UidBYc/s400/DSCF6589+(Small).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-28877351898389775182010-08-19T00:04:00.000-07:002010-08-26T00:14:39.578-07:00Pizza Fries!!!!Unbeknownst to many Angelenos, the East coast has been holding out on us. Philly, Jersey and New York all enjoy the wonder of Pizza Fries. Why didn't we think of it? It seems so obvious now. I have hunted for Pizza Fries here in LA to no avail. Philly's Best just poured Cheese Wiz on the fries, which made me very sad.<br />
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South Street on Victory in Burbank (the Westwood location is now closed, though they are sold at Dodger Stadium) doesn't have Pizza Fries on the menu, but they do have a "top your own fries" option and are willing to go off the list and give you whatever you want. Finally, Pizza Fries are mine! <br />
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Local entertainment moguls Mitchell Goldman and Robert "Smitty" Smith used to commiserate over the lack of decent cheesesteaks in LA. They finally decided to stop complaining and open up South Street, which is admittedly authentic. Besides Philly steaks, pizza, and hoagies, they also sell "Water Ice", a kind of Italian ice slushee, and Tastycakes.<br />
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The Amoroso rolls are flash-frozen in Philly and finished in South Street's oven. They come out soft and a little chewy, just like in Philadelphia. They use rib-eye and chop the meat, two more of my criteria. <br />
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The only place they veer off the standard is that they use a blend of white American and Provolone. A strict Wiz vs. Provolone is the usual policy (Wiz is offered for an additional buck). But you can't really taste the difference in the Provolone mix with the meat, onions and peppers fist-pumping in your mouth.Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-30135692073956164742010-08-18T00:19:00.000-07:002010-08-24T00:53:20.228-07:00My Top Five from LA Food Fest<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better late than never...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1. Ta Bom's croquettes coxinha, filled with chicken and cream cheese</span><br />
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2. Jalisco's shrimp tacos, a crowd and judge favorite - deep-fried and flavorful. it's the only thing that made me eat two<br />
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3. Crepe'n Around's short rib crepes<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The eternal favorite, the grilled cheese truck's short rib and mac n cheese sandwich</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Last but not least, the amazing roti with beef randang, which I haven't had outside of Toronto</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. OK, I had to add one especially for newcomer Rosa's arancini</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and Manila Machine's pork belly adobo, and Gastrobus' fruit salad..and...and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-16572580344843512582010-08-08T14:21:00.000-07:002010-08-13T16:11:05.398-07:00LA Food Fest Winners!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6GbS6R5eLC88HhQfJwiFgME5fswlmNLYphCvJa-ftDalh1pFL_GarSeegnHIlhBqWehXsMSw9cMz0uYBEsPtu9sHTICGen-gb_Hdnmr7zjBNRjr2wB6tcfDvJrSr40lSNKCv4ZYGDxa2/s1600/ballsgreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6GbS6R5eLC88HhQfJwiFgME5fswlmNLYphCvJa-ftDalh1pFL_GarSeegnHIlhBqWehXsMSw9cMz0uYBEsPtu9sHTICGen-gb_Hdnmr7zjBNRjr2wB6tcfDvJrSr40lSNKCv4ZYGDxa2/s400/ballsgreen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The LAFF event at the Rose Bowl wasn't just a foodie wonderland, it was also a contest! Judges included Susan Feniger, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Chef Walter Manzke, Jesse Williams, Rene Lynch of the </span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">LA Times</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, and blogger Bill Esparza. I saw some of the judges picking around station to station, and others collecting big boxes of food to take back to the judge's table. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Susan was doing double duty, with a booth for Border Grill. But she is always happy to smile for me. I must have more pictures of her now than some people have of their grandchildren.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>Best Nouveau - Sedthee Thai's Pork Sparerib</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sedhee had at least three offerings - when I hit their table they were serving up noodles in a delicious peanut sauce, some with shrimp, or sans meat. They definitely went all out with the decorations, beautiful serving ware, and delicious food. Big thumbs up!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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Runner Up - Manila Machine's Pork Adobo</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">I have to admit that I thought the pork belly adobo and stunningly greaseless lumpia were my top bites. I hope my sister-in-law doesn't read this, but they were the best lumpia I have ever eaten.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>Best Old School - Chef Robert Dahni's Explosive Thai Bites</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Sadly, I missed out on these. Sometimes you just can't eat everything. <b><br />
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Runner Up - Tamales Elena</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This was a delicious surprise, since I always hear about these tamales</span> at the Tamale Festival in El Indio (But it's too damn hot in Indio to actually go there, even if they do have camel races). Elena's tamale did not have a filling; it was like a sweet corn tamale with a light strawberry flavor. The texture was light <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and fluffy with no trace of grittiness. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>The Sweet Tooth - Munchie Machine's PB&J S'Mores</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">There was a point in the day when I was trying to rush out by sneaking behind the booths. I was handed one of their veggie sandwiches out the back of the booth, and it was delicious. Next time on the S'mores. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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Runners Up - Scoops Westside & Vintage Longboards</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Again, I missed Scoops. I did hang out a little bit with the Longboards guys as they celebrated selling out their whole inventory. The chocolate-covered ice cream on popsicle sticks did look amazing.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>Best in Show - Mariscos Jalisco's Shrimp Tacos</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">These old-school deep-fried tacos were delicious. It was the only thing that made me eat two. I think the shrmp inside were breaded and deep-fried before being sealed in a tortilla like an empenada and deep-fried. They were then topped with salsa and avocado slices at the perfect stage of ripeness. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>Best Original Showmanship - Starry Kitchen's Crispy Tofu Balls</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">This category was added at the last minute especially for <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nguyen Tran from Starry Kitchen. He told me his house is even listed on Yelp!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>The People's Choice Award goes to...Starry Kitchen & Mariscos Jalisco!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">So the judges weren't far off the people's palates. But I have a few more favorites of my own to talk about next time...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-39782974261148782972010-08-07T17:50:00.000-07:002010-08-13T16:18:56.764-07:00Photographing the LA Food Fest: The LIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotQTGdwtLtT_z-c58902BSGBpZXgZlUhHURlJ7GCKH-BIFc-uPizALAURVgelrbJq4Hz4qdk-nO6Oso34_wN1kjn3Jq_kDhzcoWK62MnyusfaAQO2K_n0cTt7XKrOvmOvvrNZqbgPjqx3/s1600/happyfamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotQTGdwtLtT_z-c58902BSGBpZXgZlUhHURlJ7GCKH-BIFc-uPizALAURVgelrbJq4Hz4qdk-nO6Oso34_wN1kjn3Jq_kDhzcoWK62MnyusfaAQO2K_n0cTt7XKrOvmOvvrNZqbgPjqx3/s400/happyfamily.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh my God! LA Food Fest was car-a-zay! Imagine the length of a football field length of food. Twice. It was seriously an entire football field! The Rose Bowl, which is seriously hard to find for such a famous place, was filled with food, food, food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I suppose they couldn't drive the trucks onto the field, but it had a side-effect of them being able to fit way more food into the Bowl. The LAisters were there, Lindsay, Zach, Koga and Julie. Plus my other blog pals. I missed Tien, unfortunately. But I was on a mission. I was going to get my pictures if it killed me. Instead of flitting around drinking and chatting, I was going to get photos of every single booth on the West side of the field. If it killed me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When I work a big event, I have a secret list I need to fulfill before I can relax. A list of photos that I think makes for a complete event. After the food, which is the most important, I want pictures of pretty girls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Second, cute kids (and I always ask the parents for permission to post the pic, even when I have to chase them all the way across the field)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Famous chefs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then my secondary goals are: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">People serving the food</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cooking the food</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And enjoying the food.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reallyyyyy enjoying the food</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And if there is liquor, an attractive bartender either shaking or pouring. Especially if his name is Julian or Michel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Done! Everything else is just cake, but I try to get the ambiance, people hamming it up, and other random activities</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And if I can manage it, a sneaky picture of the breast of a certain friend who shall remain nameless</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Of course there is always one fatal flaw, like this delicious finger sandwich</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So how was the rest of the food? Where is all the delicious food porn? Just you wait!</span>Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375421355874795897.post-78215814638489613592010-08-06T22:56:00.000-07:002010-08-09T04:52:25.776-07:00Channa Masala<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AWwACDd1oQXxJ7I6jTkZ5b5rSpVaYgTNOJ-baGhKmHaDvTU3-_d-lY9LuHA7XPAx1-qy7BAeSNolbCDBCamMZV03IQVbjLPpxG2fdAR4IZJBxCl-A_zjRNTodaA0JHjrvjo2bGQ699i5/s1600/IMGchannamasala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AWwACDd1oQXxJ7I6jTkZ5b5rSpVaYgTNOJ-baGhKmHaDvTU3-_d-lY9LuHA7XPAx1-qy7BAeSNolbCDBCamMZV03IQVbjLPpxG2fdAR4IZJBxCl-A_zjRNTodaA0JHjrvjo2bGQ699i5/s400/IMGchannamasala.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
India Sweets and Spices is a local grocery chain with an attached vegetarian deli. They have eight stores in Southern California. The deli serves vegetarian and vegan specialties from both northern and southern India.<br />
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You may find more elegant surroundings than the plastic-laminated tables and walls plastered with posters from Bollywood movies, and you can definitely find better Indian food. But for a delicious and filling meal at only $1.99 you can't beat the fiery flavors of the samosa chana.<br />
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Most people are familiar with samosas -- deep-fried snacks of dough-wrapped potatoes, and peas dotted with mustard seeds. But at India Sweets and Spices you can go full throttle. Samosa chana is usually served in a large deli cup, but at the Atwater location it is served on a plate.<br />
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First they drown the samosa in a huge spoonful of chana masala (chola). Then it is like watching a sundae being made. The toppings can vary from deli to deli, but there are some standards. In Atwater Village's deli they top the samosa with chopped onions, mint sauce, tamarind sauce, and then cover the whole thing in a thick dusting of cumin and chat masala. Finally it is garnished with chopped fresh cilantro. <br />
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The fun thing about the samosa chana is that it is insanely hot. It is a challenge, an exercise in endurance, to finish the whole thing. Then you can douse the fire with cooling treats. Most people go for a mango lassi, but I wait for dessert because they have turmeric ice cream! <br />
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You can probably afford to sample other dishes, even splurging on $6 combos. Seriously, check out their low, low, prices. But those who have strayed from the samosa chana soon realize their error. There is nothing like it. Afterwards you can load up on Indian and British imports in the grocery. Bollywood music! Incense! Clothes! A world of sweets and spices! Plus you can watch movies on the big-screen while you enjoy your channa masala.<br />
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3126 Los Feliz Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90039<br />
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9409 Venice Blvd Culver City, CA 90232<br />
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18110 Parthenia Street Northridge, CA 91325-3302<br />
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22011 Sherman Way Canoga Park, CA 91303-1852Elise Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16984955760237774602noreply@blogger.com4