Susan in FL

What good information and advice so far! You guys are great. This is going to help so much. I'm in the process of reading through it all more thoroughly, and printing out stuff from the links. Thanks for taking the time to include the links in your posts. Then, we will get serious about planning the "final tentative itinerary." The replies and the PMs are much appreciated. MMmmm... does west coast hospitality rival southern hospitality?

We just had hamburgers so recently, we weren't in the mood again yet. Plus it was stormy most of the weekend... But tonight might be the night for the meatloaf recipe I've been wanting to try for ages!

Oh my, that is good looking. I'm glad you gave the link. Thank you, and thanks to Mamster. I've printed it out.

Later this month I'll be heading west by air with one of my sons and a friend, for a roadtrip and a visit to my other son. We will land at LAX and head up the coast, starting a 10 day loop, ending in the San Diego area before going back to LA to fly home. It is going to be a trip on a budget, so no luxury hotels or upscale dining experiences this time. It will be a different kind of traveling for me, unlike any vacation I've ever taken. I will be forced to resist fine dining , but I really want to eat good food rather than junk, and I hope to enjoy some decent adult beverages, too. I hope you can help me with what I'm calling "This Old Woman's Roadtrip With 20-somethings" by recommending stops for good roadfood or other inexpensive eats along the way -- perhaps brewpubs, hamburger joints, farmer's markets, etc. Also, as part of the sight-seeing, we're interested in breweries or wineries which aren't too far off our (still tentative) path, especially ones that are not crowded with long waits to see or taste. The tentative itinerary is: From LAX (not wanting to spend too much time in the horrible LA traffic I've heard so much about), go to the beach, perhaps Venice Beach/Santa Monica; head up Route 1; through Malibu; continue mainly on Route 1 (maybe 101?) to Salinas and/or San Jose; San Francisco; east to Yosemite National Park; Lemoore, where my son is stationed; Death Valley; Las Vegas; Utah/Zion National Park; Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Arches National Parks; Grand Canyon; Interstate 40 and/or some other routes to San Diego; probably a couple days in the San Diego area, and then back to LA to fly home. Thank you so much for any ideas, recommendations, or links to threads which would provide us information.

Oh boy! I'm going to get me one of these... I'm going there in a couple weeks! Does anybody know approximately how far the radius is which sells these things in the area? My son just moved to Lemoore, CA and I'm wondering if he knows about them. (I have no idea yet how close Lemoore is to anything, but I'll be finding out soon. )

Will do, and of course Pubcrawler. Meanwhile, if there are any personal recommendations from eG-ers, I'll surely appreciate it. Thanks, Brent.

Though not nearly as bad, it saddens me... Arlene is apparently hitting where Ivan did. My thoughts are with you, those in the area. I hope you are safe and find some comfort and pleasure in your food and drink.

This all sounds so culinarily spiritual, in an Eastern Wisdom sort of way.

I might be asking the impossible. Later this month I'm flying west to California with one of my sons, where we will visit my other son, and rent a car and go on a roadtrip. This isn't my usual travel style... no upscale stops this time, mostly roadfood. I am thinking that brewpubs would qualify, though, as they are more often affordably priced than other types of restaurants I enjoy. And of course I love beer. Can you tell me about any brewpubs that won't be too far off our path? Please keep in mind that I've never been in CA, so I don't know what to picture in my mind about this itinerary. My son planned this. This is our tentative route: Start at LAX (but I don't want to spend too much time in the horrible city traffic I've heard so much about); Venice Beach/Santa Monica; up Route 1, Malibu; continue on Route 1 to Salinas and/or San Jose; east to Yosemite National Park; Lemoore, where my son is stationed; Death Valley; Las Vegas; Utah/Zion National Park; Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Arches National Parks; Grand Canyon; Interstate 40 and some others to San Diego; probably a couple days in the San Diego area, and then back to LA to fly home. Thank you for any suggestions of how to include beer in this old woman's "Roadtrip With 20-somethings."

Wow! While in Denmark several summers ago, I developed a fondness for Tuborg and have been unsuccessful finding it here in the states. I recently noticed Carlsberg at the liquor store and wasn't sure if that was a new beer for them or just improved placement for marketing purposes. I'll have to poke around somemore. Who is the importer? Edit: Forgot to add that I had a Bohemia yesterday. My favorite beer from Mexico. ← The importer for the Tuborg is Carlsberg USA. The problem we found with Carlsberg bought in this county (not Tuborg) is that it is now contracted out, made in Canada. It tastes different enough from the Carlsberg that we're used to, made in Denmark, that we don't buy it anymore... that is, of course, unless we discover some imported from Denmark. I love Carlsberg in Denmark. My Danish son is there right now for a long weekend. Maybe he will bring some back with him. Morten, are you reading this?

I just read this thread -- good information! -- and wanted to bump it up to see if there are updates. I need to replace some of my old stuff. Two years later, are you all still as satisfied with your cookware? Would you still make the same recommendations now? I'm especially interested in your follow-up comments on the Chefmate from Target and other affordable pieces of cookware of a high quality, or quality enough, that suffices for serious home cooks. Any recommendations on something new on the market in the past couple years?

You Go Girl!

Rogue beers are very interesting, and there are many! The only beer I had in the past couple of days was a Corona, with some anchovies right out of the tin.

I used it selectively, rather than regularly. Back then, I thought of it as a flavor enhancer, rather than a flavoring, and didn't add it to something I thought was already very tasty. As for experiencing umami... I have no idea. I thought I knew a lot about food, but I didn't. This thread has me thinking about trying it again! I did not get the headaches from MSG that became infamous.

I used to, many years ago.

I wish I could discipline myself to cook the night before work days, for dinner waiting when I get home. That tomato tart is a great idea and sounds good. You're helping me by inspiration!

This dinner was the only one we cooked this week... Melon and prosciutto to start; avocado and pistachio crusted red snapper with black bean sauce, and a side of black beans and rice (chopped raw onion on the beans and rice ); and later in the evening balsamic strawberries with vanilla ice cream and pine nuts. Last night I made... an order for take out sushi and sashimi. It was a minor feast. The night before I had a meeting over dinner and ate Italian.

Well, Floridians and visitors, we may be in for it again. It was four terrible hits last year, and they are predicting as bad a season if not worse for this year. Are you serious about planning ahead, or trying to be in denial? We haven't bought any hurricane food or supplies yet. Some people still have blue tarp covering their damaged homes from the 2004 season, as they wait for their roofing orders to come in. My sister-in-law just got her new roof about a month ago. I still have mild PTSD from last season! I am not ready to go to the store and buy canned goods or extra water or candles or anything. I'll just wait until a more serious threat than Arlene. Here are some links from last year: a journal I wrote during Frances; an account of a little bit of drinking during Jeanne; a thread about cooking during hurricanes, including the all important making of coffee; post-Ivan Florida panhandle restaurant information; and one thread dedicated to Flora-Bama®. So, if you have bought anything so far this year, what is it? If not, what and when do you think you will? P.S. I apologize for all the missing photos in my Frances journal thread from last year. I stupidly lost a huge amount of eG photos when I deleted one of my albums from ImageGullet.

That sucks! Sounds like they should give the D.C. location some lessons...

I did not know that this was a family of brewpubs/restaurants. When in JAX Friday night, we went to Seven Bridges Grille and Brewery and were quite impressed. The food was great, and it's my understanding that each location has different offerings, depending on what's fresh. I had a king fish dish, and reportedly the fish had just been caught. It tasted that good. They had a very good wine and cocktail list, as well. The beer was great! I got their IPA and their Stout. They have GABF medal beers. Locations are in FL, TN, GA, NC, OH, D.C., CA, HI, NV, AZ, WA and LA. If they all are as good as this JAX, FL restaurant, this is my kind of "chain." I've never tasted a bottled Gordon Biersch beer. Is it good?

Kim, thanks for the post... Laotian, Thai, whatever! I will look that one up, and check it out. I love getting such recommendations.

Indeed it did. Thanks! Tonight's dinner was decadently rich, luscious. If this is any indication of recipes in this cookbook, it will be one of my favorite books. I adapted the Clam and Pinot Grigio Risotto recipe from Italian Easy: Recipes from the London River Cafe. I used chowder clams. Macarpone is added at the end of the cooking. In the cooking I used Fish Eye California Pinot Grigio and we drank Misty Brook Cellars, both 2004, California. Nice!

Ditto!

Who makes Eight Ball oatmeal stout? I think the beer bar near where my step-daughter lives is Hopleaf. ...Know of it?

Marlene, impressive! Nice job! Sam, sorry you had to call in sick, and hope you feel better soon. Many, many thanks to you both.