kitwilliams

Okay, gang, let's go for another date then. As I said, I would recommend going when Tim is in town and when I mentioned it to him, he expressed interest that he would really like to be there too. I think he'll be back the last weekend in October, but will confirm. This IS going to happen! I'm looking forward to meeting you and whomever else decides to show up.

Elyse: I AM a fan of sweet potato pie but not of pumpkin. The simple recipe I use (I only make it once a year, but have a couple of friends who always order one for Thanksgiving), is from Marion Cunningham in The Fanny Farmer Cookbook (13th edition), NOT the F.F. Baking Book. A little cinnamon, a little nutmeg and a little rum. And I usually use lovely, orange yams, not the yellowish sweet potatoes, some of which, when pureed, tend to look like baby p**p. Sorry. Not very appetizing -- that's why I don't use them!

I'm drooling over the photos and recipes in this book. Here is what I want for dinner: Avocado Sardine Toasts Spicy Mussels with Herbs and Feta Cheese (I think it is the bowl* these are photographed in that makes this so very appealing!) Slow Roasted Chicken with Sausage and Porcini Dressing Artichoke and Orange Compote and, of course, for dessert: Caneles de Bordeaux but DAMN! Can't have it for dinner tonight ... perhaps, if I start cooking now, I will be eating it by, say, next Tuesday????!!! These are just my first, glancing desires. Now I'm going to page 1 to begin my cover-to-cover read! But I'd better eat something first! *Paula: are most of the serving dishes/utensils used in the photos items you have picked up on your travels? if so, you have some lovely pieces! do you also sell on ebay?

Paula: You are welcome for that little tip! I can't take much credit as I simply couldn't afford to buy the copper, happened to be in New York where Bridge was on the top of my list of tourist destinations and, fortunately, they had the best silicon molds! And thanks back at ya for the tip on doubling the recipe. I think I'll give it a whirl right now! Except for the fact that I am engrossed in a fabulous new cookbook, The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen. Have you heard of it?

Ari: If you and your gang will come, I will definitely meet you there. If it is not the best day for you we could certainly give it another shot on another day when (perhaps?) we might have a larger crowd??? Also, a very slight warning: Tim (the owner) is in Italy at the moment and although he has trained his employees very well indeed, he is the real expert and I'd prefer he were behind the machine, pulling the espressos.

Up until I tried SweetWilliam's version in an earlier forum I would have agreed with your expert. A thin brushing of the "white oil" gives the flexipan baked cannele a fabulous crust. By the way, I tried 3 different flexipans and only the one SweetWilliam suggested made good cannele..(the one from Bridges). I am in total agreement with Paula on this: the beeswax DOES make a difference in the crust of the canneles when using the flexipans, in both texture and glossy finish. They are a beautiful sight to behold. Wish I had a scanner, as a photographer friend of mine took some terrific photos of a batch I made this summer. And Paula's recipe is, by far, the best I've tried. The contrast between the exterior/interior, crusty to custardy, is awesome and, I'm sure (as I've never had canneles in France), as close to the original as I can imagine. Although I must get a larger food processor as I can't bear to make small batches of them! kit aka "sweetwms"

SWoody: So you're in Long Beach? Me too. So, keeping things close to home in order to save you on travel time, hope you've done Open Sesame for Chicken Schwarma (in the Shore); Taco Loco for tripas tacos (recommendation courtesy of Russ Parsons) on Magnolia betw. Anaheim and PCH; Aroma di Roma for coffee/panini/gelato (I'll be happy to meet you there anytime before you go) on Second St betw. Pomona and Santa Ana. And go feed the koi at the Japanese Garden at Cal State LB. They are awesome. Hope we run into each other before you depart!

So? Are we assembling for espresso/panini/gelato on Saturday? I'll be there, that is if this hacking cough that feels like shards of glass in my throat is gone. Hmmmm. Gelato would feel rather nice on that throat...I think I'll walk down there right now!

We had a terrific meal at Tanino's in Westwood about six months ago. And friends of mine who have very selective palates adore the place. Details are sketchy in my mind (short-term memory loss has set in at an amazing pace) but salads fresh and perfectly dressed, pastas and risottos were perfection, the wine list seemed to interest my brother (the knowledgeable one of the group) and service was sophisticated yet friendly. I would highly recommend it and wonder if others here have tried it with satisfaction.

I, too, am a Hostess Cupcake junkie -- BUT not the Chocolate, not the Orange, but the Baseball version, only available during the season. White cake, same white filling, white icing and red squiggles to look like the laces on a baseball. Tastes like the wedding cakes from my childhood. Now I've got to run to the convenience store to see if there are any left since it is so late in the season! I love corndogs as well. Haven't had one in years. But today I had a strange craving: Libby's canned Corned Beef Hash. Out of the can in one cylinder, slice it, throw the slices in a hot pan and let it sizzle away until there is a thick crust on each side. Ate the whole can, save one slice. I am soooo thirsty right now!

I'm with you all the way, jat, just two corrections. 1) Apple Pan is off the 405, not the 101, on Pico, across from the mall (Westside Pavilion). 2) I ask for double the tillamook on my hickory burger!

...and tuesday nights at Sacred Grounds (399 W. 6th Street), Bernie Pearl has an acoustic blues jam. 8pm. sorry. off topic. except for the coffee, which can be a bit off (topic). but very fun.

Suvir: As I was buying apples for Tarte Tatin today I was thinking of you (how many "Tarte Tatin" threads have you started??? ). I logged on this evening and came upon this thread and your news...best of luck, Suvir. Although we've never met and have had just a little contact through egullet, you have passed along such wonderful advice and wisdom, have asked questions which got us all thinking and discussing, but most importantly, I will ALWAYS think of you when making or eating Tarte Tatin! Considering the season, I'll be thinking of you a lot in the next few months! All the best and I look forward to reading your future postings.

And you'd better head to The Port Hole on 6th Street for a great dive bar in which you can quench your thirst after chicken fried steak and biscuits and gravy. Drinks are basic and very reasonable. I've been dropping in there since my cruise ship days...my Welsh boyfriend introduced me to the place. Can't remember the owner's name (last time I was there was about two years ago) but the conversation is always fun and the drinks flow on the strong side. Now I'll have the reputation of being a lush. And Russ, I've been going to Taco Loco almost weekly since your recommendation. All my colleagues are going there regularly as well. Have you tried the cold seafood soup?

Works for me.

Awww, come on all you southern californians! Let's have a bigger show of hands! I had the "campagnola" panini for lunch at Aroma di Roma today. Sun dried tomato paste (ingredients include garlic and olives) along with fresh tomato and smoked mozzarella. Tons of flavor, not too heavy. Ari and Kriss and any other potential participants: Sept. 27th is the one day I absolutely could not make it. Sunday the 28th would work though. Or most any other weekend.

The "Good Espresso in LA" thread has sparked some interest in a Southern California eGullet espresso tasting. Tim, the owner of Aroma di Roma in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach would be delighted to have a group of espresso lovers in for a sampling of his products. So espresso, panini and gelato are on the menu for some tasty, casual and inexpensive fun. Arkestra and Grand Cru have stated interest -- we simply need to decide upon the date and time. Anyone game?

dark chocolate caramels. those butterscotch squares are darn good too. and in spite of the white chocolate coverings, I ADORE cashew brittle and key lime truffles!

Yes, as most eveyone has stated, an unopened can, completely submerged. I learned it from Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken's show and the single difference is that they turned the cans midway through the cooking process. Sounds as if it might be unnecessary considering the fact that no one else mentioned it and they seemed to get the same, tasty, eat-it-off-the-spoon kind of results!

I spoke to Tim this morning and he'd of course be thrilled to have new guinea pigs in to experience his product(s). His only suggestion was that, depending on the amount of egullet interest, we would probably want to consider a week night rather than Fri/Sat/Sun when they are very busy in the evenings. Or, if people would rather have a jump start to their morning, we could do an A.M. thing with breakfast pastries rather than dessert. Don't worry, Ari. They will bring out the fig gelato just for you. What say you all? Is there interest here? Should I start a new thread?

Why the ? Have they been discontinued? Yes. Sunshine was gobbled up by those damn Keebler elves and they not only changed the name (to "Droxies") but the recipe as well and now I believe they have been completely discontinued. I would be very happy, though, if someone were to call me a liar.

Hydrox.

It is obvious, from that comment, that we have never met!

I am happy to organize an espresso party for any eGulleteers interested. And I'd be delighted to supply desserts or we could make it a pot-luck dessert buffet for the Southern California eGullet community to showcase their baking talents. I'll talk to Tim (Aroma di Roma's owner) and see what we might be able to work out.

I've heard lots of good things about Perdix -- Tim Partridge is the friend of a friend. They've just reopened on Tremont Street. Perdix review