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Okay, I know if you aren't in the Pacific NW, Tamara Murphy may be an unknown, but did anyone watch last night? 48 to 50 - those were some high scores. Still, I wonder about the outcome. There was an awful lot of applause for her food (except the pasta dish) and some lukewarm responses to Mario's. One good potsticker shouldn't make the contest. I'd rather try the stuffed pepper or the b'astilla. Anyway, she was cool as a cuke, no?

How come the out of towners get to go here and I still haven't been?

Love it. Remembering a Mongolian lamb dish - marinaded cubes in a thick spicy marinade, skewered and broiled. Or the leg of lamb that was the main course last winter, welcoming my sweetie back into my life. But even friends who used to say "ewww" to lamb have grown up and can demolish roasts and chops by the poundful.

Laguna Beach has a Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings (about 3 blocks from the beach) - the same group appears in Laguna Nigel (La Paz, just off the 73 toll road, Long's drugstore shopping area) on Sunday morning. Interesting bread and pastry from half a dozen vendors, fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, jam, flowers, sausage...there were fruits I don't know - and not enough time for an explanation (caught them as they closed at 1:00.) No information stand, but I assumed they had to sell their own stuff until I saw one of the vendors had mangos for sale. Is it possible they grow those themselves? Do not appear to be organically oriented, as are Seattle's, more and more.

Lansmen or landsmen (I don't agree, but it gives you the meaning too.)

Not even close. I have some of the real good stuff inherited 22 years ago (how long before was it purchased?) I have bought and acquired more since, but that particular envelope in a jar always seems too precious to use. And it still smells and looks great.

Please tell me you meant loin not lion! And given that choice (or either) nothing wrong with a rib-eye. Regrets? Hmmm. Being sick my one week in Paris. I don't think I visited a single bakery. Time to return, better informed and better off financially!

That's sad - you can crush them and use them in a rub - see Braising with Molly, if I recall my last pork roast. I have booze I moved with in 1985. And a jar of cranberry rum compote (commercially packed) and a small bottle of maple syrup that have to be from the late 1980's since I recall how they were acquired. Figure they are good for a long time with all the sugar, as long as the seals are intact, but why am do I keep them? Gelatin packages too - do they go bad? One of these days I am going to make espresso jello.

These guys? nice

yum yum I have been told that aubergine has changed hands. But had lunch at troquet today and it was great - roasted Jidori chicken (I was told it is a special type of bird, like "kobe beef", it googles up as free-range) with a balsamic mustard thyme reduction, served with haricot vert. Also, the chocolate souffle cake (very runny center) with prune armanac ice cream. The cake was lovely, but a bowl of the ice cream would have made very happy. I was also informed that the Goodalls opened Red Pearl Kitchen in Huntington Beach. I'm not sure that is true, but the menu looks good: yum edit: tis true: Domaine

Spending more time in Aliso Viejo/Laguna Niguel. Tried a beer and potsticker appetizer at Stadium Brewing Co yesterday. Okay for a pre-movie bite. Nothing special. Today, visited Ted's Place, 23990 Aliso Creek Road, Laguna Niguel 92677 (949) 831-0061/0062. Open 7 days 6 am to 9 pm, except Sunday they sleep in until 7 am. They have a drive through, you order inside at the register and wait for a tray to take your food to a booth. TVs quietly playing all over. I think Ted is of Greek ancestry, clue framed on the wall, but the menu is pure diner with Mexican specialties added in. You got your spaghetti specials, dinner specials (Thursday is liver w/ bacon and onions), salads, burgers, sandwiches, a gyro plate, 12 oz t-bone dinner for $8.39, fish & chips, breakfast menu of grill items, country breakfasts, burritos, omlettes, even eggs benedict. Then there are the mexican favorites - including today's lunch - 2 carnitas tacos with rice and beans. 4 smallish tortillas contained close to a half pound of meat, fresh onions, cilantro, and perfectly ripe avocado. Nice cup of fresh salsa on the side (and a salsa bar beckoned as well.) Beans and rice were standard Southern California style, but fresh. $5.99 and I barely sampled the b&r. Nice selection of beverages (no alcohol) including tamarindo and horchata. The burgers looked great, as did a side order of fried zuchinni sticks (a platter-full.) This place is out in the middle of nowhere, to my eye, but a quick drive from all the wonders of Laguna Woods (a huge elderly housing community) and across from the Laguna Design Center.

Wakin' up this thread. I've eaten take out roasted chicken from Wild Oats Grocery. Breakfast at Anastasia's - frittata and a giant oj Breakfast at Zinc Cafe (who knew it was vegetarian?) The pastries are better than the hot food. Embarrassed to overhear people ask (at a counter) for 2 poached eggs, 5 minutes, on sourdough, one poached egg, 4 minutes, on whole wheat, no butter...these people should stay home! Nice pain au chocolate etc. I saw another of these in Corona del Mar, and think there is a third. Slice from "Z Pizza" up in Aliso Viejo. Eh. Also a ham sandwich at Bruggers Bagel Bakery (they still have these down here - I think they all closed in Seattle.) Tried "242 Cafe Fusion Sushi." I loved the sandwich place that was here years ago. A tiny place on Coast Highway (yes, 242 N. Coast Hwy.) The food is pricey, but not out of reach. The creations are works of art, and parts are very tasty, but I don't think it works overall. Had a good salad with slices of seared albacore and peppered salmon. Also a "sashimi" plate of the usual suspects, but laid out in a platter of spicy vinegar sauce topped with very tasty cooked, cold shitake mushroom chunks. The sauce and shrooms overwheled the fish IMHO. The Chef uses some ingredients from her own garden. You can open the web site without downloading the Japanese character program: www.fusionart.us I tried the bar at Montage last July and was underwhelmed by the food. Went to 5' years ago - may try that again. I'll check into the others here, except Las Brisas ("Lost Bras" in the old days. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think of lots of plastic surgery and gold chains!) The Cottage looks like a dump these days, was it always? Not looking to spend big bucks, but am interested in suggestions, especially in Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo. Thanks.

Maybe...El Pollo Loco is supposed to be eyeing a big expansion. clucky

Isn't there a similar place in Pacific Place, downtown?

We've been down both the doughnut and cannoli roads before, but I admit "cannoli" didn't turn up any hits on search, for me. The answer? Good luck. But I recall recently seeing some empty shells waiting to be filled at the gelato place on the hillclimb.

Made the grade in Food and Wine, November 2005: Ventura CA - Baby Donut Co. Portland OR - Voodoo Doughnut LA CA - Grace Restaurant Seattle WA - Top Pot (they only list the 5th Ave location) Also, Brasa, Lola, and Dahlia (Palace Kitchen?) all have doughnuts made to order. (Restaurant in Seattle - who else?)

posted in wrong thread!

Le Pichet (had to say it.) PCC has them too. So does Ken's and Market time, though the quality varies greatly. Ken's has a big old rostis in the tiny little deli.

Not active yet, but soon, I'm told: Dinette's website. I had a DELICIOUS meal there last Saturday. I just haven't gotten around to writing about it. Really really really good food, and I'll write a description soon. PJ ← Saturday was their first big night. The kitchen had a hard time keeping up, but the staff was pleasant and the dinner was okay. I'd go again if I was in the neighborhood, but doubt I'd go out of my way. Very good gnocchi though. No indication that they are planning to do family style suppers. Short menu.

A story I was waiting to tell - on the plane, returning from Milan last fall. A slight delay. A young woman with an "Olive Garden" backpack (I kid you not) was complaining loudly about Italy and just wanting to get home. I wanted to ask if she cooked for Olive Garden and had been in Italy to be trained (like they suggest in the TV commercials.) And then there were the Americans in Florence complaining that the pasta wasn't served at the same time as the other entrees - and the meatballs weren't served with pasta at all. I couldn't believe how rude they were to the waiter - I actually apologized to him!

Sorry about the octopus - as a breakfast with eggs and toast it was great - and the pork belly was completely different - looked like a couple of slabs of fried potato - only to bite in and realize they were toasty pork belly. Love that pie. Happy B.

Travel and the future of cuisine is the topic, yes? In 2003 I wrote up my dining adventures in Portugal and ended with this "I think food can provide interesting insights into culture. I was told a number of stories, some of which have been related here, about how and why some of these dishes came to be. This led into discussions about history and politics, as well as current trends in culture and food policy." As far as the future of cuisine goes, I think there will be more cross-cultural experimentation, but I also think there are some cultures that continue to value their traditions so much that they will remain. Potugal is one, at least for now. And Italians are vocal in upholding their way of cooking and eating. More likely, they issues facing the world - quality and quantity of available foods and biodiversity are going to influence what we are all eating. If (when?) there is only one apple marketed, cuisine will change. I hope that never happens (and thank our lucky stars that there are family gardeners, seed savers, slow food movements, etc.) But even then, some traditions will continue to carry on and the same foods prepared in different parts of the world will result in different cuisines. And that is a big part of travel for me. I didn't leave this country, except for Canada, for almost 25 years. I travelled for almost 3 months, right out of college, on about $2500, including airfare (the old charter days.) Then, I got in the rut of travelling to visit aging relatives, going to grad school, paying back loans, buying a house, working too much... Recently, I spent $3000 for 3 weeks, using frequent flyer miles accumulated over years, to pay the airfare. And most recently, about the same for 2 weeks, including a big air plane ticket. But most of my life is quite economically modest, so these splurges are doable.

Oh, did you miss them at Macrina in Seattle last week? They are in the cookbook too - a slightly fermented croissant dough rolled up with vanilla sugar. Buttery delights. And thanks to this thread, had to stop and get one this morning!

Desserts made with goat cheese or goat milk. If it is as cool as predicted, maybe the toddy - I missed it last winter. As I recall, it has fig in it. Octopus.

I understand she is also going to do a "Sunday supper" thing (though maybe it is on Tuesday?) where you come in and eat family style from whatever it is she feels like cooking. Actually, not sure about the family style part of that. Anyway, I suggested this to someone else not so long ago and they said customers wouldn't buy it - too picky, always asking for menu items prepared slightly differently. I thought it was a great idea - and the timing was right for something like this in a non-traditional setting (ie, don't expect your grandmother's fried chicken or pot roast.) If anyone tries this out, please post!