CaliPoutine

For some reason, I'm not getting any notifications telling me of responses to my posts. Anway, I checked back here this morning because we wanted Chinese for lunch. We ended up going to Lee Hou on Clement. We both did not like it at all. Maybe we ordered the wrong things though. I do know we were the only white folks in the place. I did take pics though and I'll post them when I get back.

How fun, another tag team blog. Melissa, I went back and read your kitchen reno blog a few times since we're right in the middle of ours( well, the demolition hasnt started yet, but soon) And Owen, I read your thread on Charlotte, NC when I was planning a visit there last year. So I feel like I *know* you both. I also dont drink coffee( but like coffee ice cream and the smell of coffee) and LOVE fizzy drinks!! I'm almost bummed ( not really) that we're going to San Francisco tomorrow so I probably wont be reading the blog in real time!!

KA also reccomends their Sir Lancelot High Gluton Flour( no surprise there). The shipping charges alone cost more than the flour. I really want that flour for some bagels I want to make( Peter Reinhart BBA), but I refuse to pay that much for shipping.

Oh Maggie, you're going to be sadly dissapointed in London restaurants coming from Chicago. I know I feel that way moving here from California. We did eat lunch yesterday at Hong Ping and once again it was great. Very authentic Chinese Food. I've eaten at Michaels and I wasnt that impressed( but bare in mind I'm always comparing to California restaurants) Here is another casual place that gets rave reviews. Its a portugese Chicken place, very casual Imperio Dos Frangos 741 Hamilton Road There is a new place that opened with a female owner/chef. Its Aubergine something or other. I've heard some good things about it. When are you coming? I'll gladly host you for a meal if you want to travel out to Exeter.

Yay for Fabby!! They havent even started on our kitchen yet. Our sunroom was torn down on Friday in preparation for the new bedroom addition and that was exciting. Oh and we bought our appliances yesterday. Keep in mind that prices are a lot higher in Canada. We spent a bit over 7k( 2k more than I budgeted). We got GE Profile slide in dual fuel range, GE profile french door fridge, Whirlpool stainless interior dishwasher and panasonic over the range microwave. I can't wait to cook with gas again!!

Would that be a meat tenderizer?

I first encountered Tim's when I began visiting my now spouse 6 yrs ago. In fact, our first meal together was Tim's.( turkey sandwich for me, buttertart for her) on the way back from the TO airport. I live in a small town( 4,400ppl) and we have a Tim's, Mcdonalds, KFC and Subway. Those are our only fast food outlets and Tim's is ALWAYS packed. It has acheived near cult status here. I despise the muffins( all flavors taste the same to me), the donuts are ok, timbits are better. I dont drink coffee so I can't vouch for it, the iced caps are good in the summer. If its all you have availble to you, I guess its good. But, I'd much rather go elsewhere. They do have a Tim's in Port Huron, MI and when I'm there, I never enter( unless I need to use the bathroom). We grew up with Duncan Donuts so that would get my vote!!

Every year I attend the Eg Heartland Gathering. I'm famous for my fig jam which I always bring to pair with the cheese platter. The jar I brought this year was my last jar so I thought I'd better make some for next years( bigger, badder) event in Chicago. I havent seen figs in our small town so I picked up a pint in Michigan at Meijer. It was $2.00. Of course, wouldnt you know that our town's grocery store( Independent, part of Loblaws) has a case of figs on sale for 5.99 or a pint for 1.99. If they have a case, I'll be making a lot more fig jam today Anyway, I made this 2 weeks ago. Figs are high in pectin so I never use commercial pectin. I use a little bit of allspice, cinnamon and ground ginger. I used about 1/2 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of apple juice. This batch only gave me 1.5 pint jars. I processed 1 jar and refridgerated half a jar. chopped spiced mixture boiling 1 jar

I usually get thin 8 slice, with my American sandwich tastes, but 4 slice is marvelous for the best French bread EVER. ← I used to get 8-slice when I lived in Japan, for frugality's sake. And sometimes "pan no mimi" if I was really broke. ← I usually get "8-slice" shokupan, too. It's only that "4-slice" shokupan is hard to come by, and I just had to grab it. ← I wonder if it is a regional thing? Where I am the 4 slice and 6 slice are sold everywhere, the 8 slice is the hardest to find. I can find it most times but 2 or 3 times out of 10 I end up with the 6 slice instead. I really love the 4 slice but am just too frugal... ← How much do each of them cost?

At first I thought this topic was about a german guy who is employed as a dishwasher working in France. LOLOLOL

I visited that same store last September and I thought the same thing. I actually couldnt believe it was a D&D. I'd never been in one before and I guess I expected a lot more. I left empty-handed( rare for me)...

WHAT? ← I agree!! I've mentioned it to them numerous times, but they just dont give a crap. In regards to the service, I will say this. I was there in May and I wanted a 1/4lb of lox. I asked the older gentleman behind the counter for exactly that and he gave me an eyeroll and a big sigh. I said to the other dude behind the counter" excuse me, whats with the eyeroll and audible sigh. The dude told me to just ignore the guy, he said give him a break cause he's old!! Puhlease. The measly 1/4lb cost me almost 9 bucks. It was good though!! I understand the attitude because I grew up around it, but still, it wasnt pleasant. Oh and there Black and Whites are notorious for being stale. I always ask if they're fresh and when they were delivered. The bagels are so freaking good. I forgive the attitude for the bagels.

I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale and I have fond memories of the Rascal House. I'm sad that its gone. I love Sage Deli, but its more for bagels/breakfast early lunch food. There bagels are really great, they've won a few awards. I'm not a fan of their matza ball soup though. They put spagetti in it which to me is just plain wrong. I don't eat red meat, so I havent tried their pastrami or corned beef,but I've heard its good. They're a Kosher style deli so no bacon/pork products are to be found. My SO is very fond of their turkey sausage though.

But it is food related because you'd probably want to wear that coat to one of your dinners at Frontera Grill, right?

Our small town library has a decent cookbook section. I'll try to take pics next time. I usually use the interlibrary loan or the out of county loan. Out of county usually takes me to Toronto and they have loads of books. The head librarian once scolded me though because I was requesting too many books from out of county. She told me it costs 50 bucks each time I request a book. I was somewhat appalled that she had the nerve to scold me.

NO!!!

Would you define "good"? Good as in good price? Good atmosphere? Good taste - even a hole in the wall? Good as in Americanized good or the Chinese locals good? Also, are you looking for: Dim sum? Cantonese seafood dinner? Sichuan? Shanghai? Most of the Chinese population (and thus "good" Chinese restaurants) are within the SF city and along the south peninsula, not in the Marin County. Looks like you may need to cross the Golden Gate Bridge in search of good Chinese food. There are a few Chinese restaurants in Sausalito but I haven't tried them. ← Good prices, I dont care about the atmosphere( as long as its clean). I already have reccomendations for Dim Sum, I'm looking for the kind of Chinese food I grew up with( New York Style). I'm sure that is Americanized, although I'd try authentic. No Sichuan, I have no tolerance for spice. I was hoping to find someplace in Chinatown

Are you going to tell us what cabinets you bought? ← We bought them thru the KD, they're called Luxor and the company is out of Quebec. Please, if anyone has bad experience with them, don't tell me. We got maple cabinets with a glaze. You can find a picture here.

Where can we get some good Chinese in Chinatown? We're staying in San Raphael, but plan to travel into the city at least 5 out of the 7 days we'll be there.

You got 16 ga, she got 16 ga. You got 30" x 18" bowl, she got 29-1/2" x 16-1/4". She paid $210, you paid...? You dismiss all kitchen designers based on experience with 2? Nice. ← Holy moley that Franke sink is about 1,300.00!!

I was having trouble deciding on a faucet. The one I wanted( Kohler Vinnata) is almost $400.00, and I'm sorry but I think that is a ridiculous amount of money for a faucet. I ended up buying this delta Leland. I wanted either a brushed nickel or stainless finish and thats what I got. I also bought it on ebay for about $50.00 less that I've seen it elsewhere. I've spent an insane amount of time on Gardenweb and I've seen many pictures of it installed( and with the same sink I bought). It looks nice and its not going to break the bank( not like the cabinets!!)

Great cook-off Kerry Here is my favorite Coconut cream pie. Its from Cook's Illustrated. The crust is made from animal crackers.

What are the mulberry leaves stuffed with?

So exciting!! Our cabinets are being installed Oct 17-19th. We're still deciding on granite/flooring/paint. I'll start a thread when our teardown takes place.

Geoff, How is your kitchen project coming along?