dockhl

Check these out: PATE BRISEE and CREME PATISSERIE May be just what you need

maggie~ make some. you won't regret it

Me, too, but only if we are talking aolut this being a photo "in real time". snowangel, is this a current photo or not? If not, I can make a million guesses. But, if it is, where else has that kind of green on April 4? Hills=not midwest..................

Good info, all, and I'll keep it in mind for next time (if there is one ) Dinner took an unexpected turn. My friend is an educator and 'teaches teachers to teach'. She is very well known and in high demand internationally for her seminars. But BOY does she put a lot into them! So when I met up with her @ 5ish, she was exhausted and the thought of going to a "nice restaurant" where she'd get "continental" food (that she gets in varying forms in all hotels) was less than appealing. As we talked about what to eat, she kept coming back to "Middle Eastern" food, like we ate as poor college students. (She lived across the hall from me in Holland Hall, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 1969-71) As it was her birthday, we embarked on a quest Here is what I posted tonight on CH: I just had dinner at Pita Kabob tonight (2226 s mooney) and it was EXCELLENT ! Little strip center but good food, excellent staff, clean, huge portions. We had the mezza plate (hummus, baba ganoosh, dolmades, tabouleh, falafel, tzatziki, pita bread) and then chicken kabobs (I would have had lamb but my friend...can't. eat. lamb.) She also had salad and rice, both of which looked OK but why? When there is all this other good stuff to eat? BTW, the baba ganoosh was VERY smokey. Good. We sat in this funny little place for hours, and nibbled. The $$$, as you can imagine, were FAR less than any fine dining establishment around, and we took loads home. ($36 )She'll have some for breakfast before she gets on the plane to DC, and my puppies have already enjoyed some pita bread. I'll have hummus and baba ganoosh tomorrow, and tabouleh. Very cool place. I loved the staff. And the food. Go there. Keep them in business. They do it right.

Imperial Dynasty Ted~ I think it is closed I've certainly read good things about Vintage Press. Is it dressy? (silly me, this IS California....) But seriously, do I need to dress or is nice casual OK? (Not sure what clothes my friend has with her...)

Thanks ! No chains........ Do you live in the area? I get the impression there is a rather large population from Laos? Hmong?

As far as I can tell there is nothing on this board about Visalia, a place I've never been. I just found out that my good friend is there today so I'll be driving over to have dinner with her. She likes Thai/Asian type cuisines, and since it is her birthday I figure I'd let her pick ! That having been said, we are open to all suggestions. I'd also love to hear if there is anything else I should be looking for while I am there. Ethnic markets? Too early for strawberries? I'd love to make a day of it. Thanks for your help~ Kathy

This thread is a gem, thank you Maggie ! And hearty thanks to all of you who are linking to or providing recipes. It kind of is the point of this type of thread, isn't it?

Here's the one I made; I was very happy with it . SCOTCH BROTH SOUP

Ditto to not using prepared soups much, so I have no idea of it is available around here but I loved it, too, in my childhood. (And Pepper Pot with tripe !) I made some a few months ago with lamb (no mutton to be found) and it was DELICIOUS !

OMG ! I wish I'd thought of that !

So it is or isn't a tomato? I'm confused. When you grow your own does it taste like a tomato (if it isn't) ?

Good dishes, which was (finally) nice to see. *Almost* everyone's looked edible! Nice exit, Manuel. Not great food, but nice exit. How about Dense Ryan talking to poor Mark? "He started talking and all I heard was wah....wah....wah" and "He's from New Zealand, or New England, somewhere...." Mark: To Kill a Mockingbird? Ryan (completely confused): Dumb and Dumber was one of my FAVORITE movies... (YA THINK??)

Thank you for not giving it away to the Left Coasters !

They definitely are. I have a burlap TJ bag with bamboo handles (vintage!) that has a place for three bottles of wine. These fold flat if you don't need them. When I shop there, the cashier always manages to fill it perfectly to the top, well balanced and organized. Sometimes I need another bag, but only if there is NO MORE ROOM in the first ;-)

I thought I was the only other person in the world that owned that book ! Haven't tried the recipe. Is there any legal way to give us a gander at these recipes? Or do we need to just google the hell out of them and hope that something turns up?

Hoo boy. Here we go again; again the major question is, "Did you taste this food?" Alright everybody, dig deep in the winecellars. Now we have Tuesday AND Wednesday nights to play the the TCDG (Top Chef Drinking Game)

God, YES ! (Ditto.... ) What time?

I asked at a small Italian restaurant if their salmon special was fresh. "Yes, it is", was the reply. "Is it farmed or wild?" "I'll ask the chef." She came back and said, "The chef says the salmon is from the ocean." Huh?

Andrew. Twitching and vibrating. WHAT is the deal??

Trader Joe's has a drawing 1X/month for a $25 gift certificate. When you bring your own bag, you get an entry.....

FG~ You have just hit on one of my biggest pet peeves ! Almost always, I ask the baggers to put things in as few bags as possible and get looked as if I'm some sort of Commie subversive . Yesterday I bought three things...two went into the 1st bag and as she reached for the 2nd I said, "Please , the fewer bags the better. Just put it in here with the others." She did and then attempted to DOUBLE BAG IT !! It makes me crazy. I have to say that when I go to Trader Joe's about 85% of those entering have their own bags, and there is a sign on the door that says, "Did you remember your bags?" I need to make more of an effort to bring my own bags to the regular grocery store.

I don't eat white carbs, period. (Except a little rice sometimes when making one of Ah Leung's yummy dishes!) As for whole wheat....I can eat whole wheat breads but pasta......... Whole Wheat Pasta thread I think they taste like dirt. Now THAT is a disgusting thought! (Plz don't take personally )

Scrambled Eggs? Two hours? Tasty? (Looks good tho... )

Moses, welcome ! Stunning.