[Cali. Wine Clubs]

What/where is this Wine Club store?

Santa Ana, Santa Clara, San Francisco. http://www.thewineclub.com/

[Ice Cream Trucks]

I know we have the palateros in Los Angeles now but I haven't seen or heard ice cream trucks since I was a kid.  Do we still have them here?

Little Johnny hears the music of the ice cream truck and like Pavlov's dog runs to the music not looking for traffic. Wham. Little Johnny gets creamed. Mama comes out and sees little Johnny bleeding to death. Voila! Big lawsuit against ice cream company. Without the music, the little Johnnys don't come to the trucks. Additionally, some communities passed ordinances against the trucks. End of ice cream trucks.

[Where to eat in Paris in August?]

Not surprising. I once read an interview with Ducasse saying he loved McDonald's chicken McNuggets with Curry Sauce..

Perhaps he was being ironic?

[Where to eat in Paris in August?]

Oui, moi - but not anywhere near the dining room I'm sure! Please say a special prayer for me that day.

You got it. One agnostic-humanist prayer coming up. Coincidentally, there was an interview with the manager of the Plaza on NPR about France's take on American food. He said his 11 year old "complemented" the waiter on the food at Ducasse by telling him their fries were "as good as McDonald's!"

[Where to eat in Paris in August?]

I know for sure Ducasse at the Plaza will re-open August 18th.

I wonder who will be there then.

[Finalizing Paris plans...]

My wife and I will also be in Paris for the first 10 days of Sept. Haven't even tried making reservations. Ooops. Oh well. Rented an apartment so it looks like markets and home cooking for us.

Au contraire. There may be a convention or two in town--booksellers? fashionistas?--but still, lotsa bistros will want your biz and probably some high end spots as well. Get cracking.

[Where to eat in Paris in August?]

If you go to viamichelin.com, you can get some info. Some places are only closed part of August, sometimes into September. I believe this came up before and there was an even better site for data, but it escapes my fragile memory. Naturally, the restaurants at large hotels will be open.

[Cali. Wine Clubs]

Personally, what I would love to find is a place where you could back in a couple times a year and fill a couple 5-gallon bottles with quality table wine for cheap, but I doubt that exists.

I've done that. Unfortunately, it was in the South of France.

[Ojai, Santa Barbara and Cambria?]

Also in Montecito, San Ysidro Ranch is supposed to be a great spot, but I've never been.

Had a lovely romantic brunch at the San Ysidro Ranch once. It was a long time ago. FWIW, it's where JFK and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned.

I think that's right but somehow didn't they also honeymoon at the Hotel Hana Maui?

[first time smoker]

Each butt is going to be different and it is much more of a feel thing.

Word.

http://www.buttsacrossamerica.com/

[The great list of burger chains]

As for burgers, I might as well admit it that I think the burger is vastly overrated. For sure a good burger, a really good burger, is delicious, but then again difficult to find. None of those I've seen (or smelt) in a fast food place look anything like a good burger. Well except the ones in their advertising posters of course.

you should try the McNuggets and Filet O Fish.

Don't you find the Whaler better than the Filet O Fish?

[Where to eat in LA]

Have you been to those japanese places I was talking about?

Not yet, Pim.

[Where to eat in LA]

And to get away from just talking about Thai food.

But wait, we haven't even gotten into the pork at Yai. And you didn't mention Ruen Pair.

[The great list of burger chains]

I'm getting deja vu.  This must have been discussed on eG before. 

One of the many perks of eGullet: free deja vu.

[The great list of burger chains]

not to sound like my father, but, how do you know you don't like it unless you've tried it? 

Hypothesis: one side effect of eating fast food is that you start sounding like your parents.

[Where to eat in LA]

palms thai, which has very good food plus/despite having the thai elvis on friday and saturday nights.

Thai Elvis is one of those Devil or Angel things, I guess.

[The great list of burger chains]

They also do unlimited fountain sodas ...

Doesn't everyone do unlimited fountain sodas? Or is that a regional thing?

Not creamsicle sodas and real vanilla cokes. I think he means fountain in a handmade sense.

[The great list of burger chains]

Nope. Got introduced to the "legendary" White Spot hamburger in Vancouver (I think) in '71, which was pretty good, then found out that the chain kinda fell apart later because of some fairly heavy health problems. Since then I figured that the risk/reward ratio wasn't worth it. Fast Food Nation backed that theory up rather well. If I'm gonna eat shit it had better be tasty shit.

So, what were the health problems associated with White Spot burgers?

[Barbecue/Smoker Recommendations]

tommy's so dreamy 

It's that Birthday Boy aura.

[Where to eat in LA]

Cafe Pinot (part of the Patina chain) is one of my favorites downtown, not that I eat there very often.

Agreed. Problem is they overbook at lunch time resulting in v-e-r-y slow service in the 12:00-1:30 window.

[The great list of burger chains]

Johnny Rockets is as mediocre as Fuddruckers or Hard Rock Cafe.  If I had to choose a second place, it would be Fat Burger, since it is the closest to In-N-Out (fries aren't as good, though).

IML

b/r

You say some of the strangest things.

I dunno, Stone. Sounds right to me. In its day, Hamburger Hamlet had good burgers, but that day is gone. And it's not even on the list. What are your faves?

[Where to eat in LA]

Anyone like Patina?

Coincidentally, I drove by Patina yesterday and noticed it has one of those Relais and Chateau plaques imbedded in the wall. Not sure if this is a good thing or not.

[Where to eat in LA]

They excel at more complicate dishes that I wouldn't even think of ordering somewhere else.  Not noodle soups and pad thai, which are really considered snacks or lunch food, but serious dinner dishes, like Namprik relishes and complex salads like crispy catfish (Yum Pla Dook Foo).  The green curry and "dragon's eggs" is absolutely delicious, and not on the English menu.  The dragon eggs are made of minced fish and salted egg yolks.  Or try a Gang Som, a complex coconut-free curry with shrimps and vegetables, which is sour, spicy and delicious.

Thanks for the specific suggestions. Have you tried the other places?

[Where to eat in LA]

Jitlada's not bad but I think there's better Thai on Hollywood Blvd. in Ruen Pair, Kruang Tedd and Palms Thai.

[The "Secret" Menu of In-N-Out Burger]

Just don't ask about the Bible citations on the packaging. It's boring.