hollywood

Maybe it's just jealousy among restaurateurs, maybe not, but those who think their cooking is better have referred to those they are comparing themselves to as "kebab cookers," meaning , I guess, that the rival's stuff is simplistic.

I've heard people use the term "kebab cooker" as a putdown.

In Los Angeles, there are Greek restaurants, Middle Eastern places, Lebanese and Medditerrean choices, but I can't think of a Turkish eatery. There are Turks though.

I'm with you on Cafe du Monde. I get a perverse pleasure in seeing the powdered sugar all over my black jeans. At Commander's, I liked the alligator soup and the bread pudding with Jack Daniels sauce, but I think you are on to something--it's so big. I find Galatoire's more inviting. Maybe for the jazz brunch? Speaking of jazz...Snug Harbor.

Do they eat any decent food in Star Trek?

I think you want The Bungalow in Corona Del Mar. 2441 E. Coast Hwy. Corona del Mar (949) 673-6585. Excellent bone-in ribeye and the seafood is very good, too.

Weren't you going to force him to appear in an Austin Powers film?

Anything less would be suicidal; anything more would get in the way of masticating. But are bandeleros still in vogue?

I find using a bar stool makes it easier to dine at a high level.

no no, i'd still like to discuss this. Haven't you perfected this? You have to demonstrate that you are entitled to VIP treatment. I know some names you can drop.

The great thing about a place like Taillevent is that it can come up with a reasonably priced excellent wine you've never heard of. The aggravating thing is you'll never be able to find the wine stateside. But they do have a cave and sell their wines.

These are non issues at Taillevent. And they speak excellent English should you find yourself tongue tied.

I feel certain that if you trust the staff at Taillevent they will be able to recommend a suitable wine, perhaps a half bottle or by the glass. They are very accomodating. Once you get over any awe re the appearance of formality, the situation is actually very user friendly. You may find their site of interest, and you may want to visit their caves. http://www.taillevent.com/english/frameset...calc2&b_1_7&5&9

Forgot about Mondavi. The Private Selection Fume Blanc (an appellation Mondavi somehow grabbed for himself in California) is very good.

Probably the third if you are counting. I can't help it if all these members force me to say the evil term.

Cakebread is good if overpriced.

Not to worry - from the Marshmallow Fluff web site: What is Fluff made from? Corn syrup, sugar syrup, vanilla flavor, and egg white. There are no artificial preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, or colorings in Marshmallow Fluff. Don't think it was called Fluff in the past. So, one making the stuff would be a fluffer?

When I was a kid we used to use some sort of marshmallow cream sold in jars. I shudder to think what chemicals were included.

I'd have to agree, but if you can't change that you will be close to the trolley which can quickly get you to Old Town where you'll find some interesting shops, some historical stuff and good food at Cafe Pacifica, 2414 San Diego Ave. 619/291-0122.

A likely sign they were not celebrities.

Unfortunately, our last meal was also uninspired. One of the things that I could always count on was the consistent first rate experience at Spago. Although the service was exemplary, the food was mediocre - a first for us. Maybe it's deworsification. Maybe it's the divorce.

Try this link for info. I think you want either Dong Il Jang or Chin Go Gae, both on 8th Street in Koreatown. http://www.laokay.com/Korean.htm

Well, Gwyneth does yoga to keep the pounds off. Orson Welles, on the other hand, never seemed to worry about his waistline. As for beef cheeks, they were a trendy item that suddenly started appearing on high end menus a few years ago, kind of the way tuna tartare showed up everywhere at once before that. And at his cafes at least, Puck loves throwing entrees atop mashed potatoes a la Splichal. I guess we forgot to ask what other celebs were there (other than you and Beachfan).

The trashy pancakes designation is probably a nod to Joachim Splichal (Patina, Pinot, etc.) who uses clever wordplay regularly in his menu descriptions. While Puck is certainly known for pizza (it was the smoked salmon pizza that put the original Spago Hollywood on the map), he's been around longer than that. Eons ago he was a wunderkind serving haute cuisine to the likes of Orson Welles at Ma Maison. Now, he's got an empire of places including various Spagos, Postrio, Chinois, Granita, Lupo, Vert, Puck Cafes, Puck Expresses, etc.