hollywood

It's been a while, but I used to get a pretty good cold seafood plate on some flights. Usually get 3-5 shrimp and a couple of crab slaws and some salad and cocktail sauce. Edible, light, and you get served first.

It's a good movie and that's an entertaining exchange. But Leslie Brenner's book is presumably nonfiction.

Analyze this: I'll have 3 chili dogs and a frosted orange.

Rachel, There's a safety issue here. Get a batch feed type. The cover has a contact which, when placed over the opening, must meet a contact inside the disposal to start it running. The other type has a switch on the wall which turns the disposal on. But this opens up the possibility of an accident, i.e., hand getting mangled. No chance of that happening with the batch feed. Don't know if you need a disposal. Most modern dishwashers take in dirty plates and utensils. They have a disposal kinda thing in the bottom. So, if you just do a rough scrape into the trash, you can lock n load. Disposals always clog at the worst possible time (actually any time they clog is bad). You get overconfident and try and get rid of a potato or banana peel, a piece of broken wine glass inadvertently gets in the works, etc. then BINGO! everything backs up. Think about it. If you do get one, go for maximum horsepower--just like a food processor. As for grease running down the side of a house, in my experience the main source is at chimney level after burning parafin based "logs" in the fireplace. Turns black, like having your own private acid rain.

Damn. And I thought you were a fun guy.

With regard to the three tiered canape tray served to Bill Blass, rest assured he is no longer one of the greatest gourmands living. He has passed on to the great runway show in the sky. No insight as to whether the tray hastened his demise or made it more pleasurable. A little tough to ferret out the facts at this point.

lizziee, Given that clarification, I'd go with La Cachette, Spago and Yujean Kang if you get him to do a food and wine pairing for you. Another possibility would be to strike up an acquaintance with Robert Simon at Bistro 45 in Pasadena, tell him what you are looking for and see if he can deliver.

Aorora, There's been some mention of La Toque. I have no reservations in recommending this one. Ken Frank does wonderful food & wine pairings. The wine you may taste with the food may well be otherwise not available being from small sold out vineyards. Frank and his brigade have been doing wonderful things with french food for years. If you like foie gras, go.

lizziee, I'm trying to get a fix on what you mean by fine dining. Originally, I thought you meant good food and service. Then, I thought you also included a place where you could bring your own wine(s) and spend an evening. This latter criterion suggests hotel dining. Now, as you speak favorably of Bistro Jeanty as a destination restaurant, coupled with your clear admiration for New York and San Francisco, I'm inclined to think you are like Marco Polo and perhaps prefer your meals on the road. Obviously, a local restaurant can't provide the change of environment, the relief from the stress of daily activity, the feeling that you can just relax because you have nothing else making demands on your time that a vacation situation can. Given those thoughts, I think you will be stymied in finding fine dining locally.

Well, on reconsideration, not exactly. The format of the issue is SIV's favorite 7 hi ends, followed by 38 or so others (only exception would be the SGV Chinese) of the hi end sort, followed by "cheap eats, ~40 including Father's Office. I guess if I understand what you mean by "fine dining" you are limited to Bel Air Hotel, Spago, L'Orangerie, Ritz Carlton's Grill, Valentino, Patina, The Belvedere, Diaghilev and possibly Saddle Peak Lodge. Of course, situations may vary depending on who the chef is. Earlier you mentioned Chadwick. I'd say you probably want to go on a week night for a longer meal. It's not cheap and the food is good, but I don't think Ford has yet hit his stride. Thought the best part of the meal was some partially forgotten chocolate dessert. Service seems earnest but still learning.

I see what you mean. What about her "magnificient seven"?

Aurora, I think you can see why Jeanty is worth checking out. Petit Logis is a convenient, relatively inexpensive place to stay close to Jeanty.

So, by now you've had a chance to peruse Sunday's LA Times Magazine and note the 45 or so high end places Ms. Virbila deems worthy of our attention. Your thoughts?

You might check out Petit Logis. It's right down the street from Bistro Jeanty, a restaurant you will want to experience. Cheers.

Curious about Zucca. Was there a big clock or clockface? I'm told that's one of Splichal's trademarks--one in every restaurant.

No, but some of my best friends live in the Valley I actually read about it on another food site which I don't know if I can mention here.

Ipswich clams with bellies.

How about Sid's Seafood, Topanga & Roscoe in the Valley?

While it's true that Astrance and Bistro Jeanty are not the most expensive, being around $80 a head, when you factor in the transportation costs it does get pricey. And with Astrance, there's also the difficulty getting a table given the 30 day reservation policy and the fewer than 10 tables. As long as you are spending the money to get to Napa, there's always The French Laundry and Le Toque. And in Paris, well, you know the places.

This is what I find so frustrating about LA. We are often stumped about where to go - when we are in Napa, San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, Paris - it seems we never have enough time to eat at all the places we want to try or have been to in the past. >> What you find frustrating is something of a blessing to me. Since I am not rolling in disposable income, I don't feel I'm missing all that much at the high end (although I think you are overstating the case). The finds, the joy are in the middle and at the low end. First, try some lower end places. Second, drive outside the 310 area code. There's excellent Thai food. There's good Oaxacan (in fact, you can get that even in 310). The sushi's been acknowledged. And we haven't even touched on the Chinese in the San Gabriel Valley or Korean barbecue, etc. Try reading Meredith Brody in New Times. Try reading Gold & Huneven in LA Weekly (check their list of faves that appears each week). Check out the spots in Gold's book. Ignore S. Irene for a few months. There are 3 million people in this town and she's writing for (what?) 5,000 of them. With respect to the size of the city, it's currently number 2 in the US, but will be number 3 behind Chicago if the Valley foolishly secedes. There's good food here. You have to look for it, sometimes in unexpected places. Keep searchin'.

If it's buzz you want, Josie has the buzz. Add departed for the North chefs: Ken Frank. Last I heard, Masa hadn't left just yet, but as a practical matter his tariff insulates him from most diners. But there will be more. Tracht left Jozu, but I hear the new chef is good. I'm trying to recall Tracht's new spot--also gets buzz. There's Lucques. Nick & Stef's is starting to get good WOM. Shiro is actually in South Pas, so it's closer than you think. Kang just could not seem to attend to 2 spots (oddly, he was going to do his WEHO place in Frank's old Le Toque but the feng shui wasn't right). He's pretty good with Chinese fusion and has lots of good wine in Old Town. You refer to the "dining public" and here you may be on to something. Well to do Angelenos seem to have private chefs. So, maybe the good meals are when you are dining private at some mogul's place. Cheers!

How I envy you. It's all good.

Make reservations for Silver Oak and Opus if you like good red wine. Ditto Chateau Montelena (which has a cool spot for a picnic, but you have to reserve). Find the website for White Rock Vineyards. Call and make an appointment. In all likelihood, it'll just be your party and one of the winemakers. Walk through the caves. Taste the chardonnay. Taste the claret. Then, decide which, if not both, you'll want to buy. if you like champagne, Domaine Chandon has a good tour. If you want an informative winery tour (good overview) go to Robert Mondavi's tour--not far down the road from Opus. Cheers.

So, lizzie, what other spots in LA do you feel qualify as good?