Carolyn Tillie

So an amendment to my request is that I now have to have a brunch-like business meeting in Carlsbad on Sunday (alas, no La Jolla this trip -- unless I go on Saturday instead of wandering up the 101). I've been looking at either Bellefleur (ugh, a carving station for Chrissakes!) or the Four Seasons Aviara. If anyone has experience with either of these or any other stunning suggestions... Actually, my business contact is coming from Escondido so I suppose I could look for any place between Carlsbad and Escondido for a reasonably nice locale, allowing me enough time to eat and then travel back to catch a 4:00 pm plane (returning a rent-a-car in that process).

My Hawaiian godmother's secret ingredient in her fried rice was beer; I can still see her now -- drinking Hamm's (of all things!) while adding the eggs and scallions to the rice. Half a can of beer was the final ingredient to get it all sticky and gooey and it was luscious.

Cafe Chloe is, indeed, open on weekends but they only do brunch and dinner. Check out their brunch menu, it's short. I forgot all about it but Meritage in The Lumberyard does a nice job and they've got some very pleasant outside dining. After lunch you can walk a couple doors down to Chuao Chocolatiers for dessert, their chocolates are outstanding. ← Chuao was one of the reasons I wanted to go back to the Lumberyard and I've dined at Meritage for dinner -- several years ago when I still worked in the wine industry. Glad they are still around. Do you remember - there used to be vegan restaurant across the street and south a way? 25 years ago, it was the first place I remember serving fresh juice (raspberry!) in a carafe and they had the most amazing mushroom stroganoff...

Kalypso - what a great line-up! Cafe Chloe looked really good but (sadly) appears to not be open on weekends. I will probably end up driving up the 101 corridor, skipping La Jolla and PB to head towards the Del Mar square and the Lumberyard in Encinitas. When I was growing up in Oceanside, I would bike down as far as I could (usually just beyond Del Mar) so those are the little communities I want to re-visit. I used to snorkle at Swami's Beach below the Self-Realization Fellowship and there are some antique shops around there I like (and a great yarn store). Then there is the square in Carlsbad, as well. Heading straight to La Jolla on Sunday is appealing so Tapenade and Nine-Ten might be my best Sunday option. I'll report back, undoubtedly! Also, Beach Grass Cafe *might* have been it although that was 10 years ago and I don't have a clue of a name. It was just unusual and fabulous...

Swicks, I remember The Cheese Shop! I'll probably want more than a mere sandwich as I am anticipating the food at the reunion to be really, really bad. I guess what I want is a Piret's but, alas-alas, that is no more. I nice bistro lunch that will give me something substantive for the entire day (at least for Saturday). For Sunday, I seem to recall a really fabulous breakfast joint somewhere in Encinitas or Leucadia that might enable me to eat lighter that day. It will be nostalgic for me as I lived in San Diego for my formative eating years...

What if they haven't shown up after three hours???

I've been reading through this whole thread -- so many new places since I lived in San Diego! As it happens, I am flying in next week for a quick, over-night reunion. Flying in Saturday morning (long enough to find a good place for lunch) before driving to Carlsbad for said reunion. Turning around and flying back early Sunday evening (long enough to find a good place for lunch). In my old days, I would head to Ichiban in Hillcrest before going to Karen Krasne's Extraordinary Desserts place for a slice of cake down on 5th. It has been over a dozen years since I lived in the area and would welcome suggestions for lunch. Ida Bailey's in the Gaslamp used to be a favorite for me as well for lunch...

An hour, tops.

TJ, file for unemployment anyway. At least in California, while you will get denied payments initially, if you are still unemployed after six weeks, then your unemployment insurance kicks in and payments start coming in. I don't know if it is the same in other states, but just because you quit, it doesn't mean you don't qualify for unemployment -- it just means you may have to wait for it to kick in for a while.

Mine's a toss-up between the Salvador Dali cookbook and Ranhoffer's Epicurean. But I envy you your first edition Brillat-Savarin!

Bin 8945.

From my experience, TFL is closer to $500 with wine (more because of the supplements). I have done both Cyrus and Manresa and those are closer to $250 out-the-door (pairings + tip).

This is sad because the row is very tasty ← I think you mean "roe." But I agree!

Muffaletta sandwiches; salami, mortadella, artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers, fresh basil, and olive tapenade. You can get a long batard or larger baguette, slice off the top third, scoop out the inner bread, replacing it with all the ingredients; mush it down and keep it whole until you get to the picnic - then slice and serve!

Yep. Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party". Wiki on Judy. The writing of clues is difficult , isn't it. ← See! I *knew* someone would get it as soon as I added another clue! Carrot Top - can you think of another way I could have provided a clue to that piece? 39 Influential Women, maybe?

BTW, here is a perspective that I just remembered... <and excuse the slight rant> When I was catering professionally in Los Angeles, in between gigs I would often have friends over to experiment with on new dishes or simply to throw a lavish meal for the fun of it. I realized after some time that most of these friends rarely reciprocated and I was getting a chip on my shoulder (the Emily Post in me and all that...) Finally, one of my friends said something like, "Gosh, Carrie, we'd have you over but we can't serve you anything nearly as good as you cook for us!" I responded that it was the thought that counted and that I had received so little reciprocation that I would be willing to eat rubber - you know, it is the thought that counts. This particular couple's husband was going blind and through the Braille institute, learning to set-up and utilize his kitchen; essentially being taught to cook from scratch. They invited us over for dinner and he prepared the entire meal himself, sans sight. Being Japanese, he prepared an especially interesting dish of skewered glutton; jokingly telling me that I said I would eat rubber. It was actually really tasty and one of the most memorable meals I've ever had! Lesson learned: Don't discount inviting a chef to dinner because you think you can't please him/her. The comraderie, friendship, and effort means infinitely more than how the food tastes.

The closest I can come is eleven men in foppish collars and big hats. And though it is proclaimed a feast, there is no food being shown except for what looks like some cucumber slices and dried-out bread. The guy on the bottom right is holding his tummy as if it hurts. Maybe they already ate and it wasn't too good. ← Okay, okay... I'm getting pleas for clues but I have a feeling that my single clue will give it away: 28. 39 women in a triangle.

A new one: 28. 39 women.

I invited over a noted food personality known for her knowledge of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and French creations. I prepared an extensive multi-course Japanese feast that included okonomiyaki. It was a hit.

DVS is right - Sausalito and San Rafael are way too far away. I would also suggest that Petaluma and Point Reyes are also too far away. Sonoma is your best bet and DVS made some great winery suggestions as well... (okay, the fact that I used to work for Ladera does not influence me at all!)

I think putting out a tip jar is really, really offensive. On the other hand, the last weekend winery job I had was incredibly lucrative for me on privately-handed tips. We had one manager who was okay with us receiving tips. She was replaced with someone who was adamant no one accept a tip. It was an odd thing because the tips I received were often because I was obviously working hard to help the clients and taste them through a product and the tips were usually very large because the guest knew I was going a bit above and beyond. There were days when I was leaving the tasting room with an extra $100 in my pocket. When the new manager realized how lucrative my tips had been, she "reconsidered" and said we could have a tip jar and everyone would share the tips. That's when I left as she thought everyone should share in my hard work when others were just there to socialize and drink. An isolated story, but part of it has taught me: If someone -- anyone -- gives me exceptional service in any industry, I will personally tip them. Privately and discreetly.

Yes, check with your state. This happened to me in California where bouncing a payroll check is against the law and the employee definitely has recourses (in some cases, receiving some of the penalty payments, etc.)

Fabulous job! I thought mine were pretty hard and you got four out of five of them!!! Kudos!

Okay, I'll add clues to help with mine: 18. 1563 and there are four people in the scene. 19. Stylistically, this painting exists in an almost exact duplicate except that fruit replaces the vegetables. 20. This painter did a Lean Version. 21. The top-half of this picture is more about the internal architectural motifs of the period. 22. An 18th century British printmaker did a mezzotint print reproduction of this painting.