Chris Cognac

Flay by a point in presentation.

OK, I was wondering what exactly are the "signs" that one is a foodie? When you plan your vacation around places to eat, and not things to see! You get "excited" when you discover that the beat up little market on the bad side of town sells handmade empanada's....no longer are you scared to drive to that part of town. When all your friends call you to decide where they want to eat.

He has always been a very nice guy when I have spoken to him. His kitchen staff at Mesa vegas seamed to like him alot as well. Bobby is not boring on TV, he provides entertainment and stuff for "us" to talk about. I am telling you, have watched him cook in person a couple of times and having eaten his food, the man can cook and he knows how to make food look good!

Now you should go to Quality Seafood on the bottom part of the pier area....near the underground part of the arcade....good stuff!

I spent many days hanging out at Sano and Trestles, when I usd to work at the Chart House in Redondo Beach we would get up and surf our heads off get really sunburned and then go work making great food, still covered in sea salt from the ocean. There was actually a room at the restaurant where employees kept the surfboards. Surfer food is stuff that does not need to be eaten with knife and fork and can be consumed while doing a "surf check" of the local breaks. Pedro's Taco's in San Clemente was a must after any long session at Sano. They have fish taco's, tasty beef burrito's with tons of awesome hot sauce....man I could tear those up. Teriyaki is a must as well, after an early morning session in manhattan beach you could head down to the Beach Hut and get a chicken teri plate witth eggs, rice and some grilled Kings hawaiian bread....on man....that was the life..... Its been years since I have had the pure joy of times like that....on my days off, my wife works and I am on kid patrol....getting older, balder, fatter...it sucks! I have made a vow that I will start surfing again this summer when it gets warmer....we will see!

Great thread and it looks like you guys had a great time! Makes me want to get a good hot dog, but I dont want to go to Pinks which is pretty much one of the only places out in L.A. to get a good dog. You guys pretty much got us beat in the Hot Dog Dept thats for sure!

I grew up and still live in Torrance and lived on "surfer food" ie taco's, teriyaki bowls and anyting else you could get and eat fast while on the wway to or from a surf trip. I got older, married and had kids while working in a very diverse community as a young police officer. I began a long standing love for small family run places run by immigrants that often served amazing food but were overlooked by most people that did not dare venture into those neighborhoods, I began writing my newspaper column witth those places in mind a little over 2 yrs ago. I feel great that I have been able to expose people through my column to places they would not go to unless they were "told" about them. I love to cook almost anything except fish and my skills have improved greatly from my youth. I now consider myself a pretty good "home cook" but nowhere near the caliber of a decent chef. my mantra of food, eating annd writing is to look for the clues that lead me to good food, just like I follow clues and evidence in tracking down crooks....

I agree, I have eaten at Mesa Vegas and it was great. I understand that Bayless was demanding that everyone on set refer to him as "Chef" and he was the only one to do that during the shooting of the show.

Bison Tacos with Cojita cheese and cilantro corn relish w lime!

Just cracked a bottle of this and must admit its got some nice flavor. Not harsh and has a nice finish without to much bite. I didnt know that Argentina made wine (showing my lack of knowledge) but its not bad. Anyone had this before and what are your thoughts? Also...what the heck is a Malbec? Its taste sort of like a Merlot.

Could you guys e mail the questions to me, so I can put em in a folder to send....I also need your names to go with the question...there is an e mail at the bottom of the column http://www.dailybreeze.com/rave/articles/1348451.html

Hey, how about some questions for these guys folks...If you have production questions, they are for Bruce...otherwise send me stuff to ask Bobby.

Thought I would let you guys know, I have gotten Flay, Batali and Producer Bruce Siedel to agree to answer a few ? each week from the readers of my newspaper column. I know you guys dont live in the same place as I but thats the best part of the "net". You can read the column online at www.dailybreeze.com (Rave section) and e mail me from the link there, I will try to get any eG ? answered. Chris

Muffin210 is going to Hawaii, we have to wait till she gets back, and then Yuki from FujiTV has to go cover the Michael Jackson (he is so guilty) trial for Japanese news...we might be able to slide between those dates....we will see....who would have thought it would be so hard!

Check out the Gardena Bowling Alley for some off the best Hawaiian food around. Its on Vermont, just south of the Hustler casino. The best Portugese sausage, bacon fried rice, loco moco...and great saimin and ramen as well as tempura...

I second the Gardena recomendation....come to the South Bay for some good casual beach eateries....as well as some good mexican and other stuff....its ethnic and low budget thats the best...

Well...opinions are like.....you know....everybody has one. I love Iron Chef America and have gotten to see it produced first hand and it was an awesome experience. I have also seen the first new episode with Bayless and Flay. Those guys are both amazing chefs and i dont think anyone will be disspointed in it...at least none of us Morons! Welcome to eGullet!

We will see...when Muffin210 gets back from Hawaii we will set a date and Yuki from FujiTV can make the reservations.....I thought we were going to be able to get Alton to come, but he has to fly to Texas after her book signing.

I voted for him a few days ago...he was the best one.

How about "The Gut Hut"-fast food take out tripe and menudo

umetaro, welcome to eGullet...great avatar by the way...yes its still going to happen. I dont know how many seats we will be able to get, might be the end of the month. Myself and Muffin210 are working on it....

I j ust discovered the pleasure of Wasabi chips...dunked in Ranch sour cream dip...its so hot, yet so cool!

I have not had them yet, but I will get a "sample" to check out before they come out....Yea, that does sound like a great flavor....Smokey Bacon would work too!

Well....I just found out a guy I know is the Tims rep for the L.A. area.....and he just dropped off a case of different stuff for me to try....Woo Hoo!....and he told me about the new "Luau BBQ" that will be coming out soon to go with the Maui Onion and Hawaiian...oh yea baby!