Chris Cognac

I cant really help you on the fancy food front...But if you like trying smaller hidden treasures I can help you!..I do know some pretty nice places like the Ports o Call down at the San Pedro harbor....great views, you can watch the cruise ships sail away from your table...but I dont know if its fancy enough for what you want....Its around 25 per person, nice but not too nice if you know what I mean...We love it, but I am a pretty "average" guy...

I went to San Jose State and we used to live on food from Super Taquria on 10th street just south of campus and a small shack called Sonia's Kitchen that had the best steak sanwhich's..its at 360 8th st, cross of williams near SJSU, 408 295 5654. I took a bunch of Detectives there while at a training course a few years ago...it was still as good as I remembered!..Get one for me!

It doesnt get better than that..I don't understand a word they say (they sing in Spanish) but they make me think I am in the Yucatan, grilling my shrimp on the beach.....oh yea...it also helps me to think "marinade"...

I love to cook, and I love music!..I have always found that when I listen to some good tunes, i am more creative and therefore make better food...so what do you listen to in the kitchen. I BBQ'd to Bob Marley and Mana...but prepped to the Smiths last night. I also love to cook too the sounds of the Stone Roses and Catherine Wheel.....but if I am burning up the kitchen, its gotta be Iron Maiden or Van Halen!

Looks like a great time...is Tiki island near Galvaston?...if so, I love that area, I would move there in a heart beat.....Rain would be nice about now as its 98 dgs here in L.A.....I am in search of a backyard pool for the kids to splash in while I grill the 1.5 inch thick New Yorks that I have had soaking in Rosemary, Garlic, Onions and Olive Oil for the past 2 days.....with some cold beers, grilled garlic bread, chicken and my famous mustard and maple syrup beans...its gonna be good....but some rain would be nice too!!!

but its so fun just to rant and rave sometimes!

Thats pretty cool...will the link from my site still work?....you need to fork over some $ and get your own URL

So, I like the Food Network and watch it every night (but not Dwezil and Lisa), now I have not tasted a truffle or a piece of that fancy Goose liver in my life. I like a big juicy cheeseburger, ribs, turkey sandwhichs with lots of mayo and fries on the side....Now does that make me an idiot because I enjoy food that most of America enjoys as well. So since many of you food snobs have tasted those things and are upset that the Food Network is "dumbing down" programing, does that make you better than me? Do you spend more than I do? Why should Food Network cater to a bunch of "sophisticated" snobs who bitch and complain about everything and don't spend any money at places other than "Crate and Barrel" and the "Beverly Hills Cheese Store". Take some of that money you would spend on some foam at El Bulli and donate it to the local PBS station. Ming Tsai can make some more shows and maybe that child molester will start cooking again. You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time! So, what should I make at the hanger BBQ tonight before I go fly my whirlybird contraption? Maybe I can get some fancy food at Bristol Farms...that might make me smarter and fly better so I can make sure nobody is breaking into your house while you watch the Food Network!

I love Alejo's, but I dont think it would fit in the "cheap eats" catagory....but hey, couldnt hurt to just put it in his site....man I love that garlic olive oil!

If you want a nice steak or seafood dinner with a great view,try the Chart House in Redondo Beach....it sits right over the water and is very nice. I eat there several times a year.

Nice...looks great, must be nice to live in Napa...hey where are the photos of you guys?

OK, keep it simple folks...while there may never be an audience for an entire gourmet network..There is an audience for 1 or 2 serious shows, there is much more of a chance to get a few quality type shows for the "serious" gourmand then an entire day of programing on its own network. There is also a "middle ground" of viewers...guys like me, I can enjoy Billy Joe Jim Bob from Memphis talking about the best kind of method to smoke your ribs just as much as I enjoy Michael Chiarello doing Napa style picnic's. If you run a network you have a very tough job, you have to try to please everyone...folks it aint gonnna happen. Thats one of the first things i learned when I started writing reviews....someone is always gonna hate what you love! Edit: me spell bad! second Edit: me spl rreel badd

No, I will try to find out...Thanks for all the good feedback from everyone here!

Glad they could be put to use...I am having people e mail me cause its easier to keep track of comments when I write up the report.

Can some of you folks e mail me with specific likes and dislikes of the show. Can you also include first name, age and city you live in...Your comments WILL be seen by the makers of the show, please put some thought into them and try not to vent. Keep them to the point if you can something like I really liked the----- because, but I didnt like---- E gullet powers activate Oh yea, I am leaving right now for Disneyland and wont be back till evening so I cant answer e-mails till then

Not joking....I dont know about every match, but I was told on the set that they filmed 2 versions....Its kinda like keeping the winner of survivor a secret, they didnt want to let it out. You have to understand that if it leaked out it would have ruined the whole thing.

They filmed 2 versions with each team winning so nobody would really know who won until it was time.

I read that, she did a nice job!

its always fun to be able to do stuff like that. ...the "red glow" I have had as of late is not sunburn...just a result of being a fat bald guy and my skin gets red from my wearing my helmet in the helicopter..I flew last night till 2 am...and it was really hot in the chopper.

Try the Lobster or Toppers in Santa Monica...both have great views and good food...I would do the lobster first....I dont need to say what they have!

it is kinda funny, cause he told me that the Trout Ice Cream is something he plans on adding at his place in Japan! ...and it'll probably play there. I'm just a rube out here in flyover country =R= I asked that question to Yuki from Fuji today at the shoot....She said that she would enjoy the Trout Ice Cream...So I think its a palate thing..east vs west.

I "think" that the feedback from the e gullet threads will manage to make its way back to the people that make ICA. I think that overall I have been pleased, but like anything new it needs some kinks worked out.

What a blast, we had a group of around 12 people watch the Batali/Morimoto battle. Fuji TV was there and filmed us all watching and talking abbout the show...Plus they bought the beer and tapa's. It took place at Meditaraneo in Hermosa Beach....Muffin210 and Houseberg from egullet showed up!... Its going to be on Super News Fuji TV in Japan, around 5-6 pm Monday My friend Jeff who looks alot like Alton Brown The gang watching the show Myself and Yuki the L.A. bureau chief for Fuji TV. We met at the shooting of Iron Chef and got along well. Julia (Muffin210), "Houseberg", myself, Yuki and Dave (behind the bar) from Mediteraneo.. Gotta love e gullet!

The kid on the site is too cute...is that your daughter?

it is kinda funny, cause he told me that the Trout Ice Cream is something he plans on adding at his place in Japan!