Maison Rustique

Andiesenji, did you ever get one of the VitaClay cookers? I am dangerously close to ordering one.

I keep hoping there will be another in Kansas City. We had just moved here and planned to go to the first one, but had a flood (bad installation of a water softener) that created complete chaos for us. Workers in/out of the house for the entire week (and a very long time after, too). I was so sorry we had to miss it!

I've found this a problem in the Mid-west, too. No one seems to carry much other than one or two brands--Bacardi and whatever.

Jaymes, it has been a few years since we were there, but had a fabulous dinner at The Painted Pony in St. George, UT. And should you get that far in California and can work it in, I have a feeling you would love Noriega's in Bakersfield, CA for Basque food served family style at long communal tables. We went as often as possible when we lived in CA and haven't been for a while, but are going to try to get up that far in September when we're out there. If you plan to be in Salt Lake City, there are now numerous good places. We discover something new every year when we are there and can give you a list. Oh, and when you are in the SF area, I hear there is some heirloom bean seller that you ought to check out.

Decades ago, we had lunch at a lovely restaurant in Scottsdale (name forgotten). They had the absolutely BEST yeast rolls made with vanilla (but not sweet). I still crave them. I wish I had a recipe to offer, but have never found one. I don't know if you could just add vanilla to any old yeast bread/roll recipe and have it turn out like theirs or not.

You can buy those at many places--probably even the Dollar Store.

We'll be making the usual trip to SLC in September. Any interesting places that have opened in the past year?

We have had very bad experiences with Keurigs. We had 3 fail before the warranty was up in a year. We got free replacements, but they told us they would not replace again after 3 of them. We have stopped using it anyway due to the negative environmental impact the pods are having. And yes, I do know that you can use the ones you fill yourself. I just figure if I'm going to do that, I may as well make a pot.

What a marvelous book! Regardless of value, it would be wonderful to have in a collection.

Yes, am certain this is the case. Ours is hidden under the oven floor as well, which is why I didn't realize it was burned out.

I'd never heard of it. I just checked it out on Amazon and see that the newer version is not nearly as good as the old one. Darn!

It shouldn't be more than 10 minutes. Ours is only a couple of years old or so, but it started taking longer and longer to heat up, then just wouldn't ever reach the desired temp. Turned out that the bottom heating element was burned out and had to be replaced.

I often hold meetings in small local coffee shops. If someone shows for the meeting and walks in with their own drink (you'd be amazed how often this happens!), I ask them to please patronize the business that is allowing us to meet there. If they act like they can't afford to buy something, I buy it for them. And since the places are small, I try to pay attention to other customers and make sure we don't take up too much space that others have no place to sit. You just need to use common sense and open your eyes.

Steve, in your video I see you handling the pot with bare hands. It doesn't get hot? I haven't broken mine in yet (still have the glass-top electric thing to deal with and no diffuser yet), but was assuming it would be hot to pick up by the handles.

We recently went to a sparkling wine tasting. There was not a dinner, but lots of appetizers. The couple sitting behind us brought their young child--maybe about 4. He was bored, kept trying to talk over the wine presenter, etc. I kept turning around and glaring at the couple. What on earth goes through someone's head to bring a child to a wine tasting? If the sitter backed out at the last minute, they should have cancelled!

I got a Rancho Gordo clay pot!!

I got one for Christmas--so excited!!!

I thought the pecan pie filling in a jar sounded like it might make a good ice cream topping. :-)

I get this also, but I notice it most when I peel/prepare certain vegetables like potatoes, onions, etc. Must be something in the starch. I do have some other sensitivities to ingredients in various treatments like Vaseline, Bag Balm, etc. I use surgical gloves if I will be doing a lot (like holiday cooking), but I have discovered a hand cream that really helps. And very affordable. I can even buy it at the supermarket. Aveeno Eczema Therapy Hand Cream: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod10711261&skuId=2277204&CPMID=CSBING&CAWELAID=330000200000178102

I got an Electrolux double wall oven when we lived in California. I still miss it. It was fantastic!

Went to Club 33 a couple of times many, many years ago. Once was a party held by one of the media companies and after dinner, we had free and private access to the park. It was a great initiation to living/working in So. Calif. Agree on Napa Rose, though I haven't been there in ages either. There used to be another very nice restaurant in a hotel around there, but I can't come up with the name and it is probably gone now anyway.

Happy to hear about the naan! I think their frozen naan is generally very good. I'm overdue for a trip out there, so will add that to the list.

I really like Cook'n software. http://www.dvo.com/

My anniversary came and went--didn't realize. July 10, 2003!

Jason, I hope you will be back with more re-formulated recipes!