Maison Rustique

Thanks, Katie Nell! Yes, I do know BoBo's, but not the others--haven't been to Topeka in about 2 years. I love Topeka!! My sister and her husband think I'm nuts, but I just think it's a cute little city!

Yes, please talk about all of these places. I've just booked my trip to KC for mid-October. I'll be looking for new places to try*!! *Including Lawrence and Topeka--my sister lives in Topeka and I'm sure we'll be back and forth.

What happens to the cheese that melts and runs out the bottom of the sandwich?

I 'm not familiar with your area, but if you can find a nice Ethopian restaurant that does the elegant coffee service after dinner, your date will be soooo impressed. These places are usually not expensive.

← I haven't ever tried it, but somewhere I have a recipe for a homemade version. If I can find it easily enough I'll post it later.

I thought the new restrictions prohibited food of any sort, but I may be mistaken.

Sorry! I just really hate the traffic these days.

Harumph! I'm putting in a vote for Orange County!

I've never tried Metromint water, but I did buy a bottle of organic peppermint extract at Trader Joe's and sometimes add a drop (it doesn't take much!) to my glass of water. Very refreshing!

It's a bit southwest of Pasadena, but you can't leave SoCal without having a date shake while overlooking Crystal Cove. The Shake Shack was recently sold to the Ruby's chain, but I understand that they inherited the old recipes.

You didn't call and ask? I would have! Guess that's just me... I've had strange things happen with take-out and always let them know--which-ever way it went--my favor or theirs. If it was your restaurant/franchise and someone was messing up orders, wouldn't you want to know? I'm not in the restaurant biz, but I'd most certainly want to know about a problem in whatever business I happened to be in.

u.e., sadly I think the weather is roughly the same throughout the country. We had our coolest day in some time today--high of around 85. Plus our humidity is creeping up there, too. I'll not turn this into a global warming/what-in-the-world-will-we-do thread. Just know that it's not a whole lot better here near the Pacific Ocean than it is there. If I can work it out (work-wise), I'd love to come back there in late October--my favorite time of year!!!

Sorry, I refuse to visit the mid-west at this time of year, so can't tell you about markets. Just got an invitation for a high school reunion in August. I only come to Missouri in August if someone dear to me is dying. Now mind you, I'm usually only there at Christmas time these days and that's not my favorite time either! I'm a Spring/Fall mid-west visitor!!!

I'd try the place in the River Market area--Planter's, I think it's called--haven't been there in so long I can't remember! I think it's on 5th Street.

I'm a SoCal person (non-native, born in KCMO and moved around from mid-west to Boston and SoCal) and don't know much of what you just saw/experienced out here in the Northern areas. My only comment can be that if you weren't aware, Watsonville was nearly completely destroyed by an earthquake around 15-20 years ago. Being a small community to begin with, I'm sure it has taken quite some years to rebuild the area. Especially since it's not a "hub" anyway.

I'll be living vicariously through this thread. I adore limas but am the only person in my family who does. Even mixed with something, they will not be touched by my husband.

I know nothing about the restaurant biz in that area. I do live in southern California and have 2 step-daughters in the San Francisco area and many friends up that way. You say you're from the east coast, but that's as much as saying you're from the west coast. My advice before you start to seriously pursue a job in this area is to make sure you understand the cost of living out here. And I mean that seriously. Please check into it before you start looking for a job. Your salary requirements will depend/vary on the area you move to. I hope that didn't come across as too negative--just want to make certain you're aware. Best of luck to you in your career, whichever coast/state you find yourself.

Check your PMs!

If I may, I'd like to suggest you contact my friends, Clay & Fredericka Thompson of Claiborne & Churchill Winery. They are very interested in food as well as wine and know lots of like-minded folks around the area. If there is such a group, they'd surely know of it. If not, they may be interested in helping to start one. Please let me know how it goes. We don't get up there as often as we used to, but still enjoy visiting and attending various dinners at the winery.

Great job, Oli!! I intend to make this and hope that (as a non-baker) I can do even half as well! And waving "HI" to Kit who is much too scarce around here these days! When are getting together again?

What sort of distance/area are you talking? The Pacific Coast Highway goes the length of the state. And congrats/best wishes to you both.

Our own eGulleter, Kit Williams, makes killer croissants. I'm just not sure where they are available now. Kit? Are you reading?

I'm not there to help (well, I could be maybe...), but I'd like to suggest Kansas City. I know there are some KC eGulleters who would help!

The ones we grew ourselves--but that's been a long time!

Congrats, Chris!! I'm sure it will be a hit!!