Gotten any fun stuff lately?

[Maison Rustique]

@blue_dolphin What fun!! Was Steve there? That area is so different since I lived in OC. I've got that place on my list to check out if I ever get back to SoCal any time soon.

[blue_dolphin]

1 hour ago, Maison Rustique said:

@blue_dolphin What fun!! Was Steve there? That area is so different since I lived in OC. I've got that place on my list to check out if I ever get back to SoCal any time soon.

That area of downtown Santa Ana is really charming. Next year, I’ll try to get tickets to more of the Encuentro events - it’s 3-day weekend of Peace, Love & Beans - and stay overnight. There was an art walk, movie screenings, panel discussions related to food and drag bingo, among other things. 

[jedovaty]

@blue_dolphin I've been meaning to visit that market, especially since discovering the relatively new Northgate market in Costa Mesa - I know Northgate is a chain, and if you've been to one, is it possible to compare the two?

[blue_dolphin]

3 hours ago, jedovaty said:

@blue_dolphin I've been meaning to visit that market, especially since discovering the relatively new Northgate market in Costa Mesa - I know Northgate is a chain, and if you've been to one, is it possible to compare the two?

I think they are quite different but I haven’t been to a Northgate, so I could be wrong.  I've always thought Northgate was a supermarket, similar to Vallarta, which has more locations in my area.

Alta Baja Market is more of a specialty shop than a supermarket. They carry some food items like heirloom beans, grains and flours, ground chiles, sauces and condiments, along with a selection of wines and spirits but no fresh produce, meat, frozen or refrigerated goods. They have a reach-in cooler stocked with beer and nonalcoholic beverages but it’s not a place you could do your weekly shopping. It’s possible they offer more than I saw as they had tables squeezed into every corner for this event.

 

That said, I think it's worth a visit. Nice selection of La Chamba and other pottery, cookbooks and other books and gift items. I thought their prices for the wines and spirits were on the high side but they are specialty items and not as widely available.  I’d like to try their cafe offerings. They host various events like cooking classes that sound appealing. 

If you go, you might pay a visit to Mr. Diablito, a fruit vendor across the street at 4th & Bush.  He made the delicious agua fresca served at our meal. 

[Deephaven]

 

Grabbed a pair of the Misen "nonstick" carbon steel nitrided pans.  Wanted something I could abuse more than my falk copper coeur pans.  They are really awesome.  My griswalds would be sold if it weren't for cornbread.  Going to try the misen and compare, but figure I'll still want the cast?

On 1/8/2024 at 6:31 PM, btbyrd said:

This holiday season brought an embarrassment of riches, and I’m feeling a lot of gratitude these days. Now that epiphany has passed and all the reindeer have landed, here’s my holiday haul:

 

 

The starter set of Chef's Presses, 

Curious how you like the sizes you've chosen of the Chef's presses.  It's time for me to order some and I am torn over getting 3 8's and an 18, 3 13's and an 8.....  what have you found size wise you like best and what would you do?

[gulfporter]

https://a.co/d/9pTQyRy

 

(eG-friendly Amazon.com link)

 

Days are getting shorter here in Tucson,  but still great dinner time grilling weather.

 

Got a solar chargeable grill light (also came with USB charging cable).  

 

Auto on/off when you lift grill hood.  Has  indicator when charge level is getting low.

 

Two lighting levels. 

 

Installation was a matter of seconds. 

 

So far, so good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vapre]

On 1/15/2024 at 2:15 PM, btbyrd said:

 

I am very pleased with them so far. The materials, build, and fit/finish are fantastic and merit the prices they charge. Though much of the Anyday mojo is in the lid, the glass bowl itself is thick and heavy borosilicate glass that's nicer than anything else I've ever had in my kitchen. I like the fact that I can pop them in the actual oven and not worry about them cracking. Their shape is designed to be picked up with oven mitts, and the external surface of the bowls has this very fine, grippy, almost bead-blasted finish. It kind of feels like the abrasive surface of a 250 grit Shapton Glass stone. Anyway, the microtexture on the outside makes the bowls nice and grippy. It's also what makes the bowls take on that patinaed look as thought he glass wasn't quite evenly frosted. 

 

All that's to say nothing of the lids, which are some of the nicest lids I've seen for anything. The gaskets just work how you want them to. Pull up to vent and cook, push down to store. The glass and metal are beautiful and the fact that they can also go from refrigerator to microwave and oven (and back again) makes the package very compelling. Prior to this, I'd been using some Pyrex bowls in the microwave with a silicone pig otoshibuta drop lid (or plastic wrap). The Anyday seems to work better (I don't know why) and it's nicer and more convenient to use and store food. Two big thumbs up for Anyday from me.

 

 

They are my favorite out of all the ones I've ever used. Lots of refinement in the details. Having a little set like that is kind of a luxury, but it is very nice to be able to match ladle size to pot size or application.

Love my Anydays, going strong 4 years.