with a side of tartar sauce

 When I was growing up in Los Angeles, not only did the public school cafeterias adhere to “Fish Stick Fridays,” but it was a friday family tradition to head out to either Howard Johnson’s or the Redondo Beach Pier for fried clams. I didn’t learn the meaning behind fish on fridays until my teens, and [...]

who is a foodie?

A friend recently called me a “foodie,” which I took somewhat offense to.  I equate the term to someone who is snobbish about food, and anyone who really knows me, knows I am anything but snobbish.  While I can have somewhat refined tastes, I am just as happy eating a bag of Mickey D french [...]

teriyucky plate

What should I eat for lunch at the Bad Service, Bad Coffee cafe? The blackboard special beckoned: Teriyaki Bowl $4.95. Teriyaki Plate $5.95. Being the eternally hungry gal that I am, I ordered the plate – served without a smile, of course. Well, the tip off should have been I [...]

die happy

While there are a number of foods that I utterly adore – steamed artichokes, unagi, a good Niman Ranch steak, manchego cheese, my mom’s spaghetti, only two can actually transport me to absolute nirvana. I’m talkin’ kill-me-now-and-I’d-die-happy, food-so-good-you’re-afraid-to-eat-because-it-will-then-be-gone kind of sustenance.
Yesterday was my second visit to my friend’s restaurant – Yankee Pier in Lafayette. [...]

gusto muy bueno

Frank Bruni of The New York Times recently re-reviewed one of my favorite restaurants in NYC – Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill.
Clumsy? Maybe, but this wasn’t the impression I got when I have visited. Tired? Possibly, but familiarity isn’t always a bad thing. Mesa Grill is a fun gathering hole, definitely worth [...]

day 23

Day 23 of my No Coffee resolution. Day 23 because I started it the day after New Years. I knew I needed the extra boost on January 1, so the day following my Oshogatsu, I kicked the habit. Oh, how I miss it. I suppose I could have given up less healthy [...]

back to the old

It’s been said that you can never go back. But I did, and I loved it. Yes, I went back to the Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant where it was every bit as good as my first time (that I raved about here last month), if not better. While we did order the [...]

Kumar grows up. sort of.

Feasting on chicken tikka while watching, The Namesake (aka “that nah-may-sah-key” movie). Inhaling a veggie burrito while watching, Spanglish. Regaling thoughts of indulgence with a “Don’s Burger” while watching Year of the Dog. Good weekend, culinary wise.
I couldn’t get past Kal Pen’s Kumar character while seeing his more adult role in The Namesake. He’ll always [...]

Bourdain on the brain

Last week’s issue of The Onion had an interview with the bad boy of the kitchen, Anthony Bourdain. An interesting interview, though learned nothing new about this bawdy chef. I mentioned the article to a friend who reminded me of a story Anthony had written about in his book, “A Cook’s Tour,” when [...]

skip to my loo

How is it that, after downing two sizable mugs of Earl Gray tea (DEFCON 5), two tall Bloody Marys (holding at DEFCON 5), and numerous refills of water (increasing to DEFCON 4), I don’t have to pee until after riding the bus for 45 minutes, walking the five minutes to my house, reaching my [...]