August 18, 2008
The Linkery - photo courtesy of Bonzo McGrue, San Diegan, foodie, and traveler.
We’re having a fabulous time here in San Diego. I’ve been pleasantly buoyed by the growing food scene here.
And yet…it puzzles me.
San Diego has long hovered in LA’s shadow, not quite fully grabbing the baton of the west coast city relay (if I may pull an olympic on ya). That’s all changed in the past few years. And in one way, they’ve surpassed my hometown in flying colors.
August 15, 2008
This is a shot from the Cowgirl Creamery up in Point Reyes Station from our trip to Sonoma back in May- yet another past travel post that needs doin'
Greetings! Posting will be happening more frequently once the computer situation is resolved - which should be very soon. I have so many posts to catch up on - Sonoma recap (see pic above), summer market days, Malibu wineries, Temecula wineries, brunches (they’re the new dinner party), etc. All this good fooding plus the added benefit of meeting up with some really fantastic, generous, and knowledgeable people has made it a most excellent summer, and most of it within driving reach. So much exploratory food goodness. And, to add happy to happy, the basil plants this year have drowned me in pesto. I’ve been freezing pesto cubes with glee, knowing that come winter, I’ll be able to have some pretty glorious pesto pasta. Also gearing up for some mad, mad preserving. My friend L is a farm-raised import from Indiana and has been begging me to have a good ole fashioned cannin’ in my kitchen. Going to scoop up the last of the summer’s pickling cukes, peppers, and stone fruits in a few weeks. I’m also planning a day trip out to the San Bernardino apple farms in October for a few bushels of orchard gloriola. Apple butter will happen. Oh yes.
August 7, 2008
It was Day #10 of our trip, the second to the last, and I was back at the Festival again.
A never-ending series of differently shaped clouds coasted across the building tops on a light breeze. Each seemed to pause in turn for their moment in the spotlight of a late afternoon sun. A glowing sky parade, I had thought, pausing to snap a shot. Yet another of Disney’s sideshow entertainments.
Now with something like an air of familiarity, I strolled around Epcot’s World Showcase looking for tasting booths I hadn’t been to yet.
July 31, 2008
These guys are jammin!
Oh yes, I am still alive. 
Let’s just say my summer? Fuller than my brother at a bbq. That combined with a complete home computer collapse means I haven’t had the time or the ability to post anything of merit.
HOWEVER…this one’s a no brainer. And it’s an easy quickie thing to post.
The Fallen Fruit Collective (three guys for whom I have the utmost respect for their chutzpah) is holding their annual Public Fruit Jam this weekend. Bring along your home-grown or public fruit and any clean, empty glass jars you have and voila! Big gobs of jammy goodness for all.
Details? But of course!
Public Fruit Jam 2008!
Sunday August 3
12-3pm
@
Machine Project
1200 D North Alvarado Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-483-8761
July 6, 2008
Hope everyone has had a safe and celebratory holiday weekend so far. We banged it out – pardon the pun – with family down the bay way where the fireworks aren’t illegal. My word, who knew Hawthorne was the home of the neighborhood block party fireworks extravaganza? It put some of the professional shows I’ve seen to shame. But the late night plus a flat tire in the morning meant the Pasadena market was not in the cards on Saturday. And, darn it all, it meant that I had to go to Hollywood on Sunday.
July 3, 2008
My friend A is going to Boule for cannelés today. I am riddled with jealousy. And yet really pleased with myself for suggesting it. I mentioned in my last market post that I had picked a few up at Euro Pane (my haul is pictured above) after reading a lovely little Daily Dish entry by Amy Scattergood (we like her a lot and hope that the LA Times recent layoff threats leave her unscathed). A called them up and lo, they had a few. I’ve been aching to go to Boule for a while now - there’s just never much time. I do believe, however, the time has come. My drool shall not be denied.
EDIT: Cannelés obtained. Yum achieved. Happy fourth to y’all.
July 1, 2008
See that gentleman there? The caption under the picture says, “Duck fat. Seriously.” (Actually he’s a concerned real estate investor…but for our purposes today he’s a serious duck fat advocate. It’s a much more enviable position to be in, so he might very well be grateful for it.)
I love duck fat. It has less saturated fat than butter, has a higher flash point, and browns everything from potatoes to turkey patties (pictured above) to perfection. I’ve rendered my own following these easy, step-by-step instructions from chef and culinary teacher, Amuse Bouche. The nice bonus of doing it yourself? Tasty roasted duck. Not your game? It’s now relatively easy to find. You can buy it already rendered online or at gourmet grocers like Bristol Farms.
For the rest of the bento, there’s a plethora of summer fruits including a few chunks of Mexican papaya and a mission fig.
June 29, 2008
And Tableau Vivante looked upon the porch and said, “Let there be tomatoes.” And upon finding a variety that would cope well with intense afternoon sun, there were thus laid down tomatoes. And Tableau Vivante looked upon the patio, noticed the tomatoes, and declared, “You can’t have tomatoes without BASIL!” And lo, the patio made basil. A lot of it. But one can never have too much basil. So Tableau Vivante watered the basil, smited the cabbage worms that found it tasty, and declared it good. Oh so very very good.
June 28, 2008
One of the reasons I’ve not been taking pictures at the markets was because I was missing my favorite lens. I had lent it to someone and finally got it back yesterday (woohoo!). In the meantime I had been trying to shoot with another wide angle, but it just wasn’t the same. I’ve been spoiled forever, it seems.
June 26, 2008
Creme Fraiche that is. Those are mini egg salad sandwiches up there, but I can’t stand making my egg salad with mayo - tastes like egg on top of egg with oil to me. So I use creme fraiche or a light sour cream instead. That and some salt and dill make for a really tasty egg salad sandwich. Also pictured: some Trader Joe’s Puffed Potato Chips, blueberries, peaches, cucumbers, and orange bell peppers. Egg salad, while tasty, can stink up the box and thus the neighboring foods. The little side dishes were wrapped in saran as were the chips. Everything tastes as it should and is 100% California - even the creme fraiche. I love my state.
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tableauvivante
Inspector Vino