I dropped by Whole Foods this morning to pick up a coffee and a scone (you gotta try the one with whole grains and dried fruit, yum) and to my surprise I saw fresh figs! And since I am a food dork, I got very excited. Fig Season is my favorite season!
I know with fresh figs there are the 2 schools of people, the ones who love them dearly and the others who can't stand them. Too bad for those in the latter school. We are so lucky here in SoCal b/c fresh figs don't travel well, and most grown in the U.S. are from California.
I have been known to help myself to fresh figs from neglected neighborhood trees (it's great when the fig tree owner doesn't like them!). Last summer I actually made a map of where all the fig trees are in my neighborhood. I know, dork. But I found at least 6, and those are just the ones that I can freely access without trespassing (too much).
Since those who love figs already know what to do with them I won't delve into any suggestions or recipes. But my favorite way to eat them is wrapped with Prosciutto di Parma.
Yay, summer is here!
New Whole Foods Market is Disneyland for Foodies!
My friend said it first, and it's true: the new Whole Foods Market on Sepulveda and Rosecrans in El Segundo is like Disneyland for foodies! She told me it was bigger than the Whole Foods in Torrance, so of course I asked her, "ok, but is it bigger that the Whole Foods in Alexandria, VA?" (we've both been there, too). And she said yes. Oh my gosh, it can't be true! And even thought I am dedicated to the Torrance store I knew I'd have to get to the new store soon. Well, it is amazing! You walk in and the store just goes on forever. My first thought was "there's no way I have enough time to see it all." Like someone who likes to go to the mall, I could spend the day shopping at Whole Foods. So they have a "bar" for everything: coffee, tea, seafood, bbq, pizza, gelato, chocolate, wine, Asian foods, and on and on. It was so much to take in that I just couldn't decide what to eat for lunch. I settled for the pizza bar and the pizza was outstanding - thin crust, simple ingredients. Then a bit of gelato. The lemon had the perfect tang. Yum-o! It was hard to leave, but I will certainly go back soon.
Since my visit there I have been back to the Torrance Whole Foods (I am there about once a week b/c it's very close to where I live) and I was so sad. It's like the Torrance store is so little and lacking. I almost wish I hadn't visited the new store.
Since my visit there I have been back to the Torrance Whole Foods (I am there about once a week b/c it's very close to where I live) and I was so sad. It's like the Torrance store is so little and lacking. I almost wish I hadn't visited the new store.
Keurig Coffee Machine in Ortho Office = Ortho Worth Every Penny!
I love going to our orthodontist. My kids might not. But as they get their braces tightened I get to enjoy a soothing hot cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea. A single cup made right on the spot. Our orthodontist has this Keurig coffee machine that makes ortho appointments something to look forward to. With this amazing machine there are even choices: French roast, Kona, decaf. Or teas like Earl grey, peppermint, green. This machine is pure magic. I pop in the "pod" of my choice and in about 25 seconds I have a hot cup of the yummiest coffee ever.
Along with the incredible selection of current magazines and today's local newspaper I could hang out in the waiting room all day.
"What son, you're done?" "Are you sure?" "I think your braces might not be quite tight enough."
I don't think I can ever let my kids get their braces taken off.
Along with the incredible selection of current magazines and today's local newspaper I could hang out in the waiting room all day.
"What son, you're done?" "Are you sure?" "I think your braces might not be quite tight enough."
I don't think I can ever let my kids get their braces taken off.
4 Stores and I forgot the Fennel
My cooking day yesterday was a long one. I visited 4 stores and still forgot the fennel. The dishes I made were awesome though. My clients selected a fantastic menu. Of course being the connossiour of great food at great prices I had to visit as many grocery stores as possible to get all the best stuff at the best prices. (with the local price of gas at about $3.09/gallon is this really wise, I ask myself?) Oh well. My clients are worth it. So Trader Joes is always my first stop. I can usually get most of my dairy, fresh veggies and any pantry items there. Plus the free mini cup of coffee and sample of Toffee Cereal is a serious draw. Have I mentioned how much I love going to Trader Joes at 8am? Oh my, it's like heaven. I can be in and out of that store in 20 minutes flat! And that includes getting my coffee and yummy sample plus having a quick chat with the very cool and friendly checker. Plus I really dig the way they load the bags. Double paper, loaded full. The fewer bags the better, that's my motto. It's amazing - they can fit a whole cart full of groceries into 2 bags! Take that same cart of groceries to Vons and you will walk out with 59 bags containing 1 item each.
So after Trader Joes it's off to Sams (oh I do keep a cooler with a blue ice in the car to load in all the perishables). Sams is great for meats. Plus from 7 to 10 am (for business members only) they have hot coffee and a pastry of some sort just for us. Oh those poor regular members don't know what they're missing.
Then a quick jaunt into Vons. I hate that store. And I only went because I needed some clam juice and you can't get that at Trader Joes. Yet anyway. So Vons is almost done with a recent remodel. What a pain in the kabootie. I remember the last time they remodeled. I swear it was less than 10 years ago. My theory is that they have to do it often enough so you don't know where anything is and you are forced to zig-zag your way back and forth across the store trying to find what you need. And there is this girl that works there that is so incredibly annoying. I don't go to Vons much, but I know to steer clear of her. She wanders the aisles asking customers if they are finding everything ok, and when the customer replies with "yes," this girl says in the most annoying, much-to-cheery, high-pitched voice: "faaaaaaaaaaaaabbulous". Ugh. Yesterday, after I overheard her a few aisles over I was determined to avoid her at all costs. I had to zig-zag a little extra, but it was so worth it.
By now I decided it was time to take the food home and use the bathroom. All that coffee you know.
Then back out the door to Randy's Farmers Market. Another great store. Tiny. Friendly. Close. Great prices. And they are starting to have a few organic items. In addition to the Italian parsley, fresh basil, tomatoes, lemons, oranges and green onions I needed for my client I picked up some organic gala apples for only 99 cents a pound! By now I remembered I needed fennel. Bummer. None available at Randy's yet.
I guess I have to go back to Vons.
Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbulous.
So after Trader Joes it's off to Sams (oh I do keep a cooler with a blue ice in the car to load in all the perishables). Sams is great for meats. Plus from 7 to 10 am (for business members only) they have hot coffee and a pastry of some sort just for us. Oh those poor regular members don't know what they're missing.
Then a quick jaunt into Vons. I hate that store. And I only went because I needed some clam juice and you can't get that at Trader Joes. Yet anyway. So Vons is almost done with a recent remodel. What a pain in the kabootie. I remember the last time they remodeled. I swear it was less than 10 years ago. My theory is that they have to do it often enough so you don't know where anything is and you are forced to zig-zag your way back and forth across the store trying to find what you need. And there is this girl that works there that is so incredibly annoying. I don't go to Vons much, but I know to steer clear of her. She wanders the aisles asking customers if they are finding everything ok, and when the customer replies with "yes," this girl says in the most annoying, much-to-cheery, high-pitched voice: "faaaaaaaaaaaaabbulous". Ugh. Yesterday, after I overheard her a few aisles over I was determined to avoid her at all costs. I had to zig-zag a little extra, but it was so worth it.
By now I decided it was time to take the food home and use the bathroom. All that coffee you know.
Then back out the door to Randy's Farmers Market. Another great store. Tiny. Friendly. Close. Great prices. And they are starting to have a few organic items. In addition to the Italian parsley, fresh basil, tomatoes, lemons, oranges and green onions I needed for my client I picked up some organic gala apples for only 99 cents a pound! By now I remembered I needed fennel. Bummer. None available at Randy's yet.
I guess I have to go back to Vons.
Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbulous.
What do the Irish Eat?
Ok, so I decided to have a St. Patrick's Day party and serve Irish food. Disclaimer here: I do not eat corned beef and nor do I cook it. I find it repulsive. I don't know why anyone would want to ruin a brisket. And why is it called "corned?" But to get back on topic here I decided to serve Irish food without knowing what in the world I would cook. Now as a personal chef I do cook many different things but I have yet to come across an appetizing sounding Irish dish. So what in the world do the Irish eat?
Thank God for the internet because I've never seen an Irish cookbook either! During my online excursions I am finding things like Concannon, Boxty and Ballymole. What?
Finally I came across a recipe for an Irish stew made with beef, potatoes, carrots and Guinness. Ahhh, now that's some tasty sounding stew! I'll also make some Irish Soda Bread - very easy. Maybe a tray of some Irish cheeses - Whole Foods will be very helpful with this. And for dessert: Chocolate Stout Cake. I'll swing in to BevMo to get our "Blessed Trinity" of Guinness, Murphy's and Beamish, and hopefully all my guests will be feeling the luck of the Irish!
note: the Irish don't eat corned beef on special occasions, they don't drink green beer and they don't name their pubs using the word "Irish"
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Thank God for the internet because I've never seen an Irish cookbook either! During my online excursions I am finding things like Concannon, Boxty and Ballymole. What?
Finally I came across a recipe for an Irish stew made with beef, potatoes, carrots and Guinness. Ahhh, now that's some tasty sounding stew! I'll also make some Irish Soda Bread - very easy. Maybe a tray of some Irish cheeses - Whole Foods will be very helpful with this. And for dessert: Chocolate Stout Cake. I'll swing in to BevMo to get our "Blessed Trinity" of Guinness, Murphy's and Beamish, and hopefully all my guests will be feeling the luck of the Irish!
note: the Irish don't eat corned beef on special occasions, they don't drink green beer and they don't name their pubs using the word "Irish"
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
The Start of my Random Food Blog
Ok, this first blog is going to be very random since I have never done this before. But I am pretty good at rambling on about food - both good and bad - and I am pretty opinionated about it. I guess that comes from growing up in an Italian family where life centered around food. My life still centers around food. I cook for a living as a personal chef and I also teach cooking classes to children. I love grocery shopping. I love farmer's markets. Every trip I take with my family is an "eat-your-way-through-(fill in city here)" tour. I'd much rather spend $150 to eat a fantastic restaurant that buy a new pair of shoes.
So what can you expect to read here? You can look forward to lots of great stuff - from local (and not so local), restaurant reviews, food netwook show critiques (I have several favorites), my days at the grocery stores (I shop at many, sometimes all in one day), recaps of my cooking days for my clients, recaps of my cooking classes with the kids, maybe some recipes, and lots of random thoughts!
Buon Appétito!
So what can you expect to read here? You can look forward to lots of great stuff - from local (and not so local), restaurant reviews, food netwook show critiques (I have several favorites), my days at the grocery stores (I shop at many, sometimes all in one day), recaps of my cooking days for my clients, recaps of my cooking classes with the kids, maybe some recipes, and lots of random thoughts!
Buon Appétito!
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