Great secrets from the kitchen and cellar

I just got back from the Los Angeles Times weekend food event aptly named "Secrets From The Kitchen and Cellar." This was just one of many events being put on this weekend across town at locations in Hollywood, Downtown and Beverly Hills. My event in Beverly Hills was held in the parking lot of the now vacant, landmark Robinson's Department Store on Wilshire.

I bought these tickets not really knowing what the event would be like, but wow, was it a great surprise! I was upclose for three of Food Network's culinary stars' cooking demos and I ate food from over 20 different L.A. restaruants. There were lots of celebrity chefs there today and all were super friendly and engaged with the crowd. The three chefs that did demos (see below) have great personalities and can really cook too.

Here are some of the "secrets" I learned today:

-Claire Robinson ("Five Ingredient Fix" and "Challenge") demonstrated how to make your own butter in a KitchenAid mixer. I went home and actually did this. It was simple and the butter is great! I just used whipping cream and put the mixer on and walked away for awhile. When I came back the butter separated from milk (whey?) and I put it in a cheesecloth, squeezed out the extra liquid, and voila...butter.

Claire also said the Challenge shows take 14 hours to film and are often filmed in Denver because of the low humidity.

-Scott Conant (judge on "Chopped" and "24 hour Restaurant Battle" and owner of the just opened Scarpetta in Bev. Hills)is really, really funny and seems like a great guy. I asked if the contestents on "Chopped" know their ingredients ahead of time. He said NO. He also said he has had some ingredients that are just disgusting.

Scott also said that the water for pasta should "taste like broth" meaning it should have so much salt in it, it's like soup.

-Arti Sequeira (last year's winner of "The Next Food Network Star") demonstrated how to make Indian cheese (Paneer) by cooking milk and lemon juice. I am going to try that tomorrow. Arti is hilarious and full of wonderful stories about cooking for Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay. She does spot on celebrity imitations, and lives in L.A. with her husband. She said she shoots her show in Culver City next to Guy Fieri's studio and that he is a great guy.

The food was delicious today too. I really enjoyed the crispy brown rice with spicy tuna, creamy polenta with truffles, juicy watermelon salad with mint and basil oil, crispy prawns and carmelized walnuts, and melt in your mouth beef short ribs.

Also, Cutie's Brand of tangerines is launching tangerine juices and a variety of smoothies this Fall. They are packaged in round plastic bottles with eye-catching labels and taste delicious.

Even though I'm sure I ate way too many calories today, it was worth it.

Noodle Star Sherman Oaks

Noodle Star "asian noodles and bar" opened its doors 2 weeks ago on Van Nuys Blvd. across from Gelson's Market, replacing the neighborhood mainstay, Lanna Thai.

This very resonably priced, yummy restaurant has oodles of noodle dishes served with meat (chicken, pork or beef) or vegetarian. Actually their menu lists 110 different items with 100% of them priced under $10!!

For last night's dinner, my husband enjoyed the chicken noodles(spelled correctly)soup--a giant bowl filled with thick rice noodles, white meat chicken and a very tasty broth. I had the traditional Pad Thai that was loaded with shrimp, chicken, egg, rice noodles and I think some eggplant thrown in there too. Both dishes cost $7.95 each and we had plenty to take home.

There are rice dishes, pan fried noodles, salads and lots of types of soup including Chinese Noodle, Thai Noodle, Vietnamese Pho, and Japanese Udon. There is a fully stocked bar and Bobas to drink. Thai iced tea is sweet and refreshing and Noodle Star also serves fruit smoothies and non-dairy coolers.

The super friendly staff and great location make this a perfect lunch or dinner spot. I think with these prices and so many choices, this place is going to be one of our favorites.

Noodle Star
4457 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818.985.0808

Great food on Sunset Blvd.

Just got back from a wonderful dinner at BLT Steak on Sunset in Hollywood. This is the first restaurant in L.A. owned by famed Chefs Laurent Tourondel
and Daniel Boulud and is in the old Le Dome space.

This was the first time we've eaten here, but definitely not the last! Where to begin?? I'll start from the top--we felt comfortable and cared for the minute we walked into the place. When was the last time a hostess asked how my day was and actually had a conversation with me? Probably never.

After we were seated, we were given some crusty bread and chicken liver pate as a "free" starter from the chef. I honestly didn't try any because I'm not a huge fan of pate however it was good I held out because right afterwards we were served the biggest, most delicious popovers I've ever had! These airy, crunchy popovers are served with sweet butter and sea salt and are about as big as a baby's head. They are outstanding!! A copy of the recipe comes with the popovers so maybe I'll make them at home. Yummmm.

My initial plan before arriving at BLT Steak was in fact to order some steak, but I changed my mind after seeing the $50 Prix Fixe dinner. What a great deal--tons of outstanding food with plenty to take home. The waitress said this menu changes every few days and it's always available.

We had steak tartare as the appetizer. This very generous portion comes with more pieces of crunchy bread.I haven't had steak tartare since eating at Windows on The World in NYC years ago. I don't remember it being so good, but that was a long time ago.I actually bagged up about half of it to bring home to our doggie.

The main course I chose was fennel dusted Ahi tuna. Four rare slabs of tuna were served with diced veggies and a delicious, light sauce. There was a choice of a rabbit dish as well. We got two side dishes--roasted carrots and parsnips and Guyere mac and cheese with bacon. Both side dishes were just great; full of flavor and the perfect size.

This prix fixe menu also includes dessert--there was warm carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and ginger ice cream or a butterscotch pudding and homemade sugar cookies. Plus,the chef sends out espresso cookies too. Do I need to say more??

We couldn't even come close to eating all this delicious food. What a wonderful treat. They're going to have an even better deal in a few weeks during Dine L.A. week.

Dinner $44**Price excludes alcohol, tax and gratuity.
Choice of AppetizersBaby Artichoke Salad / Truffle Vinaigrette / Arborio Crouton
Cast Iron Mussels / Chorizo / Slow Cooked Tomato / Saffron Toast
Niman Ranch Crispy Pork Belly / Sherried Lentils / Green Apple /Juniper
Choice of EntreesHorseradish Crusted 8 oz Petit Filet / Grilled Asparagus / Crabmeat Béarnaise
Tournedos of Scottish Salmon / Potato Fondant / Grain Mustard Cream
Tarragon Roasted Chicken / Fingerling Potatoes / Maitaake Mushroom / Preserved Lemon Jus
Choice of DessertsWarm Carrot Cake / Ginger Ice Cream
Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts / Espresso Ice Cream
Chocolate Bread Pudding / Caramelized Bananas / Whipped NutellaBLT Steak:
8720 W Sunset Blvd · West Hollywood
bltsteak.com

Another good book from last year

Today on NPR's All Things Considered, there was an interview with author Lisa Grunweld. She wrote a book I read last year called The Irresistible Henry House. This book is about Henry House, a "practice baby" being raised on the campus of a mid-west college.

Although this story is fictionalized, practice babies were a real part of college life in the U.S. for some 50 years. Practice babies were orphaned babies placed at "houses" in colleges across the country to help teach female students "domestic skills."

My bookclub read this book last year and we had a lively discussion about parenting, attachment theory and adoption.

It's worth a read.

Check out the interview here: http://www.npr.org/2011/01/06/132708047/practice-babies-an-outdated-practice-discovered-west

I know, it's been like, forever...

Happy 2011! After many, many non-productive months, I'm back to my blog. Last year was a tough year for me and I was easily distracted from taking time to write about the good stuff--there was just so much bad stuff. But it's a new year, and I am optimistic this year will be better than the last one.

I did read some good books in 2010 as well as eat at some great restaurants, see some wonderful sights and watch some pretty good movies.

Here is my list of my favorite books that I read last year:
1) Little Bee by Chris Cleave--not a happy book but beautifully written.
2) One Day by David Nicholls--enjoyable love story with a London setting.
3) The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman--intertwining stories that take place at an English language newspaper office in Rome.
4) Hungry Planet-What The World Eats by Peter Menzel--a look at a week of food consumption in various parts of the world, family by family.
5) A Secret Gift-How One Man's Kindness and a Treasure Trove of Letters-Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression by Ted Gup--a glimpse of life in Ohio in 1932

I am currently reading (and almost done with) Steve Martin's new novel, An Object of Beauty, about the art world in NYC. I have read his other novels and have always liked them; this one is no exception.

My friend Susan told me a funny story about Steve Martin and his book. He was in NYC at the 92nd Street Y doing a reading and the audience was not too happy because Steve wasn't funny--he was too serious! The audience wanted their money back because they thought his talk would be more of a standup act vs. a serious book reading. Ugh to the audience.

Next on my nightstand is God's Mountain by Erri de Luca and The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall.

Besides books, some other good things that I ran across in 2010 are: The Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica (great community pool, beach access and history), dinner at Hatfields Restaurant on Melrose Ave., LACMA's Resnick Pavillion exhibit called "Fashioning Fashion-European Dress in Detail" and the movie "The King's Speech".

I look forward to much more good stuff this year.

a night with author Jodi Picoult

Vroman's Bookstore presented a reading from best selling author Jodi Picoult last night at All Saints Church in Pasadena and my friend Debbie and I were in the front row (sort of). Ms. Picoult is on tour for her newest book "House Rules" which came out 2 weeks ago and debuted in the #1 spot on the N.Y. Times Bestsellers list.

I've seen and heard Ms. P. speak before. Last year she was the headline speaker at the Assistance League of Fullerton's Annual Day of Authors event. She was as interesting, friendly and engaging last night, as she was last year.

I love listening to authors speak--in addition to the Day of Author event I've listened to Lisa See ("Shanghai Girls" and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan") and Alice Hoffman ("Practical Magic", "Blue Diary")at bookstores in town. At these events the authors give a glimpse into their writing process as well as some fun insider secrets. Last night was no exception.

I knew from last year's presentation that Jodi does a ton of research for all her books and she always has compelling stories to tell. This new book deals with a teen with Asperger's Syndrome. Jodi met with about 50 teens with Asperger's and their parents. She said she puts real life conversations and situations into all her books and in this latest novel Jodi had a teen read the book before it was finalized to see if she got the voice of her character right.

She also got to shadow a local CSI unit because the main character is really into crime scenes. She witnessed an autopsy (and brain removal) first hand as well as some rather unusual lab analysis.

An audience member asked Jodi about her writing style==she said she writes the ending of her books before she's written the beginning and the middle is worked out when she works out the characters. She often steals conversations from friends and strangers but doesn't put anyone she knows directly into the books.

It's hard for me to imagine but Jodi's book for 2011 is already done. It's called "Sing You Home" and it's about gay rights in America and will include a CD of original songs. Her 2012 book is going to be about the right to die. She works two books ahead and spends about 9 months on each one and 3 months on book tours.

The best answer of the night came from my friend Debbie's question about the movie version of Jodi's bestseller "My Sister's Keeper." If you've seen the movie you know the ending is NOT the same as the book. I won't reveal anything here but needless to say, Jodi was very, very shocked with the movie (I was shocked and I didn't write the book!).

I can't wait to crack open this new book. I'm trying to save it for an upcoming plane ride but I have to wait 2 1/2 weeks. I hope it's as much of a page turner as her 15 other books!

Los Angeles Times Food Section

Growing up in L.A. my parents subscribed to the Los Angeles Times and The Daily News (which was called The Green Sheet when I was a kid). I didn't read the paper very much at all when I was little (except for current events projects), but I did read the comics and Calendar section each Sunday. My Dad read (and still reads) the whole paper and my mom would always read and cut out recipes from both newspapers (and she still does that).

As a grown up, I really do love the newspaper. I only subscribe to the Times but I read it every morning. I am the only one walking down my driveway barefoot-ed at 5:45 a.m. to get my paper. My feet are so cold that I've started to count the number of steps it takes to reach my paper and pretend I'm crossing over broken glass just to distract my freezing cold feet.

Anyway,one of my favorite sections is the Wednesday Food section. It has definitely lost its amount of content over the years and for the last few weeks it came in the Thursday paper not the Wednesday paper (which really threw me off) but it's still a great resource for recipes, wine and restaurants.

Last week there was a review for a hole-in-the-wall, Mediterranean restaurant called Hayat's Kitchen in North Hollywood.I went there the other day for lunch and there were 3 other tables of diners there from the same article. For a place that has 6 tables total, that is an amazing turnout!

Today's Food section was really great. After reading today's edition, I signed up for a free daily foodie newsletter (Blackboardeats.com) and made the recipe for Nutella Humentashen (for Purim) which sounds amazing.

I know the likelihood is virtually zero that a hard copy of a newspaper is going to be around for my kid to subscribe to, but I sure hope so. She sees me read the newspaper every day just like I did with my parents and she reads the Comics section every Sunday just like I did too.