Pages Tagged “Food”
Reviews
- Automatic Noodle
A short but joyful tale of creating the future you want out of the present you’ve been stuck with, told by robots who would rather make noodles than war. - Coffee Cartel ★★★★★ Offbeat local coffee house with atmosphere that makes you want to hang out there.
- The Crafted Scone
- Curry and Pizza
- Doma Kitchen (Closed) ★★★★★ Used to be a great Eastern European restaurant. Bounced around the South Bay for most of a decade before closing.
- The Dough Connection ★★★★★ Cookie dough you can eat, in a tiny shop hidden in th eback of a building along Morro Bay’s Embarcadero. Plus baked cookies and brownies.
- Dōh Creamery ★★★★★ An ice cream shop that also specializes in cookie dough. Good selection of flavors for both, and you can mix and match however you want.
- El Amigo ★★★★★ Great spot for takeout Mexican food. I particularly like their Chile Relleno. Dine-in, limited parking.
- El Tarasco
- The Empanada Shop
- King Mediterrano
- Kéan Coffee ★★★★★ Great indie coffeehouse. Good coffee, good place to hang out. Established by the founder of Diedrich Coffee, a local chain back in the 80s and 90s.
- Lavender & Honey
- Natureba
- Neighborhood Grinds (Closed) ★★★★☆ This used to be a great local coffee shop.
- The Press Espresso ★★★★★ Good coffee with a wide range of flavored drinks. Small but inviting.
- Pure Bean ★★★★★ An indie coffee shop and roaster that opened in a space vacated by CBTL a few years back.
- Redondough (bakery/cafe)
- Remembering Diedrich Coffee
- Rival Coffee Co.
- Taishi Hainan Chicken ★★★★★ Variations on chicken and rice, all of them good.
- Two Guns Espresso
- Union Pizza ★★★★★ Thin-crust pizzas are good, deep-dish pizzas are REALLY good. My favorite is the Classic Deep Dish (spinach, roasted garlic, ricotta and mushrooms) - and normally I don’t even like mushrooms.
- Wanderlust Creamery
Blog Posts
- In the Land of the Indie Donut
Apparently it’s National Donut Day, and WaPo decided to look at regional differences in which chain is on top — if any. We’re solidly in indie-land here. Even the Winchell’s I remember growing up became a mom and pop shop back in the 80s (though I think it *might* have been a Yum Yum at […]
- Fly the Anaphylactic Skies
At first I thought this was a followup to another story about an anaphylactic reaction during an airplane flight last week. No, it’s a totally separate incident. One patient had an expired epi-pen. The other had never had anaphylaxis before. Both planes had bottles of epinephrine and a syringe, not an auto-injector. Fortunately there were […]
- Intentionally Contaminated
Food companies are adding sesame flour to foods that didn’t have sesame so they can “comply” with new labeling requirements by always labeling “contains sesame” instead of instead of adding it to their existing cross-contamination protocols. Meaning people with sesame allergy are suddenly finding that foods they used to be able to eat are now […]
- To Die For. Really!
There’s a peanut allergy alert for “Chocolate to Die For” ice cream. I don’t think the name was intended to be taken literally.
- I know tastes are supposed to change over time, but this is ridiculous
For a couple of days my sense of smell went really wonky. It never went out completely. It was more like taking an audio equalizer and readjusting the sliders so that some frequencies are barely audible and others are louder than they should be. And maybe shifting tracks out of sync while you’re at it.
- Healthy Savings on…Liquid Death????
I mean, the idea of marketing canned water as “Liquid Death! (murder your thirst)” is weird enough (IIRC they wanted to make water “cool” like energy drinks), but the “healthy savings” label just kind of makes it!
- Normal is Weird
The other day I grabbed a coffee and muffin while out walking, and found an out-of-the-way outdoor place where I could unmask and eat without being near anyone else. It was weird! It felt like I was getting away with something. This sort of thing used to be normal, but now it isn’t… and that’s […]
- Could You Be a Bit More Specific?
I found this photo on my phone from sometime last year, back when you could still go to self-serve frozen yogurt/ice cream places. The label is…well…TBH it’s accurate, if a bit vague…
- Zombie Bakers Use Whole Brain Flour
I found a folder of unsorted photos from my 2010-2013 phone last night and started going through them. I found several gems, like this one!
- Death Wish Coffee
Found this at the grocery store. I, um, guess that answers the question of what coffee to serve with Death By Chocolate cake. 🤷♂️
- Yes, Adults Have Food Allergies Too — More Than Previously Thought
Discussion of food allergies tends to focus on children (for a lot of reasons), but a recent study found a much higher rate of food allergies among adults than expected. They found that 10.8 percent of American adults – that extrapolates to 26 million people! — reported a convincing food allergy (based on actual symptoms […]
- Food Allergy Shots Moving Forward
If you have environmental allergies to pollen, dust, animals, etc. you’ve long had the option of taking shots to desensitize yourself to the allergen. That hasn’t been the case for food allergies. But a pollen allergy is a lot less likely to kill you than a nut allergy. Some sort of treatment beyond “try not […]
- Wondering About Age and Food Allergy Deaths
OK, this is a bit morbid, but bear with me. Most news stories about deaths from food allergies feature children or teenagers, maybe young adults in their twenties. You read about grieving parents. You rarely read about the 40-year-old who leaves behind a grieving spouse and kids. Food allergies send a lot of people to […]
- Aw, Nuts!
Silly as it sounds to recall nuts for undeclared nuts, not all nuts are the same. If you’re allergic to cashews but not pecans, you want to know whether the pecans you might eat have come in contact with cashews. And that’s not even getting into the peanut/tree nut difference! In this case [Edit: link […]
- Preventable Death. From Grilled Cheese.
If you are told a child in your care has a severe food allergy, believe them. Don’t kill a three-year-old with a grilled cheese sandwich.
- All Pumpkin, all the Time
Now you can have pumpkin spice milk on your pumpkin cereal! Also interesting: “almond beverage” rather than “almond milk.”
- Walk for Food Allergy: Studio Edition
Today I joined hundreds of people at the CBS Studios in Los Angeles to raise money for Food Allergy Research and Education through the FARE Walk for Food Allergy. We skipped last year and decided to join this year’s event at the last minute. Rather than walking along the shore at Long Beach, this year’s […]
- Free Shavocado!
This sign used to say FRESH AVOCADO. But for several years, it’s said something more like FRE SH AVOCA DO. Now it’s been “fixed.”
- Why would you risk eating out with a food allergy?
Someone always asks this. It’s like asking why, if a car could kill your child, you would cross the street with them instead of keeping them home?
- The office snack tray. Or as I call it, the minefield.
Sure, there are a few things that don’t have peanuts in them (or at least aren’t supposed to). And there are potato chips too. I’ve taken to bringing my own string cheese and keeping it in the fridge. It’s one way to be sure there’s something I can eat safely.
- Cherry Pi
- Peanuts in Thin Mints Nestle Crunch
Limited edition Thin Mints Nestle Crunch bars contain ground peanuts, even though neither regular Crunch nor Thin Mints cookies contain peanuts.
- Fruit Basket Case
In addition to chips and candy, we have healthy snack options in the break room at work. In some cases it’s a matter of buzzword compliance: Sorry, but using non-GMO organic natural ingredients does NOT make potato chips, popcorn, Cheez-it clones and cookies “healthy” by any stretch of the imagination. But in some cases it’s […]
- Pumpkin Spice ALL the things! (And we mean ALL!)
Cookies, salsa, breakfast cereal (two kinds!), barbecue sauce, soup, applesauce, hard cider…and Pumpkin Spice Kale Chips.
- Limited edition soda cans. OK, fine….HOW?
I guess collecting is sort of the point with a lot of media tie-in packaging (well, that and cross-promotion, of course), but I really have to wonder how people typically collect food packages. I mean, do you keep the can unopened and hope it doesn’t leak? Do you drink it even though the can won’t […]
- Pumpkin Spice ALL the things!
I found pumpkin spice *salsa* at the market – and not in the clearance aisle!
- Restaurant Crossover
Two Guns Espresso in Manhattan Beach makes a mean flat white and the perfect mocha. This month they’ve also been hosting pop-up dinners by Doma Kitchen.
- Camo cookies
The kiddo wanted to know how Baskin Robbins made their Veteran’s Day themed camouflage ice cream, so we made cookies to demonstrate.
- A Teal Pumpkin for Halloween
The idea behind the Teal Pumpkin Project is to offer alternate Halloween treats that aren’t candy, so that kids with severe food allergies can still go Trick-or-Treating. It started last year in Tennessee, and FARE picked it up and promoted it nationwide this year. When I was a child, I always had to either decline […]
- Walking (and walking, and walking) for Food Allergy
The family went out to raise money for food allergy research, and learned why it’s called Long Beach.
- Wait, FOUR flavors? Shouldn’t that be a Chocolate Quadrilemma?
Chocolate Dilemma cheesecake?
- Kale soda. Now they’ve gone too far.
- Kind of Messy
I…uh… think I’ll get my ice cream bowl somewhere else. Peanuts vs. food allergies, and all that. Also, I’m going to need to walk around a while before I touch my shoes. People have been kind of messy. Originally part of a longer post kicking off fundraising for this year’s Walk for Food Allergy.
- Lessons From a Teen Food Allergy Tragedy
Allergic Living has advice on how to respond to a severe allergic reaction, particularly when to administer epinephrine and seek emergency medical treatment. At first she didnât show any symptoms and her mother gave her a dose of antihistamine; but in 20 minutes the systemic reaction began. Her father, a physician, gave her three doses […]
- Going to the ER at Comic-Con: Not the Peanuts I was Expecting
You don’t expect to find peanuts in coffee, but two sips were enough to put me in an ambulance and wipe out an entire afternoon of Comic-Con.
- Bat-Naan!
Leftover Indian food + a silly mood = Naan x 12.
- Flaming Goat Cheese!
A truck carrying brunost caught fire in a tunnel, blocking a Norwegian highway for six days before firefighters could put it out. Now I have a new pseudo-curse.
- Promising Peanut Allergy Treatment
Studies of sublingual desensitizing treatment for peanut allergy show promise, with 70% of participants able to handle the equivalent of two peanuts after a year.
- 2012 Allergy Walk Complete!
This year’s fundraiser moved from Santa Monica to Long Beach. Sunny weather, a shorter course, and booths for support groups, medical groups & allergy-friendly food.
- Allergy Incident on Vacation: That’s Not Sunbutter
The menu had a Sunbutter sandwich, but that’s not what they gave us. Dining out with food allergies requires thinking like Mad-Eye Moody: CONSTANT VIGILANCE
- Allergies In Your Head?
Someone once asked if my allergies were all in my head. How can my head influence a blood test in a lab three states away?
- Ticked off by Meat Allergy
People are becoming allergic to meat after tick bites.
- Overheard: The Starbucks Buzz
Customer: Do you drink coffee? Barista: I work at a Starbucks. You’ve gotta stay buzzed somehow.
- 2011 Allergy Walk Complete!
The 4th LA Walk for Food Allergy went well on a gloomy Santa Monica day. We raised $1000 of the $43K, had a Superman/Flash race, and almost lost the car downtown.
- Recent Links: Chocwave, Hipsters & More
When everyone’s a hipster…no one will be. Also: Transformers cupcakes and emergency preparedness on your phone.
- Walk For Food Allergy: Please Help Me Raise Funds for Research & Education
I’ll be walking to raise funds for research and education. Food allergies can be life-threatening, but the causes are still poorly understood, and a lot of people who don’t have allergies either don’t understand or just don’t care about the risks to others.
- Dietary “Demands”?
I’m not sure who annoys me more: The people who think that those of us who have food allergies are all a bunch of whining hypochondriacs and/or drama queens who just want attention, and the tiny percentage who really do have allergies shouldn’t expect to ever eat outside the home, or… The people who lie […]
- Apple Pi
Katie baked this chai spice apple pie in honor of Pi Day. We ate it for dessert after shepherd’s pie for dinner.
- Recalled Waste
Who would have thought that something called Toxic Waste Nuclear Sludge Chew Bars would be bad for you? Candy Dynamics Recalls Toxic Waste® brand Nuclear Sludge® Chew Bars (via @ThisIsTrue. Originally linked to FDA recall release, link updated to point to NPR article. Apparently it was too much lead in the “hazardously sour” candy.)
- You Know You Need Coffee When… (Volume 2)
Continued from volume one… You put a filter in the coffee maker, then go back to getâ¦a filter for the coffee maker. And then put the bag of coffee back in the fridge…where you’ve never kept coffee. Ever. (Yeah, I was batting 1,000 that day.) You get halfway up the stairs before realizing you left […]
- The Office Barista: Simple Drinks For Your Coffee Break
Don’t have time to go to Starbucks, but want something more than plain coffee? Here are some simple drinks you can make with ingredients that might be in your lunch room, or that you can easily keep at your desk. Coffee + hot chocolate mix = mocha Coffee + hot chocolate mix + cinnamon Hot […]
- Starbucks’ new Trenta Coffee: Big Deal
I can’t get worked up about Starbucks’ new super-size for iced drinks, the 31-ounce Trenta. Here’s why: It’s only on iced drinks. Iced tea, lemonade, iced lattes, etc. Unless you’re getting plain iced coffee, you’re not getting 31 ounces of fully-caffeinated coffee. Even then, there’s ice taking up a lot of that space. So you’re […]
- Links: Coffee, D&D Advice, Paused Niagra Falls
Some interesting links I’ve encountered over the past week or two. Help! My Half-Elf is Pregnant! – The 11 strangest Dungeons and Dragons questions from the “Sage Advice” Column 15 things worth knowing about coffee by The Oatmeal. Photos: When Niagra Falls Ran Dry
- Ape Tomatoes
Package: Trader Joe’s Ape Tomatoes
- Drink Your Cupcake
The Straight Dope experiments with Kahlua cupcakes to determine two questions: How much alcohol is left in each cupcake? (Not much) Can you get drunk? (Not unless you eat so many cupcakes that you’ll be sick anyway.)
- Comic-Con Coffee Quest
Lion Coffee near Ralphs really knows how to take advantage of the Comic-Con crowds. Last year they weren’t even open and still managed to sell me coffee!
- Speaking Starbucks
Me at Starbucks: “I’d like an iced chai, medium. I mean grande.” Barista: “It’s OK, I speak both languages.”
- The Cheese Cupid
A flier picked up at Sprouts, all about how to find the perfect drink to go with cheese. There’s a website, too: CheeseCupid.com lets you start with either a type of drink or a type of cheese, and find its perfect mate. They even have an iPhone app. ð¯ I guess the Cheese Information Center […]
- LOST Finale: DHARMA Initiative Cake and Pizza
Remember the Battlestar Galactica cake? For last night’s LOST finale, Katie made an authentic DHARMA Initiative chocolate cake, and pizzas with the Swan and Orchid logos. The cake is chocolate, with homemade buttercream icing (vanilla for the background, chocolate for the design). The pizzas have an outer ring of sausage, with bell pepper strips for […]
- I Donât Think Thatâs Soda Bread
- Spaceballs: The Beer
The latest seasonal beer at Oggi’s* is The Schwartz, a Belgian IPA. And just in case the “May the Schwartz Be With You” tagline wasn’t clear enough…well, check out the poster: Sorry about the image quality. I wasn’t sampling the brew, it’s just the phone camera in low lighting. *Oggi’s (pronounced OH-jeez) is a chain […]
- Central City Comic Con
I stopped for coffee on the way to Anaheim Comic Con. Yes, actually, I am wearing a Flash T-shirt. Why do you ask?
- Crystal Hot Sauce
Better than Crystal Pepsi. Wait, you don’t remember Crystal Pepsi?
- MMM…
Found a bottle of cinnamon in the lunch room and added it to coffee and a hot chocolate packet for a makeshift Mayan mocha.
- Manic Monday
First, some linkblogging… The Spam Primer has been “completely revamped.” Mars Express Orbiter catches video of moons Phobos and Deimos. And then the “fun” started. Me: I’m going to focus on project X today! Computer needed for project X: I’m going to lock up today! Me: Argh! Someone thought it would be a good idea […]
- Açai…Beer?
Photo of a six-pack of Acai Berry Wheat Beer
- Hogwarts Groceries
I keep misreading the Snapea Crisps as Snape Crispsââ¬Â¦and the right hand placement gets you Aragog Coffee at Trader Joeââ¬â¢s.
- Egg Nog: Do Not Use As Infant Formula
I know this is just a blanket disclaimer/warning label left over from the standard rice milk carton…but who would use egg nog as infant formula?
- Crepe on TV
There’s a TV on the wall of the crepe cafe where I’m having lunch, bigger than the TV I have at home. Right now it’s showing a live view of the kitchen. This might be more interesting if the kitchen weren’t open to the dining area. I can see the same thing (from another angle) […]
- Venti Schmenti
So what do you think… Would it be a bad idea to bring this travel mug to Starbucks?
- Cashew! (Gesundheit)
Who puts cashews on Hawaiian pizza? Apparently Red Brick Pizza does. They kindly made a cashew-free replacement for it.
- Lost Food: Panda Panda
Panda Panda was a steam table Chinese restaurant in Lake Forest around 2000, until it was replaced by Panda Express, then bulldozed for a new Panda Express.
- Deep Fried WHAT???? A Night at the Fair with Al’s Brain, Melissa Etheridge and a Ferris Wheel
Photos and remarks about Al’s Brain, fried food, Melissa Etheridge concert and a night ride on the Ferris Wheel at the OC Fair.
- Flash 500
500th post and a Flash drink over at Speed Force.
- Your Daily Dose of Iron
Those must be some big pies!
- Three Fads in One!
Pomegranate, AcaÃÂ and Granola, all in one box!
- The Candy of Meat!
I don’t think that’s what they usually mean by “sweetmeats.”
- Satellite Market, Fast Food Options, Ada and More
Last night I learned that the Satellite Market near Disneyland is still there, but the Sputnik-style sign has been replaced. Old & new photos. Side salad vs. fries study: Adding a healthier option caused people to choose the unhealthy option more often. It’s made me a lot more aware of what I order for lunch. […]
- Carbs
Bread bowl pasta: in case you had any doubt that the low-carb craze was over.
- Coffeechocolatea
I’m trying to make 8-hour old coffee palatable by adding both chai tea and hot chocolate mix. It’s…palatable.
- Organic Air!
From @WholeFoods: Try this weekâs Sure Deal: 365 Everyday Value Organic Air â only $6.99! Didn’t President Scroob have one of those? Update: The original link is gone, but it’s archived at the Hoax Museum.
- Teriyaki Hamburger Sandwiches!
All right! I love teriyaki hamburger sandwiches! (No, seriously, I do. Red Robin’s teriyaki burger, Ruby’s Aloha Burger, and similar menu items are standbys for me.) Sadly, I don’t think that’s what they’ll actually serve here.
- Battlestar Galacticake
BSG Cake – Angled, originally uploaded by alenxa. For last night’s BSG finale, Katie made a cake in the form of the Battlestar Galactica itself! More photos and making-of tidbits in the Battlestar Galacticake set. And yes, it tasted good too!
- Hey, Kids! Sugar!
Spotted this in mid-August, during the height of Back to School sales. It’s a school bus-shaped display with shelves on the sides and back. Katie’s fairly certain that the other shelves weren’t all Rice Krispies treats — they were Pop Tarts and the like. So, yeah, send your kids to school with a ton of […]
- Missing the Point of Organic Farming
Study finds organic food doesn’t contain more nutrients than conventional. So? That’s not what its proponents were claiming in the first place.
- Starbucks Overreaching
A couple of years ago, Starbucks bought all 30 or so company-owned Diedrich Coffee stores. Â There were a couple of franchise locations left (well, kiosks, really) in Orange County, and one of the Texas stores, but that was it. Â Most of them were converted or shut down, with only two keeping the Diedrich name and […]
- Sushi is your friend!
The restaurant, Ra Sushi, has quite good food. But donââ¬â¢t plan on holding any conversations over dinner, since they play loud, driving music with the bass turned up to 11.
- 10 Ways for the Lazy Geek to Lose Weight
So, you’re a nerd (or a geek, if you prefer). You spend your life sitting in front of your computer, your TV, or your latest book. You don’t play sports, you don’t go running, hiking or cycling, and the word gym conjures up painful memories from middle school. And you’ve put on a bit more […]
- Easy Office Environmental Tip: The Disposable Cup
If you work in an office, chances are there’s a water cooler somewhere. And if there’s a water cooler, chances are there’s a stack of disposable paper cups (or possibly, even in this age, styrofoam). And chances are that most people will walk up, grab a paper cup, take it back to their desk and […]
- Backwards
From a food allergy alert released today: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., is recalling âChocolate Covered Almondsâ due to undeclared peanuts and âChocolate Double-Dipped Peanutsâ due to undeclared almonds. [emphasis added] I have to wonder: are they just really bad about keeping their ingredients separate, or did they get the labels switched on a […]
- Hot Stuff
I think this was at an Albertsons grocery store. All the vegetables on this particular shelf had little signs like this identifying their uses. Habañero peppers, a good source of capsaicin? No kidding! I remember when I was younger, “jalapeño” was practically a synonym for “hot.” I had no idea it was barely the beginning. […]
- Full-Spectrum Coffee
Between cash, lunch and an errand, I walked the full length of the Irvine Spectrum today, and realized there will soon be 7 coffee shops in or near the shopping center—and 4 of them are Starbucks. It opened with just one: a Diedrich Coffee, attached to Barnes & Noble. Phase 2 (from the movie theaters […]
- Safari Blend Coffee
In honor of the release of Safari 3, here’s a little something we found at Trader Joe’s. The mug is from the short-lived Mozilla Coffee. It seemed appropriate. Now if I can just track down some Opera Coffee, or Explorer Coffee…
- Not Exactly…
- New Age Drinks?
Okay, maybe I’ve missed a memo or something, but can someone tell me: what exactly is a new age drink? Nothing in the aisle stood out as being particularly new-agey.
- Priorities: Caffeine!
The new shopping center, The District (built on a corner of the former MCAS Tustin base), has an ad campaign with the slogan, “A million reasons why.” Each poster shows someone posing with a random number and something that can be found, done, or resolved by going there. Here’s a guy who has his priorities […]
- Positive Spin
Bumper sticker spotted on a Corner Bakery delivery van: It reminds me of the warnings you see on cardboard coffee cups that say things like, “The beverage you are about to enjoy is extremely hot.” Though my favorite is still one from the late, lamented* Diedrich Coffee that said, “Of course it’s hot!” *OK, they’re […]
- Nice Try
I’m sorry, no matter how many vitamins and minerals you add to cola, it’s not going to be healthy. Oh, crap. Suddenly, I can picture the coffee chains and smoothie chains getting together. “One iced blended mocha, please.” “Would you like a free boost in that?”
- C is for Coffee
NPR’s Morning Edition ran a story on finding the perfect balance of caffeine. Apparently as little as 100mg—typical for a 6-ounce cup of coffee—is enough to give most people a lift. Depending on tolerance, anxiety and jitters start showing up as early as 200mg. And yes, a cup of plain coffee has more caffeine than […]
- Eat here—we have no taste!
I’m not sure what annoys me more about this ad: the fact that the joke is tasteless (which is an oddly appropriate phrase, considering it’s about food), or the fact that it’s equating something they serve (the mustard) with urine. “Come here, our mustard tastes like piss!” Yeah, that’s encouraging. Spotted on September 10.
- Centenarian Sweeps
I’ve been frequenting a couple of nearby smoothie shops this summer, including Jamba Juice. Lately they’ve got an interesting contest: OK, it’s a sweepstakes promoting a book on “Hundreds of ways to live to be 100,” but the way the promo is phrased makes me think of a different kind of contest entirely. I mean, […]
- Drazi Drinks
Last week, after going out to see Superman Returns, we wandered over to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I ordered the new honeydew ice blended drink. Katie ordered the pomegranate-blueberry drink. When we picked them up from the counter, though, the combination struck us both as funny: Yes, they were green and purple.
- Only in Vegas
You know the routine. We can’t pass up a bizarre image without taking a photo and posting some sort of comment. Not even on vacations. The drive to Las Vegas from southern California is simple: make your way to the 15, head north, and keep going until you get blinded by the neon. The â […]
- Choo-Choo Sandwich? Auughhh!
There are some things that no self-respecting Something Positive reader wants to see, and this recipe is among them: Poor Choo-Choo Bear! Disguising yourself as a pitcher is one thing, but being turned into a sandwich? Alas, such a sad, sad fate for everyone’s favorite amorphous kitty. (At least the sandwich probably won’t be as […]
- Chocolate Mint
After our trip to the nursery this weekend, Katie started seriously looking at our existing plants. We have a mint plant that got so pot-bound it grew down, through the drainage holes at the base of the pot, and back up the outside of the pot. She decided to make cuttings out of those bits… […]
- Cheese!
This just looks like something out of a Wallace and Gromit movie. I mean, seriously. “Cheese Information Center?” “The Ultimate Cheese Guide?” (Found at an Albertson’s grocery store.)
- You know you need coffee when…
You pour yourself orange juice, then very carefully put the carton back…in the cupboard. You walk into the lunch room for coffee, but forget to bring your mug. You momentarily forget how to make coffee. You set up the coffee maker, but leave out a critical step like positioning the coffee pot. You get the […]
- Coffee rings caused by capillary action?
I was preparing my latest favorite work-suitable drink a few minutes ago, and a drop of tea spilled over the side of the mug and ran down to the base. Naturally it immediately spread around the entire base, forming a ring on the desk. It was easily wiped up, but then I thought—why does it […]
- Makeshift Moroccan Mint Mocha
CBTL has a drink they call a Moroccan Mint Latte. It’s a tea latte with chocolate. You can make something close by making hot chocolate mix with mint tea.
- Playing with your food
You know how some restaurants always give you a pickle with their sandwiches? Well, at Ruby’s today I finished, picked up the toothpick flag that had been stuck in the hamburger, turned the pickle over and planted the flag, declaring it to be a boat. Katie immediately took her pickle and a leftover onion slice […]
- Bon voyage, mon appetit!
One look at this, and you’ll say goodbye to your appetite! Wait, I’m sure that’s not what they’re going for… (On another level, the reflected palm trees fit in with the travel theme.)
- Chains of Coffee
We have four coffee-house chains in the area, in addition to local places. My favorite is Diedrich Coffee, with a couple dozen locations in Orange County, two each in LA and San Diego… and three each in Houston and Denver. (In the last few months, Diedrich has started selling T-shirts that say, “Venti, Schmenti.”) Then […]
- Chaos in a Bag
At the market today, we discovered that you can buy a bag of Chaos. Not only that, but you can buy a bag of wheat-free Chaos. In actuality it’s a brand of chips from the makers of Pirate’s Booty, but the name reminded us both of a time we and a bunch of friends started […]
- Useful warning labels
Forget “Coffee is Hot!” and its variations. What they really need is a warning on iced blended drinks that anything larger than about 12 ounces may separate and require frequent re-mixing unless drunk rapidly. And those are the ones that are mixed well. Let us not speak of the ones you get at the café […]
- Last of the Lazy Lizard
While cleaning the apartment, we found a long-forgotten bag of Mozilla Coffee. Sadly, the company’s long-gone, and year-old decaf isn’t worth brewing.
- Zucchini Spam!
A recipe for zucchini loaf showed up in one of the spamtraps over the weekend. It was one of the few that used to be real accounts, so I first thought it was someone’s long-lost friend who had a 4-year-old email address, but I scrolled down to the bottom and there was an unsubscribe link. […]
- Does this taste funny to you?
(In case you’re wondering, it’s a receipt item for Land O Lakes butter.)
- Clue plate special
Before leaving for Comic-Con, we went to Ruby’s for lunch and discovered that they’d stopped wrapping up their burgers and started serving them on plates. If you’ve seen a Ruby’s burger, you know what a bad idea this is. If you haven’t, these burgers are easily 5″ in diameter, made with 1/3 pound of meat […]
- Interesting substitution
Today’s recipe: HUMMUS 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed well 2 T unsweetened peanut butter 1 garlic clove sea salt to taste 1/4 c olive oil 1/2 t cayenne pepper juice of 1 lemon 1 T sesame seeds, toasted lightly fresh bread for serving, toasted Put first four ingredients in blender and blend until […]
- No More Mozilla Coffee
Remember Mozilla Coffee? In the first month they offered it, RJ Tarpleyâs Coffee raised $400 for the Mozilla Foundation by donating a percentage of the profits. We ordered it a couple of times, and it was actually pretty good. I even picked up a Mozilla Coffee Mug at one point. Alas, the website (formerly www.rjtarpleys.com) […]
- Shortcut from what?
Today’s recipe: SHORT-CUT ZUCCHINI 1 lb zucchini, sliced 1/4 c butter 1/4 t garlic salt salt and pepper to taste 2 T water 3 T Parmesan cheese, grated Melt butter in a pan. Add zucchini, seasonings and water. Cover pan and simmer on low for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and cook another 5 […]
- Not even with strawberries?
There’s at least one company based in Greece that distributes authentic Greek yogurt in the U.S. The stuff can be tricky to find, but incredibly worth it. It’s very thick and creamy and doesn’t contain any gelatin or preservatives. The fat-free version could probably help a lot of people lose weight, as it tastes like […]
- Fruit salad on speed
Now here’s a prep time I’d like to see someone achieve: MELON, PINEAPPLE AND GRAPE COCKTAIL (can be prepared in 6 minutes from start to finish) 1 melon 1 fresh pineapple 1 c seedless green grapes, halved 3/4 c white grape juice fresh mint leaves for garnish Remove seeds from melon. Use a melon baller […]
- Church to 8-year-old: Drink the Kool-aid
Time to add an “outrage” category. This is just insane: A church panel has invalidated a girl’s communion because she can’t eat wheat (original article here). The girl has celiac disease, which means any amount of wheat can cause her serious health problems. A local priest was willing to let her use a rice-based wafer, […]
- Better than dwarven bread
From my calendar today, another appetizer that’ll make everybody finish everything else on the buffet first: *********** CHICKEN BALL 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese 2 cans (4 3/4 oz) chunky chicken 1 sm onion 5 drops Worcestershire sauce 3 drops Tabasco sauce 1 T lemon juice Combine all ingredients. Chill until firm. Roll into […]
- Different definitions
The ingredients list for what my calendar calls SPICY GUACAMOLE DIP: 1/2 c mayonnaise 1 lg avocado, peeled and mashed 1 tomato, chopped 1/4 c minced onion 1/4 c green chiles, drained and chopped 1 T lemon juice 1/2 t salt This reminds me of the Gallery of Regrettable Food recipe for Hot ‘n’ Spicy […]
- Allergy labeling
The top food allergens must now be labeled clearly on ingredient statements. Voluntary labels have been quite helpful…well, most of them have.
- Appetizer from hell
Today’s recipe: LIVERWURST PATE 1 lb liverwurst 1/2 t basil 1/4 c minced onion 1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese 1/8 t red pepper sauce 1 t mayonnaise red or black anchovy paste salt and pepper to taste 2 cloves garlic, crushed (keep cloves separate) parsley Mash liverwurst with fork. Add 1 clove garlic, basil, […]
- Yogurt? What yogurt?
Today’s pathetic recipe: ******* APPLE YOGURT 2 c fruit-flavored yogurt 4 apples, cored and sliced Spoon yogurt into 4 serving bowls and top with apple slices. Serve chilled. Serves 4. ******* Now let’s look at just how craptastic this is. First off, it’s labeled a dessert. Secondly, 4 apples?? Unless we’re talking miniature Galas off […]
- Cookbook anarchist
I have a page-a-day calendar at work called “The Quick Cook.” It advertises itself as containing a variety of recipes with low prep time and uncomplicated ingredients. After five months of it, I think I know what their sourcebooks were: Desserts Kids Will Hate The Dijon Mustard Council Cookbook Imitation International Cooking Midwestern Weirdos’ Aid […]
- Gallons? It comes in gallons?
We were looking through the room service menu at the Surf and Sand, and noticed the prices for coffee, tea, and a few other beverages were for rather high-volume orders:
- Mugzilla
I am now the proud owner of a Mozilla Coffee Mug! When I went to order a new batch of Mozilla Coffee, I saw that RJ Tarpley’s is now offering mugs with their logo. Something about it just screamed “Buy me! Buy me!” – something in the combination of “Mozilla” and the lizard’s expression as […]
- Stout-Hearted
Decided to try Murphy’s instead of Guinness this year. I much prefer Murphy’s.
- Coffee Emergency!
When I got into work this morning, our receptionist remarked to me, “Sorry, no coffee.” I assumed she meant “No coffee yet,” so I went back to my desk, read email, etc. Then I went back up to the lunch room for some coffee. That’s when I discovered she really meant, “No coffee.” Apparently the […]
- No frelling way
Last week, probably on New Year’s Eve, I was showing a co-worker where the office keeps the scale and demonstrated how to use it. As I expected, I’d put on a few holiday pounds and decided to start again with the points-watching on the 5th. So I’ve been eating pointily for three days. Three days […]
- Warning: Contains Ingredients
Here’s another interesting Food Allergy Alert: Wisconsin Cheesecake Co., Inc., is recalling 28-oz. Candy Bar Cheesecakes containing either Butterfinger, Reese’s Pieces, Peanut Butter Cup, or Snickers brands because they contain undeclared peanuts. Now I’m not sure what’s stranger about this: the fact that someone managed to leave peanuts off the ingredients list, or that they […]
- Mozilla Coffee!
Yes, it’s real! Last week Katie remarked we were running low on coffee, and I remembered an article on MozillaZine a few weeks ago about RJ Tarpley’s Mozilla Coffee. I figured, what the heck, let’s order some. It’s a way to get coffee and support Mozilla at the same time. We went out for a […]
- You know you’re too tired when…
…you almost forget use a filter when making coffee.
- Details, please?
Excerpt from a recent Food Allergy Alert: Sunny Lake Trading, Inc. is recalling 10-oz. plastic bags of “Candy” because they contain undeclared peanuts. Gotta love their marketing scheme. “I’d like to buy some candy, please.” It reminds me of those long-distance phone companies with names like “The Cheapest One.”
- Note to self #2
Do not attempt to demonstrate to your significant other how two people in your story would kiss when you’ve just eaten loads of allergens. It will not end well.
- Stoked!
Drumroll, please. As of 8:30 this morning, I am officially down to the weight on my California ID card. (180, if you care. I’m not shy.) I haven’t yet officially lost 10% of my starting weight, but I’m betting that by next week, I’ll have hit that goal. Not bad for 12 weeks. And a […]
- Put Down Stix
Yesterday was a complete Monday, and Kelson and I decided that since we needed to go to the market, we’d split up and he’d grab food at the Pick Up Stix in the same shopping center. As I was looking at yogurt, he came into the store and reported that they’d changed their menu yet […]
- Weighing in
3 pounds gone so far. Yay me! I’m having way too much fun with this, I think. One of the impromptu group leaders is into eating small amounts of high-point foods (think half a can of full-calorie soup, or a very small serving of lasagna) along with large amounts of the boring kinds of point-less […]
- What about second breakfast?
The materials from Weight Watchers had an interesting line near the end: “You’ll be amazed at what you learn about yourself when it comes to losing weight.” Well, they might be exaggerating a bit, but there’s at least a grain of truth in it. Looking over my food logs for the last two weeks, I […]
- Note to self
Next time salsa marked as “mild” beckons from the shelf at Whole Foods, check to see whether it’s made by a company specializing in vegetarian products. If so, do not buy it thinking the heat level is the same as mainstream food marked as “mild.” I don’t know what it is with vegetarians and hot […]
- Nature’s Semantics
You can argue that vegan or vegetarian substitutes for meat and dairy are more ethical or healthier. But please don’t claim that they’re more natural.
- Somebody please shoot me. Preferably in the arm, with an IV of food.
There are two things in this world that I can’t stand to eat: blue cheese, and my words. When I arrived in this office, about this time last year, about half the women in the place had just signed up with Weight Watchers. For the next month, just about all I heard, especially in the […]