Free Ice Cream at Milk

I haven't tried it due to dietary constraints, but I hear Milk's ice cream is wonderful. One of these days, we'll all sit down for a taste.

But you all are in luck for this Sunday is National Ice Cream Day.

"Milk is doling out free scoops of its decadent, house-made flavors like banana dulce de leche, mint chocolate chip and strawberry. Just say the secret code phrase--"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream"--for one scoop in a cone or a cup."

Milk, 7290 Beverly Blvd., Mid-City; 323-939-6455

Sunday July 19 from 8AM-11PM

Via Tasting Table LA

Changing Your Look

This is kinda cool for locals.

Allen Edwards Salon, where haircuts usually start at $70, offers $25 haircuts in Woodland Hills and Brentwood, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively.

For $25, You Can Change Your Look

The Right Start and Babystyle

A sign of the times?

I occasionally shop at Babystyle, but I certainly can't be accused of keeping them in business since I prefer them during sale season. They have cute, soft baby clothes, baby toys, and a nice selection of maternity clothes.

Back in July of 2008, The Right Start bought Babystyle and Blue Lava Group (owns the Tiny Ride Website). I'm guessing that didn't go well.



That led me to check out Tiny Ride, which is just as grim.



The Right Start's website seems to be up and running. It leads me to wonder what happened. I guess rumors have been floating around for a few days, but what's the deal? I stopped by my local Babystyle, and other than a small statement in the window regarding their having filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, you wouldn't know anything was amiss. Haven't checked out my local Right Start, but it's on the list.

Right Start Acquires Two Brands

Recipe: Green Zebra Gazpacho Soup

Here's a recent find from The Santa Monica Farmers' Market Cookbook, by Amelia Saltsman. I've had this book for over a year, but I always seem to find some lovely treat when I'm in the mood for something new. A favorite then, a favorite today.

Case in point, Gazpacho. The name doesn't do it for me, and the thought of a cold tomato soup feels...well, kinda blagh. But I keep forgetting that because it's a raw soup, it's almost more like a salad than a soup. The flavors are so fresh, and when you leave the right amount of texture, there's even that bit of crunch in each spoon. I had gazpacho in Spain, and it completely changed my perception of it. But I left that behind when I left Spain. I decided to give it another chance with this recipe as my inspiration, and I'm hooked again!

There's a decent amount of prep work involved in this recipe, the worst of which involves the tomatoes. As for everything else, remember that it's all going to get blended in the end, so don't worry too much about chopping. Oh, and when you do start blending, cover up. This soup has more jump than Splash Mountain.

You have been warned.

Lastly, flavors are best when the soup is left to sit for a bit, so don't plan on eating it right away. And because it's served cold, leave seasoning for when you're about to serve. Cold food needs more seasoning.

Green Zebra Gazpacho
2 lbs ripe Green Zebra or Evergreen tomatoes
2 Persian cucumbers (about 10 ounces total)
1 small white onion, coarsely chopped
1 cup seedless green grapes
2 cups torn, crust-free, stale French bread
Juice of 2 limes
1/2 to 1 small jalapeno chile, cut into small pieces
Leaves from 8 to 10 sprigs cilantro
Leaves from 8 to 10 sprigs mint
2 tablespoons canola or other mild cooking oil
Kosher or sea salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch dice
Snipped fresh chives for garnish

Peel and seed tomatoes, reserving the juices that collect in the bowl. Coarsely chop the tomatoes and add them to the bowl. Peel the cucumbers, cut them in half lenthwise, and use the tip of a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Cut the cucumbers into chunks and add them to the bowl. Stir in the cucumbers, onion, grapes, bread, juice of 1 lime, 1/2 chile, cilantro, mint, oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and water.

Puree the soup with a stand blender, leaving the texture a little chunky. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to overnight. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt. If the soup is not zesty enough, grind the remaining 1/2 chile with a little of the soup and stir it into the soup. Garnish each serving with the avocado, chives, and an extra sprinkling of salt.

Farmers' Market Delivery

I read about an interesting local service. Auntie Em's Organic Produce and Dinner Delivery delivers seasonal produce from local farmers and farmers' markets. I've always wondered why no one does this. Locally, there are so many farmers' markets, but the best are the ones held during the week. If you work, you can't go. What's more, unless you go religiously, you don't have the opportunity to learn about the produce and farmers, you can't ask questions about recipes and seasonality, and as a result you can't develop relationships that help you get the best food. It seems to me that a service like this has the potential of working their wisdom and connections to get you the best food.

I've always found that organic food from the FM is cheaper than organic food from the grocery store. This leaves a good deal of earnings potential for this kind of service. Based on their sample listing of food and the prices I'm used to, it seems to me like this service tacks on a hefty premium for their efforts. That said, local food is fresher, which means it'll last longer in your fridge. There's a lot to be said about that.

While you'd be better off going to the FM yourself, this is a close runner up. If you get a chance to try it, let me know how it goes.

Summer at the Farmers' Market

Oh, how I love the farmers' market during the summer. Well, I love it and hate it. There's so much beautiful food, that I have to work hard to stay on my list. It's really quite easy to overspend. My summer downfall: fruit.

Cherry season is about mother's day through father's day, so they're long gone. But they overlapped nicely with peaches, my current obsession.

My favorite peach stand has the best peaches, nectarines, plums I've ever had. Ever. High end local restaurants haul away crates of Fitz's fruit, but he always has time to shoot the breeze and answer my silly questions. He's big into grilling his peaches these days. His recommendation is to take a full-flavored peach, which is usually a yellow fleshed peach; their acid content provides a more balanced flavor than white peaches, which tend to be much sweeter. Cut it in half, and take the pit out. Add a few drops of balsamic vinegar and smear it on the flesh. Put the peach flesh side down on the grill and cook it for 3-5 minutes. Flip it and cook it on the skin side for another 3-5 minutes. Feel free to add a few more drops of balsamic vinegar, and serve.

When we grill peaches, we don't bother with the balsamic. Honestly, they're so good they just don't need it. We grill them, and if you have some pound cake lying around, toast some up on the grill. Pour over a little honey, syrup, cream, ice cream...whatever floats your boat. The result...O...M...G...So simple, so easy, so delicious. How did I not know about this sooner? I'd be bitter if I wasn't so happy.

But now I find out Fitz is only expecting to be at the market for another couple of weeks. This saddens me. Last year, I went cold turkey on peaches when his season ended. I actually did a little dance when I saw him this year, and I've been loyal all summer. I suspect I'll be peachless again once his season ends. He's truly spoiled me with those Carmen Mirandas nectarines.

Los Angeles: Discounted Baby & Kid Gear

If you're in the Los Angeles area, here are a couple of bargain-hunter's dreams that might come in handy for keeping your wee one's closet and toy chest brimming with joy.

California Kids Consignment
May 30 - June 1 (Friday-Sunday)
Where: Residence Inn Marriott - Conference Center
25320 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91381
This sale has been much farther west in the San Fernando Valley in the past, but is now trying out Santa Clarita for a change. Sellers hand their gently used stuff over to them, the stuff sells at very reasonable prices (some toys are new in the package), and the seller gets their money. They have tons of clothes, as well as toys, cribs, chairs, etc. What's left of their stock is 50% off on Sunday. It's too late to sell for this sale, but if you're thinking about it, you might want to check it out for future sales (~4 times/year). Click through for more details on buying, selling, or just plain browsing. Warning: It can get very, very busy. Just show up with cash (or MC/Visa for a $0.50 fee) in hand and a fistful of patience.

Flap Happy Outlet Store
May 30-31 (Friday-Saturday)
Where: 2330 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404
This store carries a selection of great hats for protecting wee delicate skin from the sun. They also carry clothes, swim suits, etc., though given the ridiculously bright colors and patterned prints, they tend to work more for girls than boys. That said, I've found some great stuff for MetaBoy, and all at bargain prices. This weekend from 10QM-5PM, they're having an annual sale where they slash their outlet prices. Mmm...sale...

LA Times Festival of Books

If you're looking for something fun to do in Los Angeles this weekend, look no further than UCLA. They're hosting the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Seriously, there's something there for everyone. Food, books, music, sunshine, picnics, speakers.

Parking's painful at $8, but admission is free. Besides, it's a nice day out :-)

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

Did you know that April is National Grilled Cheese month? Easy enough to confuse with an April Fool's gag since it starts on the first of April, but it's true! A month in which local restaurants get cheesy, if you will.

Clementine, a restaurant in Century City, has started a campaign. Go, try their sammiches, and vote for your favorite. Or as they say, "Melt the Vote." The ballots are no joke, either. Per L.A. Eater,

"They've copied a voter's sample ballot and in painstakingly great detail changed all the graphics, instructions (in multiple languages), measures, confusing explanations, amendments and bill of rights to reference grilled cheese and other cheesisms."

If that's not dedication to cheese, I simple don't know what is. Now if I can only find the time to make it over this week to try out the Chorizo con Queso (Spanish dry-cured sausage with havarti and pickled jalapenos on country white bread).


In related news, the National Grilled Cheese Invitational is April 19th from 5-9:00 PM. It's somewhere in Los Angeles, but the location has yet to be announced. Ooo...exciting!!

So, check out local cheese listings for events in your area. If you don't find any, start one! You'll be the biggest cheese on the block ;-)

L.A. Mag's March Madness

If you know Los Angeles, you might have some opinions on your turf.

Spit it out, people!!

Los Angeles Magazine's doing a March Madness of their own (dude, seriously...why is everyone hoping on this MM bandwagon?!?). But ya, you can vote in round two through March 24 (that's Monday). Ya, ya, I missed round one, but well...whatever :-)

What's being voted on? Deets

The Hot Dog Dilemma

I like hot dogs. I don't eat them, but I like them.

When I was a kid, a favorite meal was my grandmother's Chilean twist on a hot dog, which I long for every now and then. I don't think I'll find it though. It's a plain old hot dog on a plain old bun. The glory's in what you put on top. Let's start with ketchup, mustard, and mayo. But just to make it interesting, let's skip the sauerkraut and relish for fresh tomato salsa and cooked & diced potatoes. And pile it on high. So high you question your morals and ethics. So high that you think you're living a life that isn't your own. So high that you almost can't get it in your mouth. Ah, but then you manage. Gluttony at its finest.

First off, I've given up on gluttony because it's a tough life to live (just ask Anthony Bourdain). Easier and more pleasant to eat until I'm no longer hungry, which is always less than any fast food or restaurant portion. But don't get me started on portion sizes. That's a whole different rant.

The other reason I don't entertain the hot dog notion any more is that I just don't like eating hot dogs any more. Yes, I like the taste, but I don't like what's in them. I don't like a food that generally prides itself on being known as the miscellaneous food. It's full of hormones, fillers, antibiotics, nitrates, nitrites, and what I'm assuming is a wide variety of other unknowns. None of that is good eats.

I see hope on the horizon, though. I just heard about a new hot dog stand in the LA area on Good Food (scroll down to "Grass-Fed Hot Dogs" piece to listen). Let's Be Frank has all-beef hot dogs made from 100% grass-fed beef. They aren't packed will all of the bad stuff I listed above, and they're dairy and gluten free. Sue Moore, co-owner, was the "meat forager" (no, seriously) at Alice Waters' Chez Panisse, which is a good sign to me.

We're no vegetarians, though as a family we've significantly cut down our red meat consumption, as well as our overall meat consumption. But every now and then, you gotta give into temptation.

They only have a few carts (one in L.A., two in the San Francisco Bay area), but they sell their franks online. Let me know if you've tried and loved :-D

Presidential Primary in California - Are You An Independent?

We're California residents. My husband is registered as an independent, but I'm not. As a result, I received my official sample ballot for the upcoming presidential primaries on Super Tuesday, which includes candidates for my party. My husband's sample ballot is for state and local measures, which he found rather depressing. He really wanted more action, I suspect.

In an attempt to take advantage of California's 3 million registered voters without a party affiliation, the Democratic party began allowing independents to vote in their presidential primary. Per the NY Times,

"Democrats began allowing independents to participate in their party’s presidential primary in 2004, and campaigns now see them — the fastest-growing group of registrants in California — as potentially pushing a candidate over the top in the primary on Feb. 5."

However, both of the primary parties don't agree:

"Republicans only allow their own party members to vote; the state’s American Independent Party also allows decline-to-state voters to cast ballots in its primary, but the party’s presence is very small."

Contrary to what is suggested about independents in the article, my husband is quite engaged in politics, he's just stubborn in that he doesn't like to let other people know what he's thinking. Just like a guy, huh?

If you don't have a party affiliation and you'd like to vote in California's Democratic presidential primary, you have to ask for the Democratic ballot at your polling station. Otherwise, you will receive a nonpartisan ballot.

And whatever your party, Happy Super Tuesday!!

Photo: © Photographer: Megnomad | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Campanile: Writers' Soup Kitchen

More on food in Los Angeles.

As I'm sure you've heard, there's an ongoing writers' strike in Hollywood. The economic repercussions are significant here as the trickle down effect becomes more and more obvious. If writers don't work, actors, make-up artists, and key grips don't work. Editors have nothing to edit. Caterers have no one to feed. And money, that used to be free flowing in restaurants and bars, has dried up. At a time when a recession looms over the nation striking fear in the hearts of democrats and republicans everywhere, Hollywood is feeling a similar jerk of panic.

Some are making due as they can. An interesting approach taken by local fancy-pants restaurant, Campanile, is to open a soup kitchen for writer's union members. (I'm sure similarly affected unions might appreciate to be included, but that's just me thinking out loud.) A card carrying writer can go to the restaurant on Wednesdays with a group of guests (or not, if you're a lonely, brooding writer-type), and everyone gets a 3 course meal for $18. Apparently, that's half-price. And, as chef and owner Mark Peel states:

"We're not making any money on this, but it is filling the restaurant. The truth is, no matter what your profit margin is, if you're not selling anything, you're not making any money."

Another plus for the restaurant is that any new customers brought in might expand the restaurant's business when the economy gets back on track. And I think writers and everyone else are looking forward to that.

2 Weeks of Prix Fixe with Dine L.A.

Now that I can start to think about food again, I can post about something I'd meant to post at the beginning of the week.

There's no shortage of restaurants if you live in Los Angeles. Between the wide array of foods available, and the cultural melting pot at hand, we have access to a little bit over everything. There are, of course, some pricier places that can't be frequent ed as often as others. But oh how they beckon.

From Jan 27-Feb 1 and Feb 3-Feb 8, 2008 (that's 2 weeks excluding Saturdays), Dine L.A. has gathered a fine list of restaurants in the area that will offer a selection of three-course menus at special prices (per person excluding beverages, tax and gratuity):

 LunchDinner

Deluxe Dining:$15$25

Premier Dining:$22$34

For example, you could order the following for lunch at Cafe Pinot in Downtown L.A. for $22:
Appetizer: Grilled Market Vegetable Chopped Salad with Buffalo Mozzarella, "Antiqua," and Yuzu Avocado Dressing
Entree: Colorado Leg of Lamb Rotisserie, Roasted Garlic Jus, Winter Root Vegetable
Dessert: Heirloom Apple Crumble with Lychee Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream

Or perhaps you'd like a South American dinner at Ciudad for $34:
Appetizer: Arugula and Celery Root Salad with Spiced Pepita Seeds, Pomegranate, Shaved Manchego and Lemon Vinaigrette
Entree: Carnitas - Slow Roasted Niman Ranch Pork served with Mashed Yucas, Black Beans, Fried Plantains and Grilled Corn Salsa (BTW...this dish as amazing)
Dessert: Tres Leches Cake with Passion Fruit and Prickly Pear Sauces

In the mood for Italian? How about a $15 lunch at Angeli Caffe:
Appetizer: Eggplant Croquettes
Entree: Beet Ricotta Gnocchi with Butter and Sage
Dessert: Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding

But an Asian dinner for $25 from Culver City's Beacon also sounds tempting, dontcha think?
Appetizer: Stir-fried Mushroom Salad with Manchego, Spiced Almonds and Yuzu Dressing
Entree: Crispy Fish and Chips with Yuzu Tartar Sauce and Asian Slaw
Dessert: Farmers Market Seasonal Fruit Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream

Tempted? Check out the list for more restaurants and other menu options. And if you are lucky enough to go, reservations are highly recommended.

Bon Appetit! Velbekomme! E ʻai ka-kou! Kainan na! Buen Provecho! Eat already!!

Fun in Downtown Santa Monica

All sorts of fun stuff happening in Downtown Santa Monica. From a man-made ice skating rink, to a snow hill, it looks like the city's trying to bring everyone here for a good time. No, seriously...everyone!

Sure, it sounds like fun, but get there early to avoid traffic, as it's usually intense without this fanfare. You've got restaurants, movies, shopping, and the beach all within blocks. And now, snow in 70 degree weather. What more could you ask for?

Note: While this all sounds like fun, I will not say I'm proud of Santa Monica's efforts. Some events, like the ice rink, all seem like a significant and unnecessary drain on energy and resources. For a city that proclaims itself to be green and eco-friendly, I don't see how these actions fit with that model.

Oh, and it's brought to you by Starbucks.

L.A. is Huge!

If you ever wondered why the City of Los Angeles is so complicated and hard to manage, take a look at this map. The colored area of this map is the city, not county of Los Angeles, which includes the light gray area. It's HUGE! Los Angeles is comprised of a ridiculous number of communities, many of which represent our unique melting pot, such as Korea Town and China Town. There are a few wealthier cities that have seceded from Los Angeles, such as Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Burbank. Those cities tend to function a bit better because money stays local and the city has the flexibility to move slealthily to resolve problems. Some argue that the loss of revenue to the city of L.A. negatively impacts the remaining low income residents.

Like I said, complicated and hard to manage.

And just to give you a bit of perspective on the size of the city versus the metro system, here's another map. It's what commuters here call "a joke."

L.A. Auto Show and SUVs

The L.A. Auto Show is this weekend (video clip here). We're not going this year because there isn't enough to entertain MetaBaby. That said, if we really wanted to go, we probably could. We just don't care that much. It's interesting to see all of the new models and prototypes, though. And this year like in all other industries, the green models are getting all of the hype.

Update:
Later that day, Toyota got stumped (via Emerald City). Personally, I don't understand hybrid SUVs. The SUV is really just an unfortunate compromise between having a reasonable car, and an useful minivan. We have a Volkswagon Jetta, which is agile and has spectacular trunk space. We have never come short of space, including a drive up to the mountains when we took luggage, a playpen, stroller, food, and other baby essentials. In speaking to some friends, they've actually said how small the interior to their SUVs are. One said that his high end SUV that can't even accommodate his rear-facing infant car seat in any position except the middle back seat.

If you think you really need a larger car, make sure you're making the right choice. A well proportioned 4 door sedan can be spacious, easier to drive, cheaper to operate (especially with soaring gas prices), and easier to park than an SUV. A minivan will offer you more seats, as wells as a more spacious and flexible interior. But an SUV costs more to operate, isn't as spacious as a minivan, and is harder to drive and park (e.g., no compact spots).

I'm just saying.

Michelin Starring Los Angeles - Follow Up

Maybe Los Angeles restaurants don't have much to worry about. I have no intention of purchasing a Michelin guide. Honestly, Chowhound is my go-to place for local food info. And from this post, it sounds like the Los Angeles Michelin guide is a bit clueless about their muse. If you don't "get" Asian food, you don't "get" Los Angeles food.

Michelin Starring Los Angeles

A most excellent friend told me about the Michelin *oopsie* this week. It's nice to know I'm not the only one making *oopsies* these days.

The L.A. Times reported that the finicky folks over at Michelin, the French-based food rating guide that has led kitchens to greatness or catastrophe, inadvertently revealed their Los Angeles and Las Vegas ratings results on their website before their official release.

Besides the prestige of receiving a star, the article points out that an increase in business is inevitable.

With Michelin stars come prestige, but stars also bring business. "It was one of the single greatest factors in affecting our business and the demographic of our clientele," says David Kinch, chef-owner of Manresa in Los Gatos. Last year the restaurant received two stars when the "Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country" was published for the first time. "It changed everything. It's been amazing. Visitors coming from all over the world. All of a sudden we became a part of the trail."

You'll find the fully leaked list for Los Angeles here, which includes 3 two star restaurants ( "Excellent cooking and worth a detour"), and 15 one star ("A very good restaurant in its category").

Side Note: This became much more annoying when I realized that Joe's Restaurant in Venice received a star. It was busy enough when it was one of our favorite restaurants. Now, it'll be impossible to get into...much less with a high chair. *le sigh*

A Wedding in L.A.

What a great time to have your wedding. A friend got married last night, the weekend daylight savings ends. That extra hour to recover from last night's festivities was much appreciated. I suspect MetaMommy had one too many glasses of wine...a total of 2. Essentially, I was really, really tired last night. So much so that MetaDaddy found himself helping get MetaBaby back to sleep after his 2 A.M. wake-up (MetaBaby's, that is). Generally, I do it. But this was a weekend (i.e., no work the following morning), and I could hardly move, so I didn't feel compelled to say "no, no...I'll do it."

The wedding was lovely. It was at our impressive Los Angeles cathedral. Once the ceremony ended, we walked across a courtyard for the cocktail hour, followed by the reception. The priest joked that nowhere else in Los Angeles provides the opportunity to park, pray, eat, drink, and dance all in the same venue. Also impressive was that it held what felt like around 300 of the couple's nearest and dearest. Turns out, that's a lot of people. I'm just glad I wasn't in the kitchen...musta been craaaaaaaaaaazy!!

So Congratulations to the couple! And to all of us who are recovering with the aid of that beautiful, extra hour.

(Can you tell this is my favorite day of the year?)