HOME COOKING ON THE ROAD
We were in Los Angeles …. me for a few weeks, David would stay longer for “medical tourism.”
Jeff and Susan always ask what kind of food we want to eat, something we don’t get in Italy. The four of us go for sushi or they prepare a southern-style BBQ with baked beans and hickory-spiced, saucy ribs. This time when they asked, I said “Jeff’s pizza.” Jeff was happy to fire up his special oven with imported terracotta … we were happy to get our kitty fix. Maggie, Teddy, and Maude were patient with us.
With Prosecco, Susan had made deviled eggs. Piled high with salmon roe, low on mayo, these were the best I’ve had since, well, ever! I usually avoid these, since they seem to be an excuse to eat mayonnaise … these were truly yummy double ova treats.
Each pizza was outstanding! The crust, toothsome with the perfect amount of char along the doughy edges … different sequential toppings were mortadella and mozzarella … tomato sauce with mozzarella and pepperoni … mushrooms, pesto, and taleggio. All irresistible.
Dessert was an assortment of beautiful cupcakes. So many choices, so little time.
VITTORIO RISTORANTE AND PIZZA, in Pacific Palisades is where we met Vickie and Mickie. They could not be discouraged from that pick, and while it was great to see these friends, the meal confirmed why I have a “No Italian outside Italy” rule.
The fried calamari rings were good with a squirt of lemon juice … the stuffed mushrooms were fine, but unmemorable … the baked “clams” were no clams, all bread. I’m a garlic lover, but these famous garlic rolls had so much chopped, raw garlic, one bite was too overpowering. The plain rolls were much better, and a more appropriate accompaniment to dinner.
I avoid pasta … for over-cooking and over-saucing, not gluten issues. So I picked my favorite fish, grilled salmon, which came with steamed broccoli. It was good, not delicious … al dente broccoli, uninspired (and I had to ask for olive oil). David enjoyed pappardelle with scallops and mushrooms. Vickie had chicken covered in a tomato-y sauce … and I couldn’t see Mickey’s dish.
Dessert was a totally dry cheesecake, and a beautiful multi-layer chocolate cake … that was too cold to have any flavor. The next day, at room temperature, it was fudgy and very good.
Since we have a grill at the guesthouse, we invited friends for dinner several nights … and we went to SANTA MONICA SEAFOODS for delicious selections. We did opah (moonfish) for Laurie … opah for Agat … ono (wahoo) for Susan and Jeff … ono and albacore for Nancy … salmon for us. Brown rice or potato … whatever vegetable catches our eye, probably asparagus since it was April … a salad tossed with the olive oil we brought from Argillae (in Umbria). In fact, Nancy’s tomato plants were starting to produce, so I was able to use “Km 0” tomatoes, the only kind I eat. Everyone was happy for the invitation.
One afternoon, Fredde called and asked if we wanted some of the German chocolate-style cake she had just baked. Yes!, we said without hesitation. She’s a wonderful baker. The generous piece (for you, Fredde … I used “piece,” instead of chunk or wedge [wink]) was a moist and delicious lightly chocolate cake, topped with luscious cream cheese-buttercream pecan frosting. We tucked into it enthusiastically … total enjoyment. Nary a crumb remained.
Leslie and Rich came for a visit, and it was a postcard perfect day for a walk through the neighborhood and along the small-p palisades. We wandered to PEARL DRAGON on Sunset Boulevard to partake of their Happy Hour. We feasted on crispy fried shrimp … cool salmon-topped veggie roll … yummy dumplings filled with minced pork … tasty avocado and tuna roll … flavorful albacore roll with crispy onion … spicy tuna roll with cream cheese … multi-textural ahi poké. And then …
… since the 4 of us have a long history of eating ice cream together, we walked next door for dessert at McCONNELL’S ICE CREAM. I had my favorite Chocolate-chocolate-chocolate …
We had one final lunch with Barbara and Peter, and she suggested HOP LI on Pico Boulevard, a Chinese restaurant where she used to go with her parents. Growing up, I spent lots of time at their home, and remember them so fondly … I loved the idea of going there.
The meal began with egg drop soup, then we each ordered one dish to share. Steamed rice was adorned with a great assortment of flavors. Mango and Asparagus Chicken had lots of tasty ingredients, though the sauce was a bit too sweet … Beef with Snowpeas was very good with crunchy pea pods and savory chunks of meat … Vegetable Noodles were delicious, chock full of dark greens, probably the favorite of the group … Pork in Black Bean Sauce with bok choy, water chestnuts, and tender slices of pork was excellent. None of us remembers our fortune cookie message or the “lucky numbers.”
It was time for me to head home. I dropped the car at LAX, since David wasn’t cleared yet to drive, checked in, found my way to the lounge to begin the long flight (and the short one).
Home … and kitties. And thus began my week of jetlag.
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
8 oz. butter, at room temperature
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2–½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
Pinch salt
- Preheat the oven to 375° F (190° C). Line 1 or 2 baking sheets with silpat(s) or parchment paper.
- Cream butter and peanut butter, then add the sugars, beating until well blended.
- Add the eggs, mixing well.
- Stir in the dry ingredients until it forms a well-blended dough.
- Shape/roll walnut-size pieces of the dough into balls. Place on silpat- or parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- With a fork, press a criss-cross pattern on top to flatten each cookie.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes until lightly set … do not overbake. (They do not get brown.)
Makes approximately 48 cookies.
Enjoy!
