L.A. WOMAN

We were spending three weeks in Los Angeles. It was to get a second medical opinion … all good, thank you … but it also gave us a chance to spend time with various friends. And eat food that is not Italian [wink]. To avoid being a burden to our friends (and doing the suitcase shuffle every couple of days), we rented an AirBNB in-law suite in Woodland Hills.

SHE’S GIVING ME EXCITATIONS

Lunch was what I was coming to call Trader Joe’s Redux. We’d sit on the lovely patio eating avocado on sourdough bread. A couple of apples … maybe some chocolate-covered pretzels (my Achilles’ heel).

Dinner tonight was with cat-lovers and Italophiles, Susan and Jeff. The bonus … our kitty fix. We might not get to pet each of them … any of them … give them snuggles, but one needs to see and talk to and interact with cats (substitute “dog”) to maintain what remains of one’s sanity. We started with delicious gravlax on brown bread and the brut bubbles of Prosecco. Then in the elegant dining room, we enjoyed juicy and very flavorful, perfectly grilled lamb, crispy snap peas, and tender new potatoes. Jeff opened a bottle of amazing … AMAZING … cabernet from his impressive cellar. For dessert, Susan made apple crostata … it was still warm and delicious, soft apples on a cookie-like crust, and great with the slightly cool, slightly thickened cream. Thank you … grazie mille!

BE SURE TO WEAR A FLOWER IN YOUR HAIR

Before we even left Italy, Barry had invited us to go with him and wife, Andee, to a football game. He’s a season ticket holder to his beloved San Francisco 49ers. I grew up loving the Dodgers … going to games with my dad, my BFF Laurie, and her dad. Later I discovered the magic … and Magic … of the Lakers. Football, not so much. The 49ers were sort of “my team” … in the Joe Montana/Steve Young years, it’s an easy decision.

The plan was to drive up to the Bay Area on Saturday … five-ish hours … then return home Sunday after the game. For dinner, Barry said we had to go to Poggio’s, their favorite restaurant there. David tried to explain that we … and by we, he meant I … don’t eat Italian food in the USA. “Look it up,” Barry said.

I did.

I’ll summarize the menu with the phrase “balsamic glaze” … which is Itali-fornian. The owners were financiers, not chefs. And while I am not well-versed on all the movers and shakers, butchers and bakers in American eateries, I’d never heard of these people. Sure I could order grilled salmon, salad with dressing on the side. For that I could stay at home.

And to unseal the deal, Poggio’s is over an hour from Santa Clara. If I were in the Bay Area and was willing to drive an hour to eat, my choice would be CHEZ PANISSE. Mecca.

To recap, it meant that in two days, we’d be driving over 12 hours.

I really, really didn’t want to eat there. Andee and Barry knew I was a foodie … but they didn’t know about my alter ego. The one that is finickier than a cat.

I was spending a lot of time stressing about this.

David and I offered to drive. It’s a travel tip I learned from my very clever friend, Lorraine … if we had car troubles, the rental company would come to our rescue. It was a nice contribution to our little adventure. And since I was taking driving lessons in Italy … !!!! … it gave me time to practice … !!!! … driving.

David has long loved football. He was excited.

We were staying at the stadium-adjacent HYATT REGENCY … and since I’m a loyalty member (don’t let that fool you, I enrolled 5 minutes before making the reservations), the rooms for both couples were upgraded to Stadium View. Like that was important to me.

As we got out of the car, my hip was bothering me. Once every so often, it gets achy after I’ve been sitting for several hours … and it always feels better once I start walking around. But it was sending me a message and I decided I would pay attention. I screwed my courage to the sticking point, and when we got to our room, I told David that the three of them could drive to the restaurant, I’d eat something at the hotel. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted from my shoulders.

David went to explain to our friends. When he returned, I was very happy that they suggested we go to a BERK’s … a restaurant they really liked that was only 5 minutes away. Perfetto. Thanks Andee and Barry!

BERK’S is welcoming and clubby, and we sat in a leather booth facing the well-stocked bar that runs along one wall. There’s a big menu and long wine list that took us all a while to read and review and decide.

The four of us shared two antipasti. Garlic fries … garlic and French fries are really a match made in heaven AND tender and crispy calamari rings … extra flavorful sprinkled with Romano and parsley. We ordered wine by the glass … first a rosé, then a California pinot noir.

For the main course, David had tender, pink prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. All delicious, he said. I was feeling frivolous … so ordered two antipasti that I could not resist. Ahi sashimi on soba noodles … delicious, fresh tuna paired with toothsome, tasty buckwheat noodles AND truffle mac and cheese … enough said.

Andee and Barry enjoyed crab cakes, Caesar salad, and steak.

We wanted one dessert, but … if you guessed that we’d order more than one, you’d be right. The crème brûlée with 4 fresh berries was nice, though not quiet vanilla-y enough for me (“Someone watered the vanilla.” Bonus points if you know that reference. Hint: Classic TV.) The other was hazelnut chocolate cake … this sweet treat was pleasant, but lacked the hazelnut uniqueness and chocolate richness that would have let it live up to its potential. Despite the misstep of the desserts, dinner was terrific. Great suggestion, A and B!

THEY WERE RUSHING DOWN THAT FREEWAY

Game day. I was on coffee duty. And when the elevator doors opened into the lobby, it was a sea of Niners red. The Panthers fans who were brave enough to wear their team’s colors were few and far between. I was surprised that the STARBUCK’S was so unprepared for the plethora of people … and there was a wait for them to refill both the coffee and milk urns.

As a huge fan, Barry is a member of the Niners Nation. What is that?, you ask. Good question. It’s a group that hosts a massive tailgate party in a parking lot near the stadium. Dozens of people set up trucks and pop-up tents, long tables ladened with foods, barbeques piled high, buckets and ice chests filled with beer and more beer, jugs of pre-mixed vodka and cranberry (it’s red!). Music and megaphones announcing drinking contests. Some former football player … presumably an ex-Niner … signing autographs. Hundreds of people mingling, revelling. It took a lot of looking to find something that seemed, um, edible (BBQ sauce, no thanks … corn tortillas, just can’t … beer, yeah right). David was a good scout, and I was able to enjoy tasty teriyaki skirt steak … yummy shrimp ceviche with lime … whole shrimp … an avocado … and, yes, a vodka-cranberry in a souvenir red cup. David feasted on all manner of tacos and assorted pork products hot off the grill.

We were ready for some football. Among the masses, we made our way into Levi Stadium and found our seats … great seats about 12 rows from the field. Close enough to see the plays.

Close enough to see Richard Sherman.

In my preparation, I was more concerned about being chilly/cold … and now realized I had not thought about the sun. I, of course, had my daily dose of sunscreen, but no hat to shield my eyes. Thank goodness for my large scarf … as I sat draped, with the edges forming my own private shelter.

David & I tried to be clever and waited until halftime was ending to get ourselves a treat, but the line for ice cream was still rather long. We picked FroYo … refreshing swirls of chocolate and vanilla yogurt-y sorbet (sorbet-y yogurt?). We wandered around the modern stadium before going back to our seats to watch the rest of the game.

It was my first professional football game. My team won. Fun!

(To be continued …)

RICCIARELLI … IN CHOCOLATE

This is another delicious treat from Siena that Italians enjoy at Christmas. It’s an almond macaroon … delicious at any time of year.

2–¼ cups almonds, finely ground
½ cup sugar
2 egg whites
1 tsp. cinnamon
Grated rind from 1 orange
CHOCOLATE GLAZE

- Preheat the oven to 350° F (170° C). Line a cookie sheet with a silpat.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg whites. When they start to get foamy, slowly add the sugar. Continue whipping until they form stiff, not dry, peaks.
- Gently fold in the almonds, cinnamon, and orange rind.
- The dough will be a bit sticky. Use two soup spoons to shape them into ovals (the way you would make French quenelles). Place onto cookie sheet.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes until barely browned.
- Cool.
- Spread warm chocolate glaze on each cookie. Let the glaze harden.
Makes about 36 cookies.
Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

4 oz. dark chocolate
1 oz. butter
- In a small saucepan, melt ingredients.
- While still warm, spread on each ricciarelli. Let glaze harden before serving.