YES, I LOVE CALIFORNIA NIGHTS

We were in Southern California for three weeks. Autumn in Los Angeles is more like lingering summer with hints of cooler weather that might … or might not … come. We went so David could get a second medical opinion [smiley face about the results], and we visited oodles of friends. But don’t tell any Italians… we ate sushi, Mexican, Vietnamese, Spanish, Chinese, Californian, Syrian, Thai, deli, Hawaiian meals.

ROUND, ROUND, GET AROUND, I GET AROUND

We were now in Long Beach, staying with Leslie and Rich in their beautifully restored and maintained Mission-style bungalow.

I had recently seen that the newest culinary contribution from Susan Feninger, of Border Grill and “Two Hot Tamales” fame, was PACHA MAMAS. And that is where we went for dinner. In a courtyard of a big mall, it’s a small building … large kiosk … with a sliding window where you place your order. As the sun was setting, it was casual and perfect for people watching. We shared tuna ceviche … fresh fish tossed in a lively vinaigrette with pickled red onions and scooped for consumption with crispy corn chips. Then, we each enjoyed paella … served as skewers of flavorful shrimp, tender chicken, mild chorizo sitting on a bed of fluffy yellow rice.

We drove home for dessert … vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and pecans. A sundae is good any day of the week.

I DON’T KNOW WHERE BUT SHE SENDS ME THERE

Dinner was at home, and Rich was the great grillmaster. When travelling, a meal at home is always welcome and wonderful. He smoked a tri-tip to perfection … full of oaky aromas and flavors. That’s the uniquely Californian cut of beef that those of us who grew up on the West Coast cannot describe to butchers east of the Rockies. We also feasted on baked potatoes … steamed artichokes … salad of wild greens tossed with pecans, cubes of apple, chunks of blue cheese, and cranberries, then dressed in a garlic vinaigrette … sourdough bread with butter. And a make-your-own-sundae for dessert.

IT’S GOING TO GET A HOLD ON YOUR CALIFORNIA SOUL, YOUR CALIFORNIA SOUL

Brunch was an Egg McRich … a fried egg and cheddar on sourdough toast. He’s a short-order cook at a local golf course where he makes the best burritos in town … which we enjoyed a few days later … and suggested that he add these simple sandwiches to his professional repertoire. Well done Rich!

Leslie left to be a grandma, so dinner with just three of us … and Rich suggested a nearby Mexican restaurant. If I can have guacamole, I’m content. As we drove, I noticed a glass storefront with neon sign reading, PHO. “I want Pho,” I said from the backseat. When we got to the Mexican place, they said there was a 30-minute wait.

“I want Pho,” I repeated.

This time, David heard me. A few months ago, I had never heard of Pho, didn’t know it was a noodle dish, no idea it was Vietnamese. But we had just listened to the book “FIVE-YEAR PLAN,” written and read by the incomparable Chris Brooks. The protagonist opens a restaurant, and introduces International Night by adding Pho to the menu on or about Day 291 … to less than enthusiastic reception by the locals. Now I wanted to actually try it. If Chris says it’s good, I bet it’s very good.

“Let’s have Pho.”

So we walked over to NUMBER NINE … a large modern space with high ceilings, sparsely decorated. From the menu posted on the wall, I ordered … Pho. And David opened the bottle of Montefalco Sagrantino we brought from Umbria. I know, I know, not the right pairing, but the wine sure was good. The pho … flavorful broth filled with rice noodles, bean sprouts, lime, scallions, Thai basil, chicken … was tasty and delicious and slurpy and totally enjoyable, exotic yet faintly familiar. David had a platter with an egg roll, tender beef strips, crispy rice noodles, a Vietnamese salad (greens, cucumber, carrots), all topped with toasted sesame seeds, a combo he said was very good. Thank you, Chris, for making me a pho fan!

THIS COULD BE HEAVEN OR THIS COULD BE HELL

We were heading south, deep into Orange County. We had an invitation to stay with David’s high school classmate … the quarterback, back in the day when David played defense on the team. For those of us raised in West L.A., this might as well have been a different state.

When we visited Mark several years before, he had a piece of art on the wall that immediately caught our eye … a half moon-shaped painting on wood of the Castello di Cafaggiolo. That was the Medici family estate … about 15 miles from our home.

And there it was, in the entry of his new house.

For dinner, Mark and his wife Chris made their special “enchiladas” … “in quotes” because they’ve added decidedly non-authentic ingredients. The results are yummy … filled with avocado, mozzarella, feta, spinach, grilled chicken, and (more) avocado. The two wines we drank were Italian, our contribution. The bottles were the eminently sippable Sportoletti Assisi Rosso and a subtly assertive Contesa Chiedi Al Polvere … both chosen because our hostess has a fondness for red wines. Dessert was Halloween candy. Hershey’s Crunch and Reese’s for me.

ARE YOU A LUCKY LITTLE LADY IN THE CITY OF LIGHT

Breakfast was a treat … after big mugs of coffee, we enjoyed Mark’s homemade five-grain bread with butter … fried eggs from their two hens … fresh strawberries. David also had the homemade jams … fig AND apricot … and for preserve lovers, those are good ones.

Back in the San Fernando Valley, we needed to fortify ourselves. What better way than BASKIN-ROBBINS 31 FLAVORS … the ice cream scoop shop from our childhoods. The classic butter pecan with 2 spoons was a sweet treat that was fun to eat.

From our hotel room, we … predictably … had dinner delivered from 88 CHINESE in Sherman Oaks. We enjoyed our favorites … green bean chicken AND asparagus in black bean sauce, plus two containers of brown rice.

THERE’LL BE A PLACE WHERE I CAN STAY

I woke up with a message on my Lufthansa app that our Frankfurt to Bologna flight was cancelled. No big woop, I thought, I’ll just call to re-schedule.

Naïve.

The airline phone rang and rang without being answered. The app had no updates. This became my morning … calling and app-checking, app-checking and calling. At least it was the shorter flight I reassured myself.

We were having lunch with my dear high school friend David (he was my original David) and his husband Russell … and, of course, I wanted to go to their house first to see, pet, cuddle their kitties. A girl needs her kitty fix. A bonus was that David had already started his beautiful Christmas tree. He laughed when I told him that the Lemondrop I drank at his New Year’s party several years ago was The. Best. Ever … and Hubby David said it’s the standard by which I judge all other Lemondrops.

We ate at the breezy and modern GRANVILLE’S near the Beverly Center … it has a tree at the center and a peaked skylight that runs the length of the dining room. I opted for the delicious Poke bowl, filled with ahi, avocado, red onion, red pepper, yellow pepper, zucchini, black sesame seeds, rice, and then sprinkled with coconut crack (that’s what the menu called it … the waiter joked about its street value). Hubby David had a thick-cut pork chop, served with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach AND the uptown mac and cheese, finished under the salamander to make the top crusty. I don’t know if it was uptown, but it was great comfort food.

When we began our trip, it seems I had inadvertently left my coat in the bedroom at Agat’s. Was it really … by mistake? I’m glad, since it gave me another chance to see her, give her another hug. So we were heading north, and spending our last night with her [smiley face].

For dinner, she made her delicious ragoût. Tender beef and big pieces of carrots and potatoes simmered into the savory stew … with the resulting sauce parfait for dipping one’s pain. We enjoyed some brie (with just a little more sourdough) as we sipped our wine. And then Agat surprised us with homemade apple crisp … fragrant and delicious, with a cinnamon-oatmeal topping, made doubly good with vanilla gelato. Warm and cold … always a fan favorite.

By now Lufthansa had found us a new flight. Instead of a one-hour layover in Frankfurt, it would be 4 hours. Non c’é male. It could have been overnight … we got lucky.

OH, BUT CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA I’M COMING HOME

We had a farewell mug of American coffee, along with sourdough and almond butter. And we left extra early … to avoid traffic and not worry about unexpected delays. And, maybe, stop at THE WINE HOUSE in West Los Angeles for a couple of bottles of California pinot noir.

We got to LAX … made our way to the lounge. And soon we were flying home.

AND YOU’LL SING “BELLA VITA”

A couple of pretzels always have my name on them during any layover in Germany (one to eat, one to bring home) … and today was no exception.

Home! The kitties enjoyed their treat of Vermont cheddar … I’d open the big can of wild Alaska salmon for them the next day. Casa dolce casa.

PEAR-APPLE CAKE

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 oz. (2 Tbl.) olive oil
Juice from 1 lemon
Peel from 2 oranges
2–¾ cup flour
2–½ tsp. baking powder
1 apple … peeled and thinly sliced
1 pear … peeled and thinly sliced

- Preheat the oven to 350° F (170° C). Grease a 9-inch round springform pan.
- In a small bowl, combine the fruits and lemon juice.
- In a large bowl, whip the eggs and sugar until pale yellow and thickened.
- Slowly add the oil and peel.
- Stir in dry ingredients until well blended, then fold in fruit mixture.
- Pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
- Serve at any temperature.
Enjoy!