Bites: November 6, 2008
By Richard Foss
Sugar and Spice … We’re all committed to eating healthier diets, right up to the actual moment when we actually order that deep-fried Mars bar. A UCLA study reminds us that it’s not just what you eat but how you season it. The stars are oregano and cumin, which have exceptional antioxidant properties, and turmeric, which shows anti-cancer effects in lab studies. Sounds like the beginning of a nice curry recipe … . According to the University of South Carolina, a glass of red wine to wash it down will help protect you from several strains of influenza. See you at that Indian restaurant with the good wine list for some health food … .
Don’t Have a Cow A look at the list of restaurants that will open near Staples Center shows that it’s carnivore heaven. In addition to the first outpost of famed Manhattan Beach steak and seafood house Rock’nFish, there’s Fleming’s and the Yard House, famous for beef and wine, and beef and beer respectively, and Trader Vic’s, famous for whatever goes with flaming rum punch. Though I know that you can get something other than grilled cow parts at any of these restaurants, and in fact I’m a big fan of several of them, I can’t help thinking that a vegetarian place would provide a bit of balance … .
It’s the Great Pumpkin … Halloween is over and we can give up the pumpkin-flavored everything until next year, right? Apparently some people love the flavor, because I’ve been seeing press releases from all manner of restaurants and bars advertising pumpkin-flavored beers and cocktails. Some sound pretty good – I’ve had some fine spicy pumpkin ales in my time, though most of the cocktails I’ve experienced have been cloyingly sweet. Sorry, I’m drawing the line at the pumpkin-flavored wine cooler … .
Gobble … I’m also getting Thanksgiving menus from various restaurants, and so far the most interesting is from Locanda del Lago. Pumpkin and Amaretto soup sounds like an interesting combination, and California trout baked with mushrooms and white wine might wean me away from turkey – except that the turkey here is stuffed with Italian sausage and chestnuts. I’m always making the Thanksgiving dinner for my extended family so I never go to any of these, but this is the first restaurant Thanksgiving in a long time that has really tempted me. Call (310) 451-3525, or check their website for details … .
Tooting My Own Horn … If you’re interested in learning a bit about culinary history in Los Angeles, I’ll be lecturing at this Saturday’s meeting of the Culinary Historians of Southern California at the downtown L.A. library. The subject is the culinary history of the South Bay from 1950 to the present day, and you can hear about the restaurant that sold prime rib dinners for one cent and made money doing it, the escaped camel incident in Hermosa Beach, and other strange tales. The meeting is at 10:30 a.m. in the Mark Taper Auditorium.
We accept tips: RichardFoss@earthlink.net.
Published: 11/06/2008
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