Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

May your day be filled with Jelly Belly Corn on the Cob, quartered Orange Starbursts, Green Apple Runts, Caramel Sauce Gravy, Yellow Starburst Butter and Graham Cracker Chicken.

Don’t pass up allowable time to pull one over — Photo credit and recipes are here and here.

We took the train to LA for the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown, then walked to Philippe, The Original and Olvera Street — All are within walking distance from each other.

The Dragons and Confetti Poppers were the best part of the parade.

Nearby in Chinatown, Sugar Cane was being pressed — As a kid, I remember a lot of Sugar Cane being sold on Olvera Street, but didn’t see any available whatsoever.  I wonder why?!

The most expensive Ginseng we saw was $899.00 per pound — Wow.

And then we went to Philippe, The Original.  It’s family owned and operated since 1908.

They claim to be the Home of the French Dip Sandwich and lines can be too long.

The lines are weird too — One line becomes ‘pick the best of several’ that lead to the counter.

Note it’s cash only — A French Dip Sandwich was once 35¢.

We both went with the Beef French Dip, though Philippe’s offers several Meat options.

Ours was with a Pickled Egg, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Lemonade and Iced Tea.

Okay, I’m sorry to say… It’s just okay.  I’m not a fan of pre-dunk Bread.  It makes the Sandwich soggy.  I’d prefer to dip it with each bite.  I’m told to have it with Philippe’s Mustard next time and wish I had it this day, since I’m not sure I want to stand in line for it again.

I’m happy to have tried it, which is good enough for now — We’ll see about next time.

Gone with remnants of wet Bread left behind.

Don’t get gas here (above) near Philippe’s and Olvera Street — It’s a bigger rip-off than usual.

The start of one side of Olvera Street (above).

Food and reflections of today (above) and yesterday (below).

The Kitchen at Avila Adobe, the oldest existing residence in Los Angeles.

The Dining Room — I wanted to sit and eat, again.

Another full day of food and fun together.

Carl’s Jr. just can’t seem to leave sex alone in advertising — It doesn’t make me want whatever they’re selling, but a free coupon does.  Though I call it as I see it, Carl’s Jr. still sends coupons to try new menu items, and this time we tasted two Sandwiches we’d again.

Jalapeno Turkey Burger — The Santa Fe Sauce (also on the Charbroiled Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich), Jalapenos, Pepper Jack Cheese and Wheat Bun make this Burger flavorful.  It’s light and satisfying combined with the Turkey Burger, Lettuce, Tomato and Red Onion.

It’s not the good looking guy eating the Jalapeno Turkey Burger that makes me want to try one (but if taking that route, glad it’s realized that women eat Burgers too), nor does a bikini model cause me to want a Charbroiled Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich.  Interesting correlation.  More than anything I value creativity and humor in advertising, combined with a good deal and tasty meal.  Spare us the overplayed sex-sells sales approach — Make us laugh Carl’s Jr.

Regardless of all, I would’ve tried the Charbroiled Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich anyway.

Though ours wasn’t as thick as the one on TV, it’s a Sandwich I’d buy with my own dime.  The Atlantic Cod was all white with good seasoning and it’s perfect on a soft Honey Wheat Bun.

Two of us gave four thumbs up to both — Soon to be customers in line for these Sandwiches.

I try to avoid politics here, but better decisions need to be made — People and animals first.

Have you seen the Anti-Theft Lunch Bag?  Too funny.

Get off your phat phone and eat it.

I like Pistachios, but its advertisers make me want Cashews — Ever seen a Cashew Tree?

Fodder for The Bad, though ultimately not too bad to not eat it — The story ends well with a fast and easy, homemade Tomato Soup.  And our Grilled Cheese Sandwich wannabe ended up okay, obviously with less Cheese.  Inspiration to prepare both came from Panera Bread, where I recently enjoyed another version of this Sandwich (and Soup).  My Tomato Soup is healthier and tastes just as good, if not better.  Full story and recipe to be posted here soon.

Over the edge with too many slices of Burnt Toast that it mustn’t go unreported — Its ratio has tipped into the majority, possibly happening 57% of the time, I confess.  Why is everything else more enticing when toasting Bread?  I’ll still eat it to give a better slice to you.

They were easy to make, but it seems the Sugar Cookie Dough I used (Pillsbury) isn’t conducive to the recipe shown below and linked here — The Candy Corn Cookies baked up well-formed on the video, but my wannabes didn’t end up as triangularly cute or colorful.

The pictured Cookies didn’t stay triangular and basically baked into blobs.

The wannabes were entertaining to make and not bad to eat, but not what I wanted.

We’re forever in search of the “this is the best one yet” Hamburger and heard good things about the Burgers at Café Beau Soleil and Crêperie at Fashion Island — So we went.

Its outdoor patio is across from Urban Outfitters.

Café Beau Soleil And Crêperie is so French — Even our waiter was French and looked familiar.  It couldn’t be that I remembered him from France, since it’s been more than ten years since I’ve been there.  No, I later remembered that he waited on me at Pescadou Bistro one time, another French restaurant in Newport Beach where you’ll find him working at night.

Toast with a Glass of Wine, but not with the one circled below — It’s 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Grigio, which probably doesn’t sound all that great in the first place, but since I like Chardonnay and my Mom (and Hamburger sharing partner) likes Pinot Grigio, we gave it a try.

And it might be the worst Wine I’d ever had — Not sure what’s up with it, but be warned.

Other than that, all was pleasant at the French Café on a beautiful day.

And we liked the Hamburger — It ranks high on our informal best Hamburger list.

We had the Le Burger with Caramelized Onions and Gruyere Cheese on a Brioche Bun and would get it again, with sure to be a better French Wine.  Cheers to many other things, including the bitchen bracelet my Mom bought at Uno de 50 shortly before our relaxing lunch.

Where should we go next sweet Mom?  Cheers to you!

A gift from the Grandkids (Kids in the Kitchen) who know their BBQ’ing Grandpa (aka Mad Dog) well and it’s definitely Budweiser in between his grilling.  Always marinate and never use a recipe it also states — I concur with that.  October still feels like July in Southern California.  The ten minute rule seems doable in this record heat.  Pop open a Stella for me, sorry Dad.

We’re back up and ready to post on the food side of weekend life — Much to be served soon.

I’ve been in this situation and it’s tricky — It happened most prominently in Denmark during an authentic Danish meal with relatives. Open-faced Danish Sandwiches were served with Dill Schnapps the morning after a wild Whiskey night in Denmark.  I don’t even like Whiskey, but it was our first night.  Still feeling it, I was afraid of the beautifully rich Sandwiches that would’ve been appreciated a different day, and I didn’t want to ruin this day so I just ate and swallowed ’em slowly.  Yes, they’re great, thanks!  I hope my aunt and uncle don’t read this.

Each is responsible for him/herself — Government need not mandate how much one can eat or drink, drugs and alcohol aside. There are more important issues to tackle.  Mayor Bloomberg’s latest proposal is simply ridiculous on quite a few levels, but since Nibbles of Tidbits is a food blog and not a political blog, I’ll move on.  Run Soda run, and Hot Dog, you’d better hide.

Note: This is a variation of a pre-published report, posted again to assess technical issues.

Is this ever YOU?  Hopefully the last photo isn’t.

I’ve yet to experience the ideal Coffee Pot design.  Even when I focus on the pour, I still spill.  Is it just me?  Granted I haven’t spent a lot of money on a Coffee Maker, nor poured from the King’s pot, but it just seems that too many Coffee Pots have an imperfect design.  That’s it.

Warning:  Pictured spill may be exaggerated and is closer than it seems.

We like Plums Café, but weren’t thrilled with their Oregonzola and Roasted Muscat Grapes (below).  We like the concept of it, but the warm Grapes just didn’t taste right to us and the Oregonzola (Gorgonzola from Oregon, where the café owners are from) was a bit too hard.  Since we left cheerless about it, I made a copycat to get its potential out of our system.

For our copycat (top), I used Cal-Gorgonzola, if you will, with chilled Grapes and Cashews instead of Hazelnuts.  Both are drizzled with Wild Flower Honey.  Plum’s Bread was better than ours, but we preferred this copycat/version and have much respect for its ($11) source.

Bite the one you love said their advertisement — It’s not this Pup ‘N’ Taco.  I want to kiss its face, not eat it.  The real Pup ‘N’ Taco sold Hot Dogs, Tacos, Pastrami Sandwiches and more, and no longer exists.  Ninety-nine stores were bought by Taco Bell ending the chain in 1984.

04/16/12 Update:  Just so you know, the pictured is not served by Taco Dawg either. 😉

Just kidding — It’s not recommended.

In contrast to the preceding, it’s snowing in a lot of places.  Have you ever caught snow in your mouth?  Are you sure it was snow?  Haphazard snow diets aren’t recommended.