A little back story. I’ve been wanting to go to The French Laundry for ages. For the past two years I’ve been actively trying to get a reservation. No dice. Chowhound has several threads weighing the pros and cons of various techniques, like calling with multiple phones on redial, hitting up Open Table at exactly midnight two months before the date ( Read more... )

When my Vietnamese manicurist recommended Vinh Loi Tofu Factory, I was intrigued. I’m not a vegan, but I was sold when she said that Chef Kevin Tran makes his own fresh tofu and soy milk on the premises every day. Anyone who thinks tofu has no flavor has never had it fresh ( Read more... )

No writing today, just recovering. There were no babies on my flight home and I had Jason Starr’s latest FAKE ID to keep me occupied. I had fun in New York, but I’m very glad to be home ( Read more... )

Through some miracle of weather, the FOB was not sweltering and unbearably hot as it had been over the past few years. Of course there had to be a downside to the balmy temps and that was very strong wind. Not only could I not use my parasol for shade, (it was turned inside out no less than ten times before I gave up in despair) but my perfect hair ( Read more... )

Because I’m totally stressed out with travel plans and deadlines and way too much other stuff that isn’t writing, I’m currently incapable of crafting a thoughtful, intelligent post. So instead, I give you an utterly irrelevant food poll.

Cilantro. Love it or hate itI’m pretty firmly in the tastes-like-dishwashing-liquid camp when it's served up in ( Read more... )

I generally ignore Easter, since it has the least appealing color scheme of all holidays, but I love Vosges Amalfi Bunnies. White chocolate, lemon zest and pink peppercorn. Seriously lustworthy. The bunnies also come in Barcelona (Milk w/ smoked almonds and grey sea salt) and Red Fire (Dark w/ Mexican chilies and Ceylon cinnamon,) but those flavors ( Read more... )

My first question, when did Xtreme Couture take over the planet? I went up the Space Needle and was both stunned and amazed to find more than half of the tourist t-shirts for sale in the gift shop employed that ubiquitous curly, goth-girly wrought-iron looking type of design that’s somehow inexplicably become macho. What I love about the Space ( Read more... )

It’s been a stressful fortnight of multiple deadline madness. All have been met, but the big one, the next book for June, still looms large. I’m trying to stay frosty, with mixed results ( Read more... )

I just had a surreal lunch with my friend Lisa. Lisa (aka Hotwheels because of her wheelchair) finally got her hubby’s car tricked out with hand controls so she’s been a lot more independent lately and wanted to get out of the house and go out for lunch. I’m working way too hard and figured I needed a short break from the grind, so I agreed. She ( Read more... )

First of all, the photographic evidence.The expo was HUGE and jam packed with silicone and slavering fans. When I arrived, I was disappointed to find that the Christian protesters were gone. I took tons of notes and think I have a pretty good handle on the scene I need to write that takes place in the middle of the expo ( Read more... )