"Unreal Estate" by Michael Gross Broadway Press 488 pages $30
This book details the histories of some of the most famous homes in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Holmby Hills and Beverly Park including the people who owned them and, more importantly, how they made the money to buy in any of those communities as well as the scandal's some of them created. It's gossipy, but factual; Gross is very good at that. It's a yenta's dream book!
As it happens, I lived in a one-bedroom apartment at 425 N. Oakhurst Drive, BH 90210 for 14 years. My friend Berenice and I used to walk the residential streets or the walkway along Santa Monica for exercise on most Saturday mornings. So I've seen quite a few of them. But, of course, never met the owners!
The history begins back in 1911 when Beverly Hills was pretty much just ranches and farms.
One of the early residences was Greystone aka "The Dohney Mansion" and it's one of the most opulent homes with 45,054 sq. ft. and 67 rooms for cards, linens, sewing and gift wrapping! Candy Spelling wasn't the first person to think of that. The estate had its own telephone system with two switchboards.
Today it can be rented out from the City of Beverly Hills and Richie's niece Kate did just that for her wedding reception. We were not allowed inside of the house, but the spacious terrace that we were allowed to use ran along one, loooong wall of the house. To use the facilities it was necessary to walk across a lot of lawn and skirt a couple of gardens to reach the park-maintained facilities.
Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay bought Rudy Vallee's old house at 10100 Sunset in Holmby Hills. Hargitay, formerly a carpenter and plumber painted the exterior of the house and the wall around it a bright pink and it glittered because he mixed in quartz dust with the paint.
As if that wasn't enough to make themselves noticeable, they furnished the house with such as a pink shag carpet, pink furniture, a paino painted with cupids, a heart-shaped pink bathtub. Oh! And a heart-shaped swimming pool.
When we used to use Sunset to go to Malibu, we'd always look for it on the lefthand side of the street. Incidentally, Mansfield was not beheaded in the car crash that killed her.
Random addresses to google - 10644 Bellagio Road, Bel Air aka "Casa Encantada" home for the Conrad Hilton clan. 10236 Charing Cross Road, Holmby Hills aka Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion.
How the neighborhood has changed...
Friday, November 16, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
You Put What In This?
We're all accustomed to the universality of some foods. Eggs, for example, can be dressed up with various additions or dressed down - poached or hard-boiled.
There are many dishes that combine chips of some kind in scrambled egg. In Israel, they're Matzo Brei which is eggs beaten with water-softened matzos; In Mexico, they're called Chilaquiles which are eggs beaten up with pieces of a tortilla or tortilla chips, but this is something new:
POTATO CHIP TORTILLA
1 dozen large eggs
1 5-oz. bag of jalapeno-flavored potato chips, lightly crushed
1/4 cup olive oil
3 large scallions, sliced
Get the olive oil going, break the eggs in a bowl, add the bag of "slightly" crushed potato chips -- and what about barbecue or red-hot Fritos -- beat them up, start the scallions in the skillet and add the mixture.
So, where did it com from? Potato chips... Irish potato famine... aha! Dublin! And! If you use salt and vinegar-flavored chips, then you've made that old British classic minus the fish and the chips.
Food & Wine, Dec. 2012
There are many dishes that combine chips of some kind in scrambled egg. In Israel, they're Matzo Brei which is eggs beaten with water-softened matzos; In Mexico, they're called Chilaquiles which are eggs beaten up with pieces of a tortilla or tortilla chips, but this is something new:
POTATO CHIP TORTILLA
1 dozen large eggs
1 5-oz. bag of jalapeno-flavored potato chips, lightly crushed
1/4 cup olive oil
3 large scallions, sliced
Get the olive oil going, break the eggs in a bowl, add the bag of "slightly" crushed potato chips -- and what about barbecue or red-hot Fritos -- beat them up, start the scallions in the skillet and add the mixture.
So, where did it com from? Potato chips... Irish potato famine... aha! Dublin! And! If you use salt and vinegar-flavored chips, then you've made that old British classic minus the fish and the chips.
Food & Wine, Dec. 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Winter Foods
But I Bet George H. W. Bush Still Wouldn't Eat It!
FLASH-ROASTED BROCCOLI WITH SPICY CRUMBS
2 oz. sliced pepperoni
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs which is weird because as far as I know, the Japanese do not eat bread)
1/4 cup plus 2T olive oil (they call for extra-virgin, but when I saw what happens to it, "regular" olive oil is just as good. And cheaper.)
2 lbs. broccoli, trimmed into long spears
2 T Dijon mustard
Preheat the oven to 425.
Chop the pepperoni, garlic and bread crumbs in a mini-cuisinart
Put 2 T of olive oil in a skillet and cook the bread mix until it's crisp then scrape it onto a plate and let it cool.
It also occurs to me that one coud boil or steam-cook the broccoli, dip the florets in a shallow dish of Dijon and then wrap a slice of pepperoni around the brocc' and toothpick it. Be a helluva lot easier...
Toss the broccoli with the rest of the olive oil, spread it on a rimmed cookie sheet and roast it for about 15 minutes. Turn it once. Then spread mustard on one side of the broccoli and press the broccoli into the crumb mixture.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anthony Bourdain remarked in the December issue of Food & Wine that you can never have too much cheese, bacon or starch. This is first cousin to scalloped potatoes, but doesn't contain milk.
TARTIFLETTE
2 1/2 lbs. potatoes peeled
1/2 lb. slab bacon cut in a small dice
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup dry white wine
pepper to taste
1 lb. Reblochon-style cheese, sliced
Preheat the oven to 350. Cook the potatoes, drain and let cool until you can cut them into a small dice and set them aside.
Cook the bacon, drain off all but 1T bacon fat and saute the onion until it's a golden brown.
Add the bacon, the wine and finally the potatoes. Stir it up. Put half of this mixture into an oven-proof dish. Spread half of the cheese over the potatoes, add the rest of the potatoes and cover with cheese again. Bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes or until it turns golden brown and begins to bubble.
FLASH-ROASTED BROCCOLI WITH SPICY CRUMBS
2 oz. sliced pepperoni
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs which is weird because as far as I know, the Japanese do not eat bread)
1/4 cup plus 2T olive oil (they call for extra-virgin, but when I saw what happens to it, "regular" olive oil is just as good. And cheaper.)
2 lbs. broccoli, trimmed into long spears
2 T Dijon mustard
Preheat the oven to 425.
Chop the pepperoni, garlic and bread crumbs in a mini-cuisinart
Put 2 T of olive oil in a skillet and cook the bread mix until it's crisp then scrape it onto a plate and let it cool.
It also occurs to me that one coud boil or steam-cook the broccoli, dip the florets in a shallow dish of Dijon and then wrap a slice of pepperoni around the brocc' and toothpick it. Be a helluva lot easier...
Toss the broccoli with the rest of the olive oil, spread it on a rimmed cookie sheet and roast it for about 15 minutes. Turn it once. Then spread mustard on one side of the broccoli and press the broccoli into the crumb mixture.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anthony Bourdain remarked in the December issue of Food & Wine that you can never have too much cheese, bacon or starch. This is first cousin to scalloped potatoes, but doesn't contain milk.
TARTIFLETTE
2 1/2 lbs. potatoes peeled
1/2 lb. slab bacon cut in a small dice
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup dry white wine
pepper to taste
1 lb. Reblochon-style cheese, sliced
Preheat the oven to 350. Cook the potatoes, drain and let cool until you can cut them into a small dice and set them aside.
Cook the bacon, drain off all but 1T bacon fat and saute the onion until it's a golden brown.
Add the bacon, the wine and finally the potatoes. Stir it up. Put half of this mixture into an oven-proof dish. Spread half of the cheese over the potatoes, add the rest of the potatoes and cover with cheese again. Bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes or until it turns golden brown and begins to bubble.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Gleanings From a Barren Field
At the Jazz Club
When we walked in, everyone was on their feet and the pick-up band was playing something so badly -- all tweets and twits with the odd horn screech -- that I didn't recognise it until the last eight bars! "God Bless America" which explains why no one had their hand over their heart - except me. Better safe than sorry...
Umami In A Bottle
Trader Joe is selling a seasoning blend called "South African Smoke" composed of paprika flakes, sea salt, garlic and basil. These are all big flakes so the 1.76 oz. bottle has a twist grinder in the top of the jar. I used it on a t-bone steak and it fitted right in. I still haven't figured out what to do with the Smoked Salt that Joe also sells.
Good With A Bloody Mary? - Bacon Candy
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teas. chile powder
20 slices of thick-cut bacon
Pre-heat the overn to 400. Line two rimmed cookie sheets with foil. Mix the sugar and chile powder together and cover the raw bacon with it. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the sugar carmelizes, then un-pan it onto a rack. Store at room temperature.
As Long As You're in the Kitchen - Brazilian Truffles
1 14. oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 teas. salted butter
chocolate sprinkles for rolling the truffles
Combine everything but the sprinkles in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it's thick and shiny - about 15 minutes. Spread the mixture out in a shallow dish and let it cool. Butter your hands and form the mixture into balls and roll in the sprinkles. Variations could include coconut shreds or candied orange peel that's been cut into a fine, fine dice -- think "dust."
When we walked in, everyone was on their feet and the pick-up band was playing something so badly -- all tweets and twits with the odd horn screech -- that I didn't recognise it until the last eight bars! "God Bless America" which explains why no one had their hand over their heart - except me. Better safe than sorry...
Umami In A Bottle
Trader Joe is selling a seasoning blend called "South African Smoke" composed of paprika flakes, sea salt, garlic and basil. These are all big flakes so the 1.76 oz. bottle has a twist grinder in the top of the jar. I used it on a t-bone steak and it fitted right in. I still haven't figured out what to do with the Smoked Salt that Joe also sells.
Good With A Bloody Mary? - Bacon Candy
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teas. chile powder
20 slices of thick-cut bacon
Pre-heat the overn to 400. Line two rimmed cookie sheets with foil. Mix the sugar and chile powder together and cover the raw bacon with it. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the sugar carmelizes, then un-pan it onto a rack. Store at room temperature.
As Long As You're in the Kitchen - Brazilian Truffles
1 14. oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 teas. salted butter
chocolate sprinkles for rolling the truffles
Combine everything but the sprinkles in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it's thick and shiny - about 15 minutes. Spread the mixture out in a shallow dish and let it cool. Butter your hands and form the mixture into balls and roll in the sprinkles. Variations could include coconut shreds or candied orange peel that's been cut into a fine, fine dice -- think "dust."
Monday, November 12, 2012
The Tony Tour of Long Beach and San Pedro II
After we left Out of the Closet (picture me, morosely sulking in the back seat) we headed to the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal, Berth 95, San Pedro for dinner. You might think that dinner in a terminal would hardly be chic, but Bistro Catalina will surprise you. Situated on the San Pedro end of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, Bistro has a big patio between two banks of outdoor seating with a gorgeous view across the water towards Long Beach.
Inside the terminal there is a take-out counter on your right and a glassed-in dining room on your left, beautifully done up in Italian marble and muted tones. Because we were belatedly celebrating Tony's birthday - very belatedly; it was Sept. 30th, I ordered a bottle of Domaine St. Michel rose champagne for Tony and self. Richie had an Alaskan Amber Ale. This champagne is $17/bottle and is a bargain - Tony and I managed to get nearly three full flutes each. A single flute of a different champers is $8 a glass!
Tony liked his fish but said the cole slaw was a little dry. Mine was but mine was on the plate and his was in a little cup. Go figure. Richie ate all of his burger but said the meat had chopped onion and Portobello mushroom mixed into it (which didn't sound like a bad thing to me.)
The onion rings and the fish both use the same batter which I suspect had traces of cayenne pepper. A faint heat, but nothing to complain about. Portions are huge. I didn't eat any of the grilled King's Hawaiian rolls and still only managed to eat most of the meat on one slider. Our bar tab was $31; the food before taxes was $47.50.
At dusk, the bridge's blue lights come on and Tony couldn't get over the fact that this place exists -- and he hadn't known about it! He was born in this area and has lived all of his life in it. He was blown away by the scenery -- the bridge arching up high, high above the water and the new Catalina Sea Terminal, of all places.
Bistro Catalina, Berth 95, San Pedro 310-519-7971 I'd like to go back on a sunny, summer day and soak up the view (as well as some of their good food.)
 |
| One of the views |
 |
| The Charcuterie Plate |
 |
| Richie's Bistro Burger |
 |
| Pulled pork Sliders |
 |
| Wonderful onion rings and Tony's fish and chips |
Tony liked his fish but said the cole slaw was a little dry. Mine was but mine was on the plate and his was in a little cup. Go figure. Richie ate all of his burger but said the meat had chopped onion and Portobello mushroom mixed into it (which didn't sound like a bad thing to me.)
The onion rings and the fish both use the same batter which I suspect had traces of cayenne pepper. A faint heat, but nothing to complain about. Portions are huge. I didn't eat any of the grilled King's Hawaiian rolls and still only managed to eat most of the meat on one slider. Our bar tab was $31; the food before taxes was $47.50.
At dusk, the bridge's blue lights come on and Tony couldn't get over the fact that this place exists -- and he hadn't known about it! He was born in this area and has lived all of his life in it. He was blown away by the scenery -- the bridge arching up high, high above the water and the new Catalina Sea Terminal, of all places.
Bistro Catalina, Berth 95, San Pedro 310-519-7971 I'd like to go back on a sunny, summer day and soak up the view (as well as some of their good food.)
Saturday, November 10, 2012
At The Gay Thrift Shop
The other day, pulling out of the gym's garage, we were overwhelmed by the sight of a shocking-pink van emblazoned "Out of the Closet.org" tooling smartly down the street. What a cool name for a thrift shop! When we got home, I Googled it and found that they also offered free AIDs tests, had a pharmacy and clearly catered to a gay clientele. The closest store was located in Long Beach.
Instantly, I e'd our friend Tone who is a Long Beach resident, born in San Pedro. He knows that area like few could. He knew about "Out" - had even been in it once. One thing led to another and ...
Yesterday afternoon, we left our car at his house, hopped into his 4-door pick-up truck and embarked on The Tone Tour. "This corner used to have a fruit and vegetable market ... See over there? that used to be a bar..."
And, speaking of bars, we rolled into his local pub for a refreshing pitcher of beer. After all, we'd been driving on a bitter cold and windy day for as long as 10 minutes! Hydration was clearly required!
After we all took our meds, we rolled onward. My excitement mounted. When I'd realized that "Out of the Closet" was a gay charity I had had wonderful visions of rows of Great Big, High-Heeled Shoes, feather boas, foaming off their racks, shelves of costume jewelry, sequined tops and tables of black mesh stockings lined up in a row. And groups of large men shrieking in delight, "Girl! That is SO you!" at their finds. A sort of roadshow version of either of the two "Cage Aux Folle." s.
Reality was shockingly different. There wasn't a tranny in the place, but there were two Hispanic women quietly browsing the women's section. Richie and Tone picked through the men's stuff - a Polo here, an Armani there...but nothing stirred them to reaching for their billfolds. True, there were fancy cocktail dresses glittering in the windows, but they were probably left over from Halloween. The shelves of glasses, vases, bric-a-brac could have been in any old store.
It was a true thrift shop, indistinguishable from any Goodwill or Salvation Army or Children's Hospital. You cannot begin to imagine my disappointment.
To Be Continued
Instantly, I e'd our friend Tone who is a Long Beach resident, born in San Pedro. He knows that area like few could. He knew about "Out" - had even been in it once. One thing led to another and ...
Yesterday afternoon, we left our car at his house, hopped into his 4-door pick-up truck and embarked on The Tone Tour. "This corner used to have a fruit and vegetable market ... See over there? that used to be a bar..."
And, speaking of bars, we rolled into his local pub for a refreshing pitcher of beer. After all, we'd been driving on a bitter cold and windy day for as long as 10 minutes! Hydration was clearly required!
After we all took our meds, we rolled onward. My excitement mounted. When I'd realized that "Out of the Closet" was a gay charity I had had wonderful visions of rows of Great Big, High-Heeled Shoes, feather boas, foaming off their racks, shelves of costume jewelry, sequined tops and tables of black mesh stockings lined up in a row. And groups of large men shrieking in delight, "Girl! That is SO you!" at their finds. A sort of roadshow version of either of the two "Cage Aux Folle." s.
Reality was shockingly different. There wasn't a tranny in the place, but there were two Hispanic women quietly browsing the women's section. Richie and Tone picked through the men's stuff - a Polo here, an Armani there...but nothing stirred them to reaching for their billfolds. True, there were fancy cocktail dresses glittering in the windows, but they were probably left over from Halloween. The shelves of glasses, vases, bric-a-brac could have been in any old store.
It was a true thrift shop, indistinguishable from any Goodwill or Salvation Army or Children's Hospital. You cannot begin to imagine my disappointment.
To Be Continued
Friday, November 9, 2012
Not My Cup of Tea, But Maybe Yours...
"Dinner, A Love Story" by Jenny Rosenstrach Harper Collins Publishers 312 pages $27.99
This is the story of how Rosenstrach and her husband managed to eat dinner with their two daughters almost every night of the week despite the fact that both parents worked full-time. In addition to favorite family recipes, she discusses how to plate the food to accomodate everyone at the table. One kid doesn't like avocado? The other won't eat cheese? Serve the hated foods on the side and let everyone add what they want to add.
There are tips on how to get your children to converse at the table - Never ask them a direct question, such as "How was your day at school?" instead ask about someone else in their class. How to introduce new foods to them without a fuss on their parts - She made "fish presents" of salmon filets in aluminum foil that had been baked in the oven - and meal planning. "Date night" turns into Saturday morning grocery shopping - both parents like to cook and eagerly clip recipes.
The following recipe appealed to me for several reasons -- I like Asian food, Richie doesn't; he's currently on a peanut butter rampage (Ritz crackers with a smear of peanut butter) and, finally, as a tribute to our French godson who lived with us a couple of months when he was 20 while his parents fondly thought he was learning fluency in English. What he was doing was riding his bike all over the beach cities and playing pick-up basketball. He lived on peanut butter and frozen waffles! He's now 30 and thriving so I guess it didn't hurt him.
PEANUT BUTTER NOODLES
1 lb. udon noodles or spaghetti
1 small garlic clove
1-in. piece of peeled ginger
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
2/3 cup warm water
2 T soy sauce
1 T sesame oil
1 T red wine or cider vinegar
1 teas. sugar
red chile flakes to your taste
Cook the pasta and drain it. While it's cooking, put the garlic and ginger in a food processor until they are finely chopped. Add everything else and process the whole mess until it's creamy. Suggested toppings include sliced cucumbers, chopped peanuts, sugar snap peas or shredded chicken.
This is the story of how Rosenstrach and her husband managed to eat dinner with their two daughters almost every night of the week despite the fact that both parents worked full-time. In addition to favorite family recipes, she discusses how to plate the food to accomodate everyone at the table. One kid doesn't like avocado? The other won't eat cheese? Serve the hated foods on the side and let everyone add what they want to add.
There are tips on how to get your children to converse at the table - Never ask them a direct question, such as "How was your day at school?" instead ask about someone else in their class. How to introduce new foods to them without a fuss on their parts - She made "fish presents" of salmon filets in aluminum foil that had been baked in the oven - and meal planning. "Date night" turns into Saturday morning grocery shopping - both parents like to cook and eagerly clip recipes.
The following recipe appealed to me for several reasons -- I like Asian food, Richie doesn't; he's currently on a peanut butter rampage (Ritz crackers with a smear of peanut butter) and, finally, as a tribute to our French godson who lived with us a couple of months when he was 20 while his parents fondly thought he was learning fluency in English. What he was doing was riding his bike all over the beach cities and playing pick-up basketball. He lived on peanut butter and frozen waffles! He's now 30 and thriving so I guess it didn't hurt him.
PEANUT BUTTER NOODLES
1 lb. udon noodles or spaghetti
1 small garlic clove
1-in. piece of peeled ginger
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
2/3 cup warm water
2 T soy sauce
1 T sesame oil
1 T red wine or cider vinegar
1 teas. sugar
red chile flakes to your taste
Cook the pasta and drain it. While it's cooking, put the garlic and ginger in a food processor until they are finely chopped. Add everything else and process the whole mess until it's creamy. Suggested toppings include sliced cucumbers, chopped peanuts, sugar snap peas or shredded chicken.
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