Thursday, April 5, 2007
Last night on my way home from work I stopped at La Bruschetta to pick up some of their excellent vegetable soup for my sick girlfriend fiancée. We’ve eaten at La Bruschetta a few dozen times over the years. It’s on Westwood Blvd, just on the other side of Santa Monica from my house. When I attempted to pay, the waiter — who is the owner’s son — wouldn’t let me. He said he could tell that Tricia was sick when she called to order and it was on the house. How great is that?
Unfortunately the chef accidentally gave me a bowl of some other soup. I didn’t realize it until I got home and she told me it was the wrong one. We called them and they apologized profusely. I jumped in the truck and returned to grab the correct soup. Since I was already there, I asked if they could make me some penne arrabiata, too. I forgot that the arrabiata is no longer on the menu there. Not only did he have the chef make me an order and add some breadsticks, but he also refused to let me pay and insisted that I take home two great bottles of wine. Now that is how you earn a good reputation.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
On Saturday morning I ran a quick 7 miles at 6 am, came home, and told my girlfriend to get ready for an adventure. We packed the truck and headed for wine country (photos). The President’s Day traffic was brutal so it took us almost 3 hours to go what should have only taken an hour and a half. We had a terrific time, though. The Santa Barbara vineyards — of Sideways fame — are just as much fun as going to Napa and they’re only a short drive from Los Angeles. First we hit the Firestone Winery and its sister vineyard, Curtis Winery. Tastings are rough for me because I don’t like any reds, but Firestone had some wonderful whites. I bought a delicious chardonnay and two awesome sauvignon blancs for less than $50 total.
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Friday, October 24, 2003
The Albanese Family’s World Famous Wine Biscuits
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 tbsp anise seeds (optional)
- mix dry ingredients well
- add oil and wine
- mix well and let sit 10 minutes
- roll dough out in strips and form
- Optional Glaze:
- beat 1 egg, 1/2 cup sugar, and 3 tbsp milk
- brush top of biscuits with glaze
- grease cookie sheet
- bake at 350 F 15 - 20 minutes (or until brown)
[Update: My grandmother died on May 4, 2007. Her death was the direct result of the incompetence and negligence of
Indigo Manor]
