December 22nd, 2008 — Natalie Speaks
My new cookbook was officially published (Wiley) today. We’ve created a special page with information on the new book. Slow & Easy: Fast-Fix Recipes for Your Electric Slow Cooker
In the future I may post some recipes or comments regarding this book and slow cookers in general (this is my third cook book with recipes for slow cookers).
Any questions on the book or slow cookers, just leave a comment.
November 12th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
Everybody loves pie, but when it comes to making one, many cooks shy away because of the crust.
While there are all kinds of crusts — cookie crumb, nut, meringue, shortbread and coconut — it’s flaky pastry dough that cooks fear and find elusive. Pastry dough is really not difficult if you know the secret of making it flaky….read more of the article: “Crust that’s easy as pie” (go towards the bottom of the linked page to view the recipes!)
August 14th, 2008 — Natalie Speaks
Some of my more recent articles are not making it up on dailynews.com. Rather than worry about what the paper is doing with the website, here are some links to articles that have appeared on other websites so far in 2008:
My articles get picked up all over the nation by other papers. I’ll try to keep better track and provide links to them as they appear.
June 12th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
Today’s article in the L.A. Daily News, “More bite for your buck”, discusses the issue of people’s eating habits as the economy sours. Here’s a list I put together of great places to eat a meal that won’t hurt the wallet!
You’ll see a certain restaurant at the top of the list below. Every time my son comes back into town, he MUST visit Zankou at least once! It’s that and In-n-out Burger.
Great Cheap Eats!
Zankou Chicken
5658 Sepulveda Blvd.
Van Nuys
(818) 781-0615
and
1415 E. Colorado Blvd.
Glendale
(818) 244-1937
and
1001 N. San Fernando Blvd, Suite 100
Burbank
(818) 238-0414
also locations in Pasadena, West LA., Hollywood, Anaheim.
Wonderful half rotisserie chicken or beef or tri-tip schwarma plates are $8.99 and include hummus or tahini, pickles, tomatoes and pita. Roasted chicken sandwiches (with garlic sauce and tomatoes) are $4.29. Be sure to get a side of the terrific moutabal (eggplant dip) with pita bread ($6.60). Also falafel, salads, tabouli salad and more.
Zanos Pizza Kitchen
21604 Ventura Blvd.
Woodland Hills
(818) 719-0003
Pizza, pasta, paninis, calzone and salads are available (in big portions) - ranging from $5.50 to $21. For $7, you can get a slice of pizza, a cold salad and a drink (with free refills).
Mandarin Deli
9305 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 993-0122
Mandarin Chinese cuisine featured. Try the noodle soups ($6.95), pot stickers ($5.95), scallion pancake ($3.75) along with cucumber and other salads ($3.75). Entree selections, ranging from $9.50 to $12.50 include kung pao chicken, Mandarin boneless chicken, orange chicken, Mongolian beef and hot spicy shrimp, etc. Vegetable and noodle dishes are $7.50 to $8.50.
The Gourmet Tamale Factory
119 N. Maclay Ave.
San Fernando
(818) 837-3524
Although not really a restaurant, you can eat on the premises or pick up tamales and chiles rellenos to go. A dinner plate with Mexican rice, pinto beans and a tamale is about $3. A chile rellenos plate with rice and beans is about $6. Large tamales (beef, pork, chicken, cheese, pineapple, corn or mixed vegetables) are $1.95 each or $19 to $21 a dozen. Chiles rellenos are $2.75 each.
Ginger Thai Cuisine
22330 Sherman Way
West Hills
(818) 887-7118
Salads — such as seafood, papaya, beef or green mango — range from $8 to $12 - and entrees such as yellow chicken curry, chicken kiapow, fish filet with tamarind sauce or grilled rib eye beef,` range from $8 to $18.
The Original Chef Burger Greek Cafe
1543 Los Angeles Ave.
Simi Valley
(805) 520-3997
and
Chef Burger Greek Cafe
(different owner)
4397 Township Ave.
Simi Valley
(805) 582-1491
Serves burgers and hot dogs but noted for Greek and Mediterranean fare. For $7.95, several dinners are available including moussaka and rice, a choice of four different shish kabobs (beef, pork, chicken) with rice and Greek baked potatoes or a grape leaves dinner with rice and veggies. All served with pita bread. Greek appetizers are $2.95 to $4.95; Greek salad is $6.95 (large). Also serve tri-tip or pastrami sandwiches and more. Sit down, take out or drive through.
Campos Famous Burritos
2149 Tapo St.
Simi Valley
(805) 522-8590
More than a dozen combination plates available, among them chiles rellenos with rice and beans; a taco, enchilada, rice and beans; and a carne asada plate ranging $3.80 to $5.35. A la carte items like nachos, tostadas, tacos and burritos at $3.85 to $4.40.
Bamboo Forest Chinese Restaurant
14834 Burbank Blvd.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 988-8688
Dinner entrees priced from $6.50 to $10.25. Most popular are volcano shrimp, orange chicken, walnut shrimp, pineapple chicken fried rice, and chicken asparagus - all served with steamed rice. Appetizers such as eggs rolls, white meat chicken dumplings, and crab and cream cheese wontons range from $2.25 to $5.75. Eat in, take out or will deliver.
Rincome Thai
17050 Devonshire St.
Northridge
(818) 366-5805
A Thai dinner for $7.95 includes an eggroll, rice, salad and a choice of entrees such as chicken yellow curry, pad Thai noodles, chicken with mint leaves, beef with broccoli and more. A la carte entree items also available for $6.95.
Melody’s Mexican Kitchen
6747 Reseda Blvd.
Reseda
(818) 609-9062
Combination plates — two hard-shell tacos with rice and beans or enchilada and tacos, etc., are $5.50 to $9.60. The salpicon tostada with choice of meat is $7.50, while the carne asada burrito, dry or wet (with cheese sauce on top) ranges from $6.75 to $7.85. The menu also includes appetizers, desserts, beans, rice and other items.
Pita Pockets
9127 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 709-4444
Middle Eastern food to eat in or take out. Lots of options for $5 to $10. The lemon chicken and gyros plates are popular, as are chicken schwarma in fresh lafsa bread that is baked on the premises. Tabouli, hummus, baba ganoush and falafel are also available. You can get lamb, chicken and chicken kabob plates with sides - an entire meal for $10 or less.
La Fogata
5142 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 501-9065
Burritos, tacos and enchiladas plates are around $8. A la carte items range from $2 to $5. No lard used here. Eat in or take out.
Carnival
4356 Woodman Ave.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 784-3469
Dinner specials range from $8.95 (bean stew, stuffed chicken) to $12.95 (lamb shanks) and include rice. Appetizers range from $3.75 to $5.50. Combination appetizer platter (enough for two to share) is $8.95 to $11.95. A la carte entrees $11.25 and up. Beef and lamb or chicken schwarma dinner plate is $12.95 and comes with rice and salad; schwarma sandwich is $5.95.
Tony’s Mexican Grill
12910 Magnolia Blvd.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 769-5754
Dinner specials vary on different nights and might include mahi mahi fish with mashed potatoes, spinach and grilled zucchini topped with sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and mushrooms sauteed in a lime sauce or grilled salmon over rice with grilled spinach and zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, and green and black olive salsa, and tortillas on the side, with prices from $12.95 to $13.95. Also available are burritos, enchiladas, tacos, taquitos, chiles rellenos, fajitas, tostadas and more for $2.50 to $10.50. House specialties include items like tilapia, torta sandwiches, soups, trout and seafood plates.
Versailles
17410 Ventura Blvd.
Encino
(818) 906-0756
and
1000 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 937-6829
also Los Angeles, Universal CityWalk
Featuring Cuban food, this chain is known for its garlic chicken but also serves beef, roast pork and seafood. A half chicken dinner with white rice, black beans and fried plantain is $9.95. Other dinner plates are $10.95 to $12.95. Salads are $4.99. Soups including black bean and chicken are $3.
Cafe Bravo
1135 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale
(818) 500-4005
Middle Eastern food. Plates with skewers of chicken breast, beef or pork kabobs are around $7 and come with with rice and two sides (choices of tabouli, hummus, tomato salad, etc.) and pita bread. Other dinners such as lulu kabobs or ground chicken lulu are $6.50. A la carte appetizers range from $2 to $5.25. Dine in or take out.
Tangy Thai
16045 Sherman Way, Suite D
Van Nuys
(818) 994-7556
Dinner prices range from $6.95 to $9.50 and entrees come with steamed rice. Popular entrees include Thai BBQ chicken, ginger fish, jumbo shrimp and spicy noodles. Appetizers such as Thai egg rolls, crispy wontons, fried tofu and jumbo shrimp tempura range from $4.95 to $7.95.
Pine Tree Inn
8322 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 886-1512
Korean food. Chicken dinner is $13.95 (you cook at the table) while barbecue beef is $17.95 - the dinners come with soup, salad and vegetables. Other options also available.
India Sweets & Spices
22009 Sherman Way
Canoga Park
(818) 887-0868
and
18110 Parthenia St.
Northridge
(818) 407-1498
Indian vegetarian fare featured. Dinner specials (order at a counter) range from $4.49 to $6.49 and include rice, two vegetables, one bread, yogurt, salad and pickles (add a few snacks for the higher price). Other options also available. A grocery store is adjacent to the eating area.
Hummus Bar
18743 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana
(818) 344-6606
You’ll find many varieties of hummus here along with other Middle Eastern specialties. Dinner plates with items such as chicken breast, schwarma or meat ball kabobs with two sides range from $11 to $15.
Kabuki Sushi
9701 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 886-8266
Besides sushi, this Japanese restaurant offers chicken teriyaki and other combination dinners at $14 to $15 along with seafood salads ($9.75 to $12.25) and more.
June 1st, 2008 — L.A. Restaurant Reviews
I came across this review of Pizzeria Mozza I had completed in May 2007. It ended up never being published in print. Might as well let someone see it, right?
L.A. Restaurant Review: Pizzeria Mozza
Where: 641 N. Highland, Los Angeles
Phone: (323) 297-0101
Web: www.mozza-la.com.
Meals/hours: Lunch/dinner, open continuously noon to midnight daily.
Food type: Casual Italian
Cost: Starters from to $7 to $15; pizzas from $9 to $17; daily specials $17 to $20 and market price; desserts $8.
It’s not surprising that Nancy Silverton, founder of Los Angeles’ La Brea Bakery, pastry chef, cookbook author and former co-owner of Campanile restaurant is making lots of dough again. But this time it’s pizza dough — and she’s become the city’s chi-chi pizza queen.
She’s teamed up with New York restaurateur, Food Network Star, cookbook author and Italian cuisine guru Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich of New York at Pizzeria Mozza, a Los Angeles restaurant venture at Highland and Melrose avenues that opened late last year.
It’s hot and hip with foodies — and small with just 13 tables and 22 stools at the bar (doled out on a first- come, first-served basis, many in front of the wood-burning pizza oven where you can view all the action). It’s not easy to land a table, but once you do, you’ll be glad you did. The restaurant serves amazing upscale pizzas that play a starring menu role. Thin, light, airy and springy, the terrific dough bubbles up and blisters on the edges and is unlike its counterparts. It’s rolled out about 10 inches in diameter with delicious and inspired toppings beyond the basic Margherita with mozzarella, tomato & basil ($10) which was excellent.
Appealing, colorful and delicious was the prosciutto di Parma, rucola & mozzarella pizza ($14), a Margherita base generously topped with large, thin pieces of excellent quality prosciutto and a sprinkling of fresh basil. A fennel sausage, panna & red onion version ($14) is the most popular pizza we were told during during a recent weekend lunch visit. But we were disappointed as the presentation lacked color and appeal with five, inch-size balls of sausage strewn over atop the melted cheese.
On another visit, we fell in the love with the Coach Farm goat cheese, leek, green garlic & bacon pizza ($14) — with dynamite flavor and attractive looks. Another favorite was the burrata (cheese) pizza ($14). There are more choices, mostly $13 to $14, adorned with items like wild spinach and nettles; mushrooms, fontina , teleggio & thyme, gorgonzola dolce, fingerling potatoes, radicchio & rosemarry; parini, black olilves, cherry tomatoes & anchovy; and oregano salame, mozzarella, tomato & hot chiles and more.
Beyond the pizza, there are many other enjoyable and worthy selections — antipasti, insalate, carne, burschette and panini — to graze on or share. Don’t miss the marinated peppers ($8) — a wonderful blend of red and gold mini peppers served in a mixture of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and capers. Oven roasted olives ($8) (with various types of green and black olives) are teamed with garlic cloves, mini spicy red chiles, assorted seasonings, a piece of roasted orange peel and more — and are a feast for the palate. And we couldn’t resist a fabulous, rich bubby, golden brown, cheesy, cauliflower gratinate ($8). Although the servings appear small, they’re really filling. There are more items to try in the future — marinated beets, caponata, fried squash blooms, crisp goat cheese with baby spinach, etc.
Among the five insalate offerings, the Mozza caprese salad ($12) is a must. It’s a winner with melt-in-your mouth soft, creamy and decadent burrata cheese topped with roasted cherry tomatoes on the vine, lots of fresh basil and olive oil. Also terrific was Nancy’s chopped salad ($15) made with chopped lettuce (iceberg and radicchio), garbanzo beans, salami and provolone pieces, thinly sliced red onions, chopped pepperoncini, cherry tomato halves and very lightly tossed with an oregano dressing. Although it definitely had some bitter overtones and was a bit too oniony and garlicy for one diner at our table, another found it refreshing, appealing and delicious.
The piece de resistance Carne choice was the affetati misti ($24) — a large platter of thinly sliced Italian meats such as prosciutto di Parma, salumi salami and more. On one visit, we tried the delicious rich and filling olive oil braised tuna, hard-cooked egg, olive and anchovy panini($15). Piatti del giorno (daily) menu specials are also available, among them lamb stracotto ($20) on Saturdays and lasagne al forno ($18) on Sundays.
Don’t leave without trying the tempting desserts ($8 each) including a fabulous, light Myer Lemon Pie with a dark graham cracker crust, coppetta (ice cream topped with caramel and marshmallow sauces and peanuts), and budino, a butterscotch pudding with the most decadent salty (fleur de sel) sweet caramel sauce.
Wines by the bottle as well as by the glass are reasonably priced.
There aren’t many misses here — mostly hits — and you can’t beat the pizzas. Plan on calling at least two weeks ahead to secure a lunch or dinner table reservation (the menu/prices are the same all day) on the weekends. Or wait for a seat at the bar during peak or off hours. One of the hottest tickets in town, there seems to be no slow-down in sight. The adjacent Osteria Mozza, a full-service upscale Italian restaurant, which is scheduled to open sometime in June, might alleviate the wait, but who knows. It just might get more crazy.
Review originally written on May 15, 2007.
May 30th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
If you’ve ever stopped at a gas station in Italy, pointed at one of the stacks of pre-made sandwiches and asked to have it pressed or toasted, you’ll be hooked on panini. They are amazing. More than likely, you may not be able to stop at a single panino. But you don’t have to travel to Italy. Now you can get your fix in the Southland at a growing number of establishments that specialize in the warm, crispy, irresistible sandwiches.
Please read the article…“Start the presses! Panini are here!”. For the Panini recipes: “Paninis you can make at home”. For some new haunts to enjoy a Panini: “Places to pick up panini”.
