Los Angeles

There are but a few things in Los Angeles that are worth the trip for. I have listed them above. From top: Funnel Mill Rare Coffee, Diddy Riese Cookie, Sunnin Lebanese Cafe, and Chili My Soul. Take a weekend. Go, have some food in L.A. Then get out of there while you still can.

Prague

The beer. Oh, the beer. I wanted to post more, but this picture sums that trip up nicely. Actually, the beer pictured was only good, whereas the dark ales and some of the lagers we had were just heavenly. All the same, when I go back to Prague (as I know I will some day) I will go for the beer.

London Goodness

I've been waiting a long time to post a review of my trip to Prague and London, and I've decided that the one thing that stands out in my mind is actually the meal I had before. I went to London last year for Thanksgiving and did a search online for the best coffee in London. One place consistently came up - flat white. So I went once to try it out and ended up going everyday I was in the city for the rest of the trip. I told the gentleman behind the counter when I was there that first day that I would be there everyday after. On or about the fourth day he said, "You weren't lying, were you?" No, I always keep my word. 

So when I was back in London for a day on my way out from a week in Prague, I insisted that my travelling companion come with me for a flat white. We had the coffee in the papercup (because it tastes different in the glass) with their halumi bagel. It was exactly like I remembered it.

Coq Au Vin, Weightwatchers Style

Who says you can't lose weight and enjoy your food too? I spend many hours planning meals and documenting the food I've eaten. This is actually a recipe I got from the Weightwatchers website, and it's one of the few that's caught my eye so readily. It really stands out with prunes, chicken thighs, herbs, and a nice rich broth with wine. I really couldn't tell the difference between this and a traditional version made with bacon and butter. I will probably use mushrooms instead of prunes next time and I don't think it needed the pearl onions. I served it with a side of vinegary kale.

Fast and Easy Coq au Vin (from weightwatchers.com)

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

Cooking spray

6 skinless, bone-in chicken thighs (about 4 oz each)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 cup thinly sliced carrot rounds

1 cup thinly sliced celery

3/4 cup frozen pearl onions (do not thaw)

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp dried thyme

2 tsp crushed dried rosemary

3 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups red wine

12 pitted prunes

1 bay leaf

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Coat a large Dutch oven or a flame-safe casserole with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper; add to pot. Brown chicken well on both sides, about 5 minutes, turning once; transfer to a plate.

Off heat, coat pot with cooking spray again if it’s dry. Add carrots, celery and onions; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have a few brown markings, about 5 minutes.

Sprinkle flour, thyme and rosemary over vegetables; stir until flour begins to dissolve and even brown a little, about 1 minute.

Pour broth into pot, stirring quickly and constantly to avoid lumps. (A whisk might work best if its mesh is tight enough to prevent vegetables from getting stuck in it.) Once sauce is smooth, stir in wine, prunes and bay leaf.

Bring to a simmer, stirring continuously. Cover pot, place in oven and bake until sauce has thickened a little and chicken is tender when pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes.

Serving size: one chicken thigh and about 3/4 of cup sauce.