In the kitchen, Regina Schrambling elevates humble grits. To help in the kitchen, a Vietnamese cookbook, the recipe for the Shaker sugar pie with coconut from a restaurant called Golden Lamb in Ohio, and picking up Spring produce at LA farmers' markets.
On the restaurant scene, LA looks at the other coast and snickers at Mario Batali's new venture, Del Posto. Back at home, SIV gives two stars (**) to French restaurant Maximilians in North Hollywood. Venerable Valentino had a new chef Dan Dickman of old Rocca, then he left! 3rd Stop is a great place for beers on tap.
A sweet back-story on Au Bon Climat and Qupe wineries in Santa Maria, and SIV's wine of the week is 2003 Ampelos Cellars Evans Ranch Syrah, from the Santa Rita Hills. Good for barbecue, and retails for $26.
And of course, we've already talked about the Westwood farmers' market closing.
Cakes so amazing they'd be hard to cut into
Fruit juice: An invitation to diabetes?
Morbid thoughts? Have a cookie
