Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Products I Love

13 May 2015

Nancy’s Fancy Coconut Stracciatella

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Inspired by the desserts served at her fantastic collection of restaurants (see: Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza, Mozza 2-Go, Chi Spacca), Chef Nancy Silverton recently introduced a line of artisanal gelati and sorbetti called Nancy’s Fancy.

These premium pints, which are sold exclusively at Gelson’s (for now) and priced at $10.99 a pop, include flavors like Butterscotch Budino (scotch-laced “pudding” with salted caramel swirls), Roasted Banana with Bourbon & Pecan Praline, and Frutti di Bosco (Greek yogurt with mixed berries). While I was pretty certain I would fall hardest for the Budino, one spoonful of the Stracciatella and…swoon.

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Now Closed

11 May 2015

Honey Badger Noodle Shop – Alhambra

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Since June goes to bed before the sun sets these days, The Astronomer and I celebrated our anniversary over lunch rather than dinner this year. Not quite in the mood for a fancy kind of fete, we headed to Honey Badger Noodle Shop in Alhambra for a casual, noodle-centric meal. The couple that slurps together, stays together.

I first visited Honey Badger last October with Louise. While the food we tasted was very good, it arrived painfully slowly. Not to mention, nearly half the menu was unavailable for one reason or another.

Fortunately, the restaurant was firing on all cylinders when I lunched here with The Astronomer. Service, pacing, and food were all on point.

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Restaurant Review

07 May 2015

Nomad Donuts – San Diego (North Park)

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After downing our doughnuts and fried chicken at SideCar Merchants, our band of merry eaters strolled down to Nomad Donuts for more deep-fried goodness. We found the shop on a quieter stretch of 30th Street in North Park, flanked on one side by a purveyor of grindz and on the other by an upholstery specialist.

We happened to swing by during Donut Happy Hour, which meant that all wares were marked down to $2. You bet your boots we took full advantage of the situation.

Nomad’s yeast-risen and cake doughnuts are “globally inspired,” boasting made-from-scratch fillings, glazes, and toppings that are playful and inventive. The daily offerings were prettily propped atop stacks of old books, which made the task of choosing which ones to buy quite difficult since they all looked so good.

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