We're blessed to regularly go to one of the farmers' market where Apricot King has a stand. I can definitely confirm that both the in-season and dried versions of the Blenheim apricots are wonderful.
I finally made your apricot jam this summer, and I absolutely love it!!! I will never let another summer go by without making a few batches.
Side note: I’m desperately seeking a recipe I read online a week or so ago, that I thought you wrote about: a blood orange cake-tart…. Was that you? I’ve lost it, and would love to find it so I can try it. Thank you so much for everything.
Do you or could you have a list of all the special foods, gift ideas and culinary that you talk about in your posts? There are a few that you mentioned in the past that I’d like to look up, but cannot remember the brand. I’ve gifted the wine opener numerous times. So easy to use, especially for anyone with grip and hand challenges. As for Blenheim apricots, I’m fortunate to live in San Jose and purchase them at our local Farmers Markets. I use them to make an easy Apricot”Jewel” candy, perfect for holiday gift giving. Grind the cots in a food processor with some lemon zest and a large squirt of honey. Roll into a ball and stuff with a dried cherry macerated in brandy or Orange liqueur. Roll in crystal sugar. A burst of tart, slightly sticky sweetness in your mouth.
My story about the Sante Fe Bar and Grill is this. My husband, sister and brother-in-law had dinner there one summer evening. We had a lovely dinner and some wine. I decided to ride with my brother-in-law in his Porsche. We had no sooner exited the parking lot onto University Ave than we were pulled over by the Berkeley police. My brother-in-law was a public defender at the time and they recognized his car and I think were determined to smack him with a drunk driving charge. I too had to prove I was not inebriated. I had to stand on one foot and then the other, count from 100 backwards and a bunch of other things. They took him to jail and I was released to drive the stick shift Porsche home to their hilly Oakland neighborhood. He was book but a few calls to influential people he was released at 3 am and my sister brought him home. I will never forget the Sante Fe Bar and Grill. The food was delicious. Pam Hughes
Finding your posts on Substack is a treasure! I read your LA Times restaurant reviews faithfully and went to many of places reviewed. We still go to Cafe Bizou (no longer in the valley but with much of the same owners & staff) but can’t remember if you reviewed it or your successor.
So enjoyed this piece, I too, would love to see those ‘high prices’ again, along with the theater of those days😊 I am so thrilled to learn of Blenheim Apricots and a source for those of us who do not reside close to those rare orchards. Thank you!
As always, your writing makes me feel as if I am in the restaurant. You make everything come alive. But oh the comments of the high prices. How I would love to see prices like those today. And you were right about Nancy Reagan. She didn't tell Ronnie how to govern. She just passed in the wisdom of her astrologer!🤣
I've come to depend on you to lead me to unknown treasures of the food world and you've done it again with these apricots. I'm grateful . . . .
We're blessed to regularly go to one of the farmers' market where Apricot King has a stand. I can definitely confirm that both the in-season and dried versions of the Blenheim apricots are wonderful.
I finally made your apricot jam this summer, and I absolutely love it!!! I will never let another summer go by without making a few batches.
Side note: I’m desperately seeking a recipe I read online a week or so ago, that I thought you wrote about: a blood orange cake-tart…. Was that you? I’ve lost it, and would love to find it so I can try it. Thank you so much for everything.
Thank you again, my dear, for showing this and reminding me what fun we had with the SFBG!
Very best,
Jeremiah
loved the old order piece ! 👏
Where did tower source his culinary-grade muskrat from 😂
Do you or could you have a list of all the special foods, gift ideas and culinary that you talk about in your posts? There are a few that you mentioned in the past that I’d like to look up, but cannot remember the brand. I’ve gifted the wine opener numerous times. So easy to use, especially for anyone with grip and hand challenges. As for Blenheim apricots, I’m fortunate to live in San Jose and purchase them at our local Farmers Markets. I use them to make an easy Apricot”Jewel” candy, perfect for holiday gift giving. Grind the cots in a food processor with some lemon zest and a large squirt of honey. Roll into a ball and stuff with a dried cherry macerated in brandy or Orange liqueur. Roll in crystal sugar. A burst of tart, slightly sticky sweetness in your mouth.
My story about the Sante Fe Bar and Grill is this. My husband, sister and brother-in-law had dinner there one summer evening. We had a lovely dinner and some wine. I decided to ride with my brother-in-law in his Porsche. We had no sooner exited the parking lot onto University Ave than we were pulled over by the Berkeley police. My brother-in-law was a public defender at the time and they recognized his car and I think were determined to smack him with a drunk driving charge. I too had to prove I was not inebriated. I had to stand on one foot and then the other, count from 100 backwards and a bunch of other things. They took him to jail and I was released to drive the stick shift Porsche home to their hilly Oakland neighborhood. He was book but a few calls to influential people he was released at 3 am and my sister brought him home. I will never forget the Sante Fe Bar and Grill. The food was delicious. Pam Hughes
We had a 50 yr old Blenheim apricot tree on the Mulholland Hollywood Ranch — literally California Gold in a tiny juicy fruit
Going to be looking for those apricots!
Finding your posts on Substack is a treasure! I read your LA Times restaurant reviews faithfully and went to many of places reviewed. We still go to Cafe Bizou (no longer in the valley but with much of the same owners & staff) but can’t remember if you reviewed it or your successor.
So enjoyed this piece, I too, would love to see those ‘high prices’ again, along with the theater of those days😊 I am so thrilled to learn of Blenheim Apricots and a source for those of us who do not reside close to those rare orchards. Thank you!
As always, your writing makes me feel as if I am in the restaurant. You make everything come alive. But oh the comments of the high prices. How I would love to see prices like those today. And you were right about Nancy Reagan. She didn't tell Ronnie how to govern. She just passed in the wisdom of her astrologer!🤣
We especially like the slippits from Apricot King.