The previous post left me wanting.  Not enough photos (bad blogger!).  Luckily, Krista Simmons published several images for the LA Times yesterday of Bouchon’s soft opening on Monday night.  There is even a small blog post about the event.  Check it out below!

S N A P S H O T S   O F   T H E   B O U C H O N   O P E N I N G   P A R T Y

November 17, 2009 – 12:36pm

“Beverly Hills was abuzz Monday night for the much-anticipated opening of Thomas Keller’s third outpost of Bouchon. Celebrities and foodies mingled in the palatial dining room, sipping Champagne and sampling charcuterie.

But as is the case with most gatherings, the real party was in the kitchen, where guests gathered to see just how Keller’s well-oiled machine works. Attendees passed through, picking up small bites and chatting with the Bouchon chefs. There was also a station where guests got a chance to make olive branch baguettes. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (above), quite handy with the scissors, was lucky enough to score a personal lesson from the master himself.

Of course, there were plenty of chocolate bouchons (pictured below) — along with a pyramid of countless other pastries — for the nibbling.”

Chocolate Bouchons:

Wild Mushroom Tarts:

Assembly:

*Courtesy of Krista Simmons. See more by viewing Krista’s photostream.

The title is pretty self-explanatory.  Thomas Keller’s third Bouchon bistro opened up this afternoon to a town that has been in eager anticipation for quite some time.  I have not eaten there yet, but will very soon.  For those who want to take a look at the restaurant during its very final stages before opening, check out the photos I took below.  Quite gorgeous.

The front entrance, complete with crisp awning and polished double doors:

Close-up of the signage:

Cute custom tiles at the entrance, marking the year of establishment:

Front desk and corridor:

“Un sourire imperceptible”:

Outdoor dining upstairs:

I bet dining al fresco on the roof during a summer evening would just be wonderful. Could kick myself for not taking photos of the raw bar, but that – along with a review – is sure to come soon.

*Check out Bouchon Beverly Hills online to learn more or make reservations

The starry-eyed activists over at McDonald’s have launched a new campaign geared toward African American consumers.  The campaign, called 365Black, is set out to be an on-going web community and forum.  In it, African Americans from all walks of life can join together, find current job openings, and share inspirational stories about how McDonald’s has changed their lives.

This modern day love-fest is likely to have McDonald’s advertisers feeling warm all over.  Their copywriters do a great job of explaining 365Black, so here you go:

“WHAT IS 365BLACK?

*Click here to learn more about 365Black
*Thanks to Breanne for the tip

Starting October 1, the US Department of Agriculture – Food & Nutrition Service – is revamping its current Food Stamp Program in an effort to address the issue of malnutrition in low-income American households.  The new program, dubbed “SNAP,” will take measures to encourage the purchase of meats, produce, breads & grains, as well as dairy products.  Liquor, cigarettes, pet foods, hot foods, as well as household supplies will not be eligible for purchase under this program.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Last year, the federal government estimated that an average of $270 dollars was allotted monthly per participating household under the Food Stamp Program.  This year under SNAP, minimum benefits will jump from $10 dollars to $14 dollars, and standard deductions will be increased.  The cap on dependent care deductions will be dropped, and education and retirement accounts will no longer be considered as part of your “countable resources.”  (Amazing they took this long to figure that one out, huh?)

In short, the new program will work like this: Individuals and families can apply if they meet eligibility requirements.  One major requirement is that a household will have no more than $2,000 dollars in countable resources if there are able-bodied people in the family.  The number expands to $3,000 dollars if the household consists of one or more people over the age of 60, or individuals who are disabled.  Of course, special rules apply to your given situation.  SNAP is even open to some non-citizens, so definitely research further to see if you are truly eligible.

SNAP will work very similarly to the FSP in that households will be granted a specific amount of electronic benefits based on how the program assesses their needs.  Funds are electronically deposited into a plastic EBT card, and can be used very much like a standard debit card.  Many grocery stores and farmers markets will accept this form of payment as well.

*For more information on SNAP, and to find out if you are eligible, click here

Lee’s Sandwiches has always been a bit pricier than its competitors.  Customers have been reluctantly willing to swallow the extra cost for the convenience of round-the-clock hours, delicious baguettes, and an impressive array of safety items like: chicken wings, strawberry smoothies, and croissant sandwiches stuffed with Kraft singles and iceberg lettuce.  The company has thrived even in (and perhaps due to) hard economic times.  It has made a lot of money even though it sticks to a cash only policy (even in Irvine).  Of course, going the cash only route has its obvious advantages, as well.

I’ve never known what to think of this company.  It serves decidedly Vietnamese food, yet the menu markets its signature sandwiches as either “Asian” or “Euro.”  It is Vietnamese owned, but branded with a consciously chosen Chinese/Korean name.  Many of its “Asian” and “Euro” sandwiches are made from the same baguettes, with the “Euro” ones featuring cheaper produce.  Yet the western sandwiches on its menu cost at least $1.30 more.  Really, Lee’s Sandwiches is a company full of fascinating contradictions that all seem to pull in the dough.

Lee’s Combination Sandwich

But has anyone noticed the massive price increases that have happened within the last year??  I went to pick up dinner a couple days ago, and was shocked at how expensive their commonly stocked items have gotten!  Check out three examples below:

Frentel Beurre Demi Sel – $7.25

Previously, about $4.95.  Currently, you can find this butter on the shelf at many Vietnamese markets priced between five and six bucks.  Green Farm Market, for instance, is selling the same 8 3/4 oz. containers for $5.99 – though you can likely find it cheaper elsewhere (Green Farm Market: 16042 Magnolia Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708).

Gavottes Crêpe Dentelle – $38.00

These crisp cookies are popular with my family particularly around the holidays, when hot cups of tea abound.  I’ve even given them away for Halloween.  But for $38 dollars a pop, that’s definitely not going to happen this year.

Boudoirs de Fête by Cantreau – $7.50

This surprise is perhaps the most unpleasant of all.  Boudoirs have been my favorite ladyfingers for years.  I won’t use any other to make tiramisu.  Over the last year, Lee’s Sandwiches has inflated the price of these biscuits to 3 times what they cost before.  Previous price?  A very reasonable $2.50.

When we got home and unwrapped our sandwiches, we noticed that they were noticeably thinner than before.  The Vietnamese sandwiches here have always been thin, but the ones we had a couple days ago had lost a good inch in width.  This change did not show well on camera, but in real life it was apparent right away.

Not sure if all the baguettes are getting thinner, or if they are only scaling back on the ones stuffed with meats and other goodies.  Only more visits over the course of time will tell.  How many more visits is the real question at hand.

*First two images courtesy of Lee’s Sandwiches

Does anyone remember this article published early last week in the LA Times?  The article, titled “Psyllids Found in Orange County; Insect Could Devastate California Citrus Industry,” addressed the discovery of Asian citrus psyllids in Santa Ana, “the farthest north (they’ve been) since moving across the Mexican border.”

It is believed that these unwelcome bugs come to Orange County from San Diego, where a disturbing number of them plagued the citrus crops there.  So far, the psyllids found in Orange County have not been carriers of citrus green disease.  But that could change, and at any moment.  In fact, the day after hundreds of traps were set in Orange County, a single psyllid was found in the LA suburb of Echo Park.

This means that, if history is any indication, these bugs will travel fast and their disease will be not only hard to contain, but potentially crippling to California’s citrus industry.  Check out the article below for more information.  If you are a home gardener with citrus trees, be vigilant about inspecting your plants.  This link will provide you with the valuable information you need.

PSYLLID FOUND IN LA; BUGS IN OC DON’T CARRY DISEASE YET

The Asian citrus psyllid, undated photo from the University of Florida

An Asian psyllid is discovered in Echo Park. Meanwhile, California’s agriculture department says the insects found in Santa Ana do not have the potentially devastating citrus greening disease.
By Jerry Hirsch – August 26, 2009

“Just a day after state agriculture officials started setting hundreds of traps in Orange County for an insect that endangers California’s $1.6-billion citrus crop, sources say they have found the insect in Los Angeles County.

Routine traps captured a single Asian citrus psyllid on a citrus tree at a home in Echo Park on Monday. The insect was identified as a psyllid today.

Agriculture officials are on high alert for psyllid populations because they typically carry a disease has ravaged orange groves in Florida and elsewhere. Officials plan to start setting hundreds of traps in Echo Park today in an attempt to learn the extent of the infestation.

The bug will be sent to a state lab to check if it is a carrier of citrus greening disease, also called Huanglongbing, or HLB. It ruins the taste of fruit and juice before killing the plants. There is no known cure or prevention. If the disease becomes established in a region, there’s no known way to get rid of it.

The new findings are not unexpected. Last year, the first colonies jumped the border from Mexico and settled in San Diego and Imperial counties. Entomologists believe they eventually will move north into the state’s prime citrus growing regions, including Ventura, Kern, Tulare and Fresno counties.

Tests on insects trapped last week in Santa Ana found that they were not carrying the bacteria, California’s Department of Food and Agriculture said today.

“It tells us that we still have not found a hot spot for the disease. It doesn’t mean it’s not out there, its just that we have not found it,” said Ted Batkin, president of the Citrus Research Board in Visalia, an industry group that is working with state and federal officials to contain the insect and the disease it typically carries.”  Read more

*Photo courtesy of Michael Rogers/University of Florida/Associated Press
*Click here for updates

The Cornucopia Institute recently published its Organic Soy Report, titled “Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry.”  The report scores popular companies that market organic soy products, and analyzes just how forthright their foods really are.

O R G A N I C   S O Y   R E P O R T

Find out how your favorite milks, tofus, and veggie burgers have been rated based on the Institute’s 10 deciding factors (including: where these companies source their beans, if they take steps to avoid genetically modified crops, and how transparent they are to consumers).  Not surprising that Boca, Gardenburger, Essenia, Kirkland, and Archer Farms are at the bottom.  The scores for Vitasoy and 365 by Whole Foods, however, are pretty interesting.

Noticeably missing are Morningstar products.  Though I don’t agree with the way Kellogg advertises, I do have several boxes of Morningstar Buffalo Wings sitting pretty in my freezer.  Hopefully, this report is just the beginning of more to come from CI.