Bits and Bites: L.A. Times Wednesday Food Section, Four Stars ****

Wednesdays are my favorite: Food & Wine Section day. This week's section was a particularly scrumptious one, LAT. If you don't have time to check out whole section, be sure to at least scan these gems.

“AN HERB WITH OUTRE GLAMOUR”
Experimenting with greens is high on my list right now. And Amy Scattergood, LA Times Staff writer, has convinced me to take my interest in this previously harmless (predominately nutritional) experimentation to a potentially dangerous level. I’ve never cooked a leafy green that involves warning signs and the suggestion to wear gloves. I relish the challenge: bring on the stinging nettles. [Click for full article]

“A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME”
There is something about the image of a conference of culinary wizards and gastronomic magicians that, in my mind, is likened to a particular scene in Roald Dahl’s The Witches: At a convention in a hotel in England, there is a little boy hiding out, praying not to be detected by his child-hating company of witches—whose world he has found himself given total access to. In Milan, I would also be hiding out, praying not to be detected, but by secret-guarding chefs, revealing their classified techniques and off the record innovations taking place among the most creative in the world of “molecular gastronomy.” [Click for full article]

"AT CAFE ROUGE, DINNER IS THE SHOW"
yuzu kosho: a paste of yuzu citrus zest, green chile and salt. YUM. Personal food critic fan moment: "Irene, I am jealous you have tried it, I can't wait to try to make it, and this review—of which was as brilliantly nuanced as the food it described—was one of your best!" Review Here