Just catching up on posts! Question - what is a black and white cookie? And that Grilled Cheese looks amazing - Jefferson and I share an obsession for Grilled Cheese AND Ice Cream :)
Thanks for the question, Susan! I'm actually writing about the black and white cookie in my next piece since I was inspired to try to make some myself. It's one of the staples of the pastry shelf at any self-respecting Jewish deli. It's a giant cookie that's really like a flat saucer-shaped cake iced with chocolate frosting on one side and vanilla on the other. They're delicious, especially when fresh. And you and Jeff definitely do share a kinship in dietary tastes! We'll have to go out to a deli together one day!💕
All that food sounds delicious and the giant statue of Marilyn is well, enormous! I had also forgotten that she was so very young when she died. Terribly sad.
I read an interesting article about her recently in relation to her stutter. Apparently it took ages to finish her movie shoots because she had to repeat her lines over and over again. It must have been very stressful for her.
Thanks for the info about Marilyn.’s stutter, I never knew about it, though I’m not surprised. The statue really is shockingly large. I guess if the point of art is partly to spark debate, then the statute does do that.  If Marilyn was dressed in a modest little suit, I’m sure nobody would be talking about her. And now, of course, I want to see the movie!
Okay, I'm ignoring Marilyn and the desert and the pastrami sandwich and that insanely massive LA style menu, and even the cheesecake, and going straight to that tennis-ball size matzo ball. Is it as light and fluffy as it looks? 😍 This may determine my next travel destination when I'm in CA. 😀 The article is also terrific, I see, now I've read it.
Thanks, Annette! It really was excellent soup. I make a passable matzo ball, but the trick of making them huge and also light eludes me. It’s on my bucket list of foods I still haven’t mastered--along with rye bread and strudel. I think you’d enjoy the Palm Springs area--a lot of interesting history, with many showbiz figures at the center of it all. Just don’t come in summer if you can help it!
Despite having once lived in metro LA for seven years, I've never been to Palm Springs, so that's a great idea! I get the impression that matzo balls are one of those things that appears simple (unlike strudel) but is very hard to get right. I'm going to have to give them a go. Mind you, I'm no expert. I wasn't keen until I had chicken soup and one enormous matzo ball at the General Muir restaurant in Atlanta, of all places. It was like cloud floating in essence of chicken.. One of the best things I've ever eaten.
It’s always interesting the local spots you don’t see when you live somewhere, and then visit later as a tourist!
That description of the matzo ball soup at the Atlanta restaurant is just perfect! That’s exactly how I like my matzo balls--like a cloud floating in essence of chicken! I make a pretty good matzo ball soup, but I’ve never been able to achieve that light cloud quality you describe. There’s even a debate between those who prefer heavier varieties to light--sinkers vs. floaters. But that’s material for a future post for sure. If you do make them, please let me know how they come out!
I had to smile at Jeff checking out the menu. I assume it was research, since anyone who reads your Newsletter/ posts or Jeff's posts, already knew he'd have a grilled cheese and a black and white cookie. The soup looks fabulous and I would have had to try the cheesecake. Thanks for another lovely piece on food and places I miss.
Thanks, Leslie! You’ve got that boy figured out! I don’t even try to dissuade him from getting grilled cheese and fries. And you’re right; I should have gotten the cheesecake. Hope you get a chance to visit a desert deli with us someday. We’ll get dessert! 🤗
I had forgotten that Marilyn Monroe was so very young when she died. That pastrami sandwich is making me very hungry! Thank you for all the tidbits of information Ruth!
Thanks for your comment, Vicki. It’s hard not to wonder what Marilyn might have accomplished in a different time, maybe with some therapy. But I suspect her looks would always have made her vulnerable to exploitation.
Beautiful post, Ruth and your thoughts about fame are really something to think about. I want that pastrami sandwich! 😂 Thanks for taking us along on this trip :)
Thanks so much, Jolene! I felt rather sorry for Marilyn and guilty for gawking like everyone else. But I guess that’s the double-edged aspect of fame--as true now as then. I imagine there’s some pretty great pastrami in Chicago that I will have to check out one day!
You really make me want to go back! We visited years ago when our kids were little & loved the living desert & zoo and even found a classic old diner - a must for all my travels. Thanks for making me hungry again 👍
Thanks, Ginger! I remember fondly taking our son there when he was small. Somewhere there’s a picture of a delighted little boy with a huge cobra round his neck! Somehow he survived and so did we. Can’t imagine the grownup “boy” doing that now!
Just catching up on posts! Question - what is a black and white cookie? And that Grilled Cheese looks amazing - Jefferson and I share an obsession for Grilled Cheese AND Ice Cream :)
Thanks for the question, Susan! I'm actually writing about the black and white cookie in my next piece since I was inspired to try to make some myself. It's one of the staples of the pastry shelf at any self-respecting Jewish deli. It's a giant cookie that's really like a flat saucer-shaped cake iced with chocolate frosting on one side and vanilla on the other. They're delicious, especially when fresh. And you and Jeff definitely do share a kinship in dietary tastes! We'll have to go out to a deli together one day!💕
All that food sounds delicious and the giant statue of Marilyn is well, enormous! I had also forgotten that she was so very young when she died. Terribly sad.
I read an interesting article about her recently in relation to her stutter. Apparently it took ages to finish her movie shoots because she had to repeat her lines over and over again. It must have been very stressful for her.
Thanks for the info about Marilyn.’s stutter, I never knew about it, though I’m not surprised. The statue really is shockingly large. I guess if the point of art is partly to spark debate, then the statute does do that.  If Marilyn was dressed in a modest little suit, I’m sure nobody would be talking about her. And now, of course, I want to see the movie!
Okay, I'm ignoring Marilyn and the desert and the pastrami sandwich and that insanely massive LA style menu, and even the cheesecake, and going straight to that tennis-ball size matzo ball. Is it as light and fluffy as it looks? 😍 This may determine my next travel destination when I'm in CA. 😀 The article is also terrific, I see, now I've read it.
Thanks, Annette! It really was excellent soup. I make a passable matzo ball, but the trick of making them huge and also light eludes me. It’s on my bucket list of foods I still haven’t mastered--along with rye bread and strudel. I think you’d enjoy the Palm Springs area--a lot of interesting history, with many showbiz figures at the center of it all. Just don’t come in summer if you can help it!
Despite having once lived in metro LA for seven years, I've never been to Palm Springs, so that's a great idea! I get the impression that matzo balls are one of those things that appears simple (unlike strudel) but is very hard to get right. I'm going to have to give them a go. Mind you, I'm no expert. I wasn't keen until I had chicken soup and one enormous matzo ball at the General Muir restaurant in Atlanta, of all places. It was like cloud floating in essence of chicken.. One of the best things I've ever eaten.
It’s always interesting the local spots you don’t see when you live somewhere, and then visit later as a tourist!
That description of the matzo ball soup at the Atlanta restaurant is just perfect! That’s exactly how I like my matzo balls--like a cloud floating in essence of chicken! I make a pretty good matzo ball soup, but I’ve never been able to achieve that light cloud quality you describe. There’s even a debate between those who prefer heavier varieties to light--sinkers vs. floaters. But that’s material for a future post for sure. If you do make them, please let me know how they come out!
Will do!
I had to smile at Jeff checking out the menu. I assume it was research, since anyone who reads your Newsletter/ posts or Jeff's posts, already knew he'd have a grilled cheese and a black and white cookie. The soup looks fabulous and I would have had to try the cheesecake. Thanks for another lovely piece on food and places I miss.
Thanks, Leslie! You’ve got that boy figured out! I don’t even try to dissuade him from getting grilled cheese and fries. And you’re right; I should have gotten the cheesecake. Hope you get a chance to visit a desert deli with us someday. We’ll get dessert! 🤗
I had forgotten that Marilyn Monroe was so very young when she died. That pastrami sandwich is making me very hungry! Thank you for all the tidbits of information Ruth!
Thanks for your comment, Vicki. It’s hard not to wonder what Marilyn might have accomplished in a different time, maybe with some therapy. But I suspect her looks would always have made her vulnerable to exploitation.
that grilled cheese on rye looks amazing!
Thanks, Julia! You can never go wrong with grilled cheese!
Beautiful post, Ruth and your thoughts about fame are really something to think about. I want that pastrami sandwich! 😂 Thanks for taking us along on this trip :)
Thanks so much, Jolene! I felt rather sorry for Marilyn and guilty for gawking like everyone else. But I guess that’s the double-edged aspect of fame--as true now as then. I imagine there’s some pretty great pastrami in Chicago that I will have to check out one day!
That soup looks delish. Would be perfect for today. Another mouth watering blog.
Thanks, Judy! Wish I brought some home! Guess I’ll just have to make it.
You really make me want to go back! We visited years ago when our kids were little & loved the living desert & zoo and even found a classic old diner - a must for all my travels. Thanks for making me hungry again 👍
Thanks, Ginger! I remember fondly taking our son there when he was small. Somewhere there’s a picture of a delighted little boy with a huge cobra round his neck! Somehow he survived and so did we. Can’t imagine the grownup “boy” doing that now!
What a wonderful account, thank you for sharing
Thanks so much, Anastasia!
Love Palm Desert!