| Restaurant sampler
Highlights include: the hearty trio of kebab appetizers; the namesake salad consisting of smoky, grill romaine lettuce topped with a spicy pink chipotle ranch dressing; Kobe beef carpaccio; sweet squash soup; veal skirt steak with orange-cilantro chimichurri; satisfying bone-in rib-eye; and caramelized, pan-roasted scallops with sweet-tart Key lime among other items. Entrees range from $17 to $39. Lunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday; dinner: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; bar menu available from 3 p.m. to close. Accepts most major credit cards. (Reviewed 12-7-07) -- J.O. Asian KATY'S DUMPLING HOUSE, 665 N. Cass Ave., Westmont. (630) 323-9393. This low-profile place is a gem that serves up authentic, noodle-based Chinese dishes featuring the namesake "dumplings," chewy, hand-pulled noodles bathed in fragrant sauces.
Matthew excited about fatherhood
Matthew McConaughey has revealed that he is thrilled about becoming a dad. "It's not a science, but I think I've got the instincts for it. I'm looking forward to the big adventure!" he said on US TV show, Entertainment Tonight. The hunky 38-year-old, who has made his name on romantic comedies such as How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and The Wedding Planner, is expecting a child with girlfriend, Brazilian model Camila Alves - and says that family and friends have already offered the couple some advice. "One thing I've heard that's consistent is, 'whatever plans you make, throw them out of the window!'" he added, laughing. The actor revealed that they have chosen not to find out the sex of their baby, saying: "We want to keep the suspense as high as possible." Matthew announced his girlfriend's pregnancy on his website on January 15, where he wrote: "It's three months growing in her womb and all looks healthy and lively so far.
Lynne makes Dusty tribute
That was nice of them. We cut the record the week Capitol Records busted up. So we're downstairs wondering why upstairs isn't coming down to check us out. Turns out there was no upstairs there."
Some artists would have panicked, but after stops at more than half a dozen labels, Lynne shrugged and looked for the next stop. She and her manager took the album to Lost Highway founder Luke Lewis, who eagerly took it off Capitol's hands.
Aching and burnished
Ramone, who had heard tales about Lynne, said she does have "a whiff of danger about her," but that her musical focus and talent are amazing. "I think this album shows a wide audience who she is and what she can do."
The album finds Lynne channeling familiar Springfield songs such as "The Look of Love" and an especially sparse rendition of "Anyone Who Had a Heart." The slow and airy arrangements manage to be both aching and burnished.
WEDNESDAY (23rd)
Club Dragon Eight, 1151 Folsom; 431-1151. 9pm-3am. A gay Asian dance club. Club Hide 9pm-2am, free. Live music. Club NV 10pm-3:30am. Hip-hop and salsa. Club Six 9pm-2am, $10. Dance and hip-hop with various DJs. Desire Fluid Ultra Lounge, 662 Mission; 615-6888, www.fluidsf.com. 10pm, $10-15. Hip-hop, mashups, and rock with rotating DJs. Directions In Stereo Dalva. 9pm-2am. DJs Circuit73, Dave Aju, Wrong?, and Subtext spin everything from punk to disco. Dragon Bar 473 Broadway; 834-9383. 8pm-2am, $10. House, hip-hop, Latin, jazz, and classic dance mixes with DJ Daymetrius. The Dream Queen's Revue Aunt's Charlie's, 133 Turk; 441-2922. 10pm. Drag cabaret hosted by Ruby Slippers and DeeDee La Femme. Element Fridays Element Lounge.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Kanye goes Beyond; shirtless Morgan; J.Lo still ...
Kanye West made a surprise appearance at Flavorpill.com's One Step Beyond party in New York Friday night at the American Museum of Natural History, reports the New York Daily news. The artist backed the set of his protégé, Kid Sister, before taking over the stage to perform "Stronger," "Good Life" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing." *Tracy Morgan was spotted acting a fool at The Plumm on West 14th St. in NY last week. According to both the New York Post and Daily News, the "30 Rock" star was at one point shirtless, standing on the bar and searching for a credit card he thought he'd lost. "Tracy came with a group of friends and ordered two bottles of Veuve Clicquot," a witness told Page Six. "He thought he'd lost his credit card, and staffers were searching for it." Morgan "finally admitted to his waitress that he'd found it in his pocket - right before asking her if he could father her baby." The DUI-prone comic left the venue in a chauffeur-driven car.
Home Cooking: Sweeten Your Valentine’s Day Dinner
(1) Melt chocolate chips and shortening together over low heat just until melted and smooth, stirring constantly. Pour mixture into a foil-lined custard cup to make chocolate curls later. Cover and cool or chill. (2) Mix flour and sugar in bowl. Cut in margarine or butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in walnuts. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom of a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Bake approximately 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees until crust is just beginning to brown. Cool completely on wire rack, then chill. (3) In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat softened cream cheese until creamy. Beat in sugar until smooth. On lowest speed, gently blend in 1 cup of the whipped topping. Spread mixture over chilled crust. (4) Add tsp. almond flavoring and a little red color, if needed, to cherry pie filling.
Crowning achievement: Special ed assistant named Mrs. Essex County at ...
For many, the idea of a pageant conjures images of women fixated on appearance, and prone to exaggerated claims about how they plan to save the world. But the organizers of the Mrs. Essex County Pageant had something else in mind.
Amid overcast skies, the Topsfield Fair celebrated the woman who best demonstrates competence in community service, poise under questioning and creativity in cooking.
Contestants lined the stage, each explaining how she would best serve as ambassador for agricultural events. And in the end, after each of the 10 married women spoke, many thanking the audience and their husbands for missing the Red Sox game, the officials rendered their final judgment:
Karen Moniz, a 43-year-old special-education teacher's assistant in Topsfield, is Mrs.
|
