Chef Jeff has stepped up to the plate and made some very positive changes at Pio Loco. Femme de Joie recently visited twice and noticed a huge improvement in the quality of the food. There are a few new items such as a roasted garlic and olive quesadilla and three-layer lemon cake, as well as price cuts on the menu. Chef Jeff is also much more visible and interested in the comments and feedback from patrons.
By the way, it is to be hoped Jeff is paying the busboy more than adequately, as he is an incredibly conscientious and hard-working employee.
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Some months back a reader suggested the Public Health Retail Food Facility Inspections be included in this column. M. de Joie doesn’t overly concern herself with these reports, as they change constantly and even the cleanest restaurant may earn a demerit because the restroom was out of paper towels when the inspector arrived, but readers may find it helpful or interesting. Here is the link:
http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/EHI/frmPubInspViol.aspx
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Amico del Signore and M. de Joie both recommend Trader Joe’s Cuban-style Black Beans. You might not notice the little black can, hidden as it is on a corner of a lower shelf near the chili, but it is worth seeking out. We’d never say they’ll replace what your Cuban mama might make, but give them a try anyway: Heat them up and serve over steamed jasmine rice with some fried bananas (or plantains) on the side.
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After what seemed like years of waiting, Grilla Bites has finally opened downtown in the small plaza at the north end of the old mall by the college. (Read the full story, “Brian Garcia Conquers His 1,000-Pound Grilla,” here.) They feature organic food (and other than Moonstone, M. de Joie is hard-pressed to think of another local restaurant that does).
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Code Red has closed downtown. M. de Joie visited it only once. While we liked the modern industrial styling of the furntitue with a stark red and black color scheme, we were a bit put off about the scarcity of available food during the dinner hour (three slices of pizza and thirteen chicken wings, which we were told we couldn’t have because they were preparing a to-go order), lack of interest on the part of staff to produce more food, and plethora of assorted hangers-on who didn’t seem to actually be buying/eating but were just chatting with staff.
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With Lee Riggs’ curry recipe and the enthusiasm over Priya, M. de Joie would like to give a shout-out to The Spice Shop in Notting Hill, London, which carries an incredible variety of curry spice blends, as well as almost any other spice and combination of spices imaginable. Walking into the shop – which is only slightly larger than your bathroom – is an intoxicating experience, the perfume of spice overwhelmingly inviting. It’s just a few doors down from that famous blue door of The Travel Bookshop. They do prompt mail-order. Website at http://www.thespiceshop.co.uk/
Femme de Joie’s first culinary masterpiece was at age 4, when she made the perfect fried bologna sandwich on white bread. Since then she has dined on horse Bourguignon in France, stir-fried eel in London, and mystery meat in her college cafeteria, but firmly draws the line at eating rattlesnake, peppermint and Hamburger Helper. She lives in Shasta County at her country estate, Butterscotch Acres West. She is nearly always hungry. Visit MenuPlease for more.
