Among Friends

[Noel7]

The inside, one section:

[Moonchilde]

@BirdieGal, I noticed on the Spaghetti Factory website that you can buy mizithra cheese to take home at some of the restaurants, and they give a list of other places you can buy it. Everybody must ask about it!  Having it on broccoli sounds yum. I would also do cauliflower. The place where I had tempura yesterday does broccoli.

[Moonchilde]

@BirdieGal, I definitely remember Griswold’s - been gone a loooong time :-(

And in that same vein - Pea Soup Andersen’s with their fabulous gift shops. There’s one just barely “south” in Buellton above Santa Barbara, and one in Santa Nella in NorCal.

[BirdieGal]

I never knew they sold it. Luckily I can buy it here in town. It comes in a wedge that is clearly cut from a large round ball. It is super flavorful and fresh. Lasts a long time like parm.

Cauliflower sounds great too! 

I mean, browned butter and mizithra on a flip flop would taste great!

[missy1]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

Ohhhhh, memories, @Noel7! In my 20s I went to the Spaghetti Factory in Newport Beach with friends and co-workers aaaall the time! I loved that place! For those who know the area, I worked at the Hospital on the Hill :-)

I just looked it up and there’s one in San Jose - road trip! I absolutely adored the spaghetti with mizithra cheese & browned butter - rarely got anything else. Such a delightful, fun place. It always put me in a good mood.

I  also love the  spaghetti with Mizithra Cheese and Browned Butter. I wish I could replicate it at home. Anyone try the recipes online?

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[Moonchilde]

@missy1, yes, just ask @BirdieGal :-)

[BirdieGal]

@Moonchilde

Every time we drive down south we always always stop at Pea Soup Anderson’s. DD and I were there last when we drove down when my mom passed.

I love to get the soup with all the toppings on the side. The little rolls are so,good too! DD usually orders something else and ends up eating most of my food. LOL! Always been that way.

The gift shop is great too. 

When we would go to Solvang we always went to the one in Buelton. Solvang and Disneyland were the first date my husband (then boyfriend) took me on, He flew us there. I love Solvang. Used to go there as a kid every year with my parents. 

[DiAnne]

@Moonchilde

John Wayne used to be around the Balboa Bay Club often.  He also used to hang out at bar on Lido Isle (can't remember the name of it).  

I only worked at two hospitals  - when Fountain Valley Regional was built they offered me a job and I stayed there until I moved to the PNW.  It used to be a great place to work. 

[BirdieGal]

@missy1

Ohhhh, it’s so easy it’s not even funny.

Cook spaghetti of your choice in boiling salted water. I like thin (not angel hair) spaghetti for this but it’s up to,you.

While the pasta is cooking. Take a good quality butter. I just eyeball the amounts but for a half of box of pasta I might use 1 to 1.5 stick of butter. Maybe a bit more if you like a lot of sauce. The cheese does soak up the sauce.

put butter in saucepan and begin to melt. You need to stir it constantly once it begins to bubble (that is the liquids separating from the solids) keep whisking until the butter begins to turn a caramel color. Like a Werthers caramel. Remove from heat. That is done.

Grate your mizithra, I usually do that first thing. When pasta is done, drain and mix with browned butter and top or toss with cheese. Add some red pepper flakes if you want a bit of zing.

That is all there is to it.

DD likes to add fresh cracked black pepper to hers. It is one of her all time favorite dishes. 

[Moonchilde]

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@BirdieGal wrote:

@Moonchilde

Every time we drive down south we always always stop at Pea Soup Anderson’s. DD and I were there last when we drove down when my mom passed.

I love to get the soup with all the toppings on the side. The little rolls are so,good too! DD usually orders something else and ends up eating most of my food. LOL! Always been that way.

The gift shop is great too. 

When we would go to Solvang we always went to the one in Buelton. Solvang and Disneyland were the first date my husband (then boyfriend) took me on, He flew us there. I love Solvang. Used to go there as a kid every year with my parents. 

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@BirdieGal, when I still lived in LA, a couple times a year I would drive up to visit/vacation with family in the Monterey area (where I’ve moved to now) and I always stopped for breakfast in Buellton. Many times I’d go to Andersen’s, but then I found a local place across the street - I think it’s called Mother Hubbard’s. All home cooked recipes and full of nothing but locals. Their biscuits & gravy is to.die.for. I love pea soup from anywhere, it’s my very favorite soup.

The last time I stopped in Solvang I was disappointed (and it was 100 degrees as well) compared to the way it used to be in the 70s. Lots of empty stores and junky tchotchkes compared to all the beautiful quality gift shops that used to pack every street, and less restaurants & bakeries. It made me sad. The economy will never be again like it was in the 70s. I love aeblskiver!