I really hate cilantro.

 Thirteen years ago I went on a typical rant about how much I hate cilantro. Well it’s thirteen years later and, guess what, I still hate the vile stuff. Only now I know why. It is part of my makeup. It’s in my  DNA. Ed, my older son, gave me a DNA test kit for my birthday and one of the traits that they asked my about is “Do you hate cilantro?” It turns out that there are loads of us who hate the crap and it’s because of some quirk of our genes. None other than Julia Child hated the stuff also. Who new? Ina Garten doesn’t like it either. I seem to be in some pretty company. I not only on my plate or even worse in my mouth. I don’t want to be in the same time zone with it.

Isn't this modern world wonderful?  If my salty language offends someone , my wife will say "He's been this way ever since he's had those two strokes. 

If I say something that is politically or socially incorrect, she'll say "He really has no filters anymore".  Does anyone really think that I ever was politically or socially correct? To paraphrase my second wife  "He may be an asshole but knows what fork to use." Now that I have cleared up this very important issue of the age. You can resume living you’re life again.

 

 

Buon Gusto

 

We had dinner tonight at Buon Gusto restaurant in Huntington Beach this evening. We have been going there for the last six months, or so, and we’ve come to really like the place. The owner, like every good Italian restaurateur, is usually roaming around the dining area and schmoozing with the customers. I asked him the other evening if he knew about another Buon Gusto that used to be in Belmont Shore. He said he used to own it. I told him that I thought Tina and Vito owned it. He told me that he had bought it from them.

I had known Tina and Vito for over forty five years. Our office was across Second Street and I was in BG three or four times a week to get a sandwich or if I was working late some spaghetti. I went in one evening and Tina said she would make mean Italian flag dinner. I had no idea what an Italian flag was but I’ll try anything and I knew Tina so I was sure that she wasn’t going to poison me. The IF turned out to be a plate of pasta with red sauce and white fettuccine sauce and green pesto sauce side by side. Just like the flag of Italy. I loved it and it is now one of my signature dishes that I make when I want to impress someone special.

About ten years later they moved their restaurant to Pacific Ave. in down town Long Beach when everyone expected downtown Long Beach to be the next boom tow. I didn’t get downtown much then and I still don’t but when I was I’d go get a bite at Buon Gusto. I went in one day and there was a new server on duty. I told the gal I wanted an Italian Flag and she said “What is that?’ I told he to go back to the kitchen and tell Tina that some guy wants an Italian Flag, she’ll know. A few minutes later Tina came out front and said “Don how are you?” I felt like I was part of the In Croud.

Back to the Buon Gusto in Huntington beach. There is a vast menu with many good choices. The portions are large and the prices are very fair.

You know what Arnie said “I’ll be back”.