Bread

Back in the ’70s, “Hey man—got any bread?” meant “Do you have any money?” Your response would have indicated the status of your wallet, or your “dough.” Our culture seems to love bread so much we even nicknamed our currency after it. Our high consumption of it has made gluten intolerance about as common as credit card debt. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and (without being specified on the label) in countless processed foods.

In the restaurant business, the phrase "soft opening" indicates a new venue will start to serve customers without the fanfare and pressure of a grand opening. Kinks in service, preparation, inventory computer programs and construction finishing can be ironed out as the new personnel learn their way around the house. Minx Restaurant and Lounge in the Glendale foothills has softly opened, quietly serving dinner for the past couple weeks in the Glendale foothill location of the former Rusty Pelican.

A simple man he was and he stood before the multitude and with five loaves of bread and two fish he fed the flock of worshipers who had come to see the miraculous. His friends sat in disbelief, but the simple man said, “Why do you doubt me?” He fed them anyway. By subliminal infusion he hoped that his way would become their way and they would become their brother’s keeper. The flock ate the fish and bread and witnessed the miraculous; but unbeknownst to them they consumed more than sustenance.

Panera Bread, the popular bakery and cafe chain, will open a La Cañada Flintridge location by the end of the month, company officials said. The store, at the northwest corner of the La Cañada Town Center, is scheduled to open June 29. Panera plans to hire up to 50 people in the coming weeks, spokeswoman Kristen Bergevin said. The opening is the end product of years of negotiations between the company and Mattix Development Partners, which owns the La Cañada Town Center. "It is a perfect fit," said General Manager Layla Tabata.

In a society where carbs have officially become America's number one enemy, I have to confess that I love carbs. That makes me sound like a Benedict Arnold but I can't even comprehend how anyone can possibly give up white bread, pasta and cereal. Those three items are practically my staple foods! Of course, that also probably explains why the doctor told me that I need to think about losing 10 or 15 pounds. It's worth noting, however, that my parents (who are also part of the no carb craze)

Panera Bread opened its new La Cañada Flintridge store Tuesday, drawing hungry patrons eager to sample menu items that include a Fuji apple chicken salad and a turkey artichoke sandwich. The bakery and cafe is the latest addition to the Town Center, at the northeast corner of Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest Highway, home to the Sport Chalet headquarters and several other retailers and eateries. "We have been really anxious to get it open," store manager Layla Tabata said.

  Rutabaga and Leek Chowder With crisp smoky croutons From "Vegetable Soups" If you've never tasted rutabagas or think you don't like them, the flavor of this soup will surprise and please you. 1 1/2 pound rutabagas 2 to 3 tablespoons butter Hefty pinch of dried thyme 1 bay leaf 2 medium leeks, chopped (1 to 2 cups) 1/2 pound potato peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes Sea salt and freshly ground pepper 6 cups chicken stock, vegetable stock or water To finish: 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup 1 inch bread chunks 1/2 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika 1. Thickly peel the rutabagas, getting under the epidermis, quarter them lengthwise and then slice crosswise about 1/8 inch thick.

Bob and I have been dining often at Havana Beach Cafe lately because the owners, Mel and Connie Barauskas, added my favorite Cuban treat to the menu - the media noche sandwich. The menu has always included a grilled Cuban sandwich made with the same ingredients as the media noche - ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese and pickles. The Cuban sandwich is enfolded in crispy-crusted Cuban bread. The media noche requires a similarly thin bread, but it's a sweet bread, a little like egg bread with a shiny smooth crust.

Wine and Food Pair in Marriage When I heard from Clyde Hemphill that his son was a catering cook and his daughter-in-law worked as a sommelier, I thought to myself, "What a perfect pairing." Clyde's son Jeff was introduced to his future wife Leslie Burns by wine shop owner Bill Drury at a birthday party for Jeff. In their cozy Sierra Madre apartment, the couple proudly displays an empty three-liter bottle of wine converted into a very pretty lamp. "Bill saved the bottle from the party where we met, had it made into a lamp and gave it to us for a wedding present."

Ah, the "olden days," a time when life was simpler, even food was simpler. We ate less processed, sweetened food, and sugar was a rare treat. Just before the turn of this century, the average American consumed about five pounds of sugar per year. Cut to today, you'll find sugar in cereal, ketchup, bread, crackers, salad dressings, sauces and fast foods — and that five pounds per year has multiplied to 135 pounds consumed each year! Back in those olden days, there were no Krispy Kreme doughnuts (10 grams of sugar)

Panera Bread opened its new La Cañada Flintridge store Tuesday, drawing hungry patrons eager to sample menu items that include a Fuji apple chicken salad and a turkey artichoke sandwich. The bakery and cafe is the latest addition to the Town Center, at the northeast corner of Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest Highway, home to the Sport Chalet headquarters and several other retailers and eateries. "We have been really anxious to get it open," store manager Layla Tabata said.

Panera Bread, the popular bakery and cafe chain, will open a La Cañada Flintridge location by the end of the month, company officials said. The store, at the northwest corner of the La Cañada Town Center, is scheduled to open June 29. Panera plans to hire up to 50 people in the coming weeks, spokeswoman Kristen Bergevin said. The opening is the end product of years of negotiations between the company and Mattix Development Partners, which owns the La Cañada Town Center. "It is a perfect fit," said General Manager Layla Tabata.

Supporting Fiesta Days in La Cañada over the Memorial Day holiday, the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada-AM happily served 620 French toast breakfasts to friends and neighbors on May 29 in Memorial Park. Twenty-five club members, assisted by ten Benjamin Franklin Key Club members, set up, cooked, served and cleaned up the meals that had people asking for Chef Rosemary Hook's Secret French Toast recipe. (She isn't giving it up; try to analyze it next year.) AM Kiwanis would like to acknowledge local businesses that contributed funds and food to our breakfast: orange juice from Ralphs La Cañada; bread, Ralphs La Crescenta; water, Vons La Cañada; syrup, McDonalds; milk and eggs, Trader Joe's; and cream and butter from Greenbergs.

The "I'm spiritual but not religious" community is growing, according to a blog post by CNN writer John Blake. It is growing so much, the blogger writes, one pastor has compared it to a "movement." In a 2009 survey by the research firm LifeWay Christian Resources, 72% of people 18 to 29 consider themselves "more spiritual than religious." Some say the phrase hints at egotism: "If it's just you and God in your room, and a religious community makes no demands on you, why help the poor?"

Just three shopping days are left until one of the most important holidays on our calendar, Mother’s Day. OK, I might be overstating its importance, but how many of us have had the nerve to ignore our mothers on the single day of the year set aside especially for them? Not me. Not Gil. Our dear, departed mothers — and grandmothers — got plenty of attention from us as the second Sunday of May arrived. We knew all too well who had buttered our bread and wanted to make sure they felt appreciated.

St. Bede’s Catholic Church Good Grief, a six-week program for those who have lost a loved one, runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. through May 25 in St. Bede’s Parish Center. The series includes information on the grieving process and an opportunity to share with others in small groups. Topics include: “The Tasks and Process of Grieving,” “What Is Good Grief vs. Bad Grief,” “Coping With Loneliness and Depression,” “Stress Management,” “Learning to Live Alone” and “Re-emerging Into Life With Hope and Purpose.

On Monday night, in true La Cañada Flintridge holiday tradition, the septic system went out a few hours before our Seder. Luckily, the cesspool pumping guy successfully pumped it, with moments to spare. The septic system rebelled against the days of spring cleaning. Cupboards were emptied and cleaned. Dishes were removed and replaced with Passover dishes. The house was scrubbed within inches of sanity. All sorts of objects ended up in the garbage disposal, including garbage, which apparently is anathema, not only to the disposal itself, but also to the septic system.

The La Cañada Flintridge commercial real state market is on a tentative road to recovery, local real estate watchdogs said this week. At this time last year there were 18 vacant commercial properties, said Sid Karsh, a longtime La Cañada Realtor and broker. That number has dropped to about 10, he said. “A year ago was probably the low point in the commercial real estate market in La Cañada,” Karsh said. “There is not that many [vacancies] now but there is still a lot. It used to be in the good old days we didn’t have any.” The recession has driven down prices throughout the San Gabriel Valley, Karsh said.

Temple Sinai of Glendale Temple Sinai of Glendale will celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew) with a Community Seder at 6 p.m. March 30 at the temple. Reservations are necessary and must be received by Saturday. Cost per adult is $50, and per child (up to age 13) is $35. For more information, call Flo Cohen at (818) 244-5650. The Seder commemorates the biblical exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Seder, which means ?