Twitter #Weekendeats highlights: Who needs a brownie?

There really is no such thing as a bad time for a brownie. Bad breakup? Eat an entire pan. Need a snack? Indulge in a single square. Housewarming? Bake a batch. The excuses for eating brownies are endless and apparently our #weekendeats family couldn't agree more or resist over the weekend. We had a varied mix of food and cocktails this morning during our #weekendeats chat on Twitter but the shared pictures of brownies left a lasting impression and a yearning for some chocolate. Here are the highlights:

Pictured above are a plate of decadent chocolate brownies from the blog Deliciously Directionless, who wrote "a plate-full of bliss, polished off in a matter of minutes." Dave Volpe of the blog The Starving Artist shared a recipe and picture of a batch of outrageous brownies he made with his new oven. For those who want to indulge but keep it healthy, Yuri, also known as @chefpandita on Twitter shared a picture of "guilt free" brownies that are raw and vegan.

Other highlights included a fun twist on grape leaves made with Swiss chard leaves from Aliya Leekong, a cake made entirely of sprinkle sugar cookies from Buttercream Blondie and a recipe for homemade macaroni and cheese with smoked cheddar cheese and a kick of cayenne pepper.

After the chat, we ask people to upload pictures of their #weekendeats to our What did you eat this weekend? photo gallery. We'll feature some of the photos here on Daily Dish, so be sure to check back for more #weekendeats and #foodporn throughout the week.

Hope to see everyone next Monday morning on Twitter! It's sure to be a drool-worthy good time.

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-- Jenn Harris

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photo: Plate of brownies. Credit: Deliciously Directionless

50 Shades of Food: A perfectly penetrated yolk

Pull up a chair and settle in for our 50 Shades of Food series, where we introduce you to mouthwatering, shiver-inducing, hot, sexy food porn. It's safe-for-work browsing, sure to get your heart racing and your palms a little sweaty, and the only drawback is a possible hunger pang or two after viewing.

This week we pay homage to the egg. The Pinoy Panda, also known as @limer35 on Twitter, shared this week's #foodporn photo of the duck hash from Playa restaurant in Los Angeles from a recent Sunday brunch. Pinoy Panda was able to capture just the right moment when you gently pierce the flesh of the egg with a knife and watch the luscious yolk spill from the center.

"Check out that perfect 63° egg," wrote Pinoy Panda on Twitter.

We not only checked it out, we did a double take.

If you'd like to get in on the food porn action, upload photos of your food to any of our food galleries --  What did you eat this weekend?; Our recipes, your kitchen; or Cheers! What are you drinking? -- and we'll be on the lookout for photos that make our eyes pop. You can also share photos with us on our Facebook page or on Twitter. Be sure to include your name, a description of the photo and any personal blog or Twitter handle you'd like us to give a shout-out to.

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-- Jenn Harris

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photo: Duck egg hash. Credit: Pinoy Panda

It's Tequila Day! Sweet deals and 3 recipes to celebrate

Today happens to be National Tequila Day, the perfect excuse to indulge in an after-work tequila beverage, salt rim and all. It may only be Tuesday, but if we're being realistic, it's never too early in the week for a margarita. Here are a couple places around town offering specials to help you get your drink on:

Pink Taco Century City and Sunset locations are celebrating with half off their margaritas and tequila well drinks from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurants are also offering their Taco Tuesday specials, including their Clase Azul margaritas for $8 and pitchers of the Pink Taco house margarita. 

PHOTOS: 3 Recipes for National Margarita Day

Tortilla Republic grill and margarita bar is offering its house margarita (Tequila Blanco, Triple Sec, house-made agave and fresh lime) for $5.

Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks is serving its signature Casa Vega margarita for $4.99. All you have to do is mention "National Tequila Day" to your server to get the special price.

If you want to make yourself a killer tequila beverage at home, check out this recipe from the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen for a blood orange jalapeno margarita with a kick: 

Twitter #Weekendeats highlights: Here come the unique eats

Some Mondays, during our #weekendeats chat, a clear theme emerges. Maybe people felt like pasta over the weekend, or cravings for chocolate were insatiable, but this week, things got interesting. There wasn't so much a theme as there was an appreciation for unique eats. Here are the highlights:

First, let's start with a snack. How about some chocolate-dipped Ritz crackers with chopped pecans from JustJennRecipes.com? It's a different kind of combination for those who like to mix their salty and sweet flavors. If you're looking for more snacks, the Orange County fair seems like a good place to start. Comiendoenla.com shared a blog post with plenty of pictures of deep fried Oreos and a slew of other goodies for gluttons from the fair. 

Maybe you're a fan of classic Jell-o in cherry or orange flavors. The blog YkBUrban shared a picture of an assortment of jellies but in some unconventional varieties. Check out this picture from YkBUrban of wolfberry and black sesame flavored jellies.

Kimchi (pickled, spicy cabbage) is a Korean staple, but Zanitea of the blog Tea Foodie decided to give the classic dish a twist this weekend with a tea-infused kimchi.

Rounding out the list of unique eats was the blog MyLastBite.com with a picture of golden brown sugar cane fried pigs feet and a video of a plate of live, squirming octopus from the blog Dishing Up Delights.

After the chat, we ask people to upload pictures of their #weekendeats to our What did you eat this weekend? photo gallery. We'll feature some of the photos here on Daily Dish, so be sure to check back for more #weekendeats and #foodporn throughout the week.

Hope to see everyone next Monday morning on Twitter! It's sure to be a drool-worthy good time.

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-- Jenn Harris

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photo: Deep fried oreos from the Orange County fair. Credit: Comiendo en LA.

50 shades of food: Silky, smooth burrata

Pull up a chair and settle in for our 50 Shades of Food series, where we introduce you to mouthwatering, shiver-inducing, hot, sexy food porn. It's safe-for-work browsing, sure to get your heart racing and your palms a little sweaty, and the only drawback is a possible hunger pang or two after viewing.

In today's  photo, we celebrate silky, smooth, creamy burrata cheese. Daisy of the blog Daisy's World provided a shot of her burrata with pesto and roasted tomatoes on the vine. The tomatoes look just blistered, the pesto a vibrant green and the cheese a perfect, supple pillow of bliss. The bread in the photo is just barely visible, but one can easily fantasize about how this trio of love would taste spread on a toasty piece of baguette.

Daisy was inspired by the burrata and roasted tomatoes dish at Bottega Louie in downtown L.A.

"It's such a great combination of flavors and a little different from the usual tomato, mozzarella and basil combination," said Daisy.

If you'd like to get in on the food porn action, upload photos of your food to any of our food galleries --  What did you eat this weekend?; Our recipes, your kitchen; or Cheers! What are you drinking? -- and we'll be on the lookout for photos that make our eyes pop. You can also share photos with us on our Facebook page or on Twitter. Be sure to include your name, a description of the photo and any personal blog or Twitter handle you'd like us to give a shout-out to.

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-- Jenn Harris

twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photo: Burrata with roasted tomatoes and pesto. Credit: Daisy of Daisy's World.

Twitter #Weekendeats highlights: It's a pasta party

One dish emerged a clear favorite during this morning's #weekendeats chat on Twitter: Pasta. It seemed people couldn't get enough of the al dente golden noodles and all their glory. Here are some of the highlights from today's carb-filled chat:

The pasta party started with a recipe for ground lamb with whole wheat pasta shells, broccoli rabe, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella from the blog Mango & Tomato. Hester from the blog The Chef Doc joined in with her recipe for Mediterranean orzo salad with plum tomatoes, fresh basil and feta cheese.

Lisa from the blog The Cooking Bride brought shrimp to the party with what she calls "Pantry Pasta Take Two" with a recipe for grilled shrimp with cherry tomatoes on linguine, and the blog Deliciously Directionless provided a recipe for spaghetti alla Puttanesca and a topic for a provacative conversation regarding where the name "Puttanesca" came from.

Michelle Jenkins of the blog Dailywaffle.com noticed the ongoing pasta trend and shared a photo of spaghetti cartoccio (served in parchment paper) with octopus, tomato and capers from Cafe Juanita in Kirkland WA.

All this noodle talk has me in the mood for pasta. For more recipes, check out these picks from the LA Times Test Kitchen:

Tagliolinei al limone

Pasta with fresh tomatoe sauce

Tom Colicchio's gnocchi

Lasagna Alla Pina

After the chat, we ask people to upload pictures of their #weekendeats to our What did you eat this weekend? photo gallery. We'll feature some of the photos here on Daily Dish, so be sure to check back for more #weekendeats and #foodporn throughout the week.

Hope to see everyone next Monday morning on Twitter! It's sure to be a drool-worthy good time.

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-- Jenn Harris

twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photos, from left: Whole wheat pasta shells and ground lamb / Mango and Tomato; Puttanesca / Deliciously Directionless; Mediterranean orzo salad / The Chef Doc.

New in Pasadena: Trattoria Neapolis Italian restaurant and bar

Trattoria Neapolis Italian restaurant and bar has opened in the middle of one of Pasadena's popular shopping districts on South Lake Avenue. Sandwiched between an Anthropologie clothing store and an Aaron Brothers, first-time restaurateur Perry Vidalakis' new spot is bringing the style and flare of an Italian piazza to the suburb.

Chef Bryant Wigger (Four Seasons Los Angeles) is turning out a mixed menu of traditional Italian and California market-driven cuisine featuring items such as the bistecca, a Wagyu flatiron steak with porcini BBQ sauce, roasted garlic gnocchi and smoked pork shoulder, and Wigger's take on tiramisu, made with house ladyfingers, mascarpone crema, roasted summer peaches and caramel. The kitchen houses a 7,000-pound Neapolitan wood-burning oven, used for making Neapolitan-style pizzas. 

The bar program boasts a curated list of cocktails by mixologist Vincenzo Marianella (Copa d'Oro) and a beer list by sommelier Christina Perozzi. The wine list is a mix of 50 bottles of wine from California and Italy, with nothing priced more than $50.

The restaurant space, designed by Hatch Design Group, is divided into two levels and various dining spaces. At the entrance is a light-filled garden room. The main dining room on the first floor consists of the bar and roomy booths, and at the back of the dining room are smaller tables, near the kitchen. On the second floor there is a balcony area that overlooks the first floor and a private wine room.

The restaurant is now serving dinner nightly from 5 p.m. but has a few plans in store for the coming months including a late-night menu at the bar until 2 a.m., lunch service beginning at 11 a.m., a to-go counter and a bottega.

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-- Jenn Harris

twitter.com/Jenn_Harris

Photos, from top: View of the restaurant and bar from the balcony; the roasted garlic gnocchi. Credit: Frank Noack

Twitter #Weekendeats highlights: Summer produce galore

This morning's #weekendeats chat on Twitter was especially colorful. Chat participants shared pictures and recipes for a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables used in salads, desserts, tarts and more. It seems everyone is in the mood to make and enjoy light, easy dishes for summer. Here is a look at some of the highlights:

Lemons were definitely a favorite this week. Daisy Thompson of the blog Daisy's world shared a recipe for lemon blueberry cheesecake cookies, which she notes are especially good with a glass of milk. Mary from the blog the Food Librarian shared a recipe for Meyer lemon muffins, there was a lemon cake from the blog Deliciously Directionless and Stephanie Arsenault from the blog Global Dish shared a berry lemon cobbler with cornmeal topping.

Tomatoes were also a weekend favorite with a mozzarella, tomato, olive oil and braised fennel sandwich from Sycamore Kitchen, shared by @RE_LvTravel, an heirloom and cherry tomato salad with peach-basil vinaigrette from Daisy Thompson of the blog Daisy's World and a pretty tomato mascapone tart from Samantha of the blog the Little Ferraro Kitchen.

The blog Wonderland Kitchen shared an entire feast of vegetables with ways to use your CSA vegetables, including recipes for creamed kohlrabi, cold tomato and cucumber salad, beets in a sweet thyme balsamic glaze, five-minute broccoli and backyard garden string beans. 

After the chat, we ask people to upload pictures of their #weekendeats to our What did you eat this weekend? photo gallery. We'll feature some of the photos here on Daily Dish, so be sure to check back for more #weekendeats and #foodporn throughout the week.

Hope to see everyone next Monday morning on Twitter! It's sure to be a drool-worthy good time.

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-- Jenn Harris

twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photo, from left: Heirloom and cherry tomato salad with peach-basil vinaigrette and lemon blueberry cheesecake cookies. Credit: Daisy Thompson

Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day with fried chicken five ways

It's National Fried Chicken Day y'all. Why not celebrate the ultimate comfort food, tailgate snack and guilty pleasure of finger lick'n fans everywhere? There's a reason why fried chicken is typically served by the bucket full.  It's simply too hard to ever get enough of that crispy, salty skin and juicy moist chicken. After all, it really is the best way to cook a bird.

To celebrate, you can definitely get your chicken fix at a restaurant, but why not make the good stuff at home? Think of it as a way to eat as much as you want, as messily as you want in the comfort of your own home. I've been known to cause quite a mess of my own with what I like to call my "special  technique." Take all the meat and skin off a piece of fried chicken, with your hands of course, then pile it sky high on a waffle or a biscuit. Top it off with a healthy dose of syrup and hot sauce then wrap it up like a burrito and voila. Some serious finger lick'n is sure to ensue. 

If you're up for the challenge, here are five ways to make fried chicken from the Los Angeles Times test kitchen. And as a bonus, here's the recipe for The Tasting Kitchen executive chef Casey Lane's sweet and savory bacon waffles with fried "clucks" after the jump. Enjoy, and don't forget the napkins!

50 Shades of Food: A boozy berry shortcake

Pull up a chair and settle in for our 50 Shades of Food series, where we introduce you to mouthwatering, shiver-inducing, hot, sexy food porn. It's safe-for-work browsing, sure to get your heart racing and your palms a little sweaty, and the only drawback is a possible hunger pang or two after viewing.

"You never forget your first, right?" asks pastry chef Meghan McGarry, who loves to flirt with dessert on her blog Buttercream Blondie. She's of course referring to a recipe makeover; her first being a strawberry shortcake that landed her a job as a pastry chef in Boston.

Meghan's take on the classic includes a brown sugar pecan cake filled with white chocolate mousse. "Add local strawberries that have been getting cozy with Grand Marnier, and the final dish is both fun and comforting," she wrote.

If you'd like to get in on the food porn action, upload photos of your food to any of our food galleries --  What did you eat this weekend?; Our recipes, your kitchen; or Cheers! What are you drinking? -- and we'll be on the lookout for photos that make our eyes pop. You can also share photos with us on our Facebook page or on Twitter. Be sure to include your name, a description of the photo and any personal blog or Twitter handle you'd like us to give a shout-out to.

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-- Jenn Harris

twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

Photo: White chocolate strawberry shortcake. Credit: Buttercream Blondie.