Quick Restaurant Reviews: Mozza2Go, Bottega Louie, Bouchon

No Morning Coffee Post today, but here's a roundup of some upscale restaurants in the LA area.

Mozza 2 Go – The LA Times restaurant critic called it the best take out in town, and it certainly was delicious. Not quite as good as in the restaurant, but still excellent. My only gripe is that the hostess was a bit snotty, even after forgetting to give me one of our appetizers. She wasn't very apologetic as she agreed to credit my card because I didn't want to return for the item they left out. Funny how you start to get immune to bad service, though – we've had issues in the past with restaurants refusing to credit a card for an omitted item, so I was simply relieved at the time that I didn't have to fight for what's right. And although we haven't been impressed by the desserts in the Pizzeria, the Butterscotch Budino gave us a whole new perspective on butterscotch. (I just realized that they never issued the credit . . . grrr!)

Bottega Louie – I've been wanting to go to Bottega Louie for months and we finally made it earlier last month for lunch. The food was fantastic, as I expected it would be. The service was spotty at times, but considering the upscale feel and relatively downscale prices, I was more than satisfied. The entrees were on the small side, so it was surprising that the chocolate soufflé cake was so big. But I think it's supposed to serve 2, which it certainly did – though it could have used a little more vanilla bean sauce.

Bouchon Beverly Hills - One nice thing about Beverly Hills: Unlike the rest of Los Angeles, you can easily find free public parking. And famed chef Thomas Keller's newest restaurant, Bouchon in Beverly Hills, sits right on top of a free public parking structure. (You can also valet your car. But wouldn't you rather spend the money on dessert?)

I was quite excited about our lunch date at Bouchon, and had made the reservations a month in advance. I've begun to read Ad Hoc at Home,which was one of my holiday gifts, and Carol Blymire's first blog, French Laundry at Home, has made me familiar with Keller's food. So I had high expectations. And they were met. The food combinations are unexpected, but work well together – like the crab crepe, which contained a filling of crab, marscapone, tiny chopped carrots, and was garnished with pink pickled onions. As a general rule, I hate onions. But I ate every piece of onion that was served to me at Bouchon. The cutting board of charcuterie came adorned with a line of pickled vegetables – adorable florets of cauliflower, tiny carrots and whole sweet pickles, radish, and more. I'm actually considering learning how to pickle.

The only disappointment – and it wasn't really a disappointment, my expectations were just so high – was the bread and the dessert. The bread, because it wasn't anything special – the artisan bread I've been baking is just as good. And the dessert, because I ordered the restaurant's signature bouchons – little chocolate cakes that were just that – little chocolate cakes that were like brownies with a crunchy topping, nothing very special.

Overall, though, the food was good enough to make me put Bouchon on a very short list of fine dining restaurants I'd happily go back to again. (Pizzeria Mozza and Lawry's being the only other ones.)

Ways to Make & Save Money in 2010 Series

As I mentioned earlier this week, every Monday, I'll be sharing one way that I will be making and/or saving money this year as I strive toward my 2010 goal of saving a large cash cushion. I decided I needed a place to compile the posts so that it's easy for you to go back and read the series any time you want. I'll add this post to the header right underneath my logo so it'll be easy to find.

Here's the post that started it all:

Chief Family Officer's New Year's Resolution: Save a ton of money in 2010

And here are the Ways to Make & Save Money:

1. Play The Drugstore Game


2. Use Swag Bucks As Your Default Search Engine


3. Pay Yourself First


4. Cook More & Eat In


5. Use MyPoints


6. Use the Snowflake Method


7. Tax-Deductible Donations


8. Instant Cash Sweepstakes


9. Sell on Amazon Marketplace


10. Enter Blog Giveaways and Instant Win Sweepstakes


11. Communicate With Your Family


12. My Survey


13. Keep a Gift Wrap Center


14. Adjust as You Go


15. Pinecone Research


16. Daily Deal Sites


17. Keep a Gift Box and Wrapping Center

Send a Package Through AnySoldier.com

I'm guessing that many of you are like me and have a lot of things you don't need or won't use. Last month, I sent a package for the first time through AnySoldier.com, and I included many things that I picked up free or super cheap, like cereal bars and instant noodles. I'd like to ask you to consider doing the same, but the site is not the most intuitive so I thought some explanation was in order.

A little about AnySoldier.com: It's a not-for-profit organization that serves almost like a bulletin board for servicemen and women to post about anything they might need. As I understand it, they sign up from their location, write an introductory paragraph, and (hopefully) list the things they'd like to receive. Some of them seem to understand how this works better than others – I've seen listings that only say "please send stuff," and I've seen much more detailed listings that state what amenities they have and the items they could really use. I'm not sure if packages are just handed to someone who doesn't get a lot of mail, or if the contact opens them up and distributes the contents – it seems like it depends on a number of factors, like where the unit is, its size, and the amenities available.

I recommend starting with the FAQ and reading the "How Does This Work" section as well as the "What to Send" and "How to Send" sections.

Then, head over to the "Where To Send" page and click on any one of the names listed on the left side of the page. The default setting is by most recent email. You can read the various messages and requests to see who wants things that you can send. Most of the contacts seem to be in Iraq or Afghanistan. Once you've picked a contact to send a package to, you can request their mailing address by clicking on the link.

Yesterday, the message from Cpl. Robert Cochrane got my attention because he's asking for basic school supplies like pens, pencils and coloring books to give out to Iraqi children. It just so happens that I have boxes full of school supplies from my shopping this past summer, so I hope to get a package off to him soon.

I shipped my package in a Flat Rate Priority Mail box, because it was so easy to do. (You can pick up different sizes of priority mail boxes at the post office for free.) You do have to fill out a customs form, which is a little tedious. I picked up extra forms so I could do it at home. Right before you send the package, you must check the web site to make sure the contact is still listed, since their status can change without notice at any moment. Once you have a contact's name, you can sort the list by name to make it easier to find in the future, so this part is very easy to do.

Here are some of the items I've seen requested that you may have extras of:

• Feminine products
• Baby wipes
• Travel size toiletries
• Ready-to-eat or instant foods, like nuts, energy bars, mac & cheese, and noodles
• Air fresheners
• Batteries
• Crystal Light or other drink sweeteners
  

Needless to say, I know what I'm doing with all of that free Stayfree and Nivea lip balm I've gotten at Rite Aid this week.

I haven't heard anything from the recipient(s) of my first package, but that's okay. As it said somewhere on the AnySoldier web site, these men and women have a lot more important things to do than send thank you notes. I just hope I was able to brighten their day a little bit, and that you'll join me in doing the same!

My Artisan Bread Experiment: Update #2

Background: I just started baking with the book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking.You can read my intro post here and my first update here.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Dayis quickly becoming my favorite Christmas gift of all time. The bread is so good, and I still can't get over how easy it is to make. Seriously – mixing the dough in my stand mixer takes all of five minutes (if that), and shaping the dough takes about 20 seconds. That is pretty much all of the work that's involved.

My temperamental small upper oven and I are on pretty good terms right now. I know its quirks, so all of my breads have come out quite good. I've just been using a cookie sheet and parchment paper, and the bread quality has been great. Someone recommended using an inverted cast iron skillet in place of a baking stone, which sounds brilliant, but unlike my oven, my cast iron skillet and I are not on good terms . . .

We had incredibly warm weather this past weekend – on Sunday, we hit 80 degrees. (Yeah, that's why people pay the high cost of living in Southern California!) And I was reminded that I am not going to run my oven every day in just a couple of months. In fact, if the weather's warm enough that we need the air conditioner, I only use my oven once or twice a week.

So I decided to experiment with baking bread in my toaster oven, without steam. I shaped my loaf a little flatter than usual, and it baked up quite beautifully. I'm very pleased, because this means we can now have fresh bread all year round!

The toaster oven experiment also had the unexpected benefit of solving one of my minor problems. Last week, I found it was a little hard to get the bread baked by dinner time since I couldn't start the rising process until I got home from work. While it takes me only seconds to shape the dough, it does have to rise and then bake – depending on the size of the loaf, that can take up to an hour and a half. I cut the rising time by making rolls, but it turns out my family prefers a full size loaf over rolls.

The toaster oven baked the bread faster than the regular oven. So, now I know that when I'm pressed for time, I can turn to my toaster oven for faster fresh bread.

This past week, I also tried the brioche recipe that's in the book, and on their web site. The final product was rather cakey, so although it tasted good, the texture wasn't my favorite – plus, it had a tendency to fall apart. This might be because I let the dough rise longer than I meant to. I've got three balls of brioche dough in the freezer, so maybe my next loaf will come out better. I'll let you know in the next update!

Note: I noticed that the authors' web site has an errata page noting the errors in the book.

Disclosure: I'm an Amazon affiliate, so any purchase you make after entering Amazon through a link on Chief Family Officer supports this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Chief Family Officer Wants to Help YOU Master The Drugstore Game

Earlier today, I said that The Drugstore Game is my favorite way to save money – and that’s because I genuinely think it’s fun to be able to go into a store, pay $5, and leave with 10 shopping bags and coupons that will reduce the cost of my next purchase. Even after two years, I still can’t believe I get paid to buy things that I used to pay good money for without a second thought.

But I know that getting started in The Drugstore Game can be intimidating. That’s why I’m looking for one CFO reader who wants some help getting started. My hope is that by publishing our email exchanges, we’ll be able to answer those questions that everyone has when they’re not quite sure how to start.

Before you send me an email explaining why you need the help, let me lay out the requirements. To qualify for consideration as my Padawan,* you must:

• Have weekly access to at least two of the following three drugstores: CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid.
• Commit to acquiring at least one copy of the coupon inserts from Sunday’s newspaper every week, whether it’s by purchasing a paper or getting them from a friend or some other means.
• Be able to print coupons from major sites like Coupons.com, SmartSource, and RedPlum.
• Have read The Drugstore Game Primer, as well as Common Sense with Money’s FAQ.
• Be willing to have our email exchanges published here at CFO, to help other readers. (Your name will remain private, if you wish.)
  

I’m not quite sure how this will work, since it’s never been done before. But my vision is, we’ll communicate via email, and I’ll help you get organized and figure out scenarios that you can do every week based on what your needs are. I’ll publish our email exchanges so that other readers can follow along. Of course, I make no promises regarding what you’ll learn, what you’ll be able to buy, what you’ll spend, or what you’ll save. But if my own experience is any indication, you’ll have fun saving money on things you and your family need.

So . . . if you meet all of the requirements above and are interested in mastering The Drugstore Game, fill out this form by 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 9.

*Padawan = Jedi Apprentice (my boys are obsessed with Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate and/or referral links, and may refer to items that were sent to me for review. However, all opinions are my own. You can read Chief Family Officer's full disclaimer and disclosure policy here.

Ways to Make & Save Money #1: Play The Drugstore Game

You can read the rest of the Ways to Make & Save Money series here.

I wouldn't call The Drugstore Game the most important way I'm going to save money this year, but it may be my favorite way. I've been playing The Drugstore Game for almost two years now, and it's absolutely transformed the way I shop. I can't believe how much I used to pay for every day items like shampoo, toothpaste, and toilet paper. These days, I have a list of items that I will only buy if they end up being free, and I have much lower target prices on other everyday items, like toilet paper, tissue, and dental floss.

If you're new to The Drugstore Game, read my Drugstore Game Primer first. (Even if you've played the game for a while, you may want to read it again as I updated it for this post.)

I play The Drugstore Game at the three big chains: Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid. I'm fortunate, because all three chains are pretty ubiquitous in the Los Angeles area, so it's quite easy for me to shop at all three stores each week (though I rarely do that anymore).

Here are the items I only buy if they are free:

Toothpaste
Adult toothbrushes (I've found it more difficult to get the kind of toothbrushes my kids use for free)
Mouthwash
Deodorant
Non-dandruff Shampoo
Conditioner
Razors
Sanitary pads
Pantyliners
Lip balm

We are not brand-loyal when it comes to any of the above items, so I buy them when they are free and add them to my stockpile. Not being brand-loyal makes life a lot cheaper!

It's also important to remember that if you can wait for a sale, one will eventually come along. Of course, if it's stressing you out to be running out of something, then by all means, go out and buy the cheapest item you can find. But if you can wait, do. A great sale may be just around the corner.

As I prepared my budget a few weeks ago, I realized just what an impact The Drugstore Game has had on our spending. I spend no more than a third of what I used to spend on toiletries, paper goods, and other household items. Since our consumption of these items is just going to increase as the kids get bigger, it's more important than ever for me to shop smart and keep my stockpile stocked!

Previously:

• The Drugstore Game vs. The Warehouse Club: The Hard Numbers: a great guest post by Mercedes of Common Sense with Money
• Why buy the store brand when you can get a name brand for free?
• Simplifying the Drugstore Game
• Drugstore Game Burnout
• The Drugstore Game Burnout - Revisited

Chief Family Officer's New Year's Resolution: Save a ton of money in 2010

New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap sometimes, but I love them. My parents taught me that goal-setting is a major key to achievement, and I’ve certainly found that to be true.

I always set a few financial goals each year - in 2009, my big goal was to pay off my student loans, which we did in the spring.

For 2010, my big goal is to save a ton of money because I want the security of a large cash cushion. I’m not comfortable sharing the exact amount, but it’s going to be a huge stretch for us. To achieve this goal, we’re going to have to do all of the things I talk about to save money, from eating in to playing The Drugstore Game to making free money. To be clear, I’m talking about money that’s above and beyond the money that already goes into retirement savings or is otherwise earmarked for another purpose (like the car fund). I'll give you an update each month to tell you how much of our goal we've accomplished.

And starting tomorrow, each Monday, I’m going to share one way that I will be making and/or saving money this year to reach my goal. One of those ways is this blog - your visits and clicks help generate income at absolutely no cost to you, which helps me reach my financial goals. So thank you! Having said that, I want to assure you that I firmly believe that the very best way to make CFO great is to be as honest and trustworthy as possible. I’ve made a conscious decision not to post deals that I see on other blogs if I’m suspicious of the offer in some way. I also try to be as transparent as possible about any benefit I've received or may receive, which is why you see lots of disclosures. You can read CFO's full disclosure and disclaimer here.

As for my other New Year's resolutions, they are much the same as any other year: Be a good wife, mother, daughter, friend. Be kind and generous. And like so many others, lose some weight. Someday, I'll have to examine why it's relatively easy for me to reach my financial goals and so difficult to reach my weight loss goals!