Chicken

Editor?s note: This is the first of a two-part series about the Farmer?s Market. The first focuses on saving time and the second on saving money. The Farmer?s Market is not only about fresh seasonal produce. There are also vendors who sell prepared foods, making it easy for you to walk away with a significant portion of a meal without any work. Newest on the scene is Blue Moon Mexican food. Chef William Gonzalez has been in the catering business for 10 years and also has prepared food for first-class passengers on many airlines such as United, Delta, American and China Air. At his market booth he cooks everything to order.

When you see the sign for Aliso Creek Inn and make the turn off Coast Highway, you might be put off by the equipment sheds and chain link fences that line the road until you reach a huge parking lot with a giant putting cage off to the left. But as you get out of your car and round the corner, you are suddenly dazzled by a spectacular vista, a carpet of green lawn descending down to a little bridge across Aliso "Creek," framed by the rugged brush-covered hillside beyond. The soft light of the setting sun highlights the gorgeous panorama.

DINING OUT The latest independent entry on the Laguna Beach restaurant scene is Cafe Vienna, a breakfast, lunch, dinner venue launched late last year on the site of a former medical building in South Laguna. While still a secret to many locals, it has become a favorite for some of the steady clientele of owner Ferdinand Lettner's other long-time favorite Heidleberg Cafe located on the street level of the Village Faire Shoppes in the heart of town. Credit for much of this newfound popularity should be given to charming Claudia Frey who continues to ply her considerable talents at the Heidleberg while taking the evening helm at the Continental themed Cafe Vienna.

W e are faithful devotees of Vietnamese food, and we recently became big fans of Phans 55. Tucked away in an apartment complex right off Jamboree Road in Irvine, this is the hippest and most attractive Vietnamese restaurant outside of Vietnam that we've ever come across, and the food is top notch as well. The long, narrow, high-ceilinged room has been transformed into a sleek contemporary bistro with extravagant light fixtures made from strings of glass balls, kite-like fabric floating from the ceiling and a shiny stainless steel exposed kitchen.

Glori Fickling Celebrating a successful 25th anniversary this month, B.J.'s Restaurant & Brewery also celebrates Laguna Beach as its fourth venue out of 35 burgeoning establishments launched in Orange County circa 1979 and still growing. With thriving locations extending as far east as Texas, north to Oregon and west to Hawaii, the once-independent chain initially gained fame by introducing Chicago-style deep dish pizzas to the West Coast. It soon offered full-fledged restaurants, eventually featuring its own on-site breweries in nine different locations.

One of the things we learned from our many years running A La Carte/Gourmet To Go is that New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day are holidays about drinking, not about eating. However, at the last minute, people seem to realize that they will need something to soak up the copious quantities of alcohol. In the shop on Dec. 3 at about 3 p.m., the phone would begin to ring nonstop and a long line of bodies would form out the door. People were willing to take almost anything, but luckily we saw the light early on and had a large supply of hors d'oeuvres on hand just for that purpose.

DINING OUT Strategically located in Laguna's landmark Lumber Yard Plaza, Cedar Creek Inn has deservedly earned a reputation for consistently delicious culinary fare in an always-affordable price range. Commencing with attractively hospitable ambience, which beckoned to locals when the Ayres family launched their handsome French Normandy style restaurant in October of 1988, this charming venue is equally accessible to those driving from out of town.

Cooking teachers Tina Tiezzi and Debbie Hild have been neighbors and friends for 20 years. They met when Tina was working for Debbie?s husband Randy at Quiksilver. They soon discovered a common passion for cooking. Tina, a Laguna native, learned to cook at her mother?s knee. Her mom was a great cook who took a lot of French cooking classes in the ?60s. Tina still uses many of these recipes with contemporary updates. Debbie learned to cook at her husband?s knee, since she couldn?

Terry?s Grandmother?s Chicken Soup Broth is best prepared in advance so it may chill and fat can be easily removed. 1 roasting chicken, halved or quartered, excess fat removed 3 quarts of water 2 teaspoons salt 1 small parsnip, peeled 2 large carrots, peeled and quartered 1 medium onion, whole 2 stalks celery with leaves, cut in half 3 or 4 sprigs of parsley pinch of sugar salt and white pepper...