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What do Julia Child, Alice Waters, Barbara Kafka, M.F.K. Fisher and Lidia Bastianich have in common, besides being famous female chefs? Did you know that they all belonged to an organization called Les Dames d?Escoffier, a worldwide philanthropic society of professional women in the field of food, fine beverage and hospitality? The invitation-only membership has 27 chapters across the U.S. and Canada and is the only organization of its kind. Interestingly enough, it had its roots in jealousy.

Every day a crime is committed, and our instinct is to ask, "What did they do?" But many times it is not "they," it is "we. " The Laguna Beach police log is filled with our stories: domestic squabbles, DUIs, petty thefts, fights, fraud and general drunkenness. But what's interesting is when we point a finger at the wrong person. Take, for example, my favorite story, one that I have taped to my refrigerator because it strikes me as both ridiculous and sad. Four years ago early on a Sunday morning right before Thanksgiving, a singer at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic church was preparing for the service.

Editor's Note: This corrects an earlier version. Some of Laguna Beach's most cherished institutions — shelter for neglected, abused or abandoned pets and respite for stranded sea mammals — were among those most damaged by the Dec. 22 flooding that inundated Laguna Canyon Road. Laguna Beach Animal Shelter sustained some $800,000 in damages, according to police estimates. Ben Plonski, owner of Kaguna Koi Ponds, said he doesn't know the extent of the damage yet, but he lost much of his prized Japanese fish stock as well as other mainstays of his pond-building business.

ELLE HARROW and TERRY MARKOWITZ Dizz's As Is is a blast from the past. Not only has it been in Laguna for 30 years, but everything about it is a throwback to a different era. The atmosphere, the décor, the menu, even the dishes and the silverware all hearken back to an earlier time. The current chef, Marcel Pitz, is the son of the original owner. Upon entering the restaurant, you are immediately struck by the genial and homey atmosphere and the totally unpretentious décor.

I went to the Orange County Fair for the first time Sunday, and it was a blast. Since moving here from Los Angeles about three years ago, I’ve been meaning to get to the fair, which is much more accessible than the Los Angeles County Fair way out in Pomona — I mean, that’s even past the Valley, and when I lived in Santa Monica I didn’t like to go east of Centinela, which is the eastern border of the city. (I was talking to another ex-LAite the other day who swore he never went east of Lincoln Boulevard — that’s the equivalent of Glenneyre Street in Laguna Beach — for at least 10 years while living on the “west side,” but I was never that provincial.

Just in case you are a first time visitor to the home of Fritz Knauss and Bill Klenner but don't know that two serious foodies reside here, look to your right as you ring the bell. Next to the front door you will find a large carved wooden plaque that reads "Good Food, Fine Wine" and beneath it another smaller sign declaring "We will drink no wine before its time — and it's time!" Upon entering their lovely home, our genial host, Fritz offered us a glass of wine and a tour of his culinary domaine, including a multitude of eating areas, an extensive herb garden and a recently re-designed kitchen.