So here's how the conversation went between my friend and I when we drove past the Stater Bros.-anchored strip mall in Tustin on Redhill near the 5 FWY.
Me: Did you see that? An Indian place called “Traditions” is going to take over Roderick's.
Friend: What's Roderick's?
Me: It's the restaurant that was there before. Don't you notice these things?
Friend: (blank stare)
Me: Since Roderick's had a lot of space in that building of theirs, I think this new place will be the biggest Indian place in O.C.
Friend: How about Saagar in Newport Beach, near John Wayne? That's pretty big.
Me: OK, biggest in Tustin then.
Friend: You're going to blog about this aren't you?
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.