Want a thumbnail sketch of life in Los Angeles? Read the following Twitter exchange between Mark Bittman, New York Times columnist and prolific cookbook author, and Ruth Reichl, former editor of Gourmet and, well, you know who she is. Seems that when Bittman was in town last week to give a talk at the Skirball, he had what can only be called a quintessential L.A. moment. We missed it at the time, sadly, but thought we'd preserve the moment in print. Well, sort of print.

@Bittman: I love LA but someone shot (and hit) the windshield of my car on the 405 at 6am. A little offputting. Fleeing to SF. 8:57 AM Oct 27th via TweetDeck

@RuthReichl: @bittman Shot your windshield? Yikes! Leave LA asap, come north. Tonight should be fun – and I don't want to be on stage by myself! 9:00 AM Oct 27th via TweetDeck in reply to bittman

@Bittman: @ruthreichl Now on seemingly safe 101 and yes I'm fine. See you later. 9:10 AM Oct 27th via TweetDeck in reply to ruthreichl

@Bittman: Dinner with Bittman: Real Beef Stroganoff https://post.ly/17ey6 1:30 PM Oct 27th via Posterous

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