Sweet

British director Alexander Mackendrick made memorable films on both sides of the pond. In Britain, Mackendrick was one of the star directors at the famed Ealing Studios thanks to his sharp, inventive comedies such as 1949's "Whisky Galore" and 1951's "The Man in the White Suit," and his 1955 masterwork, "The Ladykillers," with Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. In Hollywood, Mackendrick is best known for the brilliant 1957 drama "Sweet Smell of Success" that starred Burt Lancaster as the ruthless gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker and Tony Curtis as the ambitious press agent Sidney Falco.

This week's Culinary SOS request comes from Susan Hawkins in Beverly Hills: "Sweet Butter, in Sherman Oaks, uses shrimp in the freshest tasting and most flavorful ceviche I have ever tried. Can't stop thinking about it. Any chance of snagging the recipe?" Plump tiger shrimp are tossed with chopped onion, tomato and spicy habanero peppers, the flavors brightened with fresh lemon juice and a medley of spices. Sweet Butter was happy to share its take on this refreshing classic.

Gush City. Everyone loves everybody now. There were Lakers hugs all around, with fans at Staples Center on Sunday joining the party, getting rally towels and the feel of a playoff game. Happy 79th birthday, Jerry Buss , as Gush City flattens Oklahoma City and holds the top-scoring team in the NBA below 100 points. The Lakers not only bring back excitement to Staples but look as if they will never lose again while shooting guard Steve Nash sets sights on the NBA's scoring title.

Grilled pork chops with sweet lemon grass marinade Total time: 40 minutes, plus marinating time Servings: 6 Note: Adapted from "Vietnamese Home Cooking" by Charles Phan. 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 lemon grass stalk, finely chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons minced shallot 1 Thai chile, stemmed and finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 bone-in center-cut pork chops, each about 12 ounces and 1 inch thick 1. In a bowl, combine the sugar, fish sauce, lemon grass, garlic, shallot, chile and black pepper, and whisk until the sugar dissolves.

FALLBROOK - Jim Russell's macadamia orchard looks like a park, 3 acres of holly-like evergreens growing above closely cropped grass. A casual observer would never suspect that it represents a relic of a bygone boom, a source of uniquely delicious nuts and one man's triumph over paralysis. Macadamias are native to eastern Australia, where there are two edible species: integrifolia in warmer areas and tetraphylla in cooler. The kind brought to Hawaii in 1881, and first commercialized there, was integrifolia , which proved most productive and suitable for roasting.

The courtyard patio at the classic California Spanish house was ringed by camellia bushes. In the living room, the fireplace boasted genuine Malibu tile and in the dining room, the original thin-planked oak floors gleamed. Listed for sale at $2.6 million, the immaculately maintained, three-bedroom home - a blend of traditional and modern stylings in one of Santa Monica's toniest neighborhoods - could go either way: to a family who falls in love with its character. Or to a builder, as a teardown.

Since she made her solo debut at age 11 in 1982, violinist Midori has grown up - and grown middle-aged - under the full glare of the media. Reporters dubbed her a child prodigy when she first stunned audiences as a last-minute substitute with the New York Philharmonic. They chronicled her ascent to adolescent superstardom, a status cemented when at age 14, she went through three violins in a single Tanglewood concert. The media continued to follow her as she matured into a venerated soloist.

People to this day buy Robin Weber bar drinks. "It's been good for beer," he joked in a recent phone interview. On New Year's Eve, 1973, a year after the scoop-for-score that made Franco Harris famous, Notre Dame executed its own "Immaculate Reception" to defeat Alabama for college football's national championship. The same programs will play for another title Monday night in South Florida. The out-of-nowhere reception made by Weber four decades ago in New Orleans secured a 24-23 Sugar Bowl win and encased the game in football's all-time time capsule.

Sweet 16 faded and was replaced by a physical and, at times, surly-looking 17. The Clippers' path to their 17th consecutive win wasn't exactly smooth Sunday night, looking more like one painful floor burn. They were pushed, and they pushed back hard in a 107-96 victory over the Utah Jazz at Staples Center behind Caron Butler's 29 points, which included six-for-six shooting from three-point range. The victory completed a 16-0 December that made them the third team in NBA history to go unbeaten in a calendar month.

The smooth operators of Lob City found themselves searching for a Plan B when the A-game went missing against the Sacramento Kings. It was looking ragged, at times. Even ugly. Bigger picture: The Clippers' 12-point win Friday night was one of those statement-making games. Even beyond the fact that it was a franchise-record 12th consecutive victory. Winning ugly sends a message, too. After all, Showtime wasn't always Showtime. Championship teams find ways to get to the finish line on those fumbling, miscue-littered nights.