For weeks afterward, I would hold on passionately to the memory of that good meal, savoring the mental remnants of its tastes and smells as I slopped down soggy eggs or burnt lasagna in the dorm cafeteria.

Yes, eating at Little Joe reminded me of the few good meals I had then, and that makes me wonder if my palate is again so starved for good food.

I mean, during lunch I catch a meal at Sizzler or the Soup Kettle. Are these places so far removed from the Chilean broth that was not too salty, that had just the right spices, and that came with an exotic mix of seafood?

YES!!! My tongue unreservedly recommends Little Joe, an Italian and South American restaurant, in Orange, 1535 W. Chapman Ave. For reservations, a good idea but not necessary, or more information call (714) 750-0123.

The restaurant stands on the former site of an Italian restaurant, and owner Jose Altamirano still keeps much of the Italian menu. But the Chilean-American has added exotic foods from all across South America.

Let me share the tantalizing treats that are spinning in my head from a recent dinner I had there. Like a native of Chile, I started dinner with Empanadas, made of a thin dough shell encasing different mixtures of seafood, meat, or cheese. Those range in price from $1.50 to $2.45.

Next, I tried a seafood platter called Entremes De Marisco Para Dos Personas, which, very loosely translated, means all the delicious seafood that two people could possibly eat. It came with pink clams, rock muscle, and other kinds of seafood cut bite-size, marinated in lemon juice, and combined with red onion. Not bad for $23.95.

And then came the prize of the night, of any night, the Sopa Marinera. Shrimp, prawns, scallops, crab, and more are simmered together for a near eternity with the bones of the fish left inside. Then, the bones are taken out and what is left is a rich broth, with every drop offering a window to the sea.

But if you really just want chicken, I recommend the Aji De Gallina, which is shredded chicken in a spicy nut sauce, a typical Peruvian dish. Worth every cent of the $9.45 price tag.

Now I knew I would not be eating this good again any time soon. So to build up more memories to ponder while making my next Taco Bell run, I went for dessert. They served a flan that was so rich its texture was like cheesecake. It is made from three different kinds of milk: condensed, evaporated, and regular. And on the lighter side there is the cake of a thousand layers, which is a flaky cake of about five layers with a caramel candy-like coating. Those run for $2.45 and $2.75, respectively.

Hopefully, I have done the restaurant justice. If I have convinced anyone to visit Little Joe, the best time is on a Friday or Saturday night to enjoy the Latin American music, normally a guitarist and keyboard player.

I would have loved them to play in my dorm dining hall, so I could dreamt of better food as I grudgingly force fed myself what looked like...well, I won't say.