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Gifted Gourmet

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    eG Foodblog: therese - Hey, wanna play a game?

    in Food Traditions & Culture

    Posted

    It was closed for a while for renovations, and recently re-opened.
    This has been a revelation, Therese, that Oriental Pearl has reopened here in Chamblee, Georgia .. this had been my favorite dim sum place for ages and I thought I had read about it being closed permanently (much to my dismay).

    Is this true as of today?

    Today upon our visit, we were surprised at the change in service. The Oriental Pearl is now a Chinese buffet carrying Chinese dishes, sushi, and dim sum on the bars. Food is plentiful and the cost is $9.95 per person, but the charm of rolling dim sum is gone, and the quality and choice doesn't seem quite as high. We visited at 12:00 on Sunday and usually, the place would have been packed. Today, the restaurant was half full. There was an abundance of food and staff, but the unique atmosphere was gone.
    source for this info

    eG Foodblog: therese - Hey, wanna play a game?

    in Food Traditions & Culture

    Posted

    I, like Patti, thought that the photo was from one of the side walking lanes on the Avenue des Champs d'Elysées ... the manicured trees and the pavement look quite familiar to me as well ... and Therese is well versed in French dining ...

    As to Therese and her blog: this one will, as anyone familiar with her writing knows, be brilliant! Along with her commentary and photography, one can expect surprises and pleasure at every turn! The Georgia peach, as we Atlantans know, is one of our precious local gifts ... summer is always joyous when the juice drips down one's chin ...

    Menus dropping the currency symbol

    in Restaurant Life

    Posted

    This is "the new black" ... yes, pretentious as hell, but so "clean and neat" graphically ... an "economy" of verbiage ...

    Went back to read the item from the Austin-American Statesman and found that this totally agrees with me:

    The no-dollar-sign phenomenon has been spreading. Either it's supposed to be a very chichi graphic element, or else it's a psychological ploy intended to reduce the emphasis on price.  Either way, it doesn't work for me. The prices still add up, whether or not there's a dollar sign there.

    Charleston, SC update

    in Southeast: Dining

    Posted

    I did a search of the site for Sunday lunch but came up dry.  I'm committing a cardinal sin by asking a question with about 24 hours notice and I apologize but my wife Colette is dead set on lunching this Sunday, May 28 in Charleston.

    The major problem here is that Sunday lunch this week will fall during the Memorial Day holiday weekend which may limit availibility. I would definitely recommend Peninsula Grill however they are only open for dinner. As for the other options of true Charleston cooking, there are many (noted in the first post of this thread): Magnolia's, Blossom Cafe, Carolina's, Sermet's Corner, Hyman's Seafood, Hominy Grill, Cru Cafe.

    I like Hyman's Seafood because it has my favorite quintessential Shrimp and Grits preparation. And for that, I drive 5 hours to get to Charleston! It is the one dish which best exemplifies the local cuisine. And, if I know Phyllis Hyman, the owner/hostess, she'll be open for a brisk and busy lunch business! Hyman's Seafood

    On the Hominy Grill menu, you will find some true Charleston cooking as well. It is open and is usually busy as it will be on this weekend. Delightful food!

    Tasting Room Survey Report for 2006

    in Wine

    Posted

    from Winebusiness

    This year's survey revealed that roughly half of respondents now charge for tasting, with average fees falling between $3-6. While it is generally expected that wineries should charge more for reserve tastings or when serving food, West Coast wineries top the chart with many charging $10 for a "bare bones" tasting. This year's survey also looks at tasting room employment patterns. As far as training goes, it is no surprise that job shadowing ranked highest as a training method and formal sales training ranked lowest. The lack of formal training at many wineries may point to reasons why tasting rooms are not bigger profit centers.
    This is an excellent article which examines, in great depth, how tasting rooms work and how they affect their wineries' profits, or lack thereof ...

    Are you a fan of the tasting room concept?

    Would you pay a fee or do you believe that the winery should offer this service free of charge and simply use it as "advertising"?

    Memphis Dinner

    in Southeast: Dining

    Posted

    Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous

    By Steven Raichlen (Workman Publishing, 2003)

    Whenever I go to Memphis I have a little ritual. I check into the Peabody Hotel, then duck down a dumpster-filled back alley, and rush to Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous. This rambling basement barbecue joint is almost as hard to locate as it is idiosyncratic in its schedule (it’s closed Sunday and Monday, and the restaurant serves lunch only two days a week). But it should certainly be on the National Registry of Historic Places, for the Rendezvous is the birthplace of the Memphis dry rub.

    and coming from Raichlen, the King of Barbecuing, I think he must know whereof he speaks! :wink:

    or, maybe not, depending upon what carpetbagger,esq. just mentioned ... :hmmm:

    Rehearsal dinner

    in Southeast: Dining

    Posted

    La Caterina Trattoria has a website with a menu and the prices ...

    La Caterina Trattoria is a favorite Asheville restaurant and has become known as one of the best Italian restaurants in the South. Opening its doors in 1994 it was originally located in a small storefront on Pack Square in the heart of downtown Asheville. Ten extremely successful years later the restaurant has moved to a larger location on 39 Elm Street providing the chef with a kitchen that compliments his skill and the guests with an unpretentious, vibrant environment in which to enjoy great Italian food.

    Savoy Cucina also has a delectable menu online here and includes the prices.

    The Award Winning Savoy is a modern restaurant with the perfect balance between rich elegance and friendly comfort. The menu features an array of innovative dishes that provide a creative twist on traditional favorites.

    Vincenzo's

    One of our guests graciously described the Vincenzo's Ristorante as"elegant, comfortable and better than wonderful". We strive to leave you with the same opinion. The Ristorante is our elegant, white tablecloth dining room. Named the areas most romantic restaurant, the Ristorante is dedicated to providing wonderful food, outstanding, knowledgeable service, a wine list featuring Italian wines unmatched any where in the area, all in an atmosphere where memories are made.

    KFC Famous Bowls

    in Ready to Eat

    Posted

    Did I mention that I am no longer married to this man?

    I could swear that he is living in my house diguised as my husband ... :laugh: The usual response is something to the effect that all the food on the plate winds up in one's stomach .. and then in the .. well, you know ... :huh:

    KFC Famous Bowls

    in Ready to Eat

    Posted

    This thing is so awful that even Jay Leno made some (humorous) negative comments last night on his show during the monologue ... :hmmm: I have, of course, put them completely out of my mind ...

    KFC's new Famous Bowls, provides lunch-starved Americans with the perfect all-in-one, "made for one" remedy to their usual rushed and unsatisfying lunchtime routine. The new KFC Famous Bowls offer a hearty meal "just like mom used to make," with layers of mashed potatoes, sweet corn and bite sized crispy chicken, drizzled with signature home style gravy and topped off with a three- cheese blend -- in one convenient bowl.
    source for this quote

    Had my mother made food like this and piled it into one bowl, I would have left for college at the ripe old age of 8! :laugh:

    On the other hand, I can see this working much better because these ingredients are tasty when layered:

    Taco Bell, developed the concept in 2001 with its Border Bowls -- grilled chicken or steak with rice, beans, lettuce and tomatoes. The bowls were aimed at bringing back former customers who associated the brand with low-priced tacos and little else,
    source

    Cooking to Honor Edna Lewis

    in Southeast: Cooking & Baking

    Posted

    So many of her recipes are based on great summer ingredients; time to start cooking...  :smile:

    I saw that too, Ludja! Thanks for posting the menu and notice!

    Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an article by John Kessler: Friends, dishes honor Edna Lewis Published on: 05/25/06

    Edna Lewis died the day before Valentine's Day and two months shy of her 90th birthday. But it wasn't until last weekend that her longtime caretaker and devotee, Scott Peacock, invited friends and admirers to celebrate her life at the Atlanta History Center... the room filled with well- known Atlantans — former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson's widow, Valerie Jackson; actress Jane Fonda; Baccanalia chef Anne Quatrano... Peacock recalls her sense of humor and fondness for Jack Daniel's. He chokes up when he says that Lewis helped him know himself, but adds that she wouldn't want him getting emotional.

    Online menus: entice you to try a new restaurant?

    in Restaurant Life

    Posted

    With the advent of the Internet to offer information on every possible topic, I have begun to contemplate whether online menus actually encourage you to try some dish or meal which they offer ...

    Do you choose by the items offered?

    By the prices?

    Are you more or less likely to dine at a place which does not offer a menu for your perusal before eating? In Europe, menus are posted near the entrance to a restaurant ... you can always run off if the place looks too chic and pricey ... :huh:

    So, how often do you read online menus? :rolleyes:

    Food Pronunciation Guide for the Dim-witted

    in Food Traditions & Culture

    Posted

    sherbert instead of sherbet

    Some of the same people who do not like two [r]s in their words can't help repeating the one in this word.

    mannaise instead of mayonnaise

    Ever wonder why the short form of a word pronounced "mannaise" is "mayo"? Well, it is because the original should be pronounced "mayo-nnaise." Just remember: what would mayonnaise be without "mayo"? 
    of course, Emeril Lagasse does this every single time he uses the stuff ... :angry:

    Heineken remover instead of Heimlich maneuver (or manoeuvre, Br.)

    This term is mispronounced many different ways. This is just the funniest one we have heard. This maneuver (manoeuvre) was named for US surgeon Henry Jay Heimlich (1920- ). 

    100 Most Often Mispronounced Words and Phrases in English :rolleyes:

    Favorite Food Blogs and Recipe Sites

    in Food Media & Arts

    Posted

    Do you find you visit different blogs for different reasons -- some for ingredient ideas, others because you really connect with the writer? I think I have a mixture of reasons, and I'm kind of interested in what other people think... And I guess, what people think of food blogs full stop.

    I love food blogs because, unlike my cookbook collection, the blog is constantly being updated ...

    and then there is the aspect of the food photography! ... :biggrin:

    then there are the thoughts, ruminations, musings of the blog's author ... :wink:

    and they are free, of course, and they ask for your comments ...

    and ... and .... so very many reasons!

    Greenville, SC this w/e....

    in Southeast: Dining

    Posted

    How about giving some of these places a quick phone call?

    thread here with options for Greenville

    I'd think about Soby's myself ... :wink:

    Memorial Day Weekend is coming up fast and to many of you this means a fine backyard cookout featuring smoked pork ribs, watermelon, potato salad, Cole slaw, roasted corn, brownies and apple pie.  Now if you are not planning such a feast but would like to be invited to one, here's your chance.  On Friday & Saturday night we will serve all of your favorite backyard staples and add in buttermilk fried chicken and our own handmade Hot Dogs served in a Brioche bun!  That's right, we're going to make hot dogs.  We will also make the mustard and onion relish.  We will serve smoked pork ribs just like the ones that caused Bon Appetit Magazine to name yours truly "Who's Who in American Barbecue" in 2003.

    this just in!

    33 Liberty ... Chef John Malik

    Little Rock

    in Southeast: Dining

    Posted

    Your posts on Little Rock are greatly appreciated, Therese! We have heard little, if anything, on this southern city since Bill Clinton left the White House ... the photographs of all that fresh produce are enticing!

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