Alex

It was processing, now it looks like you removed it.

Certainly. Read every post, recipe, conversation, and workshop on eGullet. There will be a final exam. But seriously, folks, as a start, you could do a lot worse than reading through the dearly departed eGullet Culinary Institute (2003-2006, with a very brief resurrection in 2009). The eG Spotlight Fridge, from 2001-2006, also is fun: one two.

Now that's a blast from the past. You mean the Kindle edition, correct?

Ms. Alex and I explore Chicago regularly, but Albany Park is one of the neighborhoods that have so far escaped us. I first got clued into it via a 2013 article in the Reader.

Nice post! I have cousins who live very near the National Cathedral. It's a remarkable building no matter what one's take on religion. Several years ago, before the earthquake damage, Ms Alex and I lucked out and were the only patrons on their behind-the-scenes tour. BTW, it's a far cry from Mario's, but if you're ever by the Cathedral again, I recommend the Neapolitan pizza at 2Amys.

SLB, have you read about this year's anticipated StL gathering?

As you probably know, Amazon recommends books based on one's purchase and browsing history. Their algorithm either has a sense of humor or could stand a bit of fine tuning.

And I can identify with Mike. I probably would have added !!!eeem pleH on the inside of the door. Some of us are still 12-year-olds.

Thank you for the shout-out! They're about a ten-minute drive from us. Even with a Spanish company now a 90% owner, we still think of Founders Brewery as local (which it is, although it's no longer officially a "craft brewery"). I have several bottles of KBS from four and five years ago -- it used to be a much more limited release -- stashed away downstairs. I'm looking forward to finding out how they've aged. Bell's Brewery, as mentioned by Dr. Teeth, is about an hour from here. I've yet to try their Black Note Stout.

Find a grandma. Or, lacking that, an aunt. Ask if you could hang out in their kitchen for, say, three months.

Serious Eats 1 Serious Eats 2

Magritte would be proud.

I'm a native New Yorker (Brooklyn and Queens) who wound up in Michigan. Forty-some years later, there's a good bit of scarring on my tongue, but I still haven't completely gotten the hang of it. I wouldn't worry too much about that humility thing. I'd vote for the latter. When something has seemed arbitrary or irrational, I've often found there's a hidden agenda somewhere. May I ask which list it is? Is it Ian Froeb's? I see you're #11 there. Was it a return visit he was lacking? Anyhow, I'm glad you're still here on eG, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again this July.

We're very fortunate to still have high-quality fish and seafood available near us, both fresh and frozen. The only place I've ever dealt with online is The Crab Place, and even then, it was their fresh jumbo lump crabmeat. Not cheap, but good. They have an excellent reputation, though, so I imagine their frozen stuff would be good, too.

Poor guy.