Alex

I agree completely. Also, I think it drives drinking on college campuses into frat houses and private parties, which means there is less adult supervision, and a higher incidence of fatal alcohol poisoning and date rape. ← You expect consistent and reasoned decision-making from all 50 state legislatures AND the federal government? Have you been hitting the absinthe again? This particular subject probably could use its own thread. Maybe there's one already -- I can't keep up. Drinking, driving, serving in the military, signing a contract, etc., if perhaps not quite apples and oranges, is at least apples and pears, in that they require different optimal levels of cognitive skills. However, the frontal lobes of the brain, which include sections regulating attention, judgement, planning, etc., are not fully mature until the early-to-mid-20s, on the average. Add that to a puritanical U.S. culture that for a significant part (especially so for those under 21) paradoxically sees drinking as something one does to get altered, getting drunk as a rite of passage, and the "greater good" as just a nice idea, well.... Me, I'd like to see the drinking age lowered and the driving age raised, but that would entail a major change in our culture's attitude toward alcohol, and I don't see that happening any time soon.

Some statistical and scientific common sense from George Mason University

I don't know which gullible package store owner you won this bet from, but allow me to quote a definition of "fifth" from the single-volume gold-standard New Oxford Dictionary of English: "(a fifth of) US informal a fifth of a gallon, as a measure of alcoholic liquor, or a bottle of this capacity...." There is no mention of 1/5 of a liter.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I just requested Off the Map and 301/302 from my local library system. Unfortunately, they don't have A Feast at Midnight, which sounds like a lot of fun. (Christopher Lee as V. E. Longfellow, aka Raptor!)

That would be Eat, Drink, Man, Woman, already mentioned upthread, directed by Ang Lee, a joint Taiwan/US production, if memory serves.

Also, there's The Spotted Dog Cafe on Washington, with excellent prepared salads (e.g., chicken salad w/dried cherries or Italian tuna salad w/Parmesan, black olives, garlic, and lemon) and soups. It's often crowded during peak lunch time.

Avoiding a drop of water is for after the chocolate has melted -- water will make it seize up. If the chocolate and water (or liqueur or coffee) start out together, things should be ok. I start with very, very hot liquid and have not had a problem. Perhaps the microwave was the issue. I always use a double boiler.

In circumstances like this I use a recipe from the terrific Chef Sato's All-Natural Desserts. Unfortunately, it's out of print, but perhaps your library system has it (as does mine) or can get it for you. No eggs, no dairy, no refined sugar. He does use wheat flour, but I'm sure you could substitute spelt flour, as SweetSide suggested. I've also substituted agave nectar for the maple syrup. Among other recipes, he has ones for Almond Cake and Carrot Cake, both with tofu-based frosting/filling, and for Chocolate Raspberry Cake, with a cocoa/tahini/soy milk (or rice milk) frosting/filling. If you like, you can send me a PM with your email address and I'll reply with a couple of recipes as an attachment.

Willie, could you elaborate on this? The few times I've eaten at a German restaurant here in the States (I've never been to Germany) I've been sorely disappointed. The only good German food I've had was at a friend's Italian-eclectic restaurant here in Grand Rapids. His sous chef was born and raised in Germany, and when sauerbraten or roladen appeared on the specials menu you could count on it being just like Mutter used to make, maybe better.

Or is this just a coincidence? Auf Wiedersehen, Schnitzelbank (after 72 years)

The Bar at the Peninsula

How about Chicago virgin? Correct me if I'm in error, Ronnie, but Tru looks to be about a half-mile from your hotel. The Peninsula is a few blocks from Tru; the Four Seasons is a few blocks from the Peninsula. You can look up all this stuff on Metromix. BTW, it's Fox and Obel, not Abel.

I don't know too much about bars, but for breakfast, you're just a few blocks from Fox & Obel Café.

Wow. This looks like *the* place for lunch. Rowland Café

I'm with you. I love eating at a restaurant that's situated in an old depot, like the Gandy Dancer or Clara's in Lansing. Too bad the food often doesn't match the ambience. How about making Landry's an offer? You could put a little picket fence around the building and rename the restaurant "The Fence," as in "Millions for The Fence, but not one cent for Tribute." Sorry.

I've been to the Berghoff only once, last year with Lady T and maggiethecat + spouse. I loved the root beer and was thoroughly underwhelmed by the food, but I appreciated the history and the ambience and how much the place meant to my native Chicagoland companions.

Greektown is two blocks of "cheez" if you ask me. It's mostly dominated by the Greektown casino now - lots of the restaurants accept their comps. There is a bakery (whose name is escaping me but it starts with an "A") that is fabulous though. ← That would be Astoria Pastry Shop.

It's definitely worth the small investment. I got mine on eBay shortly after buying the mixer itself. Even though I use the second bowl only occasionally, I'm very glad it's there when I need it.

Greektown has restaurants, bakeries, shops, a historic church, and a casino. It's much smaller, more touristy, and less "authentic" than NYC's Little Italy and Chinatown. It might be fun for a lunchtime excursion, but there are better places for dinner. I'd still vote for Windsor. One trip, two countries -- can't beat that!

Small Plates

Catch the Tunnel Bus (schedule) (map) to downtown Windsor, Ontario. Wander around. Eat at La Cuisine (review) or Cook's Shop/Pasta Shop. HeatherM, can you offer any other downtown Windsor info or comments about my suggestions?

I'm also curious to hear about your experience there. Re Zingerman's, it indeed is on the expensive side but the quality and the service are absolutely first-rate. You should have no problem picking up some great road-trip food. They'll probably put it on ice for you, if you ask. Don't forget about their bakery right next door!

One more: Sweet Gratitude, by Judith Sutton. Despite the treacle-y subtitle -- "bake a thank-you for the really important people in your life" -- and the cutesy illustrations, the unfussy recipes look like just the thing for this unpracticed baker.

Actually, it's part of the Muer Restaurant Group in name only. Landry's Restaurants, Inc. purchased the Muer Group (Charley's Crab, Gandy Dancer, The Grand Concourse, Big Fish, and Chuck & Harold's) in 2002. From Landry's web site: "Landry's owns and operates approximately 279 restaurants, including Landry's Seafood House, Joe's Crab Shack, The Crab House, Rainforest Café, Charley's Crab, Willie G's Seafood & Steak House, The Chart House, and Saltgrass Steak House...." Because of increasingly inconsistent quality and service, Charley's Crab in Grand Rapids dropped off my "regular go-to" list even before it was sold. I must admit, though, that I haven't been back there in several years. I'm assuming that the choice of Gandy Dancer wasn't up to you and is not negotiable. Your tab being covered should ameliorate any disappointment about not making it to Eve, Cafe Zola, etc. Based on my experiences with other Muer restaurants, I recommend sticking to whatever fish is freshest, clearly specifying that the chef not overcook it. Also, Charley's Chowder is pretty good, as is the Martha's Vineyard salad so long as it's lightly dressed. However, DO NOT pass up the opportunity to visit Zingerman's Delicatessen, a very short drive from the restaurant. They're open until 10.

Foo. I was looking forward to getting back there before too long. Any idea why they closed? I'd think that that area would be sophisticated enough to support such a restaurant, but maybe not.