Alex

There almost certainly will be others coming from Chicago. Fresser has already said yes, and a couple of others are tentative. I'm 55 , if that helps.

Good luck! We love Cooking Up A Storm! Nice owners, too. Did you check out their vintage salt and pepper shakers? Two years ago we couldn't resist buying two sets -- a flute- and harp-playing tomato and ear of corn, and a jogging fork and spoon. Too silly. They've adapted well to their new roles, though, of mascots to our Hello Kitty wind-up toy.

What about The Whitney, a short cab ride north of downtown? I haven't been there in ages. Beautiful old mansion, expensive but excellent, half-priced bottles Tuesdays in May. Has anyone been there recently?

I agree with carswell -- covered cooking will not produce crispy potatoes. I'd parboil or steam, drain, heat a little more to dry them out, then coat w/olive oil, toss w/kosher salt, and roast at 400-425 until brown. Red Bliss potatoes

Congratulations on becoming a non-smoker! Does food taste any different to you now? Has quitting smoking changed your eating habits?

Hi Alex, We're looking forward to meeting you too. We've eaten in Stratford a few times, but nothing that remarkable. I've never eaten in St. Mary's but we did visit a cheese shop there( the name escapes me now) that was small but impressive. I'll be going to Stratford on Thursday for a dr.appt. Do you have an suggestions? ← For dinner I'm very fond of Sapori Pasta House. We'll be eating there both nights when we're in Stratford later this month. We also like Tango Coffee Bistro for pretty decent lunch and brunch food in a fun atmosphere. Here's an eG Stratford thread. ← Thanks Alex, Tango looks good. I think I'll try that for lunch on Thursday. ← Not to throw out too many choices, but how could I have forgotten about York Street Kitchen?

Hi Alex, We're looking forward to meeting you too. We've eaten in Stratford a few times, but nothing that remarkable. I've never eaten in St. Mary's but we did visit a cheese shop there( the name escapes me now) that was small but impressive. I'll be going to Stratford on Thursday for a dr.appt. Do you have an suggestions? ← For dinner I'm very fond of Sapori Pasta House. We'll be eating there both nights when we're in Stratford later this month. We also like Tango Coffee Bistro for pretty decent lunch and brunch food in a fun atmosphere. Here's an eG Stratford thread.

Looking forward to your blog and to meeting you both in a couple of months in Ann Arbor. As a once-a-year visitor to your part of the world, I'm wondering if you ever go to Stratford or St. Mary's to eat.

C'mon and join the crowd! -- tammylc & crew Alex HeatherM Fresser & his slick PT Cruiser BeJam Maria & husband CaliPoutine & Robin TJHarris Devilkitty (a definite maybe) maggiethecat (tentative) Lady T (tentative) [your name here]

MY MIL lives in New Bern. I've been there only a few times, and not in the past six years or so, but Ms. Alex goes there regularly. She said that "New Bern is no Chicago" but that a decent meal can be had. She's eaten at The Chelsea and Clementine's and enjoyed both. She's heard very good things about A Catered Affair Cafe but hasn't been there yet. Also, Wilmington isn't all that far away. Here's an eG Wilmington thread.

I agree re the Magi-Cake strips. But then, how can one disagree about brownies with an eGulleteer named browniebaker? I also have experienced more of a differential when using a glass baking dish, but that might be just me.

I don't know how coarse is "coarse" for you, but I'm extremely happy with the range of grinds and ease of use of my Unicorn Magnum Plus.

C'mon, folks -- where's that Heartlander enthusiasm we saw two years ago? So far: tammylc & crew Alex HeatherM Fresser & his slick PT Cruiser BeJam

This sounds like a great place, and I admire Chef Tuohy's philosophy. We'll be in Atlanta in June, visiting cousins, and if I can nudge them away from their safe and comfortable and boring eating habits I'd love to take them to Woodfire Grill. I checked out their web site but didn't see any prices or even estimates thereof. Can someone clue me on the approximate range for apps and entrees, and whether the wine list is fairly priced?

I'm a fan of Lolonis Orpheus, their Petite Sirah, which currently sells in the high $20s to low $30s around here. Bonuses: the grapes are organically grown, it's a family-owned and -run winery, and Philip Lolonis is a nice guy. (I just met him at a wine tasting.)

I love the veal idea but unfortunately, for medical reasons, one of the guests is unable to eat red meat. I wonder if the same approach would work for roast chicken (or even turkey -- I still have one in the freezer), with maybe some veal or chicken glace thrown in.

Thanks! That's the drawback (at least for me) of having 250 or so cookbooks -- I forget what's where.

Given last weekend's snowstorm, you wouldn't guess it, but morel and asparagus season is almost upon us here in Michigan. I'd love to put together a wonderful dish with those two ingredients when a couple of chef friends come over for dinner a few weeks from now. I've previously made Tapawingo's Cassoulet of Morels, Fiddleheads and Asparagus, as well as the usual starch (risotto, pasta, etc.) combo, but I'd like to try something different. Morel-asparagus ice cream is definitely out, but I'm open to any other ideas.

OMG, I forgot about them! Yes, fun. Here's a little guide to Lansing-area places. Note the lukewarm review of Dusty's. It also tells you that El Azteco is local, not a chain. It also mentions Evergreen Grill, normally a recommendation of mine, but which has since closed.

Me, I'd go to Villegas twice, but some reports have said good things about Dusty's Wine Bar. We ate there once, several years ago. The food was good but doesn't stand out in my mind. The wine selection was excellent. They have special dinners, wine tastings, etc.

Glad you're coming, but actually we're trolls, not Yoopers. Some genuine Yoopers may indeed show up, though. [Yoopers = natives or long-term residents of Michigan's U.P. (Upper Peninsula); trolls = folks who live under the (Mackinac) Bridge, i.e., in the Lower Peninsula.]

You know I'm in. (I'd better be. ) Ms. Alex just got a meeting scheduled for that weekend, so unfortunately it'll be just me.

Yeah, I like it, too. Their Eden Burger is the best veggie burger I've ever had.

How about this recipe for Torta del Re? It's one of several recipes mentioned in this interesting article about Italian Judaism.

From April's Gourmet, this recipe for Fried Stuffed Chinese Eggplant looks appetizing.