Alex

I grind my flax seeds in an old blade-type coffee grinder. They add kind of a nutty taste to pancakes. As tryska mentioned, flax seed oxidizes quickly, so I recommend buying it in small quantities and storing it in the fridge.

Gee, tommy, thanks a lot. After 25 years of living away from NY I had just about managed to forget about the foods I really missed.

One of everything sounds good. Short of that, I'd opt for the beets or onion soup to start, then the quail or duck breast. (Hmm. It must be autumn.) Yum.

Good review -- thanks! And welcome to eGullet, mitten.

Saturday salad: shaved fennel, cuc crescents, red bell pepper, arugula, baby romaine, baby spinach, w/sesame vinaigrette seared U-10 scallops w/ginger-anise sauce roasted potatoes roasted asparagus w/white truffle oil goat cheese ice cream (from last weekend) w/chocolate sauce (Scharffen Berger) 1988 Hospices de Nuits (tired but still tasty)

Here's a spirited article about Rocco's on 22nd from today's (Sept. 19) Chicago Tribune.

It's possible that she meant Common Grill but she wrote Chelsea Grill. She doesn't have a great memory, though . She initially wrote that she wanted to go to Chelsea to the restaurant owned by Jeff Daniels. She later remembered that he owned a theater, not a restaurant, and then said the restaurant was called Chelsea Grill. I think the restaurant must be in or near the theater, or somehow related to it, but I'll have to ask her about it. The Common Grill is very near Jeff Daniels's Purple Rose Theatre. My last visit there was a good six or seven years ago, but I remember enjoying it. Nothing terribly innovative, just good food.

Are you sure you don't mean Common Grill in Chelsea? Sometimes things are cheaper at the Zingerman's store vs. the web site. Not much, though. I do love their smoked whitefish salad.

There are two red squirrels we're trying to coax out of their comfy little home in our attic, using live traps (for now). Maybe I should put a copy of this recipe up there for some added motivation.

Definitely. But is al fresco willing to come all the way to Grand Rapids?

2501 Jackson Rd -- in the Westgate Shopping Center at the SW corner of Jackson and Maple (just north of where Stadium becomes Maple) in Ann Arbor. It's in a former Bill Knapp's restaurant.

Amen! My first julep was at the 1973 Derby. The infield at Churchill Downs, Secretariat, juleps, and a road trip to boot -- you couldn't get much better than that!

Penne with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, French -- er, Freedom feta, basil, parsley, and hot pepper flakes. Drank a very nice Tempranillo.

Best ever was a 1978 Mondavi Reserve, tasted at the winery in 1981, then bought three bottles when I got back home. That was my first exposure to really good Cab -- woke me right up. I usually drink other reds as my standbys, but if I need a Cal Cab I go with Raymond unless there's a better one on clearance.

Great post, Tammy -- thanks. I'll probably give them a try the next time I'm in A2. BTW, here's a well-written and interesting article about the business side of Zingerman's.

Another reason to come to Grand Rapids (from today's Grand Rapids Press): "McDonald's Corp. hopes a new addition to its premium salad line will be a hit with customers in several test markets, including Grand Rapids. "McDonald's restaurants in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Indianapolis, Tucson, Minneapolis and Las Vegas were chosen as test markets for this week's planned roll-out of the new Del Rio salad. "Similar to a taco salad, the new item will join the restaurant's line of premium salads...."

Nero and Maggie -- Friday or Saturday? If Friday, in time for dinner, I hope.

Listen to tammylc -- she knows Ann Arbor! Zingerman's is great and probably shouldn't be missed, if only to browse and maybe pick up some bread or pastry or cheese or smoked fish. It's possible to get lunch for <$10 (e.g., half a sandwich and a beverage). Michigan is still trying to figure out what part of the US it belongs to. As a native New Yorker, I think it's the Midwest, without a doubt. Someone from, say, Nebraska may disagree. Ann Arbor transcends all that, though.

fresh corn on the cob tomato and cucumber salad leftover chicken cheap Oz white leftover goat cheese ice cream wonderful

We're right in the middle of Michigan peach season -- ripe ones are everywhere! I know what I'm making this weekend.

I can introduce you to some people I know....

I've never heard Grand Rapids called "Offbeat" before, but hey....

I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a French press coffee today (up to $4.50 for a 32-oz. pot).

In addition to reading, I've learned a lot by talking with my wine gurus at my local wine stores.

It's also on sale here in West Michigan. Either the winery or the distributor must have had a whole bunch they wanted to unload. I'll probably give it a try this weekend or shortly thereafter and report back.