Squeat Mungry

I don't know if this qualifies, because it is so simple and basic, but my board scraper is like an extension of my hand. I seem to use it for at least three different things every time I cook. I'd also be lost without my mortar and pestle and my mezzaluna. Oh, and my set of Bauer batter bowls! Cheers, Squeat

My neighborhood produce store, where I do most of my food shopping aside from the Farmer's Market, does not keep magazines, candy, batteries, etc. by the checkout, but rather something that is even more alluring to me for an impulse buy: that's where they keep all the spices! I can't get out of there without at least one packet of something or other to experiment with. Squeat

Both are (in)famous and for more or less the same thing, with a different 'mix'. Church/Market Safeway, being closer to the Castro, is more of a 'Boystown' version of the cruise scene at Marina Safeway. Both murals are stunning, however. Props to your ex on some good work! Squeat

elyse, I assume it is. I try never to go there because it is only a matter of minutes before I become completely filled with intense rage. Everything about Safeway galls me -- don't get me started, I could go on for a long time! (And Soba, not to pick nits, but in case any visiting eGulleters want to check out the show for themselves, the intersection is actually Church and 14th and Market.) Cheers, Squeat

When I make a crust, especially a biscuity-type crust, for something that is fairly wet, I like to blind bake it at least partially. This helps crisp it up a bit before the filling goes in, and helps keep the filling from sogging out the crust. Of course this creates logistical problems with a double-crust pie, but sometimes I will do a lattice-type top separately over an inverted pie-tin, and then fit it on the pie for the final bake. I also find it helps if all ingredients are kept as cold as possible and handled as little as possible. (It also tends to tear less if it is cold.) I like to stick the dough in the freezer for 15 minutes before the blind bake, as it seems to help with the flakiness/crispiness/tenderness of the crust. Cheers, Squeat

Another lucky one here. I eagerly look forward to my weekly trips to the Farmer's Market, where I thoroughly enjoy myself, assuming I've gotten there early enough to make it out before the serious crowds show up. And my "fill-in" shopping at my local produce store is always a pleasure as well, as they are extremely friendly and helpful and make a point to stock only fresh, quality stuff and at the same time keep prices as low as possible. I pretty much despise any other kind of shopping, though. Cheers, Squeat

I have a few fall/winter recipe favorites that use chestnuts as an ingredient. For years I slit, roasted and peeled my own. After enough burned fingers, cuts from the paring knife, and bits of that thin inner skin wedged under my fingernails, I finally got wise. I now buy the steamed, jarred chestnuts, and am a much happier man. Cheers, Squeat

I'm pretty sure you automatically become a member after making a certain number of posts, though I'm not sure what that number is. I don't remember doing anything special to make the transition. Back on topic, I spoke to a friend last night who had just eaten at Kabuto for the first time since they reopened in their new location. She said if anything it is even better than before. She claims it is the best sushi she's ever eaten (and she has traveled in Japan). Squeat

I can instantly tell decaffeinated coffee (bleah) from the real stuff by taste alone, without waiting for any effects. Cilantro tastes caprylic to me, but after some deliberate effort on my part, I can take it in small doses where it is not the dominant flavor. I don't like fish or seafood at all, though after some deliberate effort I can take anchovies in small doses where they are not the dominant flavor. I can usually eat crabcakes, too. I also despise chocolate, which just makes me an outright freak. (Am I kicked off eGullet now?) Cheers Squeat Edited to add that I was one of the few on the original thread to whom canola oil tastes "fishy".

It seems like I saw something like that here in San Francisco the other day. I remember thinking, "Ewww." Anyway, I used to have a tiny toy robot that was made in Japan. The outside of the box said (among other things), "You, I and it -- all are robots!" Cheers, Squeat

Aaargh! I'm always the one with champagne tastes on a beer budget. Still, I'll keep my eye out for it. Might make a perfect holiday gift for... me!

I'm putting this on my list. Bill Neal was one of my favorites! Have you seen Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock's The Gift of Southern Cooking? Wonderful! I highly recommend Lidia's Italian American Kitchen. Great book! One more for me, Maggie: I snagged Shirley Corriher's Cookwise off eBay. Squeat

One of my favorite coffee memories also involves a rainbow! In 2001, I vacationed with two friends in Costa Rica. One rainy morning we went for breakfast to a place along the main road that had been recommended in a guidebook. The place was charming and we were seated on the covered patio in the back, surrounded by beautiful Central American flora. A delicious aroma soon filled the patio area... coffee! As our coffee was being poured, the clouds parted and sunlight filled the entire space. As we were taking our first sips, a HUGE rainbow appeared and seemed to actually engulf us, and the entire backyard was suddenly filled with butterflies! The coffee was delicious (I bought some to bring home), and the experience is one I won't forget. Cheers, Squeat

Hey bratt23, Not sure just how recently you talked to this guy, but I thought you might want a heads-up that Tower sold his interest in Stars years ago, and that the new owners finally closed down the place altogether early this year after a dispute with the landlord. Good luck in your career; hope you enjoy CCA and San Francisco. Where are you now? (I may have missed this in your post.) Cheers, Squeat PS Unless maybe he means a different Stars and a different Jeremiah Tower, but that seems a very unlikely coincidence!

I knew I had chosen the wrong deli for lunch yesterday when I was in the middle of ordering my sandwich, and the young woman who had been taking the order decided to answer her cell phone, duck down behind the counter and hold a personal conversation for 3 minutes! She seemed to be operating under the impression that if she couldn't see me, I would be placed in a sort of suspended animation and somehow not realize what was happening! Used to be an excellent place on 16th st. in San Fran with tons of old crap on the walls. GREAT greasy comfort food. What a dream. Elyse, which place? The green one on the corner of Harrison? Alas, long gone. Cheers, Squeat

If you're looking for sushi, my friends recommend Kabuto, Hama-Ko and Kyo-Ya. However, these are second-hand recommendations (albeit from people whose taste I respect), as I don't eat sushi myself. There is a great place for beef teriyaki right on street level in the middle of the Japantown plaza, but I'm blanking on the name. (They also have tasty tempura.) Will post if I can come up with it. Good luck, Squeat

My default drink for years was a (gin, of course) martini or a gin rickey, and I would occasionally enjoy a scotch. Of course I've explored the entire gamut over the years, and have many favorites. Now my default drink is blended scotch/rocks or single-malt straight. I still order (or preferably make) the occasional martini or a refreshing gin rickey on warm days. I'll usually choose gin or scotch over vodka or bourbon or rum. Still like to vary things now and then, though. Cheers, Squeat

Thanks for the great report, GG. Sounds absolutely delicious and hilarious! Sorry about your linen, though. Cheers, Squeat BTW, my T-day hosts do the bird in much the same way, and it always comes out perfect!

I admit I didn't have any of the cake, either, as I am not a fan of chocolate. (I know, I'm a freak!) The texture looked like wet sand at the beach, though, and no one finished even the smallest slice. The husband declared it was "not what I am used to." She is an excellent cook, though (everyone in this group is). Just out of her familiar territory on this one, as an act of love. (Her crab had this entire group of "foodies" gasping and almost weeping with delight!) I should add that the host couple host Thanksgiving every year for our gang, and have perfected all the standards, so every year we can count on a perfectly roasted bird with nice crisp skin, moist breastmeat and robust, flavorful dark meat, as well as delicious stuffing, perfect riced potatoes, delicate green beans with shaved almonds, from-scratch 'Parker House' rolls, fresh-tasting peas with pearl onions, and that pie... that pie!

The biggest hit at our gathering was a cracked crab appetizer brought by one of the other guests. This was signalled by long stretches of silent munching punctuated by gasps of amazement and delight and murmured thanks. (I don't eat crab myself, but I sampled the horseradish cocktail sauce on a lemon wedge and it was truly delicious!) Unfortunately, the same guest provided the biggest culinary disappointment (besides my own undercooked brussels sprouts): a red velvet cake requested by her Colorado-raised husband, who was also celebrating his birthday. The cake elicited some silence, as well, punctuated by "This is... interesting." Fortunately, the other dessert option was the most incredible from-fresh pumpkin pie I've ever had anywhere, baked by the host. Cheers Squeat

I made grilled cheddar cheese for lunch today in the bags. I put butter on the outside. I don't think I personally would use canola because to me, like Elyse, it has a kind of of 'fishy' or some other undesirable-type flavor. I really don't like to use it much on the stovetop either. As for toaster settings for cooking in the bags, I find that with the toaster I have the winning combination is two toastings with dial set about halfway between what seems to be medium and what seems to be medium-dark. Somewhere about 70-80 percent along the way of the 'swoosh'-like scale I have to work with.

After the presentation, the mayor said he had "no intention of bringing the issue to council." An irony is that the main proponent of the petition that was presented, one Susan Corso, is proprietor of a local fish and chips shop, where she makes her living by selling murdered fish! I'm in San Francisco, and I'll admit to being politically liberal on most social issues, as indeed are most of my friends in Sonoma, but I have no truck with terrorists, and I really hope the Sonoma city council will not be coerced by the action of criminals and their lunatic friends into unwise and ridiculous legislature. Otherwise, the terrorists will have won. Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving, Squeat

Ran into a friend I hadn't seen in too long tonight here in San Francisco whilst shopping for brussels sprouts. Turns out she and her former roommate (also a good friend) have each found apartments within blocks of my own. Synchronicities like these make the holiday resound! GG, your blog (and eGullet as a whole) are part of what I am thankful for this year. Love the 'bechoutay'! And everything else looks fabulous, too. Cheers to everyone and Happy Thanksgiving! Squeat

That rib-eye sure sounds great! Thanks for bringing us up to date. Everything sounds delicious! Any snow yet? Squeat Edited to not thank you for "brining" us!

I'll second this. I always keep a bottle of the 15 single in my home bar.