prasantrin

Here's a picture of the lobster roll as sold at the Costco in Winnipeg last summer. I thought is was kind of tasteless, but we don't get to eat much lobster in Winnipeg. I must try the oven trick. I don't know if they'll do that for me in Japan, as most of the hot dogs are already in their buns and wrapped up before they're ordered. Japanese hot dog buns are particularly flaccid. They get so soggy that by the time you eat half your hot dog, the bun has practically dissolved. And they're a bit sweet, too. We do get some kind of very sweet relish and flavourless sauerkraut, though. The sauerkraut helps to reduce the saltiness of the hot dog, itself. I don't know about other Costcos, but the one near my place seems to have seasonal items. The frozen drink changes a couple of times a year (it was very berry, then mango, and now I'm not sure), and the bulgogi bake comes and goes, alternating with chicken bake. The chocolate churro currently being sold is a new flavour--it used to be plain. I think the ice cream topping flavour might change, too.

They're much better when you doctor them up using the seasoning salt and parmesan cheese found in the condiment area. That's they only way I eat them, with ketchup, of course! If we're talking about the free samples, I stopped eating most of the free samples at the Costco here in Japan. They had some unsupervised bread samples and some snot-nosed kid (literally--he had snot running all over the place) touched every piece of bread before choosing the one he wanted. Disgusting! Also, at Costco in Japan you can have as much of the free sample as you want, and kids do not need their parents' permission to try anything (as they do at the Winnipeg one). Kids will crowd around a station (like the sausage station) and eat a crap load of stuff, leaving nothing behind for the others (and they use the same toothpick to do it!). Now I only go to the supervised testing stations, but I also try to get to Costco before most of the families get there. Costco is not a good place to allow kids to run around freely.

Costco goodies depend on the location of the Costco. In Winnipeg, I could get fries (with gravy or as poutine, if I desired), and I liked them (just liked, not loved), but I can't get them in Japan. In Japan I can get bulgogi bake, which is similar to chicken bake but with bulgogi instead of that cheesy sickening chicken filling. The pizza here is OK, but not the best (but if you like seafood pizza, you can get it). I also like their chocolate churros. I eat hot dogs at Costco because they're cheap, but the hot dogs in Japan are all pork, and are quite salty. Not as good as the Polish sausages I used to get at the Costco in Winnipeg (they're no longer available, though).

Do you already do florentines? I like both the bar and the cookie type. Goodies used to do a decent bar version (the crust wasn't very tasty, though), and Gunn's does a pretty good cookie version. Anything with nuts goes over very well in my family. Hint hint (even though I'm not due back in YWG for awhile...)

No matter where you live in Japan, it's quite easy to get specialties from other regions, so you'll eat well no matter where you are! As for travelling, when I was younger and had more patience, I used to take night buses. Return fare between Fukuoka and Tokyo is Y27 000, while one-way Shinkansen for the same trip is about Y22 000. A much better deal, but more time-consuming and if you're unlucky enough to get a bus without a toilet, they stop almost every hour (turning on the lights when they do so). You can find a list of night bus routes from Fukuoka here.

We used to buy the meringues from Le Croissant (on Tache) all the time, though last summer found the ones from Cafe...can't remember the name but it's on Academy near Kenaston near our vet's...to be much more to our liking. Cafe Kohler? We love good meringues, especially ones that are nice and chewy in the center.

Not in Tokyo, but when I lived in Tochigi I used to see them fairly often. Except only at my house, whenever I made them. Actually, now that I'm in Nishinomiya, I still make pierogi (just finished off the last 6 of the last batch I made) but haven't made patties in ages. I've wanted to, but have been too lazy. There are a couple of Jamaican restaurants in Kobe and I've been meaning to see if they have patties. Maybe they do mail order? edited to fix my tags

Is Dean and Deluca still active in the Tokyo area? That might be a good place to find some of your wants. I do love Kua'aina burgers, but I OD'ed on them several months back. Haven't had one since! Perhaps it's time to revisit them.

I almost ordered that last week. I thought it would be a good way to try all those toppings I'm sort of afraid of. But then I realized I was scared of most of those toppings, so there was a great chance I'd not like most of the pizza. Perhaps in my next life, I'll be more adventurous!

Well, although I am not currently living in Winnipeg, I heard there's a fabulous new bakery/caterer/etc. on Corydon Ave...

Ummm, do we want to know what that is, or is a little too personal...

I hate KD, and always have. It's odd, because we often had it in the house because my brother and sister used to eat the stuff. However, at a friend's house I did once have some KD mixed with I think ground beef, canned tomatoes, green peppers, and maybe one other vegetable. I thought it was pretty good. I tried to make it, but it didn't taste as good. Any ideas of proportions so I can recreate this masterpiece?

Not necessarily good pastrami (I'm not a very good judge of pastrami), but Kua A'ina (sp?), the Hawaiian burger place, has pastrami sandwiches. They were good, but again, I'm not the best judge.

So that's two votes for Entier L&P. I'll pick some up during my next visit to the supermarket. I'm a little afraid (make that "very" afraid), but I'll give it a go!

Which lemon/parsley ones do you like? I've seen a couple of different brands, and am itching to try them. But am, as always, very wary of buying Japanese sausages.

I wouldn't touch that sausage, either, even just to be polite! I'm still searching for the perfect Japanese-made sausage. I was craving sausage and couldn't get to Costco to get some Johnsonville So, the other day I picked up some Spicy Chorizo (that's the katakana, but the English on the package says "Chili Pepper and Paprika") made by ripurima hamu. I had high hopes for it, and thought even if it weren't very good, the spiciness would cover up the lack of flavour. Had some for breakfast, and... Well, I headed back to Costco yesterday, and picked up two packs of Johnsonville. Can't risk running out again!

Holy crap, Batman! I would kill to have that bit of prime rib with the fat. It looks absolutely amazing! The gratin made me actually want to eat broccoli, too, and I don't even like that kind of broccoli! I don't think anyone here would ever beat you up for it. We all have our addictions (as I crack into another Costco-sized bag of Tim's Sea Salt and Vinegar potato chips). I'm just impressed that you admitted it! And being able to get back on the wagon the second time, is just as important a skill as getting on the first time. (That didn't really make sense, did it? )

I use the kind used for nabe--very thin rectangular mochi. I used to like cheese, mochi and pork (bara) okonomiyaki, but I started to find that it was too heavy. Now I either go with cheese and pork or mochi and pork. I'm going out for okonomiyaki later this week--gotta decide which to have!

Kettle Chips have come out with a new line of "Happy Hour" flavours which include Buffalo Bleu Cheese. They're available for a very limited time, though you can vote for your favourite. The flavour with the most votes will be manufactured for an entire year. Just this once, I wish I lived in the US. Also included are Dirty Martini, Tuscan Three Cheese, Spicy Mary, and Creamy Caesar.

Definitely bite. If the cookie is soft and large (like most of the ones available at coffee shops and bakeries these days), I tear, but I usually bite. And after the first bite, I must eat around the first bite in order to create a straight line. I'm a little anal that way.

Acupuncture! Try acupuncture! I don't know if it works for quitting smoking (I've heard raves from some who have used it for that), but it's so fascinating! You're doing a great job! You're all doing a great job with quitting! I'm almost inspired to quit my potato chip addiction...

Congratulations to all of you! This is going to be quite the week, and quite the journey for you! Trying to keep this sort of food related, there is a very good chance you'll gain weight regardless of what you eat, so don't feel bad if you do. Nicotine increases one's metabolism, so yours will slow down a bit when you quit. If you don't already exercise regularly, you might want to start now so you can increase your metabolism a little. Although it's difficult to make two huge behavioural changes at once, you can use exercise as a behavioural alternative to smoking (whenever you want to light up a cigarette, for example, take a walk around the block or pick up a Dynaband and do some bicep curls). One of the things I learned in training (I was a smoking cessation counsellor when I was in university) was that it only takes 3 days for your body to adjust to the lack of nicotine. After that, you're really dealing with your mind's addiction to smoking. Now if only I could apply everything I learned about smoking cessation to my potato chip addiction...

I've always loved the Tiptree/Wilkin & Sons brand. Unfortunately, in my area of Canada it became increasingly difficult to find (Robertson's seemed to take over the market, but was not as good, I thought). Fortunately, I'm currently living in Japan where it's often the only brand I can find. Now if only I can bring myself to pay $6-8 for it...

Those look great! I've been thinking of making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and after seeing yours, I really want some now!

I've never been to WD, but it sounds like it might be a bodum, except with the bodum you don't press down as you would with a French press.