Foodie_Penguin

Please elaborate... i.e. SC barbecue and/or others? what dishes did you eat and what do you recommend? distance from the exit? did you notice if this place has odd opening hours? Weekends only perhaps? Thanks, Foodie Penguin

My reference to authentic Chinese food and Neo China is directed at member, JerzeeTomato who gave Neo China the accolade, "Neo China was by far the best chinese food I had ever had in NC total." He/she may not be able to distinguish/unaware that there is Chinese food and Chinese American food. I know Neo China is not authentic Chinese food and that's why I go elsewhere. I personally don't care for American Chinese food since I'm more familiar with authentic Chinese food (via Chinatown in London, UK and having Chinese friends). Foodie Penguin

I've not been to Peking Garden in Raleigh but I have been to the Neo China in Durham. It's pretty good but certainly not worthy of the title of best Chinese food in NC. The menu is not authentic Chinese and this is confirmed because Asians do not flock to this restaurant (at least not the Durham branch). The opposite is the case at China One and Hong Kong, both in Durham. I prefer both for Chinese food (though I've only had the dim sum at Hong Kong). Foodie Penguin

One of my favourite brands of soda/fizzy drink is "Spa". It may be Belgian or French. The cans are smaller than the typical British fizzy drink, 250 ml? There is Spa Blackcurrant, Spa Lemon and also Spa Cactus (and lime?). I used to drink them ocassionally in the UK but I've only found one place (an artisan bakery run by Germans) in Durham, NC that stocks this soda. I believe that there is actual fruit in the soda too which is quite a novelty to find in the US! I also love the Fentimann's brand, especially their ginger beer. It has a real kick. It was available in grocery stores like Waitrose and Sainsburys. I've only seen Fentimann's in one store in the US and it was v. expensive! Foodie Penguin

Since moving from the UK to North Carolina, I'd read about boiled peanuts but never found them in my area (Durham). However, on my vacation to SC this past week I was thrilled to find roadside stands selling boiled peanuts. I bought my first bag from a stand on the way back from Beaufort to Charleston, SC. The seller, I think, was the farmer himself and he offered to get me some fresh, still hot, peanuts that he'd boiled an hour earlier. I don't think I've mastered how to get the nut out of the shell intact but they do taste good hot. Boiling the nut gives them a creamy taste, quite unlike roasted nuts. The farmer told me a story about why his peanuts taste different to boiled peanuts found in NC. He says that that NC boiled peanuts are of the Valencia variety that is drier (than the variety he uses). So, they need pre-soaking before boiling. Is there any truth in what I was told? The farmer says he knows the difference 'cos he went to school in NC (he mentioned Brevard). I bought another bag from Lumberton Farmers Market on the way back to Durham yesterday. I haven't eaten any from that bag yet. However, I do think that the SC peanuts I bought from him looked like Valencia peanuts...

It's a little known fact but the Rock and Sole Plaice has a second branch on Fairfax Rd., off Finchley Road, near the Finchley Road tube station. It is run by the same family and I used to eat their fish and chips ever since they opened (probably going on three years now). Their fried fish and chips was (I say was because I don't live in the UK any longer and last had their fish and chips last December) better than the original Covent Garden branch. Foodie Penguin

Excuse me if this has already been covered in an edition of Good Eats that I haven't seen but if you haven't done this already, how about a series of "Good Eats" aimed at kids? Not high school students but those aged 11-15? I know the adage. Don't work with children or animals but hey, in your show you work with animals (albeit many of them are dead) so why not break the second part of the saying and work with kids? Imagine Sesame Street with a generous dose of food/cooking in the Alton Brown style. Ditch the adults in creature costumes though. All that fake fur with ranges, ovens and grills sounds very OHSA unfriendly. Foodie_Penguin

Other posters have made the pertinent point that London is not close to the sea and thus transportation costs for seafood are high (if you want high quality, fresh seafood at least). Thus, it's an oxymoron to ask for cheap, quality sushi. It might be cheaper if you made it yourself (my Mum's makes better than restaurant quality sushi. A sushi chef she knew told her so). Also, if you're accustomed to American style sushi, it would be foolish to look for the same in London or anywhere in the UK. One last thing, what is quality? For me personally, it's authentic and fresh sushi. Such an eatery can be found by the number of Japanese dining. It ain't cheap but good things aren't. If you really like sushi, perhaps it's something you'll have to eat less often than you did in Japan or the US. My fave places for sushi in London were: the tiny little place in Hampstead (Jinkichi) the restaurant in Kentish Town (Asakusa) the restauant off Piccadilly (Piccadilly Place?) the restaurant on the other side of the road of Finchley Road tube (wakaba) It's been a few years since I left the UK for the US so I can't remember all the names.

One memorable restaurant that I used to like visiting was called Taja, an Indian restaurant on the Whitechapel Road, London, E1. The builing was formerly a public convenience (public toilets) and the restaurant was located on the pavement (it was a very wide pavement). Due to the size limitations, seating was canteen style. The food was good, fresh and pretty authentic. As I recall, service was a litttle slow but I guess the kitchen was tiny. I only told friends about the previous use for the building after they'd eaten and left the restaurant. I don't know if it's still there now (it opened in 1999).

As someone from Europe (originally from the UK), I was kind of surprised, when I moved to the US, about how little the media mentions GMO/GM foods. It's as if there's only a small proportion of the US population taking an interest in this mixing of science and crop production. I believe there's no US federal law in place to label GMO food products so the consumer doesn't know exactly which products contain GMO. However, there are some manufacturers who do state that their produce contains no GMO ingredients. It's the other way in the EU (European Union). GMO products/ingredients must be labeled as such. What are your views on GMO foods? Would you and your family eat GMO identified food products? That's my two questions! Foodie Penguin (I met you at the Cooking Show in Raleigh, NC in Oct last year).

Yes, try organic produce box deliveries. I used this as a source of seasonal, fresh organic produce when I lived in the UK. I can't remember the two companies I used. One was had "Cole" in the name I think. That company allowed me to make substitutions (I provided them with a list of produce I didn't eat and they chose what was substituted). This worked great. Foodie Penguin

I've seen both episodes so far. I've been disappointed with both. A spoiler in my TV listings warned of a surprise ending but I couldn't work it out. The Kitchen Stadium needed a live audience during the recording and there was little no chitchat during competition from the judges. There was little entertainment value to the show. That was missing. As for the food, by the end of cooking time, I was convinced that Sakai would win, based on the presentation and ingredients alone so I was most shocked that Flay won. I guessed 'cos he stuck to familiar cuisine (southwestern) with little innovation, the judges could happily tuck into food not dissimilar to what is found in his restaurants (just a guess). Also, what's the fixation with seafood? Both battles have beem with seafood. Is a fish produce a major sponsor of the mini-series? The reporter in the kitchen is pretty useless and I'm disappointed that Alton has honed his Japanese language pronounciation. Overall, the entertainment and humur in ICJ is missing. The American version is quite sanitized. Maybe the aim is to have IC appeal to a wider audience. Foodie Penguin

I know where it is, but I haven't been in there yet. It's on Chapel Hill Street. If you take the Durham Freeway north from I-40, take the Chapel Hill Street exit. Make a right onto Chapel Hill Street at the top of the ramp. Go through a stoplight on the other side of the overpass; go up another block and go through a second stoplight, and it will be on about the second block on your left (before you get to the third stoplight.) Yes, I've been there a few times. I've even considered getting membership. The reasons I chose not to were: not entirely comfortable about parking in their parking lot (beside the store) store looks chaotic/disorganized some of the fresh produce doesn't look so fresh That's pretty much it. Foodie Penguin

Even before I got a job within a mile of Gulghupf I was a frequent shopper there. Now I work so close, I buy all my bread there. In fact, I was there today buying my loaf. Quite a line ahead of me too. The lady at the head of the line was buying a fair quantity of bakery goods. Despite being a German bakery, they produce a mean croissant. Picked up a bag of five of them 40% off (because they're a day old. They're in the freezer now). As well as selling their own baked goods, they also serve/sell Broad Street Roasters (is that the correct name?) coffee and have two fridges selling European goodies such as Spa carbonated drinks, Italian butter, French brie. As someone who tries to avoid wheat, Gulghupf is a godsend. Their website even describes the percentage of grains in each of their breads. Sadly, the long awaited expansion is still not ready. Looks like it'll be ready in the summer (think July/August time). Foodie Penguin

There is an excellent Vietnamese family run restaurant in Durham, on Guess Road. I think its name is Kim Son. It's in the same strip mall as a BBQ restuarant, Hog Heaven. I didn't think the foods was expensive but I've only been there for lunch. As for Indian restaurants, my spouse and I are very fond of The Tower in Morrisville. Their weekend lunch buffet (not sure if buffet's available at dinner) is good value and the food is tremendous. This is borne out by the number of SE Asians who eat at the Tower. This is a vegetarian restaurant specializing in Southern Indian food. For non-regional, carnivore friendly Indian meals, we go to The Tandoor in Durham. It's in Greenwood Commons SC on H55, close to the junction of H54/H55. Foodie Penguin

Yes, International Delights is still around. I had a falafel sandwich there at the end of last year. Foodie Penguin

What's the 48 hours refer to? Marinated for 48 hours? I've never been to Vin. Coincientally, I received a Niman Ranch gift certificate for Christmas. I'm looking forward to ordering some pork and lamb and preparing some great dishes. Foodie Penguin

Many cultures use what you describe fish parts "trashed in other countries" for making fish stock, don't they? I particularly like eating fish eyes (cooked, of course). Foodie Penguin

I think Lemonia is overhyped. It is good but I think part of the reason to dine there is to be seen with the "in crowd". I consider it too drafty in the restaurant too. If you're in that part of London, why not go to Greek Valley in St. John's Wood. It's a more homely (in the British sense) restaurant. Their mezze dinner is superb as is their kleftico. It's about 10 mins walk from St. John's Wood tube. Foodie_Penguin

I'd choose Tony Bourdain. He appears to have genuine enthusiasm for all foods and is not afraid to eat anything any way... Emeril is most definitely the candidate for a roasting though I wouldn't touch the finished "product". His "recipes" on his TV show are a disgrace to chefs everywhere. Is the food in his restaurants that is anyway similar to what he cooks on TV? I certainly hope not but if that's the case, it makes me wonder if his TV show is just entertainment and not edutainment. Foodie_Penguin

If you like spicy, Southern Indian food, I would recommend Woodlands. They serve vegetarian Indian food. There are a few branches but the most central location is in Panton St., off Leicester Square. If vegetarian is OK with you, pretty much any of the Indian restaurants in Drummond St, NW1, near Euston Square tube, are authentic but also reasonably priced. I think Rasa, off Oxford St., is wonderful for Keralan food. This is a more upscale restaurant. I hope it's still in business (it was last time I ate there in Nov 00). Foodie_Penguin

I really miss haggis made of sheep's stomach (the bag) and its liver. Beef haggis is available in the US but I don't eat beef. I also enjoy making a recipe with chicken livers, creme fraiche, peppercorns. Very tasty. I also enjoy eating fish eyeballs (straight out of the cooked fish) but I don't know if that counts as offal (probably not). Foodie_Penguin

That's right. That's one reason I don't enjoy the taste of NZ lamb. It's the grassy smell. Puts me off. When I see lamb on a menu at restaurants, I always ask where it's sourced from. So far, it's always been from Australia and this includes an upscale Greek restaurant in Durham, and a French upscale restaurant (now RIP) in Durham. Foodie_Penguin

Enjoying lamb and having some difficulties finding it locally, I've done some local research into lamb. Having lived in the UK and eaten Welsh and English lamb, I found that most lamb in the US is imported from Oz or NZ. This is a no-no for me. Can't stand the taste of NZ lamb and having tried Oz lamb, I didn't like it either. After visiting a local sheep farm, I now know the reason why I don't like Oz and NZ lamb and this may explain why lamb is not so popular in the US. Oz and NZ lambs are slaughtered at a more mature age, hence the stronger taste. US lamb and UK lambs are slaughtered at a younger taste and so they don't have that strong taste that may put off some diners. Fortunately, I can find US raised lamb on an irregular basis and enjoy roasting a lamb from time to time. I also do a mean grilled lamb chop. Now is the time to prepare lamb shanks, a great winter food. Foodie_Penguin

I first heard about this restaurant when I attended the Greek Festival at the Raleigh Fairgrounds last month. Since then, I've been wanting to dine at the restaurant and rang them nearly two weeks ago to ask them to fax a menu. I was told that it'd be faxed but it never arrived because I discovered (when I called a second time) that the fax was not able to send out but could receive. To cut a long story short, I want to find a restaurant in the Durham/Chapel Hill/Raleigh area that serves mezze. I don't mean the appetizers but a mezze platter/entree that is a selections of mezze dishes that will make a meal. In the UK, this is commonly found in authentic Greek restaurants and can only be ordered for at least two diners. I've yet to find a place in the area that serves mezze this way. Also, having dined at Neomonde Bakery very recently, I would describe it as more middle Eastern than Mediterranean, not that there's anything wrong with that. I really enjoyed their falafel. Foodie_Penguin