Mudpuppie

My mom once had an Almond Joy that substituted a rock for one of the almonds. Good thing (for them) she's not litigious.

I've never tasted the devil, so I can't really answer your question. But, seitan I like. In fact, I had it for dinner last night. It's not a soy product -- it's wheat. It can taste like sawdust if you don't flavor it well enough, but fortunately it's pretty amenable to such things. I don't like the brands that come already flavored. They're usually drowned in soy sauce, which obviously makes them much less versatile. The one I buy is made buy White Wave. The whole point is the texture which, unlike tofu, I find really enjoyable. It's chewy and sort of meat-like (especially if, like me, it's been years since you've eaten meat). Mostly it becomes an agent for whatever sauce or flavoring you add to it. I like it in fajitas. I "marinate" for a while in lime, cumin, chipotle powder, and garlic. Then I pan fry with onions and peppers until it's browned. (I like it crispy.) I also like it with barbecue sauce. I'm not sure it's something meat-eaters will automatically appreciate. For the rest of us, though, it's something of a godsend. Edit: I've always heard it pronoucned SAY-tann (like bedpan), not SAY-tunn (like satan).

A-effing-men to that. (This from an editor....) Cookingwithamy: I think it depends on what you care most about. If you were a rabid football fan, it's likely that the quality of sports reporting would seem to be the problem. But maybe this is simplistic. Writing -- or, more generically, mastery of language -- is not something we value very much in our culture. So long as we can communicate basic ideas to each other, we're pretty happy. Grunting and pointing serves that purpose just as well as does scintillating food writing.

Greater Tuna.

Oatmeal, TX Peanut, CA Walnut Creek, CA (in fact, there are lots of cities with nuts in the name) Strawberry, AZ And, of course, Greater Tuna.

I don't know -- I'm looking out my window right now at my neighbor's grapevines. They have conquered her house and are trying to conquer mine. The vines run the length of her property and grow up onto a 4' trellis on her roof. They have choked the life out of the peach tree in my backyard (didn't trim them soon enough) and they have felled my neighbor's TV antenna. I realize it's a race between the grapevines and the horseradish to see who gets established first, but once that happens, my money's on the grapes.

Too true. So many fashion mistakes back then. The fortunate thing is that the M&Ms weren't there long enough to melt. "Melts in your mouth, not in your pants...."

In Texas, it's all 'coke.'

That now fully explains your personality to me, thanks. I'm not sure that's a good thing, but you're welcome.

I find her fascinating in a DSM-IV kind of way.

No, not yet. Maybe it's time to drop Susie the Librarian another line.

I've always had a guilty conscience. So guilty, in fact, that it extends to such things as minor as sneaking food into movies. One of the first times I ever did this was my first year in college. Don't remember the movie, but it was opening night and the theatre was packed. I'd stopped and bought a large bag of M&Ms. After eating a few in the car, I stuffed the bag in my waistband and tried to be as nonchalant about finding a seat as I could. My friend and I were running a little late -- got there right as the previews started. Since the theatre was so full, we had to settle for seats in the middle of the theatre. As I was crawling across and over people to get to our seats, the bag of M&Ms slipped further down into my pants and fell open. M&Ms spilled out of my pantslegs and out of the holes ripped in the knees of my very cool jeans. I could hear them tumbling all the way down to the front of the theatre. I was horrified. I was sure I'd be arrested. Then the giggles started....

I vote for JCTV -- all Julia, all the time. I could go for JJN also -- the Jacques and Julia Network.

You know, I heard that before I moved there. But during the year that I lived there, I never got the ice cream thing. It remains a mystery to me.

The Denver Public Library has a chat-reference feature online. I'm currently asking a librarian. Google was no help.... Edit: OMG, this is the coolest thing. You can chat live with a librarian. Susie the Librarian said that she knows the Western History Department has received this question before, but they're closed today. They'll email the answer within two business days....

Eh, was what?

What about cioppino? (Not just for tourists anymore....)

Don't forget the $.99 Foot Long Chili Dog. I have a story, but I'm not going to tell it now. As for Austin, I'd nominate BBQ, migas, and chili from the Texas Chili Parlor. Enchiladas are certainly in the running, but that's a little vague. Edit: Was Ft. Worth on your list? If so, Joe T. Garcia's tex-mex and big ol' honking steaks. And for New Orleans, how about Oysters Rockefeller? And for SF, clam chowder in a bread bowl is very popular on Fisherman's Wharf.

Heh. I was just about to post that same link. I love this quote:

I'm sooo jealous. Make sure to watch Vertigo before you go to San Juan Bautista.

Oh god, yes.

Right! And the candy dots? They made you have pica bacause you always got some of the paper in your mouth while trying to rip off the dots with your teeth. Forgot all about the wax stuff. And let's not forget Pixie Sticks.

East Austin for more authentic Mex, Curra's for Tex Mex. (I love Curra's.) The Oltorf location isn't too far from the airport.

Ugh. I don't recommend clicking on the links to pictures. Back to raw potatoes -- I've never noticed any odd intestinal effects. But then, as Betts said, I don't eat them out of hand.

If the fat ladies are cooking, it probably would. Instant coronary.