JPW

Takomabaker, Lots of shopping suggestions were mentioned on this thread. I presume from your handle that you are in TP. I think that Malawry's suggestions would serve you well. I live right over the border in SS. It is interesting to note the wide variety of quality even within the same chain. If you want a laugh sometime, go into the old Safeway on University Blvd, just West of Four Corners, then compare to the newer Safeway in downtown Silver Spring, then visit a brand new Safeway (like the one off of 28 just west of I270). Perhaps you could tell us more specifically what you are looking for. I personally think that grocery stores in and around DC have improved tremendously over the last few years as the big chains are losing market share to the Whole Paycheck/HarrisTeeter.Wegman's group of smaller chains. They are trying to improve. But as some have mentioned there are some great hidden local gems depending on what you are looking for.

I have a good friend who is one of the "doyennes" of Old Town. It is rather amusing to hear about the continual sniping/cat fighting between the owners and clientele of Le Gaulois and Bistro Lafayette in Old Town. I've been to both a few times and would offer the following points in comparison - 1) The cuisine at Le Gaulois is a little more high-end than that at Bistro Lafayette. 2) However, the cooking is better at Bistro Lafayette (as is the service) 3) I find the interior of Bistro Lafayette to be nicer than that of le Gaulois, but Le Gaulois has that really nice patio for when the weather is nice. If you're looking for non-French options in your price range, go straight to Firefly (just South of Dupont Circle), do not pass go, do not collect $200 (just make sure you have your credit card on you so you can pay your bill). You can search the other threads around here for tons of other options. Just my 2 cents.

Son of a motherless goat! I f*&%^&%* did it again last night!!!!!!

Enjoy your water To be really "Frank," I hope to start out this evening at that place where everything is only nine dollars. Yet to escape under fifty, Rocks. Hey Frank-- what place are you referring to? Now, I get it! DonRocks is REALLY Tiger Wood's driver cover. But Don, who's your date? Clicky here

I personally like the quip made by someone in Tom's chat today "Were they looking at the map upside down? It's not even on the left bank of Rock Creek, much less the Potomac". I guess that they could claim to be on the Left Bank of the Anacostia. Concrete floor? "Talking Points" (whatever the hell those are)? For all the noise that is likely to occur it sounds like you'd be better off dining next to the left inside engine of a 747.

I'm sorry danzig, I seem to be reading a different thread, and for that matter a different forum than you are. Yeah, there are a few posts pointing towards happy hours, but I see just as many suggestions for good deals outside happy hour. What happens in your critique of us "hipster/foodies" when the happy hour/special deal is at a local place? Should we all wait until the deal is over to have the priviledge of paying full price? Does your prejudice against bargain hunting extend to bar menus? Just getting apps at the bar? While some people here have the cash to eat off the regular menus at places like Citronelle (to use an extreme example) some of us don't. The bar menu is the only way any time soon that I'll be able to afford to try the creations of Chef Michel. For those of us whose gastronomical addictions outpace our wallet contents this is the way to eat from excellent kitchens without breaking the bank. Too, if you look around at other recent threads, you will see a large amount of posts looking for that hidden "local" gem (see, for example, the stripmall thread). Everyone's entitled to air their opinions, I just happen to not really see a firm foundation for yours.

Soba, A little too child-centric for me to answer all questions completely as child No. 1 is only on its way, but here I go... Hell no. Main cooking is Sat and Sun night. As mentioned on the various other threads, cooking, for example, a roast chix for 2 means leftovers that become parts of later quesadillas, stir fries, soup, etc. Thursday is clean out the fridge night. Friday is our night out. Mrs JPW and I each throw out ideas before I do big shopping on Saturday. For guests whose food preferences I don't know very well, I always be sure to ask well before if there is anything they won't/can't eat. Learned this from having someone prepare me a lovely dinner consisting of several courses of bivalves which make me absolutely retch. About every other year, I try them again to see if my reactions have changed. No luck yet. For leaf-munchers I will prepare a non-meat alternative, but they will have to stare at me eating my steak. Mrs JPW has developed a pregnancy aversion to rice. Rice noodles are OK, risotto is ok, plain rice BAD. Last week we had italian-thai fusion stir fry on linguini since I ran out of rice noodles. Yes, Yes, Impulse, Both. For more info, there are probably a dozen or so dishes I can cook in my sleep that are a regular part of the dinner rotation. Saturday and Sunday are nights that I experiment on new recipes. Currently experimenting with Thai (only tried a couple so far). Generally, have a full week menu and a list for shopping, but occassionally fall victim to stuff that looks good. General staples all are bought on Sat. Meat for mid-week meals is bought either the day before or the day of the meal. Right now mainly pregnancy related gastro-intestinal issues. Or my brother-in-law's forthcoming disaster of a wedding. Nothing is off limits, nor do I really want it to be when we have kids. As long as it is discussed politely. It varies depending on Mrs. JPW's aerobics schedule. Usually 7:30-8. All must eat together. Around once a month. Haven't had many strangers over. A few times a year. (defined as having more than one other couple/family over) Yes. I like to experiment on my friends. They will be involved. If people bring their kids over, they are required to sit and eat at the table in a civilized manner or none of them come back again. However, kids are allowed to be excused once the main course has been completed and can grab an ice cream bar and run around in the yard/watch TV. I'm not a complete monster. Kids will be introduced to stuff on the "1 taste" method many have described. No, I don't want to freak people out or irritate them, or potentially slide something in that they may be allergic to. If I have to try a bite of everything at my table, then everyone else does too. (Man, you should have seen the shade of green on my face the last time I tried salmon that my wife declared "the best I've ever had"). More of a holiday thing that came from my mom's Norwegian family in the Pacific NW. Always set an extra place for holiday dinners, more often than not there will arrive someone who needs a "rent-a-family" for that occasion. Of course, all things regarding kids at the table are merely speculative. I'll let you all know how long my standards last when faced with a screaming infant that I can't give back to its parents.

Believe that is correct. Thanks.

Agree with you, Busboy, used to do the same thing myself. Doesn't mean that getting the 7 singles doesn't irritate me as a patron. All together now "I'm a hypocrite and I don't care..."

With a focus on places for the 8 year old.... In Oakland, I would definitely suggest lunch at the Original (aka Dirty O). Word of caution - perfectly safe during the day, not a *dangerous* neighborhood at night, but you may see some activity an 8 year old shouldn't really see at night in terms of drunk college kids and the things drunk college kids do. There is a Primanti Bros. outlet near the "O" (both on Forbes Ave). There's also a pretty good Tex Mex place a few blocks off of Forbes (the name of which escapes me). Across from the main entrance of Carnegie museum there is a little shopping street, South Craig, that has a couple of decent joints (none of which I've been to in ages). Ali Baba's is decent Middle Eastern, although it may still be BYOB which in the land of the PLCB takes some planning ahead. A bunch of the places in Shadyside have been mentioned on the other Pittsburgh thread. 2 other quick notes - Best burger in town - Tessaro's, Liberty Ave. Bloomfield. Best pizza - Mineo's, Murray Ave Squirrel Hill (although I like the subs at Aiello's 3 doors away better than Mineo's, and some people prefer Napoli's which is about 1/2 block further up the street). Both of these neighborhoods are about a 10 minute drive from Oakland.

Yeah, that's really annoying, and I tell waiters off when they do that, as in: "I need change for that five." "You want change?" "Yeah, if you want a decent tip." It seems as if the servers can't win because I'm the other way. I find the automatic return of seven singles in this case to be presumptuous. In Pan's little dialogue, the server deserves a wise ass answer because, after being told that change is needed, he responds idiotically. Not IMO because he brought back a five and two ones. If you want all ones, ask for it up front. Just my 2 cents...

Hesitant to say that this is a "recommendation", consider it more just information delivery. Bugsy's (King Street near the river) delivers a pie that is edible. Not great, but a considerable step above Domino's. Not a fan of Monterey's.

Where will they be in Pittsburgh?

Piffle. It's across the street from Worldcom and AOL - believe me, there's 24-hour demand. That it may be, but I know enough people who worked at those places to know that there are not many people STILL working at those places.

Being rather paranoid, I tend to use cash to keep as much of my personal data out of circulation as possible. Credit card companies are increasingly being pressured by everyone from health insurers to government to provide info on what people buy. I don't really want my HMO to find out how much I spend on booze and cigars. For all the people who are going to reply that I'm an insane conspiracy theorist, perhaps I am, but I'd ask you to remember DARPA's "Total Information Awareness" project (which BTW has been resurrected elsewhere). Also, credit card companies take a nice little percentage of the total charge, effectively placing an additional tax on the restaurant. Some restauranteurs have been known to pass this "tax" onto their servers.

I really like some of the flavors you can find at Mark's. I could imagine some of Mark's food in a *real* restaurant environment (as opposed to the much more cafeteria like setting of Mark's) for easily twice the price and I'd be happy to pay that for it. To me it's not that it's spectacular food, nor that the prices are just low for the quality, but that they are ridiculously low for the quality. In return, why the adamant opposition to Taliano's and Savory? PM me if you feel it's too off topic. Just like you, just wondering.

I've had many problems with cookies, most notably spreading. One trick is to chill the dough before baking and this has really helped. They actually look like catered cookies, you know, properly small and perfectly formed. I also recently got a cookie bible-type book (name escapes me) and she went into the making of cookies, from how different fats affect them to baking pans. It helps to read a book like this to understand what's going on. In the spirit of the "because this is the way mom did it". I always chilled dough for the reason (and this is what I was told) that a cold cookie dough is just easier to work with, not nearly as sticky. It's kinda nice to know that there is another reason to do it.

Is that foo foo (or fufu) that you're talking about? EXACTLY! Thanks Jen

Astroturf = all weather outdoor eating with NO mud. Cameroonian restaurant = goat, get the "other stuff" instead of rice (I forget the name but it's kind of like a foamed tofu), enjoy the African MTV videos on the big tv. And oh yeah - beer from the bottle. Pretty standard in most of sub-Saharan Africa as you don't even want to know what's in the water that they use to wash glasses. Habit seems to have carried over to the states and given DC area water that may actually be a good thing. Parkway = funny old Jewish deli/diner. A few people have tried the new place next door Red Dog (you may have to scroll a bit to find initial comments. I haven't made it over yet.

My list of best bang for the buck, turbo in the back of the Honda, baby Got Back food that should cost a hell of a lot more than it does 1)Jaleo 2)Jaleo 3)Jaleo 4)Bombay Curry Company (Del Ray/Arlandria) 5)THAI (Shirlington) 6)Taqueria Poblano -- as long as you have 3 or 4 of the margaritas ($4.50 last time I was there) 7)Roger Miller (SS) -- granted there aren't any high end African restaurants that I can think of, but the food here would definately hold up to a higher price point. 8)Mark's Kitchen (TP)

My nemesis is sauteeing garlic. I could put garlic in oil in a cold pan on the countertop, and I'd still find a way to burn it.

Just in counterpoint on cheese at Sette Osteria. The cheese board that we got along side the salume selection was pretty darn good (maybe not spectacular but really good) even if the waitors were completely clueless as to its contents. I recall a gorgonzola, a pecorino, some funky fizzy mozzarella type thing, and I can't remember the other.

Nashman, Although everyone's brain works differently, I've found that what helps me is (as other people have noted) menu planning. Before I start my saturday shopping list, my wife and I discuss our plans for the week ahead and make a menu. Having a Tuesday night meal planned makes a HUGE difference in the ability to get a real meal done even if I stay late at work. The plan is flexible, but gives a basis for what veggies and dry goods you need to create 3-4 dishes during the week. My weekday meals also tend to be quick (but still nice if i may say so myself ) stuff that can use the leftovers from the bigger weekend meals. For example, last Sunday was a roast chicken with smashed potatoes and a roasted pepper salad. Tuesday was a stir-fry with the leftover chicken meat. The chicken carcass goes into the freezer and makes stock the next weekend. Or a pork tenderloin on the weekend means pork quesadillas later in the week. Thursday night is "clean out the fridge" night when I experiment with as many weird creations as I can come up with from what is left over. Friday night is take out or restaurant going. Good luck, I hope eGullet and its members are as inspiring and educational for you as it has been for me.

Wow! Thanks for the gumbo recipe. I just ate breakfast but am now hungry again. But, what really made me drool even more was that beautiful pot. That thing looks awesome!

I actually had no idea that Pamela's was a "legend". Hunh???? For a real diner breakfast, go past Shadyside Hospital on Aiken and take a left on Baum to Ritter's. Now there's a legend! Or, go down to Ellsworth and take a right and stop in the Elbow Room for brunch. (Full disclosure - I used to work there and the owners, the DiFiores, are good friends of mine). Downtown is NOT a good place to find good eats. Ask the concierge to point you to a good place on Carson St. on the South Side for the nearest good place to find a decent meal. Other spots near downtown that are fun - Penn Brewery on the North Side for German food, GREAT beer, and the occasional polka band; there are still a couple of good hole in the wall places up Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield.