Fay Jai

I'll see ya, laurel!

OK...A little known secret...I was on the Lower Columbia College Debate Team in the late 80's, and one of my friends did a speech on the mighty little fish known as the smelt. It was an 8 minute long informative speech that was capped by him making a smelt shake out of smelt (duh) and ice Cream, (duh again.) He advised that Rocky Road and just plain Chocolate Smelt shakes were horrible...I had one, (ONE!) that he made out of Chocolate Chip mint and was not disgusted! (Ok, so maybe I was a little grossed out...) Just so you know, the Longview Kelso area in SW Washington IS the Smelt Capital of the world...

Saw the new OXO one on the Today show the other day...I'd love to get a mandoline but am frankly kind of confused as to which one would be the best for me and my wife. (Read...Simplest to use and clean). If anyone gets one, please let us know what you think of it. My wife is dying to get one. Thanks!

LOVED the Dabney book...Keep 'em coming, guys, I'm writing as fast as I can...

The Rain Room??? Egads...

Mae's Phinney Ridge --- I remember back in the day, (maybe still) the place was packed on weekends with lines out the door. Had the misfortune of going...One of the WORST Chicken Fried Steaks in my life (SOB!) AND crappy, condescending service to boot. I grew up around restaurants, and I know how to politely complain...this is the one time that I wish I had not been polite. When they served me a severely (sp?) undercooked Chicken Fried Steak last year, they at least had the grace to a: bring me a new one and b: give me a gift certificate. (My wife loved her waffle, at least) The only crappier meal I have had since that was the Mexican Club in Hong Kong....(Insert shudder here)

Hi Varmint --- Actually, I'll put a question out to you, (and anyone else, for that matter...) I know there are a lot of "Southern" Cook books out there, but, in your opinion, what would be the best basic, starter southern cookbook? (I realize that this might be somewhat contentious, but...) And...saw an old Sara Moulton show on the Food Network featuring a lady named "Ma Dish", who runs a boardinghouse in the Carolinas...does anyone have any infor on her? Her chicken looked yummy.... Cheers, Fay Jai

Kewl! I'm actaully thinking of joining...is there a magazine or journal that they put out? Southern food...mmmmmm pork and its lovely, lovely descendent....BACON.... (Big Homer Simpson slobbery sounds)... Thanks!

To Quote one of my favorite movie charectors, (Played by this years Best Actor Winner Sean Penn)..."Awesome! Totally Awesome!" I will look 2morrow at Target 4 them! Thanks!

So...Just found this thread thanks to the egci saucemaking course....how did these work out? Thanks, Fay Jai

about the Southern Foodways Alliance and just more about Southern cooking and cuisine in general. Anyone a member? Cheers, Fay Jai

Hi Chuck --- Thanks for the tip, did not know about the used stuff...I'll check it out! Thanks!

JILL-O!!! Welcome! Love reading your posts on that other board... everyone, thanks for the tips! (Hmmmm...no sales tax in Portland.... )

Any suggestions on a local kitchen supply store that is not Sur La Table? I will be coming into a little bit of $$$ that I will (finally) be able to buy some Le Creuset and a good stockpot with. Any palces out there that won't gouge me too badly? I'd really like to stay with a local place and avoid Williams Sonoma if at all possible. (That being said, I'd take W/S over Sur La Table anytime. Everytime I have been in there, the attitude that I have received at S.L.T. was ridiculous. Never again.) Thanks!

Nice....

Kind of off topic, but not....While the link grom above WAS educational, (and funny...Nice Nose Ring!) I have always wanted to get one of those old time posters that you would see in butcher shops showing the cow and pig divided up into the different cuts. Anyone know where I might be able to find one? (EXTRA COOL if it is from a butcher school or something like that...) Thanks!

Is this something practicable and or do-able for the (maybe slightly below) average home cook? Cooking in a vacuum packed bag...what are the benefits, anyway? Saw it mentioned in a article and was curious...

Whole Foods, Larry's, Albertson's (!) and I heard that Central Market was getting it....AND...It is on Tap at the U-district Pagliacci Pizzeria. Happy Drinking!

Sea Gal --- They WERE that good, but, like I said, we would not have gone so crazy on them if we had known. And right....Not so good if you are a big eater....I'll just know to order more on the first go around next time I will, too. After it started to get busy, (not that I am complaining, he was running his ass off,) it was hard to get the servers attention. He was very, very nice though.

SO --- After reading about the dinner the other night I HAD to go...and, it was my B-day yesterday (let's see 34....3+4...I'm now 7!) and there was NO WAY I was gonna let work call me in... There were 10 of us, (SO GLAD we called and made a 6:30 reservation, by about 6:50 the place was PACKED.) Couple of things: They need a sign. If I hadn't been looking out the window watching for my friends, they would have probably wasted 5 minutes trying to figure out where it was. (One person walked all the way down to Matador down the block)(BTW...What is the story on that place? Anyway....) Not letting people know that they charge for chips is annoying. Yes, they were fabulous, yes they were freshly made, so fresh that I couldn't hold a few of them, but we would'nt have ordered 6 baskets if we had know they were $4 each. Which brings me to my last...(I will admit, upfront, I am an unapologitic glutton. Even more so when the food tastes as good as it did last night). I thought the portion sizes were just too damn small. 5 bites of chicken and 7 of rice, with the plate wiped clean form the tortilla, was a good snack. We got a bowl of posole which was excellent, but I made the error of sharing it with the other people at the table. That said. We WILL be going back. Just next time, I'll cool it with the drinks and will just be repared to order more. Sorry tha I couldn't make it Wednesday, sounds like it was fun and I REALLY want to meet you folks. Another time...

YAY!!!! You guys are mindreaders, I logged on this morning hoping to find descriptions of last night's eats, and you delivered! GOD it sounds like it was good. My wife is an archaelogist and does her fieldwork in Mexico, I'm gonna have to get her down there and we'll eat! Thanks for the descriptions!

CRAPOLA --- Can't make it, got called in to work. Grrrr....

lol

add my wife, LEdlund! Man, am I looking forward to this! Whoo Hoo! (Homer Simpson voice...) Thankee!

If I'm not working, I'm there! (most likely, Sunday, Monday, or Wednesday)