StudentChefEclipse

Like Pan says, people have to eat every day. Mom and I have been getting involved in spreading the word for monthly food bank donations, for one of the area banks. We're also trying to get some banks to work with restaurants and groceries in doing a thing called "food rescue" meaning that instead of throwing away something nearing the expiration date, or left over from that evening's service, the grocery or restaurant brings it to the food bank. This concept worked well in Virginia for the CVFB. The academic society at school also rounds up tons of food quarterly to go directly to a shelter for abused women and children. It's little enough to donate directly, and the shelter saves what $ would normally go for the nominal fee the food banks charge. Keep on, because what goes around really does come around.

Of course, Hardee's is owned by Carl Karcher (sp?) Enterprises, who also own Carl's Jr. For awhile, C Jr was advertising their amazingly healthy cuisine. So now I guess we know where the other stuff went. Back in the 80s, by the way, it was rumored that CK Enterprises elected to pay fines rather than pay their female staff the same wage as their male staff. I have no idea if that's true, but I've not eaten at any CKE business since, oh, 1982. *shrugs*

I've been job-hunting lately. When I come across an ad for waitstaff at a restaurant, I give the manager a call to set up an appointment to bring around my resume and my credentials. Everyone I talk to says they are absolutely begging for good help. (This is not fine-dining we're talking, but local casual eateries.) What I am floored by is the fact that no one seems to understand the concept of career-changing. In every case, I make it clear that I have changed careers to work in food, that I have just graduated from school, that I have no experience but lots of drive and I learn fast and well. So the idea of being OVER-QUALIFIED sort of makes no sense to me. For a number of reasons.

← Funny, where I come from a "cereologist" is a person who studies and perhaps participates in the formation of crop circles. hrmmm... That's a bunch who could use a good breakfast. As for my cereal habits, sometimes I go through a Raisin Bran phase. Sometimes I like Grape-Nuts with apricot nectar instead of milk. Neither of these for breakfast though. I have cereal for dinner sometimes. Maybe I'm an alien.

actually the fourth is not such a stretch ... keep trying .... ← Indian Subcontinent.

I believe the most commonly described three greatest cuisines are: French, Italian, and Chinese, leaving one open for whatever the describer likes at the moment. Historically, we probably know more about Chinese cuisine than any others on whatever list. But even then, Chinese cuisine is divided by region; Szechuan, Hunan, Canton.... which of these is better? Should we continue to lump them together? There are very few traditional Chinese dishes I have the nerve to cook at home nowadays. Electric stove + wok = bleh. But I do tend to take into account spice mixtures when cooking other dishes. My favorite? Using the technique of adding whatever the describer likes to the "gang of four" list I have to say Japanese. I could eat good Japanese food everyday. But then, with the regional variety of Chinese I could say the same thing there. Is it okay to say Asian? *mumbles something about broad categories and wanders off...*

This is actually true; dairy is a well known increaser of said stuff. Anyone I know with a respiratory issue swears off all dairy until it passes.

Two reasons I shy off Godiva: First of all, they spend too much time developing nutty recipes, by which I mean too many nuts. Bleh. Can't eat nuts. But foremost is, one of their store managers once told a friend of mine she was good with people and knowledgable about chocolate but simply too fat to work in the store. Too Fat! Apparently you cannot exemplify what happens if you eat the stuff to excess. So... boycott for me!

Sometimes I do shoestrings with marinara and parmesan. Or with parmesan and blue cheese. My faves of all time though are the Steak Fries at Acacia: thick, skin-on, caramelized brown, salt, pepper, a teeny bit of parmesan and truffle oil. Gods! Worcestershire sauce, sometimes, mixed with mayo. And I happen to like ketchup, but I usually tinker with it. What can I say? I'm an American. Lots of us like ketchup. *shrugs*

Depending on who, I give and have given, either a cookbook or a general food book. Which sounds kinda vague, but: food essays, novels, histories, textbooks; they're all there. For example: for people I know love good food and cooking, I might buy any of the terrific Alice Waters cookbooks. For people who dine out a lot, there's always Kitchen Confidential. (I'm also a tad mean, what can I say?) For people with a sense of humor, I share my love for Calvin Trillin and give out The Tummy Trilogy and now Feeding A Yen. (I also give them permission to branch out into his political humor. He's an all-around guy. ) Like Water For Chocolate is a favorite, or any of a number of culinary mysteries. Food and History by Tanahill, whose Sex and History is also fun. Most importantly, for me, is that when I give a book, I have to know I am giving it to someone who will not just love the contents. They also have to be book-lovers, and if you contributed to this thread, you know what I mean.

Yep, this is the second go-round for turkey/gravy soda. I think the fruitcake and cranberry are new this year. The mashed potatoes beverage (amazing that I should even be typing such a thing!) was out last year too, I believe. I'm of two minds about this, of course. I'd try it just to say "been there, done that," but... blergh. If I do manage to try it, I will report back. Possibly.

I love Love LOVE this site! Thanks so much! As far as utensils, I still have the first set of chopsticks my dad brought back from Okinawa when I was a small child. It seems to me that he brought all of us kids back a set, and told us he thought it would be good to learn to use them. Though, since I am the only one who can this might be a faulty memory. I like it anyway.

Ummm... I hate to go this Off-Topic, but I recall one of the things we had against Richard Nixon was that he put ketchup on cottage cheese. In the White House. Gads! Okay. My Food Quirk: I put marinara on my breakfast potatoes. With swiss cheese on top. The swiss must *never* melt so much it becomes one with the sauce. *tiptoes out quietly*

My family is on notice: we will celebrate my birthday in public only when the entire remainder of the public has disappeared. Possibly onto those alien spaceships from the To Serve Man episode of the Twilight Zone.

Bacon and chocolate. No go. Nope. Absolutely Not. Sorry, thanks for playing. *buzzer* Of course, I'm not Ukrainian. Another thread mentions the new chocolate covered pork fat skewers available there. (I know, pork fat does not necessarily equal bacon, but let's think ahead to "the next big thing.")