chow guy

One pot meals like stew, chili and Thai Green Curry are alwaysa hearty hit with our camping crowd. Where are you camping? If it's near water you can always eat freshly caught fish. Which is my favorite camping meal.

I can't honestly rave about anything in Flagstaff. I go there several times a year and have started to rent a condo so I can cook...but here are a few recomendations: Stop at The Turquoise Room at La Posada Hotel in Winslow on the way to or from Flag. The hotel is great fun and the food is not bad. There's also an Italian place off I-40 in Hollbrook called Mesa Italiana. In Flag: Racha Thai: for good cost effective Thai Mountain Oasis: Eclectic health conscious place... great for lunch Jackson Grill: (slightly out of town toward Sedona) The food is not bad... but often just misses the mark. (My friends love it, but I'm very critical). They do have a good wine list and low key decor. Macy's: Hippie Dippy place for breakfast or lunch (home baked stuff etc.) Service is really slow. Hiro's (I think that's the name) Pretty good sushi with a small Japanese store. Let us know if you discover any gems. Good Luck

Years ago while working as a capatain at a very" precious" fine dining spot in NYC, I responded to an arogant, impatient customer who was clicking his fingers wildy. With great concern and empathy, I informed him that I was very sorry, but we did not have a cabaret license and Spanish dancing was not allowed at table. The poor guy didn't know whether to fart or tap dance.

Thanks a bunch, for what looks like a great recipe. I'm going to make it this week and add some Chimayo red chiles from my garden and fresh corn... in my mothers old cast iron skillet.

Thanks for the recipe. I'm going to make these tonight with pecans, they'll go perfectly with creme brulee.

Thanks for the informative link.

I made a moist dark chocolate cake, topped it with blueberry flummery and whipped cream.

I've wrapped them in foil with butter, salt and pepper and then cooked them on top of hot charcoal briquettes. They're delicious, but be careful not to punture them while they're still very hot, you'll get squirted and scalded.

I was shocked at how good the grub was at the cafeteria at the Getty Museum in LA. We didn't eat at the upscale option but the menu also looked quite good.

I always add Thai chiles (or chili paste), fresh oyster mushrooms and fresh tomatoes and garnish with Thai basil and sprouts.

Thanks...I'm nuts for these nuts.

Meatballs in BBQ sauce are always a hit and cheap too.

My Dad owned restaurants so being raised in the busimess took the mystery out of food early on. I'm very grateful for that. I remember once he made a big pot of mushroom soup. My brothers and I were not going to eat any of that yuky stuff, till he said it was for adults only. Of course, after that we couldn't get enough of his wonderful soup. He loved shad roe and liver and onions, which my mother always cooked on birthday. I miss him.

Teddy was a rascal. He served rich, wonderful multicourse meals to the diplomates and dignitaries and then he ran them ragged in Rock Creek Park. Do you by any chance know the name of TR's female chef? I'm researching a piece about him and would love to include her. Many thanks for any help, or tips on reference material.

I just got back from a large resort in Colorado. The concierge kept trying to sell me on many of the dining options that were scattered throughout the resort itself (which is logical). The ones I tried were overpriced and not great. He also had rehearsed blurbs about nearby places from a very large book filled with local menues. When I was checking out, I gave him a list of non tourist type places I gleaned on line and found out about from locals. He had no idea these places even exisited and was grateful to discover good, inexpensive local chow for himself. A good concierge should know the whole range of local choices, not just the tourist traps, chains or the places that pay for placement.

I just got back from the Lodge at Keystone. The food was expensive and unremarkable... but we didn't spring for the high end spots at the resort. There were a few good spots for food in the surrounding towns though. In Dillon there was a very good breakfast place called the Arapaho Cafe. Omelettes were tasty and imagine: pineapple, , blackberries, strawberries and melon all perfectly ripe. I also stumbled on some very good thin crust NY style pizza at The Jersey Brothers and it was only a buck a slice during happy hour. I was very pleased. On Friday morning there was a farmers market in Dillon with incredible peaches from the western slope. Next weekend is the big BBQ cookoff in Dillon. I was told there are cash prizes and folks come from all over the country to compete. We also had a very good (pricey) dinner in Breck at the Cafe Alpine. The sashimi appetizer with sake- mango sauce and the soft shell crabs were big hits.

Thanks, I'm all over that one.

I'll be up in Keystone Colorado this week for a conference and would love some ideas for non touristy, not expensive good eats in the area. I've heard about Mateo's for Italian in Silverthorn and Mi Casa in Keystone. Any comments or suggestions, greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Farmers markets are no bargain, in fact twice as much as regular stores around here, But The health food store near me has a box of almost over the hill produce at drastically reduced prices. The selection varies greatly everyday. I got a whole bunch of wild mushrooms for 2 bucks last week. I would read alll the weekly supermarket ads and flyers, cut coupons get those store discount cards, shop the sales and freeze alot of it.

A batido (Cuban milkshake) would be delicious. Here's a link to my weekly food column with a recipe. Just substitute passion fruit for mamey. www.alibi.com/editorial/section_display.php?di=2005-06-30&scn=food#12043

Bingo!

It sounds like Trillin nailed this phenom with "Le Maison de la Casa House Continental Cuisine... Where the continent is probably Antactica, since everything tastes like has been previously frozen." I have to admit that I have had much better experiences with random dining in rural France (or rural anywhere for that matter). I'd wager a guess that there are fewer trucks delivering premade frozen and canned "product " to cafes in France. Just a guess.

Verjuice... I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Cookworks is closing. Buildings were sold and suddenly they announced a "Going-Out-Of-Business" sale; surprised everyone in town. I expect them to be gone in a few more days. That said Las Cosas in the De Vargas shopping center (the other excellent cooking store) has a display of assorted truffles that are good though I cannot tell you where they are brought in from. ← Bummer! I hadn't heard anything about the closing or the sale. What a shame.

This reminds me of a huge hummingbird scandle from the late 70's. Craig Claiborne and Pierre Franay were the highest bidders in a charity auction for a dinner, which included hiummingbird tongues. It was in Paris I believe, but I can't remember which restaurant it was or the outrageous price of the meal. Does anyone remember the details?

I always soak dried mushrooms and fungus etc. once in hot water, then carefully pour off the flavorful soaking liquid (making sure to leave sand etc. behind). Then I strain it again through a fine seive and use it in cooking.