sml311

Is it too late for me to join (no +1)? I'll be about 10 minutes late because I have to drop my dog off before the restaurant. Let me know! Thanks! SML

I certainly agree with the above, but another thing I've seen in the Southeast is year-round (except for maybe Dec. and Jan.) outdoor beer gardeny type places. There might be a little indoor area, but the action is mostly outside and the bar is only popular when it's not raining! Patio, cheap furniture, southern rock/country cover band, lots of beer and the afformentioned highballs in plastic cups. At the one in my hometown it was a great place to see your high school teachers drunk!! SML

Same here. I've found the waxier ones hold up the best in boiled dishes. Starchy ones that are good for baking break down too much when boiled. (You pretty much have to mash them after that! Not that that's a bad dish! ) SML

In what universe to Flay and Morimoto beat Batali and Sakai!!!!! Seriously..... SML

Rocco's cookware....Rocco's book.... Best part for me was the cook who mentioned a passage from Kitchen Confidential... When consultants come in that means the restaurant is going to close. Ah, yes. It appears that DOOM is on the menu at Rocco's, the 22nd only serving as a sad reminder of Rocco's planned empire. I found the "no comment" stuff interesting. Wonder what really happened in that meeting... This episode was certainly better than last summer's and left the door open for a lot of plot development. I particular enjoyed in next episode's teaser the "intern" comparing himself to Tiger Woods. Why would Chodorow let the intern do this consulting job anyway? Is this normal? Did anyone else notice the restaurant didn't look as busy (to me at least) as everyone kept claiming? SML

That article was interesting but WAY too long and redundant. It's a prime example of over-writing. I even saw two different quotes used twice! Ugh! Anyway, Rocco does come off sounding like a whiny little bitch. That's dissappointing (for Rocco). But maybe I just think that because of all the author's suggestions in that direction. SML

Thanks for the advice everyone. As far as allergies, yeah it's common for people with one tree nut allergy to be allergic to several; peanut, as pointed out, aren't tree nuts but instead are legumes. Fortunately, peanuts are the only legume I'm allergic to. For me personally, I can tolerate the cross contamination of peanuts into other products, but I can't eat peanuts themsevles and have to be very careful about peanut oil and how things are fried. I do miss nut butter sandwiches, so I was looking to make my own as a fun project. I'm sure I could probably find it somewhere around here, but sometimes it's just nice to try making it yourself. I'll probably try the blender method next weekend--I'll be travelling and working all this week--and don't want to deal with any possible disasters which might ensue and actually usually do when I'm making something new. SML

So when are we going to do this again? I really wish I could've been there! Maybe early to mid May? Weka, Are you in vet school at State? I'm starting to pick up pre-rec classes this summer to go there. I'd love to PM you about it if that's okay? Thanks, SML

I looked at picking that up last time I was at the bookstore, but after reading that far I found that it was a little too hyperbollic as well. Let me know if it gets better. SML

Okay, I'm going to add a few things, but I have a migraine, so if I wander at times, I'm very sorry. project, 1. you're very right about the way economics is approached academically. but the treatment of it in political economy courses is a little more realistic and that's generally the approach i take. 2. you're also right in that we're in an evolving time in history as far as changing the types of careers out there and what will be expected of people in the future. in the us, we're changing from a labor-based economy to a service-based economy. the jobs to look at now are ones that have to be done in person, like nursing, versus ones that can be outsourced or sent overseas, such as factory work. what's particularly unfortunate is what's happening to older people who don't have the training to work in this new economy nor really enough time left in their careers for retraining to be worthwhile. but for most people, either choosing a career that is in-person, service-based or committing to a lifelong education (courses to update knowledge, etc) or a combination of both will be necessary. 3. as far as europe, on the all, they've chosen to enter the 21st century with industries that emphasize creating high-quality, upper-end products from manufacturing and farming industries (look at their foods, cars, wines, etc) and continuing to build their reputation as purveyors of these versus the lower-end cheaper products coming out of asia, central and south america. the general thought of the american consumer seems to be if it was made in china i got a deal, if it was made in germany i got quality. the union/guild system is also part and parcel of the political systems over there in ways that i'm in too much pain to explain clearly now. the us, on the other hand, is becoming a nation, for better or worse, of consumers and importers, whose jobs mainly come from managing or working white collar at multi-national headquarters, selling said products at a wholesale or retail level, or working in service--anything from repairing databases to teaching to working in a restaurant. wal-mart factors in to this shift in the us economy in all the afformentioned ways. that being said, i can't work up the hate for wal-mart that a lot of the (i think) city-dwellers on this board can. i can certainly see why wal-mart is less desirable in an urban area, but let me tell you in a rural area, it's a godsend. going to wal-mart is an event, an extreme convenience making trips to town much easier and usually not as controversial--mostly attributing to the fact there's plenty of space, the jobs are welcome, and since people and businesses are more spread out, there are fewer driven out of business, maybe just the ones in the immediate area if those. you're not going to go all the way to wal-mart just for milk if it's 10, 20, 30 miles away--you'll still go to the little store down the street for milk or the basics you need every few days--but you'll also make that trip to wal-mart for clothes, scented candles, bulk items, etc. people who live in these places did all their shopping last generation from the sears catalogue--it's a different world. that being said, now that i live in a more urban area, i still go to wal-mart about once a month. they have the best deal on my soap, puppy suppilies, etc. but i more frequently patronize other places for groceries because the quality is higher and the staff is more knowledgable. also, as an example of survival, my dad has owned a home-center lumberyard for 20 years. in 1997, lowes opened in our community. some of the other small yards didn't survive, but dad doubled his business. why? he switched his focus from retail to contractor sales. (selling to the people who build neighborhoods, etc.) he knew that even though he belonged to a buying group, he couldn't compete with lowes' showroom for retail, so he changed his game and touted the knowledgability of his staff and exclusive products he carried. home depot just opened too, and he's doing just fine. the lesson? maybe the sausage maker or artisanal bread maker should increase their business selling to mid-level restaurants and catering companies. in business, getting competition in the neighborhood is life. also, one question, i've noticed a lot of people on e-Gullet LOVE costo. what's the difference between wal-mart and costo in terms of effect on community? maybe you guys don't like costo, but to me, it seem pretty similar.... SML

I ate Eggo waffles tonight...feel so guilty.....oh those cravings!! SML

Did you ever try this? Did you end up adding sugar (or salt) and how much? How much oil and what kind? I, too, am allergic to peanuts and want to try this. I have no food processor but have a regular blender and a stick blender. Was thinking of using the stick blender in a recycled glass jar (could store in that too). Does that sound like a recipe for disaster? Thanks! SML Suggestions from anyone greatly appreciated!!

I think someone else linked to this someplace else, but I can't find it now and I can't find it now on www.nyobserver.com. Hmmmm.... SML

HAAA! In my hell, Rush is the house band... and someone keeps calling for "Fly By Night" over and over again. Rush would be a close second to Fleetwood Mac in my Hell. Just the thought of listening to Stevie Nicks belt out Gypsy for eternity is enough to frighten me into clean living. The setting would be in my car driving through DC metro traffic at rush hour going so slowly that the fucking speed doesn't even register on the speedometer. I'd be eating the KFC (Kitchen Fresh Chicken...right guys...HA...that chicken, sadly, has never seen a real kitchen) the new boneless, skinless fried breast with the mashed potatoes that always remind me of elementary school paste with gravy. Also the coleslaw...ewww....and the baked apples with the mysterious chunky bits that always seem to be there. And there'd be no smokes or gum in sight to get rid of the taste in my mouth. Yeah, that'd do it. SML

For this thread, does it really matter? Isn't it all opinion anyway? SML