Susan G

Continental

And for even less effort with the above receipe, I suppose one could add the rosewater to the liquid before freezing it - just to cut out that final, exhausting step! I've made the cardamom, almond and pistachio kulfi in Madhur Jaffrey's "Indian Cooking". It seemed a lot of effort for so small a yield........but it was tasty!

Single malt scotch. More for the rest of you, no?

I count on getting in and out of a restaurant meal in an hour only when I go Chinese...........telling the waitress your plans probably would have changed your experience...........and not tipping her because of the kitchen was probably unfair.

I group my items by the aisle in which I find them: produce, dairy, meat, cleaning products, paper products. I prefer to use old envelopes as my scratch pads!

My mother's people are from Franklinville: You're right - -one has to travel for food not limp from frying! The Maple Haven Restaurant (103 North Main Street/ Hwy 16/ Franklinville) does an excellent breakfast: The maple syrup on the table for the blueberry pancakes or the french toast is the real stuff! The local volunteer firefighters and State Troopers hang out there. 'Nuff said. Attard's restaurant in Olean (186 North Union Street, (716) 373-7736), is a family-run Syrian place that also does steaks and hamburgers - - but their glory is in the ethnic dishes. I long for their lamb, rice and mint stuffed grapeleaves! I think grandma makes the pita. It's oh so good. To the North, Schwabl's in West Seneca makes a beef on kimmelwick worth travelling for - -and the horseradish in pots on the tables will make your hair curl. I'm getting tears in my eyes just thinking about it! (789 Center Road/ (716) 674-9821.) The Friday night fish-frys are ubiquitous in the Southern Tier; both the Chaffee Hotel and the Yorkshire Hotel (both on Hwy 16) have good reputations. To the South, Alfred (South of I-86) has two colleges, and an ever-changing array of ethnic restaurants to accomodate the out-of-Staters......... Check the billboards outside the local VFD's..........the chicken BBqs there are worth stopping for.

When we were first dating, I didn't know my (now-husband) was subject to migraines. The picnic basket was: red wine, aged cheeses, salami. Well, that date didn't go very well.............. I've also noticed that skipping meals can trigger a migraine in spouse.

The only place in China that is NOT considered noteworthy for it's food is Beijing. I used to hear Chinese tourists complain all the time how the food there wasn't as good as home. Street food! You lucky, lucky traveller! In Chengdu I had the most amazing dish of garlic prawns with glass noodles.........I dream of it still. Go see the Da Fo,(Big Buddha) too, if you're in the area...........food is all well and good, but I hope you're hitting the sights, too?

I have an e-mail in to the purchasing department of B. Riley's. I'll keep you posted. By the way, does it *have* to be Hatch green chiles? Bueno Foods sells tubs of frozen prepared green chiles throughout the year, and they're in Mild, Medium, Hot, and Extra Hot gradations.

Congratulations! I had been wondering how your evening went.

I'll check around in Albuquerque, NM, where I live. There may be a restaurant supplier like B. Riley's willing to do this. Do you prefer to have them arrive fresh, or frozen? Is four pounds the maximum you want at a time?

Glad you had such a good time!

Lychee jelly cups. Any brand.

My husband taught our dog and our cat about salami............they know it's in house for the duration, and I get longing looks every time I open the refrigerator door! There's just no way to hide scent from predators!

While I wouldn't tip in a hotel restaurant - where the wages are certain and fair, I would do it in private taxis, pedicabs, at hair salons, in hotel restrooms and in smaller restaurants. Now that the "iron rice bowl" of socialism is breaking down and more people are struggling in an increasingly privatized economy, any help is welcome. Persons over 60 might refuse a tip, but I doubt it............pragmatism is increasingly trumping national pride. I usually left a few kuai on the table...........following the European style of tipping. What guidelines do other people use?

Ditto the car stash. I don't have to confer, I don't have to share, I don't have to explain. Wrappers are ditched when I refuel. Mozartkugeln.

The best meals I had in Shanghai were always street food: Xiao long bao (small steamed dumplings), la mian tang (noodle soup - the noodles are made in front of you), etc. I know Shanghai is supposed to be famous for seafood dishes with light sauces, but when I was there, it wasn't what I was looking for. The Peace Hotel on the Bund has an amazing American style brunch on Sundays, but it doesn't sound like you'll be gone from the States long enough to appreciate the anomaly! Happy travels! I wish I had your plans!

Is chestnut honey produced anywhere in the US? Or has our tree epidemic wiped out the producing agents?

But in the role of guests, would they feel free to give an honest answer? If I were a guest in someone's home, and the host asked if she could do something which I knew made me uncomfortable (say, lighting a joint: I have frequent drug tests for my work), I would figure, "A man's home is his castle" trumps my ability to impose as a guest. But I would make a note to self to refuse future invitations to be a guest in this person's home.

I would happily support any cellular-free zone: It's hard to be sociable and linger over dinner having philosophical/emotional conversations when I'm an unwilling third party in a loud conversation about someone's job plans. Or their shopping list. Or their weekend itinerary.............etc.

A HK menu item that always makes me carefully evaluate the surroundings, the season, and my chances in fast food places: "hot dog" in Chinese characters.

This one wins my vote too!

Those crispy roasted ducks hanging by their necks are Beijing kao ya: "Beijing roast duck". They're fabulous!! You order either a half or a whole duck, and the clerk will take down the duck of your choice, chop it into proper-sized bits, ladle some great sauce over it, and give it to you in an aluminum tin..........get some white rice and some hot chili pepper sauce and you've got yourself a feast!!

Chicken and avocado enchiladas. The creaminess of the avocado helps balance the salsa molido.

Are all your guests LDS members? Thus, would your family be the only ones imbibing? As a gut response, I wouldn't do anything as a host to guests in my home that would in any way emphasize our differences. I believe hosting people means being responsible for their comfort and happiness.............I agree with Katie Loeb: Do shots before they arrive if you must have alcohol.