=Mark

Don't get caviar, glooby salt blobs. Jury is still out on sushi, I eat it but the delicate flavor is lost on me. Use it more or less as an excuse to eat wasabi and pickled ginger. Not too into organ meats, but I did try Dan Gill's Shish Ka Bobbits at an Oinksterfest a few years ago. Don't think I'll ever go for chitluns, the concept is a little too daunting.

Its been shown, for example, that the pollen of GM but not ordinary oil seed is poisonous to various species of butterflies that use it as a seed plant. However the stuff has just not been around long enough to say with any certainty that it is safe to indiscriminately release into the wild. Thats why various governments are still conducting tests, so far without definite conclusion. I, for one, will not knowingly eat GM foods where I can avoid it. This is an examplle of the type of distortions that make it into the public record. The actual study was to see if pollen from BT corn, engineered to produce the toxin BT (Widely used in organic farming by the way) could be toxic if ingested by Monarch butterfly larvae. To test this the researchers picked leaves from milkweed plants, the only food for monarch larvae, and placed them in containers. The leaves were then coated with pollen from BT corn. Monarch larvae were then put in the containers with the BT tainted leaves. Surprise! 80% of the larvae died! Nobody addressed the fact that the larvae had no choice but to eat the tainted milkweed leaves. Nobody addressed the fact that corn pollen is too heavy to drift any distance on the wind. There was never any evidence that pollen from the BT corn was actually harming any insects other than the borers that were targeted by the GM in the first place. Certainly none of the anti GM folks will acknowledge the effects on the environment resulting from the fact that these crops no longer need to be sprayed with toxic pestacides.

Various systems (admittedly mostly yeasts and bacteria, but I believe also grass) have been modified to secrete things like insulin and drugs. I understand the origin of glyphosate immunity in soy and other plants is derived from a fish gene. Problem is that many folks don't understand what genes are or how they influence the resulting organism. Genes are simply snippets of molecules whose effects on living organizms are just in recent decades being worked out. If there is a gene present in an arctic fish that results in an ability to resist freezing, and that gene when inserted into the genetic makup of a cotton plant enables it to withstand a frost it is technically niether a "fish" gene or a "cotton" gene, it is an antifreeze gene. It must be understood that there is nothing in genetic material that differentiates between genes of different plants, animals or the species within. DNA is DNA. Such precise manipulations of specific genetic material have much more predictable results than the mass genetic manipulation of standard hybridization. What many people can't seem to work past is that with all the hand wringing there has yet to be, in 20 years of genetic manipulation, a single example to point at where GM has resulted in harm to anything except the starvation of those in 3rd world countries denied their benefits. It's always "well, it could have adverse effects in the future..." Hell, life has adverse effects. We all die! I seem to recall stories in the media of the early 19th century concerned with the advent of trains and trolleys since it was common knowledge among scientists of the day that the human body subjected to speeds above 20mph would suffocate.

Of course this could be claimed of any hybrid veggie over the last 5000 years. The only long term effect that can be proven about anything is that no matter how careful anyone can be (The illogic of proving anything 100% safe seems to elude these folk) is that we are all going to die. The fact that the lifespan of the western world continues to lengthen surely must perplex and annoy those perpetuating all these doomsday scenarios.

Hey! Where ya been? It's a little bit north of me But I know Rosie is familiar with the area. She did take me to a great Asian market on Rt 27, I believe it was in or near Edison.

$25!!! And it doesn't include the mudbugs!?

We could attend prior to the China 46 shindig...

You ought to invite Tony Bourdain & Co. down to film a "NC Pig Pickin'" episode of Cooks Tour...

Is this a single or multiple day event? I have a general rule of thumb about not attending events that don't last as long as it takes to travel to them... I know at the other pig roasts I've attended it took the better part of a day just to cook the darn thing, and members of the BBQ list that attended were more than happy to chip in during the smoking. Of course that hog weighed in at over 200 Lbs fully dressed, and it was smoked over hardwood coals that had to be tended all night.

Can to the 31st or 8th. 7th is right out...

Meanwhile you can horrify friends and family by mentioning you are going to a gathering of folks you met over the internet... It doesn't have the same cachet that it did 10 years ago tho...

That Howard Johnsons is still open! I kid you not. I don't know how they managed it as the AP boardwalk area is a virtual ghost town. A couple years ago My bro and I were driving by and noticed the "Open" sign was lit. Decided to check it out so we went in and ordered a couple beers. The one guy working there turned on the lights and the heat after we entered. Just had the beers, not sure if I would want to get food there. Hopefully with things picking up in Asbury they will be doing better business...

There are two videos available on VHS that together make up the first season of 6 episodes. I can find nothing to indicate that they plan on releasing material from seasons 2 or 3. You can click on the above link or do eGullet a favor by scrolling down and clicking on the Amazon link below to kick a few sheckels toward the forum...

As FG mentioned, China 46 seemed to cater to a mostly Asian clientelle, and had been SRO on weekends year round for at least several years. It just seems a stretch to think they would go from a full house to 3/4ths empty at the same time as the SARS scare for any other reason. The economy is no worse off than a year ago. At any rate it also seems a good reason to get back there for some Ruby Pork stuffed buns...

SARS fears taking toll on business, owners of Chinese restaurant say "Fear of the SARS virus is becoming a more dangerous epidemic than the disease itself" Philly Chinatown hit by SARS scare Unfounded SARS rumor hurts Asian-themed shopping center

I really love this stuff as a "sipping" rum. Not enough Os in Smoooth...

Well, being as a single eGullet meal is unlikely to make much difference as to whether China 46 will weather this storm, and we seem to be having trouble pinning down a date, I suggest we have an eGullet dinner there every weekend until this SARS business is behind us.

Sounds like some of the frutarian and vegan screeds that have been turning up recently. Just because an oil can go rancid does not defacto mean that it is instantly rancid as soon as it is produced. "Next, the rancid soy bean oil is chemically altered." ??? Since when is MSG a "Brain Poison" and "associated with brain cancer?" This has been one of the most studied and tested compounds of the last 30 years, and the only negative impact was a sensitivity in about 1% of the population. You talk about the "true" Asian diet but don't bring up the fact that they've been cooking with MSG for thousands of years. "Endocrine Disruptors?" The role of endocrine disruptors and human disease has not been fully resolved; however, at present the evidence is not compelling. It has resulted in crappy plastic wrap that won't cling to anything tho... Granted the effects of trans fatty acids on health look to be pretty bad, and the marketing of soy based products seems to be preying on concerns of health concious aging boomers, but it does not enhance credibility to cite questionable if not disproved "facts."

I definately can't do Saturday the 7th. Any other Saturday is OK.

A tommy in disguise?

Might have to rethink this, my son's graduation is on the 6th out in Western Pa. Might arrange an earlier departure... The first is no problem either....

Can't make the 8th.

I would not be able to make the 7th. A week sooner or later would be OK. Makes you wish the media would get out there and actively play up the fact that chinese/Asian restaurants should not be avoided as there have been no reported accounts of SARS infection in the US for over a month.

I brought up Finks a month or so ago and was essentially told that there was a lack of room there. I'd like to check out the pickle place too. We could devote a whole day on an NJ culinary road trip!

It's 2:40 and I'm eatin' nada.