JennotJenn

This isn't the first falling down drunk, but it's the drunkest falling down drunk I've ever been. It was second half of senior year in college. I was 21. My friends were having a party at their on campus apartment. I know there was tequila. I think it was in margarita form, but I wouldn't swear to it. We were going to go to a soul food restaurant downtown for after party eats, but I got so drunk that I couldn't make it. Instead, I decided to lie down on the communal lawn. Another drunk decided to start passing out beside me. I remember making out with him at some point and thinking "hey...it's whatzisname...I thought he was gay...". He was. Is. Whatever, all that matters is that we were both that drunk. Right before I passed out I decided to stand up and throw up all over the lawn. Charming, really. I called the next day to apologize to the hosts. Apology accepted, but they didn't fail to mention that the college maintenence guy had to come out and throw sand on the lawn.

I had a Chick-fil-A for lunch today. I was feelin' something fried. They make the best sandwich of any kind, ever, for one simple reason: they don't automatically assume you want mayo/ketchup/mustard on it. I love that. Sure, I have to ask them to not butter the bread, but even if they do, it's not like I have the devil's ooze all over my bun.

Ditto. Oh lord how I miss that sweet, sweet, frozen pudding goodness. Ok, nobody pee your pants...but pudding pops appear to be back on the market, at least in NC. The Husband and I were in the frozen goods and looked over, and right next to the sugar free fudgesicles (Milhouse, it's FUDGE-sickles, not Fudgicles), there they were. Pudding Pops. I could not get them (Lent), but The Husband and I were jumping up and down like little kids, we were so excited. Damn I love those things. So be on the lookout. "Eat the pudding" Does anyone remember Pudding Roll Ups? Like fruit roll ups, only with pudding. I do not miss those. I miss Chillie Willies. Husband does as well.

Dos Taquitos is good and worth trying (I think so anyway), but I remember the restaurant being a little small. Maybe I'm misremembering. Anyone else care to weigh in on that? I don't know how many people would be going, so it may not be a problem anyway. I've never been to Taquaria Mi Mexico, but I will add that I'm never opposed to eating off of styrofoam plates. Has anyone eaten dinner there, though? If it's more of a lunch place, we might want to make sure they're open for dinner. Lantern is on the pricey side, but I love their food. We're trying to be frugal in anticipation of our trip to San Francisco in April, so cheaper would be better. but damn, I love their food, so it's not totally out if everyone else decides it's the place to go. I am pretty new around here (to the boards, anyway...been in Raleigh for 2 1/2 years), but I would still like to meet you guys. Depending on where we end up going, I may even be able to convince The Husband to come. He's a bit on the shy side, but can be lured out with the promise of good food.

Dammit I just lost my post. Anyway. Stone, your story (while much, much funnier) reminds me of when I was assaulted by a bum swinging a 6 pack of beer at me on a crowded sidewalk in Cork for no discernable reason. And it wasn't even on the North Side. I'm writing all of this down by neighborhood, btw. I'm a bit of a...planner. Looks like we'll never be far from someplace good to eat!

Thanks for the safety tip...seriously. I've been to some scary-ass neighborhoods and I like to make a habit of avoiding them. I knew the Tenderloin wasn't the greatest neighborhood, but I'll be especially sure to avoid it at night (and to be careful during the day). We're staying urg...where...let me get the map...I know it's near the Westin...it's at Mason and Geary.

Good point, and thanks for the tip. It's rare that I've gotten any hot stuff on the side around here, so I'm used to asking. All the places you've listed look good. We're staying at the edge of the Tenderloin, so those are very close by.

Gee, maybe a little exaggeration here? One person's jaunt is another person's grueling road trip. I think she can decide for herself if she doesn't mind cruising down to San Jose. On the other hand, with gas at over $2/gallon, that will add considerably to the "cheap eats" being sought. I probably won't drive down there, but only because we'll only have a car for one day, and yeah, there's stuff closer by. But DH goes to San Jose on business every once in a while, so I'm passing those suggestions on to him so that he doesn't have to eat at, say, Applebee's the next time he's there. I live in Raleigh, NC, and reguarly drive across town or to Chapel Hill or Durham for eats (this takes at least 30 minutes in good traffic---even to go across town). I'm the jerk that's always at least 15 minutes getting back to work because she *had* to go across town for the falafal.

Woohoo! I grew up in Winston-Salem and I miss Moravian bakeries...straight up German is close enough. I'll have to make a trip to Durham.

Ok, it's been a while and I have a crappy short term memory, so I'll have to ask around. My cousin married a Vietnamese guy from G-boro, so when I get the chance I'll ask her. Saigon is good, but there are some cheaper places...now I just have to try to remember where

If you've been driving to Greensboro for A Taste of Thai, then you will be happy to hear that they have opened a branch in Falls Center on Falls of Neuse, according to the Independent. We ate at the one in Greensboro over the holidays, and it was much better than I had expected. As for the Vietnamese place on Guess Rd., we were not impressed. But we are totally spoiled from living in New Orleans, where authentic Vietnamese cuisine is in great abundance. We used to eat at Pho Tau Bay across from Charity Hospital at least once a week. Boy, if there was a place like that within an hour's drive, I would go all the time! As it stands, I fear the closest really good Vietnamese place is in Richmond. Have you gone to Greensboro for VIetnamese? They have a large Montenard population and some pretty decent restaurants.

Blenheim's hot has played an oddly significant role in my life. Dh loves it...I'm sorta meh on it. It actually is too hot for me to enjoy. Like my friend Andrew's stance on cashews, I only consume it for the nostalgia factor. I do like my food to be obnoxiously spicy, tho.

I think it tastes like the devil's sweat. Nasty, nasty stuff. I do love rum and coke with lime juice, but gah! This was wrong. I'll stick to the Diet Cherry Coke.

Cottage cheese with pineapple and piminto stuffed green olives. Did I mention that cottage cheese normally makes me want to vomit?

I don't think that would work very well. If I understand correctly, the juice that is used to make the molasses is of a tarter variety of pomegranite grown primarily in the Middle East, as opposed to the type grown in North America. Even if it weren't, I'm sot sure it would be a good idea....

Yes. It's much better than either kind I can get on the shelves, which are lakeview and Knudson, both 100% pom. This tastes much nicer, much cleaner somehow. I personally find the other two to be a bit yicky, but maybe it's just me. Anyway, the POM cherry is like liquid crack, and if you boil it down far enough, it makes a kickass sauce for duck (as someone mentioned upthread about the regular POM). I rarely buy it because it's expensive (I pay $3.99 for 16oz) and I tend to only drink non-caloric bevvies, but after Lent I'll have to give it a go as a mixer.

The stuff my sister sends from Hawaii is damn good. She sends the organic peaberry when she can get it. Dunno how it is at their chains outside of Hawaii, tho.

Growing up, we said "pop." I have no idea where we got that from, because my family is from Ashe County (farthest Northwestern county in NC). When I say we're from Ashe County, I mean born and inbred since 1690...until the middle of the century that place was like the WONKA factory...:"No one ever goes in and no one ever comes out." I dunno how we got so worldy and uppity as to say pop Seriously, this is sick, but I just spent, like, an hour trying to figure it out (well, mom's family did spend a year in PA when she was a baby....) FWIW, I say soda now. DH (also from Western NC) says drink.

Or until you realize that the garbage bag broke and they hadn't cleaned out the trash can before they started. My sister in law says every single person at the party got sick. Before I heard "tuna colada" the worst thing I'd hear was also relayed via SIL: Beast Floats....mmmmm...Milwalkee's Best and ice cream......mmmmmm....

I hadn't heard of Guglhuph? Is it German (please say yes, please say yes)?

Food related or not, seriously, thanks for the tip. It's nice to hear someone say, upon hearing about my plans to move us to Durham, "oh, it's great, you should!" as opposed to "Aren't you arfraid you'll get shot?!". Seriously. All the time. Of course, the only people who say that are people who live outside of Durham. Do you mind if I PM you and pick your brain for more info? Don't want to be a bad newbie and turn this into a "let's help Jen buy a house thread"

There is an excellent Vietnamese family run restaurant in Durham, on Guess Road. I think its name is Kim Son. It's in the same strip mall as a BBQ restuarant, Hog Heaven. I didn't think the foods was expensive but I've only been there for lunch. As for Indian restaurants, my spouse and I are very fond of The Tower in Morrisville. Their weekend lunch buffet (not sure if buffet's available at dinner) is good value and the food is tremendous. This is borne out by the number of SE Asians who eat at the Tower. This is a vegetarian restaurant specializing in Southern Indian food. For non-regional, carnivore friendly Indian meals, we go to The Tandoor in Durham. It's in Greenwood Commons SC on H55, close to the junction of H54/H55. Foodie Penguin Thank you!! Good Vietnamese on Guess Rd. Yet another reason to add to our list of "why we should buy a house somewhere other than Raleigh, probably in Durham." We'll end up hitting either this place or the Indian one in Morrisville this weekend. I think that may be the one that The Husband's coworker, Vijay, mentioned that he liked so much. BTW, has anyone given the little restaurant inside Grand Asia a try? I had the noodle soup there today and it was pretty darn far from Americanized (pretty good, too) and such a big portion for $5.99 that I had to take it home...in a full quart sized take out container. I ordered the roast duck version, and there was a good 8oz of duck on top. I'm planning on making a return trip, as I saw that they had Banh Mi as well, as well as lots of other unidentifiable dishes that aren't listed on the menu, but of which you can pick 3 and get a side of rice (for $3.99). So anyone else been?

Hot pepper flakes...if we're out of the Pakastani, we have California in reserve, but we never, ever let ourselves run out entirely, and in fact, never have (I buy them in 1lb bags). As long as we have hot pepper flakes and scotch, nobody panics.

The first time I tried them I was expecting not to like them because I so dislike roasted peanuts. Not being one to shy away from new food experiences, I tried one anyway. Reminded me of a pinto bean with the richness of a peanut. But the texture, to me at least, is close to that of cooked pintos.

I don't like peanuts (yeah, heathen, I know), but I love me some boiled peanuts. I like 'em like I like my pintos---soft and so salty they make your mouth hurt if you eat too many. I like them cold, too. MIL says that green peanuts are the best for boiling, but we've done it with regular raw peanuts as well. Doesn't work quite as good, takes a little longer, but satifsies when you have a hankering for boiled peanuts sometime other than September (when we tend to see the green ones in NC).