Kim WB

I don't remember that story. Kim you will have to bring your hubby next time to retell it. If Tommy is bringing Turley then I am in. BTW--Kim --Can you give us the inside scoop on the NY board (start a new topic) on what David Burke's future plans are?

sorry.

Actually, I understand this concept. while in China. at a major Dept. store, I was suprised to have two or three assisatnts help me slect othe product, then sent ot a department to "wrap" it, then to another counter to pay... 5 or 6 people took place in a transaction that in the US would be maybe 2 or 3...again, a labor issue. Fascinating story, once again.

Sorry, I am simply not as computer literate as I would like to be...I can't seem to get back to her first entry...all searches as attempts deliver me to her most recent entrys, and working backwards by month, I can't find her original entry. PM's complaining of my ineptness not accepted, pms with suggestions, as always, greatly appreciated.

A nice meal, perhaps a bottle of wine, or two. Not hungry at all. AT ALL. But, a few moments with the Food network, considering the Iron chef options... or even a Rachel Ray episode..or maybe a few good reads on the DINNER thread here at e-gullet...and you decide to mosey over to the fridge...nothing special in mind, perhaps a cornichon or a slice of cappicola. But then, from the depths of the foodie that you are, you decide to CREATE. UNDER THE INFLUENCE. What do you make? (And please, no perfect little combos...we'll know right away that you had a psuedo buzz, not a real one.) Ok, I'll go first. If you take a Saltine or equally bland salty cracker, dip it into a corner of soft butter..then, a few shakes of Thai garlic pepper sauce...swallow in a few bites....as it hits the alcohol in your stomach, a true biological experiment begins..and, hmmm..tastes great. 2nd choice" Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips, left over from baking...on a vanilla wafer cookie. If no cookie, can be consumed on top of yogurt, with the remanants of the mornings coffee mixed with sugar. Scoops of peanut butter or marshmallow accepted...I do not reccomend Quik strawberry milk mixed with the Ghiradelli chips, no matter how drunk, that shit is gross.

Sierra Nevada makes a great, hearty grainy mustard, stands up wonderfully to a earthy grain bread and thick sliced country ham from the Farmer's Market, or kielbasa and blancehd onion, a chunk of each dipped into a ramekin of Sierra Nevada mustard. Otter Creek Brewery, in Middlebury, VT also has a great specimen...we have a house in Okemo, and we try to get over there and buy 6 jars every year...hubby is a Middlebury grad, so perhaps it has a romantic connotation to us as well..but I think its a good, spicy mustard. I hate refined, dijon hoity toity mustards...if it has no grain, I won't use it. Mustard, to me, is a peasant food...paired with fatty meats, filled with spice and acid to cut the fat...IMHO

I enjoy Peking Pavillon as well...Rosie, is Spago the place we went with the old foodbytes group? I can't give an opinion on the food..I was overwhelmed with meeting everyone! Ah, brings back memories...And you had the Turley...my wine snob husband still talks about the "Rosie internet lady with the zin" . Granted, he'll never go to another gathering ( "How can you all be so serious about FOOD???!!!" ) but I recall he insisted on going to that one, since it was my first time meeting people...after a few hours with the group, he declared you all "harmless" and gave his blessings to whatever internet food hook ups I wanted to make...a sign of a healthy marriage, right?

You have to see what the experience of traveling during peak hours in Mumbai is like. It is bad enough that you are carrying a briefcase and an umbrella most months ..... One is nearly sandwiched in same manner as peak hours in Tokyo. mm, guess I didn't think of that...Monica, thanks for an intriguing article...I'm having a hard time trying to picture it all, it sounds like an amazing thing to witness first hand!

But why wouldn't the workers simply bring home their own tiffin box..thereby cutting the job in half and perhaps reducing the payment to the bicyclist..not that it would be a positive for the wallas, but it just seems more logical.

But ethnic stores are usually so much cheaper! And there's nothing like that look of delight on an indian shopkeeper's face when a stranger comes in and asks for fresh curry leaves... So very true..but as I continued in the origianl post, my reasons are from a time management perspective. To me, and I realize this is not everybody, time is more valuable to me than saving a few bucks.

First, I think I have realistic expectations of the ethnic cook books I buy...I rarely buy these online, and prefer to peruse them at the bookstore before purchasing. I live in an area that has well stocked grocery stores, due to a diverse population. I prefer to purcahse the ingredients in a general food store with an extensive ethnic foods area ( WEgman's comes to mind), simply for time management. If a recipe is especially intriguing, I will stop at an ethnic grocer for an ingredient. Or, if I have a question about an application of the ingredient ( tamarind paste? concentrate?) I will go to the ethnic grocers, who in general are very helpful. ( You need to seek out the English speaking employees, when gestures and handsignals aren't working). Then, if an ethnic dish becomes a part of my repertoire, I will then use the ethnic grocer to purchase a larger quantity of the required ingredient. I can get a handful of cardomom at Wegman's for twice the price of a bag full from my local IndoPak store. What bothers me is that if a cookbook is using a more obscure ingredient, please provide all the names for it. I can't recall the specifics, but I was recently at two different groceries, and the ethnic grocers, looking for a "xyz" bean..with no luck, A shopper at the Indian store overheard my request, and said' Oh, the xyz bean is also called the abc bean", whcih was a relatively more common bean. Sorry, poor memory, I would need to dig out the recipes for more specifics. It was tiny and pink. I have spend a considerable amount of money learning Thai and Indian...and am only a millimeter there! But I prefer to dine out, copies down names, and then reproduce it from the cookbooks I have. I am trying to get the basic building blocks down...Sag Paneer was a great success!

Had some time to really PLAN a meal tonight, and so put a little chicken in brine at about 1pm, stuck it in the oven at 5...somehow neglected to notice that the oven was set on 475..too hot.....came home ( chicken was not unattended, teen attached to computer mouse was upstairs in case of major flames!) an hour and fifteen minutes later, to blackened wings and what looked like overcooked chicken. ( temp was already to 179!) I assumed the worst, and got started on some chicken cutlets instead...pulled the bird out, figured it would be an ingredient in soup or add enough mayo to a salad to give it some moisture. Picked at it a bit as it was resting..woah! moist, flavorful..I am convinced the brine saved this bird.

No recipes, no suggestions..but you do create the most interesting titles and subject lines, Stone!

For anyone interested in a fun street fair, with lots of vendors, antiques, t-shirts and fish related fun stuff, plus some great food from local restaurants, consider a trip to Lambertville, (in Hunterdon County near New Hope) this weekend. If the weather cooperates, its always an easygoing, enjoyable afternoon. It's 12:30 til 6?7? ish. Initially created to celebrate the Shad run in the Delaware, but now more of a general street fair, its still worth the visit. And with a little effort, lots of local bars serve the great River Horse beer, plus you can tour the Brewery.

Which restaurants do you avoid becaseu they have a great wine list..but almost NONE of the wines on the list??!! That's a REAL Trenton area problem..Diamonds (both locations) is the worst offender. I wish Stage Left in New Brunswick had a better selection. Clydz, too. I'd like to see a number of "small, family owned well done Italian strip mall" places have a better selection. I wish the Ferry House in Princeton had better match-ups..some good wine, but not for their food.

I find it baffling as to the decisions of where to build some of these strores...especially when a Stop and Shop opens and there is another Stop and Shop 3 miles away... Being in Real Estate, and having an above average knowledge of the population and demographics of an area, sometimes I scratch my head and wonder why they are building a store that will just pull from the market that is already happily travelling to the same company's store a few miles away..its like creating your own competition? Sure, I understand market dominance and saturation..but this just seems silly. I know each industry develops a customer radius, that is, an area they expect their market to travel from...anyone know the distance of food stores?

Another testimony to WEgman's service superiority. I've been looking for Total yogurt at the Princeton Wegman's, and have found only empty fridge space. I e-mailed their general service contact, and in three days rec'd a lovely e-mail from the Princeton store manager, explaining, down to the time of delivery, when it will be in ( Friday,s delivered at noon, usually on the shelves by 2pm, for those keeping track) This is a great store!

Eleanor Rosevelt. I read a child's biography of her in perhaps third grade, and have been mesmerized by her independence, strength and writings ever since.

New Jersey: Porkroll Jersey tomatos boardwalk food

Kim, If you read my original post again, you will see that it has already passed unanimously in the Assembly's Environment & Solid Waste Committee, and is now before the Health Committee. There is an exception for some bars, but I don't know what that is. Note to all: Again, this legislation is called the Clean Indoor Air Act and covers not just restaurants, most bars and casinos, but all workplaces. Hmmm.I was there this past March whenn it came up for a vote, ESW meets before the PHS committe which I am a lobbyist for...I can be mistaken..certainly, not the first time, but I recall an acrimonious vote. However, I must admit that in thinking about it, I recall that it was legislation about smoking in bars and rest...not general workplaces...so maybe its different? I was in the galley waiting for the next meeting, so I could have perceived the entire thing incorrectly. I am @ the Capitol in Trenton 2x a week, I'll make a point to review this and update myself. I'll talk to Reed Gusciora, he's my assemblyperson, anyway.

It does not have the votes in the Environment Com, might be reintroduced in Health Committee. Gusciora is chair of ESW committee, doesn't have the clout to push it through quite yet. Senate has not found sponsors to introduce as bipartisan legislation. I think there should be an exception for all bars. The owner has a right to determine the policy. I know ALL the arguements,including putting employees at risk, but ther eis just enough libertarian running through my veins to be bothered by a ban.

From Edison, you can get to Princeton Wegman's in 25 minutes..worth every minute and then some. There's one opening near you, on Route 1 near the malls.

this is *not* a game. this is serious. if you're not on board with this, then i suggest you find another doll house in which to play. Maybe we could turn this effort into a weekly game show, and get it on FoodNetwork. Premise - sexy bachelor Tommy (I know, I know, but this is TV) needs to find a place for dinner. Set-up - Tommy makes a short video, describing how he's feeling right now, and what he might enjoy for dinner Hook - bachelorettes vie for Tommy's attention with suggestions of where they could take him for dinner. Prize - media attention for wannabe models, and dinner with Tommy This sounds like it might work..but we need to change the title, "Tuesday's with Tommy?" perhaps.

You are simply changing the rules of this game too often. I am going to take my Barbie Dolls and go home if you keep changing the rules. I am only thinking of suggestions on Tuesdays.

I concur with the whole wheat opinions. As well, if you get rid of the flatbread, replace it with a bread stick or someother kind of crunchy cracker. You can nibble on a breadstick or flatbread slowly, and for those on a diet or watching the carbs, its psychologically "better" than bread. Plus, if its flavored, it does not need butter. Yes, there are slightly crazy people out there who actually compute things like " If I don't have bread or butter, just nibble on 1/2 a stick, and have a salad as the app, dressing onthe side, then I can get the rack of lamb instead of the snapper. And have anohter 1/2 glass of wine"