et alors

I'm not sure where you are coming form, but perhaps you can take advantage of jetlag to enjoy omakaze at one of the fishmarket places. I had heavenly omakaze at 5 am at sushi dai for nothing much--40 bucks? some iphone shots try the sperm sac of cod-- only available in winter!

I think Mike V is far form the evil brother-- he might be the bad boy, but he acts like most chefs who run a great restaurant, and demands perfection and doesn't care much about feelings only about quality. Robin cussing is actually typical in kitchens, although you certainly wouldn't tell your chef to f*ck himself. But Robin had not accepted the authority Mike had given himself, so no protocol was broken, it just was distasteful. I thought it was a an interesting reflection of a new type of kitchen culture, exemplified by Thomas Keller: quiet, polite but intense beyond belief... I think many young chefs are trying to move away form the marco/ramsey violence and obscenity run kitchen. The proof of Mike V's action are in teh results. Bother of his dishes were called out as some of the best of the night, and he led the kitchen to a win. He took the luck of the knife draw to heart, and acted like a leader. Jen forgot to lead, and got lost in her muscles, and it almost cost her. Mike V might be a jerk, but he may be a winning jerk like Huang. Excellence is not for the faint of heart. I am a woman BTW. Robin seems to know how to cook, albeit in a more alice waters style rather than ferran way... I rather wish she was more if a bitch and whined less, but then it's not an easy place to be older and a woman. Mike I must go. I hope natalie drops a tofu bomb on him.

Let's all give a big cheer for (I think) the first "i'm not here to make friends" this season from our pal robin.

I want to know: where did you eat??? what was the list, and how did it play out?

Japanese sounds best, and Ryugin sounds fabulous, but I'm worried about getting in at this late date. any second choices (I'm staying in Ginza, if that helps... )

I arrive in Tokyo around 2 pm, and fly on to Bangkok the next evening (I get two days in Japan on the way back as well). I assume some jetlag, but if I did my math right, I should be in good shape for a committed dinner on Oct 22nd, my birthday. I will be dining alone. I am not particular about style of cuisine, just as long as it's marvelous. What would you pick? (and any other bits of japan you would pack in?)

Has anyone else noticed how much the chefs are helping each other? i was touched with kevin and eli trying to help ron figure out paella, and ash saucing jen's plates... seems classy and right. i cannot believe mike had never heard of eggs florintine. how is that possible? reminded me o his arrogance in the face of the french challenge... get out of your kitchen once in a while man. Was Kevin's prize announcement dripping with irony or was that just me? "guess who got a box of non-stick pans? oh boy, i can die happy now!"

After the teaser, I cannot wait for the Michael/Dale machismo contest next week. I was happy to see Anita squeak by, I hope she goes back to her kooky brilliant self. Overall a good show, once that posed real challenges for the masters for a change. And the camaraderie continues to hearten. I supposed that's why they are bringing in some top chef contestants-- to bring back some sniping, jabbing and whining into a show that runs a bit too smoothly. I have completely forgiven Rick for his Chili's commercials after this show; the boy can cook.

+1... Maybe Jay can give us some insight here? I think what we just saw is how it will end. Rick Bayless just showed us the one weakness he might have -- only doing Mexican-- is not a real flaw, but merely a preference. He clearly can cook a greater range of styles than was previously suspected. This makes him dangerous on Top chef: cool, collected, knowledgeable. Anita is driven as a woman used to working in all-male kitchens will be, and if she doesn't let the top chef hijinks throw her I don't think she can be unseated. Keller is the possible spoiler. He's been cooking as long as he's been alive, and those muscle memories will be there even if he loses his head. Art Smith is next in line for the chopping block-- did you see him cooking? Spilling all over the place? Heavens, that would get on my nerves. His sweet, funny nature would not make up for crunchies under foot. I'm really sad Suzanne lost to him, because I think she'd have rallied in the next challenge and been a top 3. Her food must really have been more than cold. Edited for spelling.

I'm eating Calgary while on a business trip, and I'm staying downtown. So far both Destino (mentioned earlier) and Avenue Diner for Breakfast, http://www.avenuediner.com/ Have been terrific. At Avenue the waitress turned out to be a slow food nut and immediately recommended three more which I haven't tried; I will report back if I get a chance. Here they are http://www.rougecalgary.com http://www.cafekoi.com/ http://www.thecoup.ca/ Advice welcome, as well as given.

twitter is asynchronous, meaning you can follow without being followed back. Some folks lock their updates only to people who have permission, but most folks live in the open and let anyone follow them. You don't have to be official friends. @foodtwit

Sadly, I've been reading the Anita Blake Books in which she never mentions food except bad guys eat steak rare, and she eats it well. The authors discomfort with food and cooking shines through as well do many of her other shortcomings. But a friend dropped off a bag with the entire series and I'm consuming them like popcorn. Also reading The Lady in the Palzzo which is an unapologetic food book about Italy. Except when she gets lost in her descriptions of charming rural vinettes, it's really quite pleasurable.

don't make me answer my own thread rendezvous: arrived off hours, when all you could have is ribs, beans and coleslaw. let's say I wasn't disappointed-- great rub, occasional dry (pork) ribs but over all very good. Very good beans (I'm still looking for someone who smokes them, though.) Very spicy different coleslaw. Great atmosphere, great service-- not a heartbreaker but certainly not a life changing event. Merely very good. Blue Plate for breakfast. good, again not amazing. recommend biscuits and gravy which I stole form a neighbor, not the gits and eggs, which I had. Huey's.. i think someone didn't show up that day, because our waiter was running hard. Bad onion rings, so-so cheese fries, and a rare burger that was steak tartar on gorgeous grilled bread. Normally tartar is my idea of a good time, but I like a little black with my blue. Overall a giant eh.

I'm in memphis for a non-food conference with some serious eaters, if you know what I mean. The last thread I could find was 2007, so I figured it would be worth a shout-out to find out if anyone has recommendations. We hit the Rendezvous already, across form our hotel (the Peabody, downtown). walking distance is preferred, but we will find our way further out for something special (Interstate, I heard, was worth a journey). We will eat in the scariest dive, or pony up for the swankiest, as long as the eating is good. Little help?

fabio is clearly competent and revealed himself as less cocky than first glance when he collapsed at judges table. But he did reproduce a dish he did regularly at his restaurant. we'll see what he does out of his comfort zone. stefan is a jerk, bu some of his food has really caught my eye. I want celery root raviolis. Jamie cooks at one of my favorite restaurants, Absinthe, and if she holds to that standard she's do well to the end. She misstepped, but then caught herself, so I think she can pull it out. Gene is my big bet, though. anyone who can cook that well from tasting at a deli has got it going on. And he seems genuinely sweet despite the tats and mock attitude.

The Last Supper-- Cammillo. thank god. It is decidedly tuscan food, but done as well as tuscan food can be done! Good stuffed eggplant starter, and two great dishes-- he had brain, I had chicken livers and beans. His brain was, I think, not as good as the one I'd had at Bettola, but he hadn't been there with me so he didn't know. He was very, very happy except with the Italian custom of not serving vegetables with the dishes (it does make things pricier than they look initially). My chicken livers with white beans and sage was perfectly executed. He shared a chocolate torte with Amelie, I had vin santo with biscotti, and all were very happy. Buono sera, y'all.

Well, he definitely isn't a butter and foie gras guy. And I'll admit a lot of the food we've had has been executed a bit off-- dry rabbit, tough veal, harder than al dente rice. But I've also had some lovely moments of truffled gnocci and fried calf brain. He's actually a peasant-food guy, eating in the auvergne regions (though he doesn't like pasta.) In California, we eat with the same hyper respect for ingredients that I consider an Italian rather than a french trait. Maybe it'll be the chianna beef, or a boar ossobuco, but I know there is something that will cause him to reconsider the food. He does adore the procuitto, sausage and the cheeses. I think we're having bad dining luck. We ate at pepo today for lunch and while my pasta with boar ragu was awesome, he had pappa pomdoro and it was dull, and amelie's tagellitelli with prochini was watery and the mushrooms slimy. I wonder what the secrets of ordering are? Always get teh day's specials? Skip the pasta (as I saw earlier)? Or maybe his french grumpiness is rubbing off on me. I feel like I'm not eating as well as I did last trip.

If you had one meal to prove to a french-californian that italian food was good or even great, where in the florence area would you take him (including livorno or lucca)? it shouldn't be three-star prices either. His complaints are it's more expensive and no where as good as eating in paris. he's getting on my nerves.

Lunch at zaza, near the market. Completely fine. Amelie (my almost-three year old) had pappa pomodoro, and I had the thinly sliced steak with truffle sauce and buried with rucolo. I am really starting to like things hidden by rucolo. Not only do they have a menu in english, but they have stickers. I find that suspicious, but the food was extremely simply and accurately executed. Dinner was Osteria Spiritu Santo, on the eponymous piazza. We began with a very simple antipasti of boar sausage and cheese, and I had the gnocci gratinee with Truffles, which was subtle but delicious (a bit restrained on the truffle front) and Mr. Et Alors had the dish he found strangest on the menu - ravioli filled with ricotto and spinach, with lemon-zest creme sauce and salmon eggs on top. It tasted exactly like that. both dishes were very good. then we had gelato at the place on the oltrarno side of triana bridge. open late and very good. Lunch today was at Bettola, and very peasant food. tripe Florentine style for me, lamb and peas for him, and riso with funghi for Amelie. Not impressive for his first experience of my favorite place, but I'm sure we'll return, since it's close to our apartment. Amelie and I did find Perche no this morning, and took some fantastic gelato in. She had chocolate (as ever) nad fior de latte amarone (cherries) and I had the recommended fior de latte with honey and sesame, cafe mousse and orange something. I've got to be more thoughtful in my choices, as all three were great but had to be taken in singley as they did not go with each other.

ate at o!o again, more because of proximity to my apartment and the fact they are open on Sunday night. they always bring you a terrific tapas with your drink, which makes it a pleasant place to be before 7:30 (the beginning of the dining hour). Unfortunately followed with an uninspired ragu. They are now officially my apertivo stop *only*. At least they are cheap; ragu was 5 euro. and the wine and cocktail selection is good. They had a sparkling-wine version of a negroni I'll try next time.

Best steak of my life: a butcher named Mac in Mason City, Iowa will cut you a two inch porterhouse and you can cook it yourself. The damn thing is unearthly. I bring them back from Iowa when I go, or my Dad brings them back when he goes. Iowa steak is overshadowed by Omaha and shouldn't be. In Mason City we often visit Prime 'n Wine for delicate prime rib and tasty t-bones. Other best steak of my life: a tiny place in Auvergne, which I just spent a half hour trying to find via search engines. It was visited by the King of France in the 16th century, I believe, and serves that cute white cow that roams the countryside there. It was meltingly tender. I can almost taste it if I close my eyes. Quite delicious and impressive: the "black steak" from Straubs at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto CA. It is black because it's covered with a highly secret formula. Worth the money, and it does cost ya. Follow the directions. I'm in Florence now and have Sostanza on my list now. Will see if it can dethrone Mac.

Good news: great meal at Pepo, near the market centrale (listed earlier in this forum.) Just a simple bit of gnocchi with gorgonzola and rucola, but well executed. I'll be back for the steak, which neighbors had. All the food around me looked great, actually, and they are open every day for lunch and dinner.

ate at cingale bianco. eh. decent cod. I sat next to an american couple who had rabbit and boar, which i would have had if I wasn't suffering from an earth hangover from too much procuitto and porcini, and I was deperate for water animals. As it was, I think I did better than them, as their food both looked and was reported to be dry and overcooked. My bacala was completely adequate, though the fagiole that came with was sort of sad. The couple recommended osteria spiritu santo, which I'll check out. They say they are famous for salt and pepper pasta, which I had at mario batali's joint in NY. Had the worst gelato ever at carabe. I mean, ever in my entire life. I got three flavors, zuppa ingles (because that was the flavor I first had when I fist had gelato) cafe (as recommended) and tiramisu. The last was the smallest and best. the other two were like sad ice milks that had been refrozen-- full of big crystals. I threw out the bowl, to be honest. I find it so weird, since carabe has gotten such strong recommendations. Dinner I had at the recently discovered and typically excellent O!O at pzza piattellina. But I ordered spagetti bottarga, which I forgot tastes like cat food. Not really my bag, though certainly not their fault. everything there is organic. the service is dreadful, but the food cheap and wholesome overall. Now that I'm facing two days of Bettola closed and a full day of bad food, I'm desperate. I need a transcendent experience.

it seems my post didn't post... I am addicted to bettola, but want to branch out (even beyond sister nerbone). Suggestions for tiny inexpensive authentic heavenly? BTW, had risotto at nerbone and it was eh. promise to go back for boiled beef. I had pasta with porcini at bettola which was boring, but followed by fried zucchini blossoms and calf brains which was unearthly. I have never had calf brain before, and it was so creamy, so delicate so redolent of beef, even fearful people should take the plunge i think. magnificent!

I need to stop eating every meal at alla vecchio bettola, even though i love them madly. where else for inexpensive awesome simple tuscan food done fresh and right?