DTBarton

So, where's the real deal? We have an Amish market in Annapolis that makes pretzels like the ones from Fisher's are being described and they're very good. Much better than the sheets of stale ones we used to get 5 for a dollar from the guys with the grocery carts upon exiting the Spectrum in the mid 70s after a long night's concert debauchery (usually 3 bands and a ton of fun!). Those grocery cart guys knew their audience was hungry, almost broke, and not real picky!

I've tried several 03 Beaujolais and generally been pleased. Duboeuf and non-Deboeuf, nothing over about $15 (American). My conclusion was that the 03s are better than your average Beaujolais and will provide good value for short term summertime pleasure in 05. Also a good time for folks to try this region who maybe haven't before.

Wanted to add another place I like that's within the 2 hour drive limit, although counterintuitively, you go north. Pit cooked ribs, chicken and soul food sides. Been going here periodically since 1990. From south, take 95 north to 695 east towards Glen Burnie. Take route 10 south in Glen Burnie, second exit is Furnace Branch Rd. Turn left off exit, Dotson's take out is about a half mile down on the left in an old shopping center. The smoke house is across the street. Dotson's Barbeque 7317 E Furnace Branch Rd Glen Burnie, MD 21060-7059 (410) 768-2784

All of the local 7-11s around here (Maryland) have a hot box that sells slices of frozen cardboard pizza whether or not they sell gas as well. We also have a huge local gas station/convenience store that has a Jerry's pizza franchise in it, the pizza's a little better (operative word being little). All of this industrial pizza by the slice should only be consumed when time and/or budget require it, just quick sustenance, not really to be taken (or eaten) seriously. Someone earlier mentioned Sheetz, there's several of those megaplexes on routes 301 and 17 in Virginia, looks like a better operation to invest in than to eat at, they're always packed when I drive by.

I must admit, I haven't tried the chopped!

I have the occasion to travel down route 301 through Southern Maryland in to VA regularly. BBQ is usually on our agenda on the return trip. As has been stated in othet threads, we have found Johnny Boy's to be very inconsistent of late. Got obviously warmed over, dry ribs a couple of times. Don't go often enough to say that's the way it always is, just might recommend going later in the day and asking to make sure the product is fresh. My two favorite places are as follows: J-R's barbecue - this place is in a shack adjacent to a black Elk's club. They are open only on weekends in the summer, usually starting the last weekend of April. Ribs and chicken are slow smoked with a little salt, pepper, and paprika, no sauce added while cooking. Just had some Saturday (ribs and chicken), very tender and tasty, sauce served on the side. We found the cole slaw to be good, both the beans and the sauce were way too thick and sweet for my taste, should have gone for the potato salad. J-R's is on route 257 about a mile east of 301 on the right as you head east, there's a sign that says "open today" by the road. 257 is the first intersection north of the 301 bridge over the Potomac river and there's a blinking traffic light. Bring your own sauce and vinegar if you don't like it sweet and remember to get the sauce on the side! Crazy Ray's barbecue - I believe they use gas cookers here, but the results are very good. The ribs are sauced some during cooking, and have been consistently tasty. The side orders (beans and slaw) are outstanding. Crazy Ray's is in King George county, VA, on 301, approximately 6 -8 miles south of the route 301 Potomac river bridge. It is a bright orange building just past a traffic light on the left (if you're heading south), don't know the cross route number, but you can't miss it. I believe they're closed on Mondays.

Found the same to be true myself, some pizzerias will sell you dough. I try to make extras when I make homemade and freeze them.

"1. Anyone who puts Wal-Mart, Target and Cosco in the same barrel is a Moron. Other than being big companies there is nothing remotely similar about them. 2. To those who say "You don't have to shop there". you too, are Morons. Just because I don't shop there doesn't mean Wal-Mart does not profoundly affect my life. I have a friend who lost his job because Wal-Mart demanded that the vendor my friend worked for cut cost (ie outsource production to China). Wal-Mart does not give a damn about America. Wal-Mart cares about Wal-Mart, and Wal-Mart only. That is why so many of Wal-Mart's products are foreign produced." I'll have to go to Target and Costco, I didn't realize they had an 'American goods only" policy, ha! Hard to run a retail store these days without foreign made goods, the foreign making brought about in large part by union contracts that demand wages far above the value of the worker's production. Well, I'm glad that if I have to be a moron, at least I'm a proper, capitalized Moron! I give up. You all win. Wal-mart is an evil corporation that will indeed (per some of the thoughts in this thread) result in the destruction of the food supply, possibly cause a potato famine, and generally lead to the ruination of life as we know it. They will eventually enslave us all in giant, flourescent lighted, inadequately windowed gulags patrolled by fat, unnattractive, pasty faced, big haired, slack jawed, impolite corn dog and twinkie eating, white zinfandel drinking Morons from Arkansas wearing ill fitting, foreign made polyester clothes and non-stylish footwear. We'll be paid in Wal-mart scrip and forced to buy everything from the company store (aaaah! Wal-mart!) and live in dingy barracks constructed from blocks of industrial cheese and disposable diaper boxes. They're coming for us, platoons of undead blue dots cutting prices willy-nilly! I have decided to join the ranks of the officially afraid. At least until cocktail hour, which is coming right up.

I don't see how that last paragraph goes with the rest of your post, which seems to detail a successful fight by unions to increase pay and benefits for workers. For some reason, you "wonder" and "bet" that the unions are actually harmful to the workers, although the facts you cite would seem to show them as having benefitted the workers. And if you want to complain about pay for union leaders and lobbying and campaign contributions by unions (which seem to have benefitted the workers in this case), what do you think the money Walmart pays to its executives and to contribute to and lobby politicians is costing workers? ← My point was: 1. You would think from the comments about Wal-mart that they were paying slave wages with no benefits. This data shows that they're paying twice the minimum wage and offering benefits. Let's say a young couple in Virginia decides to make their way with the evil Wal-mart. Both of them making $10 dollars an hour equates to an annual wage of $40,000 with health coverage, 401K, and profit sharing. The federal poverty level for a two person household is $14,000/year. 2. One would also think from some of the comments herein that the opposition to Wal-mart is grass roots Mom-n-Pop. This article shows that the opposition is well organized, well funded, politically connected large companies (Giant food (owned by multinational behemoth Ahold), Safeway) and their workers' unions trying to muscle out competition. I don't have a dog in this fight, don't shop at Wal-mart, go in to Sam's club about twice a year. I just think that the Wal-mart (and only Wal-mart) bashing is irrational. All these notes above about what Wal-mart is "costing" the government. OK, same situation for every business that employs people at $10/hour or below. But let's look at the numbers. From an earlier post: "$420,750: the estimated federal taxpayer cost to operate one 200-person Wal-Mart store for one year" From the Washington Post article: "The supercenter employs 500, will generate as much as $1 million a year in county sales tax revenue and has already given $12,000 to local charities, according to the county." So, the Wal-mart is well in the black on a cost/benefit ratio, and they're only looking at local taxes, not the federal and state taxes that the store would pay over and above the county tax.

Sorry, forgot the link! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...52200742_3.html

Here's an interesting (and loooong) article on the anti Wal-mart battles being fought in the greater DC area. The major drivers are the food workers unions. The bill passed in Maryland mandating health care spending by private employers with over 10,000 employees was lobbied heavily by the unions (including hefty donations). Here's some wage and benefit data from the article: Unionized grocery chains do the same, but they simply cannot match Wal-Mart's buying power or its lower labor costs. Wal-Mart's hourly wage in the Washington region is $10.08, while Giant's and Safeway's is $13.19, the companies said. With overtime, the figure rises to $16 an hour for the union chains. Giant's and Safeway's health care plans cost the chains $12,249 for every full-time employee, nearly twice what Wal-Mart pays for a typical family plan, the companies said. Wal-Mart's cost for health benefits depend on the plan and deductible chosen by employees. While Wal-Mart workers have a 401(k) plan, with the chain matching up to 4 percent of employee contributions, depending on annual profit, Giant and Safeway are required by the union contract to pay into a more expensive pension plan. So, the unionized stores do pay more, don't know how much of that goes back in union dues, but still, $10/hour is twice the minimum wage. The health care plans for the union cost twice as much. I wonder if they're twice as good? I bet they're about the same and the extra expenditures mandated by the union contract provide the extra money needed to slush around in your lobbying efforts. Same for the retirement benefits, gotta keep the money flowing to the union bosses and the politicians!

(As a part of this blind tasting, we tried a number of Brunello, Super-Tuscan, Chianti and other wines of the variety; once again, I am convinced that this is not the grape for me. There is the rare exception (especially, older Brunello) but generally speaking, one wine tastes pretty much like the rest – at least, to me. I would love to hear if others think this grape can be transparent to its terroir; I have almost no evidence to that effect. And I ask because I think the variation I seek arises from that quality.) I would tend to agree that sangiovese doesn't vary as much within the varietal as most other grapes. For me, though, that's kind of a positive, as I like the straightforward flavor of the grape and think it pairs well with simple Italian fare. I also don't have to do as much research in to wineries and vintages, just pick up a few reasonably priced bottles and enjoy with simple pasta. Plus, the candles in the bottles go so well with my red and white checked tablecloth....

Thought readers of this thread would like to see this letter from today's Washington Post in response to the article that started the thread. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...5051901572.html

Again, don't go if you don't like them! Yes, lots of commercial farming is done by large companies now, that started with the advent of widely available refrigeration and transportation capability many years ago. Since then we have achieved a goal of an affordable, dependable food supply as life expectancies keep going up year after year. It's really not that ominous, don't worry, be happy, and not hungry foodies! I have found that the amount of interesting stuff available to me now at all types of outlets is much greater than it was 20 years ago. Throw in online shopping and the difference is off the charts. In the last month I have procured beautiful canned San Marzano tomatoes and delicious farm raised venison online for reasonable prices and nary a threatening word from Wal-Mart.

"Yes, Target does in fact pay more, and they have better benefit packages too." Like the previous poster, I'd like to see the data. If the disparity was very much, either no one would work at Wal-mart, or no one would shop at Target due to higher prices. "Another big incentive for me, is that Target donates 5% of the pre-tax earnings to charity. As someone that works in fundraising development, I can tell you that Wal-Mart is a tightwad company when it comes to donations." Can't address the company, but I do know that a charity to which I've been a significant contributor (Washington Scholarship Fund) was founded in part by a LARGE donation from a member of the Walton family, so they do contribute, particularly to education, and not chump change: http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/20...1-waltons_x.htm I think their support of causes deemed "conservative" (school vouchers mostly) helps drive the negative coverage they receive in the media. "There are tons of other reasons too, from Wal-Mart closing shops that unionize, to the litterally HUNDREDS of stores they've left derelict after opening a super Wal-Mart down the street. Then there are the business practices... lowering prices below wholesale until mom-n-pop places go out of business and then racheting up prices." And when the big Target opens up down the street there's no impact on Mom-n-Pop?

My Mom just ate there last week and gave it a very good review.

Some communities have turned anti-Wal-Mart because a lot of the Wal-Mart employees don't earn enough money to make ends meet so they end up turning to government services (Food Stamps, Medicare, etc) to make up for Wal-Mart's poor wages and lack of health benefits. Isn't it great that Wal-Mart is employing almost a thousand people but if it also drains state and local government coffers, is this really such a "good thing"? Some communities have decided it isn't. ← If Wal-mart's wages and other compensation weren't in line with other retail employers no one would work there, and obviously, no one is forced to work there. It's interesting that the folks who shun Wal-mart in their communities because they don't pay enough (to poorer folks, one assumes by the argument) make those same folks pay more for their clothes, food, etc. by banning the Wal-mart! The free market can seem like a tough place until you check out places where there is no free market. I have no problem with Wal-mart (or anyone else, and every large business does it) using their buying power to gain a price advantage that they pass on to their customers. That's the market and I don't think a Wal-mart induced potato famine is in the offing. Enough of this stuff, back to food. My favorite big box store joke: told about the old Price Club stores. I go to the grocery store when I want to eat some cheese. I go to the Price Club when I want to construct things out of cheese!

← It seems that "largely unproven" is the money part of that quote. I don't get the Wal-mart phobia that seems to have infested the country. If you don't like Wal-mart, don't go. I shop big box stores for things (mostly non food) where they save me a ton of money like paper towels, TP, napkins, detergent etc. There are literally thousands of options for food procurement in this country, anyone who wants to put in a little effort can find almost anything they want, especially if they look online and Wal-mart can't do anything about that even if they wanted to. I never hear people say what they want "somebody" to "do" about Wal-mart. Should the government shut them down? Here in Maryland, the legislature passed a law that requires employers with more than 10,000 employees (Walmart's the only one in MD) to either pay for full insurance for all of them or pay the state to do it. Result? Wal-mart has cancelled plans to build 2 distribution centers in rural communities in the state doing away with almost a thousand potential jobs. Good work. And why only hate Wal-mart? Why not hate K-mart and Target and Costco too? And why just retailers? There are big industry leaders in all areas. Let's put the government in charge of everything and it will all run like the DMV!

Cantaloupe boats with fruit salad and yogurt drizzle: 1. Vouvray 2. New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Oyster stew in Boule Bread bowls: To me, oyster stew is a classic chardonnay dish Salmon in puff pastry and Beef Tenderloin in Rock Salt (Surf and turf) Macaroni and cheese, using the recipes on E-Gulet and Martha Stewart Black Beans with Mango, served room temperature: A combination of flavors like this, I'd go with Pinot Noir Dessert is tropical stuffed wontons over Creme Anglaise and a birthday cake with double devon cream for the British B-day girl: I wouldn't try to pair wine with this, I'd go with coffee (preferably Irish!) Consult your local wine merchant as to the best options in your price range. Good stuff can be had for $20 or under with all the above suggestions.

Thanks DTBarton, I will check them out. BTW, I'm not an expert on soft shell. What do you look for other than size? Do soft shells freeze well and what's a good price? Soup ← I look for softness rather than size. I buy the softest ones I can find. If the little ones are softest, I have 3 instead of 2 for dinner. The two ways to check are: (1) Poke the back shell. It should feel moist and soft with the shell closely attached to what's beneath it. As the shell starts to harden, it will get a bit of a "leathery" or "papery" feel to it, and air bubbles will start to form under the hardening shell. and (2) poke the points on the back shell. They harden first. A good soft one, the points should bend under your finger with almost no resistance. Use the smaller points, not the main two big ones on either end of the shell as your guide. A little practice and you'll be able to tell right away. They do freeze well, but I consider soft shells to be one of those super seasonal things that I eat fresh and right away or not at all, but that's just me. I don't even let the places clean them for me, I keep them live in the fridge until just before cooking. Down here, soft shells usually cost between $2 and $4 apiece depending on size. If they're good, they're a really cheap delicacy at that price. If you make the trip, there are other places in Deale, MD that have soft shells as well, I'm just not as familiar with them. There is also a place just north of Severna Park, Md on Ritchie Highway (east side) called Rey's that I've gotten good ones from ocasionally.

Two local places out my way (South Anne Arundel county MD). It is a little early for consistent availability, so I'd call before anyone makes the trip. I'm picky about my soft shells, I like to touch them myself before buying, and both of these places let you do that. Peninsula Farms - Route 214 (Central Avenue) in Mayo (east of Edgewater). Inconsistent availability in the summer, but when they have them, they're good. phone - 410-798-5767 Bob Evans seafood - 5527 Shady Side Rd, Churchton, MD across from the intersection with Chalk Point Rd. More consistent availability in season. phone - 410-867-3884 A little out of the way, I know, but it's a nice day trip in the summer.

Similar to above, white, apple cider, red wine, everyday balsamic, good balsamic, white balsamic, chinese brown, chinese rice. Usually some flavored varieties given to us as host/hostess gifts. I find I usually don't care for these, flavor my own for dressings sometimes. I also keep large jugs of homemade barbecue vinegars flavored with paprika, salt, dry mustard, crushed red pepper, black pepper, chili powder, whatever you like. I make mild and hot versions to use as mops during cooking and to sprinkle on at the table. A nice base mix is 1/3 white vinegar, 1/3 cider vinegar, and 1/3 water to cut the acidity a bit.

I sometimes peruse my neighbor's carts, but only if the tabloid headlines aren't sufficiently entertaining. Not a big celebrity buff, but I love the Weekly World News, they deliver low rent B.S., and are proud of it. All manner of poorly doctored photos of aliens, big foot, the woman's 78 pound baby, etc. My favorite WWN stunt of all time was a two parter many years ago. The cover one week had a photo of a plastic WW II bomber model superimposed over a picture of the lunar surface. Caption: WORLD WAR II BOMBER FOUND ON MOON! About 2 weeks later, the cover featured the same picture of the moon without the model plane. Caption: MYSTERY PLANE VANISHES FROM LUNAR SURFACE! Priceless. I do notice over the years of observing the increase in the number of people who obviously don't cook at all, just have prepared stuff. When I was younger those people mostly looked like young bachelors, but now you even see many young women with kids and carts full of prepared stuff, sigh. Serious cooking is becoming a cult thing. As for food stamps, kind of a necessary wasteful evil, like a lot of government. In my old hometown of Hampton, VA, there was a thriving open industry at some stores who paid people 70 cents on the dollar in cash for food stamps (so the food stamps cash can now be used to buy cigarettes, booze, etc.) and then got reimbursed the whole dollar by the Dept. of Agriculture. Guy who got indicted was raking about $250,000/year off that action. And lately, my local radio stations are running paid advertisements (not PSAs) for people to sign up for food stamps and WIC benefits. Hard to argue that the programs are underfunded when they've got enough money to provide the benefits and troll for new beneficiaries via paid ad campaigns.

This happens to me in two ways: 1. In a new place where I want to try several things. 2. In a place I like where I want to try something different, or a special, but there's these other things they have that I really like so just bring me one of those, and one of those also, and I can't come in here without an order of that...................

Northwoods is also supposed to be good. though it's about a mile out of downtown. ←