coolranch

Thanks for the review, I was contemplating that place for lunch next week. Speaking of Gilligan's, has anyone been to Zin? It opened up in the Ella's restaurant space on Kerby Lane, with the same chef from Gilligan's. Maybe I'll give it a try instead of Crimson...

Years and years ago, I was eating at a steak house with my dad and some of his business associates....it was a fancy establishment. Unfortunately, our waiter was having some real trouble opening a bottle of wine ordered by our table...he was so focused on pulling that cork he that put the bottle BETWEEN HIS LEGS for leverage and POP! Success! He was fired on the spot, which I thought was rather harsh. It wasn't like he had his thumb on the plate. (the wine was comped)

68 here. Just curious, how does everyone organize their collection? alpha by author, Dewey Decimal, region?

H-E-B is the big player here in central Texas. Low prices, decent store brand. Randall's is probably next, but they are treated more like a convenience store, it seems--people run in for milk and toilet paper--sure, it costs more, but HEB's are always crowded. HEB also owns Central Market, the best grocery store ever. Huge produce section, great deli, seafood, wine, cooking school etc., etc. Is Fiesta national?

HEB (regional grocery store) has blue cheese and buffalo wing flavored chips. Yes, that's exactly what it tastes like--vinegary/spicy w/a distinct blue cheese flavor. the Mr. at most of them on the way home from the store. I love the Japanese shrimp flavored chips.

We ate at the Flying Fish when we were there about a year and a half ago. I was impressed with it. Being with the extended family (including 3 young children), we ate at mostly theme-y places (Polynesian -eh; the Smorgesbord in Epcot Norway-which was pretty good), so it was a nice break. The menu changes depending on what fresh seafood is available, and the deserts were a big hit, if I remember. I'd definitely recommend it.

Spent a weekend awhile ago out of town with another couple, and a single friend. Whenever we'd settle up our dinner bill, one guy designated himself as the accountant and tallied up the total (including tip) on his damn palm pilot. We took him at his word, without looking at the check, and antied up. I found out after two days of this, he was only including a 15% tip--no matter how the service was. I wanted to go back to all the places we ate and hand them cash. A college friend of my husband has this girlfriend who is delightful...until her second cocktail. Then she becomes loud, surly, rude to waitstaff, sassy. We only meet them for lunch now.

I like Wiggy's, too. Something to be said for the ambiance. And the gentleman with the glasses (I blanked on his name) is just the best. I've come out of there with some great stuff on his recommendation. I do buy the bulk of my wine at Central Market, just because I'm there more often. I like Grapevine, but I live in south Austin, so I don't make it up there as often as I'd like.

Olive Garden always reminds me of a gentleman I who used to work with. When we'd meet for lunch, it was always at the Olive Garden...and he would always say: "I've traveled all over Italy (only he pronounced it as it-lee) and I tell you, nothing I ate was as good as the Olive Garden" From then on I tried to schedule any meetings we had in the morning or late afternoon.

I'm bumping this topic up after reading it. I am headed to the Final Four this weekend ...after being in NO for a wedding about 2 weeks ago. We ate at Galatoire's/CDM/Dickie Brennans/Central Grocery/Mr. B's/Parasol's/Tujaques (will go back...loved the bar). I will plan on a Susan Spicer place for this go 'round, but any locally-loved recommendations, maybe off the beaten path type of place, would be appreciated. I'll have a car, but we're staying at the Fairmont. I'll be having a nice dinner or two on the expense account, but mainly looking for mid-price to cheapy eats. Thanks in advance and Hook 'em Horns!

I was visiting NYC this weekend. I was there until Monday and almost every bar I went to it was business as usual. Since they're not fining/enforcing it until May (?), most places were still letting people fire 'em up. I imagine it will get more strict over the next couple of weeks. Actually, we gaged the smoking OK/not OK factor by noticing if any of the staff was smoking. Granted I was in Hell's Kitchen neighborhood pubs and LES bars most of the weekend. At restaurants, the ban seemed in full effect: there was always a small group gathered out front puffing away. Though I was always no more than a party puffer, I did have a few smokey treats over the weekend. I am so bad. breakin'thelaw breakin'thelaw

I think I saw him on Iron Chef...he was very young, but very accomplished, as I remember? I think they also mentioned that his mother was a very respected chef or food writer. Is this the same Kentaro?

Primanti's makes a mean sandwich. It's the first place we hit when my husband and I go back for visits (he grew up there). Now it's a Yuengling and a Primanti's. I love the fried egg w/onion. But can only eat that no more than once a year. I think there are only 3 in Pittsburgh--and one in Hilton Head (?).

Sounds similar to a Michilada: Negro Modelo, lime juice, tabasco I guess I can put that on my list. I have to be in the mood for it, but I do like 'em.

Attention fans of NY style pizza: (Disclaimer: I am aquainted with the proprietor, through a mutual friend) Rounders pizza just opened, located at 1203 W. 6th St. in the same location as Robbie's Cajun Kitchen. Anyone who lives south/central like me will be happy not to have to make the trek up to "south Waco" for Saccone's or Reale's. He's starting with just dinner service and take-out lunch. They'll be open late on weekends. I've eaten there twice. Once before he opened, I had the cheese pizza (I'm a bit of a purist)--which was burn-the-roof-of-your-mouth hot and had just the right amount of bubbles in the crust. Then a sausage and mushroom calzone--extra creamy due to ricotta mixed in the cheese mixture. We tried all three salads: spinach, Greek and house---all very fresh and tasty, but your here for the pies. There's a strawberry vingarette on the spinach salad that was a little too sweet for my taste, but I have a salt tooth instead of a sweet tooth. The meatballs are very tasty, too. He's still tweaking some menu items, and I'm trying to talk him into doing a full lunch service (there's some city deal with the number of parking spaces a restaurant must have that's preventing him from advertising lunch other than take-out). His sign is delayed, but it's being made by the same guy who did Starlite's and Club de Ville's, so it should be pretty cool. Just thought I'd pass the word.

2)Chicks who make a habit of imbibing sweet drinks are on the slippery slope. Need drinking lessons.

bwah! I was just cleaning out a closet, and in a box of stuff I've moved with a couple times, but haven't opened, was a little plastic grenade that came with that drink. It's now on our bar. I gave up on wine coolers and Mogen David 20/20, aka Mad Dog, in high school. I also remember some bottled technicolor concoction called Cisco, or it's nickname: liquid crack. Once had a terrible night once in college with a bottle of Frangelico. "it tastes like peanut butter!"

From Daily Candy: The Chinese Revolution Heavens to boredom. Chinese for dinner again? Haven't you already consumed three lifetimes' worth of #59 with garlic sauce? Hold the chopsticks. There's a new Chinese game in town, and it will forever change your ideas about lo mein. 66, the latest from Jean-Georges Vongerichten (we don't have to explain, right? Jean Georges, Vong, Jo-Jo), is finally opening to the public. With its gorgeous bamboo floors, frosted-glass walls, and muted tones of gray, 66 is as fancy as most Chinese takeout joints are, um, not. Still, here's what you'll recognize: Family style: Lazy Susans encourage we'll-take-one-to-share ordering. The menu: cold sesame noodles, dim sum, dumplings, stir-fried shrimp, wonton soup. Here's what you won't: The menu: The dishes sound the same, but you've never tasted such delicate, refined interpretations. The bar: It seats 40, but there's nary a bartender in sight. They're the shadowy figures pouring behind the long scrim (Chinese puppet theater style). The prices: Come on. It's Jean-Georges. Yeah, yeah, but is it authentic? Like it matters. Where J-G goes, New York follows. 66, 241 Church Street, at Leonard Street (212-925-0202).

I was not really a picky eater...I'd always at least TRY it. I still have a hard time with people who won't even TASTE something new. Jeez, just give a try!! But as a child, I didn't like: -sweet potatoes -lamb chops w/mint jelly -cold beet borsht -pulpy orange juice, or any pulpy juice for that matter. growing up on Florida, I had my own personal strainer for the OJ -escargot -anchovies -cilantro -coconut shredded/flakes, it's a texture thing, as with the pulp -stuff in stuff, fruit chunks in yogurt or ice cream, nuts in muffins or cakes. Currently.. -lamb chops -still can't handle pulp, had to strain the OJ/lime juice for the Flaming Orange Gully I made at home...it's like drinking hair -coconut flakes -papaya -still not a big fan of escargot, but I'm still giving a try now and again

I usually aim for about 8pm on weeknights. I get home around 6-6:30, have a cocktail, take the dogs out...and then I can calmly face the kitchen/going out again. Though recently, Mr. coolranch is working early hours and gets home around 4:30--and after eating lunch around 11--is hungry. So now we've been eating a bit earlier, around 6 or 7. Due to spur of the moment ideas/lack of reservations/meeting for drinks beforehand, we usually end up eating around 9 or 10 when we eat out on weekends. My 80+ year old grandmother who lives in "Retirement Florida" is known by some of her favorite local restaurants because she never does the "early bird". She's always been a night owl and never eats dinner before 6:30 or 7, which is refreshing since dinner time for most in her 'hood is around 4:30.

Oh, it is Satan's Helpers Pee Wee's Big Adventure Biker: "Didn't you know this is a private club of the Satan's Helpers?!" Pee-Wee: "No one hipped me to that, dude." (big fan of the obscure movie references)

I've heard that as an argument for not chilling your gin (or vodka) when making a martini. If you chill the spirit then it doesn't melt enough of the ice and your drink is unpalatably strong. Of course, those who like their drinks to be tongue-numbingly strong will disagree So True. I've been experimenting with this at home with my vodka martini. A little water helps a lot. I do try to chill the glass, though. I am trying to branch out with the cocktails I make at home...I'm buying the ingredients to make the rum infusion for the flaming orange gully this weekend. Re: stirred v. shaken, I've always followed the rule of if it's a pure alcohol drink (martini, Manhattan), stir if you're mixing fruit juices, etc, shake

I have a friend that covers 6-man football and drives all over Texas. He has said that once you get off the highway and head into West (of "Czech Stop" fame)--there a lots of good Czech restaurants. I'll have to ask him for names next time I see him.

Campari & soda, but I will definitely give Campari w/prosecco a try. A glass of Sancerre is also nice.

Simon, glad you enjoyed Austin. Jo's is one of my favorite places--that area is one of the best parts of the city. As for memorable meals: lemon meringue cup at wink--I am not a sweets/desert person, but this is wonderful stuff tuna mignon at Flemings brunch buffet at Fonda San Miguel cheeseburger & fries at Casino El Camino sushi at Musashino, especially the uni/ikura beef tenderloin at Starlite fried oysters and calamari at Ranch 616 and I must say, I'm really digging the new cracked pepper potato chips I just picked up at Schlotzsky's!