Jaymes

I love all of the Junior League-type recipe collection books. The El Paso one is a beauty, but so are the Houston, Galveston (both editions), San Antonio, Austin. And Helen Corbitt's books, too, are classics. Yea Texas. Home of great cookin'.

Me, too, fifi. There's just a vibe about that place. Have been fortunate enough to visit there many times. And I think my daughter is going to get married there this summer. If so, I'll probably rent a house for about a month to get everything ready. I love the El Presidente, as well. So stately. I'm thinking about it for the wedding. And those "jungle casitas" are really romantic.

Eegee's. They make the very BEST Italian grinders on the planet.

Koi Palace. I have a Chinese friend whose parents come from CHINA for dim sum at Koi Palace. If it's good enough for them.....

In-N-Out burgers. The best.

Elyse -- CONGRATUATIONS! NOBODY deserves it more than you. What a great idea you had! And so timely! You need to go into the PR Biz. Perhaps you should send the Cattleman's Association a bill.

Thanks for the good wishes everyone! It is indeed a happy time for our family.

They DID go. And armed with the info on this thread, they ordered steaks and expensive wine. They had a grand time. They trotted around Central Park in a carriage, and my sweet daughter got herself proposed to. Actually, if any of you are interested, you can go to nbcpix.com, and put in F257506, and then click on <go> and about halfway down the page, you can see my "kids." My prospective son-in-law is wearing a black jacket (I think it is) and a knit cap. And on Friday night, they went to Amma where Suvir entertained them with his customary kindness, generosity and skill. They said that while the Tavern on the Green was "beautiful," that Amma was absolutely fabulous. In fact, they have decided to get married next summer in Mexico, and have determined on the strength of their meal at Amma that Suvir must be the guest of honor! And their hotel for the week was the Hudson, which they also very much enjoyed. All in all, hard to imagine a more marvelous New Year's Eve in New York.

I don't know what one is - do tell! Romertopf

Carolyn -- This thread has been fascinating -- from the inception, through your steps documented by the excellent photography and the discussion of proper cooking vessels. Thanks!

A great many people are reluctant to wander aimlessly around a strange town in a foreign, underdeveloped country, and well they should be. Unless they are familiar with an area, and know it to be safe, it's unwise to just charge blindly ahead. It's best to do some homework ahead of time and gain at least perfunctory knowledge of the risk factor. That's what smart travelers do. What I was trying to say to you (in response to your request to "Help make this trip, and please share anything you know about where I can eat the good stuff" and "navigate past...an abundance of tourist food") is that in Cozumel, the crime rate is low enough that if one is attempting to avoid "tourist food," one can feel quite comfortable in exploring the back areas of San Miguel where few tourists go, and just meandering wherever your nose takes you. Or in renting a 4-wheeler and exploring the wilder, less-populated areas of the island where there are several "authentic" fish shacks on the beaches. As opposed to other similar tourist destinations (such as Playa del Carmen) where the incidence of rapes and muggings is startlingly high (and a gang of thieves recently hijacked an entire car ferry returning from Cozumel and held everyone at gunpoint while they relieved the passengers from their valuables) and where that would be a stupid thing to do. Sorry if you found my advice too unspecific and off-topic to suit, and the "tourist info" a tiresome and unhelpful waste of your time. Clearly I misunderstood your request. Guess this is better: Go to La Choza. Period.

Not to mention that Black-Eyed Peas & Chicken don't taste as good as Black-Eyed Peas & Ham Hocks. No matter WHICH way the chickens and pigs scratch and root.

Hey, Y'all. Wasn't it weird to see the heading of this thread -- "Mystery Tradition" -- and to read that the big unusual "Mystery" so startling and unheard of was black-eyed peas on New Years? Really a lesson there, in how often something as customary to one segment of the population as breathing in and breathing out is a "mystery" to another segment. Makes one realize how marvelous is a forum such as this for getting to know each other better. Long live eGullet!

Reminds me of a time when I was about 13. My brother was 11, and sister 8. The entire family was out for Sunday lunch. We weren't at a high-end restaurant; but rather, a cafeteria. After we went through the line and got our meals, we were sitting at our table and the waitress appeared to get our drink order. We kids liked sugary sodas, of course, which we were NEVER allowed to drink. So the waitress says to us, "And what will you have to drink?" I said, "Root beer." Bro said, "Coca Cola." Sister said, "7-Up." My dad looked at the waitress and said, "And that'll be three milks." I distinctly recall my thought process: "We're in a restaurant. A public place. Dad will never make a scene. I'll get my way." "NO! I don't want milk! I want root beer!" The other kids' eyes got really wide. The waitress hesitated. "She'll have milk," my dad said calmly. "NO! ROOT BEER! I WANT ROOT BEER!" Dad stood up and yanked me up by my upper arm and walked me out of the restaurant and threw me into the car. "You can just wait here until we are finished with our meal," he said. This particular cafeteria had large picture windows across the front, and our car was pulled right up in front of one of them. So I sat there for what had to be at least an hour and watched my family eat -- Dad lingering leisurely over his coffee. Believe me, I never tested him in public again.

Wow. Ginger and sherry.... That looks great, too.

Boy, I'd like it. Just got a good deal on a wheel of brie, and would like to give that soup a go. I also make oyster chowder from time to time. Thank you lord for oysters.

No place on the planet is 100% safe, and I'm sure Cozumel isn't either. But their crime rate is very low. As one local put it to me, "This is an island, where can you go?" And so, when I'm there, even as a woman by myself, I feel very comfortable exploring the town of San Miguel. Cozumel earns its living from tourism and it's a fairly small island, so it's not like you're going to discover a place no tourist has ever heard of. There is a really good out-of-the-way spot around on the other side of the island (which is much "wilder" and less inhabited) from where the ships put in; but since you only have one day, I'd recommend that you just wander San Miguel rather than getting in a cab and trying to get to that restaurant. In San Miguel: Few tourists ever get more than one block back into the town from the main drag along the oceanfront, so if you're looking for a more local experience, just keep walking that way. You'll be offered shore excursions through your cruiseline. The four-wheeler experience is everyone's favorite. You head off across the sand dunes toward the more remote areas of the island. In fact, depending on which company you're with, it might even include lunch at one of the seafood shacks over on the other side. The snorkeling is wonderful. You'll probably only have time for one shore excursion, though, and I'd do the 4-wheelers. You reallly see the island much better that way, and you can snorkel many places. Most likely even many places on this same cruise. I know you'll enjoy it. Personally, I love Cozumel.

Do you really? What did people use before Velveeta? WAS there such a time?

I think the difference is that here we are specifically linking the idea of dinner table manners to the "fate" of children's eating habits going forward, as well as polling who does and does not currently use dinner tables. This topic is kind of a bridge between the "babies" topic and the one you linked to, and I suggest that if people want to dwell on either extreme (childhood experiences or restaurant decorum) they go to those suggested threads. Otherwise, here's the place to be. You forgot "nanny nanny boo boo."

Boy, some good ideas here. White wine and shallots -- sounds heavenly. And straining through a coffee filter -- there's a good idea!

It appears that Amma continues to please and delight. Suvir, congratulations! My daughter is going to be vacationing in New York soon, and will be there to sample these delicious treats herself. I am eagerly awaiting her report!!

Yes, I'm going to speak up anyway. How's about taking a tortilla press and a couple packages of masa harina? That should last quite a while, and making your own corn tortillas is amazingly easy. When I lived in Panama, we couldn't get tortillas and I made my own for four years. Obviously that'd have to be in your CHECKED luggage. You could knock someone from here to hell and back with a tortilla press. (As I had to repeatedly explain to my first ex-husband.)

Well in my opinion... Oh. Nevermind.

Everybody knows the basics, sure. But is there anything unusual anyone does... just for a change of pace? What is the perfect Oyster Stew? How do you make yours? Celery, yes or no? Ever a little dusting of herbs or spices, like nutmeg? Curry? Parsley? Poultry seasoning?

My grandmother met my grandfather, who was considerably older than she, when she was a very young girl working at a Harvey House Restaurant somewhere in the wild, wild west, and he (Jinx) was a conductor on the railroad. Her recipe for French Toast was the same one served in the dining car.