Jaymes

I'll have to dig the thing out.... May be packed away somewhere in the mound of boxes from my last move, but I'll try. Might take a while, though. I ain't the most organized girl in class.

Most of my best recipes are for entertaining... comes from years as a caterer, I guess. But another successful chicken curry salad starts with fresh pineapples which you halve, then chop up the meat, mix it with chicken, curried dressing, cashews, coconut, green peppers, green onions, and serve in the pineapple shells. Can dig the recipe out, but sounds like you're well on your way to many options, so you might not need it. It was wonderful, though....and again, impressive presentation, which is totally not required around the old kitchenette table!!

Someone suggest a solution. Hounding John will not answer any of these questions. Repeatedly bringing threads back to the same issue is viable, but is bad for the site. Anyone got any ideas? Unfortunately, the only way for this to end is just to stop posting about it. Which we can't seem to manage (myself included). I hope we all can manage it. I arrived at eGullet at about the same time as the "Nazi" thread. Everyone kept talking about how much they enjoyed eGullet and how happy they were to be here. How they treasured the interaction, the comradarie, the foodie lessons learned. One person referred to it as "my beloved eGullet"; another said that, regarding one particular food topic, they had "learned more in two days on eGullet than in twenty years of professional cooking." And then it all got caught up in the stink rising from an open wound of acrimony, dissension, and accusations, some undoubtedly justified, some surely not. I feel like the girl who arrived at Woodstock just as the crowd was leaving....the girl standing there on the edge of something wonderful, listening to the crowd laughing as they streamed out, chatting about the cosmic event, the seminal moment in history, the coolest most fabulous thing ever. Only by the time I got there, all that remained was a couple of farm boys throwing cow chips at each other and arguing over whose fault it was that there was such a mess, and who should be responsible for cleaning it up. I just wish we could stop pointing fingers and slinging cow chips, and get back to the music.

I have served a very successful Curried Chicken Salad for years. I don't know if you are looking for a "just us" kind of salad, or something for entertaining. This is more for entertaining. It is absolutely delicious, great fun, very festive, beautiful to look at, and the guests really enjoy it. My sister, who hates to cook or entertain and is wretched at it, was forced to host a luncheon in her neighborhood recently, because all of the other wives just flat out told her it was "her turn" and they were all coming. She called me, panic-stricken. I gave her this recipe, step by step. She was a smash hit. It's already on eGullet, over in the India board, under Simple Summer Garden Curries (or something like that, started by StellaBella), and I'd rather not retype it all here. But, it's a winner, for sure.

Hey that's cool, but I wonder if it has any legal effect. Although I haven't been interviewed very often (the last time was for an article on eGullet and much to my surprise I was not only quoted accurately, but in exactly the context in which I placed my responses) I have used the expression "off the record" both when I've felt I might be quoted and just when I don't want a confidant repeating my words to another in private. Generally however, I think e-mail and private messages are off limits unless in response to an interview. "Any legal effect" when you yourself have put something into the public domain? Of course not. As soon as you publish it, it is "on the record." That was the joke, that Steve thinks it might be!!

You know, Steve, if John had PM'd you, seeking your opinion on this or that, and then published your responses without your permission, you might have a point. But if you really believe that what you post in this public forum, with full knowledge that your words are freely available to an indiscriminate audience of millions, is tantamount to a private conversation deserving of some degree of confidentiality, well then, to quote Judge Judy, "Are you nuts?" If you actually do believe that, then may I suggest you change your signature line to: "Attention Journalists: This is off the record." That is the phrase, is it not, that you use when requesting confidentiality during your many interviews?

Wow. I thought that was a terrific post. And I agree completely!

Make it the fall.

I just love it when you talk dirty. (Cassoulet in the Autumn?)

Carrots, perhaps? In keeping with the food theme?

Golly, John, you're THAT IMPORTANT to me... But don't worry, I'm "virtually impregnable" as well (ever since the change), even if one "were to form a charitable organization for that sole purpose." So, Darlin', Cassoulet in the Autumn, maybe???

Sounds to me like the editor of the food newsletter was, as editors everywhere constantly are, looking for something interesting and newsworthy to fill his space. News outlets are voracious sharks.... and this particular news shark has to limit his topics to food. To publish feature after feature regarding foodie web sites certainly looses appeal after a time... So should he do yet another: "On eGullet, people get together in a virtual community; people from all over the world talk about food; people get together in their own neighborhoods." This already has been well-covered in the media....just so much more blah de blah de blah de blah...no new information for his readers there. But suddenly on one of the premier food sites there's a big flap that has edged into politics and religion, creating considerable controversy. The resulting acrimony may, some say, even threaten the very viability of the site itself. Also, one of the moderators appears to possibly have been kicked off. Is that not newsworthy, by the standards of a newsletter for food writers? So, if you were the editor of the newsletter and had 300 subscribers expecting the latest foodie culture info, what would you do? If I were he, I'd call a Guild member that I knew to be an excellent writer, as well as a participant of the site, and assign him to cover the story. I'd call John.

Wow. That makes the Moon Palace look like, well, a palace.

Jaymes, I wasn't kidding about having our house stolen. Armed people took it over and forced out the people we had watching it, forged papers to show they had purchased the lease on the land, and bribed local judges to support their case. After spending $10,000 in "legal fees" we gave up. Well, I've heard of that happening... Mexico recognizes squatter's rights. Particularly along the Pacific Coast. It's pretty tricky, I know, and that is one reason I haven't done anything about buying a place until I am ready to spend at least half my time there. Again, to second Nina's question... where was it?

Well -- I'll admit I did get a laugh myself imagining the maid's husband that night, when she came home with a couple-hundred bucks worth of fancy little fripperies, the likes of which I'm sure he'd never before seen. So if you just take ratty old underwear, I'm sure you'll be fine. And who knows, maybe you NEED a new timeshare. But I actually love Mexico, and spend a lot of time there, and plan to buy a second home there, maybe sometime next Spring. There are really just a few hotels down there that I dislike. Okay, one. Okay, the Moon Palace. When you return, you'll have to let me know how it works out. One thing I do know is that everyone's experiences differ. We put up quite a stink with FunJet, whom we had booked the trip through. They said they had gotten a lot of complaints and had sent a team down there to work with the Palace folks to try to improve things, so maybe they have. Buena suerte!

This is just one person's opinion, but I absolutely hate the Moon Palace. In fact, I really dislike all of the "Palace" chain. The Moon Palace is huge, for starters...the largest hotel in Cancun, I believe. Plus, all of the Palace Hotels also have timeshares right there on their property. And I'll give you one hint if you do stay there. When the bouncy little employees tell you it's "Orientation Night" or "Game Night" or "Special Tour Night" or "Fiesta Show and Party Night" what it really is is "HARD SELL TIME SHARE NIGHT." As a travel agency owner, I sent a honeymoon couple there about two years ago, and things may have changed, but they got roped into the time share hard-sell lecture the first three nights until they finally caught on whereupon they were merely accosted everytime they walked across the lobby. On top of that, they got sick eating the food and were on antibiotics for a month after their return. And, the couple across the hall had their room safe broken into and all of their cash and jewelry stolen, including her diamond ring. My clients also had stuff stolen. My little newlywed wife had gone to Victoria's Secret and bought all this brand new underwear for her honeymoon. It was all stolen. At first the hotel was going to do nothing about it saying, "We are not responsible for things that were stolen from your clients that were not in the safe." Well, who locks their underwear in the safe? Finally we got their money back, but every single time someone insisted on going there (after seeing the ritzy brochures), we had a problem. I just absolutely hate that damn place. So, to sum up, I guess I'd say I don't recommend it. And Leslie.... you won't like Cancun at all. Sounds like Nina has some good suggestions down on the Corridor... I'd suggest looking into those more closely. or maybe Isla Mujeres or Cozumel. Very low crime rate. I've gone there by myself several times. Restful, wonderful water sports, great restaurants. Very laid-back. Not easily accessible to the ruins however, but you can certainly schedule daytours over there... Tulum or Coba, or rent a jeep and drive to Mérida for a couple nights, then back to Cancun to catch your plane home.

Malemute - a heavy, working, long-haul freight sled dog, or the more-famous and lighter-weight Huskies. The Alaskans feed their dogs chum salmon (among other things), which the Alaskans call "dog salmon." And of course, I'm back to Eskimo Ice Cream.

BB - That's a wonderful idea... Chihuahua; British Springer Spaniel.... It's a great idea...

Maybe you could provide plot tension by having the human be a food critic who travels the world for his occupation, taking along his trusty dog. While the food critic eats in the restaurant, somehow the dog always winds up in the alleyway out back sampling the garbage from the restaurant. Then, the two could compare their experiences, including ambiance and dining companions: "Boy, Rover, the lunch special was sure good today." "Well, Master, yesterday's really stunk up the joint." "There were three famous celebrities in the restaurant eating at the next table." "Yeah, well I had two homeless guys, some snotty mutt who looked half poodle and barked with a French accent and would only eat the 'best' of the stuff, and the fattest cat you ever saw who hogged all the fish." Also, this provides ample possibilities for humor as no matter how the food critic attempts to restrain the dog, he outwits the human and makes it to the alley. And drama if the dog briefly runs away in an effort to sample the "real cuisine" in the neighborhoods instead of just behind fancy restaurants. And of course, a "lesson" in the end, about values and hunger and money and snobbery, and "fine dining vs. cheap eats." So in the end, the Dog (gentle, kind, accepting, grateful) teaches the Human (snobbish, judgmental, self-centered, demanding) lessons about life.

Ah.... so the dog is the star. Could be many cute plot opportunities here. On the other hand, also many opportunities to get sucked into the doggie debates... like the feuding "it's-okay-to-feed-your-dog-people-food" vs "people-food-is-bad-for-dogs" factions.

I have been to Mexico more times than I can count.... literally.... it's got to be in the hundreds. I have never gotten a hepatitis shot and do not belive that they are recommended for travel to Mexico. I am no doctor and suggest that if anyone is worried they contact one of the medical clinics that specialize in "travel medicine," but it is my understanding that there are several varieties of hepatitis, the most serious of which is transferred by blood, like through sharing needles or unprotected sex which, if one is planning on sampling that sort of "culture," one probably should protect oneself. Not only have I never gotten hepatitis in Mexico, I've never gotten an illness of any kind. And I am a very adventuresome eater, but do not consider myself to be a stupid eater. The simple fact of the matter is that Mexican standards of sanitation are not up to ours, so I suggest, Leslie, that you just use good sense. But of course, "good sense" to one person is picky paranoia to another. My "good sense" in Mexico is to never eat "street food"; never eat anything made from ground meat (not even hamburgers at the pool snack bar at the "Gran Turismo Class" hotel); stick with restaurants where other travelers and foreigners eat; avoid drinking anything that has floating in it irregularly-shaped ice cubes (that look as though they've been chipped from a block of ice covered with flies out back in the alleyway). (Actually, I expounded a great deal on my "sanitation" methods in another of the Mexican threads and don't want to repeat it all here. I'm sure it's still there if you'd care to read it.) But I really love Mexican food, and enjoy it immensely when I am there. I eat lots of fish (including ceviche) and especially love Mexican shrimp cocktails (more like a Mexican gazpacho with shrimp and avocado chunks), lots of fruit that one peels before eating (like mangos, bananas, etc.), and all of the local specialities. Everywhere I eagerly gobble up tortillas, beans, arroz con pollo, egg dishes and for breakfast, the wonderful chilaquiles. In the Yucatán, things I particularly enjoy are the Sopa de Lima (lime soup), Mechado (fish soup) and, in fact, any of the Mexican soups, for which they are deservedly famous. Also, Pollo Rojo (or "red chicken") made with "achiote" a favorite spice of the Maya, Pibil (also made with achiote, but wrapped in banana leaves and buried in a pit with hot coals). As to where to stay: Cancun (and the entire Caribbean coast of Mexico) is a world-class destination. There are non-stop flights from many European capitals and, if you start chatting with folks, you will find a great many Europeans. The last time I was there, I was with my very comely daughter who spent a lot of time with a soccer team from Ireland (boy did they have trouble with sunburns ). She also struck up a big friendship with a large group from Argentina who were there for a family reunion (we were amused to discover that they thought my daughter was Mexican because she "speaks with a Mexican accent," although I guess that makes perfect sense if you think about it). Cancun is overbuilt with big, boxy-type resorts, side-by-side, most of them high-rise, some among the most fabulous in the world. Le Meridien, for example, is as classy a place as you could ever want...with French decor and European-style spa and fabulous food in the dining room. The Caribbean Sea at Cancun is even more beautiful than you have imagined in your wildest dreams; the beach is gorgeous as well, with sand that does not absorb much heat and so is not blisteringly hot to walk on. The atmosphere in Cancun is "festive" with a lot of action of all kinds, and as to whether or not you would prefer Cancun over another Yucatecan destination, that depends entirely on what sort of activities you enjoy. For example, if you are fairly young and single and look great in your bikini and are hoping for a lively and fun place in which to par-tay, Cancun would suit you just fine. But if, on the other hand, you are primarily interested in sightseeing the ruins of Chichen Itza or Uxmal or Coba, or "getting away from it all," or undisturbed relaxing on the beach, or finding the "real" Mexico, Cancun is not it. The area further south on the peninsula, toward Belize, is called the "Tulum Corridor" or the "Mayan Riviera." It is much more laid back... and there are several wonderful small towns, including some of the proverbial "Mexican fishing villages." Playa del Carmen can no longer be called an undiscovered fishing village because it has most definitely been discovered (and can be dangerous if you are a woman traveling alone because of all of the new construction there and corresponding workers who live in a shanty town nearby), but it certainly retains its considerable charm, and I adore it, but do not suggest that anyone go walking alone on the beach at night. One added bonus to staying in the "Playa" area is that the ferry to Cozumel departs from the center of town, affording easy daytrips to the island. Nina's suggestions are wonderful, and her link to Mexico Holiday provides good information on beautiful places to stay. I am sure you'd be well-advised to check into any of them. I would also suggest that you read Miss J's terrific posts on her trip to the Yucatán further down on this thread and, by the way, see if you can talk her into adding more to them (like, did you ever get to a "tamalada," Miss J?). If I were going to the Yucatán for a week, I'd stay down in "the Corridor" (probably at Playa) for four or five nights, then rent a "yeep" and drive to Mérida for two or three nights. It's an easy drive from the Cancun or Playa area and the roads are good and well-marked. (I not only would, as a single woman traveling alone, but have.) Mérida has a fabulous, world-class hotel (with a wonderful dining room), the Fiesta Americana, for about $130US a night, and several small ones that are delightful... old convents, that kind of thing, for about $35-40US. From Mérida (truly one of my favorite cities on the planet), you can head to the Gulf Coast at Celestún to see the flamingos, or visit the ruins at both Chichen Itza (between Cancun and Mérida) and Uxmal. But, before you take my advice regarding Mérida, you should know my partying days are behind me (in more ways than one) and I now much prefer seeing the sights and immersing myself in the local culture. Mérida is inland, so no beach-lying-about is available there and if you're looking for that, or for a party atmosphere, you'd be VERY disappointed... although, each of Mérida's lovely squares do take turns offering open-air (and free) concerts each evening. Mérida is a city of music. I heard a world-class tenor there one night and the sound of it still sings in my memory. After you decide exactly which parts of the Yucatán you will be visiting, I'd be happy to make some more specific restaurant recommendations. But, whatever you do and wherever you stay, I am sure you will love it. The Mexican people are among the warmest and most gracious on Earth. They are surely their country's greatest asset. Whatever you do and wherever you go, make every effort to get to know them. They will make your trip memorable.

Perhaps he is not aware that kiddos come in different sizes??? Thinking maybe that "little" is just, well, little? But I suspect that probably he hadn't considered that, and is not sure exactly which age he should target. To that end, I would ask: How did you come to decide to do this project? Were you asked to do it by someone else? In that case, can you inquire from them what age they intended to target? If you are the one who conceptualized the project, what is its purpose? Are you hopeful of commercial gain? Is the final product intended to be used as an educational tool in schools or other formal childcare facilities? Is it intended to be perused by the children on their own or with an adult such as a teacher or parent guiding them and discussing things? Do you envision this as a lengthy "book" or short, cute, funny and sweet? There's just so much for poor FG to decide. I frankly believe he hadn't even considered the ages. But I don't want to ask him. You ask him.

Not to mention, "Do you know why they call it 'red eye' gravy?" There's a few tales regarding the source of the name, all probably apocrypha: I've also heard it mentioned that the eye was where the ham bone was.

And Nina, even if she isn't, I always am. I'd love to hear your recommendations. The Yucatán is one of my very favorite spots on the earth.

Which of course brings up the obvious question as to what age kid you are targeting? Obviously, something meant for grades 1-3, for example, should be far different than something intended for older children.