touaregsand

People ask me all the time if I ever think about going back to the US, but honestly I don't want to raise my kids there. It is a great place to visit but I really love Japan. My husband on the other hand would move to the US in a second if I agreed.... Though it is starting to change, today's Japan is very similar to the US I was growing up in the late 70's. my kids can wander around the neighborhood with their friends and I don't worry, last night they didn't even come home until after 7:00pm. There is also a wonderful community spririt, especially in the area where I live. Everyone is there to look out for each other and lend a helping hand. I have almost no stress here, taking kids into restaurants here is fine, if they are a bit noisy or start walking around no one bats an eye, if my daughter hits another kid in the sandbox the mothers just laugh, we apologize and it is forgotten. I can go to the supermarket and leave my kid in the candy aisle the entire 10 minutes it takes me to do the rest of my shopping and know there are going to be 10 other kids with him and he will be fine. I couldn't imagine raising my kids elsewhere.... ← I know what you mean. My husband and I talk about the same things with different locations.

How did you guess this? Did you cheat?

I have never seen non-Japan grown Jaapnese style rice in a store, ever. It is imported but from what I know it all goes to sake production. Thus we have no option but the high priced Japan grown rice. Even foreign rices like jasmine and basmati are difficult to find and I have never found a source for American long grain. As for buying rice in the US, I usually buy what ever is a decent price... I don7t want to spend all of my money on food... ← Interesting. The price for rice. In LA often times the best bargains for rice in a Korean Market are Japanese brands. Depending on the time of the month (not my time of the month, my husbands bi-monthly paychecks) we buy the cheaper Japanese rice or the more expenise New Crop Korean rice. We can taste the difference. But we've had rice from both countries that taste the same. Rice that is labeled seasonally in both countries taste the same. What exactly is the price of rice in Japan?

House fried potato chips, cheap, cheap, cheap but tasty. It would be a cost effective subsitute for the greens or it can even be offered as a free option. You can also sell larger portions as a side. Also the flavor os chips seasoned with just salt doesn't interfere or compete with the different flavors you have. And did I mention it's cheap and people like them?

The Portuguese even introduced the pepper to Korea. Can anyone even imagine Korean cooking without it?

As I read it I kept hearing the writer say, "Oh shit I have do a quicky about something I know nothing about and care even less about." The closing sentence says it all about the writer's lethargy regarding fine dining in General. Is the Times that desperate for filler, fluff pieces? Or are these desperate times for their writers? Word to the writer. Quickies never quite f... oh forget it.

Hilarious! My policy is to say only what I would say face to face. Although I've been known to be more direct in person than I am on egullet. Because it would be private. Egullet on the other hand is a public forum.

When I was growing up my best friend was from Guatemala and her family made a similar tamale. It was a two day family affair. I don't think that I'll attempting this at home. Well, maybe one of these days after the kids are grown. But we have so many grea tamale vendors in LA, I can't imagine that I could do better.

not more. different. ← I was referring to some posts that suggested offering more choices.

I think that Glen is concerned about lowering his costs. Offering more free choices doesn't accomplish this.

In Italy they have this. I think it's a fantastic idea. Growing up in LA I had my share of great home cooked Mexican meals. I'd love to try it in Mexico.

I think Manchurian would be more accurate than Chinese. Map of Manchuria before the Chinese too over. The Moors were in Portugal as well. Fascinating article, certainly well researched. The Moors in Spain were Berbers and Arabs from North Africa. A link to Iraq and Persian cuisine in Moorish cooking is very sketchy. A Persian connection seems more likely to have happened during Ottoman Rule in North Africa which began after the Moors were expelled from Spain and Portugal.

60% eat it 20% eat some of it 20% don't touch it I don't know what the cost of greens is in New Jersey, if it really is that high use less expensive lettuce as a garnish. Cole Slaw just doesn't look as pretty as a scattering of greens and a tomato. I also don't think cole slaw consumption as a side would be greater than the consumption of greens. As a customer I would expect to pay for coleslaw. Why give something away for free when you can charge for it? It also has to be premade and when it's past it's flavor prime you just have to dump it. Whereas greens can last a bit longer and are already probably used in other sandwiches. If you decide to add other sides in the future on the menu that you charge for you'll get "can I have potato salad instead?" with the assumption that substitutions are allowed free of charge. Your customers are used to seeing the greens. Are you doing consistent volume to be able to project how much of a premade item you would have to make? I understand that it's a new business. Penny wise, pound foolish?

Print up new menus?

I'm in LA, the celebrity capital of the world. Grew up here. A lot of celebrities don't act like big shots. Actually some like Edward Norton for instance loves to be treated like the "common" folk.

I'm not quite understanding your thought process. If your customers eat the side salad you wouldn't be complaining about the cost for the house? Do you really think that the salad costs you 50 cents? Anyway, ask your customers if they want a side of salad. I don't know about offering a less expensive side, I'd offer more sides at additional cost. A little bit of greens simply dress up a sandwich for me. As a consumer I don't expect a big portion of greens for free with a sandwich. So maybe you can cut costs by using a lighter hand when you plate, more like a garnish. Less expensive options are probably starched based (except maybe a pickle, which I suspect would have even a lower rate of consumption than greens) pasta or potato salad. Coleslaw comes to mind. But those options up your labor costs. Even if you're making them yourself, your time is still money. Don't forget that even though you are the owner.

Jingoism. You say, Paradigm. You say, You also said, It figures a Canadian would say this. Escoffier? Because he realized that the very term he had coined had been appropriated by others to take one new meanings. But you already know that. I can only discuss Foucault seriously when I've been taking mind altering drugs. Wiki what? WTF? You researched this stuff on Wiki? Silly me, I actually bothered to read those writers you mentioned. Anyway Cubi, it's been fun. But we are getting way off topic now. Back on topic. I take it all back. If it weren't for Julia I'd be starving in a third world country.

Okay. I see what you mean. I think I supported some of your statements with my earlier posts.

This is so contrary to my experience in just about every corner of the globe that I have to ask the question: just where, exactly, do you live? ← I want to add, "Where have you been?"

Thank you Robyn for reviving us all. I'm being somewhat tongue in cheek.

Incredible bargain considering the hands on talent behind the dishes.

I've heard this theory before. That the French as a nation conspire to be pretentious and unapproachable. They still act like that on purpose. I guess the Americans are now trying to make soccer entertaining to the masses. I wonder if the sport will ever catch on in Europe, Latin America, Asia (except Japan and Africa? If it ever does, boy we better thank those wealthy Americans. Odd, I've eaten at upscale restaurants outside of America that didn't have a single American in the place. I wonder if top tier sushi restaurants in Japan are eagerly catering to wealthy Americans. I read a post in the NY forum discussing the cost of a meal at Masa. "Is it worth it?" seemed to be the burning question. Points were made that top tier places in France and Japan can be as if not more expensive. I wonder if the wealthy Americans are choosing not to spend top money in America and spending it in France and Japan or of if those countries have consumers who can and are willing to spend alot of money on eating out. Hell, I've been to more expensive places in Korea. And when I was in Saipan average Joe Blow Japanese and Korean tourists would spend $100.00-$150.00 just for a single coconut crab. And that amount only represents a portion of the bill. Factor in drinks and other dishes and the tab skyrockets. I didn't find any of your comments inflammatory, just grossly out of scale, perhaps even jingoistic. Back on topic to Julia. You love her. It's obvious to me why people love her deeply. The cultural context of her greatness and significance is obvious to me. It is also obvious to me that that cultural context is not the Global paradigm or standard.

Love it! Soooo talented, incredibly focused on cooking. That's how I remember him. I'll bet he spends alot of hands one time in his restaurant, working on the line, rather than putting his name and reputation on something only to put someone else on the line. And he responded to you email, when at some places you it's hard to even talk to the front desk for a reservation. May I ask what the bill was? We are planning to go up north soon.

Great to hear. I worked at a place many moons ago where he was the chef for a private room. He seemed like a very sensitive, gentle person. I recall he had a place in LA a while back, alas LA is not ready for great dining in certain ways. The customer base here with money demands novelty and hype more than great food. It seems easier to pander to glamour than substance unfortunately. I am constantly shocked at how many investors/owners don't really care about great food. (I'm recalling the incident with Bastide. I don't want to take anything away from Lefebvre but the owner really has enough money to open another place for his new experimental chef and he have what was touted as LA best French restaurant in tact. I'm also thinking of a few other incidences). I'm eagerly waiting for your report. Thank you.

I just saw the Men's Pocky for the first time. I don't think I'll be purchasing it, as I am not manly enough. Is there a difference in flavor or um...size perhaps?