KOK

I hear you man... but 66 bucks for -two- Muffalettas? That shipping is a killer. Are they shipping them in dry ice or something?I happen to think that 60 bucks for the 40lbs of Satsumas from Simon Citrus Farm is a hue bargain by comparison... ← I saw the 2/$66 and also thought it was very high. Not that it's a huge difference, but I think they had the same two sandwiches for $44 if two-day shipping was acceptable. At least that's what I took from the website. Also, there was good article in the The Washington Post about Liedenhiemer bread being used in several D.C. restaurants, though it was for now coming from a Chicago outpost. Sorry I don't have the exact link. Thanks, Kevin

At the Krystal Burger champoinship, Kobyashi ate 67 in eight minutes. I doubt I could eat 67 in one day. Thanks, Kevin http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?sid=627883&nid=104

Gee, Officer Krupke, I thought he was a SQUARE! Trust me, no one would ever find anything square about my personage, there's nothing but curves all around.... Today with lunch I had some Mount Gay with raw sugar and a slice of lime. I don't know which Mount Gay, but I remembered liking it before and when I was asked if I'd like a glass, well, how could I refuse? The only alternative was a pina colada, not my favorite thing. what's the consensus amongst you rum experts about Mount Gay? I LIKED it! ← Curves? Ehhhhhhhhhhxcellent . You are right, a Square and a slob, but not a schmo. Many years ago I went to Barbados and was told Cockspur and Mount Gay were like the Coke and Pepsi of Barbados rum and that Cockspur wasn't exported. While both were very good, I brought home Cockspur as Mount Gay was available here. Now it seems Cockspur comes to the the U.S. in barrels and is bottled here. Both are still good rums to me. K

Unlike Officer Krupke you are not a schmo. You like what you like and there's nothing wrong with that (and yes, LunaSea, I don't like Pusser's at all, and I even bought a bottle of it to go along with the Pusser's painkiller mix I also bought ) In the movie version of 'Guys and Dolls' Sky and Sarah have milk rums down in Cuba. And while Castillo Gold may not win any awards, for less than $7 a bottle it is a great bargain and far from horrible. As the man said, drink what you like and like what you drink. Thanks, Kevin

Thanks for letting me know about the scallops. If I had read the menu I guess I would have seen that, but the scallops were so highly recommended I didn't bother to read it. Also, I didn't mean to imply there was anything wrong with the creamed spinach. My friend liked it a lot and I don't really like any creamed spinach. I do appreciate you wanting to know if anything isn't just right though. Thanks again and good look in Silver Spring which I look forward to greatly. Kevin

Thanks Melissa and kiliki! Kevin

Can anyone please tell me if brining a Kosher turkey will ruin it? There was an article in today's Washington Post that said NOT to brine a Kosher turkey. Will this just be overkill or will it more than likely ruin the bird? Are Kosher turkeys already brined, or just salted as other Kosher meat is? Thanks very much, Kevin

I posted on another board (text below) but got no replies. Can anyone tell me if the scallops at Ray's always come with a lot of garlic? I didn't read all the posts here, but I don't recall ever reading anything in re garlic on the scallops (which were, as everyone has said, excellent). Thanks, Kevin Finally made it to Ray's and had an excellent meal all around. Started with the appetizer portion of the scallops as I'd read several posts that they were top notch. The scallops were delicious, but were served with a whole lot of garlic. I love garlic, but I'd never read about the garlic here and didn't scrutinize the menu, just ordered them blind. Is the garlic new? Others who may not like garlic that much might not enjoy the scallops. We had the 12 oz. New York strip (more than enough beef, and a bargain at $23) and the hangar steak ($19 or $20 - what a deal!!). The mashed potatoes in the little square cast iron skillet were great, but the creamed spinach just wasn't to my taste (and I'm not a huge fan, so don't go by me). When Ray's opens in Silver Spring, we'll be getting two skillets of potatoes instead of one spinach and one potato. The key lime pie was also excellent and I can't recommend it more highly. The servers were also bringing everyone a little espresso cup of hot chocolate at meal's end. A great meal and a great value.

I don't think there's any geographic limitations. We're all just having a good time, bragging on our store of obscure foodie knowledge and giving our buddies some high quality, low-cost tips. Ain't nuthin' but a party. You can contribute stuff near your home that is worth driving to from points distant from your abode, or you can (as I did) post something far from your abode that you personally make a trip for. The larger idea's just that these are obscure treats, passions, obsessions that aren't known to the larger public. We all know Maestro makes a great whatever, but I was an attempt to tease out little-known info like Cubano's sandwiches or the dumplings at Bangkok Joe's. "No usual suspects;" no other restrictions. ← Agree 100%. Who here has the driven the hour (or more) to Fredericksburg for Carl's frozen custard and/or Alman's BBQ? I know I have. Often. Thanks, Kevin

I've never had (or heard of) the other two, but I have a bottle of the Gosling's Family Reserve, and while I enjoy it (and very much like regular Black Seal), I don't think it's worth the $60 I paid. I'd say you made the right choice by not getting the Gosling's. Thanks, Kevin

I only today noticed the 'decaff by force' diet coke at Chick Fil A and when I asked, no one could say why. It's obviously not a caffein thing as the regular coke has it. Any ideas out there? Thanks, Kevin

I've never had the first rum, but the Añejo Reserva is my favorite of the Havana Clubs, even more so than the 7 year old. I drink it neat, on ice and with juices (and sometimes with Barritt's Giner Beer for a super Dark & Stormy). I can definitely recommend the Añejo Reserva.Thanks Kevin

Hi Kevin....... Glad to help............... As for the mix. I had Hi Times Liqour in Costa Mesa, CA order it for me. Cost was ten bucks for a 64 oz bottle. You can also order it through the Pusser rum web site. It's shipped from their pub in Hollywood, Fl.Pussers Website ← I finally got off my butt and found a liquor store to order a bottle of the Painkiller mix. While I'm not averse to also buying a bottle of Pusser's rum, are there any rums that are similar to Pusser's? Hoping to sample it this weekend with both Pusser's and some of the other rums I have. Thanks very much, Kevin

I am hoping to run the Mardi Gras 1/2 marathon next February (it seems the race events WILL be held and as of now I have NO intention of going to an Emeril restaurant. I've never been inclined towards the Brennan places either, but after reading of their generosity, I'd make it a point to visit as many as I could (if open). I have, and hope to have again, the coconut cake at K-Paul's, as well as the gumbo and jalapeno rolls. My friends and I have long been commenting on how we seem to see everyone except Emeril in re helping NOLA / Katrina. Perhaps he is doing much behind the scenes, but many would like to see him doing it publicly. Just my two cents. Thanks, Kevin

I will second the recommendation for Lupo's. A darn good steak, solid Italian, and overall good service. Of course a gyro from Marathon Deli never hurt anyone. Thanks, Kevin

← Not sure about the mini mart but is close to the RT29 and RT250 bypass intersection. From Rt29 across the street from Red Lobster is KFC. It is behind KFC. They have the monster burger platter a a HUGE load of shoestring fries. I knew a guy who could eat two of those but I could never finish one. ← I forgot about Rt 250. We used to call the platter at Big Jim's the 'Face Burger' since the burger was as big as your face Thanks for a great memory. I'll have to schedule a trip to C'ville for both Big Jim's and a one-eyed Gus burger at the White Spot. Kevin

Is that the Big Jim's that's right off of 29 (next to a mini-mart, or something like that) that serves the monster burgers with a huge mound of shoestring fries? It's been over 10 years since I've been but it was always the best when I was down there. Thanks, Kevin

I heard a blurb on the radio this morning that an outpost of Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern, the one made famous by the Saturday Night Live skit, will open within a week or two around the 500 block of New Jersey Ave. Thanks, Kevin Found this story: http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/12739918.htm

Upon further review you're right that the Bermuda version is not a 'Swizzle' in the true sense. I guess I just saw 'Swizzle' and had a flashback to past vacations. Your recipe sounds very good and I'll be trying it out soon, though I may have to substitute cane syrup for the Falernum that I lack. Thanks again, K

The Bermuda Rum Swizzle is, IMHO, the grandaddy of 'em all, though I am very biased in favor of Bermuda. Here is one recipe: Rum Swizzle Makes 6: 4 oz Gosling's Black Seal Rum 4 oz Gosling's Gold Rum 5 oz Pineapple Juice 5 oz Orange Juice ¾ oz Grenadine or 2 oz Bermuda Falernum 6 Dashes of Angostura Bitters Method Into a pitcher ⅓ full of crushed ice add Gosling's Black Seal Rum, Gosling's Gold Rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, Grenadine or Bermuda Falernum and Angostura bitters. Churn vigorously until a frothing appears or mix in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a martini glass. The recipe didn't used to call for gold rum, I guess they're trying to tout their new product. I also saw on the website that Gosling's has a 140 proof rum now. I've never seen or even heard of this. It seems to be because some countries won't allow 151 proof to be brought back. If ever in Bermuda, you must try a swizzle at The Swizzle Inn. Thanks, Kevin

One of my favorites, Pikesville Rye was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it's considered an also-ran as it can often be had for less than $10/ fifth. Or maybe it's only available in the Wash., D.C. area. Mixed in a cocktail, straight up, or with a little ice, it is a very dependable rye for an excellent price. Thanks, Kevin

Get a glass water cooler bottle and that makes a great still pot. Stop it with a rubber stopper with holes for the tubing and simply run the condenser tubing through an ice bath to turn the vapor into liquid. In college, this worked very well by knocking the bunghole out of a 1/2 full flat keg and pouring the dead beer into the glass vessel and distilling the contents into high alcohol content liquid. Thanks, Kevin

That's what makes a hard roll sub from Litteri (sp?) so good. The blood from the roof of your mouth mixes with the oil, vinegar and Italian meats & cheese. And that's without toasting. I think they still get the rolls from Catania on North Capitol St just off of New York Ave. Thanks, Kevin

Stoney's lives, at least for now. Had a great burger and fries last night and for the first time ever got the Stoney Burger (sauce on the side). A regular burger with what seemed to be coarse chopped pickles or cukes in a cocktail type sauce. I asked how much longer they'd be open and the bartender said "it depends on how well we do." He then said "We aren't going down without a fight." Thanks, Kevin

Not sure which place thought to bury the lettuce and tomato but it does sound revolting. I've never seen that and hope I never do. Jerry's (local pizza and sub chain) makes a pretty good cheesesteak and they definitely don't bury the fixins. Thanks, Kevin