Soup

I said this before and I'd say it again. I believe good cooking and food related programming exists in many venues. A channel that brings cooking shows (and dubbs them when necessary, ala iron chef) from other countries would be great. BTW, did any one catch the new cooking show on PBS. The on air personality's name is Tina Norstrom and it's swedish cooking.

bi monthly lunch w/ my dad. I had ja jang mein (noodles w/ black bean sauce) and tang soo yok (sweet and sour beef). Excellent. Soup

It starting to feel like fall on the east coast. Apples!!! All types. My kids and I picked a few off the tree last week. Yum.

I did not realize that brown rice goes bad faster than white rice. Question, what is the shelf life of brown rice... 1. in the pantry 2. in the freezer Soup

so what was the solution?

There is some truth to your statements but I don't know that the future is that bleak or set into only those two clear cut paths. I believe you could make good choices in food and dining out and still have room for costcos and wendy's of the world. From my own experience and perception, I really think that more people are making changes for the better 1. Authentic Mom & Pop ethic places...Over the past 5 years, I've seen a real growth of ethic eateries around the DC areas. They cover, peruvian, mexican, korean, thai, vietnamease, etc. They are not chains but they are mom and pop shops. Many of the good one are also sticking true to their roots and not dumbing down the flavors nor spices. In addition, I'm seeing in these resturants more diverse clientel when I dine in them, not just the particular ethnic group. 2. Expansion number of CSAs and Farmer's Market...More of my neighbors belong to them, there seem to be more CSA outlet available and we seem to have a good number of farmers markets available. 3. More shopping options serving different market segments...There are more varieties of shopping outlets available. Internet is one but around DC, we have more choice then ever beyond food lion, safeway, giant, costco etc. We have markets that serve the korean, chinese, latin, indian, german, and other ethenic groups. 4. More information about food and good eating...I am convienced that more outlets for information exists about food and eating then has ever existed. More spots on the internet, more books, magazine, TV and radio shows exists that discuss many interesting options. For my family we don't do high end dining at home or out (except on rare occassions) but we do spend fair amount of time thinking about and cooking good food. We also make pretty good choices about eating out. However, raising two kids, I believe there is no way I can keep completely away from McD's and Chucky Cheese.

Its amazing how some picture can really bring back memories. When I saw these bento boxes, memories of childhood lunches and picnics with my grandmother came back. Good tread. Soup

Thanks everyone. I've baked a number of challah using the recipe JFLinLA posted. I've had some dissasters but I've been managing to crank out consistantly good Challah for a few weeks now. I add a bit more salt and honey. I keep the dough pretty wet and sticky and I don't bake for a long time. I've been getting Challah I really (and my family) really likes. Thanks for your help. Tonights was the best yet. Question? can the dough be frozen or does the bread once bake freeze well? Soup

I use to love MREs for my camping and hiking trips. I wish it had a bit less packaging though. Chicken Ala King was my fav. Spagetti w/ meat sauce was too salty but still pretty good. If I was going out for a weekend, throw a few in the bag and go. No thought required.

Have you tried any of the peruvian resturants in Arlington?

The way you describe it is really funny, but it actually looks pretty tasty to me. ← I understand what you say, Pan, but I must tell you that to me it looks like the Cuyahoga River did in about 1962. ← Put a bit of alcohol and flambe it. Then it'll look the the ohio river.

Most buffets are pretty poor (exceptions, fancy hotel brunches and indian). But what about family style dining? To me its close enough to a buffet. A lot of variety and the all you can eat concept is the same. But as opposed to a buffet, I've had many more positive experiences at family style dining places (and the prices have been really reasonable). I remember a place in Jackson, MS that was amazing for lunch (except I could never work after eating there, I just wanted a nap). I just cannot remember the name of the place.

I had a bag of fries from 5 Guys (local hamburger joint). The bag was soaked in grease by the time I got it up to my office. But, all that peanut oil sure made it taste good. I'll have something heathy tomorrow.

thanks everyone. Base on your advice, my wife threw it out. I didn't have the heart. I just couldn't do it. But better safe then sorry. I can smell a trace in the marrinade but not as strong as when I first opened and washed it. But better safe then sorry. So instead we are roasting a couple chickens. I hate seeing food go to waste. I wonder if I could braise the meat to kill off anything?

so do you think that I can grill & eat (even to my 1 and 3 year olds)?

I but a boneless leg of lamb last weekend at Costco. I've left it in its origional packaging for the past week stored at the bottom of the Fridge which reads 39 F. I'm planning to cook it for the ladies that are showing up for my wife's book club tomorrow night. The packing didn't look all that different from the other times, I've bought the item. It was sealed and wasn't ballooned in anyway. But when I opened it, the smell was unbearable. I thought I was going to get sick. I can't describe the smell that precisely but it smell a little like butter but not really. I prepared the marinade (alton Bronwn's recipe in silence of leg o lamb) and butterflied the leg (cooks faster this way on the grill). They are currently merinading in the frige. I've now very worried about the smell. What could cause it? Is the meat ok or am I going to make all the ladies in the book club really sick. I usually cook the meat medium rare for about half the crowd and well done for the other half. I guess I have 3 choices... 1. throw the meat out. 2. cook the meat well well done (just cook the heck out of it). 3. cook as normal and hope for the best I don't think I'm going to risk giving this to my kids though. I would love to hear some guidance on this please. Soup

Thanks for the suggestions!!! We decided to go to the Cuban Corner. It was a nice drive up and we had a nice time. Cuban Corner certainly has a different decor. I believe it was the first time I dined looking a picture of a mass execution. Let's say Fidel was also not portrayed positively. But I have zero interest in cuban politics. For the food, My wife had ropa viheas (sp??). It was ok at best. We've had better stuff at the carribean grill in Arlington. It came with black beans, white rice and maduros. I had a vegi plate which came with black beans, white rice and maduros. The Black beans were ok. Not all that much flavor. The Maduros were excellent (one of the best, I've had). The Tre Leche cake was also outstanding. I've only had better in Little Havana. The place over all was pretty interesting and the food was good, although, I don't think I'll make the drive up from VA for their food. I might try the Carribean place right next door, next time. Soup

I'm an Alum at UVA and NorthWestern. Both places were completely devoide of anything interesting on grounds/campus. I'm assuming, as another poster mentioned, that it is because of the cartering contracts worked out by the university. I was @ UVA when the catering changed from university run operation to mariott. Not a huge difference but I actually thought, it was better when it was run by the university. But even during the university run period, no food cart really existed. I wonder why? I was in C'ville last fall and @ NorthWestern last summer. Still did not see food carts but perhaps I missed it. Off grounds/campus, thank goodness, eclectic choices abound. Soup

My wife and I are going out for dinner just by ourselves (really a rare treat). We were hoping to try a new place. Can anyone recommend a cuban or carribean/jamacan place around the washington DC area? I've heard college park and Bethesda areas have some places that are good. We generally like hole in the wall places and are not looking for a fancy dine out experience tomorrow. Thanks in advance. Soup

really great. I am a huge fan of road trips. Really love the pictures of Pacific Coast. Help me take my mind off an otherwise crappy work week.

You just don't live in the right place. In Philadelphia we have WYBE, a public station not in the PBS network. It shows two hours of cooking shows five days a week. Mondays, Asian; Tuesdays, Italian; Wednesdays, eclectic (Latino, Penn State restaurant school, a restaurant tour show, low carb cooking ); Thursdays, chefs at work including Charlie Trotter; Fridays BBQ, Weir, & Americ's Test Kitchen. The individual shows change from time to time, but the format is pretty stable. ←

I'm alway leary of a survey on a choice between money and time. Alot of people I know would say time because they think its what they should say. However, in my career, I've seen people when given the real opportuntity between the two, most take money. As for dinner, my wife and I have made a concious effort to make dinner a family event (even if it is leftovers). Everyone has to sit at the table (even if they choose not to eat) with no TV or radio. We do try to make it as fun and unstructured as possible. Over this summer, we gotten into a nice ritual. We have dinner and the we take dessert out to the front yard to eat while the kids played with their neighborhood friends. I'm going to miss that when it gets dark by dinner time. Now if I could only find something the kids liked eating beyond pasta, noodles and hot dog, I'd be set.

Actually, this made me think about the current offerings on both PBS and Food Network. It seems like I hardly ever see food shows concentrating on ethic cusine anymore. I'd love to see shows geared towards, Janpanese, Indian, Cuban and other food cultures. What happened? Are there no TV personalities that want to an indian cooking show (as an example)? Or, is it that the audiance is not large enough. Right now, Ledia's Italian show is the closest think I get to ethic.

It seems like the woman on the show does less and less. A saw one episode where she sits on a stool most of the time and just comments. Previous formats had the hostess trying to do some of the cooking.

Person after my own heart. My 3 year old loves Tom Ramen. I get the multi-pack Kraft mac & Cheese at costco. I would add Chef boy ardee's spagetti and meat ball. A childhood thing I can't shake.