Soup

can it be frozen?

I love grilled mackerel, they are great. It also happens to be light on wallet, added plus. All I do is salt very heavy and light on the black pepper. I then grill. I use a Janpanese hand-held grate which goes over the grill. It is made out of copper wire (about the size used for cloths hangers) which is meshed together. The mesh grates are then hinged together. Put the fish in the middle and you just turn the mesh grate rather than trying to turn the fish. This allow you to keep all the skin which I believe to be the best part. Once made, the fish is too salty to eat by itself but perfect with rice and kimchi. Give it a try. Soup

Not had them from Maine Ave. Will give it a try. When we don't cook these at home, my wife and I have gotten them at Cameron's Seafood in oxen hill (they have locations in number of maryland burbs) or we've also gotten them at the a little place at eastern market. Both serve great soft shell crab sandwiches but the place in eastern market doesn't carry them regularly. Soup

Why Cook? My family and I love to eat. Soup

Make a korean dish called bosam. The pork is boiled and slice 1/4 inch think. It is served with different type of condiments. My favorite is a mixture of raw oysters, red pepper, thin raddish strip (I'm guessing on the recipe for the mixture because I've not made it but my parents make this time to time). The sauce I make is much simpler. Korean pickled brine shimp and add some red pepper powder and garlic to taste. This eaten with slice peppers and par boiled napa cabbage. YUM. My folks have told me this is eaten alot when people go drinking. I don't drink but man is it still good. 5 spice roast belly look awesome. Recipe would be appreciated. Soup

I was over in Greece with the wife and we went to a cook out of sorts. They had among other things whole lamb on a spit roasting with ton's of rosemary. You could try the lamb in the "box" instead of a pig and do a Greek Mediterranean theme. The Greeks (out side the tourist trade) were some of the nicest folks we've met on any of our travels. Their taxi drivers should be shot on sight. Soup

I've done par boil and it works well but to get them really crispy I use the oven method. Don't cover anything you want crispy. You might want to reverse the cooking for the stove top as well. Cook over medium to cook the potatos and turn up the heat to finish. The suggestion of using flour is very interesting. I will give it a try probably tomorrow night with the chicken. Soup

Thanks DTBarton, I will check them out. BTW, I'm not an expert on soft shell. What do you look for other than size? Do soft shells freeze well and what's a good price? Soup

I don't disagree. However, at least in many western culture and in the USA, the food has become less of means of survival and a basic neccessity and more of a diversion/entertainment. I believe Andrew hit it right on with his statement. We seemed to have made a shift. Yes we still have special meal but look at the way we make choices about buying and eating food. Look at the explosion of food culture and impact of mass marketing. I think may good things have come out of the shift. However, I believe one of the sad by-product has been a loss of preciousness of food. I myself throw away almost a fifth of my food (its a guess). Soup

Nate, Thanks for the info. I will definitely try stamey's if nothing else base on recommendations from various folks. Any southern or soul food type places you can recommend. Soup

If I remember correctly, I think we are heading into soft shell crab season. Any suggestions on where I should be shopping for them. I buy most of my seafood at Super H or Han Ah Rum (in VA) but they don't seem to have them. Soup

I love pho. I have two favorite places, Pho 75 near Lohmann's plaza and the pho place right next to viet royal in the eden center. I think all the pho places I've been to give you way too much meat. When I go for tripe or tendon it doesn't seem as imbalanced. I wish they do less meat and more noodles. BTW, why do a lot of vietnamese resturant names have numbers in them?

Love all chigaes, but my favorite has to be soon dubu chigae (seafood version). The hotter the better. Soup

The pictures of both look good (long vs. ovel). The recipe use in my family is slightly different. When we make it, we use no meat. For the sauce we use kimchi and kimchi juice with a bit of kochu jang (sugar, sesame oil, etc). I like the kimchi base better. I also go heavy on the sugar (not really sweet like candy) but a bit more sweet than the recipe above have called for. Soup

Gave up drinking 9 years ago. I love beer and don't really love sodas. I've been drinking non-alcholic beers as a substitute. What are your favarite NA beers? BTW, I still get carded buying NA beers in VA. Soup

Concept of food being entertainment

Ditto Soup

I will be in Greensboro NC for a week starting May 22. I would appreciate any suggestions for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will be near the convention center. I love BBQ (vineger or tomato based), soul food, and southern food. Also asian, indian, carribean type places would be appreciated. Soup

I know I'm going slightly off topic since you are not likely to see a lots of women walking around.... My wife and I use to go to mount vernon a lot (we had yearly pass) and sit on the grassy hill over looking the river. I still think it has the best view. Bring some food and a perfect place for watching some wonderous sights.... Soup

I'm actually back of Capital Q from my office. IMHO I don't think that Cap Q is that great. Have eaten there 3 times (brisket each time) and haven't found it to be that great. I'm still doubtful that you can find great BBQ in DC (but I also have tried a few places yet) but for a date why not try the Rockland's in Arlington near Ballston. Carpool is attached to it and you can eat and play pool darts etc. at the Carpool. Soup

I've gone for the S&B. It is "refrigerator magnet". I throw what ever I have sitting in the Fridge. I get the hot variety. I've tried other varieties but I think the S&B is the best. I also think the curry tastes better the next day after the flavors have mingled a bit. Soup

Generally speaking I'd have to agree. Especially in the sweets arena, the western desserts are far better in my mind. Difference has to be butter. On the salty side who could beat potato chips...

When I haven't mom's cooking for a long time, I always crave the same thing. Mandoo Guk (korean dumpling soup). On holidays, instead of turkey and trimmings, this is what we have. YUM. Soup

I use to think the turned over fork was the sign you were done. However, the last time I ate at the CIA (a while ago) I turned the fork over to show that I was done. The waiter comes over and snickered "humm...upside down fork" as if I was offending him or the resturant in someway and then had the plate cleared. Ever since, I've wonder if the turned over fork means what I though it meant. BTW this was in the escoffier resturant. The meal was really really good. To this date, one of the real memorable food experiences. Soup

Baar, Sorry about the bad food experience. I'm an OK cook. My friends and family seems to like it, but I also love to eat out. There are stuff I don't cook at home (too much trouble but that is another discussion) and I like not having to clean. However, my best dining experience have been in more ordinary restuarants. I use to be in a job that use to require me to go to a lot of dinners at pretty expensive places and to be honest never really enjoyed them (a couple of exceptions). May be it was the fact that we talk business...But even if my wife and I go out, we really like diners, BBQ places or really good ethic places with very little formalities. Most of my best meals have been in the hole in the wall places that my family and I frequent but there have been exception. Off the top of my head was a 4 hour meal at commanders palace in NO, office xmas lunch @ maggiano's (I know its a chain) that turned into a 5 hour eating and drinking fest, and dinner with the wife at aureol (sp?) she had duck liver for the first time (still talks about it). But there have been far better meal experiences in small mom and pop places and certainly more at my or my parents' place. Soup