ronnie_suburban

Thanks for the update Tony...I can now abdicate my title of rumor-monger (and maybe even watch Good Eats again)... =R=

Absolutely. There was a quote from a marketing person in an article linked a ways back in this thread...something like 'it's all about brand Rocco.' That pretty much sums it up...at least as I'd speculate on Rocco's perspective. =R=

Just basing this (admitted assumption) on the fact that people/tourists, even while on vacation in a great city like NYC, will go to TGIFridays and Bennigan's. Also, there are reports that Rocco's is still full on a constant basis. Just thinking too about the tv medium in general, and how many look at the very appearance or mention of a place on tv as an 'endorsement'. Of course, many are more discerning but IMO there are enough folks out there who are not, to keep the place full in perpetuity. I really hope that I'm wrong about this. =R=

ron, what kind of utopian world do you live in? the fact that you don't make any demands will not stop others... Well...a boy can dream, can't he? Seriously though, I really don't have problems with guests...guests are voluntary and are easily dispatched (in the future) if they are problematic. I have problems with family dining at my house. They will keep coming back even if they experience eternal disappointment in what you cook for them. It's this kind of 'repeat business' that feels thankless and beyond Sisyphean. And in my family, if I don't host, the others will invariably try to 'host' at a restauant. I'm sorry, I love restaurants, but not for family gatherings and/or important holidays. What's that line...? the only thing my mother knows how to make for dinner is reservations. That pretty much sums it up. =R=

Great points....IMO, there will now be a group of hard-core food people who will forever exile/shun Rocco but there will be many more folks (who are not close to the world of food) who will now fill his restaurants and watch every minute of every one of his tv appearances. On balance, I'd bet that Rocco comes away from this wealthier and more widely-known than he ever would have been if he'd skipped it and just continued to toil away in 3-Star kitchens. That said, he did come off as a pompous and insensitive ass at times. Frankly, I get the feeling that he considered that eventuality before getting into this and decided that it didn't matter to him. He was ready to get out of the kitchen and this would be his vehicle. I never expect 'true' reality--especially from a major network tv show. Does such a thing even exist? One way or another, there is always editorial bias to consider, even if it doesn't come up and beat you over the head. In this case, the bias is decidedly commercial, but even in a gritty documentary, the filmmaker is starting with a premise that he or she wants to 'sell' to the viewer. =R=

Yum! I absolutely love their butter cookies...Julie used to work like 1 block from there. Oh, the hazards of the workplace =R=

Bingo! But seriously, when I am on the 'guest end' of this equation, I'd never give any instructions to my hosts. That's why I have the same expectation when I am the host. I do accomodate and I'm often happy to do it (*whispers* we have vegetarians in my family) but I'd never make any special requests of a person who is inviting me over and doing a lot of work already to make it happen. =R=

Yowza! =R=

This episode really disgusted me and it's pretty much all been said...the feeble attempts to apply a coherent storyline at the very end of the series (the ONLY reason for the Hamptons trip IMO), the meaningless marriage proposal by Mr. Fame Whore, the idiotic and self-indulgent machinations of the tragically good-looking. Hmmm, I wondered where all those hot morons from high school ended up...apparently, they're all working for Rocco now. This show should have been called Wannabe Junction. But Pete was possibly the worst of all of them. The guy is simply not funny. Everytime he spoke he tried to be funny and he never, ever was. Someone upthread referred to him as Shecky and I'd agree except that Shecky Green was actually funny every once in a while. I'd suggest that Pete not quit his day job, but that's not exactly his strong suit either... After watching this series, I need more than a shower, I need a full on haz-mat team. =R=

Had my first date ever with my (now) wife there Love the Guiness on tap there...best place around for that. Also, forgot about Va Pensiero...a really nice place too. =R=

Love New Japan...had a very bad experience a few years ago at Kuni's and have not been back since. Also on Main Street (near Kuni's) are Oceanique for fine-dining with a seafood bent (duh ) and Lucky Platter (across the street from Kuni's), 2 places that have a lot to offer. Another 'cheap eat' near there is Cross-Rhodes on Chicago Avenue just north of Main St. And...back on the Central Avenue roster, no one mentioned 'upscale grocery' Foodstuffs. It's a bit hoity toity, but they have some decent sandwiches and their dips and breads are top-notch. And...a few doors west of there is Great Harvest Bread Co., not my fave types of breads, but highly regarded by many. =R=

Thanks Mags...I love to hear about what others' Atkins routines are like. You've clearly investigated the 'low carb products' side of things more than I have. And while I did use the term prison, one must vent from time to time. and I do get frustrated with what I still feel are somewhat limited choices. Perhaps my tone (a little flippant) belied my serious love and respect for Dr. Atkins and the work he did. There is no question that I feel great when I'm Atkins--way better than when I'm not. It's wonderful to hear about your successes too. Okay, okay...I will refrain from turning this thread into an herbalife informercial. =R=

*nods emphatically* =R=

I'm putting this on a sign in my kitchen! =R=

=R=

You're preachin' to the choir FoodMan ...although with me, it's my family, not my in-laws. My in-laws are generally wonderful. I feel your pain. =R=

How y'all are? =R=

Me too...that's really horrible. This is the first I've heard of it. =R=

Sadly, he passed away about 2 years ago (Sep. '01) at the age of 87. =R=

Here's a slurp for ya... =R=

AB on AB at the JBA

Faves: Bourdain Bourdain Bourdain Nigella Lawson David Rosengarten Keith Floyd Jacques Pepin (since reading The Apprentice) No so faves: Emeril Alton (you cannot snub Bourdain at the JBA and stay on my good side) Rocco Flay =R=

I've been on Atkins for the better part of this year (with some much-needed breaks built in)... I've lost 30-35 pounds, lowered my bp considerably (went from 140/100 to 120/80) and chopped 70 points off my cholesterol. That's the good part....now, here's the bad part.... For a foodie, Atkins is essentially prison. Yes, yes and yes I feel a lot better when I'm on Atkins, but the variety of choices is so narrow (especially over time) that it gets to be a major drag. When you're thinking to yourself 'steak again?' you know you're in trouble. Atkins does work and the science behind it is sound (witness the miracles of Benign Dietary Ketosis--burning fat for fuel), but applying it on an everyday, practical basis is tough. If you're at all interested, I highly recommend reading the book and by the same token, I wouldn't venture down 'Atkins Avenue' without having done so. That said, even if the diet doesn't work for you, there are still a few (somewhat untold) truths about nutrition and food revealed within. You will never look at food the same way again after reading or trying Atkins. After a while on Atkins, you will come to understand that, nutritionally speaking, a bagel and a donut are essentially the same. You will be more aware than ever of the extreme dangers of nutritionally devoid carbohydrates. =R=

Very interesting article...especially given the fact that it appeared on a web site that's essentially NBC. =R=

Thank you Tony...I needed that. =R=