GordonCooks

Amuse Plump oysters with caviar - firm yet tender, extremely fresh. A perfect way to tune our tastebuds and prepare us for what was to come

Here's a sneak preview of my upcoming review

Drive to the St. Lawrence once a month - I almost do and it's 2 hours +

Even at a young age I was eating formal Korean meals at home and at restaurants. My parents have become much more relaxed about table manners these days mostly because of uncooperative DILs. You are absolutely correct to say that even on formal occassions Koreans eat rice with chopsticks. I really think the whole confusion over manners started because Koreans have a tendency to eat rice with a spoon more than the Japanese or Chinese for instance. But there is nothing rude about eating rice with chopsticks in the context of a formal dinner. I had so many fine Korean manners pounded into me as a child that I have largely blocked them out of my mind. ← Ditto - We always knew who was visiting by which chopsticks were set on the table.

the limburger stands alone

I think umami is just as much sensation as it is flavor

Umami is a tsp of msg in a glass of water

1er Cru is usually referred to as "Premier" cru

Abbott's Vanilla custard is a hard one to beat. I've had custard in buffalo (Deedee's) and Ted's in St Louis - it's richer and creamier than both or any others I've tried. There is some inconsistency in the chain though - the one by the lake will always be the standard along with 1 or 2 others. The one near my house tastes slightly "thinner"

Ditto on the Sunbeam - mine came from my grandmother to my father to me

Well, another trip under my belt yielded a typical food experience. After a timely arrival and traffic jam on the 65 - I arrived at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin after 10:30. This narrowed 0my dinner choices to basically a very tough strip steak at TGI Fridays. Saturday, I was to attend a late afternoon wedding so I decided to check out Nashville to see what has changed. I visited Provence Bakery in the Hillsboro section. A very nice selection of breads (and surprisingly, Cheeses!) A loaf of buttermilk currant convinced me that this would be a good bet for lunch. A grabbed an ice coffee at Bonjo Java and tried to decide what was so special about this. I mean, kitschy coffee shops manned by kids with spiky hair and tattoos are a dime a dozen - must be a new phenomenon. Went back to the hotel to wake the better half and we headed over to the farmer’s market. A good selection of veggies but not much variety – lots of luscious tomatoes, okra, greens, strawberries, potatoes, and a few other things but not many herbs, lettuces, etc. The food court part of the market was barely open at 9:00 a.m. when the market opened – an excellent burrito place was noted along with a very complete Asian food store. Asian in terms of not only Oriental items but middle eastern, and Indian spices and foodstuffs as well. We headed back to Provence for a couple of sandwiches and salads. The most surprising thing is that for a bakery café with a kitchen facility – all sandwiches are pre-made and wrapped in cellophane. So, when you expect a nice, chewy sourdough – you basically get a soggy sammy due to the tomatoes and overdressing. We attended a wedding that evening that was catered by Uncle Bud’s (or Moe’s, I can’t remember) typical southern fare and quite good – Fried Chicken, Roasted chicken, pulled pork, catfish, hush puppies, white beans and green beans. A few us made it back to the Demonbreun Street around 11:00 that evening for some cocktails. A bustling bar district with big town aspirations. Your requisite sports bar/dance bar/lounge/patio bar area. Some drinks and a walk over to White Castle at 2:00 a.m. punctuated another visit to Nashville. PS - there must have been another Egulleter in the hotel - when I checked it on Saturday morning, someone had been posting from the business center computer I was using.

Koreans. Quite light (carry-on appropriate), big grins, wildly popular here. ← Soju!

Thanks, I always appreciate first hand reviews

Well my friend, my on-time flight record is horrible. If I manage to pop in on Fri/Sat at a reasonable hour (9:00 or before) I'll announce my arrival with a round of beers for the kitchen. Thanks for the offer though

I was in the mood for fine dining so quality would be highest on the list. Maybe bistro style or new american. I've done the BBQ, southern fried, old school (The Wild Boar) on other visits. A decent wine list would be nice but not a definite - the only caveat is absolutely no chain restaurants thanks

I'm attending a wedding this weekend in Nashville and due to a re-scheduled flight, my hopes of a Capital Grille visit with Sean Brock have been way-layed. Any other suggestions for a late night meal (after 9:30-10:30) this friday? thanks

Toronto is only about an hour's drive from the falls

Cave Spring Cellars !

Is it one of these? Asuka Japanese Restaurant 108 Yorkville Ave. Toronto Mochizuki Japanese 655 Bay Street, Unit 5 Toronto Yamato Japanese Restaurant 24 Bellair St. Toronto Zero Sun Japanese Restaurant 69 Yorkville Ave. Toronto What are the prices like? You mentioned a hibachi grill - does the steakhouse have yakiniku? I'm looking for a place with authentic yakiniku...I remember seeing an ad for something like that in this Japanese newsletter. Thanks! ← The prices seemed reasonable - 30.00 in food and 40.00 in Sake - about my normal rate. I've only had lunch there twice, never dinner. Yamato sounds familiar but I'm not positive edit sp

If my better half and I are in Yorkville shopping - there is this below street level japanese steak house that serves us really tasty Sushi and Chawanmushi - the name escapes me though - down some stairs with the bar on the left - sushi bar to the right along with about 8-12 tables and the hibachi grill is straight ahead and around the corner behind the bar-wall. The only Japanese place i see a listing for is Sushi Inn but I'm pretty sure that's not it

You have to live in Rochester to get a garbage plate

I recently paired an old Masi with roasted figs, gorgonzola, wrapped in pancetta. Quite good

All the Robert Biale's are good and I'll always be partial to Ridge.

................Wow!

A wino buddy's 50th birthday was the occasion for gathering at our favorite steak house and enjoying a couple of red wines 1998 Justin Isosceles Thick and inky with lots of blackberry, currant, green herbs, and pepper. A very controversial wine – I hear a lot of people saying it’s much too “green” but I’ve never had a bad bottle (and I like the Cab Franc hints) 2000 Torbeck Shiraz Woodcutter’s Barossa Valley Light for a Barossa Valley Shiraz – balanced with lots or raspberry, spicy herbs and saddle through and through. 1997 Penfold’s Grange – Opaque right to the rim - Very approachable with lots of stewed pitted fruit and blueberries. Secondary notes of cocoa, humidor, display prominently with a lingering finish but considered medium when compared to other Granges – more like Grange light 1995 Penfold’s Grange Just as opaque, showing more crimson than violet seemingly (probably just the room) Very rich nose with blackberry and coffee grounds. It displayed more distinct layers, jamminess, and better structure than the 97 with hints of mint and pencil in the middle. A different mouth feel – viscous with large but manageable tannins and a longer finish. Young and massive compared to the 97 1986 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Creamy and buttery with oak and petrol and not much fruit – This one may be over the hill or a bad bottle – recent bottles of 88 have been much better edit sp