[Portland Farmers Market]

As for the PNW board, I've thought about posting something about pho in Portland, but nothing I can say is really up to the demanding standards here...

Good heavens--every day I feel grateful that I'm on the PNW board and not one of those regional boards with demanding standards. Whenever I post on the NY board I feel like I'm walking on a swaying wooden bridge over a yawning canyon. And quicksand.

I have met many PNW regulars and without exception they are charming, kind, and down to earth. Their only standards are regarding good-tasting food. In other areas, such as pants, they have no standards at all. I look forward to meeting everyone I haven't met yet. thelastsupper, when are we getting together for dinner on Capitol Hill? girlchow, hope you make it to Seattle soon so more people can enjoy the pleasure of your company. Regarding Portland, Matthew and I are both from Portland and love hearing about it. Human Bean, I think Jim Dixon's comment was in no way a slight, but rather an attempt to draw out more fine Portland-area members like you.

We are working our way through a bottle of JDOO, the Bettini, and I highly recommend the Don Alfonso. Thanks, Jim! What other special foods will be found at the Portland Farmers Market?

Hopefully on a future visit to Portland we can meet up with egulleters there. The new wine bar Jim recommended sounded great (if we can drag ourselves away from Pambiche. I have complete faith in Jim's restaurant recommendations thanks to Pambiche). It's a little tricky because my parents, siblings, and nieces live in Portland, so our visits are family time. But I'm sure it will work out at some point.

Yeah, those NYC suckas need to relax.

Hey, the reason we have the pants problem in the first place is because of my high standards about pants. I only wear the best or not at all!

Also I would say the exception to the PNW rule of charming, kind and down to earth woudl be that bastard Klink. He is a hardass!

Actually, I am all out of EVOO right now. JD what do ya have coming in the near future?

Ben

[Sweet Potatoes]

Oh man! I love sweet potatoes and yams! I would greatly appreciate these recipies in email format if you can manage it!!!!!

Thanks a bunch!

Ben

[Choosing A Pastry School]

Keep these great replies coming please! This is very compelling!

Ben

[Diwan]

All of that looks so amazing! I wish there was not 3000 miles seperating us last night! It must have been a great time!

Ben

[The Herbfarm]

Yeah, that is a horrendus policy for them to maintain. It is insulting to the customer and pretentious on their part. I seriously hope they reconsider. Although at this point I am guessing pride will stand in their way of doing what is right.

Ben

[Choosing A Pastry School]

Hello? Nightscotsman? We need another Melody cake! G.W. is getting testy, hurry!

Seriously though, I hope you find the program that is right for you!

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

Please expound on Hakka. I am merely a country bumpkin.

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

However, I went to a new Packer bar over in Ballard, right next door to a male strip club!

Heh heh heh...Katie would like to add that she has *never* set foot in that place....ever...umm... yeah.

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

Allright! See ya all there. I am about to head out.

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

Wait a sec...Klink, sic your tivo on that shit and eat dim sum.

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

Nightscotsman, it looks as if you modeling career has taken off! You can be a Model/Pastry Chef.

Ben

oh, umm so who all will be attenting on sunday?

This is what I have now:

Myself

Katie

Nightscotsman

Sfroth

MsRamsey

HeyJude

Tighe

Scrat68

LaurieA-B

Mamster

Maybe HumanBean

Sig Others? Others?

Edited to stay current

[Best Dim Sum?]

Do you like my outfit? It was tough to find the fur underpants.

Ben

man that would make a sweet haloween costume. I have a year to get in shape!

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

I'm afraid that no matter how flexible you are Schielke that you won't be able to change the time the Packers play the Vikings and consequently the time my brother and I watch the game.

I guess I'm not a party peeps.  

You would be suprised how powerful I am!!!!

By the power of greyskull!!!!!!

Go check your local listings now Klink!

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

Ok party peeps,

How does 11:00 at Jumbo sound? If anybody has trouble with this time, I know I can be flexible.

Ben

[Your Most Frustrating Foodie Moment]

Ok, that's it. I have to put an end to this.

Nightscotsman, you must immediately alert me to any job openings at your workplace. I cant stand the thought of your desserts being wasted. For the greater good of pastry!

I dont know how to use a mac very well, but I learn quickly!

Ben

[Best Dim Sum?]

I am tempted to say that we should do it this sunday! Jumbo here we come! Who could make it? I am pretty sure I can.

Ben

[Your Most Frustrating Foodie Moment]

I would be curious to see what would happen if you brought in some Top Pot doughnuts from down your street (you lucky bastard).

Several people have brought in the Top Pot goodies, and they get eaten quickly, but not quite as fast as the crappy Safeway donuts. By the way, does anyone here consider maple bars to be a treat?

It seems to be a comfort level thing then. Some people are more adventerous than others...despite the alluring nature of your treats.

Another possibility is that your office is a big practical joke place and they fear laxitives in the Melody cake. You prankster!

Ben

p.s. maple bars are ok...I have yet to eat a really good one.

[Your Most Frustrating Foodie Moment]

Some very good observations here.

That's the problem right there. You obviously work with a bunch of people who don't like to eat.

I think that's hitting it right on the head (ow).

There's probably a similar syndrome at work with the desserts: if I have to choose the portion myself, people will see how much I take and think I'm greedy, so I'd better take just a sliver.

Very true. And nobody will ever touch the last piece. They'll take half of it, then half of the half. Sorta like puting the milk jug back in the fridge with a few tablespoons of milk in it.

I think there's also this unspoken feeling that homemade stuff is richer and more fattening than store-bought. I'm sure that if I brought in fresh, homemade donuts they would sit for days.

I would be curious to see what would happen if you brought in some Top Pot doughnuts from down your street (you lucky bastard). I have noticed that some people are adverse to eating food that is prepared at home. This, however, is hard for me to believe since I have seen and tasted your creations.

Damn.

Ben

[Mead]

A few years ago a friend and I decided we wanted to brew something and decided on Mead since at the time we were poor (college) and could not afford fancy equipment. We found a recipe on the internet and started right away.

Frankly, we probably did everything wrong. The mead was overspiced, we used mediocre honey, and bread yeast. It still fermented and we had a hell of a time. The mead tasted fairly bad, mostly due to the overspicing. It was very cloudy at the end and we tried to filter it but had trouble doing so correctly.

Even though we had a poor experience, I would love to try it again with better directions, equipment, and ingredients.

I recently tasted some commercial mead at an Ethiopian restaurant and liked it. It was crisper than I thought and very fruity.

Enjoy your project!

Ben

[Pudding Pop Experiment]

Thanks Rachel! Those links should help!

Ben

[Pudding Pop Experiment]

Earlier today, I tried one of the Instant Pudding Pops. The layering effect was much more pronounced and seperate in these pops as you can see from the picture. I may try to do more with this effect in the future.

The pops had very few air holes and were very solid. I do think that the size/shape issue is a detrement and I will need to rectify this before moving on with the experiment. I think I will also try wooden sticks as handles too. The spoons work fairly well, but the plastic bends too much at times.

The taste of these pops was much better than the Premade ones, they seemed more authentic. The texture was better as well, but the ice crystals are still too big and I will have to either drop some chedda' on an ice cream machine or stir by hand during the freezing process.

I will be out of town for most of this next week, but upon my return I shall continue with renewed vigor! Next on the list is Stovetop pudding and homeade pudding! Awww yeah!

Also, smoked pudding should be in my future if Klink is down for it; Klink?

Have a good week people!

Ben

[Pudding Pop Experiment]

Dirty!  The above picture post was not intended to be dirty, but a way of incorporating the kitties into the thread in a kosher manner.

So... you consulted a Rabbi? I don't see any yarmulkes on those kitties.

I think that this should take care of things.

Ben

p.s. more pudding results to follow later on.

[Pudding Pop Experiment]

Dirty! The above picture post was not intended to be dirty, but a way of incorporating the kitties into the thread in a kosher manner.

Ben

[Pudding Pop Experiment]

Thread drift! Thread drift!!! You're usurping your own thread with kitty pictures!

Tsk, tsk. :ashamed:

Suck on this Klink! And then suck on it some more!

Vinnie gets some pudding action (no actual pudding was ingested in the making of this photo)

Sophie wants a lick too! (no actual pudding was ingested in the making of this photo)

The cats are now interested in the project!!! A momentous occasion!

Ben

[Pudding Pop Experiment]

Don't know about pudding pops, but I love Sophie.

Well, in my own self satisfiying interests of keeping you on this thread , here is another sophie pic.

Ben