C. sapidus

Scrambled eggs with leftover pork loin, flavored with three kinds of chiles (jalapeno, long red, and roasted Poblano), shallots, garlic, cumin seed, scallions, Thai basil, and feta in brine (which melted into the eggs).

Brown-fried diced onion with long red chiles, cayenne, cumin, and black pepper. Separately seared diced zucchini with S&P. Mixed everything together with a Poblano chile (roasted, peeled and diced). Finished with Thai basil, cilantro, and feta in brine. Not nearly as festive as @Duvel's lunch, but it hit the spot.

Fried rice with diced zucchini, leftover Chiang Mai pork larb, Thai basil, and a scrambled egg.

Preethi is an Indian mixer-grinder with blades rather than granite wheels. They are much burlier than a typical blender, however. I used to kill blenders within a year or so, mostly making Mexican dried chile sauces. In contrast, my first Preethi lasted about 20 years, and I often use it several times a week. Since the company is based in India, the default models are designed for 220V. They do make 110V versions for the US market, however. The version I have is 550W. I hope that helps.

Chiang Mai style pork larb, described on Larb laab larp (clicky)

Chiang mai style pork larp, from David Thompson's 'Thai Food'. An unusual larp, accurately described as "like a very thick curry redolent with spices." Paste was dried long red chiles, shallots, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, long red chiles, mace, black and white peppercorns, and roasted and ground cumin seed and Sichuan peppercorns, all blended in the Preethi. Fry garlic, brown the pork with a little fish sauce, and remove. Fry the sauce in the rendered pork fat, season with palm sugar and fish sauce, and simmer with the pork and a little chicken stock. Served with sliced shallots, scallions, cilantro, and mint leaves. Jasmine rice and sliced cucumbers to go with.

Mae Ploy? They make lots of sauces and curry pastes - which one do you like?

Fried rice with leftover black bean-garlic catfish, long beans, pork, fish sauce, and an egg.

Two of my favorite dishes: Garlic and black bean pan-fried catfish: Sear catfish fillets and remove. Stir-fry minced ginger, cilantro stems, and a head of garlic in the wok. Mix in black soy sauce, fish sauce, fermented black beans (minced), and a little sugar. Remove half of the mixture, add fish fillets, coat with the remaining mixture, and cook the fish about a minute on each side. Finish with cilantro. Long beans with roasted chile sauce: Stir-fry ground pork with white pepper and fish sauce, and remove. Stir-fry garlic, mix in long beans, add roasted chile paste and water, and cover until beans are tender. Uncover, add fish sauce and Thai basil, and cook until liquid is reduced. Jasmine rice to go with, but y'all know what rice looks like.

Pan-seared bay scallops and shrimp with choo chee curry sauce: Simple curry paste of dried red chiles (soaked), long red chiles, lots of garlic, shallots, shrimp paste, lemongrass, and lemon zest (sub for lime leaves). Fry the paste with coconut cream, season with palm sugar and fish sauce, and then add seared shrimp and scallops at the end. Broccolini stir-fried with garlic, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and white pepper. Simple and good. Cilantro, sliced baby cucumbers, and microwave cilantro rice to go with.

Mrs. C made a lovely fish chowder for dinner the other day, with Alaskan rockfish, clams, clam juice, potatoes, corn, etc. Quite delicious, but not enough for lunch so I supplemented with sauteed kielbasa, onion, jalapeno, fish sauce, and a scrambled egg.

Apologies, I didn't realize you wanted an actual location. Here you go:

Gas station parking lot, of course. Gas station is located next to a Latino market, which seems like good marketing.

Three that I use regularly: Mexican Everyday: Rick Bayless (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) (mentioned above - my copy is falling apart) Quick and Easy Indian Cooking: Madhur Jaffrey (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) Vegetables Every Day: Jack Bishop (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) I tried to make eG-friendly Amazon links, I hope I succeeded.

Taco truck tacos! Chorizo, al pastor, and carne asada for me. Mrs. C skipped the carne asada. Both with guacamole. Generously filled and topped. Apparently there is a tortas special on Wednesdays, but we were craving tacos.

For me, the main benefit of Falk copper pots excellent heat dispersion and no hot spots. For example, I have never needed a double boiler to melt chocolate. As others have said, we have other lids that fit just fine. This is what ours looks like after 20+ years as an everyday pot and little to no attention to the copper (although it looks like it could use a round of Barkeeper's Friend on the inside ).

Scrambled eggs with green beans and roasted Poblano chiles, flavored with diced kielbasa, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and cilantro. Egg yolks were a particularly vivid orange.

Lamb vindaloo: Brown-fry onions, add pulverized garlic, and then mix in a paste of grainy mustard, vinegar, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Brown stewing lamb, add coconut milk and water, then braise for an hour or so. Stir-fried cabbage with fennel seeds: We make this frequently, it is a favorite. Microwave cilantro rice to go with. Vindaloo was also really good mixed with the gorgonzola dip we made for wings last night (not pictured). I can't imagine that vindaloo with creamy gorgonzola sauce has been served too many times in human history.

My copy is also falling apart, despite somewhat less heavy use. Might just be a poor binding. My notes by that recipe state, "Excellent! Family loves!"

I am taking notes . . .

East-West Buffalo wings: Marinade and sauce was garlic, ginger, and scallion whites sauteed in lots of butter, then simmered with Sriracha, black pepper, and lime juice. Marinade was boiled to kill the nasties and tossed with half of the wings (Mrs. C prefers dry, I prefer sauced). Gorgonzola sauce for the wings (barely visible in back): Gorgonzola forced through a fine mesh and mixed with minced onion, black pepper, sour cream, and mayo. Peas makhani: Sizzle cumin and black mustard seeds, add the peas, and then simmer with coconut milk, tomato paste, lemon juice, minced jalapeno, and cilantro. High flavor to effort ratio.

Thank you for the Asheville report, @Katie Meadow. We had planned a trip there in fall 2024 to see the Chihuly fused glass exhibit at the Biltmore, but obviously that didn't happen (and sadly, the exhibit has ended). I am interested to hear more. We still want to get down there, preferably after the disc ("Frisbee") golf courses have recovered . . .

Heh. No ginger in the recipe [Spicy Prik King Shrimp (Gkoong Pad Prik King)], from 'Dancing Shrimp' by Kasma Loha-Unchit. Recipe notes state that prik king means "chilli ginger", but also states that dried red chillies and galangal are the key ingredients. Yes, confusing. I have written in a note to add ginger, which I have done in the past. Edit: A quick check of David Thompson's 'Thai Food' shows a recipe for stir-fried wild pork with beans and green peppercorns (pat prik kink muu bpaa) that also uses galangal but no ginger (although it does have shredded grachai, but not in the paste). Hmm.

Prik king shrimp with green beans, jasmine rice, and sliced cucumbers. I used a prepared red curry paste, blended with fresh lemongrass, galangal, garlic, and long red chile. Seared and removed the shrimp and green beans. Fried the curry paste, and seasoned with palm sugar and fish sauce. Other ingredients included crushed peanuts, lime zest (sub for lime leaves), slivered long red chiles, cilantro, and Asian basil.

I love all of the above, but I would have to include feta (more for cooking than eating) and some sort of blue cheese.