Darin Smith

The title says conservative because it is a conservative political website, the article itself does not seem politically bent one way or the other. I did think it funny that Alton Brown was lumped in as a professional chef. While trained as a chef at NECI I don't think he'd classify himself that way......

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Publ...13/979byvyb.asp

recently bought some Diet Pepsi - MAX invigorating cola..... tasted similar to regular diet pepsi ingrediant list included Panax Ginseng extract.

I went into a place called Fiddler's Crab House. Standard overpriced fried/steamed fish and shellfish place. At quite a few booths there was an flat screen TV at eye level for the customers at that table. They could set the channel and volume at whatever they would like. What's next? Will we turn the booths into a couch and recliner? little coffee table in front?

Personally I began to realize we were in trouble when I watched other peoples food come out and their appatizers were with the rest of their food. I don't think whoever was cooking that day was any good. I think at least half the restaurant had a long wait for their food.

this is the wife i do tend to be very patient and was planning on putting more coins into the meter in order to eat... i kept asking him to wait but after we saw the third table seated after us had received their food after our orders had been placed, i agreed he should say something... we were very disappointed since we've been telling ourselves to eat there for two years they had AMPLE employees in front of the house... enough that 4 were gathered around the bar the entire time... the back was the problem i assume.... we are planning, or at least i am, on sending them a letter... (even at the cheesecake factory ((which has happened before)) the wait was only about 20-30 min til they realized the waitress abandoned us... ) i just wanted my shrimp

Today my wife and I around noon walked into a small restaurant on the beach in Savannah Georgia. When we entered the place was about 1/3 full but quickly filled up with the lunch crowd. We put our order in which was a couple of diet cokes, an appetizer called asparagus and crab (we were curious), a 1/4 pound of sauted shrimp for her and a grilled veggie sandwich for me. After we got our drinks we did not hear back from the waitress for 30 minutes, when she came by and apologized since we were waiting so long because "we're so busy". We said it was OK and continued to wait. Another 30 minutes passed and we had not heard from her again. we saw people who came in after us get served. I finally got up asked for the check for our drinks and that we were not going to wait anymore. She charged us for the cokes and as I was signing the ATM card receipt another waitress came up with our food, appetizer together with everything else. I told her "No thank you. We've waited an hour." I left no tip on my $3.21 check and we walk out. Does anyone think we made a mistake leaving?

I tried recently the Luau BBQ chips and they were good. So good I finished the bag in two sittings. So they are now on the "do not buy" list at my house.

In the past 6 months i've successfully lost 45 pounds and the only thing that I crave so badly I can't even allow them in the house are Barbeque Potato chips. The best I've had are Herr's which I can't get down here in Savannah

Godfather's Pizza.... Little Ceasar's Pizza is dying or may be dead by now.... Hardee's is not the fast food joint it once was.......

Simple dinner last night. Wife and I shared a whole chicken coated in olive oil, salt, pepper and hungarian paprika. Side was asparagus sauted in butter with carmelized onions.

Michael Ruhlman wrote about a CMC exam in Soul of a Chef but to my knowledge there has been no show and I doubt CIA would allow one.

I think a great show would be one where each episode is a day of the Certified Master Chef exam.

This is most likely a stupid question but... In the U.S. Barbeque potato chips are 99% of the time "southern barbeque"......sweet and sometimes hot. I've heard there are barbeque potato chips in Japan but I assume they have a different flavor....for example korean barbeque is popular. SO what do they taste like?

Chris: My wife and I watched the Chicago episode last night and we really enjoyed it. She had never seen the show before and really like your presence on screen. She said unlike most shows of this type it didn't feel like you were "presenting" the food to us. It was more like the feeling you'd get if a friend in a new city dragged you out to some of their favorite places. I can't imagine a better reaction for a first time viewer. Well Done!

I'll just tell you about the places I've actually visted not necessarily a list of the most expensive and elite places in town....the dollar signs give you some idea on cost. I'd stay away from Johnny Harris unless you're more interested in ambiance than taste. Opened in 1917...tastes like the same menu.$$ Lady and Sons can be tasty but stick to the specials and avoid the buffet. BE prepared to wait in a long line. $$ Il Posticcio is very nice italian food, had a lovely anniversary dinner there. $$$ If you want a good Hamberger hit B&D burger on Broughton St. really is one of the best you'll ever have and they have about 15 types. It the only non-fast food hamberger joint I've ever seen. $ Away from downtown Casey's Gourmet Grill is very interesting and with some of the best desserts I have ever tasted. Has an amazing tomato and crab bisque that I get every time I go. More aimed at locals than the tourists. $-$$ If you go all the way to the south end of Abercorn Street try Tangerine. It's a new asian "fusion" place owned by a Vietnamese family (who also own a few vietnamese restraunts in town) and is very very good. $$$ Jazz'd is a decent Tapas place but it's more of a night spot, though a good one. $$ Belford's is in the City Market and the food is excellent. I swear you can gain five pounds looking at the menu though. $$$ The River House is a good place on River Street. Amazing baked goods and wonderful Caesar salad open a very good meal for what normally would be a tourist trap. $-$$ Last but never least is the Crab Shack out on Tybee Island. If you want a fun night out with your friends and family you can get great ambiance and great food. I suggest getting the samplers. It's basically a low country boil (corn on the cob, crab legs, sausage, potatoes, crayfish and mussels) and can't help but make you happy. $$

i wanted to brine a turkey for this thanksgiving but my father has high blood pressure. can this be a problem?

The 2nd squid episode was fun, well done and looked tasty. My wife and I plan on trying the recipies. The Water Works episodes while culinarily pointless were more of a personal thing with alton and his father's efforts toward clean water.

Has anyone noticed that Flay is losing almost all of these "throwdowns". I think the best he's done is a tie. I'm not really surprised since he's going against people who have practically devoted themselves to a certain type of cooking. Perhaps he needs to do a Tamale throwdown.

Frozen Egg rolls are a weakness for me......heat them up in the oven and then dip in sweet chili sauce.....YUM

My favorite sandwich is take two medium toasted pieces of sandwich sliced english muffin bread, put mayo on one slice and honey mustard on the other. put a piece of white cheddar cheese on each slice then a couple of thin slices of Boar's Head cajun turkey. assemble sandwich then microwave the sandwich just long enough to melt the cheese (or if you want to do it right heat it up in the toaster oven). It's wonderful.

I bought a 9.5 quart dutch oven at a outlet store in SC. It was a "second" and it cost me $200. I got such a large oven because the price for the next smaller size was almost identical and I can just about always cook smaller amounts in a larger pot but you can't cook large amounts in a too small pot. Speaking with the outlet cashier she told me the outlets Always have a signifigant sale around the 4th of July and Christmas.

One place I'd recommend to try is Kasey's Gourmet Grille on Waters ave. Specifically try their weekend Brunch Menu 11am-2pm or their desserts. I've only had dinner there once and it was nice, but brunch has been enjoyable and affordable many a weekend. Their tomato and crab bisque is an extremely tasty appetizer.