rconnelly

when are you coming to my house? I love cherry pie!

RE: your spelling of Tucson -it's cs not sc - We are very touchy about the spelling. But you are not alone. Even the NYT got it wrong once upon a time.

Totally on Guero's dogs - like nothing you've ever had! Plus the atmosphere is amazing. I would recommend lunch not late night tho.

A day in tucson will give you an opportunity to see what Arizona people are truly like. Tucson is historic and modern, mulitcultural and exciting, plus the restaurants are tops....from high award-winning dining to the best darn Mexican in the States.

They have kringle in Iowa? The only place I know - where kingle is king - is in Racine, WI. my hometown (although I usually don't admit that). What is the kringle like? I know Demark sends bakers to Racine to learn how to make a proper kringle. Plus, you could always tell what part of town someone grew up in when you asked them their favorite kringle. Still can, I'm sure. I just don't visit anymore. We get our kringle fix at Christmas time when we order from O & H Bakery. We send kringles to our friends for Christmas. They look forward to it every year.

Soon, I hope. Tried to get intel from Ssam Bar servers but no dice. NYT said that Momofuku Noodle Bar was moving to its new space this/next week, so hopefully very soon after that Ko will open? Nathan, the spicy tripe salad I had last week was definitely spicy. Not overwhelmingly so but had a kick to it! I wonder what happened. ← Word is late November?

Stop, Stop! You guys are making me crazy. Here I am 3.000 miles away with memories of a most amazing meal at Momofuku this summer. Oh, were I rich enough to fly there more often. Until then taste memories will have to suffice.

Check out her restaurant web site. She doesn't look at all the same!

I'm tired of the word "fusion". It is misused all too often. Just because a restaurant puts two or three ingredients from different cuisines in a dish, does not make a dish fusion.

What? no reaction to last night's reunion show?

It's a chain. Avoid it and patronize you local restuarants.

Hung was better than his judges, and because of that fact he should despise them... And most lifer cooks who've worked in high-end restaurants end up hating their patrons - the way that it is... ← Well, I haven't seen any indication that Hung was better than his judges, but if, at this young age, he as as filled with loathing for the people eating his food as the "lifers" you refer to, perhaps he ought to consider retiring soon. --Josh ← If a chef doesn't care about the people he is cooking for, then he doesn't care about the food. It shows in the food - souless food. Most great chefs I've interviewed say it'a bout making people happy. Not giggly happy, but deeply satisfied happy.

I think it was a tough call. Hung probably did deserve the win last night but Dale was certainly deserving as well. What is really cool about the show though is that good chefs are exposed to the world and even though they may not win, their careers are enhanced. i love it!

You've keyed on something completely overlooked! Hung is Vietnamese. The french ruled vietnam for a very long time, their culture and cuisine would be imprinted on Vietnamese dishes, they would be an eastern variety of Haute' Cuisine. Hung's soul may very well dwell within his native dishes. ← I know I said you can't define soul but I think they want more than just Viet/French food; they want food that is more than just technically great! Otherwise you might as well be cranking out fomulaic food like at Applebee's or wherever.

I agree with your assessment. Hung from what I heard is an executive souse chef at Guy Savoy's. Guy Savoy being a very french chef, Gordon Ramsey started at Guy Savoy's restaurant when he went to Paris. I'm sure he is as skilled and as classicly trained as they come. I think however it's his attitude and carelessness towards others in the competition that will cost him in the end. Unless of course he is as good as he thinks he is. ← Would you want to work with/for someone like Hung? (Oh wait, I have) Ego centered, careless, and cooperation isn't a part of his vocabulary. Didn't he ever watch Sesame Street?

I was stunned when Colicchio said that in order to show something of himself in the dishes, he'd have to use Vietnamese flavors. WHAT?! I was stunned by the implicit racism in that statement. Does Colicchio have to cook Prince Spaghetti, just because he's from New Jersey? Is Padma Lakshmi only allowed to make Indian food? If what Colicchio is implying is true---that a person can only put themselves in a dish if it's from the cuisine of their own ethnic group---then Rick Bayless is in a heck of a lot of trouble. Somebody better tell Bayless to start melting some Velveeta over those Mexican dishes, or nothing he cooks will have any "soul"!! ← I never heard him say that!

Soul speaks for itself. It's not Soul Food, it's food with soul. Hung seems to be trying to impress the judges with his skills. He doesn't try to evoke emotion from them. As a organizer of a oyster wine competition calls it "the bliss factor".

But remember, if what he says is true - about losing his dream job and doubting his abilities - those comments might be a result of getting your ego deflated. He looked different last night right from the get go...he looked more upbeat, lighter, happier?

I was really happy to see Dale not only make it to the final three, but win an elimination challange. And his speech not only was very touching, but rang true. Hung gave an amazing performance about soul and what food meant to him - truly Oscar-worthy. Given he got all verklempt about the subject in the side interview/soundbite BEFORE the challenge, I think Hung has been picking up on the technically perfect-but-soulless vibe he's been getting recently. Oh, how about how he LOVED to be working with elk?!Brian was destined to go, barring a massive FU from Dale. Unless Hung really screws up next week or gets snotty with the judges, he won't be going home. While I originally thought Hung would win it, I'm actually beginning to suspect Casey might take him down after all. And, yes, for a few minutes there, I actually thought it might be HUNG going home this week. Let's hear it for Dale's fabulous saucing (!) ← Hung's harangue seemed more for the judge's sake. Not that he isn't passionate about his craft, but all of a sudden he's talking about the soul etc. Just so much blather. Too little too late

I can't remember how much time they had, but I would've done a roast chicken with roasted potatoes and onions alongside. Wine, butter, seasonings, lots of basting....simple yet if done correctly is one of the best meals in the world!

Neptune oyster on Salem knoks B & G out of the water!

do you mean Dale? Cj is gone with the wind.

my vote is for Clio. One time;one memorable meal;one hefty check, but worth it.

A great employer no matter the business will support an employee if they are looking for other work. Maybe by asklng why. you might learn something important about being a better boss. Besides, the rule of thumb for anyone is to "Never quit a job until you have another one". So be kind.

not sure which one you are trying to find, but if it's the waiter's corkscrew try Crate & Barrel. I bought one at the store but i beleive they are available on line. Good Luck!