Aurora

Are we shooting for one evening or a weekend (Sat/Sun, Fri/Sat/Sun, Fri/Sat)? Matthew - how much can you handle? Once we determine that, we can get down to it. We already know who's on the music committee. Right?

Right on! Put rails on that bad boy (because I would be the one to fall off), and we can fly.

If you pay attention to what The Man says. Fire on beach! If I don't see posted signs, I could reason that THE MAN would green light a nice gathering around a beach fire among friends. If said MAN appears to lay down the word, Maggie will speak. You and I will sit quietly with our heads down and not reveal our drunken states. This will allow THE MAN to remain in good spirits, thereby eliminating the need to pose possible threats of sanction and/or confinement. Does The Man have something to say about libations during hay rides?

You may sign me up. I will be there. Write my name on my two Negro Modelos. When are you going shopping, and may I come along? Also, what should I bring?

The segment about "spending more than they were bringing in..." with over-the-shoulder shot of the woman in the office going to the Amex OPEN website with Rocco's voice over about opening a line of credit was the most vomitous product placement they have done yet. That made me groan out loud. My dislike of the over-the-top product mentions has stabalized until that point. My ears arent too good these days, but the bit about the new line of credit sounded like replaced dialogue (inserted after the fact). The sound editor didn't mask the tell-tale pops or modify the presence. I don't remember who said the product placment was whorish, but that website bit, and the shot of the hands turning the Open/Closed sign sank it a few more notches for me. Bux - you are right. Perhaps it they got Rocco to go on CBS and make salad while talking to Jane Claysen, that would be a real coup. And still, I keep watching!

I'm with Lady T on a time in October. Perhaps we can venture to a cider mill/orchard? Amway -- no. Hay ride, yes! Matthew - are bonfires permitted on the beaches without bureaucratic wrangling? Where would we stay? Dibbs on Matthew's guest room!

Ronnie - Naha was a great choice. It's a really wonderful, unsung place which seems to be overshadowed by the likes of neighbors like Frontera Grill, Spago, and Keefers, but it really is one of the best offerings in the city. You celebrated well, and didn't miss a beat in the telling, so I thank you. Happy Birthday!

Woo hoo to Matt the publicist for sticking to his guns and making Rocco stick with the program, get his a** over to the radio station and do the interview that Matt probably moved heaven and earth to arrange. Matt didn't cave, and he didn't kiss behind. My kinda PR guy. Rocco was stressed, but shame on him for not kissing Matt's feet for the Today Show appearance. That's a coup. The money made from the product placement between American Express, Mitsubishi, and Coors would be more than enough to carry them if the opening of the restaurant was delayed a day or two. Did they finally get their arugula?

I have always prepared my brats in reverse of what a few people have described. The brats, fresh not pre-cooked, are put in a deep stock pot with the beer bath, a few cloves of garlic and some sliced onions (don't poke the brats). This is brought to a boil and the brats cook until they float (5 - 7 minutes). From here, the brats (and more sliced, lightly oiled onoins in foil) go on the grill and they cook until they turn a smoky brown color. Place those babies on the bun of your choice followed by mustard and kraut. Spoon up some potato salad and grab a cold one from the fridge or the cooler, and kick back.

Yes. As I understand it, we're basically talking about the same thing. The recipes from brand to brand do change, but a number of established Wisconsin bratwurst producers (Usingers and Klements are among the oldest) follow old family recipes that were brought over from Germany. BTW, I never had a brat in Germany that was slathered with ketchup and pickles. Kraut and mustard all the way.

Agreed. That just ain't right. The pickle part got stuck in my throat, too. Ketchup to a brat is the equivalent of mayonaise to pastrami. I don't want to hear about anything but onions (raw or grilled), kraut, and mustard -- spicy, brown mustard. I admit that it's some nerve, but I bring my own mustard. When you go all that way for a brat, you can't take chances. They understand this level of dedication in Green Bay. They head down for Brat Days with similar ideas. I leave the grilling to them, but you better believe I take control when it comes to dressing my bratwurst. No Jaycee on the planet is going to throw ketchup where it isn't wanted. "If you don't turn em, you burn em."

July 31 - August 2 are the dates for this year's Sheboygan Brat Days (Bratwurst Days) held annually in beautiful, downtown Sheboygan, WI. The location is Kiwanis Park, and there's music and a whole lot of grilling and beer drinking going on. For anyone who loves brats -- and who doesn't? -- you will be in bratwurst heaven. I would like to assemble a Heartland caravan in the hope that we can head up to Sheyboygan and make eGullet's presence known. We could rent a van and make arrangements to stay in Sheyboygan or Milwaukee overnight. Brat Days 2003 - Sponsored by the Sheboygan Jaycees I think this would be a lot of fun if we could get it together. We will need a little something after our Paella Party high. Thoughts please.

That was one hell of a mess we left. Yet another awsome party at Maggie and Lou's! Yummy deviled eggs -- the boys ate those up. They really loved the quesadillas. I followed behind them and finished off the remaining one that one of the twins bit the top off of a put back on the plate...or was that you, Fresser? BTW, Fresser and Guajolote, thank you so much for the transportation. Complete with School House Rock on the arrival and deluxe sleeping accommodations on the departure. Smooth ride. Delicious gumbo. Delicious corn bread, sauerkraut bread, beets, beet greens, crab -- oh, and forgive me if the dirty hopin' john kept giving in both it's hot in, hot out and magical fruit aspects. The Sazeracs packed some powerful punches. I'm glad I stopped after that first one and move over to the gin and tonic setup. The cake was very good. The boys had great time with the bong paddles, and the wrestling match with Fresser in the living room (great sound effects, boys)...just send me the bill.

7/14 will work well for me. Is there an approximate time?

Crawdads in the gumbo, eh? That would make my great-grandmother wig! As you may guess, crawfish never made an appearance in our gumbo. Everyone has their way. We always did a combination of shirmp, crab, chicken, sausage, and oysters. I've never met an oyster that I could love, so my mother eases up on them for my consideration. Jimmy Banos only indluces chicken in his gumbo. It's good and all, but I think the omission is punishable by law. Who's on hot sauce and gumbo file (fee-lay) detail?

I'm easy. As it were. That's what I'VE heard anyway. Oops. Shit, they know about me in Texas! Texas? Really, don't be so modest. Now I have some insight on why you left Canada. Mondays, Tuesdays and every-other weekend (the weekend of the week of 7/7 works well) are good for me. I can get on the 22 and be up there in a flash.

My side: Dirty Hopin' John

Tom Collinses? What do you think, Dawn? They'd sleep tighter than two little ticks on the way home. I want a Tom Collins Right Now! Oh they would go down quite easily, but I will keep it to the fizzy lemon-lime. I am very fortunate to have two little boys who have no problem with sleeping and never have since they first slept through the night. They are humble, dutiful servents of the Sandman. Running around you yard will eventually get the best of them and they won't fight it. So much so that I will bring their pajamas with me. I will hold back on the heat for the pint-sized rice lovers among us. A bottle of tabasco should do the trick for the rest of us.

I triple-dog-dare ya to come here and find out. Guajolote - for kicks, tell him it's your third time and see what happens. Then, on your second visit, you can tell them it's your first visit. I mean, if Arun is as touched as Tommy suggests, he won't know.

I would love to come. I will have my little smookies (the twins) with me. We will head in on the train. Fresser, if you can find it within yourself to get us at the Metra station, I would be much obliged. If it cools off, I will make a pecan pie. If it doesn't, I will bring Dirty Rice or Hopin' John, or perhaps I will make Dirty Hopin' John. Hmmmm. I will ease up on the spices.

I would love to come. I will have my little smookies (the twins) with me. We will head in on the train. Fresser, if you can find it within yourself to get us at the Metra station, I would be much obliged. If it cools off, I will make a pecan pie. If it doesn't, I will bring Dirty Rice or Hopin' John, or perhaps I will make Dirty Hopin' John. Hmmmm. I will ease up on the spices.

Like Lady T, I have read raves, but the only thing I have ever heard when with someone face-to-face is, "eh," complete with a shrug of the shouders. May the Wheel of Fortune smile upon you. May your meal be far better than your experience at Bistro 110, and may a 70-piece quartet accompany your meal with celestial bliss.

In your role as producer, I am curious to know how the ideas for your shows came about. Could you predict that the quirkyness of Iron Chef would make it such a popular favorite? In an effort to bring new ideas and creativity to food television risk is a factor in the process. How much of your work was based on gut feelings that you faithfully followed?

If only I where lucky enough to have lunch meetings. Too many times they want to spend time without interruptions. Most of them also want to be able to have an excuse to drink. Not always the most helpful thing when concepts are involved. Sorry about that, WHT. It appears that client = lunch is buried deep in my psyche. With the exception of Spiaggia, a client dinner is a different matter for the places I have mentioned on Michigan Ave. Perhaps Morton's or Capital Grill? Neither is on the Ave., but they are close.

Your date thought Rainforest Cafe was better than Cafe 28? Wow. My kids like Cafe 28 better than Rainforest Cafe. I think that might have done it for me, too. As for the suggestions for the Michigan Aveue area client luncheon, I would add NoMi, Shanghai Terrace, and Spiaggia to the list.