tommy

i'll be in a place called "the woodlands", in or around houston. if that helps any.

now i'm *really* confused. any other suggestions? for food in general? nothing too expensive, but rather good eats.

the food at my country club is really starting to get to me.

a lot of people. i mean really, how much money are we talking here.

the kid thing kinda throws me, as i don't have much experience with dining at places where kids are acceptable. however, baumgart's, in ridgewood, is a chinese place with a kid-friendly menu. they tend to have lots of little runs running about, so it might be something good to try.

the kids i saw working there the other day rarely went without a bottle in their hand the entire 30 minutes i was there.

that's a shame, because their cheesecakes are actually the best part of the place!

thank you. and don't underestimate the seductive powers of leftover ribs.

duck confit salad, with apple, orange, thai basil, mint, red onion, and a citrus dressing.

how?

i sounds like we agree that the cheesecake factory, in the overall scheme of things, isn't even worth discussing.

joel's was actually pretty decent when i went a couple of weeks ago. it's the kind of place that i would return to probably more for the vibe than the food. it's funky, energetic, and fun. there are several parking lots in ridgewood that will cost you about 2 dollars to use for a couple of hours. i'm always amazed that people complain about the parking in ridgewood.

one theory is that cork allows for the exchange of air over time. screw tops, assuming a "perfect seal" is created, would not. there is no data because there hasn't been 30, 40, 50, 100 yrs to test it. that, i think, is the heart of the issue.

that's an interesting idea. my attic has to be about 110 degrees. although, it's probably pretty humid. i'll do the oven trick. and maybe i'll make some beef jerky at the same time. yummy.

is there another method of drying? perhaps in a 150 degree oven for a coupla hours?

this is probably one of my favorite restaurants in hoboken, and has been for 15 yrs. anyone i've ever brought there likes it. and yes, thereuare, the sandwiches are a safe bet. although, the platters to offer a more well-rounded meal. they should be considered occasionally.

more evidence that i'm man of impeccable taste. without question. glad you enjoyed it.

are you thinking a cream-based sauce jinny?

why? what are some of your favorite dishes?

i've got more mint than i know what to do with growing in my yard. the basil is doing quite well as well. i'm thinking of making a pasta tonite with mint and possibly basil. any suggestions?

it just dawned on me how expensive that is. silly.

can we assume you mean the knuckle closest to your finger tip? 1/2" suffices.

nope. just kiddin'.

i'm in CA. it's still "early".

oh silly priscilly. my rant wasn't directed towards you. i was just defending my good friend, the mashed potato. :) how about chilis? yeah, chilis. twice baked. oh man.