birder53

I'm not done with chipotle just yet!

It's nice to see something through from start to finish. I sometimes enjoy doing the laundry for the same reason! My job does not provide me with the sense of accomplishment that cooking a great meal does. Besides - as I've been cooking more over the past year, I've really improved and enjoy the results. Even my husband enjoys eating at home rather than dining out these days.

My aging eyes are unhappy with menus that require me to find my reading glasses Hopefully the restaurant industry will wake up and cater to the large number of baby boomers dining out who do not want reading the menu to be an issue. Larger type and better color combinations of type and background would be a big help. I guess the menus would become so large that they would be too hard to hold up after awhile. Getting old sucks!

I grew up in Brooklyn in the late 50's. My grandmother, who lived with us, grew up in Manhattan (Hell's Kitchen) and dragged us on the subway and through the streets of NYC whenever she got the chance. She had season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera back when the opera house was where, I think, Madison Square Guarden is now. She was daring or crazy enough to take me and my sister (we were four and three years old!) to dinner at the upscale restaurant at the opera house, which I think was called "The Sherry". It was a grand experience. What I remember most was the red flocking on the red wallpaper - a sure sign this was a very special place! Dinner was followed by the opera, for which "Gran" had spent weeks preparing us to attend. She also took us for a weekend at the Waldorf Astoria where we had breakfast via room service! I remember all the white linens on the trays that were brought up to the room as well as all the fussing over us by the waiter. One thing that stands out in my mind was the way the prunes were served. ( I can't remember who ordered that!) There was a glass dish of stewed prunes sitting upon a bed of ice in a silver goblet which sat on a doily which sat on a small plate which was again on a larger plate with a larger doily. I was almost tempted to try the prunes because it was all so beautiful! She also took us to Horn & Hardart, which we loved. I remember wanting milk because you could fill your glass from a spout that came out of the silver head of a huge lion mounted on the wall. Family dining out was frequently at a local place in Bay Ridge called "Joe Major's". We were allowed to order the hot turkey sandwiches, no white meat! My sister occassionally asked if she could have the lobster, which she never got! My parents had summer jobs at a CYO camp in Coney Island which helped to bring in a little extra money. I remember them getting dinner some nights from Nathan's on Surf Avenue. We got the usual franks and fries but they had frogs legs! I thought it was quite exotic back then. I wonder if any of the Nathan's still serve them? On family vacations we dined at many Howard Johnsons. Gran always ordered ginger ice cream for dessert. We went to a Stuckies -once. The signs telling us how close we were were more interesting than the place itself. Thanks for the chance to take a walk down memory lane. I realize how my grandmother was such a big part of those early food memories.

I stock up on six-packs of Progresso soups at BJ's. It is such a quick and easy lunch on the weekends when we want something hot and fast. I admit to liking salty things, so I don't notice or mind the saltiness most of you have cited. I tried Campbell's chunky chicken gumbo because it was on sale and I had coupons! It has a nice little kick of spice to it. Take it for what it is - canned soup! It has it's place in everyone's cupboard.

Interesting road trip! Your itinerary makes more sense now that you say it is a birding trip for John's life list. Good luck with the "feather quest." I hope the good birds make up for the poor food and accommodations you might end up with. I'd suggest bringing a cooler and keeping it well stocked for those times you are no where near a decent meal. Our southern birding trips have proven to be the greatest food challenges over the years. I mean no insult to our southeastern egulleteers, but you have to understand that birding takes you to places you would never venture in your lifetime. Starr County, Texas was a prime example of vacationing in one of the most depressed parts of the USA! Good birding and stock up on good food when you find it.

?? 2 tblps. coffee - don't measure the coffee- you fill the filter full I also tried making less moka than my pot called for - it doesn't work! I now own three pots - 6, 8 (?) and 12 cups. Depending on how many people are having coffee - I'm ready

I confess to buying wine because I liked the label Smoking Loon and some other brand with an eagle's head on a kangaroo come to mind. I bought a bottle of Renwood for a friend because it had a picture of a wren on the lable and it was her favorite bird. However, repeat purchases are based upon taste, not labels, so there has to be more to the wine than just a pretty face.

I love the rabbit corkscrew! I can finally open a bottle of wine without hubby's help. All previous openers created broken corks or deposited the cork in the bottle. My remaining problem is height. I am only 5'5" and finding a suitable location to place the bottle and not loose all leverage can be challenging. Those long necked bottles are really tough! The little doohickie for cutting the foil is great.

What night do you go out to eat and why? Usually Friday or Sunday. I don't usually get home from work until 7:00 - 7:30 during the week, with the exception of Fridays. Dinner out is a nice way to celebrate leaving work "early" and easing into the weekend. Dinner out on Sunday makes it feel less like the end of the weekend and I can delude myself into thinking I don't have to get up early the next day! Do you drink more weeknights or weekends? Weekends. Cocktails and wine. We may have a glass of wine during the week, but not usually. Do you prefer to dine as a couple or with others? Both are fine. Is anyone more apt to dine at a restaurant with a liquor license if they waive the corking charge? No. We don't chose where to eat based upon liquor. Most of our usual haunts are BYO, but that is not why we eat there. How far will you drive to a restaurant on a weeknight? Weekend? Probably no more than 1/2 hour on a weekend. We both commute over 70 miles a day to our jobs, so spending a lot of time in the car is something we try to avoid. If we do eat out on a weeknight, it will be within 10 minutes of home.

First Dannon added pectin and then Stonyfield. Yuk! Years ago I liked Colombo, but they also gummed up the works with pectin. Wegmans brand lists pectin as an ingredient, but it isn't gummy at all. Total Greek is wonderful but I like all the great flavors that Wegmans makes. It's a shame that there is so much bad, gummy yogurt out there. There must be a market for it, so many brands have added lots of pectin over the years. Go figure!

The Solis is on sale at Starbucks for $99 right now.

That's the one! I went to purchase it on Monday based on reviews here and on www.coffeegeek.com. I was just lucky they told me to come back tomorrow - when it would go on sale. I expect to be very happy with my new toy.

I picked up my grinder last night - can't wait to use it this weekend! The regular price was $125. The sale price was $99 and they threw in a free bag of coffee. A sign in the store said the sale was going on through March 16, 2004.

Salmon. Tried it many different ways - planked, smoked, cajun blackened, etc. -but it still tastes like salmon. It's so popular that I still give it a chance once in while, especially if the preparation makes it sound too good to pass up. But, nothing has changed my mind yet. Salmon

I stopped in at Starbucks today to look at the grinder. Was told they go on sale tomorrow (Tuesday, February 17th.) The burr grinder was $120 and will be on sale for $90+. The young man I spoke with wasn't sure of the exact sale price. I said I'd be back tomorrow! Forgot to add that this is in NJ. I don't know if the sales are national or regional.

I like the idea of minis. If both the cinnamon rolls and the scones look great, I want to try both. I'll pass on the regular sizes unless I have someone who will split them with me. I can't bear to just taste and discard the rest. There is a place for minis in this world!

Because of eGullet, I bought my first cauliflower and roasted it yesterday. My husband tasted it, looked at me and said "french fries?". It didn't taste like anything but cauliflower. I cooked it at 400 for 40 minutes, but only the tiny pieces got crispy. Should I try it again with less oil (I used 1/4 cup) or just cook longer? I feel like I'm missing our here!

And I thought you were only famous for your cocktails! Those desserts are amazing. Now that I see what a pastry chef can do ( can they all turn out a portfolio like yours?) I can better understand the dissatisfaction so many of them have with their jobs. I know for sure I have been dessert deprived for most of my life! How about a law to require all restaurants to provide such wonderful desserts? Congratulations on your accomplishments and best of luck in your chosen profession. You're passion is showing.

You're in luck! There is no corkage fee at SHI on March 17th (unless they change their policy before that date.) I second Kim's suggestion for your special dinner. Congratulations! We also celebrated our 25th at SHI and it was wonderful.

It is ot unusual for a restaurant review to include the dress code or dress of the customers. Upscale preppie, minis and manolas(sp?), black turtleneck yuppie, beach casual ,etc. While Mr. Giglio went much further than this, it does give you a better sense of the clientele of a restaurant, which will contribute to the atmosphere of the place. I also want to know if an establishment is very family friendly. Even if the food is wonderful, I probably don't want to plan a romantic dinner for two in a place that is usually filled with small children. It helps in describing the atmosphere, which can be as important to me as the food.

Like Lou said, it's not just about the food. This place certainly has a lot of "atmosphere"! It seems as though Mr. Giglio calls them as he sees them. Nothing wrong here in my book.

Scotch

Possible very dumb question - would you mix the juice of a sour orange with juice from myer lemons in a drink?

Pasta