gingerbeer

hi, maybe put this in the dining forum? x

mine would be south african naan bread (from the muslim community there which i'm from), which are bread rolls, with a little bit of cardomom in them, and a sort of challah-like taste, usually sprinkled with poppy seeds. i would really miss baguettes, though.

All of you who are telling me to run... do you think that, apart from trying to cook/taking him to good places... I can use any other tactics to get him to like food? When we're out and he just wants to stop at the first random place, should I just be more assertive and put my foot down and say, 'No. We are going to find somewhere actually good.' ? He's very stubborn and complains that my 'planning' (e.g. investigating what are great places to eat beforehand) is stressful (though I don't make him do any of it, I just make a little list of good places wherever we're going to).

Britain has gone into overdrive trying to impress Obama. After the gift giving debacle (Gordon Brown gives Obama fancy historical ancient pen signifying eternal friendship, he gives Brown DVDs that might not even work in a European player) and the 2007 incident where he stated that he doesn't like British food, Jamie Oliver has been brought in to cook British food only and make Obama like it, dammit. To that end the menu for the big G20 dinner is as follows: Starter: Organic Scottish salmon with samphire and sea kale, and a selection of vegetables from Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Main course: Slow-roasted shoulder of Elwy Valley lamb with Jersey Royals, wild mushrooms and mint sauce. Dessert: Bakewell tart and custard. Vegetarian option: Goat's cheese starter followed by lovage and potato dumplings for the main course. What do you all think? Obviously he had some restrictions - e.g. no pork because there are 3 leaders of Muslim countries at the table. The newspapers (well, the Guardian) is going into overdrive trying to anticipate Obama's response. Also, the charm offensive isn't limited to food - they've sat Michelle Obama next to JK Rowling in an attempt to earn the Obamas' affection. Personally, I think the vegetarian options are a bit sad and uninspired. Also that Bakewell tart better be good because if it's not, it's going to be awful.

i love corn dogs. maybe they'd be a natural extension of hot dogs? plus, goats are hardy. though do they damage the environment a lot?

Maybe I'm alone, but I love Weetbix. My favourite way to eat it is with hot milk, brown sugar and sliced banana - but you have to eat it FAST, because otherwise it will soak up all the milk and turn into a weird immovable block that hurts your stomach and is like glue in your throat. It's also nice mixed with other cereals.

These pictures are making me want to cry I had a cheese & mango achaar sandwich.

Wow I cannot believe there are frozen peanut butter sandwiches. I mean, that's outrageously lazy. I can kind of see the mashed potatoes, because I think many people these days don't even know how to cook them, but a PB sandwich??? Seriously???

Oh whoa all of these are terrible but I think peanut butter slices is the worst. Also, frozen scrambled eggs.

creme de menthe, tuna, strawberry jam.

The worst is when you go shopping and they ONLY have those things. I had 10 mins to do some shopping today and went to M&S, and they only had microwave ready carrot sticks/peas/potatoes. I've also seen pre-boiled & peeled eggs.

Wow, ok, that's important to know, because I totally misunderstood it.

Memories of India on Gloucester Road is reliable and pretty good (though the service is heartbreakingly slow, so you'll need to formulate a story about how you're in a hurry), and I second Haandi. I don't think Masala Zone is that great. I second Tayyab's. Also, I know some people here don't like it, but I've only ever had amazing food at Rasoi (Vineet Bhatia) and the lunch menu isn't that expensive, it's also close to Harrod's. The chef is also often kind enough to come out and talk to you and guide you through the food.

Thanks guys! I think I will start out with Near a Thousand Tables and go from there with your recommendations - the Food Timeline is amazing too.

read the tipping point (by Malcolm Gladwell) which although very simplified and repetitive gives some interesting points about how a trend begins. He writes that there are different personality types such as Maven (gatherer of information), marketer (can sell anything) and connecter (the ones who have thousands of friends on facebook) and that each type helps to contribute to trend setting. a trend is by definition novel (eggs have been out of style for years because of cholesterol phobia) and usually very easy to do (eggs and hotdogs!) and accessible (ditto). So if a well known connecter such as Jackie Chan (not sure why he popped up) endorses eggs than there are those that might want to emulate him, sort of like a status symbol More complicated foods might become trendy but to a much smaller circle of people. ← That sounds really interesting! And I'm even more convinced about eggs now. I'll have to read that. Lamington, I don't know about brownies, but what about lamingtons? I second the hot dog question - would this include bratwurst? Because I am totally ready for a bratwurst revival. Preferably right now. Like, right now.

An article from the Guardian today about the laziest food products: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/200...eggs-lazy-foods What are some that you can think of? Any you'd never use and ones you never would? Here are some I admit to using: - Pre-sliced cheese (I know!) - Frozen chopped onions (I have overactive tear ducts so chopping onions is truly a trauma for me) - Box cake mixes (when I don't care/have no time) - Crushed ginger/garlic (I think this is different though, plus this is a regular in Indian cooking that my grandmother always used) - Pre-chopped garlic (I don't know why and never again, it didn't even taste like garlic)

I can see hot dogs and eggs too... particularly given the economy. I find it interesting how foods become trendy - what is it, exactly that leads to it? Is it a sudden change in the quality of production, or the right endorsements (making it therefore almost coincidental)?

I'm really curious about the history of food, but I'm not sure where to start reading. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you.

Wow this is so cool! Thanks! I've been hoping to learn more about food history so this is perfect.

I'm reading the Dexter books. I've actually never had Cuban food (so sad), but now I want to try it desperately. In between the serial killing, he keeps talking about it.

You guys are so right. It's a serious incompatibility and it makes me afraid. Just now I was trying to explain to him how food can go through trends and phases much like fashion - and he was like 'that's stupid.' But he doesn't even know anything about it so how can he says it's stupid?? If he knew something about food, fine, but he doesn't even care. That's a small thing but it really bugged me.

1.trailer is being made. 2. I plan to keep it simple. I would rather do a few thing great than do alot of things so-so 3. I have a beef tallow supplier and fries will be double fried. 4. I cant name the place after my sons they have odd yet common names. Kane & Miles just dont ring a bell for me for a burger joint. ← i think kane & miles is actually pretty good! or your name & sons. sounds like a london restaurant from the 19th century.

it's all awful. an amazing place nearby is alounak, though, in nearby russell gardens (just cross the street outside shepherd's bush tube to the vue cinema) and walk up towards high street ken, it'll take you 4 mins and be well worth it.

reading the post about bacon below made me wonder... what is the next big trendy food? we've had bacon, macha, salted caramel, burgers, offal and cupcakes. and who could forget the pesto, smoked salmon and sushi awakenings of the olden days... so - what's next? grilled cheese? hot dogs? those pancake doughnut things from that infomercial? what will everybody be eating 4 months from now? your predictions please.

i'm glad i found this thread because i've been longing to complain. this person hasn't quite yet achieved SO-status, but anyway: 1. he doesn't care what he eats. he never wants to try exciting new places to eat, he'd rather just eat at the first place we see (no matter how awful the food is). when we visit a new place, my attempts to somewhat research and plan where we're going to eat (because i don't want to waste mealtimes on mediocre food and am always excited to try new things in new places) annoy him a lot. 2. he once claimed that if he could take a pill that would make eating unncessary, he'd do it, as eating is a 'waste of time' and he resents the time he has to spend doing it. he thinks cooking is an even greater waste of time. 3. he eats the same frozen meals for dinner every night. 4. i think going to the fat duck or el bulli would be so cool - he thinks it sounds 'gross and stupid'. he doesn't understand why i see all of this as a major incompatibility. thinking about all this makes me feel like crying a bit.