Ron Johnson

Which one tastes better? Can you describe the difference? Is it noticeable enough to affect the flavor of hummus?

Suvir, I was kidding. However, Harry (or was it David?) made it clear that the pears HAD to be picked in this certain way or else. Two finger stem grasp with counter clockwise wrist roll. NO TUGGING!!!! It was all a little over the top for me. Its pears for pete's sake.

Suvir is indeed a thoughtful and spiritual dude.

The Food Network ran a 1/2 hour special (read commercial) on Harry & David and their pears and cherries. The pears are grown in some special valley. The workers have to pick them a certain way or they are beaten. They have a special truck that transports them to the Harry & David lair, where . . . a special mother/daughter team pack the pears in boxes. The mother is faster than the daughter, but thats only because she has been doing it longer. Apparently, they agree that one day the daughter will overtake the mother. I am embarrassed I watched this.

The microplane rocks, but it does grate the cheese very finely. It also takes a little getting used to if you are accustomed to a box grater. I also like it very much for zesting citrus.

I made this dish last summer and concluded that the pea puree was meant to keep the filling from being too minty and/or grainy as raised by Wilfrid. The peas are more of a mint delivery device. After making the dish, it lost considerable appeal.

I didn't realize that a Smithfield ham was a Country ham. We have country hams here in Kentucky and we call them Country Hams. They are made from a combination of smoking and salt curing. They are intensely salty and are usually sliced and pan fried then served on biscuits or with eggs with red-eye gravy and fried apples. It is almost always a breakfast dish. I was under the impression that Virginia hams and Smithfield hams were somewhat different, and more like the hams that people have as a main course for a holiday meal. Is a Smithfield ham the same thing as a Kentucky Country Ham?

R & G Lounge Chinatown. Damn good.

His return has been addressed extensively on eGullet.

Wilfrid, So a salmis is a braise? Is that correct?

Dubonnet Rouge on the rocks with lemon twist. Pimm's Cup with slice of orange.

Rice works great because they don't get inundated with their own moisture. I place mine spaced throughout rice in a clear plastic container. They keep great this way.

Many folks are of the opinion that fish, shellfish, etc. simply do not pair well with red wine. In your experience as a chef known for excellent preparation of both, what is your opinion on this issue? I know that I rarely order a fish dish for my main course because I want to have a red wine. Am I missing out? Northern Rhones are my favorites reds, do you have any recommendations for particular preparations of or types of fish that would pair well with a Cote Rotie, for example? Thank you for participating on eGullet.

adj. describing one who eats a lot of rice; exhibiting non-native qualities.

A clean, well-lighted place. (Apologies to E. Hemingway. ) with friendly staff, a welcoming atmosphere, and consistently good food.

Whats the etiquette on thread splitting?

no more red sancerre frivolity?

red sancerre, right?

Does that mean that you have to carry two books?

Mexican is really hard to match with wine, especially if its like burritos, enchiladas, etc. I think you pretty much have to stick with the beer or margaritas.

Around here we stand if a lady approaches or leaves the table. We also open and close all doors, use ma'am and sir when appropriate, thank people for doing things, and say your welcome when thanked. Jaymes it is also customary here to not shake a woman's hand unless she offers it. Some will prefer an embrace or a kiss on the cheek, and if the gentleman has offered his hand before the lady has a chance to initiate whichever greeting she prefers, it can come off as thought the man does not prefer the embrace or kiss. Ain't the South grand? edit: Gentleman also wear Seersucker suits and bow ties in the summer months and women wear hats to the racetrack.

No, more like being Europe's foremost authority on productivity.

If people weren't so squeamish about adult diapers, they wouldn't have to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the meal, and we wouldn't be having this argument.

There have been a few articles recently on Mario. One, I cant recall which, mentioned his treatment of VIPs. Mario stated that schmoozing VIPs was very important to him and he would chew out any employee who failed to recognize a VIP. Apparently, unlike GT, VIPs at Babbo get markedly upgraded treatment, at least acoording to Mario in this article. It might have been the Gourmet or the New Yorker article.

Mark, don't you know that its polite to wait for all members to respond to a thread?