maggiethecat

Now we're talkin'. My heart sinks when I see a bowl of pasta salad on a buffet, and living in the suburban midwest, I see it a lot. Re: Artisanal weiners: PM guajolote! He has a high end source for everything! On the subject of Not Getting it: Why lettuce and tomatoes on burgers? Yuck. Pickles, triple yuck. The flavours get lost, and they distract from the protein-fat bit of heaven that is a cheeseburger with bacon and some thinly sliced red onion. And I don't care if the lettuce is grown organically by descendants of Luther Burbank. It's in the way.

I am glad to be in such august company here. I dislike most pickle products, especially pickle relish, but the addition of a small amount of finely diced cornichon is something I really like in tuna salad. If the jar of cornichons I buy approximately once every year and a half is empty, in go the capers. (Solid white tuna, water packed.) I have never, ever seen the point of hotdogs, and I don't care if they are Hebrew National, Nathans, or hand-cased by virgins.

This is my favorite line from the best restaurant review I've read since...well maybe when our own Lady T. reported from New York last month? I have never heard of Naha, but I am now on a quest to eat there. Oh, Gawd. Happy Birthday, Ronnie. This was your birthday present to me. More from you!

Colette loved bacon too, as I remember. The Pure and the Peameal Claudine en Manage avec Bacon. The Retreat from Bacon And, tragically The Last of Bacon

"Rare are those that prefer virtue to the pleasures of sex. Or bacon" Confucius and me.

Do they need a caterer? No. The usual banquet hall stuff, I'm sure. And the dj, unfortunately, won't be MatthewB. Yeah, what will you be cookin'?

Wow, Dean, this is terrific! We're glad that The Man is taking on this challenge. Of course I'll try to be there, but I have a dim memory of a family wedding on the Saturady night before. Tinley Park or something. What time were you figuring on starting?

I'd win by three lengths. Try twenty below, Little Black Dress, snowstorm, pantyhose, high-heeled sandals. Smokers: Dumb but Strong.

Awhile back, we overnighted in Kitchener on the long haul from Chicago to Montreal, and happened onto the market on a Saturday morning. It was great: many, many Mennonite (Fun to say) stalls. I have to agree with Ian's assessment of the pies: they were absolutely outstanding. We didn't have enough time or trunk space to make off with everything we wanted, but! oh God, that peameal sandwich. Yes, even better than St. Lawrence Market. I was glad that I had the sense to ask the Mennonite girls if they minded me taking a picture of them at their stand. Boy, did I get a resounding "No!! We don't do that!!"

Johnny: Welcome. Here it is: eGullet Literary Competition, AKA the Smackdown. The prize has changed: The winner now receives a cookbook instead of a Tshirt. Please check it out and post an entry. BTW, your sig line is one of my very favorite pronouncements about writing. Ever.

Yes, pogophiles, you're right. I'll speak to the Forum Gods to get it changed.

Oh, Jess, you are The Babe. I laughed so hard the cat was concerned, and trust me, she doesn't care 'bout much.

Be brilliant here.

Do what you wanna do. Specifically: Shoot me your cleverest, wittiest, most substantive, most frivolous, most outrageous or most romantic topic for an upcoming Smackdown. Please send me your sample entry. I get lots of helpful PMs on the subject, but I thought it might be fun to throw the subject wide open. What kind of topic would get your cerebral jus running, your mental mozzarella bubbling? As an example, a suggestion from the ever-fertile brain of username fresco : Write a blurb of less than 100 words positioning Kraft Mac and Cheese dinner as artisanal food. "For over half a century, Kraft Dinner, whose ingredients are sourced with care from some of the most storied dairies in Vermont and the most pisturesque family farms in the Midwest, has been an American classic that embodies the highest family values of more than three generations of discerning diners who treasure this unique pasta creation as the heritage dish that it is." Speaking of fresco , unless you get yourself over here, the guy's gonna win by default, not simply acclaim. Round Seven will remain open until midnight Friday, August 1. Additional 411 concerning this contest: If you win one of the top three prizes, your entry will run as the topic of an upcoming Smackdown. But there's more! You will sit on the bench with Justices JAZ and Dave the Cook (Chief Justice Maggie presiding) to decide the winner of your round. If we need a tie- breaking vote, Fat Guy will weigh in. If he's busy, Tommy dons his robes. And, please! post your brilliant suggestions on the official entries thread. Not here.

Archie: I guess they didn't call it the Love Apple for nuthin'! Now, go look up Suvir's recipe and Think About Baseball.

Damn, Archie, Cathy got there first. There is no higher purpose for a tomato than to become a component of Suvir's Chutney. Speaking of jealous, it will be a month before I see a red tomato; just small, hard green balls at the moment.

On your next jaunt to New Haven, rectify this! And be hungry. I found I couldn't wolf one down with the lightning spped of my youth. And Fress: Thanks for the priceles LeMond quote.

Hey, Heyjude: Given the size of your collection, why waste time getting rid of a mere hundred? But if you do, let's just wait. When you acquire a hundred to replace the fallen, we'll start adding again.

I agree. Double sinks are a fine idea, as long as one of them is large enough to accomodate a big roaster. Mine doesn't. But permit me to grind my teeth. Four sinks?

I want this.

Yeah, right! But I understand...a little. A friend of mine owned a used book store in Seattle, and I emptied out my garage...er, never enough room in the house for all the books. I think I shipped him ten (large) boxes of books. But I couldn't bear to part with more than a couple of the cookbooks.

I've got an underground bunker and a big set of index cards. I learned the Dewey Decimal System while I was at Beauty School in my late teens.

Two more for me, from the local "antique store". For fifty cents, a copy of the first cookbook I ever used: (I was about ten)"How to Get the Most out of your Sunbeam Mixmaster." Yes, there is it, Lightning Cake. Also "The International Cook Book." No publication date, but I'm venturing early 30s. 39, 211.

Welcome, Chzhead! Yum. Butter in the crust. Yum. Er, beware! If you share one of these with a few of us Heartland Ladies, there is no way! we're sharing the crust. Let's hear more from you.

Terrific, Sam. If your posts are any indication you'll be raising the, er, tenor, of the NY Forum.