NeroW

I used to hate cilantro too. Thought of some more: Sauteed spinach (oh wait, already said that) Raisins (I don't even like to touch them or reach my hand inside a box of them) Butterscotch candies Turkey bacon (I don't hate this on general principles, I hate it because of the creepy flat way it looks, like cartoon bacon) What is poi?

In order of preference: Jack & Coke Coke float Coke in glass bottle Diet Coke in France Pepsi BTW, does anyone know if the Diet Coke in Europe is different from our Diet Coke in America? I swear it tastes much better.

JPW, at least it wasn't the ever-popular strain-the-stock-down-the-sink-drain move.

Let's go. I've got that gift certificate too. Opera was in "New City" as one of Chicago's essential 100 restaurants ( ) and they did a feature on the Chef.

Thanks for your review, chifoodie, and welcome to eGullet.

That is an excellent idea. Intense butter doesn't scare me.

I think today I will have one with wheat bread, Velveeta ( ) and homemade butternut squash soup. I always dip it in the soup, but a remoulade is a great idea. Does anybody use PAM in the pan?

Yes! A sin! I knew there was a reason why I like it so much!

God, no. I hate that thing.

I love me a grilled cheese sandwich. Even though I know it's not really grilled! Although I am uncomfortable with the idea of "comfort food" (isn't all food comforting?), if there were a comfort food for me, grilled cheese is it. I used to like them with French's yellow mustard, but I've outgrown that now. How do you do it? Do you butter both sides of the bread? I melt some butter in the pan and then dip both sides of both pieces of bread in that butter, then melt some more butter in the pan . . . What kind of pan do you use? Lately I've been using an omelet pan. What cheese do you use? What bread do you use? What do you eat them with? I like them with tomato soup, potato chips, and French Onion dip EDIT to say that if there is already a grilled cheese thread, I apologize--I couldn't find one!

I realized the other day that I find sauteed spinach extremely offensive. It's like the Astroturf of vegetable sides.

Holy cats Batman! Consomme marijuana! This is a great thread. Me, I'm easy to please. When semi-stoned, I like: Pizza Hummous Ruffles potato chips with Philadelphia cream cheese Edy's Dreamery New York Style Cheesecake ice cream Boursin and crackers A huge whopper of a sandwich, made by my sister, which is an onion bagel containing tomatoes, avocado, Havarti, sprouts or arugula--whichever is around, cheddar, Dijon mustard, and mayo Stuffing Toast, peanut butter, and strawberry jelly Cold pesto noodles Barbecue chips When very stoned, I like: Cold lasagna Rice Chex, 2% milk, and sugar--2 or 3 bowls, that shit is light Court TV Cold pepperoni McDonald's apple pie or lo-fat vanilla ice cream cone Dinty Moore beef stew White Cheddar Cheez-Its Ramen noodles (Chicken flavor) with Crema Mexicana, preferably, although sour cream will do in a pinch Grilled Sardines Not that I get stoned. Ever. EDIT to say I'm not stoned right now, either.

Today: Butter chicken (I am obsessed with this lately), griddled naan bread, jasmine rice, saute of red onion, green pepper, and cucumber at the last moment. Yesterday: Strawberry-banana smoothie--after a root canal Monday: Beer. Sunday: Spaghetti (quickie sauce) with no meatballs and garlic bread. Saturday: Cafe Iberico, Chicago, IL for tapas! Friday: Griddled Tilamook cheddar sandwiches on ciabatta (not homemade, a so-so loaf) with tomato soup. Oreo cookies. I am still trying to determine the best bread for the ultimate Feb. food--griddled cheese. I still think it's crappy wheat or white bread from the bag. I know that's heresy, but I eat the sandwich with Campbell's tomato soup anyway, so . . .

Why, PJS, indeed I do. The Kinks. I am changing that sig line today, I believe. Thanks everyone for the great info on this thread. The fight continues . . .

Are you referring to Plainwell Ice Cream? That's an excellent place. What's the roadside place? MRX, most of my best food experiences in Michigan have also been at hole-in-the-wall places or in home kitchens, as you said. No, Arie's is not a destination--just reliable.

Schneier-- I didn't see your post until today. Alex has listed some of the better spots in Kalamazoo, and I would like to expound a bit on them and maybe suggest a few more. Food Dance Cafe: eclectic menu, Niman Ranch meats Webster's: in the Radisson, dinner only, Wine Spec Award Just Good Food: deli and specialty grocery, sandwiches Epic Bistro and Bin 359: dinner only, wine bar (I haven't been there) Mediterranean Cafe: breakfast and lunch (haven't been there in a while) Food Dance Cafe is mainly a breakfast destination for me. They have excellent Bloody Mary's and do quite a bit of early-day business. Chef Julie Stanley does indeed feature Niman Ranch meats, everything on the FDC menu is of the organic, sustainable-agriculture type--unusual for Kalamazoo. The waitstaff is friendly, young, and well-scrubbed--they remind me of Whole Foods employees if you know what I mean. I have several friends in the kitchen at FDC. Webster's is currently under Chef Tony Masco, although I have heard rumors of some changes. This is a higher-end restaurant and as Alex says, is located in the Radisson Hotel. They are rated 4-diamonds by AAA. I have not been able to eat there, although I've drank in their charming little cigar lounge. They are closed for renovations until March '04. Webster's is my first choice for externship. Just Good Food is a fantastic little deli downtown, across from the Secretary of State. In addition to produce and dry-goods items that are unavailable in Kalamazoo's other stores, they do a WIDE range of sandwiches. Their reuben is very tasty--one is enough for two. I have friends who work here as well. Epic Bistro is good, under Chef Encarnacion Rios--quite a character I've eaten there 7 or 8 times. Once I was horridly disappointed, the other times I was pleased. Epic and another restaurant downtown--District 211--attract a kind of meat-market crowd on weekend nights. You know--martini-slugging, too-drunk-to-eat types. I am not sure what the Mediterranean Cafe is, I suspect Alex might be referring to a little diner-type place near the State Theater downtown. Here are my rec's: Arie's Singapore (downtown), Chef Mark Morey--very tasty British pub food, charming employees, bagpipers, etc. Arie's is a local chain that also has 2 restaurants in the Plainwell, MI, area. I have eaten at Arie's countless times and have never had a bad meal. Bravo! (across from the airport) under Chefs Shawn and Terry Hagen--Italian food. Also very good. Try the wild mushroom soup. They have wood ovens and their pizzas are memorable. The wine list is a little ridiculously-priced, even for a place like Kalamazoo, but Bravo's is an institution and I've enjoyed many meals there. The Black Swan, on Greenleaf Blvd., under Chef Helmut Klett--Kalamazoo's other answer to fine dining (besides Webster's). Swanky place and swanky food. I ate there once in high school, before I was too interested in food, so I am sorry I can't make a recommendation one way or the other. There is another place downtown, the Union, under Chef Eric Gillish. The food is not spectacular, but it's a beautiful room, the staff is very friendly, and the bar makes it worth the trip. This is a music venue, and I've seen some great jazz and bluegrass acts there. If you go during the winter, try the jerked-pork and corn chowder. That's the standout, in my opinion. In the past few years Kalamazoo has made some strides toward becoming, if not a food mecca, at least somewhere one can eat and be reasonably happy. EDIT: to say that I can't recommend District 211 in good conscience. The staff has been rude 80% of the time, and the food is not remarkable--they are still firmly planted in the square-plate, shrimp-in-cocktail-glass era. However on Wed. nights they used to have a FANTASTIC jazz group in the basement.

We used them at school the other day. The bag was old, dusty, and crinkled in that way old plastic-bags get. They had no "spark."

Neil, you're the shit. That's the first croquembouche I've ever seen that looked like something I'd actually want to eat, let alone look at. Congratulations

Barbecue chips.

For real?

Dude, I am a huge creep.

*insert scoffing noise here*

Fries! Oh wait. I already answered.

Whoa.

I'm in. If I can afford it.