JimS

I don't agree. Freshly toasted and ground whole cumin seeds and homemade stock are going to taste different than using the packaged alternatives. Not necessarily better. Remember, this is chili. Subtle doesn't win contests.

I'm in a rural area and don't like to drive more than I need to. Grocery shopping is an every other week event most of the year. During the winter, I try to plan things to go at least three weeks, sometimes a whole month.

I've been really disappointed in the show this year. In particular, in two separate episodes Oliver pushed a heavy girl in his class over and over again until she cried. You could see that's what he was looking for. Why does the word exploitative come to mind? He also seems completely oblivious to the fact that he's messing with the hamburger stand owner's livelihood. I'd love to see someone go into one of his mediocre Italian restaurants and offer to fix it on television for him.

Not quite. Someone is paying for them, and in this case it's the advertisers who pay to have their message on the bags. These are often small local business' with limited advertising budgets. Samples are offered in the hope that you'll enjoy the product and buy it. It's a different situation altogether.

It's the same as pocketing a few sugar or Sweet and Low packs from the diner, or asking for extra ketchup packets (notice they're not left out anymore) at a fast food place when you don't really need them for that particular meal. It's not illegal. It's also not something that someone who cares about the potential longevity of their local store does. If you need the bags, or just want them, offer to buy a whole roll and be done with it.

We quit buying Breyer's for a while years ago. Back before they started adding tara gum, the ice cream just couldn't stand up to the rigors of the rural distribution chain. It would invariably be icy, and both the texture and flavor were compromised. We had better luck with inferior brands who didn't go out of there way to be quite so wholesome. I don't know when Breyers started adding the gum, but it holds up much better these days.

If you go with pegboard, unless there's something under it to keep you from getting too close like a counter, you'll have to be very careful not to snag the pegs on your sleeves and pants pockets as you walk by. When you do snag them, best case scenario is the peg falls off and the item drops. Worse case, you tear through the peg board and leave an unsightly crack in the material. I'd consider gridwall instead. It's more durable, attractive and kitchen friendly. Plus you can get pegs that actually lock on (although most are held by gravity just like the ones for peg board). There's also a wide range of baskets and shelves that can be attached. I owned a retail store for a couple of decades, and we got all of our grid, slat, pegboard and accessories for them from these folks: http://www.specialtystoreservices.com/product.aspx?category=3242&link=

I got the impression that Oliver was trying to strong arm the LA USD with his media clout and they didn't budge. NPR did an article on the show yesterday, getting the other side of the story. NPR Article.

If it's Twinkies vs Hostess Fruit Pies, I'll take Twinkies. Otherwise, pie wins over cake every time.

Baltimore= Newspapers for tablecloths, hammers for utensils and prodigious amounts of alcohol. I know where I'd rather go.

I feel your pain. The microwave is the only thing that beeps in my kitchen...and I use it for a bread box most of the time. I've got to know though...what on earth is the hood trying to convey when it beeps? Filter cleaning time maybe? On/off state?

There was a post on Food 52 not long ago that mentioned the Opinel pocket knife as a picnic essential. It looked like it might do fine pressed into kitchen service.

Celebrity boxing: Gordon Ramsay vs Martha Stewart. I'd buy the PPV.

Unfortunately, the same also applies to the Vitamix. I seem to remember reading somewhere that 4oz was the bare minimum for it. In my experience, even a cup may cause problems.

I don't know about the state fair but at the local agricultural fair there's always a booth where they'll batter dip and fry pretty much anything you bring to them. They keep a few things on hand, frozen candy bars, twinkies and the like...the usual fair fare.