afoodnut

I'm not an expert on Indian food or curry powder, but... In all the Indian cookbooks, recipes, and articles I've read, the reason given for grinding your own from whole spices is something along the lines of 'otherwise you'll be using stale spices,' not because there's magic in starting from whole spices. And the reason for not using curry powder is something like 'because commercial curry powder is mostly turmeric.' If you reason further along those lines, the key to good (authentic/not authentic is not the issue) Indian food is to have fresh, not stale spices, in an appropriate combination. I don't think it's going too far to say that what Monica, Mongo et al are telling us is that in these days, in fact, fresh ground spices, and appropriate combinations of them, are available for purchase, and used by modern day Indian cooks, both in India and in the diaspora.

Love the naan-sense.

Okay, I'll bite. What do Indian versions of pizza look like?

When I first moved here, the two places recommended to me by co-workers, believe it or not, were Beau Jo's and Woody's. Both are fairly basic, and I've had good and bad pizzas from each. I guess Beau Jo's has the "gimmicky" squeeze bottle of honey on the table for the crust. Perhaps they have a clever history? Any natives care to share? (I'm too tired tonight to Google for pizza anecdotes.) As for delivery, I have to go with Abo's. Their pies always arrive hot and fresh and the drivers from the location near me are nice. Anybody know when the Boulder location of Proto's will open or where it's going in? Did I just read that Chezhoff is flying us all to Pizzeria Bianco on his dime? May I at least pretend? Don't know that I can offer the definitive history of beau jo's or why it's so popular, but I can reminisce a bit. I've only been to Beau Jo's in Idaho Springs. If you were travelling between denver and the mountains, there were two places to stop to eat...the buffalo bar (is that the right name?)and beau jo's, both in Idaho Springs. Both offered unique Idaho Springs experiences; there was nothing quite like them in denver or the ski towns. Raucous, filled with hungry people playing in the hills, escaping from the newly built I-70 or the older slower hwy 6. Pizza was also not the ubiquitous food it is now. Beau Jo's original restaurant was in Idaho Springs, and my guess is that their expansion and popularity was due to their already being known to the skiing/hiking crowd. As to my opinion of the pizza? The reason I haven't posted in this thread before is that pizza is one of the dishes to which I'm completely indifferent. On my own, I never eat pizza. When pizza's the only choice, I pick toppings off the crust, and eat them, leaving the crust behind. Good crust, bad crust, sublime crust...doesn't matter. Pizza leaves me cold. Thin crust pizza from the coal ovens in NYC in the 50's and 60's, at fifteen cents a slice, blackened crusty bottoms topped with tomato sauce and stretchy gooey cheese? I ate the cheese. Thick crust pizza from the original Pizza Uno or Gino's in Chicago in the late 60's, early 70's? I ate the sausage, I ate the peppers, I ate the cheese; left the crust. And now that I've confessed, I should warn you. I'm even worse about burgers...

Sorry, my "only on sunday" was tongue in cheek (or should I say chicken foot in stomach?). And bagels and lox can actually be eaten on other days of the week as well, but, you know, there's...tradition.

I drive a hard bargain. You must feed me goat curry *and* analyze novels. But you must also choke down the food I might offer, and suffer novel discussions.

Is it my mistake? I never knew dim sum could be any time other than Sunday, kind of like bagels and lox...

fred, went to mcguckin's--they of the 5000 aimless, overly-helpful staff--and purchased a 4 plant mini-pot thingy. probably paid twice what i would at the farmers' market but really who can wake up that early? i mean, other than you. so, while i see if this basil in the pot in late summer experiment will work i'll have some basil to draw upon. i'm also considering bunging some seeds for perennial winter thyme in the same pot--mistake? or amazingly smart of me? i'm already mixing seeds for italian and thai basil to begin with--perhaps this is getting to be too much like dr. moreau's herb garden thanks again, mongo While happily snipping my basil plant (purchased at the KGNU plant sale June 5th; planted in a pot outdoors, same day) for dinner tonight... I'll offer the usual colorado advice: try it. The combination of sunshine, 4 seasons that occur randomly, and tender loving care... it may not work; then again, it just might. My rosemary plant (theoretically winter tender) has lived through 8 years so far. The horseradish, ineradicable once started, is still grasping for life; I keep hacking the tarragon back, because it threatens to engulf the buffalo grass. Thyme, and oregano, soldier on. Mint is vigorous, but it lives in the southwest exposure, so is restrained. And paying twice as much at McGuckin's? Two dollars, instead of a dollar? The chance to speak with the green vested ones makes up for it. The advice and care are worth it.

Insane husband running imogene pass will need lots of food to recover... "Holidays" won't interfere; Rosh Hashana starts Wednesday evening, 9/15; Thursday, Friday 9/16, 9/17; Yom Kippur starts friday evening, 9/24; Saturday 9/25. So, it looks like possible dates are Sunday, September 19; Sunday, September 26; Sunday, October 3; Sunday, October 10; you recognize the pattern. Chime in with comments.

December? After that report? Waiting so long? We're wide open in December... but I'd guess that for most, December is the hardest month to not end up with a conflict, and conflicts of the type that even if we plan ahead, an egullet gathering would have to fall by the wayside. How about October or November?

...and how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? (Sorry if my question doesn't meet rigorous philosophical guidelines, but you get the drift...we're in colorado, it snows.) Between the the vegetarians, the yuppies, the old hippies, the bujews, (or jubus, or whatever label you might come up with; did'ja know that boulder is home to the largest collection/congregation? of jewish buddhists/buddhist jews in the world?...don't ask for the backup documentation, unless you want a whole lot more of boulder esotericism, naropa stuff, etc.) the just plain "like exotic, but safe", a walk on the wild side on the edge of urban, ...if any place in this country can support that many indian restaurants, it's Boulder. My question is... Would Boulder support a *good* Indian restaurant? Is there one here yet? If not, why not? If there is, which one is it? Most important... what can we do to help make it happen? edit to add: Better bring it back on topic... absinthe is rumored to induce hallucinations, no? L'absinthe/Aspen a figment of imagination, perhaps real in Boulder?

If I remember the conversation at Da Lat correctly, Fred and his wife reported they had wonderful dim sum at Empress recently. And in any case, the delightful company will make it an adventure to remember.

I've also been to Tres Margaritas in Colorado Springs and the one on South Clinton (near the country dinner playhouse), as well as the Broomfield location. I've always enjoyed the food and experience at any of the Tres Margaritas, and I'm happy to eat there when anyone suggests it, but never thought of recommending it as someplace special to go. Maybe I should rethink?

Chezhoff, Not off topic at all... So, if I wanted to find that big, UPS sized truck, with the faded "tacos, burritos, tortas" painted on the side, what times and exactly where would be the best place to hang out and wait? (I assume I start out heading east on Baseline? Then what?) Now off topic...are you going to join us at Dalat on Saturday?

I will be there, with my daughter again. And Mongo and Mrs. Mongo will be there. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

The sno-cones... I kept crunching on a combination of kahlua and bailey's irish creme; enough to keep me happy at those fryers, a blast (furnace?) from the past because of the company of re-found old friends, as well as new. My favorite was the shrimp rolled in coconut. Great party, katzenjammy.

Welcome to Colorado and the hidden southwest on egullet, pumpkiny. You're well on your way to discovering a sad truth of Denver dining; great Chinese is missing. Here are a few threads where we talked about it: Here, here, and here. There were some other threads that picked up the theme, that I didn't find in a quick search, but maybe some of the other Denver/Boulderites will remember where they are and post the links. edit to add: Vietnamese food along south federal is one of denver's great food treasures. Check out this thread. Our next egullet gathering is happening at Dalat, on south federal on July 24; join us if you're interested.

So where is Miss Mongo anyway? Burnt out from that massive blog he "wowed" us with a couple of weeks ago? 7:30 is fine for me too. I've sent you a PM...

I've been in touch with Miss Mongo. (S)he says... I thought we agreed to compromise on 7:30; way back, long ago? Something about the horror of leaving the restaurant, having already eaten, and it's still light out? 7:30 sounds good to me, as well. Could we agree to 7:30 PM?

I'm in for 2, possibly 3. Edit: Do we have a time decided yet?

I can't say I'm surprised, only out of date. So I just tried googling to see if I could find any more information, and there's apparently still a Las Palmas in Thornton that's been around since 1986; as well as taqueria Las Palmas on Federal (probably the one Robin saw?). Are they all related? Quien sabe...

I remember Mamas... I can only echo Fred's take on Las Delicias. Years ago I loved it, have not been back in ages. I don't know if Las Palmas is related to some others around town, Las Palmas II, Las Palmas (I?), if so, stay away. A couple of other nostalgic Mexican restaurant memories---the original La Loma, and Chavez near Elitch's.

I'll definitely be there, but don't know yet if I'll be alone or with one or two more. Mongo and his wife will be there, possibly with a couple of mongo's colleagues, if that's okay with the group. What say group? Congratulations Fred. Thanks for posting this colestove. I hadn't heard about it.

Please do. Perhaps fried pepto-bismol ice cream, sprinkled with crushed fried tums for the final fillip?

Did you ever notice a missing button on your shirt after you were dressed? And wanted someone to replace it, but you didn't want to take the shirt off? My grandmother was happy to sew it back on if that happened, but you had to chew on a crust of bread while she was doing it. Otherwise, she was sure she would sew up your brain.