[Local Fast Food of Texas]

So how are we defining fast food here? Anything with a drive through? Anything inexpensive? Anything where you have to walk up to a counter? Anything that will take your order and hand you food within five minutes?

[San Antonio, Texas]

Welcome to the Texas Forum, bobdavis. Hope to see more posts from you about the San Antonio food scene. Restaurants and chefs of course, but if you know about ethnic markets, farmer's markets, or special SA homecooked food, we would like to hear more about those things, too.

[Is there a great bagel in Texas?]

Welcome, Jennifer and thanks for the post. I'll come by for a REAL bagel next time I am in Austin. I also eschew, rather than chew, soft bagels and those other than plain, salt, and garlic.

And thanks, Jaymes, for sniffing this out.

[Asian Markets in the DFW area]

Thanks for the reports, Hermit and Scott. The details and the personal experience makes a big difference.

[I will never again . . . (Part 1)]

I know it's been said before, but...I strongly recommend cutting chile peppers while wearing disposable gloves, and if you're not going to wear the gloves, it's probably not a great time to put in your contact lens.

Also, RLB suggests putting your dry pie dough ingredients in a one gallon freezer bag and freezing it. Well, when you go to close the bag to seal it, it's a good idea to pay close enough attention to what you're doing to squeeze the air out very, very slowly...and to not be wearing a black shirt if you don't.

[Asian Markets in the DFW area]

Thanks, Modern Day Hermit. And welcome to eGullet.

Scott -- DFW: Thanks. No need to catalogue and compare all the ethnic (or even just Asian) markets in the DFW area, unless you want to. Just pointing out locations of various markets may be helpful to those who want to go explore, or who are looking for, say, a Thai ingredient they can't find elsewhere. Even more helpful would be a brief report on the ones you shop at -- what you have found of interest; is there a language barrier for English speakers; how wide a range of products; do prices seem high, low, average compared to whatever you want to compare them to? Those sorts of questions people may have.

How about Ft Worth and the mid-cities? Denton?

[Lebanese Clay Pots]

Thanks, Elie and thanks Paula. Those are wonderful, and the descriptions make them come alive.

[Texas Tamale Trail]

Okay, now that you have resigned yourself to eventually crossing the border , let's use this thread for more contributions of where to get the best tamales in Texas for the holidays.

Any more favorites? Not a tamale vendor, but Benitos in Ft.Worth has a substantial tamale on their menu.

[Texas Tamale Trail]

Sharon,

A tamalada sometime next year sounds great then. But first we have to drag you out of Mexico before your VISA expires or your VISA card explodes. You, uh, are coming back this year, aren't you? Or do we have to send in an eGullet squad to extract you?

[Amma]

That's great, Suvir! Congratulations on another review.

[Houston Heights "Farmer's Market"]

Tani -- Welcome to the eGullet Texas Forum. Please let us know what you find out when you go again.

[Pizza/Baking Stones in NYC]

You can get 6X6 inch unglazed tiles at Home Depot for about 75 cents each. (They are gray or red. When I told the sales guy what I wanted to use tiles for, he knew exactly what I was talking about and led me to them.) I use six of them on the bottom rack of my oven and leave them there. I have not done a pizza yet on it, but it works fine for other things. You can wrap aluminum foil over it if you're woried about cleaning the tiles. I would think that if you use cornmeal on your peel or cutting board that you use as a peel, it should work fine. The tiles are also great at holding heat when you have to open the oven door to check something.

[Pheasant]

There are very few pheasant experts, because pheasants are experts at very few things.

[Creating a Perfect Cheesecake]

Paula -- As a fellow clay pot addict, I am intrigued with doing one in stoneware. What kinds have you used? Ramekins in porcelein, Emile Henry, or something else?

[Amma]

Congratulations on the great reviews, Suvir. While I will not be able to make it to the city for a while (and may need a six month lead due to your sucess), I am sending several friends in Manhattan and Texas who will beat me to your front door. (You've got mail.)

Richard

[Texas Tamale Trail]

Welcome to eGullet, Venado. Hope you enjoy the place as much as we do.

This is a great thread and a Texas Tamalada is a great idea, theabroma! Can we have it tomorrow night? I am drooling.

We don't have any comments from San Antonio. Does anyone have the lowdown on SA tamales?

[dfw - the airport]

It's possible to get in and out to eat, but more trouble than most people want to go to. Why Colleyville? A restaurant there in particular?

[Individual/Mini Cheesecakes]

Suvir -- So how did the ring molds work out? Are you using them at Amma now?

[Aurora *****]

For the Dallas Morning News review of Aurora, click here. Has anyone been recently?

[Park City, Utah]

Alicia -- Welcome to eGullet! I can recommend The Tree Room at Sun Dance. It's only a short drive from Park City, even in driving snow. The menu changes, of course, but we had Grilled Trout with Leeks, Mushrooms and Toasted Pumkin Seed Vinaigrette; Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with Lamb Sausage, White Bean Puree and Roasted Garlic; and Grilled Rib Eye with a Zinfandel Butter and Horseradish Mashed Potatoes. There was a Roasted Beet, Arugula and Orange with Shallot Vinaigrette; and Mixed Baby Greens with a Smoked Green Apple Vinaigrette. There was more and everything was wonderful. Call ahead for reservations.

Also, there was a decent Sushi place on the main drag in Park City.

[Luchows Book]

I received a copy of the book in beautiful shape last year. And the Bemelmans line drawings certainly fit my memories of the place. My clearest food memory was of the marinated herring. And the recipe is in the book.

[My First Clay Pot]

Yes, glazed Mexican clay pots are potentially leaded.

Maybe Paula Wolfert will jump in here, but in her recent book, "The Slow Mediterranen Kitchen", and in her recent Food & Wine article on clay pots, mentions a product that you can get at most hardware stores that will test for the lead. I can't find the name of it at the moment, but will try to find it if she does not find this thread.

Paula also says to soak clay pots in water to cover for 12 hours. You have to be careful not to set a hot pot on a cold surface and to start the pot in a cold oven which you then bring up to temperature.

[Your dream kitchen tools and cookware]

All great ideas. I would add Emile Henry pottery -- gratin and baking pieces, a casserole (fait tout ), pie plates (large, small and mini), and tart pan are some of my favorites. The EH tableware also is worth checking out. Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma both carry different versions in different colors of the EH cooking and baking pieces. Dinnerware is harder to find at a brick & mortar, but check the eGullet Amazon link.

Also Pillivyut French porcelain for baking pieces, serving pieces and table ware. This stuff is white and luminous, sets off any food well, and is nearly indestructible.

Both Emile Henry and Pillivyut can go from freezer to oven, broiler, or stovetop and to the table. Great stuff.

[DIGEST: Gastronomica]

Thanks for posting this digest, Carolyn. Fascinating and wonderful. I will have to start reading through these issues.

[Texas sources for huitlacoche?]

I got an email from Tom at SpiceAirUnlimited.comand thought I would pass it on ---

oh yeah,

I have two, full blown ears of Fresh Huitlacoche lest from last nights, Central Market event "20 Years of Smoke & Spice" (I was the Spice portion) and have about 50# of frozen, premium off the cob.

best

Tom

Tom also mentioned that he can provide small, as well as large quantities of any of the great produce they grow and source from other growers.

Thanks, Tom.