Fritz Brenner

I just got home from work.... ate some homemade tuna noodle casserole that was leftover in the fridge. I love tuna noodle casserole.

Yeah! I love me some Oberon. Still sad about missing the next get-together.... I hope we can all meet up later this summer for an e-gullet style pub-fest. re: the Leffe thing. Last year, living in Rennes, France, they pronounced it without the e and it was a pretty popular beer in France. I only know one Flemish person (and I definitely don't speak Flemish!).... but it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Flemish prononciation was Leff-ah or some such. So I guess both are correct!! Cheers, all. **Fritz

Yeah!

I am by no means a baking expert, so I know many others will answer this question better. However, there are definitely vegan desserts out there... applesauce is one way vegans make their desserts, also bananas, coconut-- to add depth and to make things stick I suppose... Vegan desserts that simply imitate rich cakes, pies, or cookies, in my opinion, just don't cut it. If your son likes fruit (and you're going to the Evanston farmer's market soon...), I would roast some, or make sorbets.... concentrate on things that can stand alone and wouldn't require lots of non-dairy substitutions. Fritz

Nero is all crazy busy now with school, and I know she can't peruse egullet like she used to. So, since I was with her on the night of the Cracker Trio, eight million potato chips, mini-cakes and Philly cream cheese bars, washed down with Big Momma wine ( ), I can tell you all about that special vino.... it's one of those super corny wines with cartoon labels... this one had a cheerful, plump matron on it, I believe she was offering up a steaming bowl of pasta. It's sort of in the vein of that Old Fart wine, if you've ever noticed that stuff. Basically it was glug to help the dairy and carb mania down our throats... Cheers, Fritz

hahaha. Well, Nero, was it?

Woah, many of you are so motivated, esp. Mr. Varmint... go, man, go! I almost feel guilty reading this post.... but happy for you and confident that you'll be successful. **Fritz

Hmmm, good idea. I'll have to start doing that.... I don't always use ketchup, though (depends on the fry), so in order to maximize the amount of pepper on each fry, I rub the fries vigorously on my plate where the salt and pepper collects, in order to insure peppery goodness.

That's true, tammy... we are a food site after all. I guess I'll make the little trek over to Ann Arbor myself to check out the art. And I'll probably bring a picnic, which is generally much more enjoyable on a nice day than waiting for eight years to sit inside a restaurant. I guess our Michigan meeting should aim for a time in July that is not during the art fair.

elyse, I'm agreeing with you all over the place. I almost always pepper my fries. Is that weird or something?

Let's go for a July thing-- weather should be great (although it's Michigan, so one never knows...). Isn't there an awesome art fair in Ann Arbor in July? Or is it June? Fritz

I agree-- I very much enjoy the flavor of pepper in many dishes (although quality does matter for sure). Aside from just adding an element of flavor to some foods, pepper alone can make a dish great-- steak au poivre would be an example. There are some things that I always add freshly ground pepper to-- a simple green salad, a tuna melt... I know these aren't examples of "haute cuisine," but I guess for me what elevates them beyond blah college food is a good quality pepper. I'm done now. Cheers, Fritz

On Travelocity right now they have flights leaving JFK going to Charles de Gaulle in the $350- $400 range, on all kinds of airlines. For you New Yorkers interested in heading to Paris, looks like you could get a deal similar to jeunefilleparis'. Cheers, Fritz

But are you really pica? Do you crave ashes and the like? I know that happens to many pregnant women, but... I think the desire to eat, or at least try, anything is a wonderful thing. **Fritz

You're right, Guajalote, I was being kind of unfair to poor K-zoo. Your dad is probably talking about Bacchus, which is an old Kalamazoo institution with lots of wines, liquors, coffee, cheese, and chocolates. If not that shop, Tiffany's is another good wine/cigar/specialty food store, as is W.J. Upsons, who roast their own coffee and host wine and cheese tastings. Beer-wise, Bells and Kraftbrau make pretty damn good beers, in my opinion. I guess I was referring more to the restaurant scene, which is mostly lacking...

I would also love to meet in Ann Arbor, it's only a short ride from Kalamazoo (where the food scene is sad and meager....). The Chicago egullet folks are so awesome, it would be great to meet some gulleteers from my home state! If NeroW isn't too busy with Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago, I know she'd love to return to Michigan for some eatin'. Cheers, Fritz

Russo's is definitely cool. My mom, some of her friends, my sister, and I (if the two of us are around) take the forty-five minute trip to GR every November to buy a bunch of wine and cheese and other yummies. It's been a few years since I've been able to go, but as far as I know (MatthewB will probably be sure about this) there is a big ol' sale there on a Saturday in the beginning of November every year. Fun stuff.

I like to try out back of the box recipes, maybe changing a few ingredients to fit my tastes.... my favorite cake ever is from a recipe my mom got off of a cocoa powder box many years ago, it's called Black Magic cake (I imagine it's from the Hershey's cocoa powder box, but it isn't on there anymore). I always use the Quaker recipe for oatmeal cookies and the Tollhouse recipe for choc. chip cookies. However, sometimes the back o' box recipes are awful-- the other day I was making risotto and I looked at the recipe on the box of arborio I was using. Stovetop temperatures, cooking times, a whole ton of stuff was not even included, and the order they told you to do things in was really odd (in my opinion). If someone had never tried risotto before and used this box recipe, I have a feeling it wouldn't have been a success.... **Fritz

My mom always would make, for large picnic-type gatherings and random potlucks, something called Pistachio Ice-cream Pie. I don't know of other families that ate this particular dessert, and I have no idea where she got the recipe... but it's oddly yummy!

Hi Tommy, Like NeroW said, I lived in Portland for awhile. I was stationed in the southeast side, so I'm mainly familiar with that area. On that note, I would agree with the Three Doors Down recommendation, it's a comfy (small) place with consistently good stuff. Hawthorne Blvd, the street that Three Doors Down is right off of, is an interesting area with lots of restaurants, bars, and cafes (as well as shops) that may appeal to you if you were just to walk around a bit. Lemongrass, in the southeast on Stark street (I'm not sure about that street, actually--does anyone else know?), does pretty good Thai in my humble opinion. On the other side of town completely (the northwest side), I ate dinner once at Paley's Place on NW 21st street. Obviously, I can't give a very accurate review, but I thoroughly enjoyed what I ate, as well as what my dinner partner had to eat. The restaurant itself is very pleasant to be in, and we had excellent service. No one else has mentioned this restaurant, so I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has tried it out. Good luck and have fun. **Fritz

Ironically, yes! Sounds like we should have a slumber party where we all stuff our faces, watch silly movies, and read fluff-brain magazines! -Fritz

Nachos with tons of beans and cheese and sour cream. Frozen heath bars, ice cream out of the container, with chocolate in it (or else). Mashed potatoes overflowing with butter and heaped with salt. Bagels thick with cream cheese and slices of tomato.... oh yeah, and cheesecake. mmmm, hungry.

HOORAY!! Maggie, what an honest and enjoyable article. Now, I'll definitely be on a lunchtime chocolate search... I too am excited to meet you on Saturday! --Fritz

Oh no, MsRamsey, you took mine! As soon as I saw the topic name, I thought of the enormous Hung Far Lo sign, and I laughed... It's hard to believe that Hung Far Lo is for real, but I went there with some friends... interesting experience.

Thanks much, that explains a lot. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for it, but around here, I doubt I'll find it about in the supermarkets.