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I like Two Little Red Hens a lot. If I remember correctly, their original Park Slope branch is a little more spacious than their Upper East Side branch, and feels a little more like a cafe, but I haven't been to the Park Slope location for a few years. I'm guessing you went to the Manhattan location?

Wow, that really looks super! You make some of the best-looking home-cooked meals I've seen!

Exactly. It's the media and not the low-budgeted grass-roots organizations which are responsible for blowing things out of proportion. It's not unreasonable for organizations to promote particular issues they are devoted to, and it's very good that there are organizations doing just that. If devoting themselves to narrow issues can make them effective in focusing attention on something that needs fixing, God bless 'em. But somewhere along the line, for the good of public policy, someone should be reminding everyone that there are many major causes of death that can be prevented, and doing something about those causes of death. For example, just think about how many lives could be saved if safety were improved on roads leading to and from shopping malls where people are buying beef, and in the vehicles they are using for the purpose, and if cleaner fuel were used in those vehicles. And I repeat: Disproportionate focus on a minor cause of death decreases focus on much more important causes of death.

Either cool-inary or cull-inary, certainly not cue. ...IMO at least. ← I say "kyoolinery." So there!

I can't resist asking you which half thinks what.

My feeling is that extra virgin olive oil has a particular taste, and if you want that taste on whatever you're sauteeing, use it.

I agree on this, but I also think that Daniel makes an important point, which is that when the press sensationalizes something that's a relatively minor cause of injury and death today, it diverts attention from much more important (as in numerous) but less sensationalized causes of death and injury, with the result that things that cause many more deaths and injuries get short shrift and thousands and thousands of preventable deaths occur every year if not every day. I'll note that the sensationalized causes of death don't have to be food-borne and don't have to be due to diseases or accidents, either, but even if we give non-food politics a wide berth (as we should in these forums) and restrict ourselves to food-borne illnesses and injuries in food processing, we can see how more research and better regulations on food handling and processing and workplace safety for meat packers and so forth could save a lot of lives. While I don't disagree with press attention on this frightening, incurable disease, it's a pretty inescapable conclusion that the media in the US (TV and radio even more than print) has a limited focus and attention span, so that one sensational story really is in that sense the enemy of other issues that might be focused on. And I think there are more important reasons than Mad Cow to support better and more inspections of meat packing plants and so forth, though if that fear were to be at long last the impetus behind some reforms, I'd be all for that.

My most common excessive indulgence is ice cream. No more comments...

A foodblog by Varmint, how exciting! I'll bet there'll be some barbecue this week, right?

I don't think I mentioned that really great lychees make me absolutely joyous! That unique perfume and juicy, pulpy mixture of sweet and tangy!

Another thought is Som Tom (Thai unripe papaya salad), but of course it requires an unripe papaya, and that might or might not be difficult for you to find where you are.

I'll bet you could get pig bladders in Chinatown.

No comment. But what are vera burgers?

Timo, my first thought is that there aren't that many Native Americans in New York, but I think there are, actually. I don't know; for whatever reason, Native American cuisines don't get much publicity here, though they contributed so much to world cuisine (tomatoes, potatoes, corn, squash, etc.).

I have seen that several places over the years. ← I've been to a lot of places that had that policy, but I'm not sure I remember a sign up.

Weimar Republic Germany was worse. And then there's the question of whether colonies (Irish potato famine, e.g.) count. But of course, this begs the question of what a "democracy" is, and that's off-topic.

Chris, it looks like you're overdue for a visit to New York. Passionate, I'd be surprised if no pastrami were available in the UK. At the same time the largescale immigration of Jews from the Eastern European homes of pastrami to the Americas took place, there was a smaller-scale immigration to the UK and France (in fact, my father's Poilisher father and grandparents came to the UK before deciding to leave for the US). Maybe you should inquire in the United Kingdom & Ireland forum.

Maybe we could talk about how hunger/malnutrition in particular has been successfully alleviated in some part of the world. Are there any programs or policies that have been particularly successful?

I'm impressed with the thoroughness of your environmental thinking. So, you're sticking with Sushi Nation?

I'm not suggesting the use of panch phoran in this dish, but I would have to strongly disagree with the idea that kalonji (nigella) is tasteless. Then again, that's my tastebuds vs. yours.

I'm hearing that downtown is one of the areas to go for some good food. Any recommendations for places downtown that will be accessible by trolley? Octaveman, I apologize for any misunderstanding. I'm white, too; it's just that I like Chinese-style Chinese food (yeah, I know, loaded term).

Katz's Pastrami makes me feel joyful to be alive!

OK, I'd like to know more about these places that were rated 2 stars: Chloe in Marina del Rey, which got 2 stars in 2003. Is it still good? It's described as having seasonal dishes that change every month. What would a summer menu look like? Beacon in Culver City (Got 2 1/2 stars, but what the hell is "Asian"? Pan-Asian, I guess? Should that be a red flag for me? It is.) Rocca in Santa Monica, which got 2 1/2 stars in 2003. Is it still good? Beechwood in Venice (the LA Times 2005 Dining Guide says to go to page 32 for more information, but I don't know how to do that online). Could one of you please describe their American cuisine? Any favorite dishes? Piccolo Ristorante Italiano in Venice Beach. I undoubtedly passed it by the last time I was in Venice and walked to the beach. I'm wondering if all these places would be appropriate for a relatively quiet meal with relatives, or if not, which would be, and also what other restaurants should be in this list. I feel like I'm way overemphasizing the star ratings because I'm from out of town and don't know any of these places. You all can rectify that. Basically, I'm looking for a place with terrific food and a relaxed ambiance (I don't expect to bring a suit and tie, if anyone in LA would care, but you all are kind of laid back, anyway, aren't you? ) that might be too expensive for my relatives to go to regularly but won't kill my bank account. $36 entrees are alarming to me, but I could handle a place with entrees in the low 20s. The place with the $85 tasting menu (Valentino) looks amazing (with the important caveat that they have a new chef, which could change everything), but unless it's just me and my cousin, forget about such extravagances.

Sure I would! I'll have a look at the LA Times link.

I've enjoyed this blog very much! I do have a question: How difficult was it for the establishment you work for to get its license to sell wine or, if you weren't there at the time and therefore don't know, how involved a process is it in general to get liquor licenses in Edmonton?