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Dave, please remind me what the name of the restaurant next door to Il Bagatto is.

Adam, I'm not being allowed to view the image: Do you have any idea what's going on? I wanna see that food!

I know. But believe me, I know the difference between rectal bleeding and beet juice. If I didn't know it by appearance, the pain would be a sure tipoff...

Thanks for that great report! On your question about mangoes, I did some internet research and found this FAO page which lists "Florida, USA" as a mango producing area. I believe the mangoes most commonly sold in New York are grown in Mexico, however, and it wouldn't surprise me if a restaurant like this got mangoes from Southeast Asia. If you'd like to read more about the world trade in mangoes, you can read another page on the same FAO site.

Thanks, tejon. This was another blog where I had to ask myself "It's over already?" Is the red color in the peach cobbler only from the red part of the peaches near the pits, or did you also include something else red in it?

I'll consider it, but I don't know of any Malaysian restaurant in New York (including Flushing) that would come close to matching the quality of Spicy & Tasty. If there are any Malaysian restaurants in New York that you'd recommend, please post about them in the New York Forum.

Since this thread became at least as much about me as about antacids, I want to give you all an update. After a weekend of near-fasting, eating almost nothing except a bit of Metamucil Cinnamon Spice Fiber Wafers, drinking some tea (peppermint + chamomile, in addition to my usual hibiscus) and plain water (and ultimately, last night, high-pulp orange juice), and using several Calmol 4 suppositories, I am doing much better. After having eaten no actual food in well over 24 hours, I felt good enough - and hungry enough - to have a breakfast of a spinach/mushroom/swiss cheese omelet with a side of beets that I didn't finish (some are left for a snack later) this morning. I'm no longer bleeding but will continue with the suppositories for at least this day. The problem, as I said, was that I just put way too much into my stomach Friday night. It was a really awful experience! I've learned a lesson from it and intend never to stuff myself that much ever again. Unfortunately, I got onto a bizarre waking and sleeping schedule and was again unable to sleep all night and all morning (I'm on vacation and don't have to be anywhere in particular today). But I definitely feel a lot more normal, and I think my gallbladder is in its normal place. Thanks to all who expressed concern and gave suggestions. P.S. The link I provided for side effects of calcium carbonate (Tums et al.) is an NIH page. Part of their website gives information about all sorts of medicines.

Review or no review, I've almost never had to wait for a table there, without reservations, at any time. On the occasions I've dined at Il Bagatto, the food has always been excellent, but you're right: With all the other good Italian restaurants in this neighborhood, there's no reason you need to tolerate lousy service. By the way, I've always had very gracious service at Lavagna, but it's small and while not nearly as hard to get a table at as Il Bagatto, certainly much harder than Col Legno.

Bummer, juuceman! Have you tried Col Legno? You may find its sedate, relaxed atmosphere an antidote to your experience at Il Bagatto. If you like, you can have a look at their MenuPages.com page.

That was a great statement, Tim, and from reading it, there's no doubt in my mind that you're doing this because your soul needs it. What you wrote is more like a manifesto - and a very well-written one - than an ad. I have no idea when or whether I'll have the chance to come to your place, as I don't get down to Philadelphia often at all. But I see you as a kindred spirit, a committed artist/artisan, and I wish you good luck and all the enjoyment you seek from your vocation.

Oh dear! The links are time-sensitive and no longer work! In order to access them, go to www.thejakartapost.com, then click on "Past Editions." You will find the stories under "Features," but only for the remainder of the week, unless you complete a free registration form which enables you to have free access to their archives dating from May 28, 1999. Here are the titles you'll want to click on: "Nyonya cuisine, a traditional fusion food" "The spice is right at meradelima in Pondok Indah"

That was fun!

Tejon, what flavor of bubble tea was that?

Jeff, why don't you provide a link so we know who you're talking about? Maybe I'm being oversensitive, but this way, it feels like gossip to me. Besides, some of us might want to know about the upcoming "French bakery." I can't respond to your main question, though.

Gosh, some of you are really alarmist. I wasn't asking for amateur diagnoses (assuming you're not a doctor; I forget whether you are one). If I'm no better in a couple of days, I'll speak with my doctor or his RN, whoever isn't currently on vacation. Besides, the main cause is that I think I've been eating too much. I may have hit rock-bottom on that, too. Sooner or later, it's necessary for me to confront the disconnect that's developed between my real appetite and my eating habits. I think the time is now.

I'll continue to eat really lightly, and if I still am having trouble, I'll look into that drug.

That's right, and they spell it varenniki around here, I think. My statement stands, though. Varenniki and pierogies are two different names for essentially the same thing. But that doesn't help Atomic Lunch in his quest.

I always run cold water over the burned part and then, if it still hurts, tear off part of a brown paper bag, if available, trickle some cold water on it, and wrap it around the burned part. I understand that the tannin in the brown paper helps to reduce the severity of the burn. (Disclaimer: I'm only a Doctor of Music. Take two eighth-notes and call me in the morning. )

Hmmm...well, in that case, Ukranian pelmeni and Polish pierogies seem the same to me. Is that a heretical statement?

This wonderful cuisine, which is "said to be fading" but has exerted such powerful influence on many generations of people throughout Nusantara, is the subject of a feature article in the current issue of The Jakarta Post. I will quote some exerpts below:

"A fish always rots from the head." - originally a Chinese proverb, I think.

Yeah, I live here, but I only know places to get Polish pierogies or their Ukranian equivalent (the name slips my mind at the moment).

No, it's not black. Don't get overly worried, folks, this problem has been intermittent and my doctors know about it. I won't make an appointment unless it continues for another week or so or worsens. Besides, today is Saturday, so no doctor.

I'm sure all of us have upset stomachs from time to time. I've had trouble with mine lately. I have RiteAid's version of Tums, essentially: 750 mg of calcium carbonate per pill plus various more or less annoying additives. It's generally considered that moderate intake of calcium supplements is beneficial. However, there's a warning on the back of the bottle: Last night and this morning, I've been tempted to exceed that dosage, but I don't think I will. The reason is that calcium carbonate has side effects: Yep, in the last few days, I've had rectal bleeding and painful defecation no matter how much Metamucil I've taken. Uh-huh. I'm wondering whether it's possible to develop a harmful dependency (note that I didn't say "addiction"!) on antacids. For now, I think I'll avoid ingesting anything but water, and I may well fast for the day.

I like Lavagna, which has a classy ambiance, and Il Bagatto, which has a loud, overcrowded ambiance. Because of price, the unpretentious, comfortable Pylos also belongs here, not in some "$25-and-under" never-never land. Always excellent food! It's probably no accident that these places are all in my neighborhood. I also enjoyed @SQC on my one visit there so far, and August was terrific on my first trip! August is pushing "expensive" for me, though.