Pan

I didn't know there were black and purple tomatoes!

No time to take the Metro to the small Chinatown in DC? I wasn't impressed, but I didn't ask for recommendations on eGullet in advance of that trip (which was mostly a business trip and mostly spent in the Morgan-Adams section and Dupont Circle).

The thing I've liked best at Lafayette was their rum balls, but I'll shut up now. Glad you enjoyed your birthday.

Thanks, Rabbi. I got a laugh out of that punch line.

That's a very significant comment, JJ. I know a man who's almost never paid top dollar for the rare books, prints, and so forth that he owns, and he's assembled quite a large and extremely valuable collection over the years. He couldn't have bought all of those things for what they're worth, but he can sell them for what they're worth. Of course wine is different in that collectors normally buy it for drinking, not as a resellable investment.

And that's very unlikely to happen, for the same reason that the Times hardly ever reviews debut recitals when they used to typically review most if not all debut recitals at Carnegie Recital Hall: Advertising space is how they make their money, and the more of it they've got, the more money they make. Which also means that to a greater or lesser extent, their Arts/Entertainment articles are ad-driven. But that probably effects music reviews more than restaurant reviews? (By the way, that question mark is intentional.)

What was the first rule, bloviatrix? No press coverage?

Thanks, Katherine.

Looks beautiful! Too bad you hate cheesecake and, thus, couldn't fully appreciate your creation. Is it hard to cook something you hate?

What are sour patch kids? (Seriously, I don't know what they are.)

I just thought of something, in case someone would like to try their hand at Sayur. Little dried salted shrimps are also commonly used in sayur and help give taste to the soothing dish. Sayur traditionally accompanies some fish, chicken, or other meat dish (e.g. a curry) and isn't the centerpiece of the meal.

Have you noticed how many of the large meat packers have been consolidating lately? To be honest, no. But the thing is, cigarettes are inherently a product that kills, a fact denied for a long time by all cigarette companies, though they knew it was true. Beef does not normally kill, but is nutritious food. So in order to sue someone, you'd have to prove who was responsible. I wouldn't think it would really matter for that purpose whether there are 10 meat packing companies or 3. I don't see any way to sue the beef industry as a whole, unless perhaps you could sue an association for lying or something. And frankly, I think that's a good thing, because there's no way that the entire beef industry would be guilty if someone gets vCJD.

That works because a smoker smoked the same brand for the entire time. How is someone going to establish which piece of meat caused the vCJD 20 years later and sue the responsible party?

They were given refuge by the Japanese occupiers. Shanghai was occupied in 1937.

I haven't been to Polka Dot, but thanks for the recommendations. I've had a few things at Lafayette, and yes, I liked them, or I wouldn't have said so. Since that shows a difference in taste between me and you, feel free to discount my recommendations to whatever extent is likely to be optimal for you.

I think you make a lot of really good points, Tim. But let's keep in mind that Michelin has many inspectors, while there's only one of Grimes or whoever is the $25-and-over critic for the Times, so to speak.

Sorry if I sounded judgmental. I tend think it makes more sense to exclude children from restaurants than hotels, if you're going to exclude them from one or the other, but cultural differences are what makes the world interesting. I believe my parents took my brother to England when he was 5 or so. I'll ask them if they remember how difficult it was for them to find places to stay, though I doubt they'll remember much about that after over 40 years.

I have to admit I haven't tried any of the places mentioned so far, I think. Do any of you like Lafayette, on Greenwich Av. and Charles St.? I like it (though I obviously can't compare it to the other places) and it could be on your way. I don't think there's any seating, though. And where is Stone St., the Financial District? VivreManger, if you'd be willing to go for Viennese instead of French pastries, I love the place on 1st Av. and 12th St.: Something Sweet Inc 177 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003 (212) 533-9986 No place to sit there either, however.

True.

I agree with that - providing you can afford it. There are, after all, a lot of people who create pleasure by going thousands of dollars into debt on their credit cards...

Sounds delicious to me!

Feel better, beans!

I'll hate to see it end, too, but it hasn't ended until Kris says it has, I reckon.

Is wood ash in fact the same as lye (NaOH)?

It's worthwhile for people who can plunk down a few hundred dollars for wine and for whom that's a priority. However, I just read the article and see nothing objectionable in it.