MetsFan5

And what's this glove law? For fast food establishments? Certainly not for fine dining or even any place that makes food to order in a restaurant establishment v. a fast food one. I'd prefer NOT to see gloves as well. It reeks of ignorance of sanitation to me.

No no it isn't legal in NJ to not have a proper hand washing station.

I'm not a particularly good home cook at all. That said, I love mushrooms. If I'm not eating them from a purchased marinated jar, I dry fry them them until almost all the water is extracted then pour a bit or more of sherry or Marsala wine, let that reduce and add as much butter as I want. simple and great alone or on a baked potato or a steak. Or in scrambled eggs. Or a hash!

An English muffin "pizza". English muffins drizzled with olive oil and garlic salt, with cheap Classico pizza sauce and Galbini mozzarella in my Breville toaster oven. I love that toaster oven. In my defense we had nothing in the house after being away for two weeks and I hate seeing any NY team down except when those teams are playing my teams. It was quick and dirty and worked.

What about the people who give apples or toothbrushes? Like why bother? I always loathed those people.

Stone crab

Yea for some reason I think the owners of the establishments I worked in wouldn't be worried about the water police!

At that time I was working at both the ala carte and buffet at The Manor, as well as the Highlawn Pavilion and Rod's. None of them acknowledged such laws. And none of them have since. My husband proposed to me in the paulor cars at Rod's and we had our wedding at the Madison Hotel. Water was always a given.

I only worked in high end restaurants by that time but the water flowed freely! Same with the vino!

I have never seen that enforced. I worked in restaurants at that time and they served water automatically. It wasn't even mentioned.

In all the years I've waitresses or worked in restaurants in NJ it was never illegal to serve water unless requested. That law must have existed prior to 1999. High end restaurants generally ask your water preference and bring it immediately and refill regularly. Yes, I specifically request water when I order a glass or bottle of wine or a cocktail. I've never found it to be an issue at home in NJ but here in southern Fl at more casual places, it's been an issue three times out of the four times we've dined out. I don't think it's really about tips- the more casual places assume people want their alcoholic beverages ASAP. I bring a Tervis of water wherever I go (I do leave it in the car) so suck down a lot of water prior to dining.

It takes a LOT to make me angry at a restaurant. But a pet peeve is asking for water with alcoholic beverages and not receiving it. I'm on vacation in Marco Island right now and am getting tired of begging for water.

Not in my salads or most salads I make/ order (Caesar, antipasto). Probably because I loathe hard boiled eggs.

It's Taylor Ham. Not "pork roll".

@Kim Shook can you share your creamed corn recipe? I've only had it at Lawry's Prime Rib and it was amazing!

@JoNorvelleWalker Drizly may deliver to you. I live in Northern NJ.

I use Drizly (it's an app) and can get alcohol delivered in less than an hour. Instacart is available to me and will delivery groceries from Wegman's, Whole Foods and even CVS in less than an hour. I've yet to try them as I already use Peapod for my home grocery deliveries and Amazon Pantry for my bulk items.

Oh I bet that was good. Are they similar to pickled mushrooms? I tend to put an order of Victoria brand marinated mushrooms in my shopping orders and eat them like candy with a bit of sea salt. My latest jar though- some of the shrieks are a bit gray in color and I'm unsure if that's normal.

Thanks guys! I'm in New Jersey so the corn and tomato recipes are calling out to me now.

Me too. I always re-read my books too, often up to 10 times. I bought my husband all of Bourdain's books for Christmas but he hasn't touched them yet. Bummer. Does anyone recommend easy recipes to start with for someone who isn't an intuitive cook? The book just came and it is HEAVY! But gorgeous.

I had to have the hard copy. I read 99% of books on my kindle or kindle app ( and I average a book a day- I read a LOT) but this book just seems to be one I need to feel and see the pictures. It was less than $35 on Amazon.

You guys did a good sell on this cookbook! I bought it (via Amazon should be here hopefully tomorrow) and even though I may not cook from it as I am not a great or even subpar home chef, I think it will be a really great read.

@caroled my local Chinese take it as a kid (aka my birthday dinner the day before my bday) made amazing shrimp chips. I loved them as well. Especially their various pastel colors.

I have an affinity for kitchen experiments gone sideways. Probably because they frequently happen in my kitchen!

@Anna N so what was that pretty kitchen experiment you photographed?