beans

I'm in Cleveland and we haven't gotten it yet... I'll be sure to keep a look out for it and have a taste of the first bottle opened!

I've stayed many a night near Southcenter getting bumped on standby with good ole Alaska Air.... If my next flight isn't in the wee hours of sunrise, I usually tend to hop to the city, but more often than not I'm stranded walking around the shopping center to pass the time. I've been to Spencer's ( oops, sorry, name drifting!), Grazie and Filiberto's. Good food. Enjoy!

Sam, we already knew that and it went without saying! Now about that avatar! Whose eye is that??? Anything more on that loin cloth or the fur covered jock straps? All of my best my friend, Lynn edit: Grammar

I married right out of college. We were friends with the caterers who also ran a charming Italian restaurant, Barbarino's. We ate at the restaurant no less than twice a week and each time it was difficult to refrain from licking the plate! So that was what we chose for a menu. They were so wonderful to us and set up beautiful tables graced with gorgeous silver platters, candelabras and even some stunning art deco sculpture. We hosted our reception at the new and trendy Aqualon club in the Flats. Hors'oeuvres were passed around by servers, and the soup and salad were served to each guest. The entrees were buffet style. Hors d'oeuvres -- we missed most of them but they were smoke salmon this and that with dungeness crab thingies. That was up to our chef to prepare. I blindly trusted anything he came up with and they were a hit. Not even crumbs were left, but they made my salmon fishing, Alaskan grandfather happy. Dinner: Italian Wedding Soup, small tossed salad of mixed greens, choice of veal marsala or chicken picatta, zuccini veggie medley and a choice of accompanying pasta -- fettucine alfredo, marinara or creamy pesto. (It was the 80's and pesto was still big). No left overs again! They also did our stunning cake. We discussed two types and I really wanted the white cake with chocolate chips, raspberry filling and white chocolate icing. I got something else entirely different and quite surprising. The disappointment was cast aside once I tasted the lushious chocolate ganache. The only disappointing events of the night was when we arrived I approached the bar and requested a glass of champagne and the bartender snapped at me that it wasn't to be served yet. I smilled and asked if he was blind to billowing white sequinned gown I was wearing.... I got my glass of champagne! The other, well the photographer was curt and down right rude to my elderly grandparents causing them discomfort and proceeded to seat himself among my guests and join in with the dinner. This point was clearly discussed prior to the evening that he would not be indulging in same. It was a fun party. That was what we wanted. All of our guests were dressed beautifully, dancing, enjoying the food, wine and current art on the club's walls while it silently snowed outside. I cannot remember our wine selections but I remember waking up at The Baricelli Inn with a throbbing headache while getting ready to catch our flight to Cancun!

The Pierogi races.....a great rip off from the Brewers. We take our version less seriously though. Pierogis are a Pittsburgh staple. So what else should we do other than race them? We have Cheese Chester, Oliver Onion, Sauerkraut Saul and Jalapeno Hannah running a race every day. Unlike Milwaukee, there is usually some tripping and hitting going on down the stretch. Hannah has been known to use her purse to hit the guys in order to win. They keep a running tally on the scoreboard of the winners. It's pretty funny. Something has to keep us smiling, the play of the Pirates sure doesn't! Here is a quick clip of the end of a race: Pierogi Race I love my trips to Pittsburgh. At first it was to catch Penguins games. I'd always get lost going over a bridge or through a tunnel. Now I visit to catch an occasional Steelers game or a much needed jaunt to IKEA. (And I still get lost driving around!) Yum. Pierogis and IC light. And late night panini's. Can't forget those!

Gosh, a duck, a skunk and some knee high nylon stockings! This slug talk got me out in the garden and inspecting my hostas and basil! Guess what I found?? (Of course you *know* I screamed). A small brown snake! eeeek. And by it's reaction it was as afraid of me as I was of it! So far, my only problems with the basil are pinching off those buds I know are going to be flowers, but like some miracle they regrow almost over night!

only if 6.15 women responded. Never trust my math But the point remains!

Wow, I had no idea these would be the responses to my post! Yes, Iron Chef is a show that either you love or hate. This was just a silly spin off that I couldn't stop laughing while watching. Not everything is meant to be taken so seriously! Believe me I'll take this show as entertainment over Food Fight, Lighten Up or Date Plate also airing on FN. Big difference from serious food shows and those geared for sheer entertainment! My impression was it was over the top in good, clean fun. I enjoy those that are happily able to poke fun at themselves.... Or, perhaps I rarely catch Iron Chef episodes at all that I found it an absolute riot! Everyone had a part to play and they hammed it up well! So, yes, why not sparklers? For heavens sake, Todd English was clad head to toe in shiny satin! I'm just disappointed the recipes for the episode are not listed. I love dungies.

I'm always skeptical on marketing research statistics. "65% of the female respondents" could be 4 women! I like my coffee dark and strong.

That's a tad harsh! It was meant all in silly fun. And from the looks of it, all that participated in the show appeared to have fun too!

I agree. General laziness. Last time I was in Europe, all of those butter, cream laden goodies that were gobbled up on a daily basis and I felt self conscious walking among the slim and trim lovely French.

The cell phone stuff was a bit dorky. According to FN's schedule, this episode wasn't supposta be on the air.

What happened to our sunshine? Bleh, rain is on the way... rats! I'm sorting change in our upstairs office (Sundays we tend to run low on our change order and have to recycle) and I flicked on the tv. Iron Chef with hunky Todd English and not so bad looking The Prime at Bellagio's chef Kerry Smith. Holy cow! Todd English is in a shiny white/blue satin chef coat! William Shatner moderating/MC'ing in a purple glitter get up! What a hoot!!!!

Yesterday -- Pureheart watermelon (Oh, my GAWD!!! YUM) A couple of morels (golly they are expensive! $29.99/lb). I only needed a few, under a quarter of a pound. If I were in Jersey, I would have bought one of everything Elyse baked!

Families -- wow. I've never been in the Hooters in Cleveland's westside suburbia before it closed (it was very short lived), so I would imagine that would be the case too. The one I've been to was not at all in a family friendly place -- Cleveland's Flats -- the "entertaiment complex" of downtown. They were almost always groups of guys. My temporary roomie paid her month's rent to me after three days at work and found an apartment that she was able to plop a deposit and first month's rent in no time. She always seemed to have fun at work and never came home crabby. Sleazy no. It was always bright with attractive polished oak woodwork gleaming. Honestly, probably the cleanest restaurant on the entire eastbank....but you gotta know Cleveland!

Hi elyse! Maybe Hooters (don't know, never saw it, never was there to order....) does as one bar that is next door to where I work and will use food service zip loc baggie sorts of bags filled with ice from the ice machine? Flat, warming draft beer = :greenguy smilie: Blech! Did someone say pie?

The operative phrase here may be "something I won't write home about." In an abstract way, I associate writing home with posting here. Both may be euphemisms for "not worth talking about." My last meal at a chain restaurant in a shopping mall doesn't prove much. It doesn't make me a populist and I wouldn't bring it up as proof I'm not an elitist. It was a product of circumstances, and not worth writing home about. I'm upstairs getting change and I couldn't resist.... This is where deconstruction has gone awry, so I will further deconstruct to clarify my intent. This is not home. I will discuss it here or anywhere else when I've had a balsamic vin tossed salad with blue cheese, chicken breast, candied pecans and craisins at TGIF's given the opportunity. Don't get abstract, I state what I mean and mean what I state. My goal is not to disprove I'm an elitist. I adore the finest of quality ingredients in the most supreme preparations as much as the "next guy." I not only seek it out to purchase at a restaurant of my choosing or within my own kitchen preparations. I stated that in Post No. 1. I eat food; whether that be at my local culinary jewel of Parker's, Lola's or Johnny's as much as I will eat at Fridays or Harry Buffalo's. I'm an opportunist. I'm hungry, I'll eat. Don't read anymore into it Bux.

That concept is hardly limited to Hooters! It is all about image, and that was stressed when I was hired by Disney, Ann Taylor and by The Ritz Carlton. Those positions that are in the public eye and in direct contact with guests/customers, thus directly affecting business, image is quite important.

Gooseberries: I bought the green variety -- "Groseilles Vertes" grown at Hurst's Berry Farm in Sheridan, Oregon. Here's a link for suggested uses.

That isn't always the case for entertainers in a strip club. More than half of the girls that worked in the club I bartended at were very calculating business women. They often have a target figure they were aiming for to earn that night and were quite comfortable that they weren't totally nude, and actually with themselves on the whole. We had med, law and undergrad college students as well as a few professional types -- a realtor, photographer and a financial analyist. They never viewed that they were kowtowing to exploitation nor degrading themselves to the desires of men, quite the opposite. They were in control and enticed a repeat business of regulars, exploiting mens' desires and earning a hefty income. One of the many aspects I found interesting as I observed while I was busy pouring their cocktails and fetching their ice waters.... Since I bartended in one, I'm never squeemish about going to one. We've taken our expo there for an impromptu bachelor night out after work one night and running into some familiar faces catching up on chit chat has been fun. Hooters isn't much different than any of the current trendy bars in the chic warehouse district clubs -- the female barstaff are usually in tank tops and minis or shorts. Where I work, we are in either choice of shorts or tennis skirts and fitted baby tees. The Hooters across the river were in tank tops and orange shiny gym like shorts. Just a different promotion doing the same thing we are doing at my place of employ or any of the busy clubs. Handsome guys, lovely women, all young people selling food and drink busy making a living to pay their bills!

Kinda like suing McD's for making teens fat? Where is the personal responsibility in this? I'm accountable for the decisions I make, like it or not!

A former coworker and temporary roommate worked there as a manager. Teenage boys with their dads were few and far between. A guy seeking a pretty girl serving them draft and wings while watching the football game was just about par for the course. (Fill in appropriate sporting event as needed). Sex appeal sells, but no! That's not news, is it? (toothpaste, mouthwash, mints, clothing, hair styling products, shaving products....) edit: I have to accept I can't type!

Gooseberries!

Just hav'in a little fun. Silliness is necessary from time to time!