zilla369

I mentioned "On Cooking" upthread. One cool thing is that it comes with a CD-ROM which has short videos illustrating basic techniques.

One of the few really valuable required textbooks in the culinary program I graduated from was On Cooking by Sarah Labensky, et al. I own the second edition, but the link is to the third edition. They made us pay over $100 for that sucker at school, but I've easily gotten $1000 use out of it over the last few years.

That sandwich looks pretty good. I'm almost certain they haven't been serving that one in the U.S. Too bad - I would definitely try one.

I could be wrong (and often am!) but where I work, a "dark" chicken stock is made from chicken/chicken bones and vegetables (mirepoix) that have been caramelized in the oven, thereby imparting the "dark" color. Also, it utilizes "dark" meat such as thighs and legs. Any help?

Wait! Aren't eggs sold by the dozen in Japan? How fascinating!

Unfortunately, I bought some of that stuff last week. The unfortunate part was that it wasn't simply three shredded cheeses blended together - it also had a "spice mix" all over it. Consequently all three cheeses tasted the same and the blend of spices in the added mix clashed completely with the constellation of spices I was using in the dish. Blech. But this blog is fantastic! I find myself wishing for more tag-team blogs (I know more are scheduled, but I mean more frequently!) Thanks to both of you - as a former blogger, I know how much work it is and how much of your day it takes up. On the other hand, it's loads of fun. I'd reccomend it to anyone!

Here's a link to the item on accessatlanta.com (free registration required). Discuss. Can PBS actually "draw more people"? Or does she mean it's accessible to more people? How does this bode for Sara - well or ill?

And I'll bet even those lackluster ratings are partially due to having "Arrested Development" as a lead-in. Edited to add: I don't mean that Arrested Development is to blame for KC's ratings, but might be responsible for some of the views it does garner.

I think I'd enjoy it more if it was called something else and I didn't know it was supposed to be loosely based on Bourdain's book/life. I'm constantly disappointed that the main character doesn't "remind" me more of Bourdain. Now, if it was just a show called "Back of the House" or something similar, I'd probably be all over it. That said, I think I need to give it more than two episodes before pronouncing it a dud. Also, I have to keep reminding myself that - as popular as Kitchen Confidential is with the eGullet and "foodie" crowds - not everyone who has US network TV available has read Bourdain's books or been exposed to his other shows. So maybe it's reaching a wider audience, and maybe that's not a bad thing. However, I did read somewhere that the ratings tanked during the first episode. Haven't seen anything today about last night's ratings.

I have a question! If you do visit the Amish spots (I'd love that, I used to live in Camp Hill near Harrisburg) - you wouldn't be able to take any pictures, would you? At least not pictures of people, right? Or is than an old rural myth?

It'll make fantastic risotto. No hell in your future, as far as I'm concerned. I remember once in culinary school the hot-shit teacher's pet guy accidentally mixed a lovely duck stock with a lovely veal stock. Whoo, boy. Talk about a verbal beat-down from the chef-instructor. We were doing a luncheon for the Society of the Golden Toques. As it turned out, the meal was wonderful and the Golden Toques chefs were very complimentary.

Heh. Priceless. I would never buy one, but I must say that both of my grandmothers used one to full effect in the 1970's. Fried potatoes, braised cube steak in gravy. I suppose it's a decent tool for a busy cook that's not too fussy. Perhaps you can "re-gift" it to someone, or feature it in a future yard sale. Or, make it into an ironic found-object art sculpture. Eh? Eh? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink...

A very ripe peach. A very ripe mango. A juicy fresh fig served with cheese. A bowl of freshly picked black cherries. I can't decide!

Daniel, great travelogue as always! I'm curious. You post about NOLA, then say you're probably going to hit Memphis, and your next post is about a restaurant in Virginia... Did you somehow get from Louisiana to Tennessee to Virginia without driving through Kentucky?

So sorry I missed this thread, amccomb. Where did you end up going? I'm curious.

Okay, Allan - I'm demanding right now that you tell me how to use a stand mixer to whip a sabayon over a double-boiler. They've put it on our catering menu at work and my arm is getting very, very tired. Last week I had to make sabayon for a luncheon with 44 attendees. I have a nice steam kettle to act as a giant bain marie - but I can't picture how to use the stand mixer to whip it. Waiting with baited breath and crossed fingers (ow, that hurts)...

Magus: all you need after you figure out the fries is two very fine pie offerings for dessert. How about Apple and Peach?

*crosses chicken fingers*

Wow. That was awesome. Thanks for that link.

Heh. I so cannot wait for the plating *rubs hands together* And, what a cute little bottle of Tabasco! What is the dessert if you're not lucky enough to score a brownie?

Ordered my copy today; probably I should have used the eGullet Amazon link, but I was in Borders' and was trying to see if they carry it. The clerk was so nice and helpful, I ordered it from them. Probably I'll have to wait two weeks now instead of a few days, but I'm really looking forward to it!

What a great thread! I'm really enjoying the poems offered here. Unfortunately, we need to be aware of the eGullet.org Copyright and Fair Use Policy, which states, in part: Regrettably, I'm going to have to remove some of the posts that violate the policy. If your post has been removed, please feel free to re-post a few lines with a link to the full text elsewhere on the Web. Thanks in advance for understanding!

Oh, man. That's the ticket. What a great idea! I gotta try this.

I read Charles' initial post in the thread right before I walked out the door to work this morning, and I realized when I got in the car that I had tears - actual tears - in my eyes while I was turning the key. Just so perfectly spoken, Charles. oooh, zeffer...I'd like to know the title of that book!

If you're a server, please don't touch me OR my date. Unless you're lesfen's husband. kidding