tanabutler

So, Jinmyo, Rick Bayless never answered your query via e-mail on his website? Has anyone seen the commercial yet? I don't watch a lot of television.

My friends telephoned me today from their hotel in Venice. They'd found it via one of the links I sent you, Tommy, and said, "This place is the find of the century." Palazzo Abadessa is the name. They said they got a gorgeous room for 230 Euros a night, and loved it so much that they added on a night and cut out one night in Florence. I cannot wait to go to Venice now. Check out the photo gallery.

Dear Randall, Sunday past, I was seated at a table in Bill Denevan's apple orchard with the lovely Betty Van Dyke and her husband. Also Jack (the Intel guy who knows you). Your name came up, of course, because the topic was wine and the farm dinners*. (Paul Draper had just addressed the table. More on that in a bit.) Betty is the first lady farmer I've ever met, with the exception of Kristie Knoll—both of whom are such wonderful woman. She told us that, about fifteen years ago, you'd bought her entire apricot crop for some kind of experimentation. She didn't know what you'd produced with them. I got very curious, as I don't remember any apricot in your product line. So...what did you do with the apricots? I want to join in with the throngs who adore the Muscat Canelli. Paul Draper served a sweet late harvest Zinfandel with dessert (cheeses, walnuts, and apple tart tartin), which made the woman next to me purr with delight. She was new to dessert wines, and I directed her to Shopper's Corner to get your Muscat Canelli. I know she will be over the moon. *Note to eGulleteers: Randall Grahm and Bill Denevan have each participated in four of the farm dinners that Bill's brother, Jim, created and which I photograph. Thanks for the continued enlightenment and entertainment. Tana

I think this is one of the coolest things you have ever said, and that is saying something. Can you please give an example (or an exhaustive inventory) of these labels/wines? Thanks, Randall.

As a web designer, let me say: "too many choices." Multiple pull-downs = a headache.

Seeing the tower of Pisa was an awesome experience—in context (Campo dei Miracoli), it's just staggeringly beautiful. It's definitely worth a visit.

Nope. Just aware of him. Sort of like the President.

I am in agreement with those endorsing Siena for a first-time Italy trip. I love the city. It feels like you can walk backwards through time more than anywhere in Italy, in my experience.

Snerk! I swear to God, I read "Rob Scheider" as "Ron Jeremy." Either one makes perfect sense. Especially the HUGE talent part. I still think it's a bunch of b.s., and I can't believe that the people at Chef's Collaborative haven't addressed it. I worked this weekend at one of the farm dinners with two chefs. Three, actually. All are familiar with Chef's Collaborative—all serve only organic produce at their restaurants. They hadn't heard about Bayless's sell-out, and were flabbergasted. One said, "He went to the Dark Side." He said he didn't have a problem with anyone eating at Burger King, that he does himself from time to time. But the endorsement from a member of Chefs Collaborative? Sheer crap. But yeah, we're all jealous of the money. Bayless says: Good? Simple? How 'bout that list of ingredients! Where can I get a 55-gallon drum of liquid smoke?

What a glorious first post! Welcome to eGullet, desal! Mind if I call you "porky"? (I think it's the word of the day for me, yesterday and today.) My dinner yesterday, in an apple orchard with a hundred people, was barbecued pork bellies in a tangy cane syrup sauce with cannellini. Ooooooweeeeee, baby, was that good.

"Lorna Doone" is the cookie, Bonny Doon is the wine. I think the BD whites are not to my taste at all, but the reds are Divooooooooon. And he makes the only pink wine I can stomach: Vin Gris de Cigare. The article mentions Paul Draper. He was at the farm dinner yesterday—his second one, and he never ever attends wine dinners or things like that. But he loves farms (or, in this case, an apple orchard). He brought two Chardonnays (one a Monte Bello), the 2000 Monte Bello red ($1000/case), and the 2001 Ridge Petite Sirah Essence, which our table of six-eight adored. It was so unexpected, and it was paired with two homemade goat cheeses (one topped with lavendar honey), walnuts, and two kinds of figs. I'd like to them but Paul told me they're getting ready to relaunch the site. It's been down or spotty for a couple of days. And I agree about the ridiculous prices. It's as stupid as the gas spikes.

I think Orvieto is wonderful, beautiful, and splendidly central to just about everything. I would stay there in a heartbeat upon returning to Italy. It has a much more open feeling than Siena (I don't mean the people, I mean the sky), and it's not too big. Additionally, it is one of the "slow cities" in Italy who are attempting to limit traffic into the city by having tourists park elsewhere and shuttle in. A friend stayed in Orvieto to avoid staying in Rome (so expensive and loud!). They took the train in every morning, planned their day on the train, and then came back to a cheap, quiet hotel every night. The train ride is about an hour, she said. Umbria intrigues me as well. Get a free (gorgeous, huge) catalog from Parker Villas, and read up. Mine just came in the mail, and I'm already looking into it for next year.

Peach iced tea for this former Georgia girl, too!

What a happy coincidence. The cover story in the SF Chronicle's Sunday magazine section today is Bargain Bites: "Where we demonstrate that eating out doesn't have to put you in the poor house." It's divided into areas, and here is the San Francisco list. Make sure to check out the photos. Edited: Ed, there is a map online, too. San Francisco bargain bites I am happy to note that they included "Tres Amigos" in Half Moon Bay. Their roasted chicken burrito is one of the best I've ever had. Big as a baby's leg, but spicier.

According to the dictionary I just accessed, I would rather not be a female shegetz.

We went to Tra Vigne once for lunch. The staff was absolutely the haughtiest, nastiest, snootiest I've ever encountered in my life, and we left without being seated. I would never go there again. Not for anything. Talk about a "look down their noses" group of people. It was dreadful.

I am delighted to read this. That's the tea I make, acquired from Trader Joe's. (Mark, keep your chin up. Five complaints a year? With that kind of volume? Be proud!)

Well, I had to Google "Jim McLamore" (the founder of BK) but I'm sure he didn't feel a thing since he died in 1996.

I'm a shiksa! I'm a shiksa! (Thanks, SLKinsey.)

Apparent Vegetarian Foods That May Contain Meat Do not miss the copyright at the bottom of the page.

Wow, I have never had a bad meal at McCormick and Kuleto's. We just returned to Scala's Bistro last week or so, when we went up to see Eddie Izzard on Friday night. The grilled octopus salad was fantastic.

Ed, if it's not too late, you can get awesome hotel discounts via HotelRes.com. I've been using them for years. They're the best online.

Hopefully only local organic free range chicken. Ahem.

Re: Wendy's (where I had my first job, back in 1974). If their product hasn't declined, and if their burgers are better, there is one thing they've got that the others don't: chili. That's where all your dead burgers go. They put all the unsellable burgers in a big pot, chop 'em to smithereens, and rinse the fat off. That beef goes into a giant pot and gets turned into chili. I never liked the chili, but I still like the burgers.

Mea culpa, because this is different than my usual geek forum.