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Lan4Dawg

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Posts posted by Lan4Dawg

  1. Actually, I don't think that Plymouth gin is supposed to be botanically potent.  Plymouth is not only a brand of gin, but also a style of gin that is similar to, but not quite the same as London dry gin.  As far as I am aware, it's been more or less the same recipe for some 200+ years, producing a softer, sweeter, less botanically intensive product.

    I agree about the price, however.  It's getting far too expensive.  And I have to say that I disagree with Lan4Dawg that raising the price a couple of dollars a year is reasonable.  For example, if we're seeing Plymouth at $30 today and assume a two-dollar rise every year, that would mean that the price rose twenty five percent since 2005 and thirty three percent since 2004.  Not reasonable, and not likely to put Plymouth on too many shelves IMO.

    I did not say it was "reasonable". I said it was not "terribly unreasonable" and by that I mean it did not take a huge jump at any point but a gradual rise--which is some what in line w/ a lot of products such as that---ones we do not purchase in bulk lots to get deals and we only purchase about six bottles or so a year. With the euro v. the dollar, the rise of gas prices & transportation, &c we have seen lots of increases in any thing fr/ Europe and that is less gradual than some.

  2. In Boston the standard price seems to be $28/fifth!

    we have Plymouth on the shelf here in north metro Atlanta, GA at $35.00/ltr and $26/fifth. I just checked the numbers and wholesale prices have risen two dollars a year for the past couple of years which is not terribly unreasonable. I have seen liters as low as $27.00 but that is very few and very far between and not very recently.

  3. so I would encourage you to dine else where any way.

    My city has plenty to offer in the way of food, and to suggest that nothing is worth staying in town for is quite frankly ludacris.

    You mis-read my post. I stated that I have personal issues w/ some thing that happened in the city several years ago and the response of the city (gov't and visitors' bureau) to the incident. Since I refuse to spend my money there I would encourage the same fr/ some one else but that is completely up to them.

    Fr/ what I under stand there have been several rather nice restaurants opened in Knoxville since we last stayed there but due to personal issues I will not be frequenting them nor will I encourage others to frequent them.

  4. We ate at Regas a gazillion years ago and it was nothing special. Their big deal was fish crusted in Ritz crackers. What seriously turned us off of the place is that the waitress started vacuuming around us as we were trying to finish our meal. It took a while and we got her attention and she looked upset that we would have said some thing.

    There used to be a little dive of a place in old town Knoxville called Lucille's but that was years ago and I doubt they are still open (& if they were I could not vouch for them) besides I refuse to spend any money in that town for personal reasons (an issue w/ the CVB) so I would encourage you to dine else where any way.

  5. I stopped by to see my friends at Tower on Piedmont this after noon and asked if they were having problems getting N-P vermouth. They had a full shelf and said they had no issues at all. I asked who was their distributor and b/c of where they are located in Atl they are represented by Empire so apparently it is only those accounts serviced by NorthEast who are having issues w/ N-P (& due to Georgia law we can not order fr/ another distributor). I do not know if it is a shipment or stocking issue or just what w/ NE but N-P is out there you just have to go out side of NE GA to get it.

  6. Dawg, you're on the other side of the retail counter?

    Whtiley-Neill is the name of the gin I could not remember! I am really beginning to hate "some-timers". I had the perfect marketing idea the other day for a UGA product; forgot to write it down; am still trying to remember what the hell it was.

    Any who......I do some part-time consulting for a store up in Flowery Branch (Hall County). If I had people actually request off-the-wall and unusual items I could persuade them to carry more. We had Carpano for a while and it sat there except for what I purchased or convinced folks to buy. We do go through more Lillet than any other store in that area and Noilly-Prat out sells every other vermouth we carry (thank you very much) but our major sellers are Crown Royal and Jose Cuervo. What can I say as it is Hall County.

  7. Thanks for the heads-up! I was in two stores yesterday, and I'm sure I saw NP dry at at least one of them -- as soon as I figure it out and secure my share, I'll let you know!

    I don't know about Torani Amer, but lately the Tower on Piedmont has gotten a lot more serious about what they stock -- for example, they're the only place in town that's got R&W Violette and St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, Junipero Gin and (once in a while) Rittenhouse Bonded. You might give them a call: 404-881-0902.

    thx Dave,

    the rep fr/ Empire keeps telling me that they are out of Rittenhouse Bonded (frankly I do not think he looks) and I ordered the R&W my self. We had the Junipero in at one time and I am about to order Bluecoat and another gin fr/ Ultimate when I talk to their rep tomorrow.

  8. Just a couple of fyi's:

    There is a massive shortage of Noilly-Prat dry vermouth in Georgia. We can not get it at the store nor can any one to whom I have spoken in/around Atlanta so if you see some go ahead and snag it (& let the rest of us know where you found it). The distributor for this area has been out for weeks and no one there knows when they will be getting it back.

    Word is that there is not enough Maker's Mark to go around either. I do not know if this is just w/ the Georgia distributor or some thing fr/ the distillery but you might bear that in mind when stocking your bar and snag some extra--just in case.

    And a question: has any one had any luck finding Torani Amer in the Atl area? I do not even know where to order the stuff.

  9. as a hoo, i am not too confident in this season.  that usc game is not going to be pretty.  i may try and make it down to the ga tech game, but i don't know if that will happen.  it's a lot easier to follow my dores since i stayed in nashville after graduating from law school. 

    i hope you have fun in c'ville!

    lan, any suggestions for trips to ole miss?  i'm probably going down for the vandy/ole miss game this year since i'll be in memphis on fri for work and it's a short drive down.  looking forward to tailgating at the grove and checking out the campus.  any dining suggestions or must sees?

    There are some phenomenal restaurants on the square in Oxford. City Grocery is probably the best known (& arguably the best). Taylor Grocery for fried cat fish is an institution. Just note that every thing is going to be jammed on game w/e's.

    We usually stay at one of the state parks just o/s of Oxford as finding a hotel room in Oxford proper on game w/e is about close to impossible. Oxford is a lovely, quaint town and the university is a beautiful setting. Having said that tailgating at the Grove has become nothing short of a circus. Hopefully you are not claustrophobic b/c it is nothing but canopy to canopy to canopy to canopy and an absolute crush of people and it is full at the crack of dawn. They also do not allow "open flames" so you have to think about what you might want to take and not do any cooking while there. We usually set up over near the base ball fields where there is more space and less hassle. (There is some thing about Ole Miss how ever: where else would you see an absolutely drop dead gorgeous co-ed dressed to the nines in an out fit costing several hundred dollars and wearing high heels walking along w/ a beer in one hand and pulling a cooler full of beer w/ the other?--except may be Athens.....)

  10. Lan4Dawg  - fantastic menu.  I am no where near that far along with my planning.  This - "sea food Sloppy Little Joe’s Spread over Yellow Corn Bread" - sounds especially good! 

    Virginia's first game is vs. USC Trojans on 8/30.  Game time is 12:30, my least favorite time for tailgating.  We always visit with some folks who have a spot right at the stadium and so have to leave our tailgate at least 1 1/2 hours before the game starts.  Breakfast tailgating is really one meal I'd just as soon purchase somewhere and eat car-side with the Post.  If Mr. Kim insists on true tailgating, I'll probably make Scotch eggs with my new deep fryer (we'll eat those cold) and serve with some fruit salad and sweet rolls. We can't do our tailgating after the game for this one because we are hitting the road immediately to head down to NC for the rest of the weekend.

    Thx Kim; if you knew the full story about the sea food "Sloppy Little Joe's...." you would definitely appreciate it but it is some what involved.

    Fuss likes the early games and eating afterward but I dislike it as there is so much to do in such a short time (not to mention a group of vultures standing/sitting around just waiting for you to finish cooking!)

    UGA has banned deep fryers fr/ university grounds b/c of potential issues (& in some ways I can under stand as I had to put out more than one fire fr/ idiots who had no idea what they were doing when trying to fry a turkey.) but I assume you mean you will make them at home and then transport (hence the "cold"). You could do assorted grilled sausages--playing the Trojans.....get it? ":^)

    I did an omelet station for breakfast tailgate once. It went relatively well as I prepped every thing and just had to cook eggs at the site. Another time we did french toast w/ assorted toppings--mixed fruit, whipped cream, pecans, assorted syrups, &c. and that worked well but on the whole I agree w/ you about breakfast. It is not really tailgating.

    Good luck w/ the tailgate and the game and have a safe trip to NC.

  11. we're getting our season tix this week for vandy - some pretty good home games this year (south carolina, auburn, florida, tennessee).  i think we may try and go down to oxford for the ole miss game and possibly atlanta for the uva/ga tech game.  i went to uva for college, and it's a lot easier to get to atlanta than c'ville for games.

    not sure what we're doing for tailgating this year, if anything.  vandyville still leaves something to be desired and i guarantee i won't be able to get spot in lot A.

    We will probably be looking for a new tail gate spot up there next season. We were informed that some of the school's neighbors complained about alcohol on their grounds so they were planning to forbid it completely next season (how they are going to do that w/ all of the motor homes parked there is beyond me but....)

    Any suggestions are more than welcome. The folks at Vandy proper are not real accomodating.

    HDHD

  12. My friends and I tailgate at home being as we are all LSU fans. It's a shame LSU is an away game, my friends are all from NOLA. It would be a blast to score some tix and join you guys for some tailgating, maybe bring something fun like mini-muffalettas with the bread shipped in from NOLA. You just can't get bread here like they bake there.

    Which reminds me, there is a snowcone place selling poboys down the street from where Six Feet Under used to be that brings in their french bread from New Orleans. Good Stuff.

    You should "road trip" to Baton Rouge (et noir). We will be there and hopefully in our usual spot under the oaks in front of the student union.

    Six Feet Under "used to be"? Have they moved already? I thought that was not until later in the year. And just the Grant Park location if memory serves. Where is this place b/c I might be in the need for a good po' boy in the near future and can be persuaded to head to Grant Park.

  13. new menus for 2008 season....

    heading to Arizona is going to be an adventure (esp. since I do not fly!)

    note: I do not have access to tickets but you are more than welcome to stop by for a visit--especially at away games.

    Menus for 2008

    Georgia Southern Eagles: Athens, 30th August

    Smoked Golden Eagle Salad on Pita w/ Vidalia Onion Aioli and South Georgia Vegetable Slaw

    Chenin Blanc/Gin Southern Cocktail (2 oz gin, ½ oz curacao, dash org bitters)

    Central Michigan Chippewas: Athens, 6th September

    “Chippewaed” Beef on Toast Points, Mixed Vegetable Stir-Fry

    Malbec/Indian Cocktail (1 ½ oz sloe gin, ½ oz dry vermouth, orange bitters)

    SoCar GameCocks: Cola, 13th September

    GameCock-a-leekie , Spinach Salad w/ Garnet Dressing (sun-dried tomato vinaigrette)

    Beaujolais/Columbia Cocktail (1 ½ oz rum, ½ oz lemon, ½ oz raspberry syrup)

    Arizona State SunDevils: Tempe, 20th September

    Sun-Devilled Ham Salad, Sun-Devilled Eggs

    Washington Pinot Gris/Fire-Eating Devil Cocktail (1 ½ oz Sloe Gin, ½ oz Sw & Dry Vermouth, Orange Bitters, Lemon Twist)

    Alabama Crimson Tide: Athens, 27th September

    Sliced Elephant Trunk (pork loin) in Crimson Cabbage

    Cotes du Rhone/Alabama Cocktail (3/4 oz lemon juice, ¼ t sUGAr, 1 ½ oz Brandy, ¼ oz Orange Curacao, Orange Twist)

    Philbillies: Athens, 11th October

    Grilled Beef Ribs w/ Big Orange and “Smokey”ed Paprika Sauce, Orange Scented Couscous

    Tempranillo/Rocky Dune (1 oz Gin, ½ oz Cherry Heering, ½ oz Dry Vermouth, ¼ oz Kirsch, Lemon Twist)

    Vanderbilt Commodores: Athens, 18th October

    “Show us your Black / Show us your Gold” Pasta Primavera (use black and gold pasta)

    Domestic Sauvignon Blanc/Commodore Cocktail #2 (3/4 oz Lemon Juice, ¾ t sUGAr, 1 ½ oz Bourbon or Rye, orange bitters)

    LSU Tigers: Baton Rouge (et noir), 25th October

    Tiger Shrimp Etouffee, Cajun Slaw

    Gewurtztraminer/Bayou Cocktail (1 ½ oz Brandy, ¼ oz Peach Brandy, ½ oz Mango Nectar, ¼ oz Lime, Peach Slice Garnish)

    Florida Gators: Jacksonville, 1st November

    Friday at CR: NOLA Shrimp, Okra, Tomato Sauté over Polenta (?)

    Saturday: Gator Sausage Gumbo Ya Ya, Alligator Pear Salad

    Shiraz/Syrah/Alligator Cocktail (1 oz Orgeat, 1 ½ oz Gin, dash Lemon Water)

    Kentucky Wildcats: Lexington, 8th November

    Kentucky Bourbon Marinated Flank Steak w/ Bourbon “Gravy”, Mashed Potatoes and “BlueGrass” Salad.

    Cabernet Sauvignon/Kentucky Bourbon Manhattans

    The aubies: Auburn, 15th November

    War Eagle, Tiger Shrimp, and Plainsmen Sausage Jambalaya, Caesar Salad

    Sangiovese/there really is an Auburn cocktail! (1 oz OJ, ½ oz Galliano, ¼ oz Cr de Cassis, 1 oz Vodka)

    The blight: Athens, 29th November

    In light of the fact that the blight hired a former Navy coach and his “spread” offense along with the problems of our friend Little Joe…

    Sea food Sloppy Little Joe’s Spread over Yellow Corn Bread with Old Gold and White Sautéed Potatoes and “Drunken” Green Beans

    Domestic Viognier/Golden Hornet (1 ½ oz Gin, ½ oz Scotch, ½ oz Sherry, Lemon Twist)

  14. Then there is the "Georgia Rattlesnake" watermelon. Open truckloads of them should be appearing on I-75 within the next month or so.

    Summer squash all summer. Smothered in onion and browned in bacon fat. Cane syrup. Turnips and mustard, smoked sausage. Those field peas are wonderful too - everyone thinks that the Blackeye is the common pea in the south, but the lady peas, crowders and creamers rule the kitchen in SOWEGA where I was raised. A sliced fresh tomato on the side.

    Cucumber/onion salad. A vast array of pickles and relishes.

    7 layer caramel cake - my Aunt Grace makes the best one in existence, and she uses an old coffee cup as a measure.

  15. UGA is playing at AZ St this fall and a group of us are heading in that direction. Fuss and I are taking the entire week and making a vacation but meeting folks over the w/e for the game. I have gotten some great ideas fr/ some of the posters over here but want some specifics and assistance in making things definite.

    Plans are for the two of us to head straight for the Grand Canyon and dine at the lodges Tues & Wed nights (unless a better suggestion is offered). We will need to find a good (well-stocked & cheap!) liquor store some where between the airport and the highway out of town. From there we head over to Holbrook area and have no clue as to what might be there for decent food so are at your mercy. On Friday we meander our way down to Phx/Tempe/Scottsdale and hope to stop for lunch at Tortilla Flats just to say we did it.

    We will meet friends (there will be 6+) on Fr for dinner and want some thing w/ a local flavor (some one suggested a place called Richardson's and I wanted to get opinions there or if there is a better "local" spot). We are also looking for some thing relatively close to Sun Devil Stadium for before the game (usually we would tail gate but having to fly limits us to what we can take). Any suggestions there would be most appreciated.

    Most folks will be leaving on Sunday but Fuss and I are staying until Wed and want some suggestions for Sun/Mon/Tues pm. I know Sun/Mon is restaurant hell so any help there is definitely appreciated. We will try to hit Binkley's on Tuesday b/c of the recommendations fr/ the board and would love to try Cyclo and Zinc Bistro but can not find their hours/ days of operation on their web sites.

    Looking forward to the trip and to any suggestions.

  16. Are you suggesting that Bone's is no better than any other steakhouse?  I can say without a doubt that Bone's served me the best steak I have had anywhere.  I do not order steak often, but I have had it at enough places that Bone's does it better.  The steak I had at Bacchanalia, for example, did not compare.  Nor have the ones I've had at Palm, Morton's or Ruth's Chris.  If there are steaks as good as Bone's to be had at a price point cheaper than Bone's, then I'd like to know where.  Great meat costs money.

    Bone's waiters' announce that they only serve aged, prime beef after you are first seated.

    Hmm. I guess that is what I suggested, but it's not what I meant. I've been to Palm, Morton's and Ruth's Chris, all several years ago and always on business. I've also been to the highly-touted Bern's in Tampa. I don't find any of them memorable, which is why I started this topic. Six months or so later, I do remember Bone's, so maybe that's something.

    There's only one dry-aged steak on the menu at Bone's, the 16-oz. strip. I didn't have that, I had the bone-in ribeye, a cut I much prefer to the homogeneous strip. Yes, the waiters trot out the prime line ("the top one percent of all beef"), but I just didn't detect a noticeable bump in quality from high-end choice like CAB or Coleman's. Neither did I notice a great surface from the broiler. I do know what dry aging does for good beef; I used to work in a restaurant that served it by the cow-load.

    What I was trying to say was that 1) I've had better steaks, and while I agree that steakhouse steaks are usually better than steaks at otherwise excellent restaurants, I'd say that's either changing, or it's a matter of you or the restaurant choosing wisely. Restaurant Eugene serves a terrific hanger, for example. 2) most of the better steaks I've had I made myself. I don't have access to prime beef or an infrared broiler (something else a steakhouse will boast of). I just have good choice meat and I practice a lot.

    I'll take your word for it that Bone's is head-and-shoulders above the rest (in Atlanta, anyway), but that only increases both my disappointment and my conviction to stick with cooking steak at home.

    I tend to agree w/ you and do not under stand the popularity of the steak house concept--be it Bone's, Chops, Morton's or Outback, Longhorn's, et al. If you look you can find prime beef (Costco now has it in the frozen section) or if you shop you can get some really, really good choice. I can get a cast iron skillet red hot or a grill of hard wood and charcoal at just the right temperature. I also have an oven to bake potatoes and access to butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, & cheddar is not that difficult. Steamed broccoli w/ butter is a simple chore as is creamed spinach. And if I wanted to go the trouble of breaking out the fryer for onion rings or green tomatoes I could do that. I have a decent wine collection but if I wanted some thing truly special I have a number of good wine stores w/in a short distance and I happen to make a very good martini (& use orange bitters and Noilly Prat vermouth which I guarantee most of the places mentioned do not). The way the smoking laws are set you can not even enjoy that fine cigar w/ your after-dinner cocktail at the table any more--just like at home.

    AND at a quarter (if that) of the price.

    I used to find it amusing how people would gush over the steaks at Morton's, Palm, Bone's, &c and I would watch the same Buckhead Beef truck go fr/ our place to each of the others dropping off the same cuts of beef. I even had a few calls fr/ such places begging tenderloin, rib eye, strips, &c b/c they had mis-ordered or needed some last minute and hoping I would share. Granted dry-aged beef is some thing un to it self but even that can be had at certain Whole Foods.

  17. Great idea Dave & thank you.

    Just a side note on liquors, &c. Most reputable liquor stores will be more than happy to order "off-the-wall" or unusual items. You just have to find some one at the store willing to do it and expect to pay a little more (but in today's world of gas prices it is some times cheaper to pay a couple of dollars more locally than drive to Buckhead). It helps if you know the distributor as the Southern Beverage Guide is some times no help what-so-ever.

  18. Unfortunately I can't narrow it any more, I was just told it was down 41.  They had mentioned it in passing, but haven't had a chance to talk to them since.

    I think y'all may be right, just googled H-mart and peachtree and it looks promising.  I've been to the H-Mart in Pleasant hill and it's wonderful, wouldn't mind it if H-Mart moves up to Charlotte, NC though.  I'm tired of driving down to Atlanta for groceries!

    If they did not mention the "Big Chicken" it is probably not on 41. At least not on 41 any where near Marietta. ":^)

  19. well my oh my oh my oh my.....

    have we not started a rhubarb of epic proportions--yet again! I can not believe this ancient memory was dragged kicking and screaming fr/ e-gullet heaven (or hell depending.....) and brought back to see the light of day.

    To be clear--and since I started the mess I feel obligated to put away the broom and just add another heaping, helping to the mix--I make white sauce w/ shredded carrots, celery, and onion b/c I learned that fr/ a chef friend who felt it added to the flavor of the sauce. He would essentially caramelize the vegetables in butter before adding the flour so you get a bit of sweet texture in the sauce. No one ever complained about his white sauce and no one has ever complained about mine so we must be doing some thing right--if a tad unusual. As for the bread crumbs I realized that I add them for a hint of texture simply b/c I am used to bread crumbs in my mac & cheese fr/ when I was a child. My frugal Mother--and w/ three growing boys and a husband to feed she had to be--would stretch the food budget by adding lightly toasted bread crumbs to a lot of things including macaroni & cheese. I just enjoyed the added bit of texture and continued to make it that way. I have been known to make a crust of bread crumbs in the pan as well as sprinkle some on top for a bit of delightful crunchiness--no finger nails have been harmed in my making M&C (except the one time while grating cheese....but I fished it out).

    Of course all of it is moot as it is June and we turned on the air conditioning which means we do not turn on the oven. As far as I am concerned you might as well store un-used dishes in the oven during the summer months as I turn it on only in an emergency situation (like when I have to have a Fuss biscuit or the Rev requires a coconut cake for Fathers' Day) and then only at night when the temperature out side drops to a reasonable level. That means we do M&C on the stove top (I like Alton's receipt for that) and no bread crumbs....but I do like a little bit of horse radish added to the mix so light in to that one why dontcha!

  20. The ultimate in "Georgia foods" might be roasted peanuts dumped into a Co-Cola.  Salty/sweet/carbonated goodness, TYVM!  (And, of course, many people will chime in that the Coke should be a Pepsi or an RC, but we're talking GEORGIA here, folks... Not that RCs or Pepsis are less tasty with salty, roasted peanuts floating in the cola, but they aren't quite as "Georgia.")

    er....RE.....arah see is fr/ Columbus, GA. (sorry I could not pass on the alliteration). Granted it is now owned by an int'l corporate beverage maker but Claude Hatcher blended Chero-cola--soon to be Royal Crown Cola--in 1905 in Columbus, GA.

    Now Pepsi on the other hand.....interestingly enough it was "invented" in North Carolina but for some reason Coca-Cola seems more Southern than Pepsi. It is definitely more Georgia than Pepsi.

  21. Sometimes i wonder, what is georgia food? Is peaches and pecans all you see? Does the state have the same greens and biscuits that everyone else has? So far lots of questions no answers. Just wondering if any of you could give me any answers.

    Country Captain is a Savannah original and a must try if you haven't had it yet!!

    -Mike

    How could I forget about "Country Captain"? It was Franklin Roosevelt's favorite dish when he came to Warm Springs. Some where I have the receipt his cook used.

  22. oooh, oooh, oooh! May I play?

    The one w/ the mother/daughter sitting at the table deciding they need a little some thing extra on what ever dessert type product they are eating so in comes this bizarre super-hero type character called "Captain Reddy!" The bozo looks like a drop out of Hammer and Nail technical school in tights, mask, and cape w/ holsters full of some sort of non-dairy whipped acetylene type product (if memory serves it is Reddy-Whip).

    Just the thought of the commercial makes my skin crawl and my nerves jangle.

    Honorable mention goes to the Wendy's commercials w/ the guys wearing the Wendy flip up red wig. Some times you just ask your self, why? Dave Thomas would be doing somersaults in his grave. If I was in charge of marketing for Wendy's I would simply bring back the old Dave Thomas ads and at the end of every one flash, "in memory of Dave Thomas". People would flock to the joint.

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