Can you be a vegetarian and a gourmet?

[cakewalk]

what is fennel, I asked my wife but EVEN SHE hasn't heard of THAT one!!

All the imagination I need is to think of coming home to my wife's roast chicken, little sausages and bacon, and a nice dish of boiled carrots ON THE SIDE (!) never mind anything else...

Um, are you serious about the fennel, or am I just gullible?

Some people have, shall we say, different imaginations than others. I'm certainly no gourmet, but I was indeed a vegetarian for quite some time. I never ate "a nice dish of boiled carrots" in my life -- not on the side, not anywhere! Enjoy your roast chicken, but you are indeed missing out, IMO.

[tommy]

it's good to see brand new members participating and jumping right into the question and answer sessions. always a pleasure to have well-adjusted and socially confident people joining, even if they don't know what fennel is.

[Doug]

Hello Tommy,

Sorry, was I out of line going right ahead and asking Mr Blumenthal a question like that? I was just kind of interested in the opinion of a real cook about a thing like this, but you can take my question off his list if you like.

Tell him sorry if I wasted his time!

All best to you,

Doug

[Doug]

By the way, turns out I SHOULD HAVE known about fennel (friend of mine I called told me I was a real fool), but it's true I really didn't before! I'll keep my big mouth shut in future...

But you folks that don't like boiled carrots should give them a chance, way my wife does them, they are DEElicious. (and that's coming from a meat-eater!)

Sorry to keep bothering you, but I've got kind of hooked on this talking about food thing (who'd have thought?)

Doug

[tommy]

Q.E.D.

[Rachel Perlow]

I just noticed Suvir changed his avatar. Yeah! No more cut off head.

[Suzanne F]

Doug, I thought it was perfect that you asked Heston Blumenthal that question. And look! he agreed with some of what you said, and some of what others said. Yes, you can be both; but you'll miss out on some delicious foods.

Why are you surprised that talking about food is such fun?? Not quite as good as eating or cooking, but so much easier on the waistline.

[tommy]

okra.

[Suvir Saran]

Karela

[Suvir Saran]

I just noticed Suvir changed his avatar. Yeah! No more cut off head.

Was the previous one that bad?

[Suvir Saran]

Karela

It is commonly known as Bitter Melon or Bitter Squash

[Suvir Saran]

Being a vegetarian

Heston Blumenthal gave a great answer to Doug. Worth looking at if you are reading this thread.

[tommy]

Karela

It is commonly known as Bitter Melon or Bitter Squash

i was just testing the "gourmet."

[Suvir Saran]

Karela

It is commonly known as Bitter Melon or Bitter Squash

i was just testing the "gourmet."

Was that meant to be difficult?

[tommy]

Was that meant to be difficult?

i'm not sure. about as hard as that other weird item i suppose.

[Doug]

Hello again to you all!

I'm not sure, but I get just the slighest little suspicion that Tommy might be trying to paytronise me... The way he put gourmet in those little inverted commas, kind of a small thing, but I noticed it. (I said I was sorry for not knowing about fennel, and maybe I'm less of a 'gourmet' than I thought I was! I get your point Tommy! I just haven't met too many knowledgeable folks like you before, and I think most of you good people seem to understand that and be patient). And the little thing about 'socially adjusted', which seemed to be a complaint about me mailing Mr Blumenthal with my question. Funny, Mr Blumenthal himself didn't seem to mind too much, and his answer was real nice in the end, like Suvir said!

And I asked you a question, and you replied with just the letters 'Q.E.D.', probably thinking stupid old Doug, who didn't know what fennel was, wouldn't know what that meant. Well, what you meant was: 'Tommy's just proved his point about Doug being a big old idiot without having to say anything, because Doug's done it himself'. Well, sorry to disagree, Tommy, but what I was saying was 'sorry' for something I didn't know, so I don't see that you've really 'Q.E.D.ed' there at all, do you? What does anyone else think? I have the feeling that Tommy might just be a little bit of what some folks might call a 'snob', no? Suvir seems to know a real lot about food (and so does Mr Blumenthal, of course), and lots of other nice folks on this list do to and they manage to be real friendly and parient with me... (thanks to you all)

So I'm learning from you, Tommy, I really am, but I think you could be a little bit nicer to poor old Doug, don't you?

On another score, though, Tommy and me are in perfect harmony: I have a little thing that from another discussion going on on egullet about that crazy Washington sniper:

'if the guy receives a bullet to each knee, and 1 to the groin, 'accidently' upon capture, i'll be thrilled.'

This was Tommy talking about that wicked man, and I couldn't agree more! He also said something that I've said a thousand times before: it's the PERSON who shoots someone, NOT the gun! These fools trying to ban guns are just barking up the wrong old tree.

Nice point, Tommy. I like your politics, my friend, if only you could be a bit more patient with me over my knowning about food, I'm sure we could get along just fine.

All good wishes to you.

Doug

[Jinmyo]

Doug, no worries.

tommy's a good guy. But if you ever find that you're having a bit of a tiff with him or anyone, just send them a PM to check it out to avoid leaving too much personal chaff around the site. That way one doesn't run into something one now finds a tad embarassing a few months later.

[Tonyfinch]

Blimey. Tommy I'd be very afraid if I were you.

[Suvir Saran]

Blimey. Tommy I'd be very afraid if I were you.

I'd be very very very afraid. Be very afraid Tommy.

A F R A I D.

[Suvir Saran]

Doug, no worries.

tommy's a good guy. But if you ever find that you're having a bit of a tiff with him or anyone, just send them a PM to check it out to avoid leaving too much personal chaff around the site. That way one doesn't run into something one now finds a tad embarassing a few months later.

Sage advice from a kind person. Could not agree with you more Jinmyo.

[Suzanne F]

Now, boys! This is your schoolmarm talking to you:

Douglas, we understand that you're new here, and there is always a period of adjustment as you get to know your classmates, and they you. Just remember we're all here to have fun learn, so cool your jets.

And Thomas, how many times have we talked about not bullying the new kids? Hmmm? Ever since I came in as your teacher, right? Don't worry that everyone will eventually find out you're just a pussycat. They won't think any the less of you for it.

Okay, boys, you can go back to your workbooks now. But if I catch you fighting again, you're BOTH going straight to the principal.

[Suvir Saran]

Okay, boys, you can go back to your workbooks now.  But if I catch you fighting again, you're BOTH going straight to the principal. 

AFRAID.

A F R A I D.

A F R A I D.

A F R A I D.

A F R A I D.

A F R A I D.

A F R A I D.

A F R A I D.

AFRAID.

[Suvir Saran]

Sorry about that bad post above.

I had created this attractive design using spacing and creating what looked like the nib of a fountain pen that a principal would use... All by using the word Afraid... and spacing it differently in each line... It looked great... but only until I posted it..

And now.. I look like a loser...

Sorry!

Was trying to be smart....

[Jinmyo]

Suvir, that's okay. It kind of looks like a gum eraser.

[Suzanne F]

And what have I said to you, young man, about doodling when you should be working??? If you don't apply yourself more to your studies, you'll end up flipping burgers somewhere, you mark my words.