Jadore's Profile
If you eat tilapia...
Everybody has a right to their own opinion, but I have to say, I am tired of the anti-tilapia talk on Chowhound. We get it. It's a 'trash fish' and people don't like it and blah blah blah. Others do, and others still know how to prepare it well. I don't see why people care what other people put in their own mouths.
Bon Appetit & Paltrow
I flipped through her article last night at my in-laws. Her recipes sound flavorful and summery and utterly unoriginal and uninspired by anything other than the basics of the season. I liked the sound of her peach bbq sauce, but I know I've had and made better. She also did halibut with mango avacado salsa. Simple, simple, simple. You'd find it in a variety of restaurants, especially here in California. I would try her corn vichyssoise; I'm already playing with the idea of adding shrimp or maybe lobster to it, and adding perhaps a touch of heat or sweet.
I would be interested in reading her cookbook. The article said if you like Jamie Oliver and the River Cafe books, GP's would speak to you. However, I get the feeling her food is a stripped down play on Jamie Oliver's food, and I'd rather cook his instead. (So far, anyway.) GP's not doing anything innovative, and she owns that. I just don't feel she has much of a style, and I think that's important to have when you're asking people to buy your cookbook.
Words that Annoy You in Restaurant Reviews
"Delicious." So generic, so vague. I hate it. It tells me nothing. Lots of foods are "delicious" for a variety of reasons. Is it tasty because it's been marinated overnight in heirloom tomato juice and imported olive oil? Does it taste good because it was paired with a great pinot noir to balance the flavor? Was the dish good to you because it was well-seasoned with fresh herbs? Explain, expand, educate me!
Words that Annoy You in Restaurant Reviews
But couldn't you argue that the original term didn't have negative connotations, therefore it's acceptable to defer back to the original intent/definition?
Kelsey's Essentials - super basic cooking show
I agree with your first paragraph completely!
Kelsey's Essentials - super basic cooking show
Condescending? We must be watching two different shows. She comes across as sweet and enthusiastic.
Also, why wouldn't you try the lemon basil orzotto anyway? Who cares about her personality as long as the recipes are good?
McDonald's revamps stores to look more upscale, USA Today
You know, I've never actually had a Big Mac, but their recipe makes me crave one! (Well, a homemade one anyway.)
McDonald's revamps stores to look more upscale, USA Today
I guess it's not strange in general, i.e. a chain changing their decor. It just struck me personally as odd because they're always under scrutiny for some moral/ethical thing, or so it would seem.
I guess I'd like to see them address their (very public) complaints and lawsuits by spending that money on more humane treatments of their animals for slaughter. Or maybe they could just offer better quality beef and fresh vegetables, or, hell, more products without so many preservatives and hormones. I think their money would be better spent on correcting some of those problems than trying to incorporate some fancier chairs and tables, or what have you.
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, gets her own show
I fully agree, mariacarmen! More power to her. She's awesome.
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, gets her own show
True. I'm a California girl, and the first thing I thought of was the price of housing in the Bay Area and in SoCal.
Still, I wouldn't cry over $100,000 a year. :)
Your Trigger Food Words
Mine are
Sinful
Breaded
Battered
Macaroni and Cheese
Cilantro
Your Trigger Food Words
GARLIC! Yes ma'am!
Champagne
Beer
Wine/Especially pinot noir
Tequila!
Coffee/espresso
Roasted
Seared
Grilled
Charred
Barbecued
Creamy
Spicy
Smoky
Lamb
Chicken
Carne Asada
Linguine or Fettuccine
Goat's cheese/chevre
Feta
Brie
Chocolate
Vanilla bean
Tiramisu
Creme brulee
Custard
Lime
Lemon
Blood orange
Blueberry
Raspberry
Strawberry
French
Mexican
Greek
Chinese
Moroccan
Spring greens
Spinach
Rainbow chard
Broccoli rabe
Asparagus
Green beans
Sundried tomatoes
Coq au vin
Mashed potatoes
Morels
Porcini
Risotto
Curry
Beurre blanc
Sizzling
Mediterranean
Fruit tart
Eclair
Tropical
Mango
Caramelized
Mustard/Dijon
Chopped
I like Chopped because I always wonder what I would do if confronted with the sometimes weird variety of foods presented in the baskets. If the chefs survive, I don't know if they're 'good' cooks, so much as they are creative and quick to think on their feet, and that's good enough for me.
Also, I've learned of a few more ingredients I'd never heard before, thanks to Chopped! I never knew chayotes, cherimoya, fregula, geoducks, Buddha's hand, dulce de membrillo, etc existed before I watched the show, and for that I'm grateful. (Because I like to learn!) I think they have a cool blend of foods that are not-so common to the American public, and then basic grocery store items that everyone knows, like canned biscuit dough, Rice Krispies cereal, gummy worms, and hot dogs. Overall, it's an entertaining show that gives unknown chefs a great chunk of money and, who knows, a chance at being discovered after being on TV.
Chopped
Ahhh, I watched that episode! And the one who cross-contaminated kept crying about her sister. It became such a mess.
What's Going On At Bon Appetit? When Will Changes Come?
Just wondering, what do you feel has gone downhill at BA, or, what do you feel Gourmet did better than BA? I'm really curious, and would love to hear some opinions!
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, gets her own show
Seth, I agree, I really don't want to see her become a young Paula.
Also, while I agree about FN's terrifying ability to turn a cook into a living, breathing product, PBS isn't where you want to go if you want to become a huge star overnight. Let's face it, if her show does well, she's going to have legions of brand new fans who will rabidly snatch up anything she puts her name on. That type of success will be in part of Ree's natural charm and great recipes, and partially because Food Network is brilliant at creating celebrities, if you will.
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, gets her own show
*Whistles* I read something online where Ladd Drummond states he makes $100,000 a year, and everyone was saying he makes faaaar more. Maybe they were right!
McDonald's revamps stores to look more upscale, USA Today
Again, my original remark was a very casual way of saying, "Wow, they get hammered in the media and in courts all the time for pissing people off, and instead, they take money to invest in some new decor! That's kind of odd!"
And again, I never thought they were doing this based on complaints or lack thereof. See previous paragraph.
Finally, I did state an opinion that is based on my basic knowledge of public complaints against McDonald's, and I backed it up with (lots and lots!) of sources, articles, etc.
McDonald's revamps stores to look more upscale, USA Today
Obviously, I was being facetious in my original comment about complaints! Sheesh, tommy, get a grip. But come on, anyone who doesn't live with their head in the sand knows that McDonald's is griped about all the time in the news and in pop culture. But here, I'll humor you, since we know you wanna debate. :)
I don''t know what the number 1 complaint is, but I do know what some of the biggest ones are. These are all issues that have plagued McDonald's family friendly and affordable image for a long time; some even pre-date the dawn of the Internet! (OMG!)
Have you heard of Supersize Me? McDonald's is often a target for the argument about a link between obesity and obesity-related diseases and fast food! :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Size_Me
Have you read any of the articles surround the pressure McD's was given about changing their oil to be trans-fat free? Did you hear about the public outcry in their slowness to actually follow through with their promises? They were hit with a fairly publicized lawsuit a few years back:
http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/healthandfitness/p/trnasfats.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5402763/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16873869/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/mcdonalds-finally-picks-trans-fat-free-oil/
http://forum.lowcarber.org/archive/index.php/t-233813.html
Did you know that many vegans and vegetarians, as well as Hindus, placed pressure on McD's to fully admit that they use beef extract in their fries, after dubbing the ingredient to be 'natural flavor' for years prior? They lost $10 million (aka pocket change) in a lawsuit over their lack of clear communication over their ingredients in 2002:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0504-02.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/05/national/main511109.shtml
How about the fact that PETA has launched not one, but two huge anti-McDonalds campaigns, spawning lots of discussion as to why the company refuses to step up their animal welfare standards:
http://www.mccruelty.com/why.aspx
http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/28/news/fortune500/mcdonalds_peta/index.htm
http://www.bnet.com/blog/food/peta-vs-mcdonalds-the-nicest-way-to-kill-a-chicken/484
The Humane Society has some similar complaints:
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2010/05/mcdonalds_051910.html
See also the McLibel trial of 1990, which became the longest trial in British history:
http://animalrights.about.com/od/companies/a/McDonaldsAnimal.htm
There's also the idea that McDonald's exploits children for profit. People are hitting back with lawsuits:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/lawsuit-mcdonald-s-toys-exploit-children-1.1077951#axzz1MT7NWlFu
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/19/usa-mcdonalds-idUSN1824989420110419
And if none of the above links can help you decipher what their top complaints are, you can always scroll through the 'bad service' remarks found here!
http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/mcdonalds-a2322.html
But again, I wasn't trying to state that they shouldn't revamp their restaurants until the public complains.
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, gets her own show
Allegedly, her hubby is pretty wealthy and their ranch is huge. The random pics I've seen of their kitchen look very beautiful, so maybe it won't be so bad!
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, gets her own show
Haha, thanks HillJ! I went to her site and couldn't find an official announcement, so I stuck with the Times.
Actually, I went to her site and got distracted by the Beet and Chevre ravioli she posted a pic and link to. GUILTY!
McDonald's revamps stores to look more upscale, USA Today
McDonald's is, first and foremost, a drive thru restaurant. They 'serve' more people in their cars than they do inside. You don't need to read that in any article to know that.
And obviously no one is complaining about the decor. My point is that people constantly complain about McD's for one thing or another, and what they look like inside is rarely at the top of the list.
Just pointing this out about Guy Fieri...
That's the same one I own! It's great, and it last and lasts.
The Next Food Network Star Begins on June 7
I don't follow this series very closely, but this summer I just might.
Can any of you tell me who's come out of this series a success, aside from Guy Fieri? I remember the Hardy Boys had a show and got cancelled. I know Kelsey Nixon was a finalist and now has her own show on Cooking Channel (Kelsey's Essentials, which is great). Who else am I missing?
