I'm probably just showing my age because when I was (a lot) younger, they were considered a luxury item. The thought of them being available in a can is making me end this post so I can run for the toi...

I don't even bother readin' a coupla lines any more.

Ah yes, but if you're "catching" the ones from your garden they're free and so not a luxury item. In fact, there's probably a net gain since they can no longer eat your lettuce. I am curious to know whether you eat slugs, which are pretty much snails without an attached house.

I wonder how they would have pronounciated (sic) Oregano.

Escargots? (Snails.)

Is seems that, the reason people eat them is the garlic butter. Why not just get the garlic butter and some bread? It would be a whole lot cheaper. (And less cruel to living creatures who can't run away quickly enough to escape.)

Not to mention Ofeibea Quist-Arcton!

Those amounts would never work in the US. It would have to be 9, 18, 36, 54, etc.

Can't believe I missed that, and hope I didn't cause any offence. "Glad your open to" correcting misunderstandings!

Sending you a laugh and a semi-hug in order to say perhaps it's also okay to let someone who obviously cares about spelling know that it's not "peaked her interest" but "piqued her interest".

Chowhound can be so educational. I learned recently on here about cutlery and now understand why people looked at me so strangely when I ate soup with my fingers.

Reminds me of my college diet of 3 Marathons (now known as Snickers) a day. One each for breakfast, dinner and tea. I lost those ten extra pounds and then went back to missing my mum's cooking.

The only way I could eat out when I lived in Japan was because they have those fabulous fake dishes in a cabinet and you can just point to what you want. Certainly helps anywhere you don't speak the language or recognize the names of the dishes.

"what i do think, and this is tricky to explain, is that the overall acceptance of relaxed standards leads to eventually accepting unacceptable behavior. now i'm not saying that buttering and eating a whole slice of bread leads to the decay of civilization, but much like text and twitter has led to the inability of half a generation to form a complete, puncuated, grammatically correct sentence (forget about writing in script, oh and forgive all run-ons and lack of capitalization here, pls.),"

Do you see the irony in your post, or is it just me?

And then arguing over every penny on the bill and still coming up short.

Dear lord, I just hit the button and recommended this post. What I meant to do was add a reply, as in "condescending."

I have definitely been in the same situation! I've learned to look through those old recipes I've cut from newspapers and magazines and never used. Also, to take a couple of days away from cooking and just eat toast or that can of garbonzo beans with oil and vinegar, salt and pepper. Cheese and crackers work well too for me. (Wallace and Grommit all the way.)

Being advised to go to a restaurant doesn't work on my budget and I find condescending that people suggest this..

When I've had a surplus of vegetables from my CSA, I've done my best to cook and freeze them. Perhaps you can do this with your "kitchen full of food"? Nothing better than coming across soup or tomato sauce or shepherd's pie or whatever in the freezer when you can't be a###ed to cook!

We have Chowhound in common!

Sometimes it's just a cultural thing. Where I grew up, you would actually be expected to show up earlier than the given time. But the first time I met my (American) in-laws, we had said we'd be there at 10am to pick them up for a trip to the beach, and when we arrived at 10am they were still in their pyjamas eating breakfast. They were known as "the late ____s".

I entertain and am entertained a lot and have learned not to be on time (because as a previous poster said, when I'm on time there's a look of horror on the hosts' faces) nor do I expect my guests to be on time. I adjust my timing accordingly in both cases.

To me, it's about enjoying family, friendship, and cooking,

Sorry but nope. Chatsworth Road in the middle of England!

LOL. Probably not on Chatsworth Road, which is where I grew up!

Once you've had that $5 bottle of wine you can't tell the difference between anything. ;')

I'm no food expert, but perhaps it means swallow.

Next time I struggle up the hill and get out of the galut I'll be sure to stop by.

Just have to say that living in yehupezville the idea of "a chunk of fresh lamb ribs" makes me sick with envy. :-)

One example, "I am sure that the person doesn't understand the wine, nor how to enjoy it and a $5 bottle may yield more pleasure for that person".
I
For myself, it's a shame I'm not able to elevate my tasting notes of wine beyond "hints of Snickers with a taste of bark dust and a tinge of mouse poo" but I'm not sure why that should prohibit me from enjoying a good bottle of wine that costs more that $5..

I love receiving a hand written thank you note from a guest. If you want to do more, perhaps have some flowers delivered (after the event). Personally I wouldn't do a gift card because to me it seems like you're paying someone back for dinner (like insisting on helping cover the check at a restaurant when you've been invited out as a guest).

I just do it for 30 minutes since you're not really cooking anything, just heating it and melting the cheese.

Me, I read Chowhound because thankfully, the most serious problem I have in life is that I need to get advice from patronizing posters who think there is a difference between saboyon and zabaglione.

Does anyone have a good recipe for this that uses the kosher for pesach whipped butter? The one time I tried to make it was not successful and I'm wondering whether it was because of the consistency of the butter.

Hag sameach v'kasher everyone.

I agree with Rama Thai, but (just as a heads up for your wife) it can be a little difficult to find/navigate to.

Sambi (Japanese) in the Valley Plaza is good.

Hae Rim has great bibimbop.

New Seasons is a great locally based market and has a lot of fresh (often organic) eating options (kind of like Whole Wallet I suppose but nicer) including a "hot wok". Quick, cheap, easy, fresh. You can eat in or take out. There are several New Seasons around the area. You can let me know where your wife is going to be based so I can be more specific if you'd like.