mcap's Profile
What goes good with chili?
I dig chili with tater tots... cook the tots separately, then put some on the bottom and ladle the chili over. They break down from the heat of the chili and turn into a shredded potato type consistency. Put a few crunchy ones on top, with a little raw green onion. I'll eat that all day.
What did you or your Mom make when you were sick?
+1 on pastina! Not with the cheese though, just lots of butter.
Whenever "X" Happens, I Always Eat "Y" - More Unique Examples
The ordering of tomato juice on a airplane has always fascinated me. It was something I noticed years ago and now I pay attention to drink orders around me when flying. Outside of an airplane, I have never seen or heard of anyone ordering tomato juice as a drink.
Does anyone still eat rice cakes?
Yup, still eat them. I like the plain ones from Trader Joe's with peanut butter on top; they also have an apple cinnamon one that is really good with peanut butter as well.
Strangely... I sort of like the styrofoamy mouth feel.
Childhood foods you would *totally* eat now...
Wise Onion Rings. They have such a great crunch. And the light dusting of crack on them ensures I eat the whole bag in one sitting.
Anything else you can do with pork or chicken out of a smoker besides BBQ?
I'd eat your whole supply of smoked pork carnitas...
How about Moroccan style chicken? chicken thighs marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper, garlic, ginger and then smoked. This is a staple of mine on the grill and is real tasty.
Why does Trader Joe's pasta taste sweet? [moved from General Chowhounding board]
So happy to see this thread. I can not stand the dried pasta from TJ's
Which cuisine is the most frugal in which to cook/eat by?
Probably the most frugal "cuisine" on the planet is mass-produced American-style fast food, when considering the amount of food and calories per dollar spent.
5000+ calorie burger meals for less than 5 bucks?
College Students
As someone who learned to cook in college, and currently works at one, I say yes, there are many college students out there that share your affinity for food.
I definitely agree with the student newspaper suggestion - great idea to enhance your own interest in food but to see if there are others that share your interest.
Also, look into starting a club on campus - either a cooking club or a restaurant club that brings like minded students together. You can probably get some start up funding from your student government, and each member can pay small dues to do some cooking or go out to eat. Invite staff and faculty as well, since they can help connect students together with this same interest.
You could also start a Facebook page or Twitter feed at your school that revolves around your cooking interest. Who knows... maybe you'll start the next big social media site.
Finally, if you have a culinary or hospitality program on campus you should take some classes and target students in that area.
Good luck, and get moving on starting the interest on your campus.
Barcelona Tapas Recs: need some suggestions pls.
There is a Sunday pig roast special (in New Haven) that includes the pig, sides, and dessert AND 1/2 price wine. Haven't been yet but saw it on the menu on Friday night.
What makes a good cook book for you?
For me its pictures. I'm a very visual person so I struggle with cookbooks without pictures. Plus, I just feel this need to see what the end result should look like... then I can tweak and change things as I see fit.
The Manliest Restaurant in America?
Nick Tahous in Rochester NY, home of the garbage plate.
A run down counter service joint where you order a garbage plate - bottom layer of macaroni salad and home fries, topped with two (bun-less) cheeseburgers (or hot dogs, sausage, ham steak, fried steak, fried egg, fried fish, etc), topped again with raw onions and a hot grease sauce.
Once you have it, you top it again with ketchup, mustard, and more hot sauce, Cut up, mix together, and wolf down (preferably after several, several drinks). Comes with bread and always served on a paper plate.
Do women like it? Of course. But anytime I went as a college student it was always a group of guys. Since then, everytime I describe it, the guys' mouths start to water and the women look revolted.
Oh, and it is delicious. Seriously.
What Foods and Food Products Are Still Just As Good As Ever?
Superpretzels. In the freezer section.
Used to have them all the time as a kid and then didn't have any for about 20 yrs. Recently got them again and they are exactly the same. Frozen soft pretzels from the freezer that take 30 seconds to microwave to hot, soft pretzel.
You won't confuse them for a (fresh) street-cart pretzel but they are really good. Amazingly, nothing has changed in 20 years including the packaging, the directions, etc.
http://www.superpretzel.com/
Right Now You Can't Get Enough of...
Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds. Cripes. When you're not eating them, you're thinking about eating them.
Crackers in Chili: Yes or No?+ Toppings You Love...or Hate
I don't always do this but when the mood hits....
Tater tots on the bottom, covered with the chili. So delicious, as the tots become soft and mix in with the chili adding a potato-y thickness. Top with fresh cilantro, green onions, and cheddar cheese... plus a few more tater tots around the edge.
Enough with this "presentation" silliness
I don't really have an issue with artful presentation in general - good looking plates of food are always welcome. Pleasing to the eye is important, maybe not as important as pleasing to the nose or pleasing to the stomach but there is definitely a place for presentation in food service.
Frankly, I'm just bored with the ubiquitous presentation in most places - dollop of sauce; smear with spoon; build layers of everything in the middle; top with edible garnish.
Enough with this "presentation" silliness
Grew up in Schenectady and hit all the Friendly's around town! To this day there is no better ice cream memory than a Friendly's Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae.
Packaged Cookie from the '70s/'80s
Were they the Stella D'Oro Breakfast Treats?
http://www.stelladoro.com/breakfast_treats.html
Best barbeque sauce out of a bottle?
Another for Sweet Baby Ray's. Good out of the bottle, and adding a little cider vinegar gives it that bite perfect for pulled pork.
Is There Some Day of the Week...
Sunday is spent making a big pot of sauce for pasta. It always has been for me, and always will be for my family. What changes is the type of pasta and whether its meatballs, sausage, chicken, eggplant, or a combination thereof to go with it... but Sunday is pasta.
Something unusual you put on food
not quite on food, but I love warm french fries in a cold tossed salad
What's your fantasty Food Truck?
Oh man. Not only would I follow this truck, I'd eat out of your garbage.
everyday foods in Charlotte? off Carmel Road
I love Musashi. They have an entire section of the menu written in Japanese.
Charlotte around the University Hilton
You are in somewhat of a culinary wasteland in that area, but here are a few that are relatively close, local, and pretty good:
Amalfi's - decent peasant Italian-American food, served in a small, casual setting. Pizza is pretty good - owners are great. http://www.amalfi-charlotte.com/
Sushi 101 - good sushi at a good price. Not overly creative, but solid.
Casablanca Cafe - Moroccan/middle east style food; not bad, not outstanding. Definitely something different for the area and a good price. http://www.casablancacafecharlotte.com/
And that's about all I got....
Sir Edmond Halley's (Charlotte) closing?
This stinks. Another neighborhood favorite gone...
Banh mi in Asheville?
Had a great one at The Admiral as part of their late night menu. They called it a "Vietnamese Hoagie". Made with braised pork belly then topped with the classic toppings. It was absolutely perfect.
Suggestions for Charlotte, NC - new places to try
A few suggestions: (not sure where you've been...) Some have opened recently, others have been around:
Fran's Filling Station - Park Rd
Terrace Cafe - South Park (Piedmont Center)
Las Palmas - Columbian/Cuban food (South Blvd and Seneca)
Punta Cana - Dominican (South and Tyvola)
NY Pizza - South and Archdale
Georges Brassiere - South Park in old Oceannaire (haven't been yet)
Best BBQ in Charlotte
Lexington BBQ # 1, about an hour or so north of Charlotte on I-85.
Mediocre Food, Good Memories
We had a place in Wildwood NJ where we went every summer for our beach vacation. Every year we went to the same restaurant for a sit down dinner after a week of boardwalk food.
To put it mildly... this place sucked.
But year after year we went because we always had a good time (part of which was ripping on the food). It simply became a family tradition to eat an awful meal at this place and laugh about it.
