JenJeninCT's Profile
emu/ostrich eggs in RI?
I have seen both in 2 Whole Foods stores in CT as recently as last Friday- 29.99 and 39.99, btw, emu and ostrich respectively.
What time do you all eat dinner?
During the week, we usually eat between 7:30-8:30. Nights I teach, 9:30-10. Weekends depend on how many different directions we are going in, and for how long. We will often eat only 1 real meal on weekends, between 3:30-5:30.
Savin Rock Roasting Co - Stratford, CT: What's up?
I suspected as much- the commercials make me think "TGI Crabs"...
Savin Rock Roasting Co - Stratford, CT: What's up?
me too- probably the reason I mentioned it, since I just went to one about 3 weeks ago! Have never been to a Joe's Crab Shack or Legal Seafoods, but they couldn't be any worse than what either of these 2 locations have offered so far.
Savin Rock Roasting Co - Stratford, CT: What's up?
Since independents don't seem to do well at either location, my DH and I were thinking something like Bonefish or Joe's Crab Shack might do well in one of these spots.
Favorite Paper Towel?
If nothing is on sale, I usually buy the store brand, but my favorite for cleaning is Sparkle(it's often on sale, and even not on sale it's not one of the premium- priced brands), because it's pretty much lint-free, and is a good all-around paper towel. If I have a choice, I buy white, because I hate the idea that I am ingesting ink when I nuke bacon.
It drives my mother nuts, but my dad ALWAYS has a roll of Viva paper towels right next to the "regular" paper towels, that he uses for kleenex- they don't buy or use Viva for any other reason. They ARE really thick and soft, but...
Potato Chip Afficionado
After not seeing them for years, I just bought a bag of Charles Chips at The Fresh Market today. I grew up on them as as well- the friend I was with when I saw them couldn't believe they would bring them to your house like the milk man. Will report back when I open the bag.. I still have one or 2 of those cans around somewhere!
When they get your takeout order wrong yet again...
If it is a place you really like, call and have a friendly discussion about it with the manager- how do they know there's a problem (or what the problem is) if you either: a) keep ordering, expecting the law of averages to work in your favor; or b) stop ordering? Along with other customers experiencing similar frustration, also without communication, pretty soon, the place you really like is out of business. Most managers would appreciate the honesty, and if they don't (or the problems aren't fixed once brought to their attention), it's their loss when you take your business elsewhere.
Savin Rock Roasting Co - Stratford, CT: What's up?
They have been working on it furiously all week- landscaping and whatnot- so I would expect it to open relatively soon.
In other news, the cursed location across the street, next to BJ's, is for lease AGAIN. Bye, bye Bossa Nova.
What did you have for breakfast today?
The other half of the red pepper jelly, cheddar and granny smith apple panino I had for lunch yesterday- yummy and a nice a change from my Oikos key lime greek yogurt and Back to Nature oat graham cracker rut
What to add to fish tacos?
I make a mango/jicama/red onion/jalapeno/lime juice/parsley(like you, not a fan of cilantro) salsa for my fish tacos- even my picky DH loves it. The jicama gives the crunch that I think fish tacos need, but has a very mild flavor. I do like crema and avocado as well (as well as napa cabbage) , but the nice thing about making them is everybody can dress them their own way. I have yet to make them exactly the same way twice.
Daily Specials for locals, and regulars only?! [from General Topics]
A couple of our favorite places often give us "perks", and I think that's ok. Our go- to sushi place especially- he always gives us a special roll or appetizer not even on the specials list. He knows our tastes, and creates something for us (and then we still order the same stuff we always do!). Maybe it's that we are regulars, or maybe it's our general "over- tipping" policy- either way, it's all good!
2012 Confessions
or as I call it, "pseudo-cheese"- as much as I detest the weird fake cheese stuff, I'm not a food snob. As proof, I admit:
I just finished my 3rd box(so far) of Girl Scouts Thin Mints
Am I the only one who lives in a magic house? A lighthearted look at ourselves & food safety
Amidst a group of physicians and scientists, Claude Bernard made the statement: "The terrain is everything; the germ is nothing," and then drank down a glass of water filled with cholera.
Certainly immune compromised individuals don't have the
"terrain" to deal with assorted bugs, but for most of us, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger
Bakeries on Cape Cod
In Wellfleet, PB Boulangerie. P- town has a couple of Portuguese bakeries that are very good
Eating Raw Oysters, Is it safe?
I have eaten scores of raw and cooked oysters in my life with no ill effects (in all months of the year).
That being said, my Godmother's husband contracted an infection from a contaminated oyster that settled in a defective heart valve, and he died.
In general, though, I think the inherent risk is VERY low in people with normal immune systems.
Quick Cilantro Tasting Question - what percentage taste soap?
Soap taster here, but I keep trying- even bought some to put in my mango salsa for my fish tacos the other day...
How do you drink your milk?
Be careful- if you are like me, you won't be able to go back to "regular" milk, and organic is twice the price. Regular milk tastes chemically to me now- and before the naysayers start- we did blind taste tests! I like raw organic milk even better, but it's a PITA to get.
I ADORE milk- preferably whole and ice cold (I will usually put a glass of milk in the freezer for awhile before drinking if I know I'm going to have it- like with pancakes).
King's Barbecue in Eustis- still there?
We used to go to this place when I lived in Mt Dora in the early 80's and continued through my tenure at UF and beyond, until I moved to CT in 12/'92. I will be visiting at the end of the month and would love to get some of the unique King's mustard barbecue- either food or even just the sauce to take home.
Tell me about the state of food in Gainesville
I lived in Gainesville from 1983-1993, and have visited semi- regularly since (my brother and lots of friends are still there). I will be heading back for several days at the end of this month. Other than CJ's for raw oysters, no major plan yet, so looking forward to hearing some recs.
What discontinued products do you miss?
Pillsbury Food sticks- YUM- just got a flashback of those in the movie "Super 8".
Also, Figurines in the chocolate mint flavor and Hershey's Bar None candy Bars
Food Scars - Things you will never eat again.
I got sick the first time I ate mussels, and have only been able to try them once since- and that was about 25 years ago. I adore all other seafood and shellfish, just not mussels.
Funniest thing you seen in a restaurant?
I live about an hour outside NYC, and met my cousin and her family at Grand Central when they came in from Chicago for a visit. When I asked where they would like to go, my cousin's husband replied he wanted to eat somewhere "quintessential New York"- his pick? Planet Hollywood!!! Then he stiffed the waitress on the tip after pocketing the cash I gave him for my share- including a generous tip.
Tips on tipping - pleeease [moved from Manhattan board}
Our motto is :"it's not tipping we believe in, it's over- tipping". Anything under 20% means the service was really bad. More often, we tip in the 25-30% range, including beverages, after taxes. We appreciate good service, and are appreciated (and remembered the next time we come) by those who allow us to show it. It's a nice circle.
There are times I tip based on my "moral minimum", and it can exceed 50%. For example, my mother and I went to lunch at Olive Garden (I know, I know) and had salad, breadsticks and iced tea. The total was something around $15. There is no way I can tip the waiter $3!! So, my moral minimum is $4 per person if food is served.
Tips on tipping - pleeease [moved from Manhattan board}
All of the guys that deliver to us love us, because they know they're going to get a minimum of $5(or 20% of the bill, whichever is more) and more if the weather is bad.
How adventurous are you about trying restaurants sight unseen?
We often try our new places- and some of my absolute favorites are complete holes- in the wall.
I'm thinking a success rate of about 80%, or maybe the successes are just more memorable than the fails.
Does promising a higher tip get better service?
This reminds me of an Episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun- I only saw a couple of episodes, but 1 involved a scene in a restaurant in which the character played by John Lithgow placed a stack of bills on the table, informing the waitress that it was her tip, and that $ would be deducted as he wasn't satisfied.
We have a motto in our house: "It's not tipping we believe in, it's over- tipping"(we are thinking of getting shirts made- LOL). I work in a service industry, and like to show my appreciation when warranted. And we're pretty easy to please. Unfortunately, as an interracial couple together for over 20 years, we have often received poor, and sometimes hostile, service.
Could your/ IS your significant other a picky eater?
I don't think that's it. I think he's just weird! :)
Dealing with unwanted guests circa 1558
The following is a true story... no names or places have been changed to protect anyone, innocent or otherwise!
I was a college student working 2 jobs, and my then-slacker brother Bruce was crashing at my apartment for an indeterminate amount of time. The most annoying of his fellow slackers, Mike Stortz, had the obnoxious habit of stopping by right before dinner time, and hanging around looking pitiful until he was fed. Of course, he never pitched in with food, money or clean- up help. By the 4th or 5th time, I had had enough. I asked my brother to keep him at the table for a few minutes after dinner. When we were done eating, I cleared the table, and put all of the plates on the floor, much to my dog's delight. When all of the dishes were "clean" , I picked them up, put them back in the cabinet, and went into the living room to watch tv. He never showed up for dinner again.
I am generally not much of a prankster, but this same guy had a habit of driving drunk. On more than one occasion, when he showed up drunk at the local all -night breakfast/ study hall/ sober- up- -after- the- bar joint that everybody in Gainesville went to -Skeeter's- in the wee hours, I stole his car with his hide-a- key (not really stole, just moved- Skeeter's was at one end of an L shaped shopping center, with a Wal- Mart on the other end- I 'd hide his car behind Wal-Mart- a public service, if nothing else!)
