How about cochinta pibil served with steaming hot tortillas, marinated red onions and chiles, rice, and beans? You can make the cochinita pibil in a slow cooker or in the oven ahead of time and warm up that night. For something a little different, you can soften and marinate whole anchos ahead of time and serve them stuffed with the guacamole. A lime or dulce de leche cheesecake would make a great finish.

No other courses, and what I´m looking for is really more of a snack. In our community, people get together around 6:00 or 7:00 for drinks. Lunch is usually not until 2:00 or so, so people will not be ravenous.

Thimes, I´m looking for something interactive for people who are sitting around a table drinking wine and talking, rather than pre-made apps. I really like the suggestions re bagna cauda, crostini, and lettuce wraps. Thanks, all!

This request may seem strange, but I´m looking for suggestions on an appetizer that guests can assemble themselves -- something that engages them as we gather around a table. It shouldn´t be too complicated or time-consuming. Fondue is one idea, but are there any others that would be unusual or fun?

Of the three, I prefer the Chop. In fact, it´s one of my favorite restaurants in Worcester. All of their steaks and chops are good, but I usually order the mixed grill. They also have an extensive wine list. We´ve tried Via several times but haven´t been impressed.

I'm new to Houston and have tickets for the rodeo next week. Any suggestion on rodeo food?

Any recommendations on the best Houston restaurant for a charcoal-grilled steak?

Thanks. I'm in Mexico and don't have access to canned creamed corn but can probably make do with a blender.

I don't have access to recipe books for high altitude baking and am desperate for a sure-fire cornbread recipe that I can use at 5,000 feet. Can anyone help me?

Any suggestions on where to find really good Cajun gumbo? I live on the western edge of Montrose.

While you're in Vicksburg, you have to try out the Juke Joint Restaurant and Blues Exhibit at 1415 Washington St. in downtown Vicksburg. My husband and I were traveling through last week and just happened upon this eatery at lunch time. We had planned to grab a quick salad or sandwich but made a drastic change when we saw the lunch buffet: crispy friend chicken, smothered pork chops, yummy chicken and dumplings, tender field peas, cornbread muffins, yams, braised cabbage. It was just too good to pass up, and was easily the best meal we had on our entire week-long trip. After cleaning our plates, we pondered over the blackberry cobbler, but better sense prevailed. Oh my, I wish I were there right now!

Fellow chowhounds, need your opinion on the best cooking magazine for a 40-ish man who loves food and is now taking an interest in cooking. His tastes run the gamut but lean toward spicy cuisines, and he tends to be more experimental than process-oriented in the kitchen. Saveur, Cooks Illustrated, or other?

I order Mexican ingredients such as chiles and mole pastes from mexgrocer.com. I also order teas, jams, and Caribbean spices from sunnycaribee.com

The Baja Grill has closed its doors. I will really miss their chicken enchiladas, sopes, and tamales.

http://www.bajagrillneo-mexicancuisin...

I was thinking more of a whole dish (beef stroganoff, sirloin tips with red wine sauce, shrimp scampi, etc.) being pre-prepared, i.e.,. coming in a plastic container and being nuked and served with sides that may have been made by the staff.

Naive question: how common is it for restaurants to serve food not prepared from scratch in their own kitchens? Is it possible that a restaurant with a small kitchen and kitchen staff can prepare from scratch 15 appetizers and 30 entrees, many of the entrees with their own special sauces and accompaniments? How common is it to purchase prepared food and finish it in the kitchen?

When I was a kid in West Texas, the flavor straws were very popular. I also remember liking root beer-flavored Kool Aid, Cheese Whiz, and candy cigarettes. Happily, my tastes have evolved!

It's hard to beat Caio Bella's Key Lime Graham Cracker, sweet, slightly tart gelato folded with graham cracker crumbs. It is just unbelievably good. Anything from Blue Bell is good, as is Graeter's Black Raspberry Chip.

I was there on Saturday night, and the place was empty except for one other couple. Two other couples showed up as we were leaving, but business was dismally slow. The owner has already cut back on staff and hours and says she will give the business until November. If things haven't improved by then, they will close.

Although they have cut back in some areas, the quality is still there. I am addicted to the chicken enchiladas and tamales, and they were sublime, as always.

I am a regular there, and if they close, where will I go to get my fix? Tortilla Sam's, Mezcal, Margarita's, and the others are not in the same class.

Grill for 10 minutes. Brush corn with mayo mixed with cayenne, salt, and cumin, roll in grated cotija, and finish with a squeeze of lime. Pure heaven!

I am reaching out to all of you in the Worcester area who love Mexican food. If you have not dined at Baja Grill lately or ever (shame on you!), you’re missing out on something very special. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Baja Grill, it is the real deal – traditional Mexican cuisine as well as fajitas and burritos, all made with healthful ingredients. My husband and I went last night, and as always, the food was muy exquisito! We split an order of melt-in-your-mouth tamales as appetizers. Then came beef and chicken enchiladas, ordered as entrees from the appetizer menu. The enchiladas, just the right level of picante, were complemented by crumbled queso fresco and drizzled crema, and served with pinto beans and cilantro rice. We ate every bite and then split a piece of tres leches cake. Ay, ay, ay, we left happy but overly full! The entire experience -- chatting with the owner, the attentive service, and the delicious food -- was sublime.

Although the restaurant doesn’t have a liquor license, it is BYOB with no corkage fee. For budget-conscious diners, this is a great way to keep costs down and still enjoy a drink.

By the way, I am writing all this because it's astonishing that more people haven't discovered this gem.

http://www.bajagrillneo-mexicancuisin...

I nominate two of my mother's specialties, remembered from my childhood. The first is a version of the infamous tuna casserole. Canned tuna, cream of mushroom soup, canned peas, and a bag of crushed potato chips are layered in a baking dish and baked for 30 minutes at 350. This dish has left psychic scars.

The second is "a salad," rather than a casserole, but its awfulness merits mention here. My mother would combine two cans of pork & beans, a little chopped onion, one chopped tomato, and two whopping spoons of mayo, all mooshed together. The unfortunate result is a bright pink sauce with brown beans and tomato chunks swimming in it. Not knowing any better, my sister once took this dish to a pot luck dinner. She was mortified that no one touched the salad all evening, and she slunk from the party without claiming the salad or the bowl it was in.

Glad to hear that India Cafe is expanding. By the way, has anyone tried the Indian grocery on Route 9 in the same strip as Deja Brew? I went in for the first time yesterday and was very pleasantly surprised by the great variety of produce, canned products, frozen food, and spices, and by the prices. I bought things that I've never heard of or tried before, like pickled mango. I also want to try another Indian store, also on Route 9 in Shrewsbuiry, near Trippi's. Not saying that my results can in any way compare with that of India Cafe, Bollywood Grill, or Surya, but at least I can whip something up when I get a sudden yen for Indian food!

Thanks for the suggestions! As a matter of fact, my husband and I tried out Tacos Parrilla two weeks ago (great chiles rellenos!), and we walked through the store afterwards. I noticed that they had chorizo, corn husks, grated cotija, and what I think were banana leaves. I'm going back for the banana leaves for my cochinita pibil. By the way, we have sampled the offerings of Baja Grill, Tacos Parilla, and Tacos Acapulco in Shrewsbury, and we're thrilled that we now have some decent options for Mexican food! Any opinions on the best carnitas?

We are blessed with having an old-fashioned, three-screen drive-in theater in our area and are planning to go next weekend, if weather permits. Any suggestions for a picnic that we can take with us and eat in the car as we watch the movies? I'm looking for things that are easy and delicious and am avoiding anything that requires a table, knife, and fork or that is messy. In the past, deviled eggs, sandwich wraps, cubed cheese, and chocolate-dipped strawberries have worked well, but I'm looking for something a little different.

My husband and I have been three times, once with another couple. This last time was truly the last! Forget about an intimate get-together -- the place was so loud that our party of four couldn't communicate! I'm talking about headache-inducing volume, and there is no excuse for it. As for the food, most of the tapas are good, although some old Spanish stand-bys, like patatas bravas, are not up to par. The paella was so over-salted that it was inedible. Our two guys, who can usually pack it away, left their meals unfinished. Overall, a disappointing experience.

We discovered this place about a year ago and have gone back at least monthly. If you like Mexico-style, rather than Tex-Mex, you'll love this restaurant's offerings. We've sampled the cochinita pibil, enchiladas, tacos al pastor, chicken with mole, sopes, queso fundido, and burrito -- and loved them all! And the BYOB option is a real plus!

Any suggestions on where I can find Mexican ingredients like cotija and aneja cheese, jicama, and good chorizo -- without having to drive to Boston? The Price Chopper on Highland and Park has tomatillos, dried chiles, plantains, but not everything I need.