Now that kind of communication is what I'm talking about. Awesome, fearless and so totally smart.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step....

Give a breakfast ferris wheel a try, then decide :0)

http://www.moreyspiers.com/eat/breakf...

Ugh, the quick loan...man that really is the worst!

I love your bounce-back attitude! Good for you, tonifi!

Pls do it's really windy & chilly in NJ today. Hard to focus on the party we have planned.....

Thanks, Phoebe. Have fun on vacation and I look forward to your selection for June!

Excellent points! And I'm surprised with a party even that size nothing was done to firm up payment. Crazy!

Really amazing, prima.

Holy crap, schrut. what a mess! It's not all that surprising when a lack of communication is the culprit. Why is it so difficult to talk about money, commitments and who's going to be responsible? Wow.

Wow, that sounds wonderful! Have fun!

Wow! That scenario just blew my mind. Separate plans/menus for different people. Holy cow, I can't imagine it.

Yeah, I'm sticking with the pet peeve of a lack of communication. I can accept just about any scenario (many of which occur last minute or due to unforeseen issues day of) because the traditions of weddings are all over the map today and guests will be asked to be super flexible a good deal of the time. But I'm not cool with a lack of communication. Wedding receptions wind up being a time when all the people in your life merge under one roof. Add in alcohol, weather, and food decisions, and , and, and...the best defense is great communication. Then I'll leave the event very happy for the couple and with a few stories to share.

In situations like this, knowing in advance of attending a special event would be helpful. Has the coupled arranged for a cash bar, open bar with time limit-then cash bar, no alcohol provided at all, or a range of options in one night is good information for guests.

It's not knowing or being "stuck" with a bill that's difficult, embarrassing and makes for awkward feelings after the fact. Even if immediate family attending doesn't mind, good friends and +1's might be put off or at worst unprepared to pay for beverages, food, etc depending on the situation.

I think brides and grooms who "surprise" their guests are thoughtless.

http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/are-y...

I'm adding the video from the show so your question makes a bit more sense.

It's a very interesting perspective!

I was wondering if tonifi still speaks to these folks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/nyr...

Nice updated, detail recommendation on DBB in both the APP and NYT this week.

Correct me if I'm incorrect but didn't I catch her show recently where she was making leaner recipes and had a sidekick workout "coach" on camera with her?

I could swear TY's show is now lighter fare.

I recall a wedding on a small, private boat. The reception was in July. It was well over 90 degrees with patent NJ humidity. I recall several guests getting sick from warm food, warm beer and a lack of proper on board cooling systems. The dj was a waste of $$, no one wanted to dance in sweaty wedding attire. By the time we got off the boat we were RUNNING to turn the A/C on in our cars.

When the couple sent out wedding photos there was one photo of them holding a over sized weather thermometer. No joke..it was freaking impossible to enjoy that wedding. No real effort was made to keep the food cool or the beverages cold. Waste of $$.

Oops didn't catch the June volunteers announcement. Come July-August I'll be in Montreal then Spain working and MIA. No doubt there will be lots to catch up on, on the cheese board when I return.

I think August (unfortunately I won't be avail after all) & Sept still require volunteers.

http://www.thekitchn.com/a-93-thermom...

while a splurge, here's a nifty little blog write up why it's worth the price; especially if you plan to get into certain types of stove top dishes even candy making. I know before I bought one, I went thru a good deal of therms at half the price.

Excellent tool.

Has the suggestion for two cheeses in a given ChOTM been dropped? It would be interesting to give it a try.

The same way a citrus brightens up the flavor...so does vinegar with fruit or vegetables in a smoothie.

Basil vinegar is a good one! Right now I'm enjoying the chocolate vinegar and I picked up a pretty incredible honey-ginger vinegar along with a pineapple vinegar I add to smoothies.

Vinegar I drink like a fine wine. I was just in an oil & vinegar shop yesterday and bought 4 diff flavors of vinegar which I'll use in many preparations but also for sipping or a splash on Greek yogurt (like chocolate vinegar is amazing on plain Greek yogurt).

I enjoy vanilla bean raw right out of the pod.

Actually the only food items I just plain don't care (after trying many times) involves some form of gelatin (like headcheese or aspic). Otherwise, I can't think of a single food I'd avoid raw, plain, yuck factor..too curious to avoid.

Any chance you had Coccoli? Depending on the region these go by a few names and numerous preparations.

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allth...

oh brother...the recycling bin is overflowing..

You were wayyy ahead of me...on the step stool...which was always kept in the garage...

Tons! A friend of mine is a mailman, he's running into cicadas in the Middlesex county area of NJ.

Lots of cicada holes in the ground..which leads your eyes to the mass colonies pretty quickly.

That's cool. I've added the book to my list!

Now that's just adorable!

...and sort of reminds me of the tradition of the Lima Bean festival, Ms. Lima Bean!

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/19/gar...

I'd go gift certificate and shop with him. Part of the learning experience is picking out your own cookware and reading the packaging. Make a birthday date out of it!