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Look Who's Talkin': Comments We Have Known and Loved

Posted by Adam Kuban, April 3, 2009 at 3:15 PM

There's so much to keep up with in Talk that we almost can't keep up. If you're in the same boat, here's a small selection of topics and responses that have piqued our interest this week.

Would You Ask for a 'Celebrity Chef's' Autograph?

"My aunt collects cookbooks and whenever she buys one from a restaurant she asks who is in the back and if anyone back there would sign her book. This can be a bit confusing as the waiter/hostess will say the chef is not present, but she emphasizes that that is of no consequence and would they please ask people to sign it anyway. Sometimes they say no, or they are too busy, but sometimes the person is into it and takes the book and pen to the kitchen and as a result she has an awesome collection of autographs by line cooks, dishwashers, prep cooks, sous chefs, waitstaff and bartenders and almost none by the chefs themselves. There is nothing tacky about it, she has worked in the industry and happily acknowledges her respect for the people actually making the food. She makes lots of people feel good. My aunt is awesome." —intheyearofthepig

What Nut Is Next?

"I bought a jar of cashew butter this weekend and said 'please don't let this kill me' as I put it in my shopping cart. Sad." —kathyvegas

At What Point Does a Recipe Become Your Own?

"If you get lots of compliments on it and people don't already know what cookbook it came from, then its yours. ;)" — mh330

Need Help with a Personal, Touchy Dilemma

"What might help is if you find things that she's good at and/or that you trust her with, and lavish praise for how well she does those things, even better than you do, and how much you enjoy her company and her doing these little tasks in the kitchen — or even just sitting and keeping you company. I'm betting that she's just as worried about how you two are going to get along as you are, so this might be easier than you think, as long as you don't make it too much of a confrontation." —dbcurrie

The Best Website Testimonials Ever?

"If Boone's Farm cheers you up, you got more to deal with than web browsing LOL." —JerzeeTomato

Lap-Band Eating — I Need Help For a Friend

"I don't know anything about the lap band procedure, but I had my stomach and a number of feet of intestines removed 2 yrs ago due to cancer. I know exactly what it feel like to not be able to eat much at any given time is like. In my case it sharpened my interest in food even more since I felt like I needed to make everything count. It sounds very much like your friend may be experiencing some depression.... Your friend may be finding that, rather than solving her problems, the weight loss is just that—a weight loss. This nurse I spoke to suggested that your friend may benefit from joining a support group, or even speaking to a counselor...." —huneybumper

Bugs in the Cupboard

"I wasn't familiar with these things before moving to the Midwest, though my mom claims that I have an aunt whose mother-in-law in Maryland has the same thing AND JUST COOKS THEM AND EATS THEM IN HER FOOD! Gross on its own, but now I'm curious if they are the same buggies that I have. They are nasty and freak me out/make me want to gag." —MaresyDotes

The Best Cookbook for Beginners

"Lots of great suggestions here. Also, since you have a little time, a more personal gift would be to ask as many relatives & friends as you think appropriate in this case for their favorite family recipes & put together a notebook/binder full of them." —erialc

Gadget Minimalists?

"You consider owning a KitchenAid stand mixer minimalist? I think minimalist is a wooden spoon, a bowl and a rolling pin. But that said if you do a ton of your own baking (we make practically all our own bread) these gadgets can mean the difference between doing it all yourself or doing it just once and awhile. I've actually found my food processor allows me to get along quite well without a stand mixer. So I guess what is a 'gadget' really depends on how much you need it for the kind of cooking you do. A cherry pitter might be a gadget to one person but essential to someone else who has a cherry tree in their yard." —swampyankee

People Observing Lent—How Is It Going?

"I gave up fries. I'm having a hard time with it, especially as march has sucked badly, and all I crave is a big plate of fries. But I havent caved. Easter dinner will be a pile of fries with a side of ham, and I'm not kidding about this!" —french tart

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