Serious Eats

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

Posted by Adam Kuban, August 14, 2009

There's so much going on in Talk week to week 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.

Afghanistan-Friendly Recipes?

Photograph from Army.mil on Flickr under CC license

"If he can boil water, there are plenty of options. The post office will ship there, and flat rate boxes are the way to go. Bertolli makes pasta sauces in zip-top bags (I only found this out because when my husband was in Iraq, he requested a spaghetti dinner be mailed to him. Kashi also makes their pilafs in zip top bags that need minimal cooking. Those orangic pop-tart things ship well, too. I also found little packets of Nutella at World Market. Those were a favorite. I sent dozens, but my husband only got a couple. He had a friend who was a nutella addict. There is a Saudi version, but according to this guy, it's not the same." —beth1

Favorite Foods Eaten at the 'Wrong' Temperatures?

"I eat cold eggrolls, too, but it's never really intentional...I'll be looking through the fridge and once I spot an eggroll, I will either take a bite or cut a piece off. yadda yadda yadda, i eat the whole thing. But, it's a secret." —italiagirl84

Tomatoes Are Evil

"You have to get to know your tomato. You have to hold it in your hand, caress it. Find out if it is ready. When it is ready you can feel it. It just needs you to handle it gently. Prepare it properly. Serve it with tender loving care. It wants you to like it. It has been waiting for you." —JerzeeTomato, who would certainly know these things

Julie/Julia

"I would love to see a movie about Julie Child (and starring Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci!) but I don't know how I feel about the overall premise of the movie. I echo Misscay's post: It doesn't strike me as very genuine. The reviews I have read found that Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia is fantastic, so I would likely see the film for this reason. But in all fairness to 'Julie,' I may read the book (there's a book, right?)" —bkbella

Help Me Try and Help My 18-Year-Old Son and G2

"Water, water, water. Sports drinks are bullshit, IMO. If you eat a balanced diet you'll have no problems. And didn't someone do a study recently proving that plain old milk is better than Gatorade?" —sailordave

Any Y'all Cooking with Lard?

Photograph from Steve Snodgrass on Flickr

"I wouldn't fry chicken in anything else and I've tried using healthier options but it just ain't the same. I also use it to season my cast iron pots." —olddad

What Lengths Do You Go to for Your Favourite?

"I brought two whole pizzas home on the plane from Columbus, Ohio, to Florida for my husband. He misses his Donato's Pizza something awful, so I packed aluminum foil and wrapped up the pizzas well. He ate them in the parking lot of the airport when he picked me up. Some things you just can't make yourself." —orangemiles

Food Network? Try Food Competition Network

"Yeah, I'm really tired of the cake decorating shows. Ace of Cakes? Please—plywood is not an ingredient in any cake recipe I've ever tried. And rolled fondant makes any cake look good. They might as well be using modeling clay. Maybe they need a name change to Ace of Playdough. I'd like to see them attempt buttercream. Of course, I doubt they have the skills." —MarvinDog

What Would Be Your Last Beer?

"My last beer would be the one I hand to a friend as I say 'watch this'" —tusti

Coq au Vin with an Old Crotchety Rooster

"My friends live in an intentional community in the south valley of Albuquerque, NM. They recently killed off the vast majority of their male chickens, including the crotchety 1.5 year old rooster who hated everyone. In conversation I mentioned that I have always wanted to make Coq au Vin with just such a creature and now I have him in my fridge...." —hannah_phi

Tips for Saving Money at Farmers' Markets?

"@GrimChef: Negotiating at the end of the day for perishable goods is an exception, definitely—farmers would rather not cart the stuff that's been in the sun all day home and are often happy for the opportunity to sell it. That's a win-win situation (though I personally would rather pay the regular prices for fresher produce and a better selection).

"I do have one tip. I'm a greenmarket vendor myself, and sometimes near the end of the day, in desperation for change, I'll give someone a dollar off if they can pay in exact change (or better yet, all singles). If you come loaded with singles, it's possible you could work a similar angle sometimes." —producestories

Condiment Envy: How Many Condiments Are in Your Fridge?

"Good point. I think it's definitely true that if you have a lot of condiments you probably cook a lot. Whether you're good at it is completely subjective." —arm1970

Lunch Box Lunches for 5-Year-Old

"...But give yourself and your grandson some breathing space to take on board a huge event— starting school— without worrying about whether or not he will be the most gourmet kid at the table. If he's one of the most comfortable kids at the table, you can add the other stuff later and he'll take it on board. Or you can keep it simple permanently and do the interesting stuff at home in the evening." —Joanne Roach

Anthony Bourdain Drunk on Latest Episode!?

"I've always thought there should be a No Reservations drinking game. It could be very simple... just drink every time Bourdain drinks on the show and presto—you're drunk. If you add in other options, for example, take a drink every time he eats or praises offal meat, you might die of alcohol poisoning." —mambrosio

Related: It's a Little Quiet in This Corner—Talk Topics That Could Use Some Love

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