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

Posted by Adam Kuban, February 5, 2010 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.

What Do I Do with a Mortar and Pestle?

[Photograph: CC 2.0/gifrancis on Flickr]

"I've never used mine as it is intended. When I need coarsely crushed spices for marinades, pickles, etc. I use my stainless steel garlic press. When i need pressed garlic I use the side of my knife against the cutting board with a little salt. I use the M&P for storing my cheese knives and thermometers. I guess I have a problem following instructions!" —Cary

The World Is Ending! Food Rationing Is in Effect, Choose Wisely!

"I grew up in New England. I'm programmed to buy bread and milk in the event of any emergency." —WickedGoodDinner

Your Childhood Favorites: Are They Still Guilty Pleasures?

"I used to make Steakums with a slice of Kraft cheese and a couple of dill chips on toasted white bread. Boy did I think I was all grown up lmao grilling my own steak sandwich." —chardonnay

Any Use for Leek Tops?

[Photograph: Muffet]

"...Anywho, as far as the nipple/sausage comparison, I used to play volleyball with some folks who played with a guy who's last name was Summer. Apparently, he always played shirtless and he had HUGE nipples. So his nickname was Summer Sausage. I never met the guy but I will never forget that nickname." —ProfessorChaos

Songs About Food

"'Coffee & TV' by Blur
'Milkshake' by Kelis
'Brown Sugar' by D'Angelo
'Breakfast at Tiffany's' by Deep Blue Something
'Buy U a Drank' by T-Pain
'Candyman' by Christina Aguilera
'Chocolate' by Snow Patrol
'Ice Cream' by Sarah McLaughlin
'Cornflake Girl' by Tori Amos'" —MonikkaM

What Do You Eat as an Adult?

"I grew up in the Soviet Union and it was very different. There was very little out of season eating. In the winter you had what you could put up and what stored well. We ate a fair bit of cabbage, potatoes, beets and other storable winter veggies. Most produce was relatively organic - the country couldn't really afford much in the way of fertilizer and pesticides, at least not on a local scale. Food in general was a lot more valued in the way that poorer countries value it. Throwing it out was considered close to a crime against humanity.

"Regional specialties were also treasured, I'll never forget the huge apples from the Caucasus region that were once avaliable—the fragrance alone could make you feel alive. The first strawberries of the season—tiny, fragrant and so sweet—nothing like the supermarkets here. And of course you could travel across all the republics and get amazing local food.

"When we came to Canada we were literally amazed at the first supermarket we saw. It was tiny by today's standards but at the time the plethora of food was something to marvel at. Unfortunately it was quickly followed by disappointment as we discovered that things just don't taste as good—the perfect fruit and veggies are bland, the mayo tastes like crap and the dairy—well there's no comparison to Europe. Once our economic situation improved it was back to shopping at farmers markets and buying from local growers with the odd treat imported by russian stores thrown in...." —tatianak

The Condiment Game

Ernest Henry Shackleton's crew launching a lifeboat from the shore of Elephant Island on April 24, 1916, after having spent three months trapped by ice floes. [Photograph: Wikimedia Commons]

"...Also—penguin meat is just a rancid flavor—I don't think anyone would actually want to use it to stretch your food allowance. I read a book about Shackleton's voyage where they were stranded in Antartica and had to eat peguins. The meat tasted so badly that Shackleton had to basically invent contests and games to get them to eat the meat. When you'd rather starve to death than eat a certain food you know it's bad. Not that this is at all based on reality...." —Martini Me

Big Appetite?

"My friends' teenage daughter came to visit me from Germany a few years ago. After feeding her for a couple of weeks, I realized why her father had to work two jobs. It was a complete pleasure to cook for her, though, I must say! Enjoy it while you can, because you won't always be able to eat like that!" —cybercita

Last Time You Ate Something Without Knowing What It Was?

"In my teens, I was in Cuba for a week-long school music tour, and one of the places we went for lunch was a large pub-style restaurant. We were given tart, refreshing fizzy lime sodas (which were taken away from us), as well as big bowls of delicious dark stew with meat and beans. I was later told that the restaurant specifically catered to cooking rabbit (there was a hanging sign of a rabbit in silhouette outside the door, which I'd missed on the way in), and the sodas were a fizzy type of mojito. Unforgettable, and not in the bad way." —avaryne

Do You Have a Nostalgic Birthday Cake?

"Yellow or chocolate cake (from mix) frosted with homemade buttercream and decorated any way you wanted (a couple that I remember were Garfield, a real train on a track that went around the top of the cake, etc.). It was really more about the decoration, all hand piped with the homemade buttercream (except the train, that was plastic lol). Lots of effort and love went into those cakes. I follow the tradition with my kids, whatever they want I try to create (although no box cake mixes)." —arwenb

Condolence Food

"Ditto the above, with a reminder to package in oven-ready containers that do not need to be returned, wrapped for freezing. labeled with directions for thawing/reheating. It's my experience that condolence food gifts overwhelm the recipients for a few days or weeks, and then just stop." —SeattleDee

[See also: Funeral Food [8/19/2009] »]

First Drink for a 21-Year-Old?

"Lillet. It's a crisp, clean, light aperitif wine and sweet without being too sweet; meant to be sipped slow so you won't get drunk off it. The waiter will think you're an experienced drinker ordering it :) It's pronounced Lee-lay. Have fun and don't worry if you really don't like whatever it is you've ordered. Part of the experience is just having it in your hand." —Larikatz

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