Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Breakfast is necessary, and should be delicious!

I love the full English or Irish breakfast (particularly the blood pudding), but unfortunately that doesn't work for every day. I try to have a fry-up breakfast only once a week, usually on Saturday or Sunday. This week it was Mexican sausage with scrambled egg and cheese on a tortilla.

Mostly, though, I try to mix up my breakfast with either oatmeal, cereal, or fruit.

The constant, though, is that I need good (and strong) coffee.

I used to work at a restaurant in Georgetown (DC) that had a large amount of foreign patrons. We did not include a line in the menu or on the bill, and it sometimes cost us. I once had a table full of Swedes from the embassy, and I got a $00 tip on a $400 bill. I got screwed that day.

However, I find that it all works out in the end. You get screwed some days, but others you get big spenders who come in and drop big tips for nothing. I find if you put a suggested tip amount on there, it acts as a cap for high tippers as much as a suggestion for low tippers.

You could fry a Buick and it would taste good.

My favorite, though, is deep fried okra.

The only authentic DC food (like a cheesesteak), which you can't get anywhere else is the 'half-smoke.' Its kind-of like a fat, spicy hot dog. You can find them at any hot dog vendor around the city, but the best place to get one is at Ben's Chili Bowl on U St. Ben's has been there for over 50 years and truly is a DC institution.

The way to order your half-smoke is sliced in half and grilled. I would recommend it with chili on top, but just kraut and mustard will do the job also. Ordered with a soda and fries, it will all come to less than $10. Pretty good deal.

Ben's Chili Bowl has also opened a branch in the new National's stadium. If you decide to go to a game, you can get a half-smoke there as well.

Good for Emory to try to embrace local food.

Bad for Emory to force it down the students' throats without educating them about the real costs and benefits. Giving people a choice, not a top-down directive is the best way to ensure that they make food choices will last a lifetime.

This is funny. I just made Joy's Shepherd's Pie this weekend. Its great, because you can make it on the weekend, save it in your fridge, and you've got dinner all set up for 2 or 3 nights. Its actually better once you've reheated it several times.