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I stopped in at a pizza place to pick up a personal-sized pizza and they were just opening up their lunch time buffet. I was amazed at the sight. People paid their $7 or $8 bucks and then loaded up their plates repeatedly, some of them eating probably the equivalent of 2 or 3 pizzas. And they hit the salad bar, too, piling globs of salad dressing on top of their "healthy" salad. Obviously, it's a deal. I paid the same amount and got one little pizza - maybe the equivalent of two slices from the buffet offerings. They ate as if it was their last meal. Maybe it was the last meal of the day and they were just filling up on cheap food. And of course the same thing happens, just in a slightly different way, when a hotel offers the Mother's Day brunch. Not my idea of a good meal. I agree with HeartofGlass - awful!

@jlweber and @phenoderr - I first made gnocchi at an Italian cooking school in Tuscany, taught by an Italian chef. I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the result - an awful lot of effort for something that didn't seem all that tasty, even with the sauce. Then I made them myself, using a recipe from a respected San Francisco restaurant. The recipe really didn't work well, so I improvised and managed to produce something that was edible when paired with lots of proscuitto and parmesan. Then I too tried them at an Italian restaurant - and they were no better than the ones I had made. I think I just don't like gnochhi!

Thanks, everyone. I didn't say anything and we had a wonderful lunch - no roaches or other ewwwwws. Calling the health department is a good idea.

Delancey's -- the new pizza place in Ballard is looking for someone to do prep work. delanceyseattle@gmail.com

@sobriquet - And I'm 3000 miles away! Frustrating.

I agree - the economy makes things tough, the work entailed in hosting and providing all the food for something is a major investment in time and money. I also don't mind contributing to the meal and I never come empty-handed. HOWEVER, as ProfessorChaos says, when the event is for your special celebration, be it birthday or graduation or anniversary, I think you should provide the food. If a whole meal is overwhelming, make it a dessert buffet or cocktails and appetizers or even hit Costco or your local grocer for pre-pared foods. If the point is to get together with friends, talk about it first and work something out - don't send out the e-vite to come celebrate Huey's first job, please bring food unless Huey is hosting and hasn't had his first paycheck.

My dad was my first real loss. It's been over 20 years, but I still think of him often. He made Sunday morning breakfast for his "girls," ready when we got home from church. Wonderful pancakes, often with little rounds of sausage or shapes or faces. He made spaghetti on Saturday nights, with his secret blend of spices added to the Hunt's tomato sauce. He made a sausage/rice casserole I still love and make often. He was largely responsible for Thanksgiving dinner for a hoard of relatives. He "discovered" flank steak (this was when it was cheap in the '70's) and served it with sauteed onions and mushrooms. My mother was a utilitarian cook, but I don't think she really enjoyed it. My dad was far more creative. I cook a lot now and am sorry he isn't here to enjoy it.

Sometimes the difference in price of a product reflects the ingredients. I'd rather pay more for a product which is primarily what I want - say, tomatoes - than sugar, water, salt, and chemicals. I found the Consumer Reports article a little simplistic. If the primary goal is not spending money, I guess it works. If the goal is to spend money for quality products rather than junk, it is less relevant. I don't buy much in the way of processed foods, but if I do - for example, tomato sauce - I look for the can with the fewest ingredients.

I have one that is about 5-6 quarts, which is big enough for just about anything you want to do. I've used it for large casseroles, soups, chili. There's plenty of room for a whole chicken. There is a larger one, but I don't think you need it and they are heavy!!

Thanks for the ideas! I may use these up and go get some more!

Whether the numbers are real or not, it is hard to understand why Cake Wrecks would be considered a food blog. It is certainly not in the class of Serious Eats and several of the other nominees. Someone in charge messed this up!!

New York strip - no question!