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Top Chef Season 6 Finale: And The Winner Is...
I have read interviews with some of the other chefs where they said that Michael is actually a nice guy and really funny behind the scenes. Don't forget the heavy amount of editing that goes into producing the show. Just because he seemed like a jerk in the final edit doesn't mean that he actually is.
Similarly, there was a lengthy interview with a staffer from the New York season who said that Stefan was super nice and could hardly believe the way he was portrayed on the show.
Dinner Tonight: Venetian Spaghetti with Sardines
I thought this was really tasty and super cheap; a winner in my book.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 12: 'Top Chef,' Not 'Top Pussy'
Jamie was clearly better than Hosea or Leah, but c'est reality tv.
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ECA answered "American " to What Kind of Cheese Do You Like on Grilled Cheese?
Poll posted by Erin Zimmer, April 28, 2010 at 8:00 AM
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Poll: What Kind of Cheese Do You Like on Grilled Cheese?
Cheddar cheese doesn't melt properly; it just gets a bit softer and greasy. Most cheddar is also pretty bland. I'll take the pleasantly gooey american cheese over cheddar any day. Other soft cheeses are a great choice too.
Top Chef Season 6 Finale: And The Winner Is...
I have read interviews with some of the other chefs where they said that Michael is actually a nice guy and really funny behind the scenes. Don't forget the heavy amount of editing that goes into producing the show. Just because he seemed like a jerk in the final edit doesn't mean that he actually is.
Similarly, there was a lengthy interview with a staffer from the New York season who said that Stefan was super nice and could hardly believe the way he was portrayed on the show.
Dinner Tonight: Venetian Spaghetti with Sardines
I thought this was really tasty and super cheap; a winner in my book.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 12: 'Top Chef,' Not 'Top Pussy'
Jamie was clearly better than Hosea or Leah, but c'est reality tv.
Mark Bittman's Savory Oatmeal with Scallions and Soy Sauce
I often eat oatmeal cooked in milk and seasoned with kosher salt. It is simple, but satisfying. The nuttiness of the steel cut oats (McCann's really is tastier than other brands in my experience) is accentuated this way. Overall, I probably prefer it slightly sweet, but it is very good either way.
Great Sandwiches and More at Murray's Cheese Shop
I completely agree about the Brussels sprouts. They were reasonably well roasted but the lack of salt rendered them bland.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 6: It's a Wonderful Kitchen
@simon, so why do you waste your time reading threads about it?
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 6: It's a Wonderful Kitchen
I was amused by Leah, who perhaps had a bit too much Korbel. She was clearly drunk when the losers came back from judge's table and said something to the effect of "ooobbbvioussly they didn't make a decision yet" and then her behavior around Colicchio was hilarious. Bravo is definitely giving out the free booze for a reason.
Blood For Breakfast? Fear Not!
Despana in NYC has a great morcilla.
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey Here!
Sauteed Brussels sprouts with bacon. Brussels Sprouts are often delicious without cheating with bacon, but why deprive yourself?
Where can I buy imported Nutella in NYC?
I have seen it Alidoro sandwich shop. I can't guarantee they have it now, but if they don't, you can still get a delicious sandwich.
Do We Really Need a Few Billion More Locavores?
Carbon emissions are a significant problem and I'm glad that people are thinking about them more and more, but they are hardly the only cause of environmental harm. All that paragraph from ES&T addresses is the carbon footprint of certain food choices. There is so much more to consider regarding the environmental costs of agribusiness.
Eatorama, I strongly disagree with your statement about the best not ever being local. If that were true, I'd be able to get the best fruits at a grocery store in New York. This is not even close to the case as local apples and peaches from the farmer's market trounce the offerings from any grocery store.
'Top Chef': Pork and Beans
The difference between Hung and Lisa (besides Hung being more likeable in just about every way) is that while he had occasional misfires and wasn't great about taking criticism, he made consistently excellent food. The amazing thing about Lisa is that she has made it that far by never quite completely screwing up but always being second or third worst. She is kinda like a cockroach.
Blais or Stephanie should obviously win. I think Blais is a little cheesy with all of his puns and "plays" on whatever, but he is a good chef to be sure. I hope Stephanie wins though. The car definitely felt a little like a consolation prize even though I don't buy into the Bravo conspiracy theories.
'Top Chef': The Quickfire and the Fury
Umm, I used quotation marks because I was quoting Richard.
'Top Chef': The Quickfire and the Fury
On the next Top Chef:
Richard does "a play" on velveeta. "Do you like cheese?" he asks the judges. The guy obviously is a good chef but his "sense of humor" and "wit" are becoming extremely annoying.
Dinner Tonight: Chilled Avocado Soup
I'd also point out that I find quality avocados hard to find in a lot of places. I never thought I liked avocados much until I was out in California last summer and discovered how delicious they could be. Now I am back in NYC and a bit dismayed at how poor the quality of avocados I can find is. Very bland.
Does Anyone Really Love Pumpkin Pie?
I won't wax poetic about it's virtues but I do prefer it to apple pie (which I also love). I didn't realize this was controversial though. Seriously, if your family doesn't like it, don't make it. But, I think there are a lot of people who genuinely like it and don't have it solely to adhere to tradition.
Personally, I don't really get berry pies. I really don't like the sloppy texture from all the moisture in the berries. But I respect that a lot of people love them.
The Best Turkey: What's Your Favorite?
There are farms in Westchester County that sell fresh turkeys so it isn't completely out of the question for a city dweller to get a hyper-local bird.
Mario Unclogged: The Hams of Italy
I'd thank the USDA for always looking out for our best interests, but sarcasm doesn't work on the internet.
'Top Chef' and the Broccolini of Doom
I hate to be annoying, but I hadn't watched the episode until last night so I specifically didn't read any of this post. Unfortunately, the title was a bit of a spoiler so as soon as I saw the broccolini I knew CJ was the one to get axed. Anyway, I don't really care but some people get all worked up about spoilers so you might want to be careful about those titles. Again, sorry to be difficult.
When Splitting the Check Gives You a Splitting Headache
Here is what I don't understand about this whole "problem": Is it that hard to add this stuff up in your head or at least with a small calculator? Most of the time people order at most an appetizer, an entree and dessert so you'd have to add up three things in your head. Wine is generally shared equally (or at least close to it) among those drinking it so it should be easy to split the wine bill with the drinkers. Finally you need to include an extra 20-30% of whatever your total is depending on what the local tax rate is and how much you are tipping. This is not that complicated. Whenever I've gone out in a group, we've always paid what we owe and we've never been more than a dollar two off.
Free Pizza at Bars: Are We Talkin' Nationwide?
I was shocked at how good the pizza at Capone's was. It was significantly better than the average slice joint. Or maybe I had just drunk too much beer.
What's you favorite Non-Micro brew...
The real Budweiser...Czech Budwar (aka Czechvar stateside).
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ECA answered "American " to What Kind of Cheese Do You Like on Grilled Cheese?
Poll posted by Erin Zimmer, April 28, 2010 at 8:00 AM

Cheddar cheese doesn't melt properly; it just gets a bit softer and greasy. Most cheddar is also pretty bland. I'll take the pleasantly gooey american cheese over cheddar any day. Other soft cheeses are a great choice too.