Parkersburg, West Virginia... Where to eat?
Planning a weekend getaway to Parkersburg, WV...any advice on where to eat? We are game for anything...Thanks!
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The Ten Most Recent Posts By Leo1881
Doughnut Plant Throwdown
I caught a rerun of Throwdown with Mark Isreal of the Doughnut Plant. I was surpirsed/intrigued by his reaction to the Throwdown and Bobbly Flay. He did not seem happy to be celebrated as the doughnut genius he is. Any ideas on his odd reaction?
Creme Brulee Recipe Confusion
I am going to attempt to make creme brulee for my parents anniversary and I need help. I have researched a lot of recipes and am more confused now than ever. All the recipies have the same ingredients, egg yolks, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla...but the quantities all vary for the same number of servings. Do I use 8 egg yolks to a quart of cream? 11? 6? How does the varying quantity of ingredients change the outcome?
The Ten Most Recent Comments By Leo1881
I embarrass my husband with my restaurant ordering habits
I am so sorry that your husband struggles with your love of lettuce. It is his responsiblity to be sure you are happy, taken are of and that all your needs are met. He does not need to be concerned with how your lettuce loving effects those who wait on you. I stuggle with something similar with my boyfriend. If we pull up to order at a drive thru and I do not instantly know what I want, he is outraged to ask the person for a second to look at the menu. I try to remind him that it is me he should be more interested in keeping happy than the employee. Maybe your husband needs to deal with his own issues that are causing him to be so upset by some thing as innocent as lettuce...
fresh corn...to freeze or not to freeze?
I'm in Ohio, we always freeze corn for the winter. Typically we will blanch then cut off the cop and vaccum seal. It is a great treat to have yummy corn in January!
How do you tip?
What about tipping in NYC? I recall an episode of "Friends" where Monica said the tip amout should be double the tax. Is this in line with everyone's NYC experience? Also, has anyone served in NYC? How did you feel abou the tips you received?
How do you tip?
@producestories - I completely agree with you, the expense of a tip should totally be built into the budget for dining out. If you can not afford to tip properly for proper service, you can not afford to eat out.
How do you tip?
Having worked as a server myself, I tip at least 20%, usually a little more. The extra dollar or two is not much to me, but I know personally it can make a world of differnce to a server. I always hated split checks, it was like an excuse for people to tip poorly. I worked at a semi-formal family style Italian joint, we would have parties of 15 and 20 all the time. It was corporate policy that we could not add gratuity. Sometimes this was excellent, but it seems that more often than not we just got screwed. What I think the public does not understand is how much they cheat a server when they do not tip, or tip poorly. As a server you typically have to pay your server assistant/buser, in additon to the bartender. At my Italian joint we also had to tip the food runner and our liquor runner too. We could lose a lot of money because we did not tip out based on our tips, but on our sales with the assumption that we all got 20%.....I would have loved to thrown the money back at some poor tippers and ask them not to do me any favors, obviously they need it more than I did!
P.S. I know some people are assuming that I would get poor tips for poor service, and yes, sometimes I was not perfect, but I know that 99% of the time I gave excellent service. I was always crushed that people did not value that. I would see other servers getting better tips for much poorer service....that I could never understand...
Creme Brulee Recipe Confusion
Thanks for all the tips so far! I believe I have regular sized ramekins, they are maybe 2-3 inches in diameter and about half as tall??
What foods are uniquely '80s'?
Weljwm - I remeber Ale 8, I had it in Kentucky for the first time in the 80's. I have found it outside of Kentucky (Southern OH) with in the past 10 years, and then now days it is all over here. It is so refreshing and delicous. You may be able to get it from their website, www.ale8one.com.
Also from the 80's I remember:
Tyson frozen chicken patties
Tater tots
TV Dinners
Father's Day Grill Menu?
I think that Father's Day (and Mother's Day) is about doing what your F/M wants and enjoys. For Mother's that may sterotypically be the extravagant brunch and pampering, but is that really what Father's sterotypically want? No, in my world the Fathers want to go play golf, relax outside, have a cocktail or a beer and do a little BBQing. My father LOVES to cook and for Father's Day he has all 6 kids and their familes over and cooks for us, because it is what he enjoys and wants to do. Of course we all enjoy being there and together too. We have tried to offer to cook or go somewhere else, but that not what he wants....
Czken-maybe speaking with your children about what you what and desire on Father's day would lead to a more enjoyable day for you.
Happy Father's Day all!!
Smorpak: S'mores on a Stick
$21! That is outrageous...I have seen these for a few years now at the grocery and I thought they were a rip off at $10!
Responses to Comments by Leo1881
What foods are uniquely '80s'?
To the person missing cherry 7-up they still make it. I get it in Philly all the time.
Having grown up in southern California in the 80's I desperately miss Cactus Cooler. I also loved Monterey Jack Cheese Doritos.
I did a lot of dining at Sizzler in the 80's.
What foods are uniquely '80s'?
I was in my early teens to early twenties in the 80's.
Microwave popcorn
Skittles
Sushi
Pasta
gourmet pizzas
gourmet burgers with odd toppings
Micro brews
portabello mushrooms
wine coolers
fajitas
low fat everything
new and improved everything
Starbucks
nutrasweet
all kinds of salads but with light dressings
ranch everythng
honeymustard everything
chicken wings
vegetarian foods that tastes good
jolt
chamberry
I embarrass my husband with my restaurant ordering habits
Wow, that's a lot of lettuce for a Subway sandwich. :) My experience with Subway at our work cafeteria is that they use about 1-1/2 cups of lettuce for a foot long. Now you got me in the mood for a steak sandwich...guess that's what I'll have for lunch tomorrow (with a lot of cucumbers and a sprinkle of dill pickles).
With Mexican food, I can totally see 2-3 cups of lettuce on my plate. The restaurant I go to usually puts that much, since they serve my meal on 3 full plates. It's a ton of food for $6-7.
I embarrass my husband with my restaurant ordering habits
To Michigander from lettuceat - A lot of lettuce - about 2 cups. Is that too much?
How do you tip?
I have to agree that 15% is the "standard" that I've been taught. I use 20% because it's easy to calculate, and then work from there (lower or higher).
I think it's ridiculous that our society has been taken hostage by tipping, where one is made to feel like a lump of sh!t for not "paying a compliment" with the "right" $$ amount. It's a TIP not a SERVICE FEE. The waitstaff should earn a regular wage, instead of earning below federal minimum wages. I doubt restaurants lowered prices when this took affect too.
How do you tip?
My husband has been in the family restaurant (no booze) management biz for 38 years, so I thought he'd have a pretty good idea what people tip in reality. 15% seems to be standard unless the server goes above and beyond which happens frequently. Then tippage goes up to 20-25%. "Regulars" usually leave the same amount regardless of their check total, but that amount well exceeds 20%. People who order the breakfast buffet or salad bar tip lower, generally 10%. He stresses that it is essential to notify management of bad service, poor food, etc. These problems can be quickly fixed so the next diner has a more positive experience.
His servers' number 1 pet peeve: People who's tip consists of a scrap of paper tucked under a coffee cup giving religious advice. These religious conventioneers often fill the entire restaurant at once and need instant service so they can get back to their venue. Servers literally have nothing to show for several hours of work. Please know he's not knocking any religion or affiliation, but these folks need to remind themselves that they are no better or worse than any other patron in the restaurant who leaves a monetary tip.
I embarrass my husband with my restaurant ordering habits
Lettuceat, if you are still monitoring this post, gotta ask, what is a 'lot' of lettuce to you?
How do you tip?
I seem to have made some people very self-righteous on the subject of "only" tipping 15% as a struggling college student. Allow me to clarify:
-First, I always thought 15% WAS the standard, not 20. Surprisingly, that's not the consensus here, but it's the one I was brought up with and that people I know abide by.
-Second...to get a bit prickly own my own, I HAVE NO KITCHEN. Yes, there's the disgusting, ingredient and equipment-free, mold-growing-in-the-sponges, crusty goo all over the counter, communal kitchen in my dorm, but, really? I can't cook often, so it's not as if I have my own well-stocked kitchen to retreat to for a good meal. In fact, also with the paucity of grocery stores around in college (convenience stores: 2, expensive Whole Foods: 1), buying ingredients AND equipment to cook can often be MORE expensive. I eat out very sparingly (I'm talking about maybe 3 times a semester here) and I don't tip generously, but I tip the amount I've been brought up thinking is the standard. Yes, it would be cheaper to eat "rice and beans at home", but I'm not at home and I don't have a rice cooker or a (clean) pot.
There. Rant off my chest.
How do you tip?
My husband and I have both worked in restaurants, out front and in the back. Therefore we know that it is no picnic by any means. We never forget the tip. Ordinarily for good service we tip about 30%. Let's face it, it takes a lot to do your job knowing that without these tips you only make $2.13 an hour.
I have a friend who believes that wait staff shouldn't get tips, that their hourly should be upped significantly. To a point, I agree with that. $2.13 an hour is demeaning.
I embarrass my husband with my restaurant ordering habits
It could be worse...you could be like me and ask for exorbitant amounts of onions and jalapenos :D
Your husband consider himself lucky that you're asking for lettuce
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