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The Ten Most Recent Comments By RIdiot

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

Greens and Beans: Escarole and Navy Beans sauteed in Olive Oil, Garlic and Chili Flake. Simple and Fast.

RIdiot at 2:24PM on 01/14/08

From Required Eating

How Do We Save Starbucks?

Starbucks faces an uphill battle outside large metropolitan and upscale suburban. In most communities breakfast is a local experience with closely guarded experiences. If the corporate mantra is growth then they must embrace the local community instead of asking the community to blindly embrace the customs of Starbucks. It need to be a two way street, preferably Main Street. They would do well to connect with individual communities by establish a local breakfast sandwich. Try offering a breakfast pastie in the Midwest. A biscuit sandwich in the South. A classic lunch cart style Breakfast Burrito nation wide. Connecting with local farm co-ops and dairies for produce, eggs, milk would also establish them in communities.
As far as the "nuts and bolts" goes, I agree that the coffee is too roasted but I think the Espresso is perfect. I enjoy the Florentine Sandwich but am always disappointed in the run of the mill pastries. For me, the best Starbucks experience always revolves around good service. Nothing makes me happier, or sets Starbucks apart from DD or McD more than receiving my Dopio Espresso in a proper cup and saucer instead of a paper cup. If Wi-Fi were free and service was consistent I wouldn't go any place else. Make me feel like a local friend instead of Venti, non-fat, half-caf, to go.

RIdiot at 8:28AM on 01/14/08

From Slice

Is Deep Dish Pizza Over in Chicago?

I was a 30 year Chicagoan, born and bred, transfered to RI 10 years ago. Deep Dish was an occassional indulgence in my household growing up but good thin crust from the Northwest Suburbs was a couple times per week staple. Since it is nearly impossible to get a good deep dish or thin crust pizza in RI, I get both when I back in Chicago.

RIdiot at 10:22AM on 01/03/08

Responses to Comments by RIdiot

From Required Eating

How Do We Save Starbucks?

ChristineB Wrote:

4) You pay for internet at home. Why shouldn't you pay for it at a coffee shop?

-----

Because I don't pay $5 for a cup of coffee at home... that's why.

Captain Howdy at 2:38AM on 07/16/08

From Required Eating

How Do We Save Starbucks?

The bottom line is, it's just not very good coffee. I take strong exception to the commenter above who stated that it wasn't burnt, it was just a dark roast. I love a strong, dark roast - the stronger, the better. Starbucks' blends have a bitter, burnt taste to them. The fact that "plenty of people like it" is far from a ringing endorsement. Plenty of people like lots of things - doesn't mean any of them are any good.

Start by getting back to something novel: offering decent coffee at a fair price. You're a coffee shop. Get out of the friggin' music business and focus on your core.

Offer simple pastries that are fresh. You certainly charge top dollar for pastries that are - at times - stale and dry.

Two words: customer service. Your baristas are often misanthropes who think they are too good to be making my beverage because they should be working on their novel or something. And they're slow.

Clean your stores up. I know they all see a high volume in the mornings, but they shouldn't look like a tornado just blew through.

Free Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi.

I agree with the commenter above - a SB employee - who said that there should be nightly entertainment. What a terrific idea. Our local coffee shops do that, and they bring in customers around the clock, while fostering a feeling of community.

For those of you rooting against Starbucks in favor of the local shops, check out the recent article on Slate discussing the ameliorative effects on the mom-and-pop places when Starbucks moves in. Many local operators - fearful of Starbucks moving in down the street - found that their business actually increased.

spydur01 at 7:36PM on 01/26/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

Thanks for entering and congratulations to our winners:

jesskel
KPruitt39
azured00
stacy7911
fiatluxsemper

roboppy at 5:37PM on 01/21/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

A fresh garden salad topped with grilled chicken

dianerph at 4:55PM on 01/21/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

A bowl of mixed fruit & cottage cheese

morty63 at 4:54PM on 01/21/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

Spinach salad with Balsamic dressing

Stephen1969 at 3:53PM on 01/21/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

A small serving of grilled chicken or fish, either steamed veggies or salad with vinaigrette, brown rice or grilled sweet potato and a small glass of red wine.

royncharis at 3:51PM on 01/21/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

...everything fresh , in it's natural form....before sugar, alt and fat.

pjlein at 2:17PM on 01/21/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

Rice and veggies. So quick to make and you can change up the sauce to match your mood!

wmovss at 12:07PM on 01/21/08

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'

Asian-style stir-fry, with chicken and Oriental vegetables, plus broccoli.
Canola oil, five-spice powder(available in most larger groceries), boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Serve atop brown rice.

JeffEats at 11:34AM on 01/21/08