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Tipping on Alcohol
Actually the more alcohol I drink the more I tip! So I've stopped ordering drinks when we go out for family dinners. What I spend in scotch at a bar for 2 drinks, will usually buy me a nice bottle for home.
I have expensive tastes for my whiskey, wine and martini desires. My alcohol component can run as much as $20 - 30 dollars - for drinks before dinner, throw in a bottle of wine and now I'm close to $70 / $80 dollars before any food comes to the table....Oy!
And yes I tip on alcohol. Good bartenders and wait staff need to compensated for their talents.
Now I enjoy a glass of water with a lime. I do reserve a few bucks for special meals out (anniversary, birthdays, big commission check etc. etc).
Fried potato question
A touch of Cayenne pepper always does the trick for us. Or occasionally will sprinkle with some of Tony Chacere's (?) cajun spice. Doesn't take much of either to bring it up a notch.
Bad dining experience?
There's lots of ways to look at this situation. My favorite quote is 'every Chef has a bad night'!.
So many will say "send it back", "you paid for the product it should exceed your expectations", "they can't improve unless they know something's a problem...." etc. etc. yada yada yada.
And they are correct.
Others will say be sympathetic, patient, give them another try etc. etc. etc. and they too are correct.
I have had wonderful meals in places I swore I'd never go back and lousy meals in very top notch rated multiple star restaurants.
There is no right and wrong way to resolve your evening. It depends so much on a lot of variables. My personal approach is too just not go back for a few months. Watch the online restaurant blogs and reviews, see if it's a common problem amongst others who've eaten there. If it is, there's little chance they will survive as a business entity. If it was just a bad night and reviews are good, I'd give them another try.
It's only my two cents - have a great day.
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My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
My favorite part of Thanksgiving is actually the day after. It's incredible how many cool recipes there are for leftovers.
So I spend Thanksgiving morning cooking - in the afternoon it's family time with a mid afternoon dinner.
Then on Friday it's a whole new ballgame with everything from Turkey enchiladas, soup and chili's to Turkey nachos, turkey stuffed peppers, turkey omelets etc. etc....we feast all weekend!
Then try to loose some weight so we can do it again over Xmas.
Love the holiday season!
Tipping on Alcohol
Actually the more alcohol I drink the more I tip! So I've stopped ordering drinks when we go out for family dinners. What I spend in scotch at a bar for 2 drinks, will usually buy me a nice bottle for home.
I have expensive tastes for my whiskey, wine and martini desires. My alcohol component can run as much as $20 - 30 dollars - for drinks before dinner, throw in a bottle of wine and now I'm close to $70 / $80 dollars before any food comes to the table....Oy!
And yes I tip on alcohol. Good bartenders and wait staff need to compensated for their talents.
Now I enjoy a glass of water with a lime. I do reserve a few bucks for special meals out (anniversary, birthdays, big commission check etc. etc).
Fried potato question
A touch of Cayenne pepper always does the trick for us. Or occasionally will sprinkle with some of Tony Chacere's (?) cajun spice. Doesn't take much of either to bring it up a notch.
Bad dining experience?
There's lots of ways to look at this situation. My favorite quote is 'every Chef has a bad night'!.
So many will say "send it back", "you paid for the product it should exceed your expectations", "they can't improve unless they know something's a problem...." etc. etc. yada yada yada.
And they are correct.
Others will say be sympathetic, patient, give them another try etc. etc. etc. and they too are correct.
I have had wonderful meals in places I swore I'd never go back and lousy meals in very top notch rated multiple star restaurants.
There is no right and wrong way to resolve your evening. It depends so much on a lot of variables. My personal approach is too just not go back for a few months. Watch the online restaurant blogs and reviews, see if it's a common problem amongst others who've eaten there. If it is, there's little chance they will survive as a business entity. If it was just a bad night and reviews are good, I'd give them another try.
It's only my two cents - have a great day.
Living on the Edge: Gas Station Junk Food
Corn Nuts...can never get enough of them on the road!
Slow Cooker Substitute Oven Temp
I do chickens in my dutch oven all the time, instead of the crock pot. They come out better and are more moist due to the heat coming at it from all sides.
I set my oven temp to 150. It's surprising how heat will build up in the dutch oven.
What would you eat for 30 days?
We probably do this more then we think. My morning habit is black coffee and dry high fiber cereal..the same Monday through Sunday. :o)
Obviously not the only thing I eat in a day, but I've been doing this for years fro breakfast. Black coffee - same cup of dry fiber cereal. Black coffee - same cup of dry fiber cereal...on and on. I have no desire to change.
It's like a day in Groundhog day.
Instant Noodles/Ramen
Not as bad as a slice of pizza. I like eating them for lunch. However I usually only use half the bag of flavoring and will mix in some leftover proteins or veges from the nite before.
It's fun to eat fro .10cts/
What are you asking Santa (or whomever) to bring you?
A new up to date Food Saver...love those things.
100 (okay, 50) Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do
And my pet peeve's are:
Wait staff who reach over full plates of food to pick up a glass to fill. Too many times their arm goes right between my mouth and my fork. I don't like smelling their skanky sleeves or risking hair or something dropping off on to my plate. I prefer they ask me for my glass and I will gladly hand it to them.
Also, I do a lot of business meals with customers / prospects. So while I appreciate a server asking how everything is, many times it's an interruption to very intense business conversations. I know it's a timing thing and they're looking for feedback. Sometimes I wish they would look for signs or signals that it's okay to stop by.
Otherwise great list. Thx
Fruit Loops served at Best Western...
Traveled a lot (I mean a lot) last 5 years for business. Found the best breakfast deals were at the Staybridge Suites and Hilton Garden Inns.
Most of the time, though I travel with my own high fiber cereals and bars. Just to get the morning started.
All of the comments above are so accurate and spot on. I've stared at preformed omelets that look and taste like cardboard. Utlra sweet selections of cereals with bruised fruit set out. Coffee thats been sitting all night, tepid and horrible. Rubbery boiled eggs, selections of pastries still stuck in their wrappers.
Most of these places, you could go to a locals Sam's or Costco and see what they're selling in bulk and assume that's what you'll be eating for breakfast.
I could go on, but will get off my soapbox. Last thing I'll say is that 'free hotel breakfasts at most of the major chain hotel / motels, is barely a step above what little food they serve on airplanes now!'
Why are you a serious eater?
Been cooking since I was in grade school. Chose not to make it a profession. Have a large family, kids and grandkids and they all live with us. So I run my kitchen like a small cafe. Menus / financial analysis of supplies vs what's eaten / ongoing work to keep clean and food prepped for a variety of different schedules etc. etc.
So hanging out on the food boards helps a lot with recipes, shortcuts, new ideas. It's also very frustrating for us to all go out to eat (plus expensive) and / or call in for delivery pizza. And it's easier to produce healthier meals when done at home.
Besides all that, the whole process for me is relaxing. I take our food needs very seriously. I figure since we need to eat, I want to make it fun! Oh and by the way, with the swine flu / cold / virus season here, I have little faith in other people prepping my food. I know what my sanitation standards are.
Pho Season?
Funny you should bring this up. There are a lot PHO cafes popping up. And with the first touch of cool / cold they are standing out. I'm usually there 1 - 2 times per week for lunch.
Good stuff..
Your Clever SE Name
Online user names are nothing more than the 'handles' we used to create back in the CB Radio days! Remember 'Breaker breaker 19 this is the Bandit'!
So now we're in cyberspace instead of radio wave space. I for one like to gage my online names with the nature of the site.
So for all the food sites I'm typically Ribster (extracted from the fact that I can't get enough of them) :0)
Bad Host: Invited to dinner and asked to PAY! Would you?
Arrrgh - that is an uncomfortable situation, especially with neighbors. However curious if there's a story behind the situation. For example, was the neighbor recently laid off from a job, maybe having some financial stress. One thing I always do when invited is make it a point to bring something, even if told that it's not needed. Or in the case of pizzas being ordered, such as hanging out on a Sunday afternoon watching football, then I will offer to share the cost.
I always like to be the one in control of situations which have the potential to get bizarre like posted above.
The Cooking Channel to replace Fine Living
This is cool. Food Networking programmers had a deaf ear to those of us screaming out here in Cyber Space. The parent Scripps is shuffling around FLN due to it's revenue loss. Food Network I believe is there #1 revenue (at least for tv). So this makes sense and I for one look forward to it.
I hear the change won't hit till 2Q or 3Q 2010.
What Did You Eat Today?
So to keep the thread alive...here it is the morning of 10/11 - just ate my 1/2 cup of cereal with 2 cups of coffee. Starts the day - it's a fiber thing.
Moving forward I see an omelet in about an hour.
A tuna sandwich for lunch.
Popcorn for mid afternoon / football snack.
A few martinis around 5:00 with a Roasted Chicken / Cauliflour w cheese sauce and some stuffed baked tomatoes for dinner.
Everyday Food and SE
Cool - thought I was nuts. Am already thinking about Thanksgiving feast, along with some hearty soups, chiles and stews for the upcoming cool - cold weather.
Introductory Bean Recipe
Can always try him on Hummus - easy to make at home (lots of recipes on web) and extremely healthy.
Any Good Experiences with Box Wines?
No - I don't drink anything out of a box or carton. Even milk. If it's alcoholic needs to come out of a bottle, keg or can. No juice boxes either or soy. It's just not right. Okay the only exception and it's rare, is the occasional cup of coffee from a serving box from Starbucks - you know the ones they give you for a group of 12.
Would anyone ever consider having a good Scotch which dribbled from a box?
Your Fast Food Urge.....just had mine...tasty.
No much - only craving is a Mustard Jr. Whopper, usually after a few beers.
Cookbook Recommendations Needed
South Beach actually works for me.
How do you plan your meals for the week?
I run my kitchen like a small private restaurant. There are 7 of us. Saturday or Sunday will create menu for dinners only. Shop to the menu. I usually will cook or rollover as remorphed leftovers two proteins (chicken and fish), (beef and chicken) etc. etc. We eat buffet style due to varied schedules.
However when shopping if I run across any store bargains will readjust. Do as much prep as possible on Sunday afternoon. Also like to calculate cost of each meal vs equivalent of eating out or calling in pizza's. Savings is huge eating at home.
System works well.
Alton's Purple Endorsement
Alton's a great guy. Have watched him for years, own some of his books and continue to be amazed by his talent.
However for those who don't watch the Food Network, people don't really know him. He's yet to jump into the mainstream media. With the exception of his books and I don't think he's got a restaurant like Bobbie, Mario and Symon. Nor the name like Giada. Nor his own national talk show aka Rachael.
The commercial interest regardless of the product, will help him draw additional coverage. Thus open up some additional opportunities for him.
I wish him well. Would be nice to see him on a few of the major network shows.
Savory Brunch item to go?
Baked Brie inside of filo, with a savory jalapeno jelly on top.
Also we like to take an artichoke heart italian marinated pasta salad. Seems to withstand the transportation and the countertop time without risk of going bad. Plus doesn't need to be reheated. Easy and good.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
@gizmosma- try sprinkling a bit of fresh nutmeg on those mashed turnips - delicious!
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
My brother and I loved Thanksgiving. We would eat so much that my mom would make us lay on the floor and stretch our body out to help the pain in our side from overstuffing, ourselves. Now some family members thought we were just trying to get out of doing the dishes, but mom always gave us the KP duty OFF on thanksgiving, anyway. We just loved her TG food and loved it from beginning to end. We still love it, but do offer better control. ThankGod. coco
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
My all-time favorite dish is my mom's noodle kugel. I hear there are savory kugels but this one is always sweet with egg noodles, ricotta cheese, corn flakes, and some times raisins.
Also, cornbread casserole is a delicious favorite (it may be corn pudding.... are they different?)
My mom always makes green been casserole and year after year, nobody touches it. What a bland dish.....
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Mashed potatoes and gravy is my number one, followed closely by stuffing made by me or Aunt Rose.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Stuffing! The only thing good about turkey are those fabulous caches of stuffing inside. Can't wait for Thanksgiving now, the only time I get to eat it. :)
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
homemade cranberry sauce with brandy and walnuts - so easy to make, i make it a few times in fall now - not just for T-day. literally takes 15 minutes to make!
mashed turnips - i know u either love them or hat them, but prepared like mashed potatoes w/ butter, salt & pepper, i find them the ultimate comfort food. they are really fluffy when you mash them
sauteed mushrooms with tons of garlic and olive oil
minced meat pie with mom's whipped brandy cream sauce
i'm noticing a (un?)healthy brandy theme here :) happy Turkey Day!
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
At my house,the cook,usually myself because I tend to run everyone outta the kitchen,or have them sit an we all chat while I cook,gets the turkey "oyster" when I'm carving the bird.I usually make smoked turkey liver pate that kicks ass,but my favorite part of Thanksgiving is just spending time with family.
P.S. I never ever stress about everything coming out perfect,or being too organised.That totaly ruins a holiday for me.Hell,if something doesn't come out exactly right.I just tell 'em that's the way it's supposed to be....lol.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Mashed potatoes! And the warm homemade yeast rolls (I hear you, Traveller -- mine are not near as good as my father's!), homemade whole cranberry sauce, and pie, pie, pie.
Teachertalk, I love your idea of a secret treat for the cook -- so much so that I'm going to do it this year myself. My father used to very secretively slice off a piece of the thigh from the underside of the bird for he and I to share when no one else was in the kitchen.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Going off my perpetual diet to eat EVERYTHING. All the women in my family bring their component of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. You name it, it's probably on the main table or the "sides" and dessert buffets. It's a feast for the eyes and stomach. And everybody takes home leftovers.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
My mom's oyster dressing is my favorite part of Thanksgiving. MAN, it is soooo good with gravy poured all over the top. This recipe actually was given to my mom from my paternal grandmother who passed 30 some years ago. My parents have since split, but we still get to enjoy that oyster dressing each year. Actually, there was a movement in my family to retire that recipe several years ago. My mom got remarried to a man with 4 kids. They of course have their own dressing preference. My step-dad is an awesome cook and that first Thanksgiving we all spent together, he prepared a majority of the food and we of course had "THEIR" stuffing. My brother's and sister were mortified! Where was the oyster dressing????? Well, needless to say that was the one and only Thanksgiving with out it. Now we simply have 2 different kinds. Yummy, just talking about it is making me hungry!!!
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Here's a snooze for you - my favorite part of T-Giving dinner is the turkey. I love dark meat turkey with my homemade cranberry relish and my homemade gravy. Everything else is inconsequential.
I do love sweet potatoes and corn pudding - but would probably enjoy those on a day other than T-Giving. My turkey is the star of the show.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Oh I love the whole thing! It's by far my favorite meal to cook. My favorite moment is right when everyone's been served, whole family and friends all around the table, and I'm staring down a plate of turkey and beautiful sides (I do different ones every year), and cranberry sauce, and just about to dig in. The best! I also love making all the desserts and presenting them -- everyone says they're too stuffed, but then they magically finish the desserts anyway. I love it!!!!
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
@dhorst - you made me laugh about your husband and the gravy. My son visited friends of my Mother's while visiting in England. He had a great trip, saw many things and visited many places but the thing that had the greatest impact on him was the wonderful roast dinner at this lady's house and that each of the guests had their own gravy boat!! A chip off the old block, indeed.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
softsecret: you may be right, I know already I'm gonna miss the left overs and the creative things you can do with them for the next week.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
old chef...you will be disappointed. Its just not the same. We tried that one year and it was such a letdown. Nothing beats the picking on the turkey later on in the afternoon, football in the background and laying on the couch after eating the third piece of pie!! You will be back home for Thanksgiving next year!
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Melitons stuffed with shrimp. It's a New Orleans thing. Melitons are vegetable pears.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
Everything but the turkey.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
This year, for the first time in 58 years, we are going out for dinner (no dishes--no clean-up and damn, no left overs.
Here in Little Rock, some of the finer motels have wonderful buffets, all you want for $25 - $30 per person and they pride themselves on the spread. This may end up pretty good! Dave
Tipping on Alcohol
Storing the wine in a cellar, having the right temp, etc... is all part of the markup on the actual wine. This has nothing to do with tipping on the wine.
And with any service industry, you have to deal with people that are retarded and rude. That's just a part of the industry. The guy at Best Buy that gets no tip still deals with insanely rude people. That should not factor into the tip at all.
I generally tip on the total bill. 18% as a standard. 15% if I was a little unsatisfied and 20% if the service was good. I tip on the total bill (post tax which is kind of retarded) but if the service was horrible, I will definitely leave a tip less than 15% (more along 10%).
My point I think is that if I were to ever order $1,000 (or more) bottle of wine, I don't think any argument can convince me that the server bringing me the bottle and opening it could justify a $200 tip. I might be forced to at restaurants like Per Se, but I still wont think it's deserved.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
GRAVY: I'm really nuts about home made gravy and covering the meat, potatoes and stuffing with it.
My mom's stuffing: whatever thick-bread pieces (she may use a bag of pepperide farm croutons, idk), chopped celery and raisins. Mix it up and bake. Smother with gravy.
Cranberry Salad: chopped celery, cranberries, walnuts and crushed pineapple in red jellos. Add a can of cranberry sauce to increase cranberry punch! It's really a fresh, bitter an delicious accompaniment to all of the rich, savory foods. Mmm ... mmm ... yum.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
My mom's pecan pie.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
We have a multi-cultural, multi-religious family, so we take the time, all year, especially during the holiday season, to honor the differences we embrace, through love, and prayer and food.
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
pumpkin pie! maybe the crescent rolls. i don't really like any of the other food!
My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...
I enjoy the post meal nap induced by a turkey coma.
I also enjoy the stuffing.
Tipping on Alcohol
btw--certain restaurants include an 18-20% service charge on every check. Per Se, French Laundry, Charlie Trotters. Do you think they remove the charges for the wine? And have you seen their wine prices?
Recent Posts
Shift in Beef Buying Habits - better taste / great cost!
Posted by Ribster, June 14, 2009 at 7:54 AM
I Caved In and Ate Grocery Store Fried Chicken - Yuck!
Posted by Ribster, May 16, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Just Curious: What really starts your engine in the morning?
Posted by Ribster, March 1, 2009 at 6:30 AM
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My favorite part of Thanksgiving is actually the day after. It's incredible how many cool recipes there are for leftovers.
So I spend Thanksgiving morning cooking - in the afternoon it's family time with a mid afternoon dinner.
Then on Friday it's a whole new ballgame with everything from Turkey enchiladas, soup and chili's to Turkey nachos, turkey stuffed peppers, turkey omelets etc. etc....we feast all weekend!
Then try to loose some weight so we can do it again over Xmas.
Love the holiday season!