Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Grass fed pigs not a bad idea. In fact, some of the best pigs are raised eating grass, roots, acorns and roots. Ham from these pigs is delicious: one can taste the acorn. Did not eat the sausage from these pigs, but it exists.
If some meat guys don't know what I am talking about, Google Jamón ibérico, Iberian ham, also called pata negra. Or, simply Google Spanish Black Pig.
It is so good, someone stole, took, the 50 Euro black ham, (authorized and sealed for international travel), from me when returning from Spain.

Thank you for your column, this and your Part I were great reads and you should be commended for doing this.

@ jfitz: Neither grass-fed nor organic are mere marketing ploys, and it is that kind of dismissive attitude that makes those concepts seem like fads that the wealthy got duped into. That, of course, makes the average American feel like this isn't something they should know or care about, when in fact we all should. Please read more about food and its history before making such baseless statements.

In Asia, one thing I have always enjoyed is that in areas without refrigeration, food is often held till the next day and eaten at room temp. There are always more subtle flavors in a warm food over a cold one. One neat little trick I saw was the food kept in an unglazed pot with a little water poured over the outside. Evaporation dropped the temp a few degrees and I guess retarded bacterial growth a little till the next day.

Yummy!!! This recipe sounds scrumptious so it will be on my list to make this week! Btw...is poaching a whole chicken the same as boiling it? Also, Adam, would you mind giving me a recommendation on a good (not necessarily fancy) restaurant, or pizza joint in Ithaca? We will be visiting (from Louisiana) in July.

This sounds much like the chicken pot pie of my childhood. I have to make this because it was delicious and comfort food is just what I'm craving. Any reminder of my mother makes me happy.

Imagine my shock when I moved to PA and ordered chicken pot pie and there was NO CRUST. It has big honkin' noodles, and hardly any vegetables. I want what I remember and loved. Thanks for the recipe!

because i'm uncouth, i actually find beer tastes and smells like soy sauce... so i guess hot beer would go down like a soy sauce broth?

Misseditor,

$20 per person is very low end, sadly, for London. You should still do decently with my suggestions, especially in the chains (which you should also be able to find near the popular attractions). Food is so terribly expensive there, so I wish you the best.

Be vigilant: drink refills are almost never free (exceptioin: Nando's), nor is white rice in Indian or Chinese restaurants. A lot of places add a 10% gratuity or service charge automatically to your bill, so be careful not to tip twice and don't feel pressured to overtip. They expect it of Americans but no one else (waiters there make a much larger hourly salary and do not depend on tips like American waiters do).

If your budget really starts to take a hit, you can try any Marks & Spencer or even Tesco (avoid the cheapest lines there) and find a huge selection of ready prepared salads, sandwiches, and pastas. They are decent, even good by English standards.

Don't feel bad if you feel like you don't eat anything special in London. It's hard to do on a budget and generally not worth it, especially when pressed for time. We gave up on eating out, except for very special occasions or emergencies.