Recent Comments

From Talk

Another "dealbreaker" poll: s/he doesn't care for good food?!

@MissBrownEyes - please reread my comment. At NO POINT did I suggest that a person be FORCED TO BREAK OUT OF THEIR SHELL. In fact, I strongly suggested taking baby steps. Perhaps you should carefully read a person's comment before rushing to criticize them.

From Talk

Another "dealbreaker" poll: s/he doesn't care for good food?!

I see it as a great challenge!!

Baby steps are important here. Start with what he knows (ie. McD's) and slowly move to other types within that class (ie. homemade Kenji-style burgers). Start within his comfort zone, and you should be able to expand from there.

From Talk

anyone decorate the side of a cake with M&Ms?

When I was growing up, our neighbor would make an angel food cake for our birthdays, and patchwork frost it (different flavors) and cover certain sections with M&Ms. It would be a trainwreck. I found out later that she was (is) schizophrenic. It's kind of a stigma for me now, so I would have to vote for keeping the candy off the cake.

From Talk

Does this sound too disgusting to eat?

Way, way tame. Now, if you wanted to do a PB&J pasta sauce with a crispy fried onion garnish...

See more comments by finewinendine »

Recent Posts

From Talk

Uses for Seedless Black Raspberry Preserves

From Talk

Opinions on microwave drawer??

From Talk

Pho Failure??

From Talk

Adding fuel to the HFCS fire

See more posts by finewinendine »

Recent Favorites

From Recipes

The Crisper Whisperer: 4 Ways to Use Lettuce (Other Than Salad)

From Recipes

Grilling: Asparagus Soup with Herb Gremolata

From Recipes

Bread Baking: Semolina Braid

From Recipes

Bread Baking: Walnut Apricot Bread

See more favorites by finewinendine »

Recent Polls

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Diet" to Do You Prefer Regular or Diet Soda?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "I've grilled it and eaten it!" to What's your experience with grilled pizza?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Yes ... What kind of person doesn't like pizza?" to Your sweetheart doesn't like pizza: dealbreaker?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "String by string" to How Do You Eat String Cheese?

Recent Quizzes

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 60% correct on Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Lemonade?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 100% correct on How Much Do You Know About Beer?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 70% correct on How Much Do You Know About Food TV and Its Personalities?

From Sweets

finewinendine got 60% correct on What's Your Ice Cream IQ?

See more polls and quizzes by finewinendine »

Recent Comments

From Talk

Another "dealbreaker" poll: s/he doesn't care for good food?!

@MissBrownEyes - please reread my comment. At NO POINT did I suggest that a person be FORCED TO BREAK OUT OF THEIR SHELL. In fact, I strongly suggested taking baby steps. Perhaps you should carefully read a person's comment before rushing to criticize them.

From Talk

Another "dealbreaker" poll: s/he doesn't care for good food?!

I see it as a great challenge!!

Baby steps are important here. Start with what he knows (ie. McD's) and slowly move to other types within that class (ie. homemade Kenji-style burgers). Start within his comfort zone, and you should be able to expand from there.

From Talk

anyone decorate the side of a cake with M&Ms?

When I was growing up, our neighbor would make an angel food cake for our birthdays, and patchwork frost it (different flavors) and cover certain sections with M&Ms. It would be a trainwreck. I found out later that she was (is) schizophrenic. It's kind of a stigma for me now, so I would have to vote for keeping the candy off the cake.

From Talk

Does this sound too disgusting to eat?

Way, way tame. Now, if you wanted to do a PB&J pasta sauce with a crispy fried onion garnish...

From Talk

SE reusable shopping bag question

@db - lol! I have many tradeshow-harvested canvas bags from my short stint in the front-end pharma industry...promoting an incontinence drug and an erectile dysfunction device (unfortunately, not a joke). It would be nice to get looks of approval from fellow shoppers instead of omg-what's-wrong-with-her looks from people in the know about those particular drugs.

From Talk

Ranking of grocery stores in seafood sustainability

Funny, I just saw a sustainable fish chart at Wegman's earlier this week - I SWEAR they monitor blogs to react to trends. Kudos to Danny Wegman!

From Talk

How Do You Cut Your Pizza?

I use a wheel or chef's knife, but I've heard of using shears - doesn't that get messy? And lifting the pizza?

From Talk

How do you avoid buying too much food so you don't waste it?

I plan multiple meals around an ingredient if I think I'll have lots of it. And I do eat a LOT of leftovers because my husband 'doesn't believe in them' - whatever that means.

From Recipes

Grilling: Cubanos

Mmmmmm...that looks awesome! I've grilled cubanos with McClure's spicy pickles and weighted with a cast iron pan instead of a brick.

From Recipes

The Nasty Bits: Pigs' Feet

@villas2000 - I totally agree with your last comment...I felt every moment of Chichi Wang's horrible self-butchering.

Glad you're almost healed!

From Serious Eats

The Food Lab: Homemade Greek-American Lamb Gyros

This makes me miss beef and lamb...I remember the crispy bits - the alchemy of meat:bread:sauce...mouth watering...

From Serious Eats

10 Ways to Not Lose Your Mind at a Wine Tasting

Love that wine necklace!

Can I add #11? Take your time. Don't just sip the wine and move on to the next one - take a moment to contemplate it.

With that said, I admit I'm a hypocrite :-0

From Talk

Pizza Tastes Better with Cooked Sauce!

Why is cooking a sauce the same thing as ketchup? Isn't there vinegar in ketchup? And lots of sugar? What kind of ketchup r u eating, Lou?

From Talk

Using real mint to make mint chocolate chip ice cream

How odd that I immediately assumed real mint and mint flavored ice cream would be completely different...not sure what that means, but now I want to try real mint ice cream via a cold infusion method.

From Talk

Sick of Website Promoters, Shills and Trolls!

I promise to NEVER link to my blog...in fact, I promise to never START a blog. I tend to ignore these blatant 'blog promoters' (I don't know the difference between a shill and a troll).

@Alaina, how about:

...Do offer suggestions/feedback
...Do feel free to jump right in

There are a number of "lurkers" out there that don't have a hidden agenda, but may feel intimidated to post; their opinions and thoughts are just as valid as ours.

From A Hamburger Today

Video: McDonald's Recent Gay-Themed Ad in France

I think the ad's very well done.

@myinnerfatty - I think the commercial's relatively new, so their 'come as you are' may also be a new trend - maybe you can take your nekkid bod into McD's tomorrow? ;-P

From Drinks

Video: How To Make Root Beer

We did this in high school biology. The yeast took a left turn instead of a right turn....yadayadayada...we all really wanted to drink it, but the teacher confiscated it (and promptly disappeared into the teacher's lounge with it)

From Sweets

What to Do with Cocoa Nibs

I like cocoa nibs, but have a hard time getting past the pieces-may-be-stuck-in-my-teeth-and-people-aren't-saying-anything fear.

And I can't believe POM and dm haven't chimed in yet...

From Talk

Pizza Tastes Better with Cooked Sauce!

Lately, I've been using crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce straight from the can. Nothing but tomato and salt flavors.

@McNormal - I think you posted something about using tomato paste many moons ago, and I've been thinking of it ever since. Maybe that'll be my next pizza...

From Talk

Basil is at its best -- what to do?

I'll second the nomination for putting it on a sandwich. Also, have you tried frying the leaves? They're a great shatter-y garnish. Or add to any salad.

From Talk

I need a great vinaigrette recipe

I love homemade dressings - I play with different vinegars and citrus fruits depending on what it's being served with. I also use walnut oil instead of olive oil.

From Talk

Beer Can Duck

@soozm32 - you stole my thunder! I was going to ask what wine can do. :-)

Maybe if beer can duck, wine can goose!!

From Talk

Anyone watching 'Hell's Kitchen' this season? (Way or No Way?)

I'm a NoWay. I watched the first season, then it became all about the drama and entertainment. Cooking was the unfortunate setting that never got its fair props.

From Talk

when no one is looking

Chips & salsa. And chocolate anything.

See more comments by finewinendine »

Recent Posts

From Talk

Uses for Seedless Black Raspberry Preserves

From Talk

Opinions on microwave drawer??

From Talk

Pho Failure??

From Talk

Adding fuel to the HFCS fire

From Talk

Grilling veggie burgers

From Talk

Ready to open that wine you've been saving?

From Talk

Help! Clumpy Shallot Salt!

From Talk

Homemade grenadine??

From Talk

Help with Epicurious Snowball Cookies

From Talk

C is for Christmas Cookie!

From Talk

Finding Kvass & Eastern Euro foods in NJ/NY area

From Talk

Corn-rich diet vs. rice-rich diet

From Talk

What to do with cilantro stems?

From Talk

Romantical food memories...

From Talk

Unexpected pizza toppings

From Talk

Cinco de mayo eats...?

See more posts by finewinendine »

Recent Favorites

From Recipes

The Crisper Whisperer: 4 Ways to Use Lettuce (Other Than Salad)

From Recipes

Grilling: Asparagus Soup with Herb Gremolata

From Recipes

Bread Baking: Semolina Braid

From Recipes

Bread Baking: Walnut Apricot Bread

From Talk

Sangria!

From Serious Eats

A Cheese You Should Be Eating: Beaufort

From Talk

Salsa Fresca, and Others Things Salsa

From Serious Eats

The Food Lab: In Search of the Best Oven-Fried Buffalo Wings

See more favorites by finewinendine »

Polls

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Diet" to Do You Prefer Regular or Diet Soda?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "I've grilled it and eaten it!" to What's your experience with grilled pizza?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Yes ... What kind of person doesn't like pizza?" to Your sweetheart doesn't like pizza: dealbreaker?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "String by string" to How Do You Eat String Cheese?

From Serious Eats: New York

finewinendine answered "Only huge tables or private parties" to When Is an Automatic Gratuity Acceptable?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Way!" to Pineapple Pizza: Way or No Way?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Never" to Do You Eat Chicken for Breakfast?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Depends on what kind it is. (Feel free to elaborate in the comments.)" to Dessert Pizza: Way or No Way?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Way!" to Chicken on a pizza: Way or No Way?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Crushed red pepper flakes" to What seasonings do you shake on your slices?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Nope" to Would You Eat the KFC Double Down Sandwich?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "No" to Is it pizza if it doesn't have cheese?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Yes! " to Do you make pizza at home?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Other (feel free to share in the comments)" to How do you like your eggs?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "I dip it in ranch dressing" to Do you eat and/or dip your pizza crusts?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Way" to Grocery store self-checkout lanes: way or no way?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Other" to What's Your Favorite Food Movie?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "Yes! Pizza needs some charring" to Do you like a 'charred' pizza, or do you consider it 'burned'?

From Slice

finewinendine answered "No. Gimme the red stuff" to Do you do white pies?

From Talk

finewinendine answered "No" to Do you put noodles in your matzoh ball soup?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Produce" to What's your favorite supermarket aisle?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Doritos: 'House Rules'" to Which of These Was Your Favorite?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "I leave a few nibbles to train myself to eat less. " to Do You Clean Your Plate?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Soda" to What Do You Call Cola Drinks

From Serious Eats

finewinendine answered "Calzones" to What's Your Favorite Kind of Savory Pie?

See more polls by finewinendine »

Quizzes

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 60% correct on Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Lemonade?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 100% correct on How Much Do You Know About Beer?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 70% correct on How Much Do You Know About Food TV and Its Personalities?

From Sweets

finewinendine got 60% correct on What's Your Ice Cream IQ?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 87% correct on How Much Do You Know About Breakfast Foods?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 75% correct on How Much Do You Know About Irish Food?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 62% correct on How Much Do You Know About Cheese?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 20% correct on Pop Quiz: Breakfast Cereal Trivia

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 62% correct on How Much Do You Know About Food Preservation?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 85% correct on How Much Do You Know About Chocolate Chip Cookies?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 22% correct on How Much Do You Know About Condiments?

From Slice

finewinendine got 37% correct on Slice Quiz No. 1

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 55% correct on How Much Do You Know About Chocolate?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 71% correct on How Much Do You Know About Indianapolis Food Culture?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 100% correct on How Much Do You Know About New Orleans Food Culture?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 87% correct on How Much Do You Know About Vegan Substitutes?

From Serious Eats

finewinendine got 62% correct on Winter Vegetables Quiz

See more quizzes by finewinendine »

About finewinendine

Website:

Location: Central NJ

About: As the name suggests, I strive for fine wine and fine dining, but that doesn't necessarily mean expensive. In fact, it's often the simplest things that are the most delicious.

Favorite foods: Chocolate, cheese and wine can send shivers down my spine. So can anything that I've never heard of - it's all about the quest!

Last bite on earth: Not sure - am I coming back to Earth? Or are we talking the Great Beyond? Either way, I'm sure it would be something decadent that would give me a tummy ache if I ate too much. Or not. I'm moody.