Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

So far it's a 2 person party of me and my husband cheering loudly for the Giants!

I think tipping is about service and not food. If I'm eating out or ordering carryout/delivery then I'm already paying for the food. The tip is for the person helping you. I tip really well when a wait person give us excellent service and I tip poorly when the wait person ignores/gets the order wrong/disappears for long periods of time and comes back stoned/etc.

I think that tipping for carry out should also be based on service. I have allergies and so most places have to make accommodations. Some servers just hand me a bag and send me on my way. Others check to make sure everything is correct and that I've been taken care of before letting me go. It's about service and you should give what you feel is appropriate. I think that it's obviously a little less work than waiting on a table, but it still IS work (stacking stuff in a bag so it doesn't leak/crush something else, making sure you have all the right stuff/sauces/utensils/napkins, etc).

I love chopsticks! I carry a set around in my purse because they are so great for lunch and I hate using disposable utensils.

Just say it. No judgement, no corny jokes, just say "hey it happens and if it happened to me, I would want to know.

My fav specialty shop in Athens, OH would order stuff if they didn't carry it. The customer service was really the best part and I miss them now that I'm one of the masses in a big city.

I agree that it is a good thing to try out. I feel like a lot of people just make assumptions about veganism without actually trying it out or thinking about what it really means. Make sure you get enough calcium/b12 and whatnot.

I recommend Vegan Treats (in Bethlehem, PA but they deliver I think) for amazing donuts and cakes and sugary things! I'm sure NY has it's share of amazing vegan options, but if you're in the Philly area I have a whole list of awesome places.

My husband loves Root and I love Snap. I use it in pie crusts instead of vodka and I love it in hot cider. I'm from Philly so we've had it around here for a couple of years. They're not to pricey and they make great gifts.

I second the mussels. It's so perfect and easy!

You could also try paella or just plain old saffron rice (I like to toss some frozen peas at the end and serve with chicken or shrimp).

I just love the smell, can't drink it. My SO drinks a quart of black coffee each morning though, so this could be useful.

Pho!

I have a giant butcher block that I use as my cutting table. But I have small wooden cutting boards and small plastic ones. Mostly the cutting boards are for portability (getting stuff from the block to the stove) or for smelly things like onions/garlic.

Tomato soup. I love tomato sauce, but tomato soup smells differently to me and it's just really gross.