Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

You. Are. Crazy. (In a good way, of course.)

And, oh yes, the fact that the powers that be at Conde Nast built a house for the magazine that they could no longer make the payments on.

Ding, ding, ding!!!

Also, putting the internet issue aside, I think Gourmet has been pretty mediocre since RR took over. I didn't like the overall design, and I don't think the magazine had a real sense of purpose. It wasn't a practical magazine for home cooks like Cooks Illustrated or Bon Appettite, and it wasn't as interesting (IMHO of course) as Saveur. It almost seemed to be a fashion magazine about food, and I'm not sure what audience that appealed to.

all because a bunch of dagos (I'm one, so I guess its "ok" for me to say it....but OMG if someone ELSE says it!!!!!!!!!!)

I don't understand this comment. If a non-Italian starts calling Italians "dagos," is it ok if he says he's only joking? That doesn't make any sense. The reality is that you can say a lot of stuff about your own ethnic or religious group that someone outside your group can't. I don't think that's unfair or unreasonable.

Do the fake names and turbans bother anyone else, or am I being overly sensitive and PC?

Gourmet has really gone downhill. The graphic design is awful, and the content kind of blah. Saveur has slipped a bit too IMO, but it's still light years ahead of Gourmet.

I would like to see food issues addressed by any administration, but doesn't everyone think that another food related issue needs to be addressed first...obesity...Obesity is going to become, if it already has not, a huge health care issue for this country, If we are going to have a president address a food issue, it needs to be this.

Excellent point.

Honestly, who cares? I'm a huge foodie, huge fan of The Omnivores Dilemma, etc., but I really don't give a damn about Obama's food policy for now. The economy should be his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th priorities for the next couple years. Food and agriculture plays a role in that issue, but only a minor one (at least in the short term).

@roboppy there was no reason to edit your post.

Ditto. Of course, the irony is that, by editing your post in response to suburbangourmet's silly comment, you've managed to imitate Dunkin Donuts.

I honestly can't tell if Raphael and Adam are joking.

I've made ravioli with meat stuffing a few times. It isn't actually that hard, there are just a lot of steps involved. (make the pasta and let it rest; saute the meat, grind it up, and let it cool; roll out the pasta into sheets; make the ravioli; cook the ravioli; saute the ravioli in butter and sage)

One dish that I've never had much luck with is paella. It isn't that complicated (or at least doesn't seem that complicated), but it's never turned out exactly right.

Braising.

Barbecue:
A) is always a noun -- Yes
B) is something you get invited to in a friend's backyard -- Maybe
C) cannot contain liquid smoke -- Yes

Fried Chicken:
A) must always be pan-fried in a cast-iron skillet -- No
B) can just as good made in a fryolator -- Yes
C) is the most delicious way to cook chicken -- Obviously
D) is the best fast food on the planet -- No (burgers)

Hamburgers:
A) should only be eaten rare or medium-rare -- If homemade or from a serious restaurant, yes. If fast food (e.g., Five Guys), no.
B) need to be served on a potato roll to be considered great -- No.
C) do not need cheese -- Yes.
D) need to be at least 15% fat to be considered great -- Yes.

Hot dogs:
A) need to have a natural casing to be considered great -- Yes.
B) should be all-beef -- Should? Yes. Must? No.
C) are best eaten grilled or griddled -- Yes.
D) taste best deep-fried -- No.
E) are best eaten standing up -- No opinion.

Pizza:
A) is the world's most perfect food -- Tie with cheeseburgers.
B) must be made in a coal or wood-burning oven -- Yes.
C) should never have pineapple on it -- No.
D) must have discrete areas of sauce and cheese -- A plus, but not a requirement.
E) all of the above -- No.