Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

This is a lot like a pasta dish I made from Smitten Kitchen--whole wheat pasta, toasted walnuts, seared cauliflower, feta (or ricotta salata)--and that dish was AWESOME. Monochrome, yes, and not blow your mind crazy, but I am craving me some right now because it is simple and healthy and easy to make. I am so going to make this dish sometime next week, sounds delicious.

Potato latkes, we'd only make it during Chanuka, so it was always special, especially when served with my mother's Hawaiian style chicken, my father's roasted broccoli, and an amazingly decadent yellow cake with chocolate icing baked (from scratch, another rarity!) by my mother for dessert.

So wonderful to have so many fellow writers! I actually have two blogs to share. One is my personal blog: www.thedilettantista.wordpress.com which covers, well, EVERYTHING, cooking, restaurants, movies, etc. I started it this summer when I was living in New York City for an internship, so it is especially heavy on NYC eating.

I am also a contributing writer to Carpe Durham, a food blog that focuses on eating in Durham, North Carolina. The blog was started a few years ago by Duke law students, and I am a newer writer. The blog is a great source if you live in the Triangle area!

http://carpedurham.com/

This is truly amazing. I myself am not a gamer but I am a huge nerd and have a gamer/nerd boyfriend. Luckily we are both nerds and we both love food and cooking, so it works.

I just got back from Dragon Con in Atlanta, and I wish this had been out for that--toting one around would have made me cooler than I already was in my rocking Steampunk outfit. And I'm certain it couldn't be any worse for me than all the fried grossness I put into my body that weekend...

Also that thing on the end totally looks like Cthulu. Awesome.

@Steamsoldier--entirely not food related but does the steam in your name refer to steampunk or to a love of steaming food?

Okay the nerdiness has gotten extreme please disregard anyone who reads this comic!

The sushi looks beautiful but never tried it. There's a little window in the back where you can order fish-shack style fare, and I decided to get a lobster roll because I had *never had one* (I'm from Florida, it happens). It was difficult to decide between the sushi and the lobster roll but I have sushi all the time so novelty prevailed. I enjoyed my lobster roll--toasty bun, tons of lobster meat--but have nothing to compare it to so can't say how it compares in terms of lobster roll rankings. I do need to note that I did find a few shell pieces in my lobster roll, but it wasn't anything too major; after all, shellfish = potential of shell shards.

@Gator Pam; Went to UF for undergrad, big Gator myself (so excited for Saturday!) so really enthused to see you on here.

Gonna agree with Mark's, had a great meal or two there myself. Always love Dragonfly and try to hit it up when I am back in town for a game or to visit my sister who is a senior this year. I know it isn't "real" sushi but I find a lot of their combinations, such as the Mango Tango, incredibly tasty.

I've also had great meals at Paramount (though that was my sophomore year so that was nearly five years ago) and this restaurant whose name I cannot for the life of me recall but you access it through a little alley in downtown.

I miss Gainesville sometimes: Satchel's, Leo's, Dragonfly, everything orange and blue, the Harn...luckily we have good local eating up here in the Research Triangle!

My boyfriend just explained it to me. I am slow.

I love the taste of fennel but really have no idea how to cut it. Any advice?

Love slightly burnt popcorn, mmm.

I personally am turned off by rude hosts and people who don't seem enthused to see a customer. We are in a recession people! Be happy to see people who are willing to pay for whatever your establishment has to offer! Be polite! Be kind! I'm usually willing to forgive mistakes such as a lost reservation (disorganized and irresponsible) but they should have been slightly more gracious and welcoming. It seems that you were merely "tolerated."

Also, sorry the food disappointed. What a bummer.

I've also heard of people having luck taking classes--cooking classes etc.--because people with similar interests flock to those things. Maybe find one for twenty-somethings? A wine tasting/cheese tasting or something similar? These sorts of affairs offer more opportunity for conversation but aren't your typical bar/club scene.