The Foodie Thread

From the New York Times, the business of paying for 5-star reviews on Yelp and other sites:

 

Interesting. Also, they have a lot of incorrect information. I was using Yelp the other night to try to find a Thai place that delivers near our office and every single one I called said they didn't deliver, despite Yelp saying they did.

 

14 trendy new dining spots for bored business travelers:

http://travel.usatoday.com/news/story/2011/07/14-trendy-new-dining-spots-for-bored-business-travelers/49655834/1

Article also hits on dining trends.

I've been to the Chicago restaurant on the list twice. Very good. The guys that own it own several very good restaurants.

 

The menu for my dinner tonight:

Appetizers:

Wellfleet Oysters with Cava Mignonette
Crispy Potato Croquettes with Manchego, Smoked Local Ham, and Smoked Jack’s Run Garden Tomato Aïoli
Handmade Empanadas with Hudson Valley Duck Confit, Queso Fresco, Pickled Jack’s Run Garden Jalapeños, and Garden Herb Chimichurri

Dinner

Fried Green Tomatoes with Pancetta, Atlantic Lobster Salad, Jack’s Run Garden Tri-Basil Pesto, and Rémoulade
Crispy Chicken Thighs with Honey–Chile Sauce, Crumbled Local Blue Cheese, Shaved Radishes and Celery, and Garden Cilantro
Atlantic Halibut Confit with Late-Summer Garden Caponata and Black Olive Vinaigrette
Crispy Pork Belly with Smoked Nugget Potatoes and Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Dessert:

Breaded Womanchego Cheese with Sweet Sugar Plum and Savory Red Onion Jams
Summer Peach Custard with Mint Jam, Apricot Sauce, Shortbread, and Candied Mint
Phillips Berry–Filled Handmade Chocolates

 

Hope you're hungry! I love fried green tomatoes. Been on a tomato, mozzarella, olive oil kick lately.

 

I once had to wait for Kevin Bacon & his extended family finish dinner. They lingered forever.

Can't say I've ever really had a problem outside of NYC with this, though.

 

Yeah, now that I have no garden, I don't always have basil but sometimes I'll just tear up some lettuce and throw on it. Or go without. Either way, yum!

 

I would also add a little balsamic vinegar. And instead of mozzarella, try a little soft goat cheese or, my favourite, pecorino fresco, a soft cheese from sheep's milk.

 

Frank Bruni on the Bourdain/Deen spat and the foodie cultural war

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/opinion/bruni-unsavory-culinary-elitism.html

Bruni is bang on here.

But these preferences reflect privileges and don’t entitle me, Bourdain or anyone else who trots the globe and visits ambitious restaurants — the most casual of which can cost $50 a person and entail hourlong waits — to look down on food lovers without the resources, opportunity or inclination for that.

Besides, treating Deen, Lee & Co. with anything that smacks of moralizing and snobbery isn’t likely to move them or their audience toward healthier eating. It’s apt to cook up resentment. And we’ve got enough ill will and polarization in our politics. Let’s not set a place for them at the table.

 

Well, the meal was insanely good -- all four of the main courses were great, especially the pork belly and chicken thighs. But between the 9 courses and the 8 different wines which were served, I don't think I'm capable of eating or drinking again.