jasonc

I love the idea. Cats are, despite what some people say, very social creatures. Helping some of these cats find homes is a great idea. Says the man who has 7 cats, and manages a small (mostly TNR-ed) feral colony outside his back door.

I also love the idea. As someone whose lifestyle doesn't allow for a pet, it would be nice to be around one for an hour while reading and having a coffee.

it was probably also factory farmed. 

I understand that Peter's next restaurant is going to be called South China Garden and the specialty of the house is going to be fried chicken, grits, and black-eyed peas (and don't forget the collards with fatback).

that sounds really good!

If anyone is interested, I'll write a summary of my meals in Napa and San Francisco from a couple of weeks ago. (Is anyone interested? I don't want to write stuff if it won't be used.)

I'm interested.

Hillvalley - I am glad it is not just me! The whole bit about the refrigeration of eggs here versus everywhere else is kind of maddening. And we could have the same discussion about cheese and butter.

darkstar95 - I love great eggs. I wish I had a relatively convenient source (say, 10-15 min from my house or job, at a time of day that is realistic (nights/weekends)) of local farm eggs that are humanely treated, etc but are raised without GMO feed.  Or I just need to nerd out every week or two and go out of my way to get good local eggs.

But why non-GMO feed?  

I love Chipotle.

There was a study done recently comparing the views of scientists and lay people on issues like this.

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/the-gap-between-public-and-scientific-opinion/

The largest gap was in the question about GMOs:

Getting back to the Pew poll, they found that the biggest gap between scientific and public opinion concerned the safety of GMO food. In their poll 88% of members of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) stated that they have no concerns about the safety of GMO food, while only 37% of the public did "“ a 51% gap.

This is not surprising, and is in line with my sense over the last couple of years that the GMO debate is one of the topics where the gap between science and public opinion is the greatest (which is exactly why I have been focusing on this issue of late).

I haven't read much of what was written in this thread, but I suspect a lot of the hesitation stems from the naturalistic fallacy and an attempt to rationalize it.

I, of course, speak only for myself and don't even know Pool Boy. And, I imagine we have a GMO topic somewhere but not sure.

From everything I've read and learned, any health-related harm or benefits of GMO foods are still somewhat unknown. Or, at least, there isn't yet enough research or scientific consensus though there are studies and articles supporting pro and con views.

I strongly support much stronger labeling laws believing all people should simply have the right to be informed and make their own choices based on accurate information. This includes GMO since we don't yet fully understand the science behind it.

And, I also don't know Simul Parikh but don't think his post referenced a specific study so much as an interest in what a rigorous one might show.

I'm interested in the wine study, which was a specific reference.

You're right, it's fun to discuss...

But the presumption that the modern day restauranteur paying $50/Sq ft rent, doing 500k buildouts, hiring celebrity chefs are going to skimp on eggs to save a few bucks, and ruining their fresh pasta seems a little pre-decent restaurant era DC (or choose your own urban area).

I would be very surprised if the reason Fiola doesn't hold a candle to any random diner in Italy is because they chose factory farmed eggs.

But, as a science based person, I'd be very interested in randomized controlled trials on a lot of this stuff. Curious to know what people would be able to ascertain if both the cooks and customers were blinded to ingredient quality, and the ambience remained the same. I wonder if 5% of people would be able to tell the difference, if completely otherwise blinded. Preparation, environment, temperatures, plating effect taste so drastically. There is a randomized trial on wine - where experts are placed in a dark room, the temps of the wines are brought to the same degree, and experts cannot even tell white vs red, much less vintages and grapes. The combination of senses and the neuroscience behind it is totally fascinating ...

please post a link to this study

I ask this sincerely: Why?  Is it the corporate association?  If a local farmer raised free-range birds in the most humane way possible, but included GMO corn in the feed, would you avoid his eggs?

Good question.

Ssssshhhh!!! I'm trying to get away with pictures on "Where Did I Dine?" (The irony being the last restaurant I went to, my cell phone died before I walked in, so I had to purloin a menu (apologies in advance to the restaurant)) in order to have something to scan in and put on that thread.

Writing reviews is a taxing thing for me.

I know, but I love your writing!

A couple weeks ago, I had dinner at Ted's Bulletin, and simply could not believe the meal I had. 'Is *this* what people are going out to eat for?' I asked myself. And, I suppose the answer is just as it always has been: yes. And I pitied the masses that night.

Please write a review and post here and dcdining!!

Great write-up and great restaurant!  thanks!

Really digging the sushi photos

Also I think it's a really good name.

Amazing - thanks!

I was nervous some of my suggestions wouldn't work out and I'm so glad they did!

Sorry about the Rol San prices - I guess I just don't know my shit there.  At least you got the benefit of a favorable exchange rate!

I wish you had asked me more about the TTC.  took me a while to figure that out myself and I could have passed it along.

Thanks again  -great write-up.

Goodeats...I'd love to hear about your experience, even if it's perfunctory and aged. 

Guys, I tried this place in November.  I didn't phodown it but I thought the pho was really bad. Just super bland.  It was the day after thanksgiving though so maybe that had something to do with it? The chicken wings were good.

Season 1; Episode 7

"Boyfriend"

Director: Michael Fields

Writers: Jon Harmon Feldman & Dana Baratta (teleplay); Charles & Karen Rosin (story)

I lost touch with this episode about halfway through. I guess it's about relationships. Joey is having trouble dealing with her unrequited love for Dawson and gets shit-faced at party, Dawson takes her home, and she kisses him. Meanwhile, Dawson's world is fucked as Jenn's ex-boyfriend, who indeed was the one who got her shipped off to Capeside, is in town. I guess he's supposed to be 18 but he looks like he's 49. Jenn talks Dawson into letting him crash in his room?!?!?!  Then she traipses around town with this ex as he establishes alpha male status. Dawson appears to be happy to be a high status beta. Jenn eventually tells the ex to hike but also dumps Dawson. He finally grows a pair and tells her off, probably  the first and only time her panties got the slightest bit moist in their relationship.

Also, Dawson's dad seems to be getting used to being cuckolded as he allows his wife to slow dance with him, but won't kiss her. What a coquettish minx he is.

This show bothers me.

C+

I love the bustle of this place. On several occasions I've struck up a conversation with a stranger, or just overheard an interesting conversation.

Social, indeed.

Season 1; Episode 7

"Detention"

Director: Allan Arkush

Writers: Mike White

This episode was mental, but in a good, thoroughly enjoyable way.

It's another bottle episode (what was going on with their budget), but this time a Breakfast Club homage, with the entire crew, for various reasons, being stuck in the library for detention on a beautiful Saturday. I'll also note that that the episode also gets more "meta" than any other episode, with Pacey calling out the Breakfast Club reference, mentioning Emilio Estavez was really good in Mighty Ducks...and then the action pauses for an uncomfortable amount of time (Josh Jackson was famously in Mighty Ducks).

What makes this episode interesting is the introduction of an Agent of Chaos in this little group's world: Abby Morgan. She's stuck in detention with the gang and all she really wants to do is stir up trouble. At first I found her incredibly annoying, but the effects speak for themselves. Within minutes she's got them playing truth or dare, and we've got Jenn making out with Pacey and Joey making out with Dawson. It was incredible.

The running bit/mystery is that we know why everyone got detention except Pacey. He finally reveals it at the end and it's a pretty big letdown. Turns out he got a boner in front of a bunch of cheerleaders. It doesn't make sense because when someone overheard him say he hooked up with a teacher, the gossip spread within seconds, and this boner thing in front of a bunch of cheerleaders remained a tightly guarded secret.

The end was epic with two cringe-worthy, I can barely look at the screen moments (think the Office). First Dawson shows that he is the most beta male that has ever betaed by giving this sob story about Jenn not sleeping him (despite her promiscuous previous life) making him question himself. It's what every girl wants to hear I'm sure. Then Joey has some sort of breakdown about unrequited love that everyone gets but somehow not Dawson.

This is some sort of parody of a TV show and a brilliant one at that.

Note the very talented and successful Mike White wrote this episode. It's interesting that Dawson's Creek produced two highly successful and openly gay writers: Mike White and Ken Williamson.  Not sure what that means.

B+

Season 1; Episode 6

"Baby"

Director: Steve Milner

Writers: Jon Harmon Feldman (teleplay) & Joanne Waters (story)

The two stories in "Baby" are both very important: Joey's sister gives birth (delivered at Dawson's house by Jenn's grandma, because they can't get to a hospital) and the town gets wind that maybe Pacey is nailing his teacher.

The latter is the most clumsy somehow we go from the rumor spreading to an inquisition in front of the school board within the same day (which you only realize when remember that the birth is all in the same day as well). Few characters also seem to realize the stakes here: the teacher being labeled a sex offender and going to prison. It all comes off as much more light-hearted that is true.

I thought the baby story was much better executed. The main issue is that it's not believable that there's no one nearby, including Dawson's parents, that can drive the sister to the hospital. But it was nice to see the grandma being human for a change.

B-

Season 1; Episode 5

"Hurricane"

Director: Lou Antonio

Writers: Kevin Williamson & Dana Baratta

Note to reader: I watched this one on New Years Eve night with several glasses of Knob Creek bourbon.

Hurricane is a bottle episode, and in my estimation, a pretty good one. The conceit is that a hurricane is coming and the residents of Capeside have to batten down the hatches and wait it out.

Dawson's family winds up sharing their house with Joey's family and Jenn and her grandma. Pacey and his clearly gay brother Officer Doug end up spending the hurricane with the teacher Pacey is banging (for reasons that elude me).

All of this comes at an advantageous time as there has been a lot unsaid and unknown between the characters and much of it comes to a head during their sequestering. Dawson's mom is more-or-less just flaunting her affair at this point, having a cutesy conversation on the phone with her paramour on the main staircase of her house with her whole family home (not to mention houseguests).  But maybe this is how affairs worked before cell phones. Her behavior is genuinely puzzling.  There's also some pretty awful acting by Officer Doug and a scene where Pacey and the teach pull a full table setting down on themselves while making out, somehow not raising any alarm bells with Doug.

All of that said, there are some genuine moments here. Dawson's dad's reaction to learning about the affair is affecting and indeed somewhat frightening. I also liked how they teased his mom's explanation - by the end I was dying to know why she cheated.  It turns out her life was just too perfect - she had everything she wanted - she just wanted to want again. I'm not sure how common this is but it felt real.

Michelle Williams also teased some acting chops that would get her recognition many years later. She absolutely nails a scene in which she explains her promiscuous past to Dawson. She does all of this while spitting some pretty bad dialogue: "I was sexualized at too young an age."  Ouch.

I'm still trying to figure out how Dawson pulls all this off.  Earlier in the episode he had essentially slut shamed Jenn, comparing her to his cheating mom. And all of this coincides with Joey prancing around in top that barely holds her nubile teenage body. And she's clearly attractive enough to be a model. Yet Dawson, a teenage boy, doesn't notice.

I call BS.

Grade: B (S)

Let me fix your post for you.

Thanks!