Bart

On 9/8/2020 at 2:00 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

Restaurants to avoid:  C-View

Hahahahah!  I'm heading up there next week to go birding (in case you didn't know Cape May is one the best places in the world to watch the fall migration), and I'm rereading the book, Season At The Point, which chronicles the birders, hawk watcher and bird branders at Cape May in the mid 80s.  Anyhow, apparently the C-View Inn was the bar of choice for these bird nerds.  I'm only 70 pages in, and the C-View has been mentioned a bunch of times, as a cheap hangout for tragically poor birders.

Thanks for the tip!

Bring on the VP debate!!

I always try to have Waze on in the car even when I know where I'm going just to warn me of speed traps, red light cameras, etc.

10 hours ago, saf said:

Yes. Unless it interferes with your ability to do your job, it is.

Yes, absolutely and of course.

I literally (and I do mean -literally-) started to write a caveat to cover this but I deleted it because I thought my post was already too long. 

1 hour ago, dcs said:

Does this behavior occur at your workplace?

What behavior?  As far as I know, all of my female coworkers wear bras.  And if anyone is dressed in an unprofessional manor, you better believe some management type would intervein. 

If you're talking about the other allegations in the article, yeah, I'm sure it does to some degree.  Probably not as bad as in the restaurant industry, but there's a reason I'm required to take sexual harassment training and EEO and anti discrimination and ethics training every year.  Then again, I work in a very regimented, rules orientated world where damn near everything has an instruction or directive or manual to dictate behavior.

It's very easy to get all holier than thou, and look down your nose at someone who is genuinely trying to change the world (offering health care, and child care and gym memberships, and change the restaurant culture) when things don't go completely smoothly, and bad behavior still exists, but this is the restaurant industry after all.  This type of behavior pretty much comes with the territory*. 

No, I'm not condoning it.  No, I'm not excusing it.  I'm simply stating what is well documented.  Bourdain practically celebrated the sex and drugs and debauchery lifestyle of restaurant workers in Kitchen Confidential 20 years ago.  Again, that doesn't make harassment acceptable, but the article attacked the one guy** who was proactively trying to improve conditions for his employees on many fronts.  There were flaws and problems with the execution, and he admitted them and strives to do better.  How many thousands of restaurants are operating the exact same way they did 20, 30, 50 years ago?

Anyhow, I look forward to a follow up article where they do a giant expose' on how someone's gym membership wasn't automatically renewed and they had to miss their Tuesday spin class.

* I'm sure this doesn't happen at 100% of restaurants, I'm just using simple language without a thousand caveats.

** I'm sure others are making similar efforts, I'm just using simple language without a thousand caveats.

2 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

To address all transgressions referenced in this tempest, would be to address all transgressions inherent in humanity.

Exactly, well said.

That article seemed like an unnecessary take down, or sour grapes, or a hit piece on an imperfect chef/restaurant group trying its best to move the industry light years ahead of where it currently is.   OMG!  They didn't get everything just exactly perfect from the get go!  Get me to my fainting couch!!  I'd suggest the authors or the aggrieved look up the Joint Strike Fighter for a tale of how perfection (or even a tiny bit of success) sometimes takes a lot longer and has a lot of missteps to overcome (not to mention billions of dollars down the drain).

And some of the complaints seemed bizarre and bordering on childish or irrational.  Sure they didn't have a dress code that was carved in stone, but is it really that outrageous to be asked to wear a bra?  They are running a business after all.  Personally, I may be in favor of braless servers , but the general public may not be as evolved as I am!

Back when George Floyd was murdered and the BLM movement really ignited, Aaron Silverman took to social media, completely out of the blue, and basically said, "we weren't perfect in our execution, we really didn't fully understand the deeper issues like we thought we did, and we are going to try to make things better".  His statement was much more thoughtful and heartfelt than my summary, and when I read it, I was again impressed with how these people are really trying to move the industry forward.    And again, as far as I know, he did this completely out of the blue because of the social climate and reflection on BLM, equality, etc, not because a hit piece like this was coming out.  I'd wager that Aaron's post on Instagram and Twitter were the impetus for this very hit piece.

To summarize my long-windedness...….I think this article sucks and it just proves that no good deed goes unpunished.

11 hours ago, dbwebhead said:

2. Elephant Jumps

I'm certainly not qualified to weigh in because I haven't eaten at most of the places listed above...….but here I go!!

I was excited to try Elephant Jumps for ages because I always read about the place in Washingtonian's Cheap Eats and in the Post, etc, and I did as much research as I could as to what dishes to order, but I was just sort of meh about the whole meal.  Maybe I ordered the wrong things, but I did do my research! or maybe my expectations were too high, but nothing I got made me want to come running back to revisit the place.  I think I went in Jan 2019 so my memory is very fuzzy, but I remember leaving the place sort of scratching my head at all the acclaim the place gets.

If anyone has any tips for great dishes, I'd love to hear them.

23 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Isn't it remarkable how close "appealing" and "appalling" are?

This is completely unrelated to Komi, Happy Gyro or this thread, but the line above made me think of this Mark Twain quote:

The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
- Letter to George Bainton, 15 October 1888

On ‎7‎/‎9‎/‎2020 at 1:11 AM, DonRocks said:

Where are people staying in OBX that they feel safe? 

Honestly, price is no object - I'd love to get away, even at the most expensive place on the Outer Banks, but I haven't a clue where that might be. I'm not looking to dine well, or to deep-sea fish; I'm looking for a nice, luxurious, safe hotel with a nice swimming pool area.

First, there are literally no rental properties available in July or August from Corolla to Ocracoke.  None!  I thought I wasn't using the search function properly on a couple sites because I kept coming up empty so I called, and the woman told me that because people can't go to Europe or Disney, they are driving to the beach instead and everything is booked.

Second, as someone mentioned, I don't think there are any luxe hotels.  Maybe some nice B&Bs?  But your best bet is to rent a place (this fall or next year).  Some of the beach houses are VERY tricked out with pools, hot tubs, gourmet kitchens, elevators, etc.  You can go from a shotgun shack to a place that's $20K a week.  Unfortunately, I haven't found many small places that are really nice.  I don't really look for them, but in a bunch of casual searches it seems that the 2 and 3 bedroom places are all 20/30/40 years old while the newer places are all 6/8/10 bedroom places with a corresponding price tag.

And as far as dining out goes, the best restaurant is your own kitchen, unless you really love fried...…….everything!  That's a bit of an exaggeration, as there are some decent places here an there, but when I go, we very rarely dine out.  And when we do go "out" it's usually just to pick up a pizza.  On the flip side, the fresh seafood is plentiful and cheap. 

For me, the appeal of the place is that there's nothing to do but go to the beach and cook and eat and drink and soak up the natural vibe.  But I always stay way down in Avon or Buxton where there is almost literally nothing to do besides laying on the beach.  Up in Nags Head/Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills, it's like any(resort)town USA.  All sorts of tourist traps and movies and mini golf and bars, etc.  I avoid it like the plague. 

Kat - my "heart" was to send love, not to "like" this post.

 <heart>

I saw that too.  Weird.  I always thought he owned the place or was a part owner or something.  I thought of it as "his" place, not a place he could leave!

Not surprisingly they are getting savaged on Facebook and Yelp.  So far, there's only one post praising them for putting everyone in danger and that's from someone whose last Yelp post is from 19 months ago.  Hummmmm.

ETA - my post is about the Grille at Flower Hill.  ktmoomau snuck in before me! ;-)

Arrgh!  I just checked my computer and I don’t have the menu photos on it anymore.

No.  I was at the restaurant. The prices I quoted were from a dine in experience in January, versus their current online menu

I have photos of the menu from back in January, and I’ll try to dig them up off my computer

Their prices have gone up since they opened.  I was going to do take out a while back but the jump in prices really turned me off.  

Back in early January the Shanghai Pan fried Pork Buns were $11.95. Now they are $15.95. A mere 33% price increase!  

The Roasted duck fried noodles only went up a buck from $15.95 to $16.95. 

It looks like they changed the names of some of the other dishes, or eliminated them because my receipt is not matching up with their menu for other things.  

Climbing the lighthouse in Buxton is always fun, but get there as early as you can.  It gets hot and crowded later and the staircase is narrow!

Taking the ferry to Ocracoke and exploring is a nice diversion if it's not a beach day.  But again, arrive as early as you can.

In the fall, winter and spring, visiting the Pea Island is great for wildlife (birds) but you'll need binoculars.

On ‎6‎/‎24‎/‎2020 at 6:24 PM, DonRocks said:

There isn't a bottle of wine, jar of caviar, or lobe of foie gras - anywhere in this world - that "tastes" any better than a McDonald's cheeseburger.

This reminds me of something I read in Jeff Tweedy's book.  Or the exact opposite of what was in that book.

Jeff is the singer song writer for the band Wilco and put out an autobiography of sorts a few years ago.  In it he chronicles his issues with brutal headaches, depression, anxiety, and becoming addicted to pain pills.  Anyhow, he ends up in rehab and recounts this story from one of the group sessions:  "One guy told us about seeing his father murder his mother when he was nine and that he had his first taste of alcohol that night because his father forced him to drink whiskey, thinking it would make him forget what he'd seen. Hearing a story like that made me ashamed of how little I had to survive and how much pain I'd derived from so much less actual trauma.  What was I going to say when the group got to me?  'Um...I cry a lot.  I get scared sometimes.  I have headaches and it makes it hard to make music.'  That was the worst of it.  I was out of my league."

He then talks about how a bunch of them were in the smoking room after a group session and he confided to them, "I feel like I shouldn't even open my mouth.  I don't want anyone to get the idea that I think my situation compares."

"This big black guy, who towered over me, turned and started shouting at me.  'What the fuck is that shit?  Shut the fuck up!  We all suffer the same motherfucker!"

"I'm sorry, I said, backing away.  I didn't mean-----"

"Listen to me, motherfucker, listen.  Mine ain't about yours.  And yours ain't about mine.  We all suffer the same.  You don't get to decide what hurts you.  You just hurt.  Let me say my shit, and you say your shit, and I'll be there for you.  Okay?"

Anyhow when I read Don's "foie gras/cheeseburger comment, it made me think of this, but in the direction of pleasure, not pain.

1 hour ago, saf said:

Oh, that's too bad. We were hoping to order again soon. I hope all is well with them.

I think/hope everything is well with them, but they just didn't want to put employees or customers in harm's way trying to get to and from Kinship.  That's the way I read it anyway.

I completely support the (peaceful) protesters, but my heart bleeds for these poor restaurants who are fighting a crisis on at least three fronts:  shutdown due to the virus, government inaction and ineptitude and now riots in the streets.

Field and Main is doing blind tastings on Thursday nights that you can follow along on Facebook.  Neal Warva leads the tasting and discussion and other people chime in with comments.  I did the one last Thursday and it was a lot of fun.  You can revisit past one as well, so you don't have to tune in live if you can't at the time.  Here's the message from their site:

Mystery Wine Game With Neal Every Thursday at 7:00pm

Join Neal live on Facebook every Thursday at 7:00pm and play the Mystery Wine Game! Neal will blind taste a wine that staff selects for him - and you!

If you'd like to grab your own bottle of the mystery and play along you can pre-order via the link below.

Either way there will be lots of Q&A available throughout. All you have to do is show up at 7:00pm on our FB page and watch! No sign up necessary.

Be sure to download your F&M tasting sheet here!

Order Your Mystery Wine Here

This is related to the mention of Dave Chang's podcast in the Momofuku CCDC thread, and it's long and rambling.  The short version is bolded below.

I find Dave Chang an interesting and entertaining guy, not to mention opinionated(!!), and I recently started listening to his podcast.  In early February he had a podcast titled "A Candid Conversation Between Chef and Critic, With Adam Platt", who is the food critic for New York Magazine.  As podcasts usually go, it was a meandering conversation but part of it centered on a newly opened Chang restaurant (I don't recall the name or location).  Anyhow, the critic went out of his way to emphasize that he didn't consider Chang to be the chef of this restaurant, and of course Dave agreed.  The critic made this point over and over like it was some sort of revelation, and it was almost as if he felt he was breaking new ground by separating the restaurateur from the actual person doing the cooking.  In my mind, I was like, "Duh.  Dude, we get it already.  Move on!"    Platt seemed to be patting himself on the back for making this distinction. 

So I'd like to thank Don for highlighting the person in the kitchen and not the celebrity chef on all these threads!  I might not have "got it" when I first joined this site, but somewhere along the way, I saw the wisdom and importance of it. Thanks!

Back to the podcast, I was really annoyed with Adam Platt's attitude regarding his power and influence.  Chang understandably took the side of chefs and restaurants vs. the side of critics and was pushing back on this guy and giving him some shit.  Platt on the other hand was completely caviler in what his reviews could do to a restaurant and took little to no responsibility for what a bad review could do to a restaurant.  I'm not implying that critics shouldn't tell it like it is, good or bad, but to completely downplay or dismiss his influence seemed like total BS and sort of covering his ass.  In my mind I was saying, "Dude if your word/reviews are so meaningless, why are you even there?!?!?" 

Disclaimer:  This was my first exposure to Adam Platt.  He may be wonderful and thoughtful and have sunshine coming out of certain body parts, but his attitude on this topic really bothered me and I'm not a fan!!  ;-)

In anticipation of a carry out birthday dinner for my son tonight, here's some pics from way back on March 7th when he was home for spring break (longest spring break ever!).  I don't remember much on the specifics, but the meal was a great success and all the dishes were great and unique!

Lobster Stuffed Skate Wing - Pommes Boulangere, Melted Leeks and Watercress Gratin

Crepinette of Lamb Saddle - Cumin Roasted Carrots, Fregola and Spiced Pepper Sauce

Panko Crusted Black Bass - Shiitake Mushrooms, Yellow Chives, Garlic Chives, and Mushroom Consomme

The food looked better than the photos

On ‎5‎/‎15‎/‎2020 at 10:08 AM, Keithstg said:

I loved Nishi. Sad to see it go. Dave Chang commented on both CCDC and Nishi in his most recent podcast and his sadness was palpable.

That was a great, touching, and moving discussion.   I was particularly struck by the rage in his voice when he ranted (in a good way) on how "I will never let my employees ever be this exposed again"

On ‎5‎/‎13‎/‎2020 at 10:14 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

CCDC always felt like a dumbed down version of a Chang restaurant.  I wanted to go there at first, but after awhile, I'd rather it just went away.

Great news!  You got your wish!!!  Let's break out the champagne.

Sorry to be a snarky dickhead, but your last sentence really offended me.  Maybe wait until the body is cold before dancing on the grave.

The Wegmans in Alexandria/Telegraph Road has some now.  I bought some last night on a whim.  Now I'm googling recipes like a madman!

RIP.   Very sad.  Loved his avatar and his posts.