TheMatt

The only place I've seen it available is from a spice shop I used to frequent in Denver. But since it's used in Korea, it has to be available somewhere in this area. I need to run to an H-Mart or the like this weekend, so I'll keep my eyes...peeled.

Well, you can do some Google Translate cooking. From looking around the Internet, you seem to boil gondeure in saltwater, and then rinse in cold water. Looks like it's an mountain herb used in "rural" Korean cuisine? Hmm...maybe use it like fernbrake or bellflower root, i.e., in a bibimbap?

Same here. I'd like to do this, but a quarter box would probably equal my beef consumption per year. (Of course, if I had a nice freezer... Stupid apartment living!)

My 1/29 is pretty free right now, so mark me as one for lunch at Sichuan Pavilion. And, while I'd be interested in the technical and chemistry bits of the tour, it's probably better for someone who drinks beer to go on that. Already hungry...

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I had that. That gelato was the cinnamon-iest thing I've ever had...and it was good! I think the highlights for me were the Brussels sprouts and the rockfish. Mmm...

Yo.

My go-to for American Chinese is House of Dynasty in Alexandria. I just love the classic waiters-in-vest and all. (Also, after watching an ep of "Ellery Queen" last night where someone ordered wor shu op, I had to wonder is that served *anywhere* anymore?) As for Xmas Chinese, Hollywood East will be open, and it is a Saturday, so perhaps you could do a Dim Sum Christmas? (ETA: Yep, they just confirmed via Twitter that the carts will be rolling.)

It's not very exciting compared to many meals accounted here, but I do have to say this about mine: the Trader Joe's Pre-Cooked Half Turkey is very, very good. It's probably the best turkey I've ever "made". I don't know how they did it--probably don't want to know--but every piece of meat was moist, both white and dark meat. Sadly, the gravy I attempted wasn't such a success, but, luckily, it wasn't needed!

Key lime pie! I wanted an easy dessert that pretty much requires a day-before making.

I'm in.

I should learn to check DR.com before I eat dinner. Dang it!

So I went to both Great Wall and Lotte this morning and neither seemed to have much of a bargain compared to Amazon (usually within a few bucks). Still, Lotte was nice because they had a good selection of open models so I could look at them. The IH Tiger looks intriguing as it has an okoge key, and a slow cooker and bread setting. The pressure rice cookers, though, looked too annoying to clean up to me. So I guess I'm between the Tiger and the Zoji...hmm...

Will do, assuming weekend doesn't blow up somehow (e.g., blood donation goes wrong, get caught in Beltway weekend fun...) I'll have to remember to get out my iPhone and the fun Amazon app with the barcode scanner. Nice, simple price comparator that.

Yeah. For oatmeal I've used the porridge setting and that's only available on the fuzzy logic cookers (as far as I've seen). And goodeats lists many of the reasons I need a fancy cooker. I love the timer both for Sunday night rice that I can set up in the morning and for morning porridge I can set up at night. I'm now at the point where I'm ready for a new one, and I'm thinking I'll check out the local Asian markets for their prices versus Amazon and Newegg. I've heard conflicting anecdotes on the price savings available. Some say great bargains abound, others, not so much. Any hints on which markets might give a better price? Lotte? H-Mart?

Don't forget the endless number of roundabouts. My sense of direction can take one or two, but this development with its undeveloped land surrounding the roundabouts (so no landmarks) is just confusing.

Welp, my 7-year old Fuzzy Logic Zojirushi has suffered the dreaded battery fail. And, yes, I can still cook with it by resetting the clock each time I plug it in and, yes, I could send it into Zojirushi for replacement (for a cost I can't quite find, probably a lot), but I think it's time for a new one. So, my question to you is, should I continue to look at Zojirushi (looking at the HBC10 or GBC05), or should I move to Tiger, Panasonic, or even Korean like Cuckoo? That also raises another question: should I consider pressure rice cookers, like the one Zojirushi model and most of Cuckoos? I imagine they are more flexible and (perhaps) faster, but it seems like they come with a lot more to clean after each use.

I've always wanted to try this. I wonder if it's good, how much it costs, and too late! (I'm also intrigued by getting a quaducant. Anyone out there tried one?)

I'm a fan of Saravana Palace's weekend buffet. Loads of dishes, many southern Indian dishes (and a couple Indian-Chinese usually) that are different from the usual buffet...and all vegetarian. You don't miss the meat at all and the price is nice, $10 if I recall correctly. If I want meat, I usually head to Jaipur Royal in Fairfax. It's smaller than Saravana's buffet, and more expensive (around $15...I think), but the dishes are usually high-quality. The last buffet I've gone to recently is the one at Uncle Liu's. I like how they have unique (for Chinese buffet) cold dishes like Sichuan cold noodles, five spice pressed bean curd, and lots of other vegetarian dishes. I think it's $11 on the weekend.

$75?! For a loaf pan?!

I want to try, well, all of that. The pheasant meat dumplings, the duck, even the fermented flounder. May not like that last one, but I still want to try it!

Sorry I had to leave early, but great seeing everyone again or for the first time. As always, a big "Thanks!" to leleboo for organizing this, and another to everyone who . Great food all around. Antonio's fried chicken, the ribs, the pâté en croûte, the terrines, amazing desserts a-plenty! I am stuffed!

I can say that while my candied bacon was a failure, it definitely did succeed as an air freshener in the scent of bacon...and a bit of burnt sugar.

Sadly, after a couple of experiments this afternoon, it seems as though my attempt to bring candied bacon will not happen. I do now have a small Tupperware container full of sweet bacon bits and a trash bag with some amazingly burnt (whatever's beyond caramel, I guess) meat. I begin to think I need to break out my oven thermometer...and try a new recipe for the next picnic. If no one minds, I think I'll bring some baklava (various: cashew, almond) from Mediterranean Bakery. Not bacon, true, but still sticky sweet!

I imagine other posts seem to have many dishes because 2 or 3 people are dining leading to descriptions of 8 or 12 dishes. Bring solo, it's "just" the 4 and dessert.