JPW

Elsewhere I've read an early note on the 2003 Rhones (specifically Chateauneuf) that was rather discouraging. After the washout that was 2002, I was hoping for a nice vintage. Anybody have any previews?

Where the heck is Odenton?

Snider's is my every day grocer and I do like it a lot. I find they occasionally has good deals and I love their store-made Italian sausage. Quality can be so-so. Most of my meat purchasing is done at Whole Paycheck. One of these days I have to get down to Eastern Market butcher.

It's also very salty, so it is important to monitor theseasoning of your filling and/or sauce.

Last night's dinner has inspired the beginning of an ode, "Ode to Stir Fry". Expect more bad poetry soon. Tired? Don't feel like cooking? Looking for an easy clean-up? The humble stirfry has the answers to all these questions. Put rice and water in rice cooker, plug in. Chop up some veggies (last night was bamboo shoots, carrots, and onion) Slice up some meat (last night was chicken) Wait until rice cooker is done. Heat oil in wok, toast some chili paste. Add meat. Add veggies. Add some chix stock. Cook through. Take off heat. Sprinkle with basil. Time to cook = 10 minutes total. Easy as you please. Limited number of dirty things makes my dishwasher very happy.

Both look nice bilrus. What's the dressing on that salad?

Well, if you ever feel like giving the Babbo cookbook away.... One of these days I'll get around to ordering a used copy from Amazon.

Sausage and kale with penne a la Mario. He suggests making your own stinging nettle pasta, but I was just too god damned tired. As a side note -- My copy of Simple Italian Food is almost RIP; binder falling apart, pages falling out. I have yet to try a recipe from this book that needs tweaking. And as any cookbook addict knows, that is VERY unusual.

In short? No. To add to your litany of complaints, the fact that they put Cafe Spice on the list is an absolute joke. As someone put elsewhere, it is best to treat this list and the reviews in this mag like Zagat's. Phone numbers, location and hours are about the most useful thing I get from their food info.

Just for a little info --- That's about 4 hours from the Beltway. Take I70 to I68 (do not go to Breezewood and get on the PA turnpike) to I79 North.

But are pronounced very differently. Hint - they both have significant international treaties named after them that started international organizations.

Sniff Sniff What's that I smell? Smells like a lucratively compensated restaurant PR person. But not a DC native, most likely brought in from the home office in NYC.

What a great event! Thanks to all the Peanut-sitters. All the parents out there know that having someone to watch the kids for even 5 minutes can be a welcome respite. The highlights for me were the lamb sausage and Ferhat's dessert (unfortunately by the time those came around I was positively stuffed). Mrs JPW loved the ventworm cake. We all slept like a rock last night.

Twin Springs Farms greenhouse grown tomatoes were the foundation of the salad I brought to the picnic. I also stopped by the hippy herb guy to get my garden going. I had some purple sage survive the winter, so I got some Thai basil, French thyme and rosemary.

Not sure. North of Redland Rd in a little strip mall with a japanese place next door. It's on the N/E side of the street with a bright red awning, you can't miss it.

Thanks, John. The Finger lakes seemed to have gone through the same thing for a while (stick everything and anything in the ground and see what happens) before learning what they could do well.

On a tangent.... Are there any VA wines that are actually worth drinking? I tried one or two (Barboursville?) a few years ago and remember finding them at best potable.

Continuing on a theme that was started elsewhere, it's time to talk Pho. Given that the first thing that Mrs JPW brought home from her new job was a cold and the state of the weather yesterday and today sucked ventworm nut, two consective Pho lunches have been had. Yesterday - Pho Quyen, Rockville Pike, just across from King Farms. Nice soft aroma and well spiced broth that could be just little bit beefier. The jalepeno slices had no heat, but the eye of round was top notch. Today - Pho 75, Rockville Pike just North of downtown. Much better beef flavor in the broth than my last experience, but still no hint of the seasonings esp. the star anise. And their onion and jalapeno slices are way too thick. Judgement - Pho 75 had the better beef flavor in the broth, but its lack of depth in aroma and taste when combined with the better prepared ingredients at Pho Quyen leave my judgement with Pho Quyen. If they could just get some damn jalapenos with heat. Oh well, I guess that is what Sriracha is for.

Who ever said I was going to get anything for yinz guys?

Sounde better than anything that I could think of. Plus, it'll give me an excuse to stop by Cheesetique.

Actually, in college I used a dish that I, shall we say, borrowed without permission as an ashtray.

Why is it that every neighborhood Thai place I've ever been to in the US uses the exact same patterned ceramics? You know what I mean -- the blue painted decorations on white.

It'll never happen. 1)The tobacco companies are paying out too much money to the states right now for their settlement to risk cutting off that cash cow. The states are, one might say, addicted to tobacco. 2)The tobacco companies donate HUMONGOUS amounts of money to campaign committees. The American Heart and Lung people can't even dream of matching the levels. Money talks. Edit to get rid of extra line spaces so Don doesn't get all pissy at me. Again.

Generally do Thai food, so no chopsticks yet. I'll have to remember Gastro's little which end she grabs thing