kalena

Aloha food devotees:<BR><BR>Caitlin thank you, chowhound.com is a fabulous trove of information. The Paris postings are very informative, and one particular poster, Melanie Wong, shares a great deal about wine, too. On the basis of the posts there, we'll be avoiding Ducasse's Spoon, although it initially appealed. Maybe another Ducasse venue....?<BR><BR>The Hawaii posts were pretty right-on too, with a lively on-going discussion about Alan Wong and Chev Mavro that led to defining what "ono" is. <BR><BR>And I agree with you, exactly what IS it about Bobby Flay that is SO annoying.... On the other hand, I love that Japanese over-the top thing in the Iron Chef that's so apropos where we live. <BR><BR>....that asparagus tart recipe looks beautiful. This weekend, for sure.

imho

I think that Bobby Flay is so condescending to people and so full of himself and his abilities, he make me sick. A little modesty would go a long way.<BR>Did you see when he was on the Iron Chef competition in NYC? He jumped on top of the table after the time was up and totally freaked out the proper Japanese folks.

wendy

Has anyone heard how close the FDA ban on raw milk products is in actually happening? If we can put labels on cigarettes and alcohol that it is dangerous to your health, why not cheese? Surely I can decide for myself if it will be good for me or not...<BR><BR>What to do without those wonderful products!?

Rex

I suppose it was just a matter of time until we got anonymous posts about TV shows that a person can't stand to watch. Ummm... change the channel?<BR><BR>Like the predominance of poeple who have responded to this thread, I, too ama foodie, of the "never-use-recipes" type. My mother had that kind of "chemistry-lab-in-her-tongue" elvira mentioned. She could tell 60% nutmeg-40% allspice from the reverse in a blinding snowstorm, I think.<BR><BR>And I suppose I shouldn't be posting on this thread at all. The comparison to Emeril will be inevitable. How many hours a day does that guy spend doing those cooking shows? Does he have any other life? How does he run all those restaurants and still manage be on the air so much?<BR><BR>I suppose he lives in a basement.<BR>

wendy

Dear Rex,<BR><BR>I am sorry that others have chosen to speak out about you, but can we please leave it out of this thread? I would enjoy your input about being a foodie so much more without bringing the negative things said in the past into such great posts so far... <BR><BR>So, what do you think make a foodie a foodie?<BR><BR>Wendy

Rex

Okay, Wendy. You cannot imagine how it feels.<BR><BR>And, at the risk of being WAY over-simplistic, I would say that the desire to always taste new foods, new combinations and new preparations is something very similar to wanting to travel to foreign countries, to learn foreign languages, to "fiddle" with career-changing.<BR><BR>Among other things, this summer will bring college-hunting trips for our youngest daughter. I know this isn't the US forum, but where would other "foodies" recommend in the vicinity of Vanderbilt, GWU and Washington &amp; Lee? I haven't been traveling to Washington DC very much in recent years, it's been 20 years since I was in Nashville, and I've NEVER been to Lexington, VA. Curious to see what other schools end up on her list.<BR>

angel

Love Mario, too! His food looks so good. My favorite thing about him is how much that guy can get done in 30 minutes!!<BR>

wendy

Great question! <BR><BR>As I have had to admit lately, I travel to Europe so much that I haven't had much of a chance this past year in DC to be here to try restaurants! I've changed jobs, not as much Europe travel and can now embark on the DC dining scene. Again, my recommendations for DC shouldn't count, ask me about Europe, but here in my own town....sad!<BR><BR>Where I HAVE eaten and can offer personal experience...and welcome more suggestions from those that know. <BR><BR>Bordering on very expensive but incredible Italian is Galileo near Georgetown, Roberto D. is doing amazing things there...wine list will blow your mind.<BR><BR>Nora Nora is a great little place off of Dupont Circle, where she uses only organic products and you pass through her little herb garden before entering the quaint little red brick building.<BR><BR>Also, if you are here on a Sunday morning, Dupont Circle has a nice farmer's market (not Paris mind you) but it is quite good.<BR><BR>Marrakesh was an interesting Moroccan experience and Red Sage is talked about, but I wasn't impressed. Try to look at the Washingtonian Magazine website (and of course I can't put my hands on it now, but is an easy search) and they do a great job with rating and describing restaurants based on menus, prices and location!<BR><BR>Someone else here in the DC area will do a much better job than I! Next year, hopefully I'll be better informed.

wendy

Back to FoodTV, using your interests and ideas, what kind of show would you design for the network? The kind of show that would keep you glued to it 24/7? Subject? Personality to deliver it across well? In the kitchen cooking or on the road like Mario is now?

Bev

I think my family would qualify as "foodies" (you can tell just by looking at us!) We planned our last vacation to France around food. Last fall we spent a week with Kathie Alex and her "Cooking with Friends" program, just outside Nice. We stayed in Julia Child and Simone Beck's houses and had our cooking lessons in Julia's kitchen. We also visited the kitchens of two star restaurants, the markets, a cheese cave and had lessons from the chef of Moulin de Mougin. It was a wonderful experience for my family - 3 generations from 22 to 72. <BR> Right now I am particularly enjoying "Mario Eats Italy" on the Food Channel because I will be there this time next month with my mother and two aunts. I love the way he explains the origins of the food and how it is made. I know I will enjoy the gelato, proscuitto and other foods more because I know a little of their backgrounds.

Diane

Website for foodies going to Italy:<BR>http://www.gamberorosso.it/e/toptables/ivan.asp <BR><BR>This is just one of the "top tables" reviewed, but the http://www.gamberorosso.it site is a fabulous source and even includes recipies. mmmmmmm it's dinner time, too...

Caitlin

Kalena, so glad you like chowhound.com--it is an awesome site and community, my #1 favorite web site (sorry, Fodor's, but I eat way more than I travel!). Melanie is the resident wine diva, and is actually in training to be a Master of Wine. She is also very knowledgable about food in general, and especially Cantonese food. There is a ton of stuff about wine that she has contributed to the general topics board there.

wendy

Another interesting difference pointed out last night during my restaurant group...what's the difference between a foodie and a food snob!?<BR><BR>I said that I didn't consider McDonald's and fast food an option OR a food group... I don't even buy many products in the 'center' of a store i.e. cans/tins (unless I have to)and do mostly 'outer edge' shopping, i.e. produce, dairy, meats...If I can get it all at the farmer's market, I'd rather do that than the grocery store.<BR><BR>I don't FROWN by any means if these things are in front of me...I just PREFER fresh things that aren't in a box or can.<BR><BR>Sigh, I just read what I wrote. I'm a food snob as accused?<BR><BR>I guess it was growing up on frozen fishsticks and boxed macaroni and cheese?<BR><BR>Wendy

jj

A foodie is: anyone who makes food a hobby, a passion, a vocation or avocation, a reason to plan an entire evening, a focus of research, a basis on which to choose friends, a primary topic of conversation, a major expense of time and money, a preference in media consumption, or an addiction.<BR><BR>Therefore a foodie is, it seems to me, anyone who posted to this thread.

wendy

Thanks! I like that much better!

Don and Linda

Food figures right up there near the top of our list of pleasures, especially when traveling. Are we foodies? Yes, and proud of it!<BR>Don and Linda<BR>http://www.thetravelzine.com

elvira

My mom's a pretty basic cook, so if it weren't for Julia and Jacques, I don't know if I'd ever have gotten into experimental cooking. Those two have the most glorious outlook on food! When I took my cooking classes in Paris, I was thanking Jacques for teaching me 'professional' techniques via the TV. I could focus on what Chef was saying instead of trying to figure out how to dice a shallot.<BR><BR>When Pierre Franey died, it felt like a friend had passed away. I loved his shows where he visited other chefs in their kitches. And when will Jacques Torres be on again? All those chocolate and creme anglaise concoctions...I like Molton Mario, too. Avventura is also a favorite (is that the skinny Italian guy mentioned earlier?) because of the scenery and look into the kitchens of local restaurants. Then that cookoff show with Gary Rhodes and his oftentimes strange food judges.<BR><BR>Bobby Flay was entertaining the first eight shows.<BR><BR>Does anyone else think Nathalie Dupree is a complete disaster in the kitchen?

Caitlin

LOL! Years ago I watched some of Nathalie Dupree's shows on TLC and it seemed like every other show or so a recipe would start spinning out of control and there was no way she could reel it back in.<BR><BR>P.S. to Wendy: I'm a food snob and proud of it. The important thing is that we're snobs about the *food* at McDonald's, not about the people who do choose to eat there.

kalena

This Nathalie Dupree can't be the 10,000 maniacs former singer with the similar name is it? I also remember a hapless woman who just couldn't get it right for the camera a few years ago, might that be she? Things burned, there was flour everywhere, etc. She wasn't having fun.<BR><BR>Caitlin, there was a wonderful article in chowhound about the magical Arepa Lady in New York that has me wanting to go there just to find her! I lived in Venezuela as a child, and my fondest childhood food memory is arepas. Maybe that's where I first got this foodie impulse. And how apt of an analogy: a chowhound would definitely have a nose for food. <BR> <BR>I raise a toast to you all fodorite foodies today, on my birthday. Wish you could all join us tonight, italian, garlicky. Hauoli, k<BR><BR>

lisa

Don't know how I missed this thread before! <BR> <BR>I'm so glad I'm not the only one obsessed with Jacques & Julia! I saw the egg episode too. Who knew a half hour on eggs could be so compelling? But my favorite episode was the all-potato episode. Potatoes as art. I was mesmerized by the fried potato poofy things that Jacques made -- magic. Received their cookbook as a gift and am amazed at how simple & delicious some of the recipes are -- especially Jacques' recipe for salmon sauteed on its skin -- couldn't be easier or more delicious. <BR> <BR>I also like Avventura (the aforementioned skinny Italian guy) -- mostly for the scenery of Italy. And there is another good show on Mexican cooking but the name escapes me. Love reruns of the Two Fat Ladies. Not big on Natalie Dupree or that woman from the midwest -- what is her name? <BR> <BR>Also, I adore Burt Wolf. <BR> <BR>I've seen the Naked Chef on a few talk shows & he seems pretty good for a younger guy -- but apparently his show's not on here? <BR> <BR>Wendy -- we have probably passed by each other at the Dupont Circle farmer's market. Have you been to Eastern Market yet? Also, have you tried Cashion's Eat Place in Adams Morgan? It's fab. <BR> <BR>I'm still a novice in the kitchen, although I went through a major risotto phase a few years ago & played around with various recipes. Now it's grilling season! I'm also trying to learn some sauces -- recently made my first Bearnaise & couldn't believe it when it actually thickened properly -- success!