The Vent and Rant Thread

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Hitch

What does get up my nose is this sort of pervasive foodie snobbishness and condescension about it--"Oh, if you would just [try it/eat it more/try it in smaller doses] you'd come to love it..." No. I won't. Believe me, I've tried, trying to solve my Mexican food problem, and even a quarter-pinch ruins a meal for me.
Hitch

That would be really annoying. Have you tried asking those people if there's a food they don't like? I bet there's at least one. Then you could annoy them back by insisting if they just tried it your way they'd like it.


Since we clearly don't all perceive taste in the same way, I've often wondered about vision and color perception. Maybe there are reasons why different people have different favorite colors.

[DiapDealer]

Cilantro/coriander is usually added at the last minute anyway--the fresher the better. So holding it back isn't usually any hardship on the cook. I love it, myself, but I don't see any reason to try and force it on anyone for purposes of "authenticity" or what-have-you. Eat what you like.

The soap-taste thing IS quite common, though. Some say that people are genetically predisposed to liking/disliking cilantro. If that's true, I doubt very highly that one is going to overcome their dislike of it by trying it "this way." *shrug*

[Toxaris]

For me there is only country of origin of Oregano and that is Italian. That is still the best smelling and tasting variant in my book.

[DiapDealer]

I much prefer the greek oregano, myself (origanum vulgare hirtum to be exact). Its flowers are white and it has an intensity that can numb the tip of your tongue when fresh. I find the Italian to be too mild for my tastes.

[CRussel]

I prefer the Greek of the Mediterranean versions. As you say, it's powerful. But I actually use far more of the Mexican (which is a whole different beast.)

I use a fair amount of Marjoram, mostly for sausages. It's related to the Mediterranean Oregano.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I prefer the Greek of the Mediterranean versions. As you say, it's powerful. But I actually use far more of the Mexican (which is a whole different beast.)

I use a fair amount of Marjoram, mostly for sausages. It's related to the Mediterranean Oregano.

Me, three. According to my spice jars, that's the origin of my much-loved "Mediterranean" oregano. ;-)

Hitch

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Cilantro/coriander is usually added at the last minute anyway--the fresher the better.

My favourite local Vietnamese eatery have sprigs of fresh coriander, mint, and basil on the table so you can add as much of each as you want.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

My favourite local Vietnamese eatery have sprigs of fresh coriander, mint, and basil on the table so you can add as much of each as you want.

Worth the trip!

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

My favourite local Vietnamese eatery have sprigs of fresh coriander, mint, and basil on the table so you can add as much of each as you want.

I have that at home during the summer. I keep meaning to get the indoor herb garden going for year round enjoyment, but south-facing windows are a scarcity and sufficient artificial lighting is expensive (and bulky).

In keeping with the thread topic: **Shakes fist at the South and Rants about a lack of windows in that direction.**

[ekbell]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I have that at home during the summer. I keep meaning to get the indoor herb garden going for year round enjoyment, but south-facing windows are a scarcity and sufficient artificial lighting is expensive (and bulky).

In keeping with the thread topic: **Shakes fist at the South and Rants about a lack of windows in that direction.**

Our townhouse has NO south facing windows, one east-facing window (in a bedroom) and plenty of north-facing windows (but not in the kitchen, I miss having a window in the kitchen )

I gave one daughter a not-to-expensive LCD grow light which seemed to work reasonably well but then a mouse invaded her bedroom and ATE her plants.

I've been paying attention to the anti-mouse tactics given on this thread.

[4691mls]

I grew up in the country and though there were plenty of critters around, we hardly ever had a mouse indoors. I think our outdoor cats must have caught them before they could get in. Too bad that's not a viable option for city dwellers.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I have that at home during the summer. I keep meaning to get the indoor herb garden going for year round enjoyment, but south-facing windows are a scarcity and sufficient artificial lighting is expensive (and bulky).

In keeping with the thread topic: **Shakes fist at the South and Rants about a lack of windows in that direction.**

oh, no...this means that I'll never be eatin' lunch at your place, Doug, m'lad! :-)

Spoiler:

I realize that this breaks your heart, LOLOL...not...

Hitch

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I grew up in the country and though there were plenty of critters around, we hardly ever had a mouse indoors. I think our outdoor cats must have caught them before they could get in. Too bad that's not a viable option for city dwellers.

My bedroom alone has 3 neighbours that are restaurants. And these old building (the part where my bedroom is in was build in the 1500s) are all interconnected. I suspect that the mice come from one specific restaurant and that they have a contract with an exterminator for every 3 months. Because every three months there a peak in mice activity in our house.

Last night I heard something running in the attic, that couldn't have been mice (unless it was a whole herd of them). So I suspect one of the neighbourhood cats has found the roof window with the busted lock. I checked this morning and there was no cat, so it did manage to get out. Hopefully it'll return and help keep the mice away.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

My bedroom alone has 3 neighbours that are restaurants. And these old building (the part where my bedroom is in was build in the 1500s) are all interconnected. I suspect that the mice come from one specific restaurant and that they have a contract with an exterminator for every 3 months. Because every three months there a peak in mice activity in our house.

Last night I heard something running in the attic, that couldn't have been mice (unless it was a whole herd of them). So I suspect one of the neighbourhood cats has found the roof window with the busted lock. I checked this morning and there was no cat, so it did manage to get out. Hopefully it'll return and help keep the mice away.

The neighborhood rodents must have an evacuation plan to head to your place whenever the exterminator comes to the restaurant!

It would certainly be handy if a neighborhood cat could visit you occasionally and scare off the mice.

[wodin]

I just called my auto insurance company to pay for my insurance. They said "there is a transaction fee of $2.50 to process payment over the phone.

WHAT?? I've never heard of such a thing. How can I avoid that?

Well, you can send in a check. I'll waive the fee for this transaction, but next time...

I'm thinking next time I'll just might find another insurance company, it's not like they're the only guys in town. I can afford $2.50, but it's the principal of the thing. It was bad enough when they consolidated all of their branch offices to one in downtown Honolulu, now they charging a fee for calling them?