"songbird" > wrote in message
...
> Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>> On 12/13/2020 7:04 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>>> We don't eat croutons or meatballs unless I happen to find meatballs on
>>> sale for cheap.
>>
>> I don't understand why anyone would buy meatballs. So easy to make and
>> the taste is so much better. Never order them in a restaurant either
>> because they are usually some pre-made crap in canned sauce.
>
> yes, we make our own, those pre-made meatballs are
> really icky. using cheese in them is one of the reasons
> they taste so good.

It's the texture of meatballs that I don't like.

On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 4:01:06 PM UTC-10, wrote:
> "dsi1" > wrote in message
> ...
> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10,
> wrote:
> > On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 7:39:00 PM UTC-6, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> > > On 12/13/2020 7:04 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
> > >
> > > > We don't eat croutons or meatballs unless I happen to find meatballs
> > > > on
> > > > sale for cheap.
> > > I don't understand why anyone would buy meatballs. So easy to make and
> > > the taste is so much better. Never order them in a restaurant either
> > > because they are usually some pre-made crap in canned sauce.
> > One of the few good food things about St. Louis is Italian restaurants.
> > There
> > are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at Italian restaurants here
> > because
> > they are pricey. Our favorite Italian restaurant is in an unlikely locale,
> > Eureka
> > Springs, Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify expensive
> > meals
> > when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but not cheesy like
> > Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have a neat old hotel.
> > https://www.crescent-hotel.com/
> > There are trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very
> > laid back.
> >
> > --Bryan
> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
> ---
>
> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
> understand the appeal of that place at all.
My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.

dsi1 wrote:
> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 4:01:06 PM UTC-10, wrote:
>> "dsi1" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10,
>> wrote:
>>> On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 7:39:00 PM UTC-6, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>>> On 12/13/2020 7:04 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> We don't eat croutons or meatballs unless I happen to find meatballs
>>>>> on
>>>>> sale for cheap.
>>>> I don't understand why anyone would buy meatballs. So easy to make and
>>>> the taste is so much better. Never order them in a restaurant either
>>>> because they are usually some pre-made crap in canned sauce.
>>> One of the few good food things about St. Louis is Italian restaurants.
>>> There
>>> are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at Italian restaurants here
>>> because
>>> they are pricey. Our favorite Italian restaurant is in an unlikely locale,
>>> Eureka
>>> Springs, Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify expensive
>>> meals
>>> when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but not cheesy like
>>> Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have a neat old hotel.
>>> https://www.crescent-hotel.com/
>>> There are trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very
>>> laid back.
>>>
>>> --Bryan
>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>> ---
>>
>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>

I wonder why they put one on da rock.

On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:

>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>> ---
>>
>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>

Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
tomorrow in Utah. Pseudo Italian food. Not great, but not bad for the
price.

"dsi1" > wrote in message
...
> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 4:01:06 PM UTC-10,
> wrote:
>> "dsi1" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10,
>> wrote:
>> > On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 7:39:00 PM UTC-6, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>> > > On 12/13/2020 7:04 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > We don't eat croutons or meatballs unless I happen to find
>> > > > meatballs
>> > > > on
>> > > > sale for cheap.
>> > > I don't understand why anyone would buy meatballs. So easy to make
>> > > and
>> > > the taste is so much better. Never order them in a restaurant either
>> > > because they are usually some pre-made crap in canned sauce.
>> > One of the few good food things about St. Louis is Italian restaurants.
>> > There
>> > are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at Italian restaurants here
>> > because
>> > they are pricey. Our favorite Italian restaurant is in an unlikely
>> > locale,
>> > Eureka
>> > Springs, Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify
>> > expensive
>> > meals
>> > when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but not cheesy
>> > like
>> > Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have a neat old hotel.
>> > https://www.crescent-hotel.com/
>> > There are trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very
>> > laid back.
>> >
>> > --Bryan
>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu.
>> We've
>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have
>> been
>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>> ---
>>
>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I
>> don't
>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take
> clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's
> the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too
> spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.

---

Ah... Maybe that's why they exist.

On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 8:52:56 PM UTC-6, Hank Rogers wrote:
> dsi1 wrote:
> > On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 4:01:06 PM UTC-10, wrote:
> >> "dsi1" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10,
> >> wrote:
> >>> On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 7:39:00 PM UTC-6, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> >>>> On 12/13/2020 7:04 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> We don't eat croutons or meatballs unless I happen to find meatballs
> >>>>> on
> >>>>> sale for cheap.
> >>>> I don't understand why anyone would buy meatballs. So easy to make and
> >>>> the taste is so much better. Never order them in a restaurant either
> >>>> because they are usually some pre-made crap in canned sauce.
> >>> One of the few good food things about St. Louis is Italian restaurants.
> >>> There
> >>> are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at Italian restaurants here
> >>> because
> >>> they are pricey. Our favorite Italian restaurant is in an unlikely locale,
> >>> Eureka
> >>> Springs, Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify expensive
> >>> meals
> >>> when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but not cheesy like
> >>> Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have a neat old hotel.
> >>> https://www.crescent-hotel.com/
> >>> There are trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very
> >>> laid back.
> >>>
> >>> --Bryan
> >> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
> >> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
> >> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
> >> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
> >> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
> >> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
> >> ---
> >>
> >> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
> >> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
> >> understand the appeal of that place at all.
> > My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
> >
> I wonder why they put one on da rock.


So Julie could complain about it...

--
Best
Greg

On 2020-12-14 10:07 p.m., Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>

>> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take
>> clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple -
>> that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's
>> not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>>
>
> Yep, pretty much it.Â* If you like a particular meal when you had it last
> February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
> tomorrow in Utah.Â* Pseudo Italian food.Â* Not great, but not bad for the
> price.

There has to be a pretty good profit margin in most Italian restaurants.
They take inexpensive ingredients like pasta and tomato sauce and use
small portions of meat. They have shakers of dried chili flacks and
plastic parmesan on the table. I can crack open a car of pasta sauce and
boil some pasta at home for a small fraction of of their menu price. I
can make a much better sauce with a jar of passada and a few inexpensive
ingredients.

On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:07:15 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>
>>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>>> ---
>>>
>>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
>> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>>
>
>Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
>February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
>tomorrow in Utah.

So why drive all the way to Utah for it?

On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 9:57:40 PM UTC-6, Bruce wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:07:15 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>
> >On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> >
> >>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
> >>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
> >>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
> >>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
> >>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
> >>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
> >>> ---
> >>>
> >>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
> >>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
> >>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
> >> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
> >>
> >
> >Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
> >February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
> >tomorrow in Utah.
> So why drive all the way to Utah for it?

Duh. Because you can have more than one wife, and none of them will
forbid you from eating a meatball.

--Bryan

Bruce wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:07:15 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>
>> On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>
>>>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>>>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>>>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>>>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>>>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>>>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>>>> ---
>>>>
>>>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>>>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>>>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
>>> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>>>
>>
>> Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
>> February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
>> tomorrow in Utah.
>
> So why drive all the way to Utah for it?
>

I've been pretty gassy lately for some reason Druce. Would yoose
like to come over for a few beers?

Bryan Simmons wrote:
> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 9:57:40 PM UTC-6, Bruce wrote:
>> On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:07:15 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>>
>>> On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>>
>>>>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>>>>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>>>>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>>>>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>>>>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>>>>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>>>>> ---
>>>>>
>>>>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>>>>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>>>>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
>>>> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
>>> February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
>>> tomorrow in Utah.
>> So why drive all the way to Utah for it?
>
> Duh. Because you can have more than one wife, and none of them will
> forbid you from eating a meatball.
>
> --Bryan
>

But you'll sure as hell have to go to church!

dsi1 wrote:
....
> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL. Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been special if I liked Italian food but I don't.

it isn't anything worth eating out for IMO, but i'm
spoiled and i admit that when it comes down to eating
Italian American foods. Olive Garden is probably better
considerd Italian American food and not actual Italian
foods as i think the few times i've been there the food
was bland and not very interesting - i sure didn't
notice much on the menu that i would have considered
some regional dishes or much in the way of adventurous.

it would be like comparing McDonalds hamburgers to
what can be had at many other places that are more
edible and interesting.


songbird

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
....
> Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
> February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
> tomorrow in Utah. Pseudo Italian food. Not great, but not bad for the
> price.

eww, i'd rather just go have a good burger instead. OG is
blah... i can cook better than that in my sleep.


songbird

On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:08:54 -0800 (PST), Bryan Simmons
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 9:57:40 PM UTC-6, Bruce wrote:
>> On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:07:15 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>>
>> >On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>> >
>> >>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>> >>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>> >>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>> >>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>> >>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>> >>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>> >>> ---
>> >>>
>> >>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>> >>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>> >>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
>> >> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>> >>
>> >
>> >Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
>> >February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
>> >tomorrow in Utah.
>> So why drive all the way to Utah for it?
>
>Duh. Because you can have more than one wife, and none of them will
>forbid you from eating a meatball.

Gary, look what you've done!

"songbird" > wrote in message
...
> Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> ...
>> Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
>> February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
>> tomorrow in Utah. Pseudo Italian food. Not great, but not bad for the
>> price.
>
> eww, i'd rather just go have a good burger instead. OG is
> blah... i can cook better than that in my sleep.

I can too. Back in the '80s I had ravioli there that was good. Since then,
I've never had anything edible. The salad's not even that good.

On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 8:30:47 PM UTC-5, dsi1 wrote:
> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10, wrote:
> > On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 7:39:00 PM UTC-6, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> > > On 12/13/2020 7:04 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
> > >
> > > > We don't eat croutons or meatballs unless I happen to find meatballs on
> > > > sale for cheap.
> > > I don't understand why anyone would buy meatballs. So easy to make and
> > > the taste is so much better. Never order them in a restaurant either
> > > because they are usually some pre-made crap in canned sauce.
> > One of the few good food things about St. Louis is Italian restaurants. There
> > are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at Italian restaurants here because
> > they are pricey. Our favorite Italian restaurant is in an unlikely locale, Eureka
> > Springs, Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify expensive meals
> > when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but not cheesy like
> > Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have a neat old hotel.
> > https://www.crescent-hotel.com/
> > There are trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very laid back.
> >
> > --Bryan
> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL. Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been special if I liked Italian food but I don't.

Olive Garden has shitty Italian food. If you want good Italian food you have to go
to a restaurant where the cooking staff actually knows something about what
they're doing and the food is made on the premises, not defrosted or dispensed
from 55-gallon drums.

Only an idiot judges a cuisine by the output of a chain restaurant.

Cindy Hamilton

"songbird" wrote in message ...

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
....
> OK, I see why you did not like them. Neither turkey nor coconut flour
> should be in the same room as a meatball.

heh, we agree on this!


> Ground beef is good, better is 50% beef, 25% each of pork and veal
> Egg
> Stale Italian bread (breadcrumbs in a pinch)
> Salt and pepper
> Oregano
> Optional is grated cheese.
>
> Mix, make into balls. Fry to get a little crust on the outside, toss
> into the sauce for a couple of hours.

no garlic or parsley? those two are common in ours.
also an onion put through the blender, we like onion
in about everything one way or another.

when we make them we usually are making a few hundred
at a time. we have five large pots going for the sauce
to cook them in once they have been browned.


songbird

====

Why do you cook such massive amounts??

songbird wrote:
> it would be like comparing McDonalds hamburgers to
> what can be had at many other places that are more
> edible and interesting.

McDonald's hamburgers are stand alone unique taste. Either like them or
you don't but should never be compared to other hamburgers. Apples and
oranges.

Bruce wrote:

> Bryan Simmons wrote:
>> Duh. Because you can have more than one wife, and none of them will
>> forbid you from eating a meatball.
>
> Gary, look what you've done!

lol. Seems my teasing you has sunk in with some here.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> "songbird" wrote:
>> OG is blah... i can cook better than that in my sleep.
>
> I can too. Back in the '80s I had ravioli there that was good. Since
> then, I've never had anything edible. The salad's not even that good.

LOL, you two! If you both can cook better than Olive Garden in your
sleep, it's because you both dreamed that you could.

They make a fortune on their food and franchises. Neither of you do.

On 12/15/2020 6:48 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "songbird" wrote in message ...
> Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> ....
>> OK, I see why you did not like them. Neither turkey nor coconut flour
>> should be in the same room as a meatball.
>
> heh, we agree on this!
>
>
>> Ground beef is good, better is 50% beef, 25% each of pork and veal
>> Egg
>> Stale Italian bread (breadcrumbs in a pinch)
>> Salt and pepper
>> Oregano
>> Optional is grated cheese.
>>
>> Mix, make into balls. Fry to get a little crust on the outside, toss
>> into the sauce for a couple of hours.
>
> no garlic or parsley? those two are common in ours.
> also an onion put through the blender, we like onion
> in about everything one way or another.
>
> when we make them we usually are making a few hundred
> at a time. we have five large pots going for the sauce
> to cook them in once they have been browned.
>
>
> songbird
>
> ====
>
> Why do you cook such massive amounts??
>
>
Don't forget the 700 cookies in one day too. Evidently, nothing better
to do..

On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 7:04:12 AM UTC-6, Gary wrote:
> Julie Bove wrote:
> >
> > "songbird" wrote:
> >> OG is blah... i can cook better than that in my sleep.
> >
> > I can too. Back in the '80s I had ravioli there that was good. Since
> > then, I've never had anything edible. The salad's not even that good.
> LOL, you two! If you both can cook better than Olive Garden in your
> sleep, it's because you both dreamed that you could.
>
> They make a fortune on their food and franchises. Neither of you do.

Gary, try substituting Sonic for Olive Garden, and you might find a flaw
in your logic.

--Bryan

Ophelia wrote:
....
> Why do you cook such massive amounts??

a few times a month we feed other people. it gives
Mom something to do besides her quilting plus we put
some of it in the freezer and also give some away to
family. it all works out.

Mom is so used to making big quantities that she
doesn't usually make just a little bit of anything.

yesterday she took four trays of taco salad to a
bunch of people along with all the other things we've
been making.

she also makes bread. last week we also sent the
last of the goodies to a friend's place as a gift to
the family. our good friend passed away that day but
their whole family was home to be with her. she had
a long good life and it was her time to go. i kinda
doubt i'll get to 96 myself. her husband passed away
a few months ago and he was also a good friend and i'm
sure she missed him, but she also had some problems
that ended up taking her away. my brother and his
family were neighbors to them for some years and we
called them Grandpa and Grandma. RIP


songbird

On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 7:03:07 AM UTC-6, Gary wrote:
> songbird wrote:
> > it would be like comparing McDonalds hamburgers to
> > what can be had at many other places that are more
> > edible and interesting.
> McDonald's hamburgers are stand alone unique taste. Either like them or
> you don't but should never be compared to other hamburgers. Apples and
> oranges.

It's certainly OK to compare them with other fast food burgers. I'd certainly
rather have theirs than JitB or Wendy's, and *way* more than Sonic or
Checkers/Rally's.

**************
"I like salt ground more finely than regular table salt, not gritty. Try it."
"It's like the salt in the little packets at McDonalds."
**************

--Bryan

"Gary" wrote in message ...

On 12/15/2020 6:48 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "songbird" wrote in message ...
> Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> ....
>> OK, I see why you did not like them. Neither turkey nor coconut flour
>> should be in the same room as a meatball.
>
> heh, we agree on this!
>
>
>> Ground beef is good, better is 50% beef, 25% each of pork and veal
>> Egg
>> Stale Italian bread (breadcrumbs in a pinch)
>> Salt and pepper
>> Oregano
>> Optional is grated cheese.
>>
>> Mix, make into balls. Fry to get a little crust on the outside, toss
>> into the sauce for a couple of hours.
>
> no garlic or parsley? those two are common in ours.
> also an onion put through the blender, we like onion
> in about everything one way or another.
>
> when we make them we usually are making a few hundred
> at a time. we have five large pots going for the sauce
> to cook them in once they have been browned.
>
>
> songbird
>
> ====
>
> Why do you cook such massive amounts??
>
>
Don't forget the 700 cookies in one day too. Evidently, nothing better
to do..

====

Nahhh i don't believe that!

"songbird" wrote in message ...

Ophelia wrote:
....
> Why do you cook such massive amounts??

a few times a month we feed other people. it gives
Mom something to do besides her quilting plus we put
some of it in the freezer and also give some away to
family. it all works out.

Mom is so used to making big quantities that she
doesn't usually make just a little bit of anything.

yesterday she took four trays of taco salad to a
bunch of people along with all the other things we've
been making.

she also makes bread. last week we also sent the
last of the goodies to a friend's place as a gift to
the family. our good friend passed away that day but
their whole family was home to be with her. she had
a long good life and it was her time to go. i kinda
doubt i'll get to 96 myself. her husband passed away
a few months ago and he was also a good friend and i'm
sure she missed him, but she also had some problems
that ended up taking her away. my brother and his
family were neighbors to them for some years and we
called them Grandpa and Grandma. RIP


songbird

===

) None of that surprised me) It is pretty much what I expected)))

Bless you and your Mum))

On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 8:04:12 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> Julie Bove wrote:
> >
> > "songbird" wrote:
> >> OG is blah... i can cook better than that in my sleep.
> >
> > I can too. Back in the '80s I had ravioli there that was good. Since
> > then, I've never had anything edible. The salad's not even that good.
> LOL, you two! If you both can cook better than Olive Garden in your
> sleep, it's because you both dreamed that you could.
>
> They make a fortune on their food and franchises. Neither of you do.

Making a fortune is not identical to cooking quality food.

In practice, the inverse is usually true. Quality food requires good
ingredients and skillful preparation, which isn't cheap.

Add enough salt, sugar, and fat, and a mediocre restaurant can make
a ton of money.

Cindy Hamilton

Gary wrote:
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> "songbird" wrote:
>>> OG is blah... i can cook better than that in my sleep.
>>
>> I can too. Back in the '80s I had ravioli there that was good. Since
>> then, I've never had anything edible. The salad's not even that good.
>
> LOL, you two! If you both can cook better than Olive Garden in your
> sleep, it's because you both dreamed that you could.
>
> They make a fortune on their food and franchises. Neither of you do.

we don't sell food we make, but we have plenty of people
who are glad to have it when we give it to them.

i grew up cooking and helping in the kitchen, there was
never a time that i recall that i wasn't involved.

if my body could deal with standing behind a counter all
day and doing the work there's a good chance i'd be running
some kind of shop now. a coffeehouse, bakery, chocolate
maker and book shop. i've made chocolates by the hundreds
and really loved that, but i can only work a few hours at a
time. not able to work behind a counter at my own shop.


instead i can work in the gardens when the season is on
and that has just been winding down and gotten too cold so
i have more time inside now until spring. more time for
cooking and putzing around. the great thing about being
in the gardens is that i can pick different things to do
and that doesn't cause me problems like standing at a
counter does.


songbird

Ophelia wrote:
....
> Nahhh i don't believe that!

what's wrong with cooking? isn't this rfc?

*shrug*

i read, write, and do other things, this is off season
now so i'm not gardening as much as i am when it is warmer
outside.

there's about an acre of gardens and decorations here to
keep up so that's where i'm at most of the time.

if you want to check out the pics, you can look at the
website at the dot com in my e-mail address.


songbird

On 2020-12-15 6:28 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 8:30:47 PM UTC-5, dsi1 wrote:
>> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10,
> food things about St. Louis is Italian
>>> restaurants. There are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at
>>> Italian restaurants here because they are pricey. Our favorite
>>> Italian restaurant is in an unlikely locale, Eureka Springs,
>>> Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify expensive
>>> meals when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but
>>> not cheesy like Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have
>>> a neat old hotel. https://www.crescent-hotel.com/ There are
>>> trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very
>>> laid back.
>>>
>>> --Bryan
>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in
>> Honolulu. We've never had one of these famous restaurants on da
>> rock. I have gone to an Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar
>> on the mainland. The instructor took the class out for lunch. I
>> can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL. Like most restaurants, it
>> was nothing special. I suppose it could have been special if I
>> liked Italian food but I don't.
>
> Olive Garden has shitty Italian food. If you want good Italian food
> you have to go to a restaurant where the cooking staff actually knows
> something about what they're doing and the food is made on the
> premises, not defrosted or dispensed from 55-gallon drums.
>
> Only an idiot judges a cuisine by the output of a chain restaurant.

I have had more Italian food in independently run restaurants than in
chains. There is the occasional "upscale" Italian restaurant where the
food is pretty good, but in most places around here, Italian restaurants
sell various shapes of pasta with variations of red sauce, chicken
parmesan and pizza.

While I disparage the run of the mill Italian restaurants I have
experienced I have to say that I had an outstanding meal at a place in
Newport Beach CA. I had shrimp risotto and it was incredible. Everyone
else loved their meals.One of our party was Italian and he was impressed
as the rest of us.

On Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:19:11 -0500, Dave Smith wrote:

> On 2020-12-15 6:28 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 8:30:47 PM UTC-5, dsi1 wrote:
>>> On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10,
>> food things about St. Louis is Italian
>>>> restaurants. There are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at
>>>> Italian restaurants here because they are pricey. Our favorite
>>>> Italian restaurant is in an unlikely locale, Eureka Springs,
>>>> Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify expensive
>>>> meals when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but
>>>> not cheesy like Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have
>>>> a neat old hotel. https://www.crescent-hotel.com/ There are
>>>> trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very
>>>> laid back.
>>>>
>>>> --Bryan
>>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in
>>> Honolulu. We've never had one of these famous restaurants on da
>>> rock. I have gone to an Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar
>>> on the mainland. The instructor took the class out for lunch. I
>>> can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL. Like most restaurants, it
>>> was nothing special. I suppose it could have been special if I
>>> liked Italian food but I don't.
>>
>> Olive Garden has shitty Italian food. If you want good Italian food
>> you have to go to a restaurant where the cooking staff actually knows
>> something about what they're doing and the food is made on the
>> premises, not defrosted or dispensed from 55-gallon drums.
>>
>> Only an idiot judges a cuisine by the output of a chain restaurant.
>
> I have had more Italian food in independently run restaurants than in
> chains. There is the occasional "upscale" Italian restaurant where the
> food is pretty good, but in most places around here, Italian restaurants
> sell various shapes of pasta with variations of red sauce, chicken
> parmesan and pizza.
>
> While I disparage the run of the mill Italian restaurants I have
> experienced I have to say that I had an outstanding meal at a place in
> Newport Beach CA. I had shrimp risotto and it was incredible. Everyone
> else loved their meals.One of our party was Italian and he was impressed
> as the rest of us.

I once went to an Italian restaurant that had a good reputation. The
risotto I had was made with long-grain rice! I never went back and it
closed not long afterwards.

On 2020-12-15 9:00 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:

>> They make a fortune on their food and franchises. Neither of you do.
>
> Making a fortune is not identical to cooking quality food.
>
> In practice, the inverse is usually true. Quality food requires good
> ingredients and skillful preparation, which isn't cheap.
>
> Add enough salt, sugar, and fat, and a mediocre restaurant can make
> a ton of money.
>

I get a kick out of people who rave about various restaurants, including
chains, for having great food. Most of them get their food from Sysco or
similar places. The macaroni and cheese or lasagna that you get at most
of those places all come from the same place.

songbird wrote:

> Ophelia wrote:
> ...
> > Why do you cook such massive amounts??
>
> a few times a month we feed other people. it gives
> Mom something to do besides her quilting plus we put
> some of it in the freezer and also give some away to
> family. it all works out.
>
> Mom is so used to making big quantities that she
> doesn't usually make just a little bit of anything.
>
> yesterday she took four trays of taco salad to a
> bunch of people along with all the other things we've
> been making.
>
> she also makes bread. last week we also sent the
> last of the goodies to a friend's place as a gift to
> the family. our good friend passed away that day but
> their whole family was home to be with her. she had
> a long good life and it was her time to go. i kinda
> doubt i'll get to 96 myself. her husband passed away
> a few months ago and he was also a good friend and i'm
> sure she missed him, but she also had some problems
> that ended up taking her away. my brother and his
> family were neighbors to them for some years and we
> called them Grandpa and Grandma. RIP
>
>
> songbird

I'm a bit like that and have some like minded friends. Maria beings me
Enchiladas. I bring her bread.

On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 9:35:01 AM UTC-6, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2020-12-15 9:00 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>
> >> They make a fortune on their food and franchises. Neither of you do.
> >
> > Making a fortune is not identical to cooking quality food.
> >
> > In practice, the inverse is usually true. Quality food requires good
> > ingredients and skillful preparation, which isn't cheap.
> >
> > Add enough salt, sugar, and fat, and a mediocre restaurant can make
> > a ton of money.
> >
> I get a kick out of people who rave about various restaurants, including
> chains, for having great food. Most of them get their food from Sysco or
> similar places. The macaroni and cheese or lasagna that you get at most
> of those places all come from the same place.

Popeyes.

--Bryan

On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:00:36 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"dsi1" > wrote in message
...
>On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:01:49 PM UTC-10,
>wrote:
>> On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 7:39:00 PM UTC-6, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>> > On 12/13/2020 7:04 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>> >
>> > > We don't eat croutons or meatballs unless I happen to find meatballs
>> > > on
>> > > sale for cheap.
>> > I don't understand why anyone would buy meatballs. So easy to make and
>> > the taste is so much better. Never order them in a restaurant either
>> > because they are usually some pre-made crap in canned sauce.
>> One of the few good food things about St. Louis is Italian restaurants.
>> There
>> are no pre-made meatballs. We seldom eat at Italian restaurants here
>> because
>> they are pricey. Our favorite Italian restaurant is in an unlikely locale,
>> Eureka
>> Springs, Arkansas. https://ermilios.com/ It's easier to justify expensive
>> meals
>> when one is on vacation. Eureka Springs is touristy, but not cheesy like
>> Branson, MO, more like a toy town, and they have a neat old hotel.
>> https://www.crescent-hotel.com/
>> There are trolleys, little overpriced boutique shops, and it's all very
>> laid back.
>>
>> --Bryan
>The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>
>---
>
>Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>understand the appeal of that place at all.

I've never been. I no longer go to any Italian restaurant, they all
stopped serving real Italian food some 30 years ago. They don't even
serve real Italian bread, it's all generic... very few even remember
semolina bread. Most all ethnic restaurant owners are now pushing up
daisies and their children became educated so are now doctors,
lawyers, and accountants. Try to remember the last time you saw a
garden decorated with scungili shells, that was when the last real
Italian restaurant went out of business. I seriously doubt any Olive
Garden employs any Italians... yoose got a better chance of finding
Italian cooks in Pizza Hut... all pimple faced kids who don't know
their mother's ethnicity or even know who's their daddy.

On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:08:54 -0800 (PST), Bryan Simmons
> wrote:

>On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 9:57:40 PM UTC-6, Bruce wrote:
>> On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:07:15 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>>
>> >On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>> >
>> >>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>> >>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>> >>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>> >>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>> >>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>> >>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>> >>> ---
>> >>>
>> >>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>> >>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>> >>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
>> >> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>> >>
>> >
>> >Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
>> >February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
>> >tomorrow in Utah.
>> So why drive all the way to Utah for it?
>
>Duh. Because you can have more than one wife, and none of them will
>forbid you from eating a meatball.
>
>--Bryan

Their restaurants won't serve booze on Sunday, not even beer.

cshenk wrote:
....
> I'm a bit like that and have some like minded friends. Maria beings me
> Enchiladas. I bring her bread.

my SIL has a new connection for tamalis. she
is from New Mexico and cooks a lot of Mexican style
foods, but not tamalis. she has a large family out
there still and they ship chili to us when it is in
season. yum.

my own cooking in this style was learned from my
sister's mother-in-law in Santa Fe and her son who
was married to my sister for some years. mole's,
enchiladas, chilis, pasole, etc. Mom being a wimp
for spices i don't cook any of this very often now.
just a simple red chili is a welcome blast to the
sinuses once in a while.


songbird

On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:31:57 -0500, songbird >
wrote:

>Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>...
>> OK, I see why you did not like them. Neither turkey nor coconut flour
>> should be in the same room as a meatball.
>
> heh, we agree on this!
>
>
>> Ground beef is good, better is 50% beef, 25% each of pork and veal
>> Egg
>> Stale Italian bread (breadcrumbs in a pinch)
>> Salt and pepper
>> Oregano
>> Optional is grated cheese.
>>
>> Mix, make into balls. Fry to get a little crust on the outside, toss
>> into the sauce for a couple of hours.
>
> no garlic or parsley? those two are common in ours.
>also an onion put through the blender, we like onion
>in about everything one way or another.
>
> when we make them we usually are making a few hundred
>at a time. we have five large pots going for the sauce
>to cook them in once they have been browned.
>
> songbird

Now I doubt you own a pot.

On Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:57:54 -0500, Sheldon Martin >
wrote:

>On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:08:54 -0800 (PST), Bryan Simmons
> wrote:
>
>>On Monday, December 14, 2020 at 9:57:40 PM UTC-6, Bruce wrote:
>>> On Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:07:15 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>>>
>>> >On 12/14/2020 9:23 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>> >
>>> >>> The big news here is that The Olive Garden has opened up in Honolulu. We've
>>> >>> never had one of these famous restaurants on da rock. I have gone to an
>>> >>> Olive Garden once when I was at a seminar on the mainland. The instructor
>>> >>> took the class out for lunch. I can't recall if it was in CA, MN, or FL.
>>> >>> Like most restaurants, it was nothing special. I suppose it could have been
>>> >>> special if I liked Italian food but I don't.
>>> >>> ---
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Wouldn't you think with a name like that, they would feature olives? And
>>> >>> yet? They don't. Ask for extra olives on the salad and you get two. I don't
>>> >>> understand the appeal of that place at all.
>>> >> My guess is that corporate America thinks it's a fine place to take clients to lunch. It's clean and bright and ordering is simple - that's the appeal. The best you could say about the food is that it's not too spicy, not too ethnic, but just right.
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >Yep, pretty much it. If you like a particular meal when you had it last
>>> >February in New Jersey it will be the same when you order it again
>>> >tomorrow in Utah.
>>> So why drive all the way to Utah for it?
>>
>>Duh. Because you can have more than one wife, and none of them will
>>forbid you from eating a meatball.
>>
>>--Bryan
>
>Their restaurants won't serve booze on Sunday, not even beer.

Even less reason to go to Utah.

On Tue, 15 Dec 2020 08:04:01 -0500, Gary > wrote:

>Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> "songbird" wrote:
>>> OG is blah... i can cook better than that in my sleep.
>>
>> I can too. Back in the '80s I had ravioli there that was good. Since
>> then, I've never had anything edible. The salad's not even that good.
>
>LOL, you two! If you both can cook better than Olive Garden in your
>sleep, it's because you both dreamed that you could.
>
>They make a fortune on their food and franchises. Neither of you do.

That doesn't mean it's good food.