Ginger - Mr. Peabody is sooo cute! And he has a toy Octopus - adorable. Plus, Mr. Peabody is such a good n ame.

The regional differences in Chinese food within the US are pretty interesting, too. Like, in the NY area, my Chinese food takeout staples are sesame noodles and orange tofu, but in New England, I have a lot more trouble finding those. New England Chinese food does have scallion pancakes, though. And frequently bread and butter. Also, my mother says that shrimp with lobster sauce is different in NY and New England, but I don't remember what the difference is. I also vaguely recall some sort of beef on wooden skewers thing that you can get in Boston but not in NY, but I can't really remember.

When I was visiting LA a few years ago, my cousins took me out to this Chinese place that seems to have not redecorated since it opened in the thirties. Totally over-the-top "Oriental" stuff everywhere. I'm not sure they changed the menu since then, either -- it still had chop suey.

Is dim sum actual Chinese, or an American invention?

I'm going to go with a yes, in that it's v. popular in Thailand, Hong Kong & other bits of Asia.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking from the description that probably we do have 'Buddha's Delight' in the UK - only they don't call it that. Because I'm sure I've eaten pretty much that dish plenty of times under various names.

Yeah. I just already feel a bit bad about leaving them. They got me for a steal, and I'm not sure how they'll find someone at that price with the skills and willingness to take all my stuff on.

I was hired as an admin for Dallas. I have been admin for the whole region, to the big boss, to the project manager, to the national boss. I've scheduled travel for the whole organization, whipped other offices into shape, trained people to be admins in other cities, been default tech person, researched and helped write grants, single handedly done the regional presentation for the national meeting the past 3 years, and a whole host of other stuff in addition to knowing how to do most of what the counselors do.

They're going to have to find someone who really believes in the mission, doesn't get disillusioned by the politics, and doesn't mind being paid next to nothing. And really, I hope they do, cause that's just not me anymore.

ETA: Ugh. Sorry about all that. I think I just needed to see it all laid out so I can feel better about what I'm doing.

I think someone should do a whole website based on the premise of "Authentic or not?" for various cuisines.

Mostly comparing Americanized variations, but world variations would be good.

It would be nice to show a map of the history of the changes.

Alton Brown meets James Burke.

Connections X: Food

Well yeah, pancakes and green onion, but doesn't the duck come with the pancakes here?

Not here, at least not that Paul or I've had, but it's not a common order for us, what with the usual long lead time on it. (A lot of places require a 24 hour advance notice.)

After Paul spent that week in Beijing, Chinese food was off the list of things we'd go out to eat. He'd get a wistful look in his face and say he could go back to American Chinese as soon as the memory faded.

I gather the food there was good.

I think someone should do a whole website based on the premise of "Authentic or not?" for various cuisines.

Oooh, fun.

This has sent me though a chain of wikipedia food links. Reading about bagels now. Mmm, everything bagels. It also reminded me of the existence of green bagels for St. Patrick's Day, which I'd completely forgotten about.

Dude, you totally barted in Steve's car last night

So as to give you a washing too?

Where did you get the idea that I intended to make use of them myself?

After Paul spent that week in Beijing, Chinese food was off the list of things we'd go out to eat. He'd get a wistful look in his face and say he could go back to American Chinese as soon as the memory faded.

After living in Arizona, surrounded by first and second generation Mexican Americans, I can't bring myself to enter a Mexican Restaurant in Minnesota. I figure, when I am in the mood for it, I'll make it my own darn self, and it will be more authentic. I lucked out, having several neighbors who took motherly/sisterly interest in me, and would often bring plates of goooooooood food to my door. Not to mention, the numerous church fund-raisers that featured tamales.