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July 1, 2009

Finally, the Maggie's review

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I know you've been waiting all week for this one. Our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner, as promised, reviews Maggie's. Here's John. EL

I’ve been wrestling with how to accurately describe Maggie’s in Westminster.

Based on my first meal there, a dinner, I’d have called Maggie’s Carroll County’s Peter’s Inn, lighter on the inventiveness, but with gloriously more seating and decidedly less corner in its bar. Oh, and let’s not forget, plentiful convenient parking. ...

Continue reading "Finally, the Maggie's review" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 9:41 AM | | Comments (11)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

June 24, 2009

John almost reviews Maggie's in Westminster

MaggieWings.jpgSometimes our Shallow Thought Guru John Lindner is such a tease in his guest posts. At least he could have told us more about the ash tray in the photo. Here's John. EL

Ever disparage a restaurant in front of a stranger only to have the stranger respond, “My mom owns that place”?

That sort of happened to me with Maggie's.

The first time I visited, it was heaven. Here, finally, was a casual restaurant serving good food that was close to home. (In Carroll County, that’s saying something; even the end of my driveway isn’t close to home.) ...

Continue reading "John almost reviews Maggie's in Westminster" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:11 AM | | Comments (16)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

June 17, 2009

Things I found in my cooler during Beach Week

I love the way our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner has been exploring the possibilities of theme and form in his guest posts. Here's John on Beach Week. EL

STW things I found in my cooler during Beach Week:
 
1) Lamb sausages from Evermore Farm. Mmmmm … lamb sausages from Evermore Farm

2) White Colby cheese from Hawks Hill Creamery. Mmmmm … etc. etc.

3) Homemade sourdough bread

4) Cotes du Rhone

5) A sultry Macanudo

6) J. G. Ballard novel (in side pocket of cooler)

Continue reading "Things I found in my cooler during Beach Week" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:25 AM | | Comments (22)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

June 10, 2009

The wine koan

Sometimes Shallow Thought Guru John's posts are so deep and pithy I think I'm going to have to start calling HIM the Zen Master. I think I'll go buy one of those 1.5 liter bottles of Carlos Rossi chablis for $6.49 and ponder this awhile. EL ...

Continue reading "The wine koan" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:44 AM | | Comments (8)
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June 3, 2009

Undertipping, and what to do about it

RyansDaughter.JPGOnce again guest poster John Lindner raises a point I wish I had thought of first. The same thing happened to me once. Luckily I realized it in the parking lot and just went back in and handed the server some more money with an apology. He looked relieved and said, "I thought I had done something wrong." It never occurred to me he would not only be short the money but also blaming himself instead of my arithmetic. Here's John. EL 

I undertipped --woefully so. ...

Continue reading "Undertipping, and what to do about it" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:13 PM | | Comments (38)
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May 27, 2009

Lunch at Looney's

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If guest poster and Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner keeps this up, I'm going to be looking for another job. Here's the second in his series of hysterical bar/tavern reviews. (The reviews are hysterical, although I'm sure the bar/taverns will be, too.) Here's John. EL 

Looney’s is the warehouse version of Greene Turtle, et al., a capacious mid-scale barstaurant in upscale Maple Lawn. It replaces Trapeze, which performed, apparently, without a net profit. Like the Turtle, Looney’s is a chain; its locations include Canton and Bel Air.

On the first visit our waitress, who wrote down our orders, egalitarianly muffed each one (party of four). The gaffes of wrong salad dressing, wrong cheese, and an overcooked burger paled in comparison to her delivery of the steak version of the Philly cheesesteak, which was, reportedly, quite good, but the chicken version had been ordered. ...

Continue reading "Lunch at Looney's" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:12 AM | | Comments (108)
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May 20, 2009

Meditation on a Memorial Day sacrament

brats.jpgThis Shallow Thought Wednesday, a beautiful and poetic ode to the pleasures of Memorial Day and summer, may be one of the finest pieces guest poster John Lindner has ever written for us. The photo not so much. EL

Some men barbecue. Others grill.

The wizards, philosophers, theologians, alchemists and related mad scientists of barbecue (of which there are about eight distinct spellings, all correct as far as I can tell) know things. They are shamans of not just heat, but of the quality of heat. To them, the fuel that feeds the flames over which they cook is an indispensible ingredient, a seasoning rudimentary and reliable as salt. They have evolved intricate psychological profiles of those who were raised in dry rub families versus those whose forebears apply “sauce.” They hold contests.

Grillers paint with broader strokes. The pinnacle of their art is demonstrated in performing, simultaneous, the feats of flipping a burger and taking a good long pull from a beer. Over the course of summer, their arms lack hair from knuckles to elbows. ...

Continue reading "Meditation on a Memorial Day sacrament" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 9:59 AM | | Comments (45)
Categories: Bar-B-Que, Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

May 13, 2009

Olney Ale House: one down, 5,999 to go

OlneyStew.jpgThe title of today's Shallow Thought Wednesday by guest poster John Lindner made me laugh out loud. It may be a bit obscure for those of you who aren't frequent readers, however, so I'm going to link to an earlier post of mine. The rest of his post, by the way, is just as funny. Here's John. EL

The Olney Ale House, by its own admission, is famous for its stew.

This I take on faith bolstered by the unsolicited testimony of a friend who, when the restaurant came up in conversation, said, “They have really good stew.”
 
I cannot vouch for it. ...

Continue reading "Olney Ale House: one down, 5,999 to go" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:34 AM | | Comments (19)
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May 6, 2009

Leader of the Pack takes them to E. W. Beck's

Garden%20Week%202.jpgOur Shallow Thought Guru and John Lindner wrote an excellent guest post for today; and, yes, it has a restaurant theme. But because he knows I like art, he sent an absolutely random photo of his nascent vegetable garden to go with it. I'm using it; but this is your one and only Get Out of Jail Free card, jl. EL

Normal people don’t understand the stress inherent in being “leader of the pack.” You have to know things like where you are, where you’re going, how to get there.

I was recently cast in the LOTP role and saddled with the additional responsibility of selecting a restaurant. Because one cannot ride if one does not eat.

Your fellow riders will tell you that they “don’t care where we eat,” a lie. The truth is: “We don’t care where we eat so long as the place has great food, excellent service, won’t look askance at middle-age biker wannabes, and will put a lemon wedge in your water if you ask them to.” ...

 

Continue reading "Leader of the Pack takes them to E. W. Beck's " »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 2:34 PM | | Comments (9)
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April 29, 2009

Midnight in the garden of hype and change

Bucky wrote an interesting guest post for me earlier this spring about homestead gardening, and I turned it down. I told him it wasn't food-oriented enough. But that was when all my friends and readers could still afford to buy food at the supermarket and even go out to restaurants. Just when I've started to realize that's not necessarily true, our Shallow Thought Guru John Lindner came through with this guest post. Not to mention its title, which creeped me out because he didn't know what I was going to call the post before this. Shallow minds think alike, I guess. EL

Continue reading "Midnight in the garden of hype and change" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 1:31 PM | | Comments (20)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

April 22, 2009

Some of all fears

These are scary times for all of us. And now Master of the Shallow Thought and Guest Poster John Lindner has summarized them in terms we foodies can understand. After reading the story he linked to, I'm going on a diet immediately. EL

Continue reading "Some of all fears" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:40 AM | | Comments (10)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

April 15, 2009

Dining with the mob

Urban legend had it when I first moved to Baltimore that Little Italy was so safe because the Mafia wouldn't let any petty criminals hurt the restaurant business there. I figured this was a rumor started by the restaurants themselves because it made the neighborhood more interesting. It's not something I've heard about or thought about in years, though. Until our Shallow Thought Guru John Lindner's guest post today. EL

Continue reading "Dining with the mob" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:30 PM | | Comments (12)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

April 8, 2009

Ride to Eat/Eat to Ride

ride%20to%20eat.jpgI rode on the back of a motorcycle. Once. I was wearing a skirt and no helmet. When my friend turned a corner too sharply, we went over. The nurse at the college infimary did her best, but I've still got some dirt embedded in my knee all these years later. Naturally our guest poster, Shallow Thought Wednesday guru and motorcycle enthusiast John Lindner would never treat his friends so rudely. EL

Sunday lived up to, for a change, its eponymous moniker. And though it was not warm (72 degrees farenheit is the nadir of warmth in my estimation), it was uncold enough to break out the two-wheeler and ride -- straight to a restaurant. ...

Continue reading "Ride to Eat/Eat to Ride" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:32 PM | | Comments (36)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

April 1, 2009

Grow your own tea

I have to say, guest poster and Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner continues to surprise me. On the surface he seems more like a "Coffee. Black. No cup" kind of guy. EL

Continue reading "Grow your own tea" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:27 AM | | Comments (18)
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March 25, 2009

Shrimp tails be damned

In today's guest post, our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru, John Lindner, examines one of the mysteries of modern restaurant cuisine and shows that the grumpier he gets the more erudite he gets. Is this the same guy who once reviewed gas station cuisine for us? EL

Continue reading "Shrimp tails be damned" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:29 AM | | Comments (24)
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March 18, 2009

Say cheese

In today's guest post, our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru, John Lindner, examines a not-so-shallow question concerning the complexities of love, and quotes my favorite poet to boot. At least I think he's my favorite poet. EL

Continue reading "Say cheese" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:26 AM | | Comments (55)
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March 11, 2009

The Korean taco truck

If anyone doubted for a second that the target market of Dining@Large is the elite upper crust of Baltimore, this guest post by our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner should put those doubts to rest. Plus, have you come up with a better use for Twitter? By the way, John, not sure what your fallback gig is: Starting your own barbecue motorcycle? EL

Continue reading "The Korean taco truck" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:15 AM | | Comments (35)
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March 4, 2009

The strangest restaurant review ever

When I read that headline, I realized I was just grateful our Shallow Thought guru and guest poster John Lindner wasn't talking about one of my reviews. As for his combo assignment idea, that's what I thought this blogging thing was. Here's John. EL

Continue reading "The strangest restaurant review ever" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:10 PM | | Comments (20)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

February 18, 2009

Chicken-fried bacon

I'm struggling so much with the chicken-fried bacon concept that I can hardly introduce my guest poster for today, our Shallow Thought guru, John Lindner. EL

Continue reading "Chicken-fried bacon" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:36 AM | | Comments (30)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

February 11, 2009

Girls taste better than boys

Guest poster John Lindner, one of my philosophical gurus along with Ray Lewis, is swimming in deep waters here. But he still manages to pull a Shallow Thought Wednesday out of them. I labeled him my philosophical guru today because he sent me this sage advice when I told him how much I love studies: "Food scares and studies, the bread and butter of Monday news." Next up, peanut butter. EL

Some people believe girls are better than boys. They claim to have evidence.

I don't know what "better" means in this context and cannot consider the point as it's out of the depth of Shallow Thought Wednesday. So I forge on with this bit of important news: A new study has "found" that girls taste better than boys. ...

Continue reading "Girls taste better than boys" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:19 PM | | Comments (34)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

February 4, 2009

Foods you love to hate

Guest poster John Lindner, master of the shallow thought, is back! His post needs no further introduction. EL

Continue reading "Foods you love to hate" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:26 AM | | Comments (52)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

January 14, 2009

How it all began

Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Motorcycle Dude John Lindner makes a startling revelation in this edition of Shallow Thought Wednesday. I will say no more. EL

Continue reading "How it all began" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:45 AM | | Comments (21)
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January 7, 2009

Five predictions for the new year

I was just thinking about Yellow + Blue = Green, the malbec made from organic grapes and eco-packaged in a box like juice, when John Lindner sent me this Shallow Thought  Wednesday. It's not exactly a high-end wine, but someone estimated it would sell for about $20 if it came in a glass bottle. Anyway, here's our guest poster. EL

Continue reading "Five predictions for the new year" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 7:28 AM | | Comments (8)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

December 31, 2008

Food fight

Only a mind as devious as Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Cheeseburger Expert John Lindner could come up with this post. Who knew he even knew Cinghiale existed, let alone had insight into the inner workings of its customers' minds?

This would be a good time to wish John a very happy new year and many happy returns of Shallow Thought Wednesday, which makes my life just a little bit easier every week. EL

Continue reading "Food fight" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:32 AM | | Comments (18)
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December 24, 2008

Hard times: Santa's backup menu

What he (Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Venison Non-Expert John Lindner) said. EL

Continue reading "Hard times: Santa's backup menu" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 1:56 PM | | Comments (6)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

December 17, 2008

Boys and their toys

Shallow Thought John Lindner is making up his Christmas wish list. Sorry, John, your toy is no longer available in the U.S. EL

Continue reading "Boys and their toys" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:53 PM | | Comments (16)
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December 10, 2008

Rare good luck

Before we begin this week's Shallow Thought Wednesday, brought to us by Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Burger Expert John Lindner, I have one question to ask and one to answer.

1) What is Cream City?

2) Because we love you, jl. And because this may be your best Shallow Thought Wednesday ever. EL

Continue reading "Rare good luck" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:47 AM | | Comments (27)
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December 3, 2008

Rutabaga trend alert

 

Sometimes Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Biker Dude John Lindner's Shallow Thought Wednesday posts are so shallow they are like, wow, deep. EL

Continue reading "Rutabaga trend alert" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:56 AM | | Comments (9)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

November 26, 2008

Cleaning out the corners of the metaphysical closet

 

Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Cleaner of Metaphysical Closets John Lindner is at it again. Another Shallow Thought Wednesday where I want to grab him by his lapels (if he weren't wearing his Grateful Dead T-shirt) and ask him, "How could you have left off tiramisu?" EL

Continue reading "Cleaning out the corners of the metaphysical closet" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:18 AM | | Comments (21)
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November 19, 2008

Cleaning out the metaphysical closet

Here's Multimedia Editor Emeritus, Biker Dude and Deep Thinker John Lindner with this week's Shallow Thought Wednesday. I'm sure everyone expected it to be on creamed corn. I know I did.

How many of you had to look up "elutriate"? It sure wasn't on my word-of-the-day calendar. What about "salubrious"? EL

Continue reading "Cleaning out the metaphysical closet" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:51 AM | | Comments (52)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

November 12, 2008

John's excellent adventure deep-frying a Thanksgiving turkey

I am so impressed that Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Biker Dude John Lindner does the cooking at Thanksgiving. I'm not impressed with him. I'm impressed that his wife managed to talk him into taking over the holiday kitchen chores.

I want a husband who cooks Thanksgiving dinner.

Er...maybe I don't, after reading what John fixed. Plus, just the mention of creamed corn makes me squeamish unless it's actually made with cream, which only seems to happen at my house. EL

Continue reading "John's excellent adventure deep-frying a Thanksgiving turkey" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:39 AM | | Comments (7)
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October 29, 2008

Mango madness

Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Tropical Fruit Guru John Lindner graces us with another Shallow Thought Wednesday. He asked me to tell him if his contributions were getting too shallow and negative. Hahaha. Surely you jest, jl. EL

Continue reading "Mango madness" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:49 AM | | Comments (18)
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October 22, 2008

New trend: rye whiskey

We've had a trying morning here at the Sun, what with the network meltdown and all. You know how I hate to be out of touch. Even more troubling, I haven't been able to publish Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Master Imbiber John Lindner's Shallow Thought Wednesday until now.

Here's John: ...

Continue reading "New trend: rye whiskey" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:32 PM | | Comments (52)
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October 15, 2008

Everything you ever wanted to know about tipping

Today for Shallow Thought Wednesday, Multimedia Editor Emeritus and Biker Dude John Lindner isn't messing around. He's even referring to himself in the third person. The video is great; I feel sorry for all of you whose work blocks it. Obviously you need to get another job. EL

This from George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London* (whereby jl ends, forever more, all quibbling regarding tipping practices): ...

 

Continue reading "Everything you ever wanted to know about tipping" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:44 AM | | Comments (11)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays, Tipping
        

October 8, 2008

The quintessential chili dog

Multimedia Editor Emeritus John Lindner (I've got to get a sexier name for him) has come up with what he calls a Sloppy Thought Wednesday for us today. He also included this URL for Bucky and those who can't see the video directly because of foolish work safeguards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGiv1t3Reg8 ...

Continue reading "The quintessential chili dog" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:45 AM | | Comments (22)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

October 1, 2008

You can't judge a book by the food stains on its cover

Ex-multimedia Editor John Lindner is always looking out for me, especially with his Shallow Thought Wednesdays:

"I think the typical trajectory runs something like this: Author makes book proposal. Proposal is widely rejected. Brave lone wolf agent picks up proposal and valiantly pursues publisher. Crusty but lovable book editor agrees to take a brief peek at a sample chapter on the condition he/she is bribed with a case of top shelf single malt and a modest humidorful of brackish Macanudos … and a date with the agent. ...

Continue reading "You can't judge a book by the food stains on its cover" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:26 AM | | Comments (28)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

September 24, 2008

The car you came in on

Ex-Multimedia Editor John has almost been too busy playing with his new toy to grace us with a Shallow Thought Wednesday. Almost. But not quite: ...

I think that it would be great fun to take Sarah Palin to Daniel's for a bacon cheeseburger.

But that's a shallow thought for another day. I'm still trying to find a decent barbecue place for You Know Whose You Know What. Of course, if Daniel's served barbecued moose, I could net two birds with one …. Nah.

(PS. Bucky: Wanna go to heaven without the bother and mess of dying? Next time you're in B'more it's Daniel's on me. And that's no hollow duck fries promise.)

But I pre-digress. Enough SEO badinage. On to the meat of this week's STW: ...

Continue reading "The car you came in on" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:01 AM | | Comments (19)
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September 17, 2008

Feeding Heath Ledger's ghost

HeathLedgerJoker.jpgMultimedia Editor Emeritus John Lindner has sent us this riddle for his Shallow Thought Wednesday. Not sure what cheating would involve, though:
 
"Heath Ledger showed up at my door in Joker drag. He's hungry. (I'm not making this up!) Where do I take Heath Ledger's Joker's hungry ghost self?
 
I know of only one place. ...

Continue reading "Feeding Heath Ledger's ghost" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:09 AM | | Comments (11)
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September 10, 2008

Build your own menu

Multimedia Editor Emeritus John has recovered from the Squirrel Incident, and is back to his usual irreverent self for this Shallow Thought Wednesday:

 

Continue reading "Build your own menu" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 9:51 AM | | Comments (18)
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September 3, 2008

Squirrel meat jerky?

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Guest blogger John Lindner had some R-rated shallow thoughts this week. Or at least you'll feel that way if the photo to the left makes you go, "Awwww." ...

Continue reading "Squirrel meat jerky?" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:50 AM | | Comments (16)
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August 20, 2008

What's in your doggy bag?

We've talked about doggy bags before, but not about what Multimedia Editor Emeritus John is discussing this week. His Shallow Thought Wednesday centers on the leftovers themselves. Let me remind you once again of my mother's definition of leftovers: Something you put in the refrigerator for three days and then throw out.

The one thing I want to take home from a restaurant (but am usually too embarrassed to) is good bread.  I know it will be eaten. It seems tacky, but on the other hand, if I don't the restaurant will throw it away.

I hope.

John also sent me this charming note: "I've shipped a photo in a separate email. Taken with cell phone and far below D@L standards. Do you forgive me? Do you have a choice?"

Well, yes, John, I do. And guess what it is. However, if readers raise an outcry, I may relent and publish the Worst Photo of Leftovers in the Universe.

Here are John's Shallow Thoughts: ...

Continue reading "What's in your doggy bag?" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:50 AM | | Comments (49)
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August 13, 2008

Marooned

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One of my flaws as a reporter for The Sun is that I see no reason a good story should have a news hook. This is not a flaw John Lindner, multimedia editor emeritus, shares, as you can see from the following Shallow Thought Wednesday: ...

Continue reading "Marooned" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:43 AM | | Comments (21)
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August 6, 2008

Food labels that make you laugh or cry

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Well, so far so good. Ex-multimedia Editor John (I need a new name for him; suggestions?) is still thinking shallow thoughts and writing them down for us.

This week he looks at signs and labels. He didn't even mention my favorite negative one, the one that makes me do a U-turn as I'm approaching a restaurant:

"Waitress needed. Inquire within." ...

Continue reading "Food labels that make you laugh or cry" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:09 AM | | Comments (15)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

July 30, 2008

Goodbye to a friend of ours

I've shared my relief with you that The Sun didn't lose Midnight Sun Sam, and I'm secretly delighted that my grammar guru John McIntyre will still be around to harass me about using the word "upcoming," which is outlawed here. This outrages me so much I always try to slip it into my copy. (A former editor thought it sounded too much like "upchuck.")

But what I haven't told you is that Multimedia Editor Extraordinaire and Resident Cheeseburger, Wings, Crab Balls and Soon-to-Be-Cheese Expert John Lindner has decided to take the buyout and has to vacate the premises by this Friday. Besides writing Shallow Thought Wednesday, he is also the man with the tiny initials, jl, who comments frequently and insightfully.

I'm extremely unhappy about his leaving. I tried to talk him out of it, saying that he could write blog entries for me twice a week if he stayed; but for some reason that didn't convince him.

I knew it was bad when he came into work in a Hawaiian shirt one day, before he even told me he was going. 

John promised me he will continue to contribute Shallow Thought Wednesdays, but that was before he got a nice new job last week. (Tell me again why I didn't go into information technology instead of journalism?) And he's even talking about starting a blog of his own. More about that later.

Will he still have time for us?

Anyway, here's his perhaps last Shallow Thought Wednesday. Or not. ... 

Continue reading "Goodbye to a friend of ours" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:03 AM | | Comments (24)
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July 23, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

SandwichLion.jpg

 

Clearly we haven't exhausted the sandwich theme yet. I should have had a Sandwich Week this summer instead of Crab Week. Who knew?

Anyway, Multimedia Editor Etc. John Lindner has taken this opportunity to weigh in on the subject by sending me a few Shallow Thoughts about his favorite places to eat...yes...sandwiches. (He was, by the way, the first person I ever heard refer to them as "sammies.") ...

Continue reading "Shallow Thought Wednesday" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:18 AM | | Comments (9)
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July 16, 2008

Seven reasons why lunch is the most important meal of the day

JohnsLunch.jpgMultimedia Editor Etc. John Lindner, who is our resident expert in so many things now I've gotten tired of listing them, turns out to be knowledgeable about one more:

Lunch.

However, photography, not so much. Along with his wise words he sent me the photo to the left. (Sorry, John. But you're supposed to hold the camera still when you take a picture. I thought you multimedia types would know that.) And this is the after version -- after I've worked on it at picnik.com.

Here we go with John's Shallow Thought Wednesday. ...

Continue reading "Seven reasons why lunch is the most important meal of the day" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:58 AM | | Comments (39)
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July 9, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

abalone.pngWhile I'm thrilled at the following account of my bravery by Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger, Wings, Crab Balls, Tiramisu and Abalone Expert John Lindner, I'm glad he didn't notice that the day I was off was coincidentally Magnificent Monday, the day all 16 men and women left in the draw played their quarterfinal matches at Wimbledon.

Here's John's shallow thought on today's deep topic...death.

Continue reading "Shallow Thought Wednesday" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:47 AM | | Comments (21)
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July 2, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

Every Tuesday late into the night and then very early Wednesday I check my work e-mail over and over again to see if Multmedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger, Wing, Crab Ball and Tiramisu Expert John Lindner has sent me a Shallow Thought.

This morning I was saddened by this brief e-mail:

Reason I didn't post a timely shallow thought: Slept all night on left side, woke up with only right brain functionality.To make up for it, I'll force myself to compose a food haiku.

Well, folks, it was worth the wait. John came up with the following brilliant effort.

Your contribution to this Shallow Thought Wednesday can be:

a) Discuss the evocative allusions and underlying meaning(s) of John's haiku; or

b) See if you can top it with your own food haiku.

Just as a reminder, a haiku is a Japanese lyric verse form having three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables.

Here's John's: ... 

Continue reading "Shallow Thought Wednesday" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:13 AM | | Comments (16)
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June 25, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

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I like to think that this Shallow Thought Wednesday was inspired by my trip last week to Tennessee. (After all, the first Cracker Barrel opened in Lebanon, Tenn.)

Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger, Wing and Crab Ball Expert John Lindner has the most unusual friends. ...

Continue reading "Shallow Thought Wednesday" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:50 AM | | Comments (11)
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June 18, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

I woke up this morning to find The Sun's remote e-mail system down and so no Shallow Thought from Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger, Wings, Crab Balls and Tiramisu Expert John Lindner. I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO MY OWN WORK THIS MORNING.

The only thing I had for you was last night's takeout pizza from Crust, the worse pizza in the universe. What sick mind could conceive of a vegetable pizza that had on top of the standard tomato sauce and mozzarella the following ingredients: sliced tomatoes, artichoke heart leaves, corn kernels, raw slices of old mushrooms and diced raw onion? Gack.

There's a blackboard in the kitchen here with all our restaurant choices on it. Crust has just been crossed off by me.

Anyway, just now the remote mail came back up, so I have John's Shallow Thought for you after all: ... 

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 7:13 AM | | Comments (21)
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June 11, 2008

You say tomato

PlumTomato.JPG

 

I personally felt the world was coming to an end when I heard about the tomato scare. But clearly not everyone agrees with me that a summer without tomatoes would be a summer not worth living through.

Namely Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger, Wings and Crab Ball Expert John Lindner. Notice he isn't our Resident Fruits and Vegetables Expert.

Anyway, here's his take on the whole crisis: ... 

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

 

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:18 AM | | Comments (20)
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June 4, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

What would Crab Week be without a few Shallow Thoughts from Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger, Wings, and Crab Ball Expert John Lindner?

Here we go: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:27 AM | | Comments (26)
        

May 28, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

FredHarveySpoon.jpg

 

Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger, Wings and Gas Station Food Expert John Lindner continually surprises me. First of all, he's convinced he had cholera last week when he missed his deadline. I find that unlikely. My guess is too much gas station sushi, as you know.

In any case, in this week's edition of Shallow Thought Wednesday, he dips into the paranormal: ... 

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:29 AM | | Comments (23)
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May 21, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

IWishIHadOrderedIt.jpgLearn something new every day. Each week I poke fun at Mr. Lindner as our Resident Cheeseburger and Wings Expert; and when I read his story today I learn that he's

...not devoid of culinary cred. As a one-time food editor, I've tasted greatness from the hands of Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Anne Willan and other foodie dignitaries.

Anyway, Mr. Lindner has now roused himself from his pastoral torpor to submit the following. It's particularly dear to my heart because faithful readers will remember that I suffer from a terminal case of food envy. ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:50 AM | | Comments (9)
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May 14, 2008

A worrisome development

Bad news. Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger and Wings Expert John Lindner seems to have disappeared. I've checked my e-mail eagerly every couple of hours, but I haven't heard from him this week.

That means there is no Shallow Thought Wednesday -- although conceivably he could be away thinking Deep Thoughts, and being back at The Sun tomorrow will bring him to his senses and lower his I.Q. a few dozen points.

Or he may have died an untimely death from eating too much gas station sushi.

Anyway, I know you're disappointed, so I'm going to share his response when I forwarded an e-mail from someone complaining in an even-more-snobby-than-usual way about my reviewing chains.

Here's what John sent me back: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:42 AM | | Comments (62)
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May 7, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger and Wing Expert John Lindner has sent me a Shallow Thought that's a bit shorter than usual. That's because he's been a busy man making videos to go with the filling station fare story he's writing for the food editor, not me. (I'm not bitter, oh no.) He told me it was his wife's birthday this weekend, and she got to spend it dining at WaWa, the Bel Air Chevron, and, of course, the ever popular Royal Farms, to name a few highlights. 

I asked what he did to make up for that, buy her diamond earrings? Something about as expensive, he told me: a DeWalt DW920 heavy duty cordless electric screwdriver/drill with a FireStorm bit accessory pack. This is not a joke.

As an added bonus, he attached an Arlen Ness chrome console plate to her 1997 Harley Davidson Road King.

"Sort of jewelry for her motorcycle," is how John described it.

Bonnie, you are one lucky woman.

Anyway, here's John's Shallow Thought: ... 

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:16 AM | | Comments (33)
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April 30, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

OK, boys and girls. I'm sitting here at my desk with my Starbucks tall decaf nonfat latte, extra hot and extra foam, in hand.

It's in a china mug that looks just like a paper Starbucks coffee container, logo and all, only with a handle, which cost me $7.95, and I get 10 cents off every time I use it for my coffee, so in only 75 more visits I'll have it paid for and I keep a running tally in my pocket calendar of how many times I've saved a dime, you know, making four vertical lines and then a diagonal. Is there a name for that? Of course, I've spilled a lot of coffee in the car's cupholder because it doesn't have a lid, but it's well worth it. Saving the planet. One paper Starbucks container at a time.

Anyway, what should I be reading while I sip my tall decaf nonfat latte, extra hot and extra foam, from my special Starbucks special mug ooohhh aren't you jealous but this from Multimedia Editor, Resident Cheeseburger and Wing Expert and Coffee Peasant John Lindner: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:30 AM | | Comments (14)
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April 23, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

I'm getting a little worried.

Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger and Wings Expert John Lindner, who is our Shallow Thought Wednesday guest blogger, is developing literary aspirations.

I knew being a regular contributor/poster on Dining@Large could do wonderful things for you, but I'm not sure about the best-selling author part. I'm thinking maybe he should keep his day job.

Anyway, here's what he's working on: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:25 AM | | Comments (24)
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April 16, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

Your restaurant critic slept in this morning to help get over The Cold That Never Ends, made possible by Multmedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger and Wings Expert John Lindner, who sent her this shallow thought: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:34 AM | | Comments (26)
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April 10, 2008

Only a day late

It's the blog entry you've been waiting for, complete with a mea culpa. ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:31 PM | | Comments (13)
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April 2, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

I thought Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger and Wings Expert John Lindner had forgotten us this week, but I checked my work e-mail and look what I found: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:16 AM | | Comments (15)
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March 26, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

It's Shallow Thought Wednesday again. Although on this blog, one could argue that every day is shallow thought day.

As faithful readers know, on Wednesdays (until he gets bored) Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger and Wings Expert John Lindner comes up with a topic that the rest of us can take off from.

I think you'll welcome this opportunity, because I know you can do better: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:12 AM | | Comments (21)
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March 19, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

ChickenWings.jpg

 

Multimedia Editor and Resident Cheeseburger and Chicken Wing Expert John Lindner has again graced us with his Wednesday morning insights: ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:53 AM | | Comments (27)
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March 12, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

Multi-Media Editor and Resident Cheeseburger Expert John Lindner has been at it again. Yesterday he sent me a list of things he did and didn't do before he got sucked into Dining@Large. I'm proud to have had a hand in his transformation, but I think much of the credit goes to you, faithful readers and posters.

This is the second week in a row that John has sent me fodder for Shallow Thought Wednesday. I'm tempted to create a Shallow Thought Wednesday category (see list on the right), but I'm afraid he'll run out of shallow thoughts.

Here we go:...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:02 AM | | Comments (24)
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March 5, 2008

Shallow Thought Wednesday

Once again Multimedia Editor Extraordinaire and Resident Cheeseburger Expert John Lindner comes through. (I suggested to him that we start calling this blog Dining@LargeandLindner but for some reason he recoiled. In fact, he locked himself in his office.):

I miss Deep Thought Thursdays.
I offer shallow thoughts.

Maybe your gang can riff off these: ...


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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:19 AM | | Comments (13)
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