Shallow Thought Wednesday cowboy John Lindner moseyed on over to a horsey-themed restaurant in Howard County. His take: to heck with the place and the horse it rode in on. Here's John. LV

“Cordial and friendly staff will treat you with casual respect.”
 
Whoa. The line in the menu caused me to yank back my brain reins, shift in my metaphysical saddle and squint into the linguistic horizon. Casual respect?
 
Then our server corralled a chair and hunkered down at our table. Ah, casual respect. I get it.
 
Opened recently in a nail-salon-anchored stripper done up to look like a hive of insurance offices in historic Highland (or Clarksville) at the corner of 216 and 108 out in Howard County, Twist and Turn tries to evoke Maryland horse country and it does a fair job of looking like it tries to evoke Maryland horse country. You got your horse-related pictures and your Preakness shrimp salad. The plan is simple: Trot out standard tavern fare. Saddle a few items with themey sounding names. (Wrangler Roy’s Ho-hum Grilled Chicken.*) How could that not work?

Continue reading "Shallow Thought Wednesday: Twist and Spurn" »

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Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

And you thought Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner was an adventurous eater. His daughter has put him to shame. Just don't tell Sun pets blogger Jill Rosen what the younger Lindner has been up to in China. Here's John. LV

Kudos to Jill Rosen for her moveable feast story and for proving that while great minds may think alike, good minds think faster. I’ve been mulling a lunch truck story for weeks.

Now I’m stuck with cat brains. (Jill, please don’t read further.)

Continue reading "STW: Food for thought" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 5:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

In this week's Shallow Thought Wednesdays post, John Lindner describes an encounter with Fat Eric's, a fine-dining take-out/delivery operation in the basement of a church on Fort Avenue. The operation strikes me as an interesting way to get in on the food industry without the huge start-up costs and serving staff needed for a sit-down restaurant. In that sense, the place has something in common with all those food trucks out there. But that's where the comparison ends. Fat Eric's menu is beyond anything you can buy on a truck. Here's John. LV

“Never trust your money to a chef,” he said. Because said chef is either “a sociopath, a drug addict, an alcoholic or a womanizer … or all of the above.”*
 
That, I would say, comprises the highlights of my notes** taken on a chance foodie encounter in Baltimore not too many nights ago.
 
The sentiment carries a bit of weight considering: A. The man I’m quoting is a chef; B. He has a business manager, thereby practicing what he preaches; C. He acquired his love of cooking from his grandmother who makes the best meatballs he’s ever had. I give points for grandmothers.
 
He’s Eric Jurewicz and, with business manager Tim Richards, he operates a kitchen in the basement of a long-former church at 301 E. Fort Ave.

Continue reading "Strangeness in the night" »

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Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

A friend dined out at Volt and ordered a couple bottles of wine. The first was $80. The second was considerably cheaper, maybe $40.

When the bill arrived, her horrified husband asked if she'd realized the price of the $80 bottle when she'd ordered.

She briefly considered lying, but then confessed: "Yes. I was momentarily intimidated by the sommelier, but I recovered."

In this week's Shallow Thought Wednesdays post, John Lindner tells us there's a word for that: vintimidation.

Here's John. LV

Do you dunandunate? I know I do.

To dunandunate is to overuse a word or phrase recently added to your vocabulary – I paraphrase from this unbylined story in the Telegraph.co.uk that pries opens the Oxford English Dictionary’s vault of not-yet-accepted words.

By that august body’s lights neither you nor I “officially” dunandunate, because “dunandunate” is not recognized as a real word by the keepers of the OED – the holy writ of the Queen’s English. Too bad, because this secret stash of coinage brims with desperately needed neologisms, many ripe for foodie assimilation.

I like this one: “Freegan – someone who rejects consumerism, usually by eating discarded food.” My new politically correct name for Dumpster divers.

Continue reading "My Word!" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Shallow Thought Wednesdays guru John Lindner reports that his eyes have been opened about coffee. And it's not just the caffeine at work. Here's John. LV

Did you know that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world next to oil?

Neither did I.

Flak alert: the following STW shamelessly promotes a Guatemala-based coffee blogger and, I’m proud to say, colleague of mine.

Until a few months ago, everything I wanted to know about coffee was this: Is it hot? Is it leaded or decaf? Today I know that everything there is to know about coffee could fill a blog – or lots of blogs.

Continue reading "No cream, no sugar" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 7:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

John Lindner sent me a tip about an ungrateful restaurant robber the other day. I was so grateful, I decided not to rob John of the material. Here's John having his way with it. LV

I sent LV a “fantastic” Top Ten Tuesday idea several nights ago. Not only did she not reject it, like a good host who stands by as an unwanted guest lights up a Bad Boy in the family room, she was too polite to acknowledge the indiscretion.

Was I dissuaded from pursuing the idea? Chastened by the silent treatment? Ennobled by her civilized example?

Ah ha ha.

Continue reading "Shallow Thought Wednesday: Rob It" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
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World-traveling Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner is back -- and smarter than ever, thanks to all the red meat in his diet. Here's John. LV

Is there anything as sweet as vindication? (I’m presuming total world domination skews savory.)
 
When the unseen, unelected, unwelcomed panjandrums of nutritional purity declared butter and eggs “unhealthy,” I held out, eating, if anything, more butter and eggs. Both those staples have since returned to the good graces of our would-be keepers. Julia Child was, as always, right. Still, the puritans press on.

Continue reading "Smart Cow" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

There's been a dearth of shallow thoughts on Dining@Large lately, at least from STW guru John Lindner.

Apparently John has been off thinking deep thoughts in -- wait for it -- Sudan.

John will have to fill you in on what he was up to there. All I know is his trip had nothing to do with food. 

Here's what John just e-mailed me.

Continue reading "Where the heck has John Lindner been?" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Here's jl with this week's Shallow Thought Wednesday. Sorry it's late; that's my bad. -- SKK

Nothing stimulates the old amygdala like your spouse putting a hand on your shoulder, fixing you with significant eye contact and saying, “We need to talk.”

The addition of a hint of compassion in her gaze is the surest signal of doom. Possibly, an intervention’s afoot, or a tearful confession is about to be pried from you.

I’ve been pretty good for several years now: relatively obedient, follows through on tasks, cleans up after self, etc., etc. So, theoretically, I have nothing to fear. But one never knows that one is completely in the clear. Some bad habits are so ingrained as to seem not only good, but essential to life itself.

So when I got the hand, and the eye and the Dread Quartet, I blanched (praying the summer tan diminished the drama of a guilty tell) and shivered from a surge of adrenaline. I probably burnt a hundred calories in the fraction of a second it took to go from contented moral somnabulance to cornered beast.

Continue reading "Shallow Thought Wednesday: Fecundi-tea" »

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Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Shallow Thoughts guru John Lindner describes a wedding guest -- himself -- who got things wrong, and restaurant -- The Morningside Inn -- that got things right. Here's John. LV

I arrived at the wedding wearing the wrong shoes and with my fly wide open.
 
As I re-read that, it sounds like the opening line of a trashy detective novel wherein the author, via embarrassing personal detail, attempts to establish sympathy for his schlep of a narrator/hero.
 

Continue reading "An unzipped fly, footwear faux pas and wedding buffet" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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In this week's Shallow Thought Wednesday post, John Lindner discovers there's decent pizza in Monkton. He lets us in on another, even more shocking, discovery at the end of this post. Make sure you read all the way through. Here's John. LV

It was Sunday around four in the afternoon. We hadn’t eaten since seven a.m. Hadn’t found a worthy looking restaurant on the back roads we were exploring. While our standards lowered with each curve and hilltop, all we saw were more curves and hilltops.

We had entertained blasts of rain and what felt like hail but probably wasn’t because it didn’t bounce. All day an annoyingly shifty wind battered us. And as we headed into Monkton down from PA the temp dropped and iced our bright new sunburns for about five shaded miles. So yeah, we’d been sitting all day, but we were sitting at fifty to sixty miles and hour and that can work a strain voodoo on you, especially if you’re just coming out of your winter cocoon.

Continue reading "Michael's of Monkton" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner offers poetry this week. His inspiration was not scrapple, but Baltimore's new food czarina, Holly Freishtat. Here's John. LV

I was surprised that the Sandbox didn't jump all over news of Baltimore's new "food czar." In preparation for the coming tsunami of culture and access, I'm stocking up on salt, butter and other hazardous materials. 

The Bureaucratty
 
‘Twas bordain, and the cindy loaves
Got drier and rubb’ry in the wabe
All rayon were the ovengloves
And the gumbo fee-layed.
 

Continue reading "Shallow Poetry Wednesday" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

After a painfully long two-week absence, John Lindner is back with shallow thoughts about ... celery! Here's John. LV

I learned a new trick that got me thinking about celery.

Celery has one and only one thing going for it: nothing. Eat a ton of it, nothing of any consequence happens. No weight gain, no pleasant taste, no charmingly dangerous fat, no addictive qualities whatsoever. It’s not even disappointing, like Canadian bacon or turkey franks.

No one setting out a feast to impress in-laws or sniffy clients ever exclaimed, “Oh no! I’ve forgotten the celery!” Celery suggests that evolution can sometimes grow bored, that natural selection can simply forget to kill off its mid-era experiments.

Continue reading "Cinco de celery" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Rest assured that it really is Thursday, even if yesterday passed without a single shallow thought from John Lindner. 

The regular Wednesday Dining@Large contributor offered a tantalizing explanation for his absence.

"Excuse: The success of my wine smuggling operation," he e-mailed me. "All my time's been devoted to placing orders and keeping delivery drivers (I have openings, btw) stocked. It's a happy nightmare."

Sun file photo of The Wine Market in Locust Point -- or is it Lindner's illicit wine cellar?

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 5:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner can't get enough of food-related tattoos. But Michael Pollan? It seems Lindner has had his fill. Here's John. LV

It’ll take a lot for me to think (even shallowly) for another moment about tattoos, even those with a food angle.

Even when I’m desperate for shallowness. (Tattoos, like all things in the eye of the shallow beholder, are, after all, only skin deep.)

If I’m going to obsess about something it’ll be the fact that Mother Maryland won’t allow her adult children to ship wine into the state. And I’m not going to obsess about that. I’m simply going to ignore it 'till it goes away.

Continue reading "Needled enough" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Who's afraid of a big, bad, barbecue fight? Not John Lindner, who picks one in this week's Shallow Thought Wednesday post. LV

Amateur barbecue, however it’s spelt, is the art of spending the whole day drinking beer, achieving charred meat, and getting others to consider that a job well done.

It’s a cooking process the stamina for which I neither have nor want. Barbecuing, like deer hunting, has its charms. I get both practices. At times I have even wished to participate in the rituals, but, when it comes right down to it, only for the beer and camaraderie. My ilk is also a major fan of the 19th hole and the ski lodge fireplace.

Nor am I particularly goo-goo over barbecue’s end product; that is, the charred meat; as opposed to the sodden barbecuista.

But barbecue done well is a wonderful thing—when the mood for sticky fingers strikes.

It was this mood and an urging of curiosity that led me to check out Big Bad Wolf’s House of Barbecue.

Continue reading "Big, bad, best" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Shallow Thought Wednesdays guru John Lindner wants some ketchup. Is that too much to ask? LV  

Large scale disasters, like freak weather events, blogger retirements and national elections, devastate us in groups. But the small afflictions we bear alone. If we are civilized, we suffer them quietly, fearing to bore our dear ones or inspire them to think us petty. Big, bold disasters either kill or strengthen us. But the small hurts, toothpick jabs to the soul, are the ones that age and enfeeble. So it is with ketchup.

Receiving the ketchup bottle after the fries have cooled is a disappointment that must be carried off with a sigh. I rarely handle it that gracefully, but nevertheless take comfort in knowing that I at least recognize how I should behave. Further, I’ve whined about late ketchup before (I’m not obsessed, I’m bruised, OK?), so I mention it now only as a benchmark of regret. Because a new affront is afoot.

At what point of refinement does a restaurant’s décor demand that bottles of condiments be hid from view? It’s a thing one can’t quantify. One just knows instinctively, particularly if one’s been raised by my mom. You walk into a place and sense, we will not find a Heinz squeezy in this place.

In these places they serve the Red Condiment — always with the unspoken condescension “Well! If you must use kat-sup,” like it’s a moral weakness — in a miniature ramekin.

Continue reading "My ramekin overfloweth" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

In this week's Shallow Thought Wednesdays post, John Lindner sticks it to state lawmakers. I think he should take them out for a beer -- or a glass of wine -- and patch things up. LV

If you disagree that wine is food, then this STW violates every cherished rule the previous management erected to keep scoundrels like me from running roughshod over the D@L terroir. Not only is the following post shallow, it’s divisive and politically charged. I apologize in advance. Or, as they say in Annapolis, "Thank you for understanding."
 
I'm delighted to hear that Mother Maryland has seen fit to protect us from the horrors of interstate wine shipment. Oh whatever would we do without our noble champions?

Continue reading "Put a cork in it" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (41)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Shallow Thought Wednesdays guru John Lindner makes his long-awaited return this week with a pitch to Sun management. Good luck with that, John. LV  

I have a series idea that, had I remained at the Sun long enough to con Sar -- I mean, convince -- Sarah KK to assign it to me, I’m sure would have been a huge hit. Especially with me. As it is, I’m just going to throw it out there, gratis, for anyone with the wherewithal to "work it," as we say in the biz. (Or said, as the case may be.)
 
Here’s the pitch: (btw: the idea came to me in a caffeiney daydream, so, yeah, the set-up’s kinda rockin’ weird)
 
Just suppose that Tilurian slime devils came from space and took over the country. Then, in a bureaucratic foul-up, they ordered you to choose a single road in the Baltimore area. Any road, street, avenue or parkway. Next, they decree that your restaurant choices are limited to your road. You may visit any and all of the restaurants on this road as often as you wish, but you may patronize no other restaurants. Ever. (I know, right? They don’t call them slime devils for nothing.)
 
Now here’s the beauty part, sure to break down the defenses of even the hardest-hearted, budget-pinched editor: I pick a road and, by way of justifying my choice, review all the restaurants along it.
 
But! (Kicker alert.)
 
I also challenge the Sandbox denizens (I’ll include a note saying I won’t take suggestions from peevish snitpitchers) to pick a better road. And then! Yessssss. I review all the eateries along that road.

Continue reading "Eat this street -- Baltimore's best restaurant road" »

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (41)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

I know what you're thinking:

Wednesday is winding down and you haven't encountered a single shallow thought, at least a shallow thought from Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner.

Lindner vowed that last week's STW would be his last. But it seems that reports of STW's death have been greatly exaggerated.

I asked -- OK, begged -- Lindner to keep the STW tradition alive, and he agreed. He had to take this week off for some reason (he needed to be profound for at least one Wednesday), but he expects to be back at it next week.

Posted by Laura Vozzella at 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Actually that's our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner's title for this guest post, not mine. I will be very disappointed if he doesn't change his mind and continue. I was looking forward to commenting on his posts below them, not above. And p.s., John, I'm really, really sorry about the centerpiece story that appeared in the Taste section today. I had no idea it was going to include a creamed corn recipe. Here's John.  EL

Things I’ve learned from Dining@Large:

Continue reading "The last Shallow Thought Wednesday" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner is so good at this I don't understand why I didn't get him to write all my Top 10s. Here's John. EL

Things I won't do after Feb 19 

1. Take pictures of my food

2. Feel guilty for not taking pictures of my food

3. Lose sleep trying to find the perfect word for "tastes funny."

4. Record Captcha phrases.

5. Confine Sugar Week to 7 days per year.

6. Be tempted to reconsider my stand on creamed corn.

7. Count comments.

8. Browse YouTube for the perfect bacon cheeseburger video.

9. Lose sleep trying to think of the 10th thing.

10.

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 1:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

I wish I had a better illustration for this excellent Shallow Thought Wednesday guest post. It's the only photo of the Crush bar we have. You have to admit it's a fascinating picture, though. Here's our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner. EL

I visited Crush last Friday evening with a friend who’d recently lost a dear friend. We went to mourn, laud and remember over martinis. ...

Continue reading "A crush on Crush" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Getting art for this provocative Shallow Thought Wednesday was difficult. One thing I can promise you. No flirting is going on in this photo. Here's guest poster John Lindner. EL

We’ve covered the touching servers/customers thing. Have we discussed flirting? ...
 

Continue reading "Flirting with the server" »

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

John, good news! You didn't miss Meat Week! EL

I feel like I missed Meat Week.

Still, I want to honor it.

Never better than late. That’s my motto.

Here’s my Meat Week Haiku: ...

Continue reading "The Meat Week haiku" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (45)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

In this intriguing Shallow Thought Wednesday, guest poster John Lindner discovers the value of -- ta da -- water. EL

Once upon a time, I had strep throat. It hurt. Strep made the act of swallowing a form of  self-flagellation.

Each swallow set off an assault of spikey tracheal bacteria that flayed my throat and set tympanium micronaut warriors to jabbing my ears drums with rough-hewn toothpicks, twisting them mercilessly for 15 minutes. ...

Continue reading "Maisy’s Proustian H2O" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

See, you're not the only with New Year's resolutions you haven't kept. Here's guest poster John Lindner with today's Shallow Thought Wednesday. EL:

We ducked into a joint last night.

Had to. Had one of those emergency situations that call for crisis-amelioration of a type only joints can deliver: comfort food of a certain quality, a wide selection of popular ales, hassle-free parking, and passable service.

We settled on the Full Moon Pub & Grill, 100 Westminister Road. That spelling’s verbatim from the customer copy of our bill -- other sources drop the second “i” and add a number to come up with 1100 Westminster Road, and the FMP&G Web site simplifies matters by averring they’re “conveniently located on Route 140 in historic Reisterstown.” (Our experience suggests it’s in the least historic part, abutting what some of my more citified friends call “prehistoric Carroll County.”).

The experience was, in a word, perfect. (Note to doubters: FMP&G currently has a brand new Harley-Davidson Fat Boy in its bar window. This we took as a good sign. Most joints settle for a neon Corona palm.) ...

Continue reading "Joint effort in a difficult new year" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

I've been waiting since last Shallow Thought Wednesday to find out about the four ounces of Uganda Gold bourbon vanilla beans. Guest poster John Lindner never fails to come through. EL

Homemade vanilla extract is a wonderful thing. Easy to make. Festive. Lasts forever. And it is, most significantly, vanilla — Wisdom’s chocolate.

It’s also a great co-worker Christmas gift: handmade, homey, 80 proof. ...

Continue reading "Vodnilla" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Once again our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner has come up with a subject I should have thought of first. However, he didn't have art of Rafael's, and I didn't either, so the photo to the right will have to do as an illustration. Here's John. EL

I’m almost too excited to write, as I have just taken possession of a quarter pound of Uganda Gold bourbon vanilla beans. More on that later.
 
For now, It’s Rafael’s in Westminster. Charmed, I’m sure.
   
It’s a great place. Why not stop in sometime and try it. And if you do, a note to the sensitive: ...

Continue reading "The joy of booths" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Gender neutral food? No such thing, John. Here's our Shallow Thought Wednesday guest poster John Lindner, who only now found out. EL

Recently, and for the second time in my life, a passing observer informed me that I was eating “guy food” (and both times the observer, a woman in each case, said it with a tone of disdain, real sneery like).

Huh?

I was eating steak. All the meat-eating women I know enjoy steak. Since when is steak manfood? ...  

Continue reading "Gender neutral food" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Once again our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru and guest poster John Lindner is willing to come out and say what we've all been secretly thinking but were embarrassed to sound so childish. Just take a moment to roll some of these words around on your tongue. Mooooooo-ousse, for instance. You'll see what I mean. Here's John with the ...

Top 10 Worst Food Names for Stuff That’s Not as Bad (sometimes close though) as It Sounds

Continue reading "The worst food names" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (36)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Think RoCK's guest post on RA was controversial? How about this one from our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner? Here's John. EL

Note: there is no known connection between the Advanced Cat Yodeling video and the following Shallow Thought. My apologies to newcomers who haven’t learned to ignore the STW videos.
 
Food-related things I won’t say on my hospital death bed: ...

Continue reading "What he won't be saying on his hospital death bed" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

The subject line of the e-mail from our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner wasn't promising: "No STW?"

The e-mail said in its entirety:

No.
Sorry.
All my thoughts have been deep the past week.
I don’t know what’s wrong.

It's lucky he's good at making me laugh out loud so I can't get mad at him. I did ask him to send us a deep thought, or at least a photo of his fridge.

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Once again guest poster John Lindner has come up with a subject I wish I had thought of first. Times have really changed. My solution? I don't give dinner parties anymore. Here's John. EL

Do you host dinner parties? If so, have you ever, while planning the menu, stressed over whether your guests have food phobias, allergies, religious affliations (vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, white-meat only) or other assorted intolerances? How do you plan? Do you call them?

“Hey, any objection to roasted cute things? Tortured geese? Seared Flipper?” ...

Continue reading "Why I don't give dinner parties anymore" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Guest poster John Lindner expresses my potluck anxiety much better than I could. I want people to be impressed by what I bring, I just don't feel like spending time cooking for the peons my neighbors, who would just as soon have a taco casserole. My only quarrel with John's excellent post on a timely topic: He doesn't include a Johnbalaya recipe. EL

Do you go to potluck dinners, picnics, company Christmas food days, gatherings in church basements or other group diney things that require you to bring food for all?

Do you get potluck anxiety? Do you worry whether you should go artful, thoughtful, complicated, or last-minute, processed, obviously-purchased-as-an-afterthought-as-you-raced-down-the-Royal-Farms-snack-aisle? ...

Continue reading "Wish me potluck" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (45)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Sometimes our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner is so wise I think we're going to have to start calling his guests posts Deep Thought Wednesday. Here's John. EL

On occasion, cherished friends have accused me of casting “foodies” as snobs. As a snob, I find their asperity amusing and ironic: Who is this judge who judges me judgmental?  
 
What rankles me is the underlying implication that snobbery is, prima facie, a bad thing. OK, maybe it is. But it’s also unavoidable. And fun. ...

Continue reading "Why snobbery is a good thing" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays, Wine and Spirits
        

Wow, John. I don't know what to say. This is so...deep...for a Shallow Thought Wednesday guest post. And I never thought of you as a poet before. Or a Led Zeppelin fan. EL

Caraway Muffin (D@L Tribute: Stairway to Heaven Joynt. Dedicated to all the D@L lyric quoters.)
 
There’s a lady who’s sure
All the fritters are sold
So she’s buying a caraway muffin
 
When she eats it she knows
All the vegans will pose
For a picture with her near the oven

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
And she’s buying a caraway muffin
 
There’s a sign on the wall
That says "please eat it all"
But you know crumb signs do have two meanings ...

Continue reading "Caraway Muffin" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Thank God for this Shallow Thought Wednesday from guest poster John Lindner. He has come to my rescue once again with the last word on the star rating system just when I needed it to keep me from snapping at yet another of my readers, who don't deserve it. Here's John. EL

DIY Restaurant Reviews, Part II

Having skipped Part I, we move directly to Part II of DIY Restaurant Review: The Star Rating System. In this lesson, we cover two important aspects of the system: ...
 

Continue reading "The final word on the star rating system" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Who knew our old friend and Shallow Thought guest poster John Lindner knew how to speak pig Latin? EL

Degustibus carbonara non est disputandum ad hoc tiempo dingus*

And I thought I was arrogant.

Well, I am. But I’m no Guardian. That august organ recently presented the “50 best things to eat and the 50 best places to eat them.”

Case closed… finally.

The article humbled me as it forced me to admit I’m simply not shameless enough to compete in world-class triumphalism. ...

* Arguing about carbonara is a waste of time

Continue reading "Arguing about carbonara is a waste of time" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner sent me his guest post but neglected to include the photo. I have a feeling it's a good one from a comment he made about it, so I don't want to publish the guest post without it.

I e-mailed him at his new job, but got an auto-reply back saying he's on vacation. Naturally I'm hoping he's checking Dining@Large if not his e-mail and isn't on some motorcycle trek without his computer. Stay tuned.

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Greatest. Shallow Thought Wednesday. Ever. Here's guest poster John Lindner. EL

Nothing inspires shallow thinking quite like the good old New York Times, and this bit on sentiment analysis by Alex Wright is nothing shy of epiphanic.

In celebration of this wonderful new science, I exercise not only shallow thought, but superficial feelings to boot. I herein list foods along with the sentiments I associate with them, inviting, of course, your additions and improvements. ...

Continue reading "I feel your food" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

This is such a brilliant idea I'm amazed no one has thought of it until now. I am more grateful than I can say to our guest poster and Shallow Thought Wednesday guru John Lindner for bringing it to our attention. Here's John. EL

I'm thinkin' about starting a new trend: tippas ... small tips.
 
Tippas replaces the old, outmoded percentage system with an inventory approach to tipping. Each aspect of the dining experience or “tippas issue” is assigned a monetary value. Totaled at the end of the meal, it returns an objectively quantifiable, mathmatically defensible tip amount.*

I include just a few examples here: ...

Continue reading "Hot new trend: tippas" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

I've written about the ways fine-dining restaurants are changing their offerings to cope with the recession, but I hadn't thought about places farther down the food chain. Luckily I have our Shallow Thought Wednesday guru and guest poster John Lindner to do that for me. Here's John. EL

Continue reading "Change of menu" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

OK, the last paragraph of this Shallow Thought Wednesday by guest poster John Lindner made me laugh out loud at my desk, and that doesn't happen very often, especially not my second day back from vacation. Here's John. EL

Continue reading "Cooks, bartenders and a heartfelt ovation" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (38)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Oh, John. I'm so with you on this one. People have tried to take away my gourmand credentials because I prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate. Also, I have to admit I Googled "olate," thinking it was some esoteric ingredient. Then I came to my senses. Here's one of guest poster John Lindner's finest Shallow Thought Wednesdays. EL

Continue reading "Dark mysteries" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (72)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

I have only one shallow thought to add to guest poster John Lindner's Shallow Thought Wednesday today. How does he know what cat tastes like? Here's John. EL

I have Lissa and Bucky to thank for today’s shallow thought. Lissa suggested Bucky bowed out of his regular Friday guest post to avoid jumping the shark. It was with mild (only) disgust that I realized I lack that scruple. I have no idea what I wouldn’t do to a shark to keep my STW. For example:

Continue reading "Man-eating entrees" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

You know how sometimes you just dread playing a video someone sends you? Someone like guest poster John Lindner? This would be one of those. But it's not as disgusting as it could be, and I had to laugh at myself because the whole chickens roasting next to the guinea pigs looked absolutely delicious to me this close to lunchtime. Really, what's the difference? Here's John. EL

Continue reading "Enjoying guinea pig" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Our Shallow Thought guru and guest poster John Lindner continues his series of tavern reviews. One of these days he's going to order rare duck breast on a bed of frisee, and I'm going to have a heart attack. Here's John. EL

Among the things the Tidewater Grille in Havre de Grace gets right is its view.

You can sit outside under an expansive umbrella, marvel at the trains clattering along a delicate bridge high above the Susquehanna, wonder what creature just thrashed the surface of the water, pretend to count ducks and geese in their shoreline promenade as you surreptitiously people watch; and you can gauge the state of civilization based on how many times the hostess fails to hold open the patio door for the patrons she is ushering to table.*

Continue reading "John reviews Tidewater Grille in Havre de Grace" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Sometimes 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 | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Once 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 | Permalink | Comments (38)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (108)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

This 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 | Permalink | Comments (45)
Categories: Bar-B-Que, Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

The 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 | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Our 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 | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Continue reading "Some of all fears" »

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

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 | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

I 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 | Permalink | Comments (36)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Continue reading "Grow your own tea" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (55)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (30)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (53)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (53)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (52)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays, Tipping
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Multimedia 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 | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

Multimedia 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.

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

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (41)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

While 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 | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

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 | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays