Balloon Juice » Blog Archive

Open Thread

By John Cole June 22nd, 2010

So the birthday menu will consist of a bottle of Redwood Ranch Syrah, an aged ribeye, broccoli, squash, and a salad with some crumbled blue cheese.

I’m quite excited.

Posted in Open Thread

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm and is filed under Open Thread. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

▲

126 Responses to “Open Thread”

1 psychobroad Says:

Yummy! I take it the menu items are listed in order of importance? :-)

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:33 pm

2 Alice Blue Says:

Sounds scrumptious. Hope you aren’t dining alone!

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:36 pm

3 Mike Kay Says:

digya get any presents?

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:37 pm

4 demkat620 Says:

What’s on the menu for Lily and Rosie? Same thing?

Happy Birthday John!

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:37 pm

5 JGabriel Says:

Happy Birthday, John! The menu sounds delicious.

.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:38 pm

6 Paddy Says:

Happy birthday John!

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:39 pm

7 tesslibrarian Says:

That is almost exactly what I told my husband my ideal birthday dinner would be—no cake, a good steak. I think that means more birthday dinners at 5 & 10, but that’s okay; their wine list is typically better than my own.

Happy Birthday!

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:42 pm

8 demo woman Says:

In honor of your birthday, the gov of SC went missing again just like last year. Don’t drink and hike.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:42 pm

9 FoxinSocks Says:

Happy Birthday!

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:43 pm

10 beabea Says:

Happy birthday, John!!

From an infrequent commenter but daily (at least) reader of your fine blog. Thank you for the efforts that make this blog possible, and of course for sharing your pets with us. Coming here and finding a picture or video of one of my virtual pet overlords, brightens any day.

And besides rescuing Tunch and Lily from the kitty prison, and Rosie from the street, who knows how many other pets you have helped by inspiring your readers to adopt/rescue, from the Little Bitsy campaign, and funds from your Ballon Juice store.

You are a good man. Enjoy your birthday dinner.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:43 pm

11 John Cole Says:

@Mike Kay: A brand new weed eater!

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:44 pm

12 Keith G Says:

Thought you might be roasting some wascally wabbit.

Wishing you a happy and peaceful night and rest of week.

Oh, and Gov Sanford is missing again. Wonder what’s on his menu?

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:44 pm

13 licensed to kill time Says:

Crap, now I’m hungry. Enjoy your old ribeye (can’t you afford a new one? i keed i keed…) and Syrah, birthday boy.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:45 pm

14 EconWatcher Says:

Happy birthday! As you reflect on your accomplishments to date, I hope you take satisfaction in the fact that you’ve created a community. A grumpy, roguish, misanthropic community—but a community nonetheless.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:49 pm

15 CynDee Says:

We all lift a glass to you, John. Wine and ribeye. Wow!

Also, hope it doesn’t storm tonight. May the furry ones stay asleep so that you get a peaceful and well-deserved rest.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:49 pm

16 Maude Says:

You already got yer present. Rosie.
Save us some cake

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:51 pm

17 Niles Says:

You know who’s got the bomb ribeye? McGinnis Sisters.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:51 pm

18 elmo Says:

Ohhhhhh…mmmmmmm. And I was just trying to figure out what to cook, too. Have leftover lamb, but no yogurt or rice. Have shrimp and bell peppers, but no cilantro (shut up, haters, I love the stuff).

And here you come with the perfect meal. Wet-aged or dry-aged? Never mind, doesn’t matter, RIBEYE!

Oh, and I recommend Gnarly Head cabernet sauvignon. Inexpensive and so yummy.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:52 pm

19 Rosalita Says:

Yum! Sounds wonderful. Enjoy your birthday repast.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:52 pm

20 Mike Kay Says:

@John Cole:

@Mike Kay: A brand new weed eater!

You got a goat! Cool!

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:53 pm

21 meh Says:

other than the broccoli, squash and salad (leave the bleu cheese), that sounds delicious.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm

22 Josie Says:

When I have my pre-dinner glass of wine tonight (medicinal purposes only, you understand), I’ll toast you, your birthday and your lovely family. Happy birthday.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm

23 qwerty42 Says:

@tesslibrarian: dinners at 5 & 10
??? Perhaps I missed something? “5 & 10”? (ok, there happens to be a restaurant in this town with that name, but …)

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm

24 Quaker in a Basement Says:

Rare? Medium rare?

I got a buck that says Cole is a sensible Medium type of guy.

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:57 pm

25 Svensker Says:

@elmo:

Have shrimp and bell peppers,

Go cajun, son, you can’t miss. Some jambalaya or some gumbo or some etouffee. Personally, I’d go for the shrimp etouffee cuz it sounds real good right now and it’s so easy. Yum. (If you don’t have a good etoufee recipe, google Emeril’s—it’s teh delish.)

John, the only thing about your menu I’d change is I might add the bleu cheese to the steak instead of the salad. Otherwise, I’ll be right over. What kind of cake?

June 22nd, 2010 at 5:59 pm

26 elmo Says:

@Svensker:

Go cajun, son, you can’t miss. Some jambalaya or some gumbo or some etouffee.

I would love to—but no rice. I have no idea how that happened, either. I never run out of rice.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:01 pm

27 TaosJohn Says:

Well, Happy Birthday, John!

And BTW, does everybody know now how Obama blew up the Gulf of Mexico instead of Iran? Not making this up: http://oilprice.com/Energy/Ene.....-Bore.html

The White House approved the well and waived safety tests (to save time) in late 2009 in what can only be interpreted as preparation for war. I’d say somebody oughta make a big stink about this, except the Earth already did.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:01 pm

28 elmo Says:

@Quaker in a Basement:

Sensible? There’s nothing sensible about cooking a beautiful steak until the blood boils away. It’s disrespectful.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:06 pm

29 Svensker Says:

@elmo:

Yeah, I just saw that. Can’t have etoufee widdout da rice. I was gonna say Brazilian Coconut Pepper Shrimp, but that needs rice, too. Actually, you could do mashed taters with the etoufee. Hmmmm. I’m just hungry raght now.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:06 pm

30 Gina Says:

Happy birthday John. What about cake?

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:06 pm

31 David in NY Says:

@TaosJohn:

Heh, heh. Bet you didn’t notice that that link and story you are touting was totally unsourced except for a reference to the Wayne Madsen Report. And Wayne Madsen is batshit crazy.

Just thought you ought to know. Nice to meet you.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:09 pm

32 Mike Kay Says:

Looks like we had a brisk newsday (just finished reading the posts). Looks like someone pickd the wrong week to throw a “let’s start a 3rd party” tantrum.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:09 pm

33 geg6 Says:

@Quaker in a Basement:

Medium rare is acceptable, though rare is best if I’m the one determining what “rare” is. Any other doneness is the equivalent to shoe leather, especially with aged beef. So says me and my sister with 35 years in the fine dining biz.

Sounds delicious for a birthday dinner, Mr. Cole. Especially the syrah and steak and bleu cheese. Three of my favorite things. I’m jealous. But then, I’m sitting on my tiny third floor apartment deck, sweating bullets, because my apartment is even hotter. Seems the electricity is off for no discernable reason. Must have been a storm, but nothing is wet. Electric company says it will be back by 7:30. I sure hope so.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:09 pm

34 Patrick Says:

The obvious response to the activist judge who overturned the moratorium is to simply review and pull all existing permits. That will end drilling until the permits are re-approved. Since we know that no existing permit application has a plan that could stop a leak, they can all be pulled.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:11 pm

35 cleek Says:

i could eat ribeye morning noon and night – in the magical world where there are no consequences.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:11 pm

36 elmo Says:

@geg6:

Anything at your local cineplex you’ve wanted to see? I used to go to the movies all the time during the summer back when I had no air conditioning, just for a break from the heat.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm

37 Jager Says:

Happy Birthday John,

Mine was this past weekend and friends did prime rib, garlic mashed, wildrice with sausage, about 3 veggies, wedge salad…cake, ice cream and we ate for an hour before we sat down to eat, oysters, cheese from many lands oh, and the 6 of us drank 11 bottles of wine, can’t remember the names, they were all good…didn’t recover until late Monday.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:14 pm

38 David in NY Says:

@Patrick:

I was wondering if just pulling them one at a time applying some appropriate criterion might be simpler than winning an appeal in the Fifth Circuit.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm

39 Mike Kay Says:

@David in NY: Obama bashing is a long time internets tradition, especially for sore losers from the 2007 primaries.

If you go to PUMA blogs, they still insist obama somehow stole the nomination from Hill.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm

40 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

@elmo:

Fuck yeah. Medium rare or bust.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm

41 kommrade reproductive vigor Says:

That doesn’t sound like a ReaLAMErican birthday meal to me.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:17 pm

42 Violet Says:

Yummy sounding dinner! I’m a big fan of syrah. Are Lily, Tunch and Rosie getting a special meal too?

@John Cole:

A brand new weed eater!

You are livin’ large, John Cole!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:18 pm

43 ChrisNBama Says:

Happy Birthday, John!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:18 pm

44 David in NY Says:

@Mike Kay:

Yeah, I know. I just like the way they come around here, acting polite and all (“Well, Happy Birthday, John!”), dump a shit, and then leave.

Edit: No, not that guy just above me! He’s OK. I’m referring to Taosjohn and his delusional post.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:19 pm

45 SiubhanDuinne Says:

@Keith G: @Keith G:

Oh, and Gov Sanford is missing again. Wonder what’s on his menu?

Soul(mate) food?

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:21 pm

46 Carrie Says:

I absolutely love blue cheese. You should try that salad with a handful of walnuts tossed in.
Great, now i have a craving.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:22 pm

47 Quicksand Says:

NEEDS MORE CARBS.

Happy birthday!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:23 pm

48 geg6 Says:

@elmo:

There hasn’t been anything at my local cineplex that I wanted to see since “Star Trek” and “Julie and Julia”. There aren’t many mainstream films made, especially in the summer, for women over 50 who hate action films, horror movies, animation, and romances starring anyone under the age 40 or so. My choices are limited. :-(

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:29 pm

49 John Cole Says:

Rare? Medium rare?

Extremely rare. Sometimes my steak is so rare you would think branding the steer was enough cooking for me.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:30 pm

50 John Cole Says:

@Gina: Not a cake man. Dessert is the other half of the bottle of wine.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:31 pm

51 TaMara (BHF) Says:

Steak without a well baked potato? I think not! I hope the ‘kids’ all treat you well tonight.

Now I have to go find out about Sanford (since no one has linked to it) and have a good laugh.

Edit: @John Cole: THIS

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:32 pm

52 jeffreyw Says:

I’m workin on a lamb recipe. Red wine, chicken stock, tomatoes, buncha garlic.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm

53 Violet Says:

@John Cole:
I’m impressed with your tolerance level. I’m such a lightweight that after a glass and a half I’m completely loopy. Apparently I’m very entertaining after a strong margarita.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm

54 David in NY Says:

@John Cole:

Dessert is the other half of the bottle of wine.

Hey, I thought I had patented that system!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm

55 Jay in Oregon Says:

So the birthday menu will consist of a bottle of Redwood Ranch Syrah, an aged ribeye, broccoli, squash, and a salad with some crumbled blue cheese.

... OK, 50 posts in and no one has shouted “elitist!” yet?

Seriously, have a happy birthday, John.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:34 pm

56 elmo Says:

@John Cole:

Extremely rare. Sometimes my steak is so rare you would think branding the steer was enough cooking for me.

I would ask you to marry me, but I think my partner would object. Then again, if you shared the ribeye and bleu cheese, she might just throw me aside.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:36 pm

57 Tunch Says:

Is Richard Cohen’s op-ed today the stupidest op-ed ever, or of all time?

Those inscrutable foreign types are so hard to read.

Now open me up a can of tuna-fish bitch!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:37 pm

58 TaMara (BHF) Says:

@Jay in Oregon: Well, to be fair, he didn’t say the salad was made with arugula.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:37 pm

59 freelancer Says:

@David in NY:

“I saw this bum, he was eating grapes. I was like “DOOD, You have to wait!”

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:38 pm

60 Keith G Says:

@TaMara (BHF):

Sorry

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/201.....again.html

Yes John, rare ,actually very rare, is the only way to honor the bovine that gave up its life.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:38 pm

61 elmo Says:

@geg6:

Oooo. I feel your pain. I made an exception for Sherlock Holmes, though, and was so glad I did.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:38 pm

62 John Cole Says:

I’m impressed with your tolerance level.

I’m almost 6’ 1” and lost my girlish figure a long, long time ago.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:38 pm

63 Lysana Says:

That sounds like an awesome meal, John. I admit I’m no blue cheese fan, but that’s my kink. And you cook steak the right way, too. Extremely rare.

Happy birthday!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:41 pm

64 John Cole Says:

So the little piggies got a little kibble, a little bit of canned food, the diced up remains of the steak, and I poured the juice all over both. I’m lucky I did not lose a finger while putting the bowls on the ground. Lily was doing her happy/gotta potty dance while Rosie was standing up on her hind legs while I was making it.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:41 pm

65 schrodinger's cat Says:

@John Cole: How about some Mango ice-cream from Haagen Das (sp?) for dessert?

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:42 pm

66 schrodinger's cat Says:

@John Cole: What no steak for Tunch? My boy kitteh loves raw beef, once as I was unloading the groceries, I found him with some steak I had brought for dinner, he had managed to get it out of the grocery bag and had dragged it to the bathroom, and was proceeding to open the package when I caught him in the act!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:43 pm

67 paradox Says:

Happy Birthday!

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:43 pm

68 Tank Hueco Says:

This is akin to stating, as someone did in the previous thread, that they are the only straight man in this country who doesn’t find Sarah Palin attractive. Here goes: I am probably the only person in the state of Texas who does not like steak. I’m not a vegetarian. I’m not anti-meat. But it’s too rich and fatty for my taste. :-/

In any event, happy birthday, John! Besides Sully and Coates, yours is the only blog I read, and it has some of the best commenters anywhere.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:44 pm

69 TaMara (BHF) Says:

@John Cole: So this weekend, trying to find some good salmon for my one cat that I always feel gets the short shrift, I stumbled on pouches of shredded fish for cats. Fish with shrimp. Fish with Salmon. Fish with snapper. I thought I was going to lose a hand when I tried to put their bowls down with a small scoop on their dry food.

Basically I’m screwed. They get expensive kibble, but I was getting away with a really cheap spoon of canned food. That’s not gonna fly anymore.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:47 pm

70 kommrade reproductive vigor Says:

And for dessert, a fine fReichtard Catfight.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm

71 schrodinger's cat Says:

@TaMara (BHF): Try raw shrimp, my kittehs go beserk for shrimp.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm

72 Ailuridae Says:

@John Cole:

That Redwood Ranch Syrah is excellent (and consistently underrated)

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:50 pm

73 Mnemosyne Says:

This must be a steak kind of year, because we went to Ruth’s Chris for my birthday last week. I’m a wimp and got it medium, though, not medium-rare.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:50 pm

74 David in NY Says:

@Tank Hueco:

But it’s too rich and fatty for my taste

I believe that is its appeal to many, but I know what you mean. Especially if it’s a ginormous not-very-good piece of meat. Which as I recall, on my brief stay in Texas many years ago, was a specialty in the places where I could afford to eat.

I absolutely love the little, expensive steaks I get from a farmer near my place in upstate NY, grass fed and all. Gotta be careful not to overcook, because they don’t make as much fat as the corn-fed cattle and can get dry, but done right they are not fatty and they have a wonderful beef taste.

Also, any steak at Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn is terrific. Also.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:50 pm

75 Elisabeth Says:

@schrodinger’s cat:

I had a cat who ate the better part of the pound of ground beef I once set on the counter to thaw. He wasn’t hungry for the rest of the night. Luckily, it didn’t make him sick, either.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm

76 geg6 Says:

@elmo:

That’s in my Netflix queue(sp?). Robert Downey Jr. is my exception that proves my rule. Though, based on the reviews from actual reviewers and friends who saw it, “Ironman 2” will not be making my exceptions list.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm

77 AlanDean Says:

@Jager:
“6 of us drank 11 bottles of wine, can’t remember the names,”

one bets you can’t, wait, were those the wines or the guests?

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm

78 Rosalita Says:

@jeffreyw:

Rosemary is good with that too…

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:56 pm

79 Litlebritdifrnt Says:

@John Cole:

“a brand new weedeater”

Oh Lawd the humanity.

June 22nd, 2010 at 6:57 pm

80 Ailuridae Says:

@Tank Hueco:

If thats your objection but you otherwise like beef, go the meatier, leaner cuts. I have no interest in filet but I love a well prepared london broil from a cut of top sirloin, Added bonus: they actually taste like meat and are 1/5 the cost. You can’t order them often at restaurants but for home preparation they are outstanding.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:00 pm

81 kc Says:

Happy birthday!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:01 pm

82 Svensker Says:

I’m feeling sentimental tonight and got all weepy over this blind doggie playing fetch over at Sully’s place. Such a good doggie.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:01 pm

83 Bhall35 Says:

Happy Birthday, John!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:01 pm

84 Napoleon Says:

Happy B-day!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:03 pm

85 Tank Hueco Says:

@Ailuridae: Thanks for the advice from you and David in NY. The funny thing is, my fiancée is a woman who can down a so-rare-it-moos ribeye like it was a Snickers bar. But as she says, my steak aversion just means that there’s more for her. :)

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:07 pm

86 Litlebritdifrnt Says:

Okay gang, I need advice. Samantha several weeks ago had an accident with her cat door and she scraped her back. The wound is now healing and the fur is growing back (I kept it clean and everything) but she is now terrified of her cat door and will not go into the sun porch to eat. As a result I now have to feed her at the front door, which of course leaves the food available for whatever other critter is out there (possums I suspect) so that by the time I get back down there she is without food. I hate it. She actually let me pick her up today, so I figure that I can now get her in my soft cat carrier. However, Aunt Marie can no longer take her for some reason (I think since she lost her husband), Carolina Animal Protection Society is not taking any cats at all for adoptions as all their foster homes are full. I cannot bring her here as I am convinced that while my other cats might take to her, I am sure the boxers will not. Short of going down and feeding her seven days a week (and going through several bags of cat food a week) I do not know what to do. She is 19, she has obviously not got much time left, I refuse to have her put to sleep (as the boss suggested today) but I don’t know what else to do. Thoughts?

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:09 pm

87 Keith G Says:

Two news stories:

I am glad that homelessness is back on minds of policy makers. I hope Obama can keep this going.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/201.....o-end.html

Also, do not hate me, but I am glad that the drilling moratorium has been lifted by a Federal Court. I can’t help but wonder if there are folks in the administration who feel the same way. They would be silly if they didn’t.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:13 pm

88 Jennifer Says:

A birthday video for you JC, repurposed from my co-bloggers b-day, but entirely appropriate for this milestone. Enjoy!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:13 pm

89 JGabriel Says:

@John Cole:

Dessert is the other half of the bottle of wine.

A man who shares my philosophy on dessert.

Except that I would cut the words, “... half of the …”.

.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:16 pm

90 JGabriel Says:

David in NY:

Also, any steak at Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn is terrific.

And soaked in butter.

.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:18 pm

91 4tehlulz Says:

Since this an open thread, this one’s for Dennis G.

Through the good graces of Tov Pizza, which has served this community for more than 26 years, Abramoff will begin to rebuild his life.

Tov Pizza was nicknamed “Lo Tov” when I lived there; I guess it’s nice to know that some things never change.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:20 pm

92 Michael D. Says:

How to cook a perfect premium cut of steak:

1. Let it dry to a point just before it dries to a crust. You don’t want that. Do not cook a steak right out of the package it came in. You can put it in the fridge, covered, overnight if you like.
2. Bring it to room temperature (can take two hours.)
3. Season it with plenty of salt & pepper before you put it in the pan and rub it in. Do not season while cooking.
4. Heat the pan until a drop of water put in the pan doesn’t go all over the place, but stays in one ball till it evaporates.
5. Wipe out the pan and put oil in it.
6. Just as the oil starts to smoke, put the steak in the pan and turn it down to medium.
7. Turn the steak every minute until it’s done as you like it. See below for “done”ness test.
8. DON’T use a fork – us tongs or you’ll allow juice to escape.
9. Let the steak rest for ~~5-7~~ (just re-checked my notes) 10-15 minutes before you eat it. If you cut into it before it’s ready, the juices will run out.

Here’s how to tell how “done”a steak is by touching it. Relax your hand and touch the fleshy part of the palm at the base of your thumb. That’s what raw feels like. Now, bring your thumb to each of your fingers and feel that same spot…

Thumb to forefinger: Feels like rare.
Thumb to middle finger: Feels like medium rare to medium.
Thumb to ring finger: Feels like medium to medium well.
Thumb to pinky: Feels like well done.

Trust me, of all the things I’ve said here that people don’t agree with, I swear you will think I am a steak god if you follow these instructions.

Personally, I prefer to fry a steak in a cast iron skillet. It just cooks better. But you can follow the same process on the grill.

If you like “grill marks” do this:

1. Put the steak on the grill for a couple minutes, then turn it 45° to get the cross marks.
2. When you see beads of blood coming up through the steak, turn it over.
3. When you see blood coming up through the other side, you can take it off for medium or leave it a little longer for more well cooked.

Again – tongs, never use a fork.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:28 pm

93 Michael D. Says:

If you like a topping for your steak, try this:

Melt and mix together 3:1 salted butter and Roquefort cheese and spoon it over the top! YUM!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:33 pm

94 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

@Tank Hueco:

You disgust me!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:34 pm

95 Michael D. Says:

@Kered: Because he doesn’t eat steak or because he reads Andrew Sullivan? :-)

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 pm

96 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

@Michael D.:

Why would you turn it every minute? It won’t develop a proper crust.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 pm

97 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

@Michael D.:

lol! The former.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 pm

98 Michael D. Says:

@Kered (formerly Derek):

Why would you turn it every minute? It won’t develop a proper crust.

I promise you, it will develop an awesome crust and it will be amazingly tasty.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:42 pm

99 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

What’s the point of flipping it every minute rather than just leaving it for five minutes a side?

EDIT: Not trying to be a dick, here. Just curious.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:44 pm

100 Michael D. Says:

Because if you leave it for a long time on either side, the blood will move to the bottom each time. When you are turning it consistently, it cooks perfectly and evenly each time. Oh, and your steak will maintain its thickness if you do this. It will also be juicier. I promise you.

Every time.

I tell ya what. Waste $7-$10 on a good steak, try it, and come back to tell me it’s better another way! :-)

I don’t think you’re being a dick. I had to learn this, too!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:49 pm

101 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

Also, this is relevant:

http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/.....king-steak

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:49 pm

102 JenJen Says:

Sound scrumptious!! Bon Appetit, Cole!

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:49 pm

103 Michael D. Says:

“Flip once” is a good steak. Just the way he said it.

“Flip often” – the way I described – is an order of magnitude better, you assbag motherfucker.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:56 pm

104 Annie Says:

@jeffreyw:

Interesting. Last week I was watching TOP CHIEF, and all four chiefs screwed up cooking lamb. My husband and I just laughed. He is Bosnian, and Bosnians eat lamb, lamb, lamb and lamb. And, for dessert they have lamb.

Once when we were still living in Sarajevo, I woke up in the middle of the night to get a drink, went into the kitchen and screamed. There was an entire lamb—dead of course—on our kitchen table. Seems my husband forgot to tell me about the lamb BBQ-rotation we were having in our garden the next day.

Happy B-day John. Enjoy the evening with the family.

June 22nd, 2010 at 7:59 pm

105 Michael D. Says:

@John Cole: Only because it’s your birthday will i not judge you for feeding animals human food.

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:01 pm

106 Tank Hueco Says:

@ Kered, Michael D.

Talking about ‘crusty’ meat isn’t helping change my mind, guys. :)

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:10 pm

107 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

@Michael D.:

Because if you leave it for a long time on either side, the blood will move to the bottom each time.

Interesting! Thanks. Kinda feel like heading to the butcher this weekend to pick up a couple steaks and test this out!

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:12 pm

108 Kered (formerly Derek) Says:

@Tank Hueco:

If that’s how you feel, you just don’t know dick about food.

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:12 pm

109 Quaker in a Basement Says:

@elmo: Sorry, elmo. I’m running short on irony quotes. That should have been “sensible.”

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:20 pm

110 jnfr Says:

Happy Birthday John! I hope you have a lovely evening.

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:27 pm

111 CaseyL Says:

@Litlebritdifrnt:
I’m trying to figure out the layout. Is the sun room an enclosed porch, accessible via the cat door? Does the front door have an area that could similarly be enclosed, even if it’s only a stoop?

Could you possibly replace the cat door with a different design, one she would not associate with being injured?

Or: do you have a room that can be blocked off from the doggies, that Samantha can stay in (and I do mean stay” i.e., food and water dishes, and litter box)?

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:35 pm

112 kommrade reproductive vigor Says:

God damn you Michael D.

I was in an “anything will do for dinner” mood and now all I can think of is a giant ass steak.

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:48 pm

113 dan Says:

What’s a blo ghost?

June 22nd, 2010 at 8:51 pm

114 ErinSiobhan Says:

Happy birthday.

Have two bottles of wine.

June 22nd, 2010 at 9:09 pm

115 El Cid Says:

The inevitable lightness of LiberTeaTardia.

The libertarian-leaning [Rand] Paul, who condemns taxpayer-backed bailouts of the private sector, will benefit from a Thursday night fundraiser at the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington, D.C. Nine of 12 GOP senators listed on the invitation voted for the $700 billion bank bailout in 2008. Tickets to the event went for $1,000 per person, with sponsorships up to $5,000 per group.

During the primary, Paul pledged not to accept contributions from any senator who had voted for the financial bailout. That promise was included on his campaign website at the time but has since been removed.

In a sane world, there would then follow howls of ‘flip flop’ or ‘waffler’, but, no, he’s a principled libertarian.

June 22nd, 2010 at 9:15 pm

116 Nicole Says:

Late to the party, but happy birthday, John! I wish you a year filled with things that bring you as much pleasure as this blog brings its readers.

And thanks to all the comments, I’m craving rare steak and I’m not even much of a meat eater. Thanks guys, thanks a lot.

June 22nd, 2010 at 9:36 pm

117 Michael D. Says:

@kommrade reproductive vigor:

God damn you Michael D.
I was in an “anything will do for dinner” mood and now all I can think of is a giant ass steak.

Don’t hate!

June 22nd, 2010 at 9:36 pm

118 El Cid Says:

My favorite fresh (i.e., non-aged) steaks are big-ass ribeyes, an inch and a half or so thick, seasoned with salt and pepper and maybe red pepper and olive oil, and it is put on a charcoal grill so hot that it immediately bursts into flames beneath, literally flame roasting them, and both sides get crispy carbonized black, and then we move them to a higher level or onto a pan on the grill with butter to cook more slowly, and then rested for 15 minutes.

It’s not the Alton Brown way to do it, but god, is it good.

June 22nd, 2010 at 9:48 pm

119 Michael D. Says:

@Michael D.: Dammit, Michael, you forgot to tell people to rub olive oil all over the meat before they seasoned it!!

Sorry. Rub olive oil all over the meat before you season it!!

June 22nd, 2010 at 9:50 pm

120 Laura Clawson Says:

Happy birthday! Also, yum.

June 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 pm

121 stinger Says:

HIPY PAPY BTHUTHDTH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY

WOL

June 22nd, 2010 at 10:53 pm

122 Mary Says:

@John Cole:

Hi John, a VERY happy birthday to you! Your stories about your little furry friends bring me much joy. And more than once your political commentary has helped me to keep my sanity.

You are a very precious national resource.

Very fondly,

Mary

June 22nd, 2010 at 11:00 pm

123 OC Says:

Happy Birthday!

June 22nd, 2010 at 11:07 pm

124 Jager Says:

@AlanDean:

Well, it was at Bill and Pat’s house and we stayed there for the weekend, that I know for sure….the rest, hmmm

June 22nd, 2010 at 11:08 pm

125 hamletta Says:

Late the party, as usual, but I wanted to wish our host a happy birthday! Thank you for all you do!

June 23rd, 2010 at 12:44 am

126 asiangrrlMN Says:

Happy birthday, Cole. Sounds like a good time was had by all.

@Tank Hueco: I’m with you. I don’t care for steak at all. Then again, I’m not much of a beef eater in general.

June 23rd, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Open Thread

126 Responses to “Open Thread”

Recent Post

Categories

Archives

Authors

Google Search

Recent Comments

Premium Blogads

Support this site- Shop

Sitemeter

Blogroll

Blogs We Monitor And Mock As Needed

Contact

Balloon Juice Store

Standard Blogads

Meta