Ask Me Anything: Which Country Has the Tastiest Tarantulas?
Also this week: Great places to eat in Portland, Maine; mouthwatering pho in Hanoi — and my recommendations for the kitchen equipment you should register for.
Hello from New Orleans, where once again I’m doing my weekly Ask Me Anything video from a hotel room. Thank you for the terrific questions this week!
As you will see when you watch this week’s video, this really is an ask me anything feature. In previous weeks, I’ve talked about my crab cake recipe, how to cook hen of the woods and some of the coffee I make at home.
Links!
• Portland, Maine, dining recommendations: Standard Baking Co.; Fore Street; The Porthole; Day’s; Eventide; Twelve; Bar Futo; Regards; Wayside Tavern; Ugly Duckling; Island Creek Oysters’ The Shop; Yosaku; Scales; J’s Oyster; Leeward; Duckfat; Izakaya Minato.
• Great pho in Hanoi: Phở Gia Truyền; Pho Thin; Pho Suong; Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư.
• Shopping: Sterling Caviar. Korin. Greg Wade’s Bread Head.
• Make sure you read: Laura McKowen on Matthew Perry.
This week’s questions
Niki:
I'm getting married next summer and starting to think about what items to put on my registry. Any definite yes's and not-worth-it no's that you can recommend for a home cook looking for kitchen tool upgrades? So many affiliate articles out there with paid-for suggestions and I'm trying to narrow things down.
MJ:
I’ve never had caviar. Is it fishy? What kind should I start with?
Annette:
What do crispy fried tarantulas taste like?
Kellie:
Ever get back to Portland, Maine? What are your dining recommendations?
Will:
If a bread recipe calls for instant dry yeast, can you substitute sourdough starter?
Instadaisyfun:
How to prevent leftover chicken flavor so I can use cold chicken in my weekly meal prep?
Nshadz:
Best pho in Vietnam?
Moncada:
Fave food from Indonesia?
Jensen:
Have you ever tried the wildest travel challenge of all: Flying on Ryanair?
Pawley:
Understand if you don’t want to answer: What motivates you to stay away from old habits, relapse.
Wild_Haggis:
My siblings and I compete to make the best Thanksgiving side dish. I really want to win this year. What should I make?
A purely logistical/organizational skills question: how on earth do you keep track of what hotel room number you’re in?! 😂
Andrew, I have been remiss in responding to you about my and my husbands trip to the Berkshires. We very much our stay at The Harbour House Inn Bed and Breakfast (house was built in 1793), great hosts and a breakfast that will stick to your ribs as you explore the area. We enjoyed our trip to the Shaker Village and the Norman Rockwell Museum. We had dinner one night at AJ's, which is in the old train station in Adams. A locals watering whole with some great food, and superb service. Went to dinner another night at the 6 House Pub, casual atmosphere and fabulous food, but make reservations...it can get busy. Did hear of a good Italian restaurant called Mezza, but couldn't make it there as our itinerary was booked with dinners with friends. I hope you get to experience the Berkshires soon.