Just when you thought I was the most obnoxious person you knew…

According to the [New York Times](http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/italian-town-bans-non-italian-food/), Lucca, Italy has banned non-Italian restaurants from the historic city center.

Personally, I’m for it. Although I understand both sides, Lucca doesn’t have much industry, and if the walled old city were to look like Cleveland, tourism may go the way of the Yugo.

Listening: “The Critic’s Choice” Oliver Nelson, More Blues and The Abstract Truth

Chat Excerpt

From a chat with P:

P: if i don’t have parchment paper, is that ok?
can i just cook the bagels on a pan?
OF: Yes, but you should grease the pan, pref with lard, but canola oil would be ok, too
P: ok
lard, like Crisco?
OF: No, crisco is made out of virgins and black magic
Lard is made out of pigs
You could use butter, but it might burn in the oven, and oil is cheaper
P: haha, ok
what about pam?
OF: Do you hate me?

Sorrow

You know, I’ve really been wanting to post this week, but I’ve been busy, so there aren’t articles to write, I don’t have a kitchen, so no recipes, and for the last three days I haven’t really been able to eat anything that didn’t almost immediately vacate my body in one way or the other.

Lots o’ fun.

Funny story about the expression “you know.” When I first was in France, I would end every sentence with “you know”- in English. So I’d say something like: Il y a besoin de puisance pour audio, you know?

They let me do this for weeks before pointing out that it makes perfect sense to say it in French… in French.

Fatty’s- In Astoria

Last night I had several nice vegetable and seafood dishes in a little place in Astoria called Fatty’s, on Ditmars. I stand corrected.

Listening: John Mayer. Strange time.