Allan James Vestal
@ajv.bsky.social
Journalism, code & politics. Food idiot acolyte and ALX ward system anti-apologist.
(Crunchin' those numbers — and probably something with bacon on it too.)
He/Him.
(Crunchin' those numbers — and probably something with bacon on it too.)
He/Him.
Hat tip to @samer.is, who had a similar idea yesterday, and to an article by Kenji López-Alt insisting that stuffing waffles really do need small amounts of both gravy and syrup.
(And apologies to the Waffle Wanter for so rudely depriving him of these concoctions.)
(And apologies to the Waffle Wanter for so rudely depriving him of these concoctions.)
November 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Hat tip to @samer.is, who had a similar idea yesterday, and to an article by Kenji López-Alt insisting that stuffing waffles really do need small amounts of both gravy and syrup.
(And apologies to the Waffle Wanter for so rudely depriving him of these concoctions.)
(And apologies to the Waffle Wanter for so rudely depriving him of these concoctions.)
* Batter includes a bit of minced turkey & rotisserie chicken, with duck fat cooking spray on the iron.
(Intent had been to use duck egg as my binding agent, but a certain unnamed genius may have driven to two stores to get duck eggs … then left them out on a shelf next to the fridge overnight.)
(Intent had been to use duck egg as my binding agent, but a certain unnamed genius may have driven to two stores to get duck eggs … then left them out on a shelf next to the fridge overnight.)
November 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
* Batter includes a bit of minced turkey & rotisserie chicken, with duck fat cooking spray on the iron.
(Intent had been to use duck egg as my binding agent, but a certain unnamed genius may have driven to two stores to get duck eggs … then left them out on a shelf next to the fridge overnight.)
(Intent had been to use duck egg as my binding agent, but a certain unnamed genius may have driven to two stores to get duck eggs … then left them out on a shelf next to the fridge overnight.)
I get it! (Obviously pupusas aren’t hard to come by in restaurants outside of OT either.)
But I’m a sucker for coffee shops that go beyond just pastries (see also: the croffles with various toppings down the street at ESP, the options at Turkish Coffee Lady).
La Pluma may be my favorite, though.
But I’m a sucker for coffee shops that go beyond just pastries (see also: the croffles with various toppings down the street at ESP, the options at Turkish Coffee Lady).
La Pluma may be my favorite, though.
November 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I get it! (Obviously pupusas aren’t hard to come by in restaurants outside of OT either.)
But I’m a sucker for coffee shops that go beyond just pastries (see also: the croffles with various toppings down the street at ESP, the options at Turkish Coffee Lady).
La Pluma may be my favorite, though.
But I’m a sucker for coffee shops that go beyond just pastries (see also: the croffles with various toppings down the street at ESP, the options at Turkish Coffee Lady).
La Pluma may be my favorite, though.
Get a fro-chata (or a dirty horchata) and either the cheese empanada or some various pupusas! One of my favorite remote-work places if I’m headed in to Old Town.
November 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Get a fro-chata (or a dirty horchata) and either the cheese empanada or some various pupusas! One of my favorite remote-work places if I’m headed in to Old Town.
Jesus, I’d missed that. MD drivers continue to be a gift that keeps giving for us.
November 3, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Jesus, I’d missed that. MD drivers continue to be a gift that keeps giving for us.
That’s awful big talk coming from _you_ today, considering.
November 1, 2025 at 12:57 AM
That’s awful big talk coming from _you_ today, considering.
I thought city regulations required a week’s public notice! 🤔🥃🍁
November 1, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I thought city regulations required a week’s public notice! 🤔🥃🍁
Last dishonorable (to me):
• I want to be introduced into the best preparations for oysters. Right now I’m definitely not a fan — and I’ve had some at very good places (notably, Maine).
• I want to be introduced into the best preparations for oysters. Right now I’m definitely not a fan — and I’ve had some at very good places (notably, Maine).
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Last dishonorable (to me):
• I want to be introduced into the best preparations for oysters. Right now I’m definitely not a fan — and I’ve had some at very good places (notably, Maine).
• I want to be introduced into the best preparations for oysters. Right now I’m definitely not a fan — and I’ve had some at very good places (notably, Maine).
• I don’t love beets, so I don’t think they’re worth it — except if I’m getting a cup of Borscht at Ruta (Ukrainian place) in D.C., which is exceptional. (Soup again? Go figure.)
• Escargots need to be sourced + prepared well.
• Escargots need to be sourced + prepared well.
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
• I don’t love beets, so I don’t think they’re worth it — except if I’m getting a cup of Borscht at Ruta (Ukrainian place) in D.C., which is exceptional. (Soup again? Go figure.)
• Escargots need to be sourced + prepared well.
• Escargots need to be sourced + prepared well.
Dishonorable (and demerits to my adventurous-ness):
• Canned tuna has to work through a lot of gag-reflex memories to emerge from the cellar. I think it can get there.
• I shouldn’t do asparagus, {reasons}, but I still love the taste — and will gladly make exceptions. Especially if soup is in play!
• Canned tuna has to work through a lot of gag-reflex memories to emerge from the cellar. I think it can get there.
• I shouldn’t do asparagus, {reasons}, but I still love the taste — and will gladly make exceptions. Especially if soup is in play!
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Dishonorable (and demerits to my adventurous-ness):
• Canned tuna has to work through a lot of gag-reflex memories to emerge from the cellar. I think it can get there.
• I shouldn’t do asparagus, {reasons}, but I still love the taste — and will gladly make exceptions. Especially if soup is in play!
• Canned tuna has to work through a lot of gag-reflex memories to emerge from the cellar. I think it can get there.
• I shouldn’t do asparagus, {reasons}, but I still love the taste — and will gladly make exceptions. Especially if soup is in play!
• I have an aversion to offal, so liver is out.
• I also don’t have a taste for lima beans. Excluding them.
• Tinned fish always felt foreign to my existence as a Catholic-diaspora American mutt. So I can’t even _fathom_ how a sardine (or anchovy) would taste — and I don’t want to try. No thank you.
• I also don’t have a taste for lima beans. Excluding them.
• Tinned fish always felt foreign to my existence as a Catholic-diaspora American mutt. So I can’t even _fathom_ how a sardine (or anchovy) would taste — and I don’t want to try. No thank you.
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
• I have an aversion to offal, so liver is out.
• I also don’t have a taste for lima beans. Excluding them.
• Tinned fish always felt foreign to my existence as a Catholic-diaspora American mutt. So I can’t even _fathom_ how a sardine (or anchovy) would taste — and I don’t want to try. No thank you.
• I also don’t have a taste for lima beans. Excluding them.
• Tinned fish always felt foreign to my existence as a Catholic-diaspora American mutt. So I can’t even _fathom_ how a sardine (or anchovy) would taste — and I don’t want to try. No thank you.
1 point for every item you _won’t_ eat?
OK, three absolutely. Eight without qualifications [i.e., Dishonorable-to-me mentions].
OK, three absolutely. Eight without qualifications [i.e., Dishonorable-to-me mentions].
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
1 point for every item you _won’t_ eat?
OK, three absolutely. Eight without qualifications [i.e., Dishonorable-to-me mentions].
OK, three absolutely. Eight without qualifications [i.e., Dishonorable-to-me mentions].
Thank you for this thread; you’re absolutely right. Any figures published by a journalism org need to be accurate — and, above all, verifiable.
(Side note: I wonder if that 74% stat originally hails from some special-interest advocacy group. Seems oddly specific to come out of thin air like that.)
(Side note: I wonder if that 74% stat originally hails from some special-interest advocacy group. Seems oddly specific to come out of thin air like that.)
October 16, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Thank you for this thread; you’re absolutely right. Any figures published by a journalism org need to be accurate — and, above all, verifiable.
(Side note: I wonder if that 74% stat originally hails from some special-interest advocacy group. Seems oddly specific to come out of thin air like that.)
(Side note: I wonder if that 74% stat originally hails from some special-interest advocacy group. Seems oddly specific to come out of thin air like that.)
MUG GANG RISE UUUUUUP
October 12, 2025 at 3:42 AM
MUG GANG RISE UUUUUUP
IMO this also applies to southeast Ohio — feels like the starting point for Midwest is a lot closer to Cincinnati than to Huntington, WV.
October 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
IMO this also applies to southeast Ohio — feels like the starting point for Midwest is a lot closer to Cincinnati than to Huntington, WV.
"I'd accept something in the peanut butter or bacon or kibble families."
September 29, 2025 at 1:48 AM
"I'd accept something in the peanut butter or bacon or kibble families."