S19.E03: Noodles and Rice and Everything Nice

[buttersister]

Sam, don't hurt the door when it hits you in the ass. Twice. Sam worked with (pre-fatherhood/more self-aware) David Chang, so while his attitude is his own, it may have been amplified during that time. Also, Dave made Bo Ssam, not Bo Chang. Here's hoping Sam doesn't pass that attitude along to his students. 

Also, when Julia Child advised cooks not to confess to errors, she was talking about a dinner party in her home, not a cooking competition on TV. With cameras.

[slaterain]

Regarding the shellfish shell allergy but not the meat and all the other comments talking about similar experiences - wondering if it is similar to to Oral Allergy Syndrome. I am allergic to ragweed so when it is in season, the rinds of honeydew and cantaloupe will make my lips tingle so I have to cut off the rinds and not eat wedges. Also have to avoid chamomile and sunflower seeds then too along with a few other things that will irritate my throat. It's something about the pollens being similar that the body has a reaction as if you were exposed to your allergy pollen. So for those saying that it's not legit - please don't discount someone's allergy experience just because it doesn't match yours or someone you know. All bodies react differently and allergies can have many different levels of severity. 

Back to the episode more specifically - I was ok with Sam going. He should have owned up to leaving the potatoes on the stove and that may have saved him. they will overlook some mishaps if the intent was clear/correct. But I am also ok with him going. The overly excited/happy was starting to get annoying and I can only imagine it being worse in the high pressure kitchen. 

Overall I really like this group of chefs and am intrigued to see what is next. 

[sharifa70]

Allergies can be weird. My mom’s mouth starts burning when she eats one kind of walnuts (either black or English) but she’s fine with the other kind. I can never remember which one so I stick to pecans in my baking. If someone tells me they’re allergic to something I’m just going to take them at their word rather than arguing about it.

I re-watched the Night Market scenes with the judges. Gail’s dress is lovely, flattering, and perfect for a summer evening. 

 

[WearyTraveler]

On 3/18/2022 at 11:24 AM, MsMalin said:

I am not allergic to tomatoes but when I pick them off the vine my hands itch like crazy.

OMG!!! I thought I was the only one! I can and do eat a lot of tomatoes (or foods containing tomatoes) but when I am chopping them, I need to have the tap right next to me so I can rinse my hands frequently because it itches so bad.

Now I know I am not alone

[Colleenna]

22 hours ago, sharifa70 said:

Allergies can be weird. My mom’s mouth starts burning when she eats one kind of walnuts (either black or English) but she’s fine with the other kind. I can never remember which one so I stick to pecans in my baking. If someone tells me they’re allergic to something I’m just going to take them at their word rather than arguing about it.

I re-watched the Night Market scenes with the judges. Gail’s dress is lovely, flattering, and perfect for a summer evening. 

 

Allergies can be super weird. I'm allergic to RAW blueberries,  but not cooked ones (ie blueberry jam, etc). Only thing I can figure is that it's something in the skin of blueberries that does it.  

[Rai]

I may be allergic to beets, especially the skins. But it's something that comes and goes. Could be the chemicals in the soil? Who knows? No other veggie affects me, but there are times where my hands tingle and swell after handling raw, unpeeled beets. But not every time! It's really weird, and I would stop trying to deal with them except they show up in my CSA shares a lot.

Edited March 23, 2022 by Rai

[rhofmovalley]

I guess I'm the only one who likes Sam. I found his smiles and enthusiasm endearing.

But he seems to be the type that will legit just be happy to have been selected to compete and take it as an experience.

[seltzer3]

Also, it was odd for Nick to be surprised that Japan does their own version of fried chicken.  Even if he didn't know Karaage, has he never heard of Tempura before?  I understand you can't be an expert on everything, but was a bit shocked for this batch of chefs to not seem to understand the basics of certain countries cuisines.

Not to mention, I feel like every culture has their own version of fried chicken.

 

[Ms Blue Jay]

23 hours ago, rhofmovalley said:

I guess I'm the only one who likes Sam. I found his smiles and enthusiasm endearing.

But he seems to be the type that will legit just be happy to have been selected to compete and take it as an experience.

I really liked him.  

[MarylandGirl]

On 3/23/2022 at 11:01 AM, Colleenna said:

Allergies can be super weird. I'm allergic to RAW blueberries,  but not cooked ones (ie blueberry jam, etc). Only thing I can figure is that it's something in the skin of blueberries that does it.  

This could be oral allergy syndrome, as someone mentioned. It tends to only be an issue for the raw form of the produce generally. I react to raw tomatoes sometimes (like on a sandwich or in a salad), but am fine with tomato sauce. Strawberries also tend to make my mouth itch, but sometimes they're fine--I think it may depend on whether it's allergy season? I have various pollen allergies.

As for the ep, I'm also puzzled that Sam didn't admit he'd left his potatoes on the stove. Then he might have been praised for trying to "make it work" (OK, wrong show), even if they didn't turn out that well.

Also, he mentioned he was using Russets to grill with, right? I thought those were mostly meant to be used for baking, as they tend to fall apart in recipes. That Yukon Gold or New/Red potatoes are better for, say, a stew or curry. So I wonder if that could have been an issue as well?

Finally, I was saying the same to my husband about "aloo" vs. "vindaloo," so I was glad to come here and see that I was right about "vindaloo" not having to do with potatoes. I'm a fan of gobi aloo, so knew "aloo" was potato. My only experience with vindaloo was buying that jarred sauce at the store when they were out of the usual tikka masala sauce, and wow, that was spicy!
 

[Colleenna]

9 hours ago, MarylandGirl said:

This could be oral allergy syndrome,

Nope. Let's just say, putting it as delicately as possible,  that raw blueberries hate me and try to leave me as quickly as possible  --- by the "southern " route. 

[MarylandGirl]

12 hours ago, Colleenna said:

Nope. Let's just say, putting it as delicately as possible,  that raw blueberries hate me and try to leave me as quickly as possible  --- by the "southern " route. 

Ah, gotcha!

[Leeds]

Thanks to everyone for educating me about allergies!

[Lady Jane]

I was not prepared for Silver Fox Hung. Not at all. Now I feel funny. 

[SailorGirl]

On 3/18/2022 at 12:06 PM, HurricaneVal said:

I know that folks that have a rubber allergy (my mom in fact, among others) cannot handle mango skin, because of the distant relation between rubber trees and mango trees.  However, once liberated from the skin and the pit, they can eat the mango flesh with no issues.  My mom takes it to the extreme, and she refuses to eat any kind of what she considers "tropical" fruit for fear that she will have a reaction.  No pineapple, no kiwi, no papaya, no mango, etc. but she will eat a banana, and skin it, no problem.  She really likes bananas.

I didn't know about the mango/rubber tree connection, but I know firsthand that the sap from mangoes, especially young mangoes, has urushiol, the same toxin as poison ivy.

I picked one from a tree and a lot of sap came with it. I didn't think anything of it until a few days later when I had a horrible rash and had to go to urgent care because I have hyperallergic reactions to plant oils. 

I have bought and eaten mangoes but never had a reaction. The ones in the stores are cleaned before shipping, so I had never experienced it before. It took a couple of days and a good Google search for me to narrow it down to the mango.

I had only recently moved to Florida and I didn't know if this was a known Florida "thing," or if no one knew about it. No one I've talked to -- Florida locals or other -- had any idea. I have made it my personal mission to inform people about mango tree sap!! 


 

Edited April 21, 2022 by SailorGirl