Hedonia

The Eatsdropper wants the full sugar and fat version

As I sit here putting together this quick little Eatsdropper, I am watching DPaul systematically shred an 11.5-lb pork shoulder that we slow-roasted in the oven overnight. Neeners! I'll make a deal with you: I'll consider sharing some of our well-gotten goods if you send me some delicious aural satisfaction to eatsdropper-at-seantimberlake-dot-com. Deal?

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Man 1: "Oh, that German Chocolate cake. THAT'S what I want right there."
Man 2: "It's vegan, though."
Man 1: "Oh, no! No, no, no. I don't want that vegan stuff. I want the full sugar and fat version."
Man 2: "Just because it's vegan doesn't mean it won't be full of sugar and fat."

- Eatsdropped by Genie at Whole Foods

30-something daughter to 50-something mom, as they peruse the menu:
    "You know, I think I'm brioche'd out"

- Eatsdropped by Anita at Dahlia Lounge

Woman smelling spice: "Mmmm ... jerk"

- Eatsdropped by yours truly at Penzeys Spices

The Eatsdropper eats until he's tired

I have a wee confession, though it may not come as a shock: I had sort of been considering quietly retiring the Eatsdropper, which is why you haven't seen one in quite a while. However, as I was perusing my dossier of outrageous audibles, I just couldn't keep them to myself any longer. I'll continue to post them on occasion, when the mood strikes and the ears are perked. I've got a bit of a backlog, but always welcome new submissions to eatsdropper-at-seantimberlake-dot-com.

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Cashier:  “Whoa, what’s this stuff?  It smells like dill pickle chips!”
Customer:  “It’s dill.”

- Eatsdropped by Tina somewhere in Canada

30-something dark-haired man:
    "Italians don't eat until they're full; they eat until they're tired."

- Eatsdropped by Anita at Alfred's

Chef school student to friend: "Why can't we just cook NORMAL food?"

- Eatsdropped by Barb near the Stratford Chef School

Couple mulling over options for their next meal:
Him: "How about dim sung?"
Her: "You mean dim suM?"
Him: "No, I want singing Chinese food!"

- Eatsdropped by Shelley

Friend #1, sniffing spices: "These would go good on grilled wedgies."
Friend #2: "Grilled what?"
Friend #1: "Wedgies."
Friend #2: "What?"
Friend #1: "Wegetables."

- Eatsdropped by yours truly at Penzeys Spices

The Eatsdropper wants some kettlecorn

Greetings from lovely, autumnal Russian River, where DPaul and I are having a wee post-nuptial getaway. It's not grand enough to call a honeymoon, but we're having an enjoyable time nevertheless, sitting by the fire, sipping local pinot noir, strolling along the river. And a big shout out to Shuna for recommending Restaurant Eloise in Sebastopol, where we had a spectacular meal with friends on Saturday night.

Today's first Eatsdropping reminds me of my cousin, who when he was just a wee thing had trouble pronouncing certain sounds. "TR" for example came out soft, close to "F." So when a truck would go rumbling by, he would gleefully shout "F***!" to the dismay and amusement of all.

Keep on sending me your tidbits to eatsdropper-at-seantimberlake-dot-com or on Twitter by beginning with @Hedonia. And keep on truckin'.

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Steph: "Mmm. Potato chips."
Steph's 2-1/2 year old sister: (possessing limited language skills) "Mmm. Dick!"
Steph: "Chips."
Sister: "More dick!"
Steph: "Chips!!!"
Sister: "More dick!"

- Eatsdropped by Steph at a family gathering in Warwick, RI

Customer: "Why do they call it tri-tip?"
Butcher: "I have no idea."

- Eatsdropped by Backpacking Dad at Safeway

Anita: (looking at spinach penne and tomato penne) "Do you have any of the penne in plain egg flavor?"
Young, female stand worker: "Well, we have these..." (points to egg fusilli)
Anita: "But none in the penne shape?"
Worker: "Um, which one's the penne shape?"

- Eatsdropped by Anita at the Pasta Shop stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Girl student: "Do you want some kettlecorn?"
Boy student: "You know I don't eat popcorn!"
Girl student: "It's not popcorn. It's kettlecorn."

- Eatsdropped by EB on a college campus

Nephew on making bread:
"Jen, we have to wash our hands so the bread doesn't taste like hand, right?"

- Eatsdropped by Jen whilst podcasting

Sarah: "You just put your arm around me so that gay waiter would think we're a queer couple and give us better service."
Female dining companion: "Yep. And it worked."

- Eatsdropped by Sarah at Home Restaurant

The Eatsdropper feels very unsatisfied

A day (okay, a few weeks) late and a dollar short, but I do have a handful of overheards from Slow Food Nation, back over Labor Day Weekend. I myself was not in attendance. I was too tired from processing and canning 100 pounds of tomatoes. I figured I kissed the local and sustainable ring already. I've still got more in the hopper, but please keep some tidbits coming to eatsdropper-at-seantimberlake-dot-com or on Twitter to @Hedonia. Abbraccioni!

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Sponsor who had taken a little too much advantage of free wine at the Taste Pavilion:
"I don't know shit about chefs."

- Eatsdropped be Genie

SFN "paying guest": "Is this the same cheese they were handing out to us in line?"
Stephanie (volunteer): "Yes, it is."
SFN "paying guest": "Well, I have to tell you, I think that's just LOUSY! We already HAD this [product]. You shouldn't serve a [product] in line that you are serving here. It's just a colossal disappointment."
Stephanie: "You know it's really interesting to hear you say that. Just an hour ago, we got a complaint because we ran through the [product] being served in line and had already moved on to the next one. I guess we just can't win today!"
SFN "paying guest": "..."

- Eatsdropped by Stephanie

A father, trailing his wife and two young children toward the Taste Pavilion exit at the end of the night:
"I don't feel like I ate dinner. I just don't. I feel very unsatisfied."

- Eatsdropped by Genie

Me: "This is a blue cheese is from Texas. If you're not careful, it will probably clear brush on a moment's notice! "
SFN "paying guest" to friend: "She's happy. I like her jokes."

- Eatsdropped by Stephanie

The Eatsdropper wants lots of fungus

Ufa, it's been scorching, stinking hot 'round these parts lately. I don't mind much, though our condo has a tar roof and no air conditioning. The natural air conditioning in the form of fog will return soon enough. But no matter how hot it is, I'll still welcome the virtual whispers in my ear as you send me your overheards to eatsdropper-at-seantimberlake-dot-com or @Hedonia on Twitter.

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Coworker: "What type of vodka would you mix in a French 75?"
Anita: "The juniper-infused kind."

- (Self-)Eatsdropped by Anita at work

Four-year-old child:  “Mom, where is my quarter?”
Mom: “I don't have a quarter.”
Four-year-old child: “I said WHERE IS MY CHANGE?!  Give me your wallet.”

- Eatsdropped by Shannon near the toy machines outside a grocery store

Woman at office: "Can we get a cake made up that says 'Good luck, testees'?"
[Ed: Could this be a Cake Wreck in the making?]

- Eatsdropped by Jen at (her now former!) work

Middle-aged man: "We just had a great meal at P.F. Chang's."
Middle-aged woman: "I keep hearing that. But I don't like Chinese food."
Middle-aged man: "Oh, it's not Chinese. We had steak."

- Eatsdropped by Cranky at the Marin Farmers Market   

Bartender: "If you're looking for more interesting wines, you should stop by Cantina."
Middle-aged female patron: "Oh, you mean at Chevy's?"

- Eatsdropped by Anita at Level III

Young brother and sister arguing over which hunk of bleu cheese their dad should purchase:
Boy: "That one has too much fungus."
Girl: "But the fuuuuuunnnnnguuuuusssss is the best part.  I want lots of fungus."
Boy: "You're right, the fungus is the best part."

- Eatsdropped by Erin at Gourmet Garage

Tourist, inquiring about radishes directly under the large Capay Organics banner:
"Are they organic?"

- Eatsdropped by yours truly at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

 

The U.S. takes the gold in synchronized Eatsdroppings

In the interest of full transparency, I will confess something that my more regular contributors already know: I keep a backlog of Eatsdroppings. In part that is because they come in faster than I am prepared to post them these days, but also because I like to dole them out in moderately consistent little packets. So, if you've sent me a 'dropping and haven't seen it grace this site yet, have patience.

The name of this post alludes to two pairs of items heard independently of one another by the same person each in a single place. I think they each have a nice little symmetry, and I'd be hard pressed to judge which pair wins the medal. It's as close to an homage to the Olympics as I can muster, and surely not as good as Deb's take on synchro and women's beach volleyball. Enjoy!

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Young guy: “Doesn't the BLT have steak in it?”

Youngish girl: “They don't have hummus at a Greek restaurant??”

- Both eatsdropped by Jen at Andrea’s Cafe

Young male diner to the female friend seated next to him, as she tries to empty her glass for the next round of pairings:
    "What do you think I am, the garbage disposal of wine?!"

Male diner to a communal table full of fellow diners:
    “All I need is a beer and a massage and I'd be Kobe beef.”

- Both eatsdropped by Anita at Piccino

Little girl to mom, waiting for the elevator:
    "I know why they called it lemongrass. It stinks. Right?"

- Eatsdropped by Scott at their apartment building

Young woman, weighing packaged berries (and unaware that the packaging has its own weight):
    "You know, this is weird. They put way more blackberries in those boxes than the 125 grams it says on the label."

- Eatsdropped by Andie at Merkur in Vienna

Gringa shopper looking at heirloom tomatoes: “How do they get the stripes on there?
Latino farmer: “Is just nature.”

- Eatsdropped by Anita at the Tustin farmers market

Young, fit woman delivering lunch to obese man:
    "I was going to bring you Subway, but that lead to a confrontation, so we got you McDonald's.  Besides, I know how you like Big Macs.” 

- Eatsdropped by Lisa at a doctor's office

My friend Julie, getting iced tea from a drink dispenser:
    “Oh, unsweetened … sweet!”

- Eatsdropped by yours truly at Old Port Lobster Shack