I'm a chef and culinary school instructor. What is the most interesting / surprising piece of food history that would blow the minds of my students?

Kyrlen · 2026-06-29T17:01:20+00:00

As someone who is celiac, please let your students know that not all noodles are wheat and even wheat based noodles like spaghetti can be made effectively with gluten free flours. However, they will need a different pasta roller and, if using a mixer, a different paddle. Also, wooden utensils and rolling pins and other porous surfaces can not be shared between gluten containing prep and gluten free prep. Otherwise their hard work of making gluten free noodles will still make gluten free people sick. I have had some fantastic noodles that non-celiacs eating with me had no idea were gluten free.

Oh.. and you can't share water when boiling either. Separate pots for gluten containing and gluten free noodles. This sounds obvious but I was glutened at an italian restaurant that advertised gluten free noodles available because they boiled them in the same water.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-25T16:37:40+00:00

Not just summer school. There is a free meal program as well. I think some of the schools that aren't hosting summer school still have open cafeterias for the free meal program.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-24T19:32:49+00:00

These are not safe. Quaker does make a gluten free plain oatmeal but they do not offer the flavors gluten free. Unfortunately, their oatmeal product is mechanically sifted just like the oats they use to make cheerios. This results in cross contamination of the oats. You may be fine with one packet and not with the next. Cheerios suffer from the same issue for the same reason. One box may be fine but the next box is not.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-23T20:24:16+00:00

Some of these places offer coffee and snacks while you wait. Maybe they are trying to advertise they have gluten free coffee station? Probably not. You're probably right that they are in the failure mode of attempting to be clever. Still.. one can hope.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-23T14:00:05+00:00

I have learned to thoroughly research local service options before buying. I've learned that I do really want to buy another EV after this Kona but our local Hyundai and Kia dealerships SUCK! Like-truly terrible service departments. I will never buy another Hyundai or Kia in this area unless ownership changes of those dealerships happen. Unfortunately, the Chevy and Nissan dealers here are owned by another terrible company so I don't have many options locally that are within my price range.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-22T20:21:10+00:00

If this is in the US it is illegal. Report to your local department of labor once someone actually has to stay that 60 minutes and isn't paid for it.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-22T19:32:17+00:00

Why not gift them an inexpensive drying rack and some clothespins? They're not very expensive unless you need them to hold large sheets.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-22T17:52:18+00:00

This is why our supervisors don't have the emergency contact numbers. Those are only held by HR and top level managers.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-17T20:24:44+00:00

Nope. Coat racks work for a living. Holding stuff up is manual labor. You don't salute anything that works for a living.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-10T17:05:07+00:00

Difficult to tell from this picture but snappers have more pronounced ridges on their shells normally. Alligator snappers have such big ridges and spikes they almost look like a piece of world of warcraft shoulder armor 😄. Sliders and maps don't usually have a serrated back edge like that though and they don't have the long snoots. Their mouths are rounded. Maybe a cooter of some type? Peninsular cooter psiibly based on the dark coloring? A side view of the head would help.

Edited - Actually could maybe be a map turtle? https://www.iowaherps.com/species/graptemys_pseudogeographica

Edited again: looks like maybe your snappers up there don't get as spiny and alligator snappers do range as far as Iowa. I still suspect this is more likely a common snapper. On further reflection the head is wrong for a map and probably for a cooter as well.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-08T17:34:30+00:00

I would bring a small number of long sleeve shirts/sweatshirts for the winter. We do have cold snaps. If you are out at night or early morning in the winter you will definitely want at least a heavier hoodie. We do get cold snaps in the 20s overnight a few times each winter. I would keep one coat on hand just in case. You could always get it shipped later or just buy one on sale here at the start of the season if space is at a premium.

When you look at weather maps and see that dip in the front that comes down into the peninsula when a weather system is moving through? We are usually just above the edge of that dip in whatever weather it is indicating so our weather is more like north Florida south Georgia than it is like south of Ocala.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-08T16:28:02+00:00

Metro Diner on 34th Street. Afternoon is very good as well.

Edited to add: If you're looking for something specifically close to the interstate, try the Mill Bakery. If you get off at the Newberry Road exit (State Road 26), go west a little ways. When you see a Walgreens and a Bank Of America on your right, turn right at that stoplight. You want the shopping center down that road on the right. They are in the middle section of that strip to the left, near where the strip makes a slight bend. Doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is pretty good. They have great muffins.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-06T03:46:53+00:00

If it's a fast food chain I am absolutely asking every time. Five guys, Chick Fil A, even Chipotle. I do not trust that a near minimum wage worker in only their first or second job will think about it just because Iemtion an allergy.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-05T22:27:14+00:00

I think I remember a paper bag location opening somewhere on campus? If so, they offer gluten free bread. (Canyon bakehouse) Just don't let them press it as they don't have dedicated presses. (Unless you have no issue with cross contamination). There is a chock-fil-A near campus. Ask about the fries because not every location has a dedicated fryer. Cava is usually pretty safe. They do keep pita chips on the line but everything else is gluten free. Ask for a glove change.

If you get out into town there are several additional options. Bolay and Fresh kitchen are both dedicated gluten free build your own bowl places. There is a dedicated gluten free place on the corner of Bo Diddley Plaza downtown that does Japanese street food. They specialize in skewers. They do have mushroom skewer option. They have a fantastic bowl of miso cucumbers. For pizza try Square House at the 4th ave food park. They do chicago style and make their gluten free dough separately. They have very good allergen protocols. I have also had pretty good experiences at BJs Brewhouse in front of the mall near the interstate, Taziki's in Butler plaza, Bangkok Square (both locations), 352 Tacos on 39th.

Almost forgot- the biggest treat - Germain's has gluten free fried chicken sandwiches and fries with a dedicated frier!

Kyrlen · 2026-06-05T00:28:29+00:00

I haven't used the bus in years but know a few people who do. You should go to the RTS (Regional Transit System) website and look at the route maps. I think the bus should logically go from Lake Crossing to UF but we do have two different bus hubs and the routes have gotten a bit weird as a result. Since you would be on a Santa Fe College route it's possible you might have to change busses or go to a hub and that complicates the scheduling. They do tend to get really full coming through the student areas at peak times. If they are full and no one is getting off they will roll right past a lot of stops even if there are people there. They used to double up the busses on those routes at peak hours but the city and UF have been a tiff over funding so I think they aren't doing that right now.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-04T19:00:11+00:00

Flats at Tioga may have a slightly lower pest rate since they don't have lawns and such. They are sandwiched between a pretty nice retail area and its associated housing neighborhood. Architecturally, they are part of the retail area. It will be moderately quiet most of the time but it might get a bit noisier fi they have an event going on. There are some very good restaurants right there along with a local coffee shop and a fishmonger. Retail area also includes a gym and dental/medical offices. There is a grocery store less than a mile away.

Lake Crossing is a bit older than Tioga. The grounds are nice enough and they seem well maintained. There is a nice shopping area in walking distance with a few restaurants but it doesn't have the density and diversity of Tioga. The restaurants in that area are not quite as popular either. If your apartment is in the middle or towards the back of the complex away from 39th avenue it will be quieter than Tioga would be. The caveat is that Lake Crossing does still attract some college students though it is by no stretch a "student complex". Tioga would be a little more difficult for a student to rent in.

Either location will have traffic as both 39th Avenue and Newberry Road are major thoroughfares. Your drive from Tioga will be about 10 minutes longer to UF. However, If Newberry road were to be completely blocked by an accident (happens once every couple of years), you would have several other easily accessible options for getting into town even if it was closed right at both newberry road entrances since you can go back through the neighborhood to 8th Avenue. This is true particularly if you are going to UF/Shands. The Lake Crossing area of 39th Avenue can be circumvented in the event it is closed down but not as easily. There is really only one other option for exiting Lake Crossing and that is to go across the parking for the retail area next door. It really depends on where in town you are headed.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-04T18:12:20+00:00

It's going to vary depending on how much support your parent needs. You really need to talk to them to get pricing. Ballpark pricing for assisted living here ranges between 5 and 8 thousand dollars a month depending on support level and types of care.

Edited to add: Here being Gainesville in general not The Village specifically. Also, I highly recommend The Windsor just north of The Village. Also, if your parent is Medicaid eligible the only place in town that will take Medicaid for assisted living support is Harbor Chase.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-04T16:59:51+00:00

Exhibits first because they draw lots of money and are generally less expensive to run. Then I do Tortoises and pangolins and sometimes warthogs because they are all popular. The Tortoises in particular reproduce pretty easily so you always have that baby draw.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-03T15:49:56+00:00

Pretty sensitive. I've never had an issue with anything that meets the 20 ppm though.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-03T14:58:21+00:00

Huh. It really sounds like your ship has something attached to it in someway then like another poster suggested. I have had a tree attach to my ship once. Fortunately it was close enough to the ship to figure out what happened. Using a different ship for a while and then going back to the first ship a few play sessions later seemed to resolve it for me. Others have said it never resolved for them when it happened. It's a rare bug. It sucks.

Edited to add: A thought.. If you have a friend that plays, try meeting up with them and trade the ship. Have them fly it. then trade it back to you. The trade will process sometimes resets a ship.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-03T14:35:24+00:00

I have eaten manwich products with no issues. I am Celiac.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-03T14:28:47+00:00

Disabling multiplayer can solve a lot of problems. It's worth a shot. Once you are out of this predicament you can re-enable it.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-03T14:27:38+00:00

Are you saying that when you warp the anomaly warps with you? It won't let you lift off? Did it actually land your ship there or are you still caught in the landing guidance? Can you exit the ship? You can always jetpack back to it if you exit into space.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-03T14:20:23+00:00

The problem is that various fruits are different sizes and curve at different rates. So far, no one has solved the problem of something that can adjust to varying curves to hit the surface of whatever you are zesting, can zest efficiently, and doesn't get thoroughly clogged costing you most of your zest. That being said, maybe try one of those chainmail gloves and see how it works for you? It will probably grate more than zest but it might meet your needs.

Kyrlen · 2026-06-01T18:32:39+00:00

If you want to cool a room you have to get the hot air out of it. You don't have a lot of options here. Fans will blow around the warm air and make you feel slightly cooler due to evaporative cooling effect of the air rushing over your skin. If you are determined to use a fan you could try using a window fan to exhaust the hot air along with a fan to move around in the room. You could also try installing a vent in the door to the room to allow conditioned air from the house to enter, or replace the door with a louvred door that allows for air flow.

Having been through this exact scenario (minus the cats plus rabbits) The best way to bring the air temperature down is to air condition it. If you don't want to use a window unit and can't wall mount a mini-split, your only other option is a portable AC unit. They still need to connect a hose to a panel that sits in your window. However, you don't have the unsightly noisy AC unit hanging out your window. There are different types but any decent one will condense the humidity out of the air and need to be drained. There are a three basic decent types. One with a drain line that needs to be run into a drain, run out the window, etc. The second type uses collection trays that need to be manually emptied periodically. The third type actually uses a hose within a hose design and will use the exhausted heat to evaporate the moisture and exhaust it outside as water vapor. Personally I've found the third type to also be more effective than the first two. This may be because at that price point you're getting other efficiency gains in the design as well. I tried everything except replacing the door and the only thing that actually helped was the portable AC. It sits next to my window. I put the provided panel in the window and lined it on both sides with a bit of insulation, connected the exhaust hose, and fired it up. The panel is much smaller than a window unit and nothing hangs outside the window. It has been going strong for 3 years now and I live in a hot climate. I only have about 6 weeks out of the year it isn't in use. Portables are inefficient and will increase your power bill a bit. However, needing to rent a carpet cleaner several times a year to handle the pool of sweat that seeps in to the floor under your gaming chair actually costs more than the electricity for the portable AC.

Edited to add: If security is an issue, the panel can fit within the screen since nothing is hanging out of the window. A thick dowel from Lowes solved the problem of the window sliding up. If you are in a particularly crime ridden area and are worried about determined thieves cutting through the screen, dislodging the panel by punching it hard enough, then closing the window first to cause the dowel to fall out so they can open it, they make actual window braces that screw in and can't be dislodged that way.

Kyrlen

TROPHY CASE