I started out with a 10 cup Panasonic rice cooker from Wal-Mart. It was functional. What I failed to realize was how much better my rice would taste in a better rice cooker.

I splurged and went with the Zo Induction 10 cup model. Induction cooking in this rice cooker is AWESOME. Why my rice tastes better is a mystery to me but, I find I am eating more rice now because this rice cooker does such a good job. I can also make a larger batch and keep on it "warm" for a long time without affecting the quality much.

If you will use your rice cooker several times a week, I would splurge and get the Induction Cooking Fuzzy logic model from Zojirushi which seem to run about $230 on Amazon for a 5 1/2 or 10 cup model.

I had the sampler plate at this place and it was delicious. The Turkey had a nice smoke flavor which was very nice though it was a little too salty for my tastes. The Beef and Pork was very good too. The coleslaw was a little weird since I was expecting the typical creamy sweet slaw however, this was a little different being pure slaw with a little something like parsley in it with a sweet vinegar sauce. The coleslaw wasn't my thing but it was done well. The beans and potato salad ere good but, average.

Overall, I really enjoyed my meal and I will be back.

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Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q
1715 6th Ave SE, Decatur, AL 35601

I had the misfortune of eating at the Ruby Tuesday outside of HSV on I565. Service was very slow though the waiter was pretty good. It appeared like the server was was doing so many things that they must have had no shows for work on the floor. This left us with long periods of no service, no drinks, etc. The food was very slow to arrive. The Salmon was way over cooked and dry. The long grain white rice was undercooked and hard, though it was warm.

I won't be back.

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Ruby Tuesday
1685 S Pleasant Valley Rd, Winchester, VA 22601

Is there no room for a buffet in your world?

Maybe I'm not a true chowhound in your mind because I don't want to spend huge sums in a formal setting. Some of the best food I have eaten has been served in small German towns in a beer tent with various meat products and local beer. Then you have all the ethic food choices in the Netherlands in addition to the daily catch. I still wish I could get good herring fresh off the boat where I live ... mmm fresh herring and onion.

There are numerous BBQ joints in the SouthEast that I have not seen duplicated in the west. Classic Tex-Mex, Sonoran, and various central American places serve me well with excellent and informal meals. Chowhound worthy? I don't know but, the food is excellent.

Buffets as noted, can run from truly aweful to pretty darn good. No, they won't stand up to Michelin multi-star places but, they are accessible to most people. Not everyone can afford to drop $100+ person on dinner. And, there are people like myself that like something less formal. Sure, I can put on a suit and tie but, when I'm on my own time I am happiest at a good BBQ/Tex-Mex/Ethic place where a pair of Dockers or Blue Jeans and a Polo shirt are proper attire and I can avoid all the SNOBBERY I have encountered in the more formal places.

A couple of my buffet reply's seem to have been deleted in other threads. I think this forum in general really looks down on buffets. However, buffets are a good option for SOME people. Not everyone wants a formal sit down dinner. Plus, not going to a buffet in Las Vegas is like going to Munich during Oktoberfest and not going to one of the beer tents!

I'm looking forward to a return visit to Las Vegas in a few months. I will NOT return to the Paris Paris (Le Buffet) or the Mirage (Cravings) buffets. Spice Market has been consistently good when I went.

It sounds like the Wynn and Bellagio buffets should be considered. Has anyone tried the Mandalay buffet recently?