Drink up!

I've encountered "corky" water at hotels and restaurants, and every time I've said so whomever was with me thought I was making a joke.

It's a trick of olfaction, I think, that certain chloroalkanes that result from water chlorination smell a lot like TCA/mildew to me. FWIW, I also have the same problem with patchouli oil.

Mark Lipton

Did a wine education gig down in the Orlando area, and not only was the water "corked", it was so bad that when we were served dinner, it was ghastly and the green beans, which of course had been washed in the local water, then either steamed or blanched in the local water, was "corked" as well.

Was a memorably awful meal. No one reported any cork tainted wine though.

Am I the only one who thinks that bananas reek of TCA-like smells?

Am I the only one who thinks that bananas reek of TCA-like smells?

Never noticed with bananas (but we're not a big banana family), but several times I've run across those pre-peeled carrots that were clearly corked.

Am I the only one who thinks that bananas reek of TCA-like smells?

Never noticed with bananas (but we're not a big banana family), but several times I've run across those pre-peeled carrots that were clearly corked.

And alfalfa sprouts, too.

Am I the only one who thinks that bananas reek of TCA-like smells?

Never noticed with bananas (but we're not a big banana family), but several times I've run across those pre-peeled carrots that were clearly corked.

And alfalfa sprouts, too.

True. I avoid alfalfa sprouts for just that reason.

Mark Lipton

If you think 'splaining why you want a refund/credit to a wine retailer can sometimes be challenging, try getting a spirits/whisky guy to fathom corked scotch.

...several times I've run across those pre-peeled carrots that were clearly corked.

Me, too. I am now hesitating before buying them, for exactly this reason. (During the summer I can get good carrots at the greenmarket, anyway.)

If you think 'splaining why you want a refund/credit to a wine retailer can sometimes be challenging, try getting a spirits/whisky guy to fathom corked scotch.

If you think that's tough, try returning a corked carrot to your local grocer.

Mark Lipton

If you think 'splaining why you want a refund/credit to a wine retailer can sometimes be challenging, try getting a spirits/whisky guy to fathom corked scotch.

If you think that's tough, try returning a corked carrot to your local grocer.

Mark Lipton

You can do it, provided you carry a big stick with you...

If you think 'splaining why you want a refund/credit to a wine retailer can sometimes be challenging, try getting a spirits/whisky guy to fathom corked scotch.

If you think that's tough, try returning a corked carrot to your local grocer.

Mark Lipton

Mark-
Just another good reason to avoid eating carrots. I couldn't imagine going through that explanation.
Bill (Bagel Boy)

Just another good reason to avoid eating carrots. I couldn't imagine going through that explanation.

I've got the best reason imaginable for not eating carrots: I'm missing most of my left lung owing to a piece of carrot aspirated at age 1 (long story). Yet I still like the suckers, except when they've been milled and left sitting for a month in the grocery store.

Mark "Wheezy" Lipton

The tap water in Adelaide tastes TERRIBLE. And it smells terrible, too. It comes down a degraded river system and is pumped full of chemicals. I've installed a water filtration unit under the sink in my kitchen, and this has taken most of the bad smells and tastes away. Since installing it, I have also noticed that the kettle stays clean, whereas before it was black as the ace of spades on the inside from whatever was in the water. But I still buy bottled water sometimes because I like it. The clear clean taste is refreshing, and better than the filtered water.

I grew up drinking rain water that came off our roof. These days, people turn up their nose and say, "What about the bird sh*t?" But the rainwater way back when tasted good, and was a lot cleaner than our only other water source: pumped out of the creek. The neighbour's house had a slate roof, and their water tasted FANTASTIC!

Matilda

Matilda, Hi.....


HUGE tip for keeping the stone out of kettles (electric or other)...... from time to time simply put about 2 cups of water into the kettle, add 2 tsp. of lemon salt, and boil. Let the water sit for 5 - 6 minutes, rinse the kettle thoroughly several times and wow.....clean as the proverbial whistle.

Best
Rogov

Matilda, Hi.....


HUGE tip for keeping the stone out of kettles (electric or other)...... from time to time simply put about 2 cups of water into the kettle, add 2 tsp. of lemon salt, and boil. Let the water sit for 5 - 6 minutes, rinse the kettle thoroughly several times and wow.....clean as the proverbial whistle.

Daniel, if you are talking about the removal of scale (aka chalk), vinegar also works fabulously well (for reasons I won't bore you with) -- just swish a bit of distilled white vinegar around in the kettle et voilá! The black deposits that Matilda mentioned I have no idea about, though.

Mark Lipton

Whatever the blackish gunk was, I used to clean it off by boiling up a kettle full of water to which was added a cup of white vinegar. I'm just thankful that I don't have to do it now. Haven't looked into the water filter, though, to see what colour that is!!!

Matilda

Our water smells like it came out of a several day old vase of flowers; I've been told our town is on a well. It also grows strange things much quicker if the parrot drops food in her water dish - some kind of algae? Thanks goodness it doesn't smell as bad as my sister's in Eastern Washington - think hard boiled eggs exploded in the microwave!

We get the 19l bottles of water delivered from Neviot. I don't feel as wasteful as with individual bottles..