I find it really "shocking" that PJ doesn't understand the people who put so much significance on the NY Times Dinning section. "You have GOT to be kidding. People really take food this seriously? Is it a New York thing, or…?" No PJ it isn't a New York thing. It'a a food thing. Thousands of people who love to eat, love to cook and love to bake, from every corner of this country and all over the world, love reading the NY Times Dinning section. It informs and inspires us of what's happening in the food world and provides wonderful recipes and articles on food. Like the one about Chocolate Chip Cookies. I think people who love to bake are especially interested in the minutia of recipes. I will often compare 3 or 4 recipes for the same thing and compare them, then decide which to try or create my own version. If people didn't take food and baking so seriously, no one would be reading this! Thanks for your input... I'm deeply interested in food; and I read the NYT dining section when I can. It's fun; it's well-written. But to me, food isn't critical in the same sense that family, helping others, and doing the right thing are. Each to his own, right? Still, I'm sorry you took offense at what I wrote; that certainly wasn't my intent. PJH

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