gnocchi's Profile
Best SLICE in Brooklyn
Do you think Gino's is open Christmas Eve? I have to pick up some people at JFK 7pm and they want to eat, so around 7:30--8pm this SAT. Anythig else good at Gino besides pizza? Thanks
RESTAURANT.COM--VARYING PRICES?
Thanks for the info re bigcrumbs.com. But as you say, $25 cert normally $10, on special for 80% off. But when I checked yesterday while the 80% promotion was available, the $25 certs had different prices depending on the restaurant. Some were $10 while others were $12.50 or $15 before the 80% discount. A restaurant I visited 3 weeks ago had been $10 for a $25 cert at that time and I used a 70% discount, but yesterday the price had increased to $15 (or $3 after the 80% discount).
Is this a new policy for restaurtant.com, ie offer 80% off but raise the price so that the discount is really 70%??
RESTAURANT.COM--VARYING PRICES?
Is restaurant.com now using variable prices for the certificates? I thought it was always like $10 for a $25, $20 for a $50 cert, etc. Now I see all kinds of prices for the $25 denomination, $10, $12.50, $15, etc. Also a lot of the $50 and $100 denominations are no longer available. It looks like their software is running this like the airlines, keep changing the price as the seats sell or when special discounts are offered.
Big Apple Barbecue Block Party Fast Pass Now On Sale-- This Year they have added a $25 "service" charge
"In all the years of the event, no effort has been made to decrease the lines or handle the crowds with faster service. Plus let's be honest. It's not uncommon to find yourself standing in a line that's not moving, with piles of meat sitting there waiting to be served."
Well, to be honest they have done a few things to smooth out the confusion. They have added additional vendors and expanded more onto Madison Ave. In the early years i remember the lines being really chaotic, people didn't even know what line they were on, all kinds of line cutting, etc.
Also early on, no cash was accepted, you had to purchase paper tickets, an additional hassle.
So the spreading out with more corrals and Fast Passes have helped, but now it seems to be evolving into something more elitist, with surcharges for passes, hospitality tents for those willing to pay, while the average poor schmuck waits on a long line. I can tell you for sure I remember paying $200 on AMEX and getting $225 of food. Now it's the other way around, in essence "what the NYC traffic will bear". I can bear it, but I don't need it that bad.
Bar on Manhattan Ave Greenpoint Bkln
i think you may be correct. I checked out the website and sure enough there's the chalkboard out on the sidewalk:
Bar on Manhattan Ave Greenpoint Bkln
I think I saw The Mark Bar on the other (west) side of the street. I'll check it out when I get back there to look for the place I saw on the east side. But that was the general neighborhood I'm talking about, and there appeared to be no shortage of drinking places.
Bar on Manhattan Ave Greenpoint Bkln
A few weeks ago on a Saturday I was walking the length of Manhattan Ave from north to south. Somewhere north of Norman Avenue I noticed a pub on the east side of the street that had a blackboard sign out on the sidewalk advertising the availability of Dogfish Head Aprihop along with some other items. I couldn't stop to check it out because I had to meet up with some people further down towards Williamsburgh.
Anyone know what the name of this place might have been or general location on the Avenue?
Big Apple Barbecue Block Party Fast Pass Now On Sale-- This Year they have added a $25 "service" charge
My memory might be failing me on this subject but I seem to remember the original pass (Bubba Fast Pass?), offered value GREATER than the purchase price. I recall paying $100 for $120 worth of food. Anyone else remember that?
Then the last few years it was even-up, and now this.
Pizza Along 25A, Eastern Queens/Nassau County?
Where is the best pizza to be found along or not far from 25A from the Queens-Nassau border to the Nassau-Suffolk line?
Mouse in the restaurant's dining room.... [moved from Manhattan board]
That's what I was thinking. What should he say and how should he say it? And what should the customer say? As a customer I wouldn't want to damage the owner's image in front of a room full of customers because of a single mouse sighting. And it's difficult for the manager to address you if within earshot of several others tables; all hell could break loose. I say better to let the manager know quietly when you're leaving and then see how he apologizes/explains.
Does anyone use "Rewards Network"?
I think some of the confusion is because there are several levels of cards out there. Some are "paid" like yours and the rate is 10% but they are charging you a $40 fee that is deducted from initial rewards. Others are completely free but they will max at $5%.
The current program which is about to expire had an additional provision whereby your earnings would jump by an additional 5% after spending a certain amount each calendar year. I think it was around $400. Once you spent $400 the establishments that were offering 10% would jump to 15%.
bagelman01 posts below that the 15% is legacy but I know for a fact that a few places in my area (NYC suburbs) are at that level. I would say the majority in my locale are at 10% with a very few at 5-8%.
Rewards Network/iDine/Transmedia etc keeps jerking around with their marketing scheme trying to get something to click, but it's probably a delicate balance between pleasing and signing up consumers vs. doing the same for restaurant owners. Remember when they tried offering rewards that varied by time of day that you dined?
But in the end if the program is free you can't complain too much. If the public is in fact dining out less they are going to use the best promotion available in their area. It seems that some restaurant owners are just better at how they handle these rewards programs and local promotions and the treatment they afford to diners who utilize them.
Does anyone use "Rewards Network"?
I tried posting this at the top in reply to bluebird, but anyway it ended up down here.
Is Organic a Hoax?
I believe there was an e. coli outbreak in fresh apple cider in New England several years ago. Animal manure had been spread on the orchard floor as a soil ammendment and contaminated drop apples.
The peanut problem was supposedly caused by birds and/or rodents in the warehouses. The packaged spinach situation from CA involved E. coli O157:H7, which is found in cattle intestinal tracts. I don't think they ever determined where it came from, but there were dairy farms in the area.
READ THIS: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18538.cfm
or full article here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/12/MN0218DVJ8.DTL&feed=rss.news
The desire for increased food safety will have its own costs, environmental and otherwise, and most likely will impose new hardships on the smaller and/or organic grower.
Does anyone use "Rewards Network"?
What in hell is up with this lately? They've been sending emails advising of change back to iDine on SEP 27, 2009. And with the changeback the rewards will be only 5% and won't be credited until you dine an additional time within 60 days. I just looked and most rewards in my local area are currently 10% with a few 15%'s here and there. This looks like a big step backwards in consumer benefits.
Another thing I've noticed lately is an increasing shift in their participating merchants to pub and nightclub type establishments that serve some food versus straight restaurants. I think it's the beginning of the end, but who knows, they've been around a long time thru several reincarnations. Maybe the slugggish economy plus competition from outfits like restaurant.com forces them to make a change, but probably the basic problem is they are losing merchant clients.
Rockaways or Howard Beach
Here is another in Rockaway Park close to water .
The Wharf, Beach 116 st.
Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/22/nyregion/20080822_LASTSTOP_FEATURE.html
Then click on link on that page for Rockaway Park,
As far as Howard Beach I would definitlely rate La Vila above Lenny's. La VIla is good.
Is there a Vincent's in HB? How is that compared to Lenny's?
Also does HB or S Ozone Park have a coffee/pastry shop serving cappucino, espresso and italian pastries in the evening other than the usual Starbucks?
Lettuce has not sprouted
Don't you think the last week of August would be too late for Toronto, or have you had success with that timing? It might be OK if all you were looking to harvest were baby lettuce leaves. To obtain a more mature head I would suggest the first week of August. and you could probably harvest mid October.
Lettuce has not sprouted
I would say they shoud have sprouted by now. Lettuce will germinate when days are above 40 deg F. Maybe you planted too deep? You want the seeds to be barely below the surface, maybe 1/8 inch. If you carefully scratch with a knife point or toothpick you should be able to find some seeds and see if they are sprouted.below the surface. If you moisten the soil for the first few days after sowing, that should be enough. If inorganic fertilizer was added to the soil you may have appled too much and burnt the seedlings. I assume this was raw seed, not the pelleted type.
You could test the seed by trying to germinate some between moist paper towels, but at this point it's probably best to replant with some new seeds from a reputable source. Or try planting two sections of the box separately, one with new seed and another area with your problem seed.
LI Strawberry festivals?
I think Driscoll's and the other berry distributors have really stepped up the quality over the past 2-3 years. Between CA, FL, and Mexico there's almost a year-round supply of decent strawberries at reasonable prices. The FL berries available in the East can have a very good flavor, but I think that's more due to spending 1 or 2 days less in the truck than anything else. But FL is a lot like local berries, a very short season and then it's too hot down there. We really depend on coastal CA for an almost constant supply.
Brooklyn Pizza along Belt Parkway
Since you mention New Park in Queens, I would also recommend La Villa in that same Howard Beach area. I believe they have a place in Mill Basin close to the Parkway as well, but I haven't tried that location.
DiFara's
I would like to think the DiFara inflation index is somewhat justified by his quality evolution over the years; we aren't talking about the same pie he made 45 years ago.
As far as inconsistencies, it's a hand made product and you've got to expect some fluctuation from visit to vist.. You'll run into abberations at DiFara and I've encountered similar fluctuations at the various Pepe's in CT as well. But 9 times out of 10 these places are at the top of the pizza game, hence the hoardes and lines. A TV spot can only provide a momentary shot in the arm, he has to be something unique to keep them coming back.
Should I visit Brooklyn for a meal?
Many good suggestions have been offered. I would recommend taking the subway to Brooklyn and then walking back over the bridge after eating. Once over the bridge will be enough for a first visit and the views will be better walking toward Manhattan. Save your walking for the Brooklyn side, be sure to walk the length of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on your return to the bridge.
Pete's is OK but I prefer Noodle Pudding, Henry's End or Queen near the bridge. Or depending how much of a walker you are, it is less than 1.5 miles to walk back from Carroll Gardens or a little over 2 miles from Park Slope to the bridge.
Figure about one mile to cross the bridge itself.
Suffolk County Menu Law
I read that the Suffolk County legislature has recently approved a resolution to require restaurants to list the prices of specials not on the menu.
Probably not a bad idea. I have also noted that menus at some estblishments do not list prices for deserts and/or beverages. I'm not talking about "special" deserts, but the run of the mill apple pie on the regular pre-printed menu.
FYI: Tristate restaurant gift certificates on sale at restaurant.com
I notice that some of the offers require a "minimum food purchase" and others only state "minimum purchase". Does this mean that at some restaurants beverages may be included to meet the minimum and at others it can be only food?
Thankgsgiving Dinner- away from Manhattan
LONG ISLAND?
I believe the following is doing a $36 three-course. You could call about the menu.
Inn Spot on the Bay
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=15178&restref=15178
http://www.theinnspot.com/onthebay/index.html
Also maybe Stone Creek Inn,
http://www.stonecreekinn.com/specials.php?PHPSESSID=ed49db127cc2aaba179537d2dabad066
or,
Gurney's oceanfront, Montauk:
http://gurneysinn.com/thanksgiving%20...
All of them have "Inn" in the name and well below your price point, which may be good, or maybe not.
North Fork Table and Inn is not open Thanksgiving day.
Pie on North Fork
These bakers may make some pies on premises and buy in others, probably certain varieties. It could even vary by season and demand.
This would be similar to a farm stand that grows SOME of their own produce and obtains other items from neighboring farms or even from out-of-state or the Hunt's Point market. It would be hard to pin this down and probably doesn't matter except for the fact that customers don't like to think they're being fooled.
East Northport Neighborhood Again - I Need Parsely Root
The place in the shopping center at Pulaski and Larkfield roads is Pat's Meat Farms. It's a good place to start. She might have to buy a "soup mix" package with the root in it along with other soup vegetables. If not there, then check the other stores suggested as well as the ShopRite in Hauppauge. I think I have also seen it at the Fairway in Plainview.
Wanted: Grandma Pie (Pizza) info
Does Spumoni Garden have a grandma pie that is different from their square "sicilian" version? I was there a couple of weeks ago and only remember seeing sicilian and round on the menu, nothing else. The sicilian pie with the sauce on top was good but much thicker the typical grandma slice you would find in the LI places mentioned above.
As mentioned in the emarcus article a grandma pie should be thin-crusted.
http://weblogs.newsday.com/features/food/blog/2008/09/grandma_pizza_the_story.html
In eastern LI I've found the grandma pie at Roadhouse Pizza (Riverhead) to be very good.
Hamptons area seafood lunch - baby friendly options?
What areas will you be near? Hamptons LI covers about 30-40 miles.
Italian Ice - East End of Long Island
The place in Patchogue is a Ralph's; they do have a very large selection. There is a similar Ralph's store with a large selection on Main St. Bay Shore.
Further east is Ice Cream Cottage in Mastic, Montauk Hwy. and also a store on east Main St in Center Moriches. I believe Ice Cream Cotage makes their own. Also Dari-Land on east Main St in Riverhead outside of town and maybe Snowflake on west main Rvhd might make their own. For basic flavors I like Ice Cream Cottage, they serve a nice portion.
Uncle Danny's in Shirley ?????
As far as I know Uncle Danny's is a Pastosa "pasta shop" with fresh and frozen pasta/raviolli, sausages, fresh sauces etc.
My sister shops there and I've had their sauces and raviolli at her home. Everything is excellent. I've never known it as a place to eat, unless something has changed. It's been there for many years.
North side of Montauk Hwy, just east of William Floyd Pkwy. It is worth checking out if you prepare this stuff at home.
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Pastosa.Ravioli.631-395-3333/review/read?cid=110852
