My husband really loves the jerky from SlantShack (see http://www.slantshackjerky.com/ ). He especially likes the one made with Bronx Pale Ale. We've found them at the store that sells the baskets in Chelsea Market (sorry I can't recall the name of the store).

I thoroughly agree about Zoma. Much better than Meskerem, Awash, or Ghenet. I've eaten most of the items that are vegetarian and I can't recall one that I said "not good" about. You might want to try getting the vegetarian "sampler" style plate so you can have a little of many of the dishes.

I haven't been in several months but it was always a good neighborhood spot -- try Pisticci (on LaSalle).

Thanks! I think it was AAA where my husband saw the discount deal.

I saw a special for the gelato making class for two people and it looked like fun. Does anyone have any experiences taking a class here? The website is: http://www.gelatomia.com/ . Most importantly, is the gelato that good?

Thanks for any info.
LNG

What do you consider "too pricey"? There's an excellent small plates/wine bar about a block away - Buceo (95th between Amsterdam & Bway).

We enjoyed our one meal at Numero 28 (92nd or so & Amsterdam). We like the bar at Gennaro (Amsterdam & 92nd I think). For something more downscale, try Malecon (Amsterdam & 97th). We've also enjoyed Cafe Frida (Amsterdam & 98th). For further away, I second the rec of Kefi and would also add Cotta Osteria (85th & Columbus).

The one on the UWS, I believe, is called Sunburnt Calf, in case the OP is searching for near the park.

Ditto. We like this one: http://relish.com/recipes/spinach-and... , but we prefer it with a heartier green like kale instead.

That's Buceo 95. I agree it is very good and is usually quite crowded.

We love this recipe for Winter Greens lasagna. You can pretty much use any greens you like - we prefer tuscan kale or chard. I usually double the amount of greens called for. It's very rich so quite suitable for a cold winter day.
http://www.chow.com/recipes/11415-win...

The replacement is Numero 28, an offshoot of the downtown locations. We have only been once but we enjoyed it.

Wholeheartedly agree. We love Gennaro too. There's also now a Numero 28 (the old Lisca space on Amsterdam). We went once and enjoyed ourselves very much. Service was a bit "over eager" but I suppose that's because they had just opened.

We ordered from Pearl's the other night too. We got mustard packets, soy packets, duck sauce. We even got a little styrofoam cup containing the "end of meal" pineapple chunks! Along with fortune cookies, of course.

Thanks to both of you. I knew there was a cake supply place that people always mention and couldn't figure it out. And iluvcookies, thanks for the do-it-yourself idea. I hadn't thought of that.

Oh $2.50 each is expensive. I only made one batch this year (8 jars). But everyone likes it so I might have to do more next year.

I'm just in Manhattan but the farmers are from upstate - the one I get quince from is Locust Grove from Milton, NY.

I searched here but perhaps I'm using the wrong terminology. I'm looking for the little (waxed, I think) wrappers that I can use for making homemade caramels. They can be plain but different colors would be cool. I'd prefer a source on the UWS but anywhere else is fine too.

Thanks for any pointers!

I make quince preserves each year -- because I love the color too! One of our upstate farmers grows quince (here in NY). Have you checked your local farm markets? I see them here in the fall and they are already gone by now.

I keep saying I'll cook the quince preserves even longer to get to the membrillo stage but I've never done it. Have you?

Meredith - thanks so much. I do think once the little things are actually fixed, the "larger" issue of a new look and such will just become second nature. Thanks for the functionality fix.

Thank you, especially for #1.

Meredith -
Thanks for those changes. I'm finding the colors much more easily read today. I'm not so much bothered by the font size as others.

Four comments :
1) When reading a really long thread, one gets to the bottom and there is no way to reply to the original post. One has to go all the way back to the top to do so. This change seems a little weird to me. Why eliminate that button from the previous iteration?

2) I too miss the "new" icon. To me, it was a much more apparent demonstration that there was something else for me to read. I am still getting confused about which grey is the one I have read or not read.

3) I do like the little arrow next to the replies number. I like knowing that I already started reading that thread rather than it being an entirely new one.

4) Put me in the camp that likes the abbreviated text appearing with the collapsed "already read" posts. It helps to follow the discussion better, especially if someone is posting long after I've read the original comment.

Thank you, Meredith. It was so great when it finally got fixed that I was sad to see it broken again.

It does not actually send you back to the top. It only sends you as far as the specific thread title. That leaves out the entire top bar where both the menus and the my profile links are. This was a problem for a very long time that we finally got heard on. And it finally got fixed only a few months ago. Now they've gone and broken it again.

After soooooo long finally getting someone at Chowhound to pay attention and fix the "back to the top" button which never actually went back to the top, I cheered you when it worked correctly a few months ago. Now? With the new design why am I not surprised that you've managed to break the "back to the top" button yet again?

As others have pointed out on any number of new threads about the new design, it's the little things that sometimes make or break a site's usability. Back to the top? Really? You just couldn't keep that little thing working? I wonder if the people creating the "new design" ever actually *use* Chowhound!

I like Hummus Place but if your friend can't go all the way to 75th, the Whole Foods on 97th & Columbus actually makes pretty good hummus. I like their lemon hummus (and they have other variations as well).

At first glance, I actually thought they were bloody fingers.

Wow thanks! $1.99 is a great price. I'll have to see if I can do TJ as a regular part of my shopping "rotation". Thanks again.

I had no idea you could buy Ronnybrook in the supermarket! We buy from them at the farmers market in our neighborhood. And I love the glass bottles.

Yes, I knew they were up on 117th. But for westsiders (and their lack of delivery) it's just not convenient. But I love the idea of people going in on a membership together. I bet it'd have to be on the down-low though. I'll still check out TJ for the 1/2n1/2 the next time I'm over there and see how the pricing compares. Thanks for that tip.

While I think ABC Kitchen is terrific, it is about as opposite to "quiet obscure" as one can get. Those hard surfaces make it a very loud restaurant (to me it's boisterous and fun, to others it's horrible).

No, we don't buy organic. We buy non-RBGh (unfortunately can't afford organic 1/2n1/2 in the amount we use). (I'd love to buy it from the farmer we buy our milk from but can't afford that either.) Costco's not really a thing around here. But I do keep my eyes open for those yogurt-wars! Thanks for the info.

Do you know offhand how much the TJ 1/2n1/2 is? The WF price even beats Fairway on that -- $2.39 for a Quart.

I really wish the "yogurt wars" from about a month ago would come back!! TJ, Fairway and WF were all competing in their prices on Fage. <sigh>