Pupster's Profile
Sitram Cookware?
As if people didn't know by now that I am a rabid All-Clad hater (Ripoff!) and a big booster for Sitram (and Paderno and Demeyere and...). Anyway, for MMRuth and co, Chef's Catalog has some Sitram Catering on sale right now. (Regular Sitram fans know this stuff hardly ever goes on sale.) Not just sets, but individual pieces too. And a bonus is that some of the individual pieces include the lid (read the description carefully), making for a bigger bargain. Usually lids must be purchased separately. Check it out.
http://www.chefscatalog.com/Catalog/SaleItems.aspx?scommand=refine&qstateid=2a23cda3-010b-43c3-9376-d9b8fe3cf3c1&rbc=Brand&rbv=Sitram&sp=all
I Want a Classic Italian Hero sandwich
They've been on downhill alert since owners changed.
My vote: Defonte.
Gelato/Ice Cream?
First, the bar is often crowded. Second, it's so loud in there with the music set high and the chatter from bar patrons that if you are looking for a quiet place to sit and talk, good luck to ya!
Your best bet is the various Italian pastry shops around the city. Lucia mentions Rocco, but Ferrara in Little Italy works too (yes, it's touristy but they have gelato and table service). Cones, which has excellent South American-style gelato, has a few tables but no table service (across from Rocco's though).
Don't know how late they are open, but my choice would be Tarallucci e Vino. I like the 18St location. Casual wine/coffee bar with light eats. You can sit in there a long time comfortably and chat away. They offer a gelato tasting, and though I haven't tried their gelato, their other stuff is good.
Question about Payard
Payard is closed on Sunday.
Consider doing their afternoon tea. You get seated in the back half of the restaurant (Payard's seating is divided in half: the front section with cafe tables, which is seat yourself, is somewhat harried because the tables are surrounded by the display cases. Lots of milling around by people getting stuff to-go. The back section is more serene, guarded by a hostess. The tables back there have a more formal restaurant feeling, with tablecloths and table settings.) Anyway, the tea there is not very expensive -- the menu: http://www.payard.com/teamenu.php You can order desserts back there too, but I think the tea is the better value.
Fried Chicken
See reply #2.
Gotta add in the fried chicken at PiesnThighs in Williamsburg. For 8 bucks I got 4 freshly fried pieces (2 wings, a thigh and leg) plus one side and a damn good buttermilk biscuit. A bit out of my way, but that was among the better fried chickens I've had this year.
Weird chowhound post, but need to send food to friend whose father died, need suggestions
Check zingermans.com for their various gift baskets. At the least it will give you some ideas. They have a sourcream coffee cake that might be appropriate.
Actually, my first thought was sending a ham. A Virginia ham perhaps? Or a Spanish ham (or meats from La Tienda.com)?
There's brisket or pastrami from Katz's. Or babka and smoked fish from Russ&Daughters.
There are jams, mustards and crackers from Stonewall Kitchens.
There were several gift basket threads from the past. I'm sure many will offer relevant suggestions.
Any restaurants overlook rockefeller center?
http://nymag.com/daily/food/2006/11/lunch_under_the_tree_at_rockef.html
Kitchen Essentials
Many threads on this already exist.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/303856
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/308868
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/340092
There are many many more, but this should get you started.
Japanese Tea in NYC
Oh, I almost forgot to mention the basement level of the Takashimaya department store might be worth a visit. They have teas and tea paraphenalia sold there, but if I remember correctly, the teas are all pre-packaged. Perhaps another hound can confirm.
Lunch near Walman Rink for 11-year-olds
Oh, I just thought of a good one. The Dahesh Museum has a cafe that offers an afternoon tea option just for little ones. It's called a Teddy Bear Tea. Location is good, just a couple blocks away from the SE corner of the Park. Very reasonable price and off the beaten path, so getting in shouldn't be a problem:
http://www.daheshmuseum.org/cafe/index.html
I think the Ritz-Carlton might do a similar young ones tea, though it's probably pricier. Location is good, on CPS, but perhaps too formal an atmosphere for your party? Call them for info.
Japanese Tea in NYC
I'm a fan of Sympathy for the Kettle, but they are not the place to go for informed expertise on Japanese teas or high quality green teas. It's just a cute tea shop.
Cha-an, too, is well worth a visit, but it is a restaurant, not a place to buy teas to take home.
Ito-En is it. It's not too big. They know what they're talking about. Go, and expect to pay. (The attached restaurant Kai serves food and afternoon tea.)
If you are interested in learning more about the Japanese Tea Ceremony, you should make an effort to contact the Urasenke Chanoyu Center in the UES. The Center has a school that does demonstrations in its carriage house location and occasionally at the Met. Check if your schedule will coordinate with theirs, but it's a wonderful experience if you have the chance.
A blurb: http://www.starchefs.com/features/tea/teaII/html/urasenke.shtml
Lunch near Walman Rink for 11-year-olds
The closest decent option might be Sarabeth's on CPS. Not particularly geared toward young ones, but it is a cutesy place with a child friendly menu. A little further away but perhaps more attractive are the American Girl Place restaurant (check for reservations because it is hard to get in) or either of the Alice's Tea Cup locations (one on W.73rd near Columbus, the other on E.64 St off Lexington).
If none of those work out, there're always the various theme restaurants on the 57th St corridor: the Brooklyn Diner, Jekyll&Hyde, Hard Rock. Food runs the gamut from terrible to serviceable.
Chocolate Cookies in Brooklyn
If these are cigarello-shaped cookies (hard to figure from your description) I saw some at Mazzola's this morning. Rolled chocolate cookie with chocolate sprinkles on the outside.
Best Chocolate Birthday Cake Recipe....HELP!
No need to stress. There are literally dozens of variations on white frosting using any or some combination of these:
meringue
white chocolate
cream cheese
sour cream
whipped cream
white buttercream
powdered sugar icing
marshmallow
coconut
A simple frosting in the new Dorie Greenspan combines 6 ou of white chocolate with 1.5 cups of heavy cream for a simple but elegant finish.
Melt the chocolate. Separately, bring a 1/2 cup of the cream to a boil, then add to the melted chocolate and let sit a minute. Stir until smooth and let come to room temp. Whip the remaining cup of cream to soft peaks, then add the ROOM TEMP chocolate mixture and beat to firm peaks. Voila! Easy as can be.
Garnish with white and brown chocolate shavings.
demeyere cookware
There are too many other high-quality brands to consider for that kind of money: Paderno (Italy), Sitram (France), Tramontina (Brazil), as well as Demeyere (Belgium). All-Clad really doesn't even come close despite being just as expensive.
demeyere cookware
The quality of Demeyere way outshines All-Clad crap. Not even in the same league.
Cookie/Pastry Platters in Brooklyn?
Another choice is Cafe Scaramouche, particularly for their decorated/iced sugar cookies in whatever 'theme' you would like. You can get shapes and icing of wedding cakes, flowers or some other bridal theme. Not cheap but in the same range as One Girl certainly.
They also do petit four and regular cookie trays.
http://www.cafescaramouche.com/
Taking a chef to dinner near Cobble Hill tonite!
Assuming you are looking for a chef-driven eatery, I will throw out two as-yet-suggested names:
1) Porchetta -- lots of buzz on new chef Jason Neroni (formerly of 71 Clinton Fresh Food) and apparently if he is in the kitchen tonight, he will do a tasting menu for you. Here is blogger foodite's recent meal: http://www.foodite.com/foodite/2006/11/porchetta.html#more
2) Crave -- this place hardly ever gets mention on this board. It's small and it's neighborhood-y, but it is a labor of love of the two chefs running it. The menu is not adventurous but solid. Plus they are in the kitchen (usually) so they might be willing to do a little sumtin-sumtin if you ask.
Menu: http://craveus.com/home/
Last but not least, I agree with bobjbkln that NY pizza in the form of Lucali's might be the thing. Certainly, a visitor from LA would appreciate some decent pizza and remember that even chefs like regular food like the rest of us.
Comfort Food Near 53rd Street and 5th Avenue
I can think of 3 that might fit your needs:
1) Sarabeth's on CPS btn 5th&6th -- known mostly for their homey/country brunch fare, but they have burgers, potpies, salads and sandwiches as well as some dressed up entrees.
2) Brooklyn Diner on 57th near 7th -- a theme-y restaurant that does basics better than most theme restaurants. Good hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches a notch higher than a true diner, but also a bit more expensive.
3) Houston's on 3rd Ave and 53rd -- yes, the chain restaurant which has decent bbq and meat dishes. Thick burger.
Goes without saying that with 25+ people you better call first.
Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies in Red Hook
FYI, you can get them at some retail outlets: http://www.stevesauthentic.com/localavail.html
I live 2 neighborhoods away, but even I find it too much trouble to get to the factory. I get mine at Los Paisanos.
High Tea where husband will feel comfortable
I have a regular tea group, so I've been to most of the teas offered in the city. I understand your concern regarding your husband, as it is true that a lot of tea venues have a feminine slant. But don't despair; there are several options.
My top 3 for dragging an unwilling husband:
1. The Peninsula -- located in a bar area in the hotel lobby, this is the one venue where men outnumber the women. Most are doing business and making deals. Chairs are deep leather and along with tea you can order drinks from the bar.
2. The Ritz-Carlton -- both uptown and downtown. A very good tea service and no-nonsense. Gracious service but none of the ladies who lunch sensibility. Clubby chairs add to the comfort.
3. St. Regis -- the best tea overall: great food, great service, great atmosphere, top-notch tea. The only things that might be mistaken for frou-frou is the live piano music, bounteous and beautiful flower arrangements and the help of a tea 'sommelier' which may make certain manly men roll their eyes. (Actually, though, the sommelier is helpful in picking out a tea you may enjoy.) This is my personal favorite (plus they will keep bringing out food, no extra charge, until your husband is full ; )
All three are top-notch, about $50 a head all in, but well worth the high end price. Make sure you reserve in advance.
Though both Payard and Lady Mendl are good in their ways, I would not take any dubious males to either. But that's just me.
Carroll Gardeners holla back!
Get off at the front of the train (if you are coming from Manhattan or north of CG). Exiting from the subway, start up Smith St, your first stop must be Joe's Superette to order some fried prosciutto balls. Start with a half dozen at 50 cents each. These are like crack, so you may have to go back. (They have rice balls too but those pale in comparison to the prosciutto balls.)
Then just walk down Smith and nosh at what takes your fancy.
-A stop at Stinky for some cheese.
-Further up are banh mi purveyors Hanco and Nicky's. Both don't really compare with the best of Sunset Park and Manhattan, but they are good for the neighborhood.
-A quick stop at Chance. This French-Chinese has a cheap lunchbox, but if you're just noshing stop in for one or two dimsum dishes. (They'll let you cuz they're pretty empty for lunch.) The soup dumplings here are pretty good.
-One Girl Cookie is a good stop. I don't love their cookies, but they are decent one-biters if you need a snack.
-Once you hit Atlantic, you can veer right and try for a taco or torta from Fast and Fresh Deli (over on Hoyt), a cupcake from Downtown Atlantic, or some peach cobbler at Soul Spot. Or you can head left on Atlantic and get some nice turnovers at Damascus Bakery or Sahadi. (Or a deep fried Snicker at Chip Shop.) Feel like a beer and a burger? Waterfront Ale House is right there.
-Head back down Court. Hit Marquet Bakery for a good croissant or a decent madeleine.
-Quick stop at the old Tuller/new Cobblestone for a looksee (I haven't seen much I want in there yet.)
-Caputo's Bakery for a loaf of ciabatta or olive bread to take home. (Or over to Mazzola on Union for cheese or lard bread. Further on Union, you can hit Ferdinando's for a spleen sandwich or Schnack for a slider or hot dog. Dub Pies for an Australian meat pie is around the corner.)
-A slight detour to Chicory on Degraw for a munchie -- the homemade sea salt and vinegar potato chips are a good choice. While you are over there, perhaps a stop at Bocca Lupo the new wine-and-cheeser on Henry -- not my favorite but CHers seem to like it.
-Back on Court, Esposito's pork store for a sample of the homemade soppresata (get the spicy). Fish Tales is on the way, if you need some marine life instead.
-Must stop at Court Pastry for a cannoli or an Italian ice.
If you have room for dinner after all that, you are a better (or bigger) man than I!
RED VELVET CAKE RECIPE?
There's a mistake in that recipe -- correctly use cake flour, not AP flour.
Here's the recipe from the source: http://www.cakemanraven.com/recipe.htm
I've made it many times -- not difficult to make, moist and delicious. Not very chocolately though.
Another winner is Jennifer Appel's version from Buttercup Bakeshop in NYC -- very similar to the epicurious version.
http://www.leitesculinaria.com/recipes/cookbook/red_velvet_cake.html
Elegant, Non-Showy (and Delicious) Chocolate Gift
How about a tin of MarieBelle's hot chocolate?
http://www.mariebelle.com/product.cfm?id=36
Store is on Broome St in Soho.
It's unpretentious (hey, it's hot chocolate!) but delicious. The tin is festive and elegant but not too much. A addition of homemade marshmallows (you can get some at Whole Foods) adds a playful touch.
Farmer's or Green Market in Queens???
There are 4 Greenmarket locations in Queens:
http://www.cenyc.org/site/pages/GMKT_falllisting.pdf
map and hours of your local markets
And this posted by hounder breadnchocolate:
"east new york farms - they have a farmer's market every saturday at the end of the 3 line in new lotts - with local grown produce (and they do it with lots of topsoil and with attention to health and safety concerns etc.) - lots of caribbean specialty crops - also freshly made food and crafts."
Italian Small Plates
Centovini on Houston near Mercer.
Frankie's second location on Clinton.
New Zealand butter - where to buy
The East Village Cheese Shop carries both Atalanta (about 2.99 a pound, best price in town) and Jana Valley (1/2 lb, no salt for about 2.69).
Dom's in Soho carries Jana Valley.
