SaltPeter's Profile
Looking for Recs for Benihana-like place . . .
Does anyone have any recommendations for a Japanese steak place that's not Benihana? I'm not looking for Yakiniku here -- I need the theater because there will be a couple kids involved. That said, I'd love to do better than Benihana, and am certain I can -- I just don't know the lay of the land. I'm guessing Manhattan's my best bet, but outer-borough would be fine too. (It's a birthday, party of 10 or so, to the extent that's relevant . . .) Any recs? Many thanks . . .
Straightforward Seattle Question
Hi there,
I have a omnivore buddy going to Seattle (staying downtown), and am trying to give him some recs. I haven't been in a while, so my memories (serviceable but can't-miss chowder, Ivar's); fries, Dick's); (burgers, Kid Vallee) may be utterly obsolete. What I really want to tell him is -- now don't giggle -- where to get good salmon. Yours is, in my view (I'm from NYC) so superior to east coast salmon that getting salmon once or twice is paramount. He does enough fussy dining here in NYC that he'd less be looking for cutting edge cuisine than places with impecable but straightforward preparation of good salmon (wild if possible, but I understand that's not as easy as it once was). I also have dreamy memories of kumimato oysters, so if there's anyplace notable for oysters, a heads-up on that would be appreciated too. Thanks, Hounders, and come to NYC and eat with us!
-SaltPeter
New Orleans Basics
Thanks so much for the post. I'd thought that Galatoire's was no-reservation, line only! I'd be delighted to let a waiter there give me the "omikase" of New Orleans cooking. God, this thread is getting me hungry.
New Orleans Basics
Hey, I'd like to thank mrsfury, edible complex, HalfShell and everybody else thoughtful enough to post such substantial responses to my query. You guys are the best; your suggestions are really helpful. Make your way to NYC and let me return the favor!
Best,
SaltPeter
New Orleans Basics
Fellow Hounders,
I will be visiting New Orleans between 2/12 and 2/17 (with perhaps a day trip out of the city) and was hoping I could get some very basic reccos on places to eat. I've only been to New Orleans once, and it was for just 18 hours, so I didn't get far!
To try to narrow my query a bit, I suppose I'm looking for guidance on two things:
1) As a rule, I generally try to avoid touristy places -- but that said, are there any touristy places that I just shouldn't miss? As an example, I went to some sandwich place (Momma's? Big Momma's?) that had a hero (maybe a Po-boy, but I don't want to misuse the term) with oven scrapings that I really enjoyed. And I really want to try beignets, and suppose I'll go to Cafe du Monde unless some Hounder steers me elsewhere.
2) This is the harder one -- where are a few places that I should go to try to begin to understand the grammar of New Orleans cooking? Put differently, what do you think I need to try during three or four days of eating opportunities? Gumbo? Po-boys of different varieties? Fried chicken? I'd love to hear your thoughts. By way of example, if you were coming to New York City (where I live) and were asking the same question, I'd steer you to very precise places to try real bagels and bialies, hot dogs, pizza, deli, knishes and any number of things that are distnictly NYC.
By the way, on my first brief trip I managed to make it to Uglesich's, which fairly put me over the moon. I'm told it closed.
My general mantra is, show me the first place the returning soldier goes when he comes home on leave. That's where I want to be.
Sorry -- this is a bit longer than I'd intended. I really, really appreciate your guidance.
-SaltPeter
Local Eating in Apsen
Apologies to all if this board doesn't contemplate Colorado. That said, I'll be meeting a bunch of friends for a long weekend in Aspen, and am curious what the food scene is there. I'm less interested in haute cuisine -- I live in NYC and have tons of choices in that regard -- but am curious to know if there are any regional specialties to explore, diners not to miss, etc. And of course, the proverbial "place the soldier home on leave goes to first." Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, all.
- SaltPeter
Grumpy Old Man - Staubitz Guy is really irritating
I happened upon Los Paisanos (Smith btwn. Wycoff/Bergen) while trying to find Staubitz, and have never been back to Staubitz since. They age their own beef; break down hogs; always have veal bones, if you're into that kind of thing; are open seven days a week; and the people are really, really friendly. I think they deliver in the neighborhood (not sure; I live in the Slope). I really think the place is first rate.
