Liz B's Profile
Elephant Head Pastries?
Does anyone know where one can get elephant head pastries in NY? My parents remember getting them at a German restaurant with an attached bakery somewhere on the UWS in the early '80s, when my older brother went to Columbia. I have only vague memories of them myself, since I was just a little kid, but seem to remember that they involved choux pastry and pastry cream. I would love to find another place to get them, and would be very grateful for any insights from fellow 'hounds. Many thanks.
Best local ice cream source for sundae party?
The original ice cream bride here, reporting back. We went with Toscanini's for both the ice cream and the hot fudge, since I really did want the best, and it was *fabulous*. We chose half gallons of the belgian chocolate, cake batter, gingersnap molasses, and mango khulfi. I think we had a little mango khulfi left at the end, but not much. A note to anyone else who is going to try this: dealing with the Tosci's staff for large orders like this is not always easy. We placed our order with Gus Rancatore, who told us we could call his sister to figure out the pickup time. When we did, she had no record of our order. It all worked out in the end, of course, but it took a bit of highly worthwhile legwork. Thanks again to everyone for your recommendations!
Masala Art in Needham
We went to Masala Art for the first time on Saturday and liked it a lot. Yes, it is more expensive than some other Indian places, but it's not all *that* expensive - we paid less than $40 for two entrees and an app, and we really liked the food. We got the Chicken Malabar, with tamarind and coconut, the Channa Dal, and some idli, because I love Southern Indian food and can't find much of it around here. Next time we'll get the dosas as well. There was a huge crowd, but we were seated within ten minutes - without a reservation - and had no service problems whatsoever. I'd happily go back any time; it's just a matter of whether we feel more like Indian or Sweet Basil down the street.
Best local ice cream source for sundae party?
Thank you all so much. That raises an additional question -- who has the best hot fudge in the Boston area? Again, I would have said Toscanini's but my experience here is much more limited.
Chinatown for lunch
So is Winsor Cafe. Very good food (esp XLB) and the dim sum orders come out pretty fast.
Best local ice cream source for sundae party?
We're having a make-your-own-sundae party the night before our wedding in a few weeks. Where would you suggest we go for the ice cream? Normally I'm a big fan of Toscanini's, but their half gallons are fairly expensive. Rancatore's is proving hard to work with; they tell us we can't order anything in advance and they have no idea what, if anything, will be available in a half-gallon to gallon size. JP Licks is more accessible for us, but I like their hard ice cream flavors less (but that may just be because I like their soft flavors so much more than anywhere else). Haven't had a lot of experience with Christina's, and Lizzie's is out for logistical reasons. Am I missing anything? How would you compare the hard flavors of Toscis and JPL? Thank you so much in advance for your thoughts.
Help! Save me from Dunkin' Donuts!
In case it wasn't clear from the answers above, there *is* a full-fledged Peets store right in the Square, just a block out of the way from the most direct walking route between your hotel and HLS. It's not quite the original, but then it's hard to compare any part of Cambridge with your 'hood, the Gourmet Ghetto (sigh)... no Cheese Shop and nothing like the frites at Cesar. Have a good visit!
Thinking about going to Salts for my birthday....
We went in jeans on Friday night and everything was delicious. The food and service were both terrific, and the atmosphere was very nice without being pretentious. The chicken ballotine with cinnamon smoke is excellent, a little better than the fish entree that I can't even remember right now. The beet salad with rhubarb from their farm was great to start with; small portions, but intense flavors. I second the recommendation of the chocolate torchon for dessert. Happy birthday!
Tea place suggestions?
If you ever get up to Newburyport, there is a terrific tea shop there called Licorice & Sloe. They have tons of loose leaf teas in large tins, like they do at Mariage Freres in Paris, and the place itself is really cozy and nice. It's just off the main drag less than a block from the Grog. I know that's enormously out of the way, but maybe you'll find yourself up there on a quiet Sunday morning (as I did recently) and have the place to yourself with a pot of tea and some crumpets.
Best coffee downtown?
Hi Boston Hounds --
I just moved here from San Francisco and am desperate to find a decent cup of coffee anywhere near my office, in Post Office Square. I'm a longtime Peets fan, and am thrilled that they have an outpost at Federal and High, but is there anywhere else that comes close to coffee that good in the downtown area? I'm all set for brewing at home -- just need a place to run to midmorning.
On a related note, can anyone tell me why my coworkers keep telling me how great Dunkin Donuts coffee is? This totally floors me.
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
Where to throw chowish "goodbye SF" party?
Any suggestions for where I could host a fairly large party -- casual brunch, cocktails/hors d'ouevres, or any other type of drop-in, drop-out event -- at a place with terrific food, of any kind? I'm leaving SF after nine years in foodie heaven and want to treat my friends. Anywhere in the city or the East Bay is fair game. Anywhere with good desserts would be particularly fabulous.
Many thanks in advance for your suggestions -- and for all of your wonderful help over the years.
Fabulous Soup in the FiDi?
Dear Hounds,
Is there anywhere other than Soup Freak's and Max's that you'd recommend for a wonderful bowl of soup for someone who has to be at work downtown today even though she has a nasty cold?
Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Hey, San Francisco visitors, tell the locals about Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
Oakville Grocery now has a branch in Fisherman's Wharf, near or in the Cannery. Visitors might want to make a picnic from the well-above-average pickings there, and sit out on the park or near the beach in front of Ghirardelli Square. And of course it's much, much better to bring home some delicious local jams or other food items than sweatshirts as souvenirs.
Best salads in SF?
If the two of you are downtown for lunch, you might want to try Mixt, on Sansome, which has a good range of ingredients from which you can create your own salads.
