gottasay's Profile
l.a. times article about top chef
Top Chef is alright, but it got a whole lot better when my favorite chef appeared on it! I would love to see him on it all the time! And honestly, what does anyone expect of Top Chef/product placement? Commercials and product placements pay the bills! And for ALL the Rocco haters on this site, this blog DOES reveal the Rocco of today, and he's awesome. Great writer, great chef, has eaten his humble pie and lives to tell about it. Read the blog & the comments too, pretty good stuff: http://www.bravotv.com/blog/roccodispirito
big foodie head w/a dec birthday
kobetobiko, clearly i was not suggesting la esquina for foie gras. i was not replying to jdream, my comment merely fell below his.
La Esquina is cozy and understated and a consistent favorite. Been to several birthday celebrations there and they always get it right.
Dread pesticides; can't afford all-organic diet.
fudisgud, second everything you said! very helpful.
Dread pesticides; can't afford all-organic diet.
It is important to buy "Fair Trade Organic Coffee", which is even available at Starbucks. "Fair Trade" is the initiative to combat and fairly compensate coffee farmers.
Dread pesticides; can't afford all-organic diet.
definitely research joining a co-op. or get a job at your local whole foods part time for the discount! i mix organic and regular. honestly, organic is (of course) better but the benefits of fruits and veggies are still active no matter what. just make sure you buy what is in season and local.
Mauviel vs. All Clad
Make sure you stock up on Bar Keepers friend no matter which way you go. I don't have non-stick, so it is the best thing for cleaning my All Clad. I also considered copper, but chose against it for practicality. But I will surely someday switch to copper for all the reasons listed. Hopefully you are planning on displaying if you get copper-it is so beautiful!
25th Birthday Dinner
Waverly Inn and Garden is super-exclusive and hot right now. May have to jump through hoops to get a reservation though unless you have connections to Graydon Carter. Best bet is to go in person to arrange the details. They have an unlisted number.
Labor Day BBQ?
-Spicy Mango Guacamole with tricolor tortilla chips (see my recipe below)
-Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad over Arugula
-Potato Salad
-Grilled Seafood Salad (scallops, shrimp, squid with lemon, garlic, herbs, olive oil)
-BBQ chicken & Ribs
-Grilled corn on the cob (husks on) with a beaurre compose (2nd tryalot's recommend.)
-Grilled Baby vegetables (fingerling potatoes, baby squash, baby eggplant, baby onions, baby carrots, etc.)
-Exotic Fruit Kabobs (glaze with ginger spread/marmalade)
-Ice cream sandwiches (2nd Gail's recommend!)
Spicy Mango Guacamole with Whole Grain, Red & Black Bean tortilla chips
3 ripe avocados, mash with super clean hands with all other ingredients
1 really ripe mango, diced
4 tomatillos, diced
1 small bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 oz. fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 garlic clove, minced -or- roast garlic and add 3 cloves
Juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper (or to taste)
2 tbsp Chipotle Tabasco Sauce
1 tbsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper (or to taste)
Sea Salt to taste
Plocky's chips are my favorite to serve. They are available in the organic or gourmet chip or snack sections of supermarkets.
For more traditional Spicy Guacamole, change out the tomatillos for 4 peeled, chopped, seeded tomatoes and change out the lime for Lemon. The ginger and cumin is delicious with it, but can be eliminated if you're going for a more traditional taste.
Princeton gems
For me, eating in Princeton is about the overall atmosphere of the town. I do not enjoy having to cross Route 1, because no matter how good the food might be in Princeton Market Fair, having to venture near the highway in a mall detracts and is far less pleasant than being in beautiful, quaint Princeton/Rocky Hill.
Lahiere's is definitely a gem. Always has been and always will be to me. I actually had my intimate wedding reception there for 80 guests and it was positively flawless. Intimate, elegant yet cozy and after 3 years, my guests haven't stopped talking about how amazing the food was. However, my wedding planner was outstanding and every detail was tended to. Would always recommend it.
I love Mediterra and all the Terra Nova restaurants, but that really can't compare to the other restaurants in the area for me. I would prefer Ferry House, Lahiere's or One53 above anything else.
Every time I have eaten at One53 in Rocky Hill, the NY Times reviewers have been there. Chef Justin Braun is a star.
For great bar food, nothing beats Triumph, especially in the fall when they have pumpkin ale. I crave their garlicky, spicy calamari with chipotle mayo.
For lowkey, casual drinks with friends I like A&B, but the food is so hit or miss and never that great. I really can't stand The Nassau Inn's food and Winberrie's is very dirty.
When The Peacock Inn was open, Le Plumet Royale received very high reviews.
I would like to try Ajihei that Frackit was talking about. Will have to do that soon.
Princeton, NJ and Surrounding Areas
I've heard that Diamonds also relocated to West Trenton or Titusville, known as "Diamonds Riverside". They had a website but I don't see it now. What about Lorenzo's? Isn't that the place for great aged steak?
Gertrude Hawk Chocolate
This chocolate is not good in my opinion for it to be sold as 'gourmet'. I'd take a Snickers over this anyday.
What to do with lots of peeled garlic
I use garlic in nearly everything I cook. What have you done with it so far?
I love vegetable stir-frys with tons of garlic cloves and ginger (great with tofu, chicken or shrimp added too).
I also do a Thai scallops in coconut milk with garlic and ginger, green curry, basil, lemongrass with cayenne pepper over Coconut Ginger rice.
Every pasta dish does well with garlic cloves sauteed in olive oil, in my opinion.
I like garlic in my eggs as well with lots of basil and cayenne pepper.
Let's see... whole garlic cloves sauteed and browned in olive oil would be excellent in a caprese salad with grape tomatoes and mozzerella balls.
Also, a mango, king crab and avocado salad with red onions would do well with browned garlic cloves with ginger, cayenne pepper, cilantro and fresh squeezed lime juice with black pepper and sea salt to taste. That is an excellent summer salad. You can do the same thing with tuna (minus the mango and avocado) and add shallots and fresh-squeezed lemon juice instead of lime.
What ever happened to Rocco Dispirito?
Did you all see his blog as padma's guest blogger on the Top Chef page?
http://www.bravotv.com/blog/padmalakshmi/2007/08/guest_blogger_rocco_dispiri
to_1.php
party for 25-30...should i be worried?
YAY!!! I am SO happy for you! Everything you did sounds AMAZING! Excellent ideas with the lasagna/roll-ups to counteract the dietary needs. I am really so glad that I could've been of help, you seriously made my day! I initially signed up to this site just to chime in on a particular post, but you specifically make me really glad I joined. Cheers!
What ever happened to Rocco Dispirito?
"From the ad on Bravo seeking an amateur cohost, he's apparently developing an online cooking show."
I thought that was just a contest with Bertolli and not a permanent gig? Anyone know anything with that?
Princeton, NJ and Surrounding Areas
Really? That is funny about La Mezzaluna! Teresa's is always good, I agree, but I wouldn't say it is a good date spot. It is more of a lunchtime café to me. Where is Blue Bottle Café? Is that the transient spot a bit North of Tiger's Tale that is constantly changing hands?
End Vowel Ommission in NJ Italian Restaurants
PEOPLE, relax! I don't tell the man what to do. I just had him read the post and asked him what he thought. He makes up his own mind! He can call it whatever he damn well pleases as long as the waitstaff understands him. I am not even Italian, so what do I care. The whole thing is just amusing to me. I stay out of it. The mother-in-law dictates and they follow. Trust me, I have no desire to interfere with her post. I live and let live.
What ever happened to Rocco Dispirito?
So you want him to open a restaurant and that's it? Nothing else counts for you? Just curious...
What ever happened to Rocco Dispirito?
Negative reviews for Union Pacific? Are you sure you aren't confusing it for Rocco's 22nd? Because Union Pacific is what made him the big food star he is. Even the haters on this forum will agree that Union Pacific was amazing.
What ever happened to Rocco Dispirito?
Seems like no more restaurants, but a new show on A&E is in the works. Other than that, he writes and publishes books, makes appearances, and is a tv personality now. I am a huge Rocco fan and supporter and I love his new Bertolli ads! Maybe not food that the public can purchase from him, but his books are great food accomplishments in my opinion. Rocco is the BEST!
End Vowel Ommission in NJ Italian Restaurants
I just had my husband review this post. He now realizes that thanks to his mother's mutated NJ 2nd-generation Italian pronunciations that he needs to re-learn Italian food words. Or just not say them. He is leaning towards just pointing to the menu when out to eat, so as to avoid further embarrassment. This is, of course, of great amusement to me.
Why is Cheese Forbidden in Authentic Italian Fish Cookery?
But clams are not fish and they are not delicate at all in my opinion... is it an overall seafood rule or just a fish rule?
Can you smell the food chefs cook on TV (seriously)?
I second that rap's is Gin & Juice. Good one, ajs228.
Laid back...with my mind on my money and my money on my mind :)
Why is Cheese Forbidden in Authentic Italian Fish Cookery?
That is a sad rule, considering how AWESOME parmesano is on pretty much every kind of seafood pasta! Who cares what the rule is. Unless you're out to dinner with someone who holds that perspective, (and even then), it's going in YOUR mouth. Food is to eat for taste. So eat and enjoy!
Flemington area eats
Interesting. Now that you mention it, the last time I was at the Grand Colonial, I wondered where Lorraine was- she used to interact so much with the tables. So I guess it is primarily the Dallas boys running things now.
Yes, the Tewksbury Inn has new management/owners but things are still absolutely excellent. Chef Chris Quintile is the best. Don't care for the new dining room decor, but the bar room is the place to be anyway.
However, if you like The Tewksbury Inn, I highly recommend Verve in Somerville as well. Again, the owner and service is consistently excellent and food is superb. The upstairs lounge is a great place for drinks as well.
Another one in the Flemington area is the Fox & Hound in Lebanon. Cozy, lowkey, the food can't beat the Tewks, but is a lovely spot and the owners are always present and wonderful.
Princeton, NJ and Surrounding Areas
The best Princeton restaurants are Lahiere's and Ferry House (though they're not Italian). Lahiere's is cozy and elegant for a date.
La Mezzaluna is supposed to be a great Italian restaurant and looks appropriate (casual yet cozy) for a date. Mediterra is good, but the ambience is less private so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Sotto 128 is a new one to look into...
Approximately 20 minutes south of Princeton is the Chambersburg section of Trenton (the Little Italy of Trenton) for great Italian food. Amici Milano is great. Diamond's is also great but I don't know if it has relocated.
Approximately 30 minutes north of Princeton along 206 leads you to Somerville where there are several great restaurants as well. La Scala, Il Pomodoro, La Cucina, etc.
World’s Best Candy Bars?
I prefer Swiss dark chocolate. Cadbury's is good, but it's milk chocolate and too sweet for me. For those having a hard time finding Cadbury's, my local English tearoom has a website for those hoping to order specific Cadbury's hard-to-find items:
www.sallylunns.com
I will say that if I have an immediate chocolate craving, I hate to admit that I love me a Take 5 or Snickers bar.
Where can one get a "Kinderbueno" or a "Toppris"? Are they available in the US?
party for 25-30...should i be worried?
As far as your table set-up/platters/utensils/etc (this isn't as menu-centric, but also important for someone not used to hosting dinners)...
(this may be obvious to you already and you may have this part already in mind, so disregard if that is the case), BUT in case you are unsure:
-I would recommend purchasing a bouquet of sunflowers for your buffet table or a bouquet that compliments/coordinates with the color of your paper plates/napkins/utensils (purple or light blue+white is a lovely compliment for sunflowers).
-Oh, and a lovely touch for any Italian/Meditteranean table is to have a cup/vase/pitcher full of tall breadsticks. For appearance as well as taste.
-Organize all platters, bowls and serving utensils asap. A great idea that my mother does to stay organized is to set and decorate her table far in advance, and have post-it notes labeling what food item is designated in what platter. That way, even if you have people helping you, it is a no-brainer what goes where.
-Make sure you purchase small plates and cocktail napkins to offer with the appetizers and have a teeny basket or cup of forks alongside.
-For the entree, I would have the forks and knives rolled together into individual large dinner napkins and tied with a pretty ribbon or sealed with an elegant gold sticker offered in a basket next to the plates.
-For dessert, I would offer forks and spoons displayed in a teeny basket or cup next to your dessert plates and napkins.
-I would also add unscented votives everywhere for ambience.
-Don't forget to have some great background music selected. Jazz standards are great because they are festive, elegant, romantic and nostalgic and will set the mood for the next days events. They are usually universally appealing as well.
I think that's all the advice I have for you! Good luck! :-)
