angelhair's Profile
red sauce Italian near the Theater District- Trattoria Trecolori, Puttanesca or somewhere else?
Trattoria Trecolori seems to get the most recommendations for theater district Italian. We tried it recently, based on raves from this board. It was good but not quite as good as I was expecting. I think I was oversold based on all the chowhound comments. Even though it was only about a month ago, I can't remember a single thing we ate. They did get us out in time and the food was good, just not special or memorable in any way. There's nothing at all wrong with it (other than the noise level, but that seems to be the way things are these days). It's just not as special as I had hoped. I would go again but would probably try some other places before venturing back.
Cooking with Jazz closing April 22nd
We just got back - we were there for the last night (Sunday). They had the full menu and the place was mostly full although there were some empty tables. I'm guessing that the dreadful weather kept some people at home. We very nearly stayed at home but decided to brave the elements and the Interboro for a last taste of the best Cajun food in NYC. We ordered more than we usually do and brought a bunch of leftovers home. Lunch will be good tomorrow.
Steve was roaming around drinking beer and taking pictures with the guests while spending some time in the kitchen. Lots of regulars there. It was a weird mix of festive and a little sad. They were selling the art work and fixtures and there was a big "For Rent" sign outside. I will really miss his food.
Are there any other decent Cajun places anywhere in the city?
Eeek! Mouse-proofing my pantry?
We have a house in the country that we only visit on occasion. Every time we arrive to find mouse droppings everywhere - and I do mean everywhere. They seem to love to eat or mess about in soap, any kind of paper, candles, plastic baggies.. We've found droppings in our bed and on our toothbrushes. I never leave bars of soap out anymore and I keep our toothbrushes in a sealed container. And we leave lots of glue traps out when we're gone. But it's a real pain - the house is always cleaned when we leave, but we still have to do a thorough cleaning (and change sheets) every time we arrive. That's part of why we don't use the house so much these days.
Columbia Steak House in Lexington
I will be in Lexington for the first time in several years and nostalgia is calling me to some old college favorites. My brother worked for a time as a waiter a Columbia's and I'd love to have dinner there but some things I've read seem to indicate that it's gone downhill. Any thoughts?
What are some new (or old) faves that are worth checking out? I will have a teen-ager with me so any student hang-outs would be interesting for him.
Top Chef Texas Finale Part 2 - Ep. #17 - 02/29/12 (Spoilers)
I know that we're not always given a complete picture of the judges' thoughts about the dishes, but it certainly seemed that Sarah's dishes got more favorable comments from the judges and that she made fewer "mistakes." There was the issue with the beets and I think someone - maybe Hugh? - commented unfavorably about the texture of the polenta, which she remedied for the second set of judges. But Paul's chawanmushi was overcooked and the greens were a tangled mess for one set of judges and there were some complaints about the congee. And then Sarah's dessert was the clear winner. While Paul was by far the most deserving chef over the course of the season, it really seemed like Sarah took more risks and had the winning meal last night. I'm glad Paul won - he deserves it based on his track record - but I think maybe Sarah produced the best food in the finale.
Please help with PARADE GROUND SOCCER FIELDS
Neither of these places is within walking distance of the parade grounds. DiFara's is about a 15-20 minute drive, depending on traffic. Piccoli is in Park Slope and is closer but is still about a 10-minute drive. Piccoli is great - I ate dinner there Friday night and loved my homemade pappardelle with braised short ribs ragu - but it may not be the best place for a bunch of kids. I'm not sure they're even open for lunch.
There's not much within walking distance. There is a pizza place on Prospect Park Southwest that you could walk to. And there may be some places within walking distance on Church Avenue.
If you end up driving your options are pretty much unlimited.
Trattoria Toscana: Very Good Old-School West Village Italian
We love this place. It's run by the guy who owned Cent' Anni, which closed a few years ago and was just down the block from Trattoria Toscana. The owner (whose name escapes me) spent several years in Phoenix but moved back to New York. I think his daughter is a dancer, maybe with the NYC Ballet or ABT and he wanted to be able to see her perform.
Rabbit is occasionally on the menu and that's a treat worth seeking out. But the food is always very good and I've had some great wine there too. We've really been enjoying these old school West Village Italian places lately. You can usually get in without much of a reservations hassle, the food is always good and the prices reasonable. We like Piccolo Angolo, La Lanterna, and Pesce Pasta Trattoria. They're all wonderful in their own way but I think the food at Trattoria Toscana may be a slight cut above the rest, with a slightly nicer room. But they're all worth seeking out.
I just discovered that one of our faves, Rocco's on Thompson Street, is closed. I'm heartbroken. I loved that place.
-----
Trattoria Toscana
64 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
A Seminal Dining Experience
Some friends took us to Sakagura several years ago. It's been one of my favorite places ever since. It's such a gem and yet most people have never heard of it. I've never had the shirako but may have to try it. I've never had anything bad there. On a recent visit the standout was the grilled black cod - the best fish I've had anywhere in a long time. We also really enjoyed the duck wrapped around scallions and the fluke sashimi. But even though the food and sake are terrific the atmosphere is even better. Love this place.
Top Chef Texas - Ep. #14 - 02/08/12 (Spoilers)
Ed is the only eliminated chef to not get a chance to come back in via LCK. That hardly seems fair. They should have done the elimination round with the final four (Ed, Lindsey, Paul and Sarah) and then had the loser go up against Bev for the chance to re-enter the competition. Doesn't seem fair to make it all the way to the final 4 and not have that last chance that all the other ousted chefs had.
I'm bummed, because Ed was my favorite. But it still doesn't seem like a fair set-up.
Willing to make time to try NYC's BEST Southern Fried Chicken - But Where??!!
I would stick with Korean fried chicken. I've never found really outstanding southern fried chicken in New York and I say that as someone who grew up in the south. Pies 'n Thighs especially disappoints. It's greasy, flabby, the crust is bland. There is plenty of great Korean fried chicken in the city, though.
Need the ambience says "Wow! We're not in Kansas anymore!"
When I entertain out-of-town guests, they're almost always most interested in the standard destinations and restaurants that could be considered classics. All the trendy neighborhood places beloved by chowhounders aren't really unique to NYC - most every mid-sized city these days has decent farm-to-table cuisine, etc. So with that in mind, Chinatown is a must. It almost doesn't matter what restaurant you choose. Just walk around, enjoy the ambience, buy some tea cups or slippers, and then look for a restaurant with a good review posted in the window. And do try to have dim sum. We like Chatham Square on the weekends. Dim Sum a go go serves dim sum at all times, unlike most of the other Chinatown places, and it's clean and modern. Might be a great option.
Also try Grimaldi's for pizza. It doesn't always get much love from this board but it's really very good pizza, almost certainly much better than anything outside of NYC. But the best part is the location. It's at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge . Depending on the weather, walk across the bridge, enjoy the spectacular views of Manhattan and the funky/interesting sights of DUMBO and top it off with some pizza. Jacques Torres is just a couple of blocks from Grimaldi's so end up there for dessert and hot chocolate.
Katz's is a must. You can swing by Economy Candy afterwards if you want since it's only a couple of block from Katz's. But even though I love buying my Halloween candy there, I don't think it's special enough to warrant going out of your way for it. Dylan's has the glitz and glamour that might be fun for visitors, even though I wouldn't necessarily shop there.
Definitely try some old-school Italian. We often go with extended family to La Mela on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. The food is good, is served family-style and is really typical of old-school Little Italy.
I love the suggestion to hit up Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle (sans kids) and Balthazar is a great suggestion as well. I would skip Luke's Lobster Rolls unless you're dying for lobster. It's good but there's nothing uniquely NY about it whatsoever. In fact, it says on the web-site that he's trying to create a Maine-type experience.
Enjoy!
-----
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Chatham Square Restaurant
6 Chatham Sq, New York, NY 10038
Dim Sum Go Go
5 E Broadway, New York, NY 10038
Balthazar
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
La Mela
167 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
Economy Candy
108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
Dylan's Candy Bar
1011 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021
Bemelmans Bar
35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021
Luke's Lobster
93 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
Where to get good pies in Brooklyn for Thanksgiving
I so agree that NYC is not a pie town. Vut we make do... Ladybird Bakery in Park Slope has pretty good pies and even better tarts. Friday is the last day to place orders for Thanksgiving.
I've never been impressed by any Greenmarket pies or pastries but they'll be available next Wednesday if you can't get anything else.
-----
Ladybird Bakery
1112 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Any Tips on Getting into Rao's ?
Not always true - I won dinner there at a school auction last year. One of the regulars donated their table for a night. It also included food. And that was made clear at the auction. We stuffed ourselves with a multi-course meal and lots of drinks and didn't pay a penny extra. That may not always be the case but it was in mine. The food, by the way, is quite good. Not the best Italian you'll ever have but really very good old-school red sauce Italian. But you're not going for the food, you're going for the experience.
Suggestions near TCU
I will be touring TCU with my son next week and would love some suggestions for restaurants close to campus. Interested in the student hang-outs (with good food, of course) but also a nicer place for dinner. We love all types of food but are especially interested in things that we can't readily get in NYC, such as BBQ, Mexican, Tex-Mex, sousthwest, etc. But open to anything.
We'll also be driving from College Station to Ft. Worth so any suggestions for places to stop along the way for a good bite are appreciated as well.
When Thanksgiving and its customs are foreign to you
What's the big deal? It's one day. Unlike other holidays, there really aren't weeks of preparation and anticipation, for the most part, unless you're hosting a huge get-together.. There are no gifts to buy, no shopping for party dresses required, no tv specials (well, maybe a few) running for weeks on end, no special music in stores, no cards to send. It's just a huge harvest meal shared with family and friends. And the Macy's parade and football, of course. If you're not feeling a connection with the holiday, no biggie. If you live in a city with a Chinatown, have dinner there and go to a movie. Or stay home, enjoy your day off from work, watch dvds, get a jump-start on your Christmas/Hanukah gift-buying online, read a book, cook something special, take a nap so you can head to the mall for midnight Black Friday shopping, etc. The list is endless. Or if someone invites you to dinner, enjoy it in the spirit of a lovely meal spent with friends. And if you're still feeling out of sorts, remember, it's one day. You'll survive. I do understand that if you're far from home, away from your own family, friends and culture, that something like Thanksgiving might serve to make you feel alone and out of it. But there are many ways to adapt without donning a pilgrim hat and roasting a turkey.
The Ancient Thread Gripe
This is one of my biggest problems with Chowhound. As for what harm does it cause, it can be an incredible waste of time to plow through a thread only to realize that half of the places referenced are no longer in business. I think it's good to keep the old threads around so people can access them in a search but they should be closed to comments after, say, a year. Two years, tops.
What's the best thing you've ever received trick-or-treating?
There's a fabulous bakery in my neighborhood and they go all out for Halloween with decorations, the staff in costume, and scary/funny little skits for the kids. They give out bags of their cookies (4 per bag) to anyone, adult or child, in costume. I never miss that store. And I end Halloween night with a cup of tea and some delicious cookies.
Finding genuine French pastries in Brooklyn
I'll second Colson. I much prefer them to Almondine. I believe the owner is from Belgium. I can't speak to their chocolate, since I usually get one of their fruit pastries or the salted caramel tart, but the quality of everything I've had there is quite high. Also, they are very generous in donating to school auctions and charities, so they get points for that from me. Almondine has always refused to donate, FWIW.
-----
Colson Patisserie
374 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Faros - Park Slope?
We ate here last night after a friend raved about it. It was terrific. They didn't have dorado(though apparently it's usually available) so we had the whole grilled sea bass and snapper, both excellent. The sides were outstanding. The lemon potatoes were properly crusty on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside with delicious flavorings. The spinach rice was full of spinach and very tasty. The horta (a mix of Swiss chard, chicory, escarole and spinach) was perhaps too lemony but still tasty. The bread was good. No liquor license yet (they say it's coming next week) and they wouldn't let us BYOB, which was annoying, but overall we really enjoyed it and will no doubt be regulars. I've been craving a restaurant like this for those times when you just don't want to drive to Astoria.
I am a little worried, though. It's an awkward space, long and narrow. And it definitely doesn't have that hipster buzz that drives so many restaurants these days. And it's a big space, with two stories of dining rooms. On a Friday night there were only about five tables occupied. I really hope they survive. There's nothing else like it in the neighborhood and the food is quite good.
-----
Faros
84 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Good breakfast/lunch/dinner stops on the way from NYC to Syracuse
The title says it - we'll be driving from NYC to Syracuse and back and are interested in some good stops for meals along the way. Also interested in something in the Oswego area. We'll be going next weekend, if that matters. Thanks.
Interesting Options near the Prudential Center in Newark
We'll be attending the Sweet Sixteen basketball games this weekend in Newark and would like to find someplace good to eat before the games. We'll be taking the PATH from Manhattan and won't have a car so it will need to be within walking distance of the train and the stadium. We're open to all possibilities but some great Portuguese would be awesome! Thanks.
Breakfast and Dinner Recs between NYC and New Milford
We'll be heading to New Milford this weekend for our child's sporting event. What are some good places to stop along the way for breakfast and dinner? We're adventurous eaters and don't mind getting off the highway as long as it's relatively close (within 10 minutes).
Can you buy a turducken anywhere in NYC?
Well, "Breezychow," I'm not that bothered. It is a minor pet peeve of mine, though. I think people should be able to read old threads but I find it counterproductive to post on threads more than a year or two old. So often the info is completely out of date. Restaurants close. And open. Quality goes up and down. So while no one is "harmed" I find reviving old threads to be a real time-waster, for the most part. Why not start a new thread and get some current information? But that's not Chowhound's system so I'll deal with it - and reserve the right to find it mildly annoying and not very helpful.
Convivium Osteria--Menu Favorites
Convivium is one of my favorite restaurants. It doesn't get the hype that a lot of other Brooklyn restaurants do but that makes it easier to get a reservation! Not only is the food fantastic but I love the decor and ambience.
I almost always order the rabbit. It's delicious. The ravioli with duck ragu is also a favorite of mine. And the Portuguese and Spanish wines are a treat. Lots of choices you don't find elsewhere. Enjoy!
Can you buy a turducken anywhere in NYC?
I'm always amazed that people revive six-year-old threads. Why not just start a new one? So much can change in six (six!) years...
Anyway, I started the original thread. And I have cooked turduckens. They are delicious and easy to roast. And they certainly make a stunning and different presentation. I'm thinking about cooking one for Christmas and will be on the hunt for a turducken in NYC. I think Staubitz in Carroll Gardens may have them.
Dinner Recommendations - Open to Anything
Thanks for all the good suggestions. Houston seems to have such interesting restaurants. We're looking forward to trying many of them over the course of the next four years. I imagine we'll be visiting at least once or twice a year. Will definitely have to get to Tiny Boxwoods. Sounds unique.
Thanks for the congrats re: Rice. He - and we - are loving it so far.
-----
Tiny Boxwoods
3614 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77027
Dinner Recommendations - Open to Anything
When my son was visiting Rice University last spring I asked this board for some recommendations since we'd never been to Houston before and we got some great suggestions. Son is now a freshman at Rice and we'll be visiting him in a few days for Family Weekend. Our schedule is pretty full with Rice events but we should be able to do one dinner off campus. So, where should we go? Son is open to anything but would like to get out into Houston, since he doesn't have a car. He rides his bike to Rice Village frequently so we'd rather venture further out into the city, to some place it would be hard for him to get to on his own. I'm thinking of Reef or maybe a great Chinese or Thai place. Mexican is good also. Suggestions needed! We're all interested in good food and in seeing more of Houston.
On a separate note, I read somewhere about a restaurant in a plant nursery or greenhouse. I can't remember the name of it and I can't find it. Does such a place exist? It may be too twee for my son but I'd love to check it out at some point, assuming I didn't dream it up! Thanks.
Take out near Prospect Park, Brooklyn
The OP should know that the Bergen Street stop is quite a hike from the bandshell. It's about 20 blocks, 4 of them long uphill blocks. There are a lot of options on 5th Ave
walking from the Bergen stop but I don't think it's worth it, especially in this heat.
You can buy food in the park, at the concert. The choices are limited and it won't knock your socks off but it's decent - things like BBQ chicken and ribs, wraps, curried veggies, all from Two Boots. And there's a guy selling interesting ice cream with flavors like maple bacon and chocolate stout. Expensive but pretty good.
-----
Two Boots
514 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Vegas theme in Manhattan?
As part of a party day. Anything at all. Cheap, expensiive, anything..
