antjones9's Profile
solo dining flatiron
Your options are pretty unlimited in the flatiron district. Name a price range and preferred type of cuisine.
Daniel: Wine pairing or not?
I've heard that the wine pairing was not particularly spectacular and that it might be better to order on my own. The heart of my question is really about bang for the buck (i.e. whether spending $225 on two bottles would give more bang for the buck than the wine pairing). I'm sure people who've dined at Daniel might have an opinion on this.
Daniel: Wine pairing or not?
I will be dining at Daniel (NYC) with two friends. We were planning on doing the tasting menu. I noticed that wine pairing is offered at $75 per person. I was going to do it but thought that we could probably do better for ourselves by ordering two bottles of wine. The wine pairing would total $225 for three people. Is anyone familiar enough with the wine list to recommend two bottles to go with the tasting menu that total less than $225 or comment on the wisdom of my strategy?
Frank Bruni's Reviews of Vong & Mercer
I had a terrible experience at Mercer Kitchen and enjoyed Bruni's review greatly. My wife and I had to share a menu (which was different from the one displayed in front of the restaurant) and the food was truly mediocre.
Daniel: Wine pairing or not?
I will be dining at Daniel with two friends. We were planning on doing the tasting menu. I noticed that wine pairing is offered at $75 per person. I was going to do it but thought that we could probably do better for ourselves by ordering two bottles of wine. The wine pairing would total $225 for three people. Is anyone familiar enough with the wine list to recommend two bottles to go with the tasting menu that total less than $225 or comment on the wisdom of my strategy?
Park Ave Cafe
Bruni eplains how it works in a recent blog posting:
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=89
Tasting Menu in the $100-$120 Range?
The Blue Hill tasting menu is about $69 (not including wine, tax or tip).
Easy Soft Shell Crab Recipes? And what to serve with it?
Softshell crabs are soo wonderful that you hardly have to do anything to them. Clean them (i.e. remove the lungs and chop off the eyes - if you like you can also remove the tamale) and dust them with a mixture of flour, salt and pepper (szechuan peppercorns add a nice touch) Fry them in a cast iron skillet with about 1/2 inch of canola oil - approximately 2-3 minutes on each side (depending on size). Let them rest on some paper towels before plating.
I'm Not Going To Renew Gourmet or Food & Wine
My wife was incensed at the item in Food&Wine last month that gave suggestions on what to buy for dining in various restaurants. The notion that you should go out and spend $4,000 on a Dolce & Gabbana dress to eat at Le Cirque was offensive. It reminds me of those ridiculuos articles in Money magazine where they tell you the story of married 30 year-old anethesiologists who can't figure out what to do with that extra $250,000 in their checking account.
Fantastic coffee
My brother, who works at Think, explains it thus: Take 5lbs of ground coffee, place it into a fine mesh sack and submerge it in 5 gallons of cold/tepid water and let it sit for 4-5 hours. You will probably want to cut the recipe back down a bit for personal use. It goes without saying, but I'll go ahead and say it anyway, that you should use good coffee.
Does Tabasco "go bad"?
They also stay in business because it is deliciuous and everybody buys it.
Fantastic coffee
I agree, Gimme makes very nice coffee. Oslo is also good but I don't care for the scene at Oslo. The Verb is my regular joint. Their lattes are good but the regular coffee is like tar.
Fantastic coffee
Think Coffee at 248 Mercer Street is my favorite spot for coffee. The space is big and comfortable and the coffee is delicious and all organic/shade grown. They even use milk from an organic Hudson Valley micro producer.
Throwdown with Bobby Flay
I did and I enjoyed it. I am acquainted with Ben, the surfer chowder chef and knew ahead of time that he had lost. Out of loyalty to Ben I was prepared to resent Bobby's performance but in the end thought that Bobby Flay did a great job.
A few years back when Bobby had that BBQ show (the one where he cooked alongside thick drawling southern guy) I thought he was a bit of a jerk. However in the past year I have had to admit that he is really a great chef and a seemingly great guy - perhaps marriage has mellowed him.
WD-50?
I must agree with dippedberry's reaction. I am a diehard wd-50 fan - but I understand that it is a bit inventive. At the end of the day wd-50 is about delivering great food and wonderfully complex flavors. Be adventurous - give it a try.
Soft-Shell Crab in NYC (is the season over?)
I had some great ones at Marlow & Sons in Williamsburgh a few weeks ago.
Friends Visting - Ideas for somewhere near Union Sq.
You might want to try Duke's. Not the greatest food in the world but it is casual, inexpensive and close to Union Square:
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7087353/new_york_ny/duke_s.html
The really good food in the Union Square area is all a bit pricy. If you are willing to head over to the East Village you'll have better luck finding a casual inexpensive restaurant with good food.
Grilling Lamb in a Yogurt Marinade
It would be best to set aside a portion of the marinade when you make it for use as a sauce later. I would not advise using the marinade in which raw lamb has been sitting. I agree with Darren72's concerns about cooking the marinade.
Bruni Craftsteak Review
I am wondering if anyone who has been to Craftsteak has an opinion on Frank Bruni's review this week and/or on Mr. Bruni as a reviewer.
best dessert/pastry chef?
Sam Mason a must! He is the pastry chef at wd-50. He was nominated for the James Beard award this year.BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT...
ISO Fried Clams
I second Mary's Fish Camp! I must advise, they don't take reservations and the lines are long. Worth the wait!
Nha Trang - what to order
Be sure to have the grilled pork chops! The whole fried fish is also wonderful. If you are looking for a vegetable dish I definitely suggest the hollow vegetables in garlic sauce. Have fun!
Best French Fries currently?
Sorry to report that I have not. I usually go for mayo and the curry ketchup sauce. I should try the poutine - sounds tasty.
SF hound looking for 2 must eat dinner places in Manhattan
Prune really is a lovely restaurant. The food is excellent and inventive. The space itself is fairly cramped and a bit loud. Otherwise it's really excellent.
