jungirl's Profile
NYC Chowhound needs help! 5 days in Scottsdale
Thanks for the tip! their website is still up, and there is a message on their voicemail though??? hmmmm. if it was still open, worth it?
NYC Chowhound needs help! 5 days in Scottsdale
Mary Queen of Scots and Highlands are sister restaurants that have solid gastropub food, as well as a long scotch list. Mary has a really cute atmosphere, built in the old Allen and Delancey space.
Are you looking for gastropub / comfort food?
NYC Chowhound needs help! 5 days in Scottsdale
Interesting. I was considering going to Bianco as soon as we landed, but maybe I will re-route to Carolina's for a more AZ experience. I've got a rez for CPH and FNB already, very excited for those!
I also got a Saturday Brunch rez for Lon's and a Sunday one for T. Cook's. Do you feel one exceeds the other? T. Cook's buffet sounds good on paper... not sure if Is Lon's fancy? I was thinking maybe morning hike in Camelback, and then brunch-- or would we look odd in that dining room?
I was recommended Greasewood's for the ambience, i know the food is just burgers. Does anyone second this rec? I heard it's on a cliff where you can look over at the sunset?
NYC Chowhound needs help! 5 days in Scottsdale
this is all great info! I already replaced Sapporo with Roka Akor, and did add Carolina's to my list last night. Is The Grind better than AZ 88 for burgers?
Any thoughts on Sunday Brunch? Herb Box vs buffet at T.Cook's vs Lon's at Hermosa vs somewhere else? Thanks!
NYC Chowhound needs help! 5 days in Scottsdale
Fellow Chowhounds!
I will be with my boyfriend and my mother in Scottsdale in late April (Thursday - Monday) staying at FireSky. I am open to anything, awesome cheap eats, mid range, and maybe one special high end meal. I am obsessed with food, and am really looking for some great places showcasing what AZ has to offer. I have been scouring this board and also got some outdated local recs, used Zagat (very little info) and Yelp. Here's what I have so far:
Phoenix:
La Grande Orange Pizzeria - heard wings are great too?
Pizzeria Bianco - I am from New York City and am VERY discerning of my pizza. Is this worth all the crazy wait times I've heard? the other alternative is to go straight from the airport and get there at 11AM on a Thursday as soon as they open.
Chelseas Kitchen - this menu looks interesting, thoughts? is it just straight comfort food, or done really well?
T.Cooks brunch buffet. any comments? vs Herb Box brunch?
Nobuo at Teeter House - seems a bit pricey for an izakaya
Scottsdale:
FnB - this place looks awesome
vs Citizen Public House - both worth visiting? different?
Greasewood Flats for the experience?
AZ 88 - thoughts? better burger places?
Herb Box for brunch or breakfast
Arcadia Farms - rated highly on Zagat
Cafe Monarch - very mixed reviews. is this place worth the hype? and would you go for brunch or dinner?
Sapporo - happy hour. I love japanese food, but if I shouldn't waste my time, please let me know. Happy Hour does sound fun though.
The Mission - is this nouveau?
Positano - is this more of a wine bar w/ snacks?
I tried to use Yelp as a source, but while browsing through restaurant I saw that Chipotle and Taco Bell were also really rated highly, so it made me wonder....
Also any fun places close to my hotel to go for a drink would be great. Not sure if there is anything walking distance so we don't have to drive....
Thanks for your help!
PORT ST LUCIE HELP PLEASE!
Wow! I'm impressed with the longevity of this post. Again, I am headed down to PSL / St Lucie West for a long weekend. I have taken down all the suggestions on this board, and will consider venturing out to Stuart for some good eats. If you were to recommend your top one or two spots in Stuart, what would they be? I loved 11 Maple, and was thinking of returning again (dreams of their bread basket). Should we sway and try Flagler's instead?
In the meantime, has anyone ever been to Mrs Peter's Smokehouse? Have heard good things about their dips... Also, does anyone know if New England Fish Market still has their Oyster Happy Hour Day? I could not find any evidence of it on their website.
Also curious about Tin Fish in PSL? their tacos look intriguing.... thanks again!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay thread - 1st quarter 2011 [old]
YAY (w/o trying to repeat)-
roasted baby beets (refrigerated). there's a hard part near where the stem was, but if you slice this off, chopped up these are delicious in salads.
smoked salmon, great deal!
creme fraiche - slice hot house cucumber rounds, a dab of this, piece of smoked salmon, fresh dill, capers if you like. great party snack.
frozen mixed seafood - staple in my freezer. great to throw in asian soups.
instant rice noodle bowls - mushroom favorite. comes with dry seasoning, and wet oil seasoning packets, fill with water, microwave. delicious with a touch of sriracha or sambal olek sauce, and great for 99 cents. healthier than fried instant ramen noodles
cilantro dressing in the fridge - awesome on sliced persian cukes. healthier with low fat ingredients
tortilla chips with flax seeds
fresh baked section brioche rolls - always buy this for leftover braised pork shoulder. makes bangin' sandwiches, and more decadent than potato rolls
fresh thyme (cheaper than my market), but i wont' buy cilantro or parsley (more expensive, smaller portion)
multi-grain rice cracker crisps - awesome with cheese
dublin cheddar - I also buy this at BJs, but noticed the price point was the same at TJs. if you haven't tried this, it's an awesome snack cheese (sliced thin with the crisps above)
egg substitute - soooo much cheaper than the market. half price. I add this for fritatta's and omelettes with regular beaten eggs, to make a little healthier (since they are 99% egg whites)
NAY -
once I had the thai green curry sauce in a jar. gross.
frozen onion soup - came in a weird cylinder, and was super salty
I don't love their frozen salmon. for some reason the vacuum sealed packaging is never tight, and causes freezer burn. i use their frozen tilapia, cod and orange roughy all the time with success.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay thread - 1st quarter 2011 [old]
I always have the latkes with TJs spiced apples (in a jar) and TJs light sour cream. They served them like this once as a sample, and got me hooked.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay thread - 1st quarter 2011 [old]
the multi-grain pretzel nuggets are addictive. my boyfriend will go through a whole bag in one sitting.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay thread - 1st quarter 2011 [old]
every time the Tarte d'Alsace is not on the shelf (especially in NYC Union Square location) and I've asked an employee if there are any in the back, they always say "that is one of the best products we have. it is sooooo good". it's a major addiction, and i keep about 3-4 stocked at any time. make sure you bake straight on the rack for the crisp. great solo dish nor if you HAVE TO share, cut in squares with a pizza cutter for a fancy-ish appetizer for guests. i've tried the alsatian tartes at Danny Meyer's The Modern and DB Bistro Moderne in NYC, and I still think the TJs one is better.
5 hour layover at LAX - accessible by taxi
My friends and I have a 5 hour layover at LAX on a weekday, from 3-8 PM. We would like to go grab a tasty bite somewhere, but it would probably have to be open earlyish for dinner (4ish, or 5) or be a spot that doesn't close between lunch and dinner, and not too far, as we would have to take a cab (which I understand can get pricey in LA). We are from NYC, so great mexican or asian would be awesome, but anything chowhound-worthy and delicious is fine.
Help us west coast Chowhounds! :)
AYCE (all you can eat) sushi in NYC?
ok ok, I know it's sort of a gross concept, but I'm convinced one of these little sushi joints that have an all you can eat special (usually on a random day of the week) actually has decent sushi and doesn't overload the pieces with tons of rice. anyone have a good experience at one of these things?
where can i buy italian chestnuts?
I've found that the smaller italian chestnuts are easier and faster to roast in a toaster oven, and much easier to peel as they roast evenly. making that toasted outside (vendor like) texture achievable at home.
Does anyone know where they sell these smaller chestnuts?
where can I purchase frozen acai in manhattan???
frozen acai bowls (with fruit, yogurt and granola) seem easier to find in the west coast and even hawaii. Is there any place in Manhattan to buy the frozen acai and make this dish at home? or if not, does anyone know a place in the west village, chelsea, or times square area that serves this? thanks for your help
Nashville Recs???- near downtown
NYer will be in Nashville for NAMM staying at the Renaissance Nashville in downtown with no car. Need foodies' help! Please let me know your favorite restaurants we can get to get some good grub. Open to anything, especially southern specialties, like BBQ, etc.
PORT ST LUCIE HELP PLEASE!
Hello chowhounds! i am resurrecting this post. going down again at the end of this month. i will definitely take all these rec's, but if you have anything more to offer, i would greatly appreciate it! :)
NYer going to Vegas, looking for off the beaten path, or reasonably priced
going to vegas this thursday! thanks for all the awesome rec's! we have reservations at Raku, Bouchon and Rosemary. and plans to stop by Kilroy's, some asian spots (will have to painstakingly choose just a few from this long list that looks amazing). i'll report back...
Yays and nays from Trader Joe's, lately [OLD]
i picked these up and stared at them through their see through wrapper for a good whole minute today. i finally put them back down thinking "frozen fish tacos". but i kept thinking they might be awesome. i'm glad i read this, so i won't be so hypnotized next time.
Yays and nays from Trader Joe's, lately [OLD]
YAY!
- tarte d'alsace - definitely sprinkled with crack or some other highly addictive substance. whenever i go to the NYC union square location, or either northern jersey location, i have to ask the employees to go get more boxes in the back. they always reply, "OOHHHH, that one's SOOOOO good." (has happened a few times)
- frozen tamales, slathered in TJ salsa verde. microwaved a tad extra long so the cheese oozes out and burns a little bit :)
- frozen potato latkes with TJ's chunky spiced apples
- party size mini meatballs with the (old) tsaziki sauce (the new one sucks!)
- thai chili lime cashews
- mochi ice cream, left out to slightly thaw for about 7 minutes, chewy outside, perfect cold creamy inside
- chicken sausage, half the price of whole foods. some flavors are better than others
- flash frozen chicken thighs, defrost and cook as you would raw chicken
- flash frozen orange roughy plain, the seasoned one is too strong. i like to defrost these for 24 hours in the fridge, and then slather them with Nobu's recipe for saikyo miso (super easy, and you can keep a tupperware in the fridge of it for months) marinate overnight. broil. this fish picks up that flavor so well, and is a much cheaper alternative to black cod. garnish with scallions.
- frozen organic greens with envy (do they carry this anymore?)
- frozen brown rice - uber convenient
- whole frozen edamame- quick easy healthy treat
- frozen risottos, mushroom and asparagus, easy side dish
- organic avocados, in bags of 4
- scallions in resealable bag - totally a waste of money compared to chinatown, but i like these scallions for some reason. they're really pretty and uniform sized.
- 99 cent TJ mushroom rice noodle soup bowl - just add hot water, very low in fat, totally savory with a touch of sambal olek hot sauce (made by rooster sriracha company, the one that has seeds)
- bagged and washed organic mixed salad leaves - great but you have to eat within a few days b/c of early expirations
- cheap cheap pasta.
- cheap cheap cheese. when i make martha stewart's world's best mac and cheese, at a NY grocery, the cheese costs me about $25. at TJ's it's only $12-14 (white cheddar and gruyere). that recipe is KILLER, i highly recommend, despite the long prep time. sometimes i cut up small cubes of TJ chicken sausage, sautee it in a pan so it's got a bit of crisp, and toss it into the mac before i bake.
- lime habanero pistachios
- marinated pork loin - bought this once. dinner for two and 4 more lunches.
- wine. nyc has a TJ wine store separate (weird law about not selling liquor in the same place you can sell beer). the selection is great. they carry my favorite pinot noir that i've been drinking for years for cheaper than i've ever found it. cheap sake too.
NAY: (i am not going to be very popular after this, a lot of these are people's YAY's)
- green curry simmer sauce - everything i've made with this, i've wanted to throw straight in the trash. after 3 dishes, i finally threw out the sauce.
- frozen apple tartlets - ok, but i actually think these are too sweet, with the caramelized sugar crystals, it's overkill
- frozen french onion soup - a bit too salty for my taste, and i actually love salty foods
- curry with tuna in pouch - gross. i love thai flavors, and i was looking so forward to trying this. i had the red, and had to throw out most of it. i have the yellow one left, maybe i will give it another go
- bbq chicken pizza - this was the worst. sounded like a cool concept, but they use bbq sauce instead of tomato. really just a strange combo with the cheese
- 4 cheese pizza - didn't like the crust
- green beans prik king - maybe i made these wrong, but they came out super soggy and the taste was flat
- TJ fine sea salt. bought this and it was all clumped together. so much so that i couldn't pour it out of the large container into my shaker. i gave up and just ended up using the large container as my shaker.
- frzozen spinach spanikopita. i don't know. these just didn't do it for me. i had it with tsaziki too. they tasted off. i found myself slathering these in tsaziki to cover up some weird taste in the pastries.
- frozen potato and cheese pierogies. shell had really bad consistency. doughy and dry at the same time.
- THE LINE IN NYC. wow, i have never been to the union square store where the line hasn't almost gone out the door or has been physically at the door entrance. it moves relatively quick (20-25 min) but still it winds through the whole store, making it impossible to shop and see stuff properly (double line in front of the fridge display that you have to muscle your way through). NJ was heavenly in comparison. although today in edgewater, we found 2 things in the fridge that expired in feb. gross. on the contrary, NYC sells out of a lot of stuff by end of day.
but i do wait on that line often, so that shows you how many ppl in NY really like their TJ.
i bought some frozen tropical fruit mix and frozen raspberries a while back cuz i read they were good. but now i don't know what to do with them. any recommendations, chowhounds? much appreciated.
Your choice for Trader Joe's BEST item
i bought the tropical mix and raspberries a while back, after reading that their frozen fruit is good. but what do you do with it?
authentic Chinese in Northern Jersey - Beijing Duck House
hmmm, the one time i went the duck wasn't dry at all. it was quite juicy. and my mother has been a few times before, and brought me there because she like it.
Post your favorite Trader Joe's item!
holy moly. the tarte d'alsace is RIDICULOUS. every time i go to the TJs in the city or the 2 in northern jersey, i have to ask the staff to bring out more boxes. they always reply, oh, those are SOOOOO good.
i've had a version of this at the MOMA's restaurant, the Modern, which charges $14. the TJ one is better. just make sure you bake it in a hot hot oven, directly on the rack, so it gets the crisp.
Your favorite underrated slice?
i agree 33 is expensive. but i think the 2.50 quote for Joe is for a regular slice? and not the fresh mozzarella, basil margherita slice?
NYer going to Vegas, looking for off the beaten path, or reasonably priced
Caralien,
these previous posts are great! thanks!
NYer going to Vegas, looking for off the beaten path, or reasonably priced
Thanks for all the great suggestions! kudos on the MGM specials. I have added all of your suggestions to my short list.
is Raku mostly sushi? or do they have a variety of hot dishes as well? I found something called Aburiya Raku on zagat, is that the spot?
Does Chang's do carts? or is a spot you can order dim sum all night long as well? (menu)
NYer going to Vegas, looking for off the beaten path, or reasonably priced
I will be going with family to Vegas in March, and being the foodie I am, I must start planning now :) We are all from NY, so I am hoping to avoid restaurants like Nobu, Davidburke, CraftSteak, Penang, Boulud, etc, that are already in NY. I am looking for more suggestions that won't break the bank, but still very tasty and offering something that I might only be able to find in Vegas (besides the buffets). I am also open to Asian rec's, but I am Asian (as is my family), so authenticity is a must (no General Tso chicken type places please). I love Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese (and Japanese too!)
My other questions are, what meal is Bouchon best for?
and is Fiamma still good? the Fiamma in NYC just recently closed (due to the economy) so I might be interested in checking out the Vegas counterpart.
We are open to all suggestions, for example: I am definitely hitting up In-N-Out, it's been a few years since I've been to the west coast! And I am looking forward to stopping in to the Bellagio noodle shop. I think the last time I was there we went to Stratta at the Wynn, and thought that was quite good for the price. Even a good authentic dim sum rec (that is not the $50 pp at the Bellagio!) would be great! Thanks.
Your favorite underrated slice?
sorta pricey, but i like Pizza 33 margherita slice. i think they now have 3 locations? and probably with good reason. but i will say last night i went in there and tried their penne slice - gross. inedible. too heavy with cheese and not crispy. but their margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil has always been a winner.
also, only had it twice, but Crunch in midtown east was pretty good.
Your favorite underrated slice?
i third that. i went to columbia and TRIED to eat a slice from this joint twice. i think kids just raved about it b/c it was cheap and kosher. it is enormous and BAD. i'd rather have a jeno's frozen pizza from the store. really.
authentic Chinese in Northern Jersey - Beijing Duck House
awesome article! i can't wait to go back and try the other dishes recommended.
authentic Chinese in Northern Jersey - Beijing Duck House
went to visit my mom in Bergen County today. i am quite picky when it comes to authentic chinese food. i try to get the best there is in manhattan (yes, we all know flushing is better), and i have a lot of chinese friends to approve of the authenticity and quality of our meals. my mother ended up taking me to Beijing Duck House in Bergenfield on Washington Ave.
i was impressed! it was definitely better than Peking Duck House, the duck was done very well. crispy, cooked to order, and not too greasy with a huge layer of fat in between the skin and meat (like at PDH). we also had soup dumplings / juicy buns to start and their chia chia mien was great too. our waiter was also very nice and accomodating and stopped at our table to ask how we were doing like 5 times. i would recommend this restaurant to those that don't want to make a trip all the way to flushing or manhattan chinatown, for an authentic chinese meal. it was pretty empty when we got there, but don't let that fool you. this is a hidden gem that needs to be discovered!
359 S Washington Ave
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Phone: (201) 385-2234
