Californian headed to St. Pete

Thanks to everyone for your input. By reading the replies I could tell that we enjoyed the same types of places, so I stuck to your suggestions. I arrived Tuesday evening and stayed at the Treasure Bay Hotel & Marina. I had planned on going to Middle Grounds that evening anyway, but being that it was less than a block away made it perfect. I grabbed a spot at the bar and had a salad and Tripletail entree, both of which were very good. There was a guitar/keyboard duo playing, which added a fun vibe. I worked the next few days, but was able to do some sightseeing on Friday. I started with a walk down to John's Pass (touristy, yes, but I’m a tourist!) I then drove on to Smokin’ Js BBQ in Gulfport and continued on down to the beach to eat. I got the 1/4 rack (3 ribs), baked beans and coleslaw. Everything was perfect – ribs tender with good sauce, baked beans just sweet enough and coleslaw very flavorful. I also enjoyed a cold beer on the sly because there was a sign at the Gulfport beach that said no alcohol. During lunch I was serenaded by senior citizen karaoke at one of the park shelters – a perfect accompaniment! After I ate I walked along the waterfront a bit and up and down some of the streets. Gulfport seems like an interesting area with some good restaurants. The moss draped trees and brick cobblestone streets definitely add to the character. I then drove to downtown St. Pete, parked by the hotel and walked a lot. By 5:00 I was hot, tired and thirsty and found The Independent bar on 3rd St. A great find with many unique beers. I quenched my thirst with a big mug of Okocim from Poland. Afterwards, I went back to the hotel, cleaned up and walked down to Ricky T’s. I had originally planned to just have a drink and appetizer and then head back to Middle Grounds, but the people watching was so good that I had to stay! I ordered a burger, which was good. My last stop of the trip was an excellent (and filling) pressed Cuban sandwich at the Floridian on my way to the airport. I ate on the deck and watched the weekend traffic pass by. Thanks again for all the great suggestions.

-----
3rd St Cafe
1361 3rd St S, Naples, FL 34102

cajeska in Florida

Solo Dinner Late Sunday Night

Thank you both for your recommendations. My flight arrived on time, so I decided to head downtown to Miller’s Pub and found easy metered parking right across the street. It was just what I was looking for – a unique establishment with character (being right under the “L” adds to the experience). It was fairly full for 10:00 on a Sunday, but there was a spot at the bar and I pulled up a stool. I ordered the specialty ribs and a local Goose Island Green Line Pale Ale which made for the perfect late night meal.

cajeska in Chicago Area

Californian headed to St. Pete

This is why I love Chowhound! Thank you both for your very thoughtful and detailed replies. I think you have given me all the tips I need and basically laid out my agenda for my free time. All of the suggestions sound great and I really appreciate the local knowledge. Take out on the beach sounds really nice, especially coming from chilly northern California. Can I enjoy a beer with my meal or is alcohol not allowed on the beach? Thanks!

cajeska in Florida

Solo Dinner Late Sunday Night

This is why I love Chowhound! Thank you both for your thoughtful and detailed replies. I'll probably come up with a couple options depending how timely my flight and post-flight activities are. Lots of great suggestions. Thanks!

cajeska in Chicago Area

Solo Dinner Late Sunday Night

I’m flying into O’Hare from California at 8:30 pm on Sunday 5/8. I will be staying in Schaumburg as I have a meeting there Monday morning. But I think I’d like to venture out and have a late dinner in Chicago. I’ll have a car, so transportation won't be a problem. Since I’ll be by myself, I’m looking for casual places where I won’t need a reservation and/or could eat at the bar. Unique Chicago experiences would be a plus, but I’m open to any good food. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

cajeska in Chicago Area

Californian headed to St. Pete

I’m heading from Northern California to St. Petersburg the week of May 9. I’ll have a couple afternoons and evenings free (Fri and Sat) and am looking for dining recommendations. I’ll be by myself, so I’m looking for fairly casual places where I won’t need a reservation and/or could eat at the bar. I’ll be staying on Treasure Island, so it sounds like Middle Grounds is a natural. I also want to check out Ybor City one evening. And coming from California, where finding real BBQ is a challenge, I’m hoping to get my fill while I’m there. I’ll have a car and am willing to drive a ways for a great experience. For me, taking in the area is all part of the experience. And on an unrelated topic, are there any good boat tours of Tampa Bay? Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

cajeska in Florida

Union Square with Kids?

We're headed to SF for the weekend with two boys (7 and 4). We're taking in Fleet Week, Zeum and the Exploratorium and are staying near Union Square. I'm looking for a convenient (walking distance) sit down dinner destination Saturday night. Not necessarily looking for a "Chowhound worthy" spot this time around - just something decent with kid-friendly food. For us, "kid-friendly" means pizza, chicken strips, quesadillas, etc. Any recommendations? Thanks!

cajeska in San Francisco Bay Area

What is ruff puff pastry?

I'm trying to replicate a tartlet from Frog Hollow Farm:

http://www.froghollow.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=5F631B47-3048-23C1-DDC861C1871FA2E0

I had them at their outlet at the Ferry Building in San Francisco and they were excellent.

I'm not sure what ruff puff pastry is and haven't been able to find a good definition or recipe. Any ideas?

Also, the tartlet had some type of a cooked vanilla pastry cream base topped with a sliced apricot. Any suggestions for a recipe for this type of pastry cream would also be appreciated.

Thanks.

cajeska in Home Cooking

ISO: Fresh Pastries & Coffee in SF

I’ll be staying in SF Saturday night and am looking for a good French or Italian bakery for Sunday morning. Someplace with fresh made pastries and good coffee. Neighborhood doesn’t matter – I’m willing to travel. But for reference, I’ll be staying at the Marriott Courtyard by AT&T Park. Thanks!

cajeska in San Francisco Bay Area

Restaurant and Neighborhood Recommendation Needed

Thanks everyone for the detailed and thoughtful replies. Great leads on the restaurants and I will look into them all. But I still need some help getting a feel for the neighborhoods. I'm coming from SF and I've been to NYC twice, but the last time was in '97 and I was much younger (I'm 40 now) and looking for different things. It sounds like everyone is pointing me towards the Village area. But what about Chelsea, SoHo and Tribeca? What are those neighborhoods like? I've done all the standard tourists stops in the past and now want to explore some interesting neighborhoods. Thanks.

cajeska in Manhattan

Restaurant and Neighborhood Recommendation Needed

This is a request for both a restaurant and neighborhood recommendation. A few friends are heading to NYC in June to celebrate our 40th birthdays. Sunday we’re dining at Del Posto, Monday lunch at Jean George and Monday night a Yankees game. For Saturday night we’re looking for an interesting neighborhood with some nightlife where we could hit a bar or wine bar before dinner, have a fun dinner, then stroll around the neighborhood a little after dinner. Sounds like Tribeca or SoHo may be what I’m looking for. For the restaurant, we’re probably looking for contemporary cuisine or maybe French, not Italian, Asian, Indian, etc. Nothing too fancy, but consistently good and about $100 per person with wine. We’re staying at Hilton in midtown, but are willing to cab anywhere.

cajeska in Manhattan

Sunday Dinner Tasting Menu?

3 foodie friends will be in New York on Sunday 6/14 and are looking for recommendations for a tasting menu/wine pairing dinner. The following are out because we have already tried them: Per Se, Le Bernardin, Daniel, Bouley, and Picholene. Others are out because they are closed on Sunday: Eleven Madison Park, The Modern.

What else in this class to try that is serves dinner on Sunday? Chanterelle perhaps? Thanks for any feedback.

cajeska in Manhattan

Duck Confit - Monterey Bay Area?

Any suggestions where I can buy duck confit? I called Deluxe Foods (Aptos) and they didn't have it. I'm thinking Star Market (Salinas), Nielsen Bros. (Carmel), Whole Foods (Monterey) or Shopper's Corner (Santa Cruz). I can call them, but thought I'd try Chowhound first. Thanks.

cajeska in California

SF Chowhound Needs Westside Recommendations

My wife and I will be heading to LA next month for the Grammy Awards. I attended UCLA in the early 90’s, but rarely make it back so I need some help. We’ll be staying at the Hotel Bel Air and I’m looking for restaurant recommendations on the Westside. For this trip I’m looking for a few restaurants that provide good food and a memorable experience, but are not over-the-top fancy, trendy or expensive. We prefer wine-friendly cuisine such as Italian, French, good ol’ American steak or any combination—but no Asian or Mexican. Thanks—I look forward to reading your suggestions.

cajeska in Los Angeles Area

ISO Picnic Foods - Marin/Sonoma Co.

I'm driving from Monterey to northern Sonoma Co. on Friday for a day of wine tasting. I'd like to stop along the way to pick up a picnic lunch - bread, cheese, olives, etc. I'm looking for somewhere off 101 between San Rafael and Santa Rosa. I know there are a few Whole Foods along the way, but I'd prefer any recommendations for an interesting independent market. Thanks.

cajeska in San Francisco Bay Area

Need Midtown Recommendation for Parents

My parents (age: late 60s) will be visiting NYC during the last week of November. They are from rural California (farming) but are somewhat city-savvy and visit San Francisco a few times a year. I’m guessing they will dine at hum-drum touristy spots for the most part, so I would like to send them to a memorable New York dinner one night. I figured I could look to my friends at Chowhound for assistance. Here’s what I’m looking for: walking distance or short cab from Roosevelt Hotel (Madison/45th), relatively small, uniquely New York, NOT trendy/hotspot, steak, Italian or similar, nice but not over-the-top (max $200 with wine). Thanks in advance – I look forward to reading your responses.

cajeska in Manhattan

That Restaurant in Pacific Grove

That's it - thanks! Have you been there recently? My wife's birthday is in a few weeks and I'm looking for a restaurant for us to celebrate.

cajeska in California

That Restaurant in Pacific Grove

No, not Passionfish. It's been 12-24 months since I've read about it, but wasn't there a new upscale restaurant in the oldtown section of PG on Lighthouse? I think I even read a review about it on Chowhound, but I can't find any trace of it now. Thanks for any help.

cajeska in California

Terrine Help

I'm looking to try my hand at making a couple terrines -- both vegetable and country style (meat). There are lots of recipes on the Web. But knowing that this will be a time consuming (and possibly expensive) adventure, I'm looking to my fellow Chowhounds. Can anyone recommend a general recipe, cookbook or author with which you've had consistent luck and were very pleased with the results? Also, what is the best pan to prepare a terrine in? Many recipes call for earthenware pans -- are these really necessary for excellent results? Thanks for your feedback.

cajeska in Home Cooking

Vegas- Fine Dining w/ affordable drinks?

I ate at B&B last week and liked it quite a bit. They have all the usual interesting Batali dishes and at least one steak (ribeye). They don't do wines by glass, but rather by the “quartino”, which is 250 ml (about 1 2/3 glasses) served in a mini decanter. The wines were simple and good, but nothing fancy, and were reasonably priced ($12). You can read my review and menu here:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/431031

cajeska in Southwest

Vegas - exceptional restaurant??

My wife and I were in Las Vegas last week and had a truly exceptional meal at Alex at the Wynn. It ranks of there with one of our most memorable meals ever alongside La Toque (Napa Valley), Acquerello (SF) and Aureole (Las Vegas). I would highly recommend it, but it is very expensive. See my review and menu description here:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/431031

cajeska in Southwest

Back From Vegas: Lotus of Siam, Alex, B&B

My wife and I just returned from 3 relaxing days in Las Vegas highlighted by some memorable meals.

The first night we hit Lotus of Siam after hearing about it for years. The reputation is well deserved, both for the food and, uh, atmosphere. We ordered the crispy rice with sausage which everyone raves about, and it was incredible – many of layers of flavor. We asked for recommendations for the rest of our meal and ended up with jumbo shrimp with garlic sauce and “drunken noodles” with pork. We drank Singha beers in ice cold mugs. Based on Chowhound recommendations, we ordered our dishes with a spiciness level of 3. Unfortunately the spiciness was inconsistent – the appetizer was sufficiently spicy, but the other dishes had barely a hint. Next time we hope to dine with more people so that we can try a wider variety of dishes. But overall it was a great experience and a bargain. Three dishes, steamed rice, 4 beers: $65 including tip.

The next night definitely couldn’t be described as a bargain! But dinner at Alex (at the Wynn, which is where we were staying) was another great experience and one of our most memorable meals ever. The waiter took us through the menu and we chose the prix fixe menu (I have listed the dishes below). I inquired about a wine pairing for the prix fixe menu and was told there wasn’t a formal pairing, but that one could be created using wines on the “by the glass” menu, which unfortunately was quite limited. Luckily the sommelier stopped by when he saw me browsing the wine list and he offered us a wide selection of wines, many more than those available “by the glass”, including all of the selections that were on the full tasting menu pairing. We explained that we liked to try new and different wines and general profiles that we liked. He brought us an amazing selection which paired perfectly with our dishes. A few of the highlights were a white from Austria, a 2000 Bordeaux and a 1971 dessert wine. The food was exceptional – many “oh wow” moments. The service was also very good and perfectly paced. Two prix fixe menus, 8 glasses of wine: $577 including tip.

Amuse bouche tray: cauliflower puree served on a spoon, tuna tartare in a filo cup, deep fried spinach and cheese ball, Prosciutto-wrapped bread stick

First course (me): corn agnolotti (mini ravioli) with crispy chicken, watercress and chanterelles
First course (wife) ricotta dumplings with red pepper sauce and nicoise relish

Amuse bouche: small piece of sautéed chicken on a bed of beans with a rich, brown sauce

Entrée (me) : Roasted breast of squab with foie gras
Entrée (wife): Pancetta-wrapped veal tenderloin with morels

Palate cleanser: crème fraiche with rhubarb compote

Dessert (shared): 3 types of chocolate mousse (white, milk, dark) paired with the same 3 types of chocolate ice cream

Cheese (shared): 5 cheeses served with raisin bread, candied walnuts, honeycomb, and other condiments

Final course: almond flour madeleines, 4 assorted petit fours

We didn’t have plans for our last dinner, but wanted to stay close to the Wynn, so I pulled up Chowhound and found some good reviews for B&B, Mario Batali’s new restaurant (opened April 2007) at the Venetian. The restaurant was about 2/3 full and we had no trouble getting in without a reservation (7:00 Thursday night). We had a young, but competent and enthusiastic, waiter that took us through the interesting menu. We were served bread, but no butter. Since we were dining Italian, we asked for olive oil, which was horribly “green” and bitter. For the appetizer, I was adventurous and started with the lambs tongue with mushrooms and watercress. A very interesting dish, with a more faint lamb taste than more traditional cuts, and a firm texture, not soft or dry like organ meat. I followed that up with beef cheek and duck liver raviolis, which were rich and very satisfying. My wife ordered much differently than I. She started with an heirloom tomato salad, which was simply tomatoes, watercress, olive oil and balsamic vinegar; no cheese. I was surprised at the price ($21), which I thought was steep for just tomatoes. For her entrée, my wife had lobster with spaghetti. We drank wines by the “quartino”, which is 250 ml served in a mini decanter. The wines were simple and good, but nothing fancy, and were reasonably priced. Two appetizers, two pasta dishes, 3 quartinos: $183 including tip.

cajeska in Southwest

Wine & Snacks Near Wynn

I’ll be staying at the Wynn next week and am looking for somewhere nearby to pick up a few bottles of wine and snacks for the room. I’m not looking for an extraordinary wine selection, just somewhere I can pick up a bottle of Meridian without paying $24 like I would have to at the Wynn. Thanks for your help.

cajeska in Southwest

In Search of Tamarind Paste

I was browsing this board and was surprised to find that my original post still had life! Here's a follow-up:

I was able to find what I needed at Battambang Market (339 Eddy St., SF). I found references to this market on other Chowhound posts, so I decided to check it out. It was close to my hotel...close, but a world away. I walked down a few blocks from the JW Marriott and turned right on Eddy. Whoa. I was now in the Tenderloin. I may be from the ‘burbs, but I’m not a prude and go to the City a lot. But I wasn’t quite expecting this.

I hurriedly walked past several guys asleep on the sidewalk and a kid on the corner with a wad of cash in his hands. By the time I made it to the 200 block I was over my shock and knew I was getting close. Then I saw 8 police cars on the next corner. I felt slightly more protected, but also figured I stumbled upon a major crime scene. But then I felt better when I realized that the Tenderloin police sub-station was on that block!

The Battambang Market was right next door, so I ducked inside. What a great place! Crowded, overstocked, narrow aisles packed so full that items were falling onto the floor. They had a small selection of fresh produce and many packaged goods. I found the salted, preserved radish with relative ease, but had to ask for the tamarind paste. They had both a concentrate and a brick of "wet" tamarind, which is what I chose.

I still haven't made the pad thai recipe yet - I'm going to give it a try this weekend.

cajeska in San Francisco Bay Area

In Search of Tamarind Paste

I'm in search of tamarind paste for a pad thai recipe. I tried 99 Ranch in Cupertino today with no luck (they only had a tamarind cake). Can anyone recommend a market that carries this between San Jose and San Francisco? I'm heading up to SF tomorrow and can make a detour anywhere along 101.

Also, the recipe calls for "salted preserved radish". I was able to find "chili radish" at 99 Ranch which looks liked picked radish - is this the same thing?

Thanks!

cajeska in San Francisco Bay Area

SF Chowhound - Boston Report

I spent 3 days in Boston for business last week and thought I’d share my impressions with the board. I dined alone the first night and had business dinners the next two nights. Coincidentally, all 3 restaurants were in the North End, which was fine with me because I really enjoyed the neighborhood.

Neptune Oyster – I chose this restaurant based on recommendations from those on this board. It was Sunday night and the smallish restaurant was very crowded. Luckily there was one spot at the bar, which I grabbed. After a few oysters I had an entrée of monkfish with roasted broccoli, garlic, green olives and black beans on a bed of white cornmeal. It was a terrific dish with lots of complex flavors bite after bite. But the flavors did not overwhelm the firm white fish – a very good balance. I enjoyed the casual, bustling restaurant and would definitely return.

Mamma Maria – This restaurant has the feel of an old house (maybe it once was) with seating in several rooms. We were a group of 8 and sat in one of the downstairs rooms. We were immediately served delicious bread and house made pesto, which was bursting with fresh basil flavor. I started with an appetizer of fava beans and shaved Pecorino Romano. Very simple, but very tasty and a perfect springtime dish. For my entrée I enjoyed rabbit with wide pasta ribbons in a rich broth served in a tiny All-Clad casserole. It was an excellent dish and the pasta was thin and fresh. For dessert I enjoyed a cheese plate with a selection of 3 cheeses (cow, sheep, goat). The cheeses were drizzled with a balsamic reduction, but I would have preferred them without. Overall this was my best meal of the trip – a nice menu with superbly prepared dishes. The only negative to report was that once the restaurant filled up it was very, very loud.

Prezza – We had dinner on the late side (about 8:45), so the restaurant wasn’t packed. There were 5 of us and we were seated at a large round table toward the back of the restaurant. I started with a salad of baby arugula, roasted red peppers and goat cheese. The salad was big (too big really) and was OK, but nothing great. For my entrée I had parsnip ravioli with duck confit. The pasta was very good and the parsnip flavor came through clearly, but I actually didn’t think the parsnip and duck was such a good combination after tasting it. To finish we shared a few desserts, including tiramisu and a flourless chocolate cake, which were quite good. I would give this restaurant another try, and order more carefully, but during this trip it was my least favorite of the three.

cajeska in Greater Boston Area

SF Chowhound Needs Recommendation

Thank you both for your detailed replies and suggestions. I think I am going to take bachslunch's suggestion and take the T to the North End for dinner at Neptune Oyster and dessert at Durgin Park. Chezchristine suggests a cannoli at Maria's. Is that the same as Mama Maria's? If so, it turns out I am attending a business dinner there on Monday. It looks like Mama Maria's is well regarded on this board, so I'm looking forward to it!

cajeska in Greater Boston Area

SF Chowhound Needs Recommendation

I'll be arriving in Boston next Sunday afternoon and will have the evening to myself before attending a conference starting Monday. I'll be dining alone Sunday evening and would like to try someplace in an interesting Boston neighborhood that is popular with the locals and features regional Boston/New England cuisine (seafood is fine, but doesn't have to be). I'll be staying at the Westin Waterfront near the Convention Center and realize I'll probably have to cab/T to my destination, which is fine. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

cajeska in Greater Boston Area

South Bay Focaccia?

I'm looking for a bakery with good focaccia in the South Bay, preferably San Jose. I need enough to make 20 sandwiches for a group picnic. I've done a search, but the best I could find was Andronico's in Palo Alto (a little farther north than I'd prefer to travel). Any other ideas? Thanks.

cajeska in San Francisco Bay Area