avi's Profile
Wanted: Chicken and beef soup bones in Bergen County area
I used to get these bones at oriental food stores in Texas, and have not found any in my north NJ area ... any ideas? TIA
Great chocolates in Teaneck / north NJ area?
... any idea where I can buy high quality boxed chocolate? Thanks
High end Chinese and/or non-Oriental vegetarian/organic/vegan in Philly recommendations?
Thank you, all. I've chosen Mi Lah, as it was recommended by a native Chinese-American Philadelphian (sp?), and seems to be the nicest (hopefully) and quietest (again, hopefully) of the options available, although my friend thinks that New Harmony's food is better, but not their atmosphere). I look forward to dining in your fair city. In general, as a vegan, I find that I can eat at almost any restaurant (With the exception of places like Pat's which offer nothing but things that are verboten to me, and should be to all of humanity - lol) ... and as proof, I certainly do not look hungry. But I look forward to a good selection and variety - something which I often miss.
High end Chinese and/or non-Oriental vegetarian/organic/vegan in Philly recommendations?
I am looking for a nice, perhaps fancy, restaurant ... ideally, some quiet, conversation-friendly, intimate place with good food and service. Thanks in advance.
I recently moved to the northern New Jersey area and am looking for great hummus ,,,
Any ideas? Thanks, avinoam1951 / Avi Regev / abregev@yahoo.com
Middle Eastern places in Bergen County.
Although Paterson, NJ, is in Passaic County, it is only about 3 miles from Fair Lawn. It is the home of many wonderful - and authentic - middle eastern restaurants. Foremost among them is Al Basha, owned by a Palestinian and specializing in Lebanese/Palestinian food. You'll find all the standards plus an all-you-can-eat (modestly priced) dinner buffet with many offerings. Attentive service by fez and black tie wearing waiters and freshly prepared, tasty food make this a place which I frequent often out of sheer nostalgia and enjoyment. There's a lot of Arabic spoken there. Its the real deal.
Anyone know a Mediteranean spot in Morris Plains???
Its called CARMEL HAIFA, an easy google away. The best I can say about it is that it is the only Lebanese/Palestinian place in the area and therefore worth an occasional visit. I hope they fix the ventilation issue before OSHA shuts them done - the smoke from the charcoal grill is heavy and fills the place up, somewhat like the tear gas often experienced in the real Palestine; but that's another story. I prefer to sit outside, at a sidewalk table where I only have to deal with the cigarette smoke produced by the chain smoking proprietor of the nail salon next door, taking his every-five-minutes-cigarette-break.. Its best to visit when the wind is blowing from the the south.
seeking fresh seaweed in Newark area or northern NJ
So, which market has the best selection for sale by the pound? TIA
Mexican Menudo in northern NJ?
Ay, I sure do miss the menudo that's served in Texas, with pozole and Mexican oregano, with handmade corn tortillas, verdad! So, where do I find it in northern NJ?
THE GODFATHER style restaurant in north NJ?
Thanks. I checked out their website and the place seems to be a bit ostentatious ... any other ideas?
THE GODFATHER style restaurant in north NJ?
Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions and ideas about a THE GODFATHER style restaurant in NYC. You may remember my post on the outer boroughs board, about looking for restaurant that has the look and feel of the restaurant in the movie scene in which Michael kills a corrupt cop and a mobster. Now I'm seeking the same in northern NJ. Any ideas? Thanks.
Most unique ethnic restaurant?
I am looking for the NYC outer boroughs ethnic restaurant that says "I am so unique that you'd have to really look hard to find anything like me elsewhere in the country! In fact it might be possible to find another like me." Any ideas?Thanks.
Chengdu Heaven -- the best Sichuan food in a tiny basement stall at the 41-28 Main St Mall, Flushing
When is this place (41-28 Main St Mall) open, or can I find out?
GODFATHER style Italian restaurant
In THE GODFATHER Part I Michael kills a gangster and a corrupt cop in an Italian neighborhood restaurant. You know, small clothed tables, unhurried service, good food, affordable, authentic. That's what I'm seeking for an upcoming visit! Any ideas? Thanks.
Israeli/Yemenite Restaurant across 2nd Ave Deli?
Many years ago I ate at a wonderful Israeli restaurant that specialized in Yementine food. I recall that it was across the street from the now-defunct 2nd Ave Deli. Can anyone help me with its name and, of course, if it is still there? Or, if its not, where has it moved, or if defunct, how about recommending another Yemenite restaurant in NYC? Thanks
Best menudo in San Antonio, and why?
Since San Antonio is known as the epi-center of Tex-Mex ... any opinions on this crucial matter? By the way, GREENS vegetarian restaurant offers vegetarian menudo, an oximoron if ever there was, and interesting as an oddity, but if I had a Mexican aunt, and if took her there, she'd no doubt have a good laugh. GREENS does great food otherwise, epecially their "chicken fried steak".
Best Jewish style deli in Houston?
K & Z was built in immitation of the well known NY delis such as Stage Door and 2nd Ave Deli, but is, so to speak, pre-fab shticky right down to the ersatz "signed" celebraty portraits, while much more clean and modern looking than its authentic NY counterparts. It is as fake as a 3 dollar bill while the food is ok for the most part, although I have had kishke as bad as their's only at Katz's, and I'm not convinced that the chicken soup is not from a powder). It never had the chance to develop a unique personaality, as did the New York Coffee Shop, which has been evolving for about 25 or more years now. NY Coffee Shop is an authentic neighborhood place serving decent food at rockbottom prices and, unlike K & Z, is not a tourist destination. I am sorry that Alferd's bit the dust around 10 years ago, as it was also "authentic" in a northeastern sort of way, with great personality and charm (due to Alferd himself. The heirs tried, but could not succeed in continuing the business after his death, probably due to their ineptitude). His son's (Khan's) is just a sandwich shop, albeit a very good one.
Alamo Cafe (San Antonio), home of the worst cfs in Texas
I stopped at Alamo Cafe on I-10 for lunch today without realizing that it was a Mexican restaurant. I had a Hamburger in mind, but settled on the chicken fried steak because from somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I had remembered someone praising it. And besides, the waiter assurred me that it was a popular item.
What arrived at my table was was a strange concotion that oozed grease and water with every attempted bite. The said liquids so overwhelmed any flavor this piece of meat might have had, that even the globby and thick white gravy (which I wound up spooning off) could not compensate for it. And to add insult to injury, the green beans side was of the canned variety, another water soaked mess that had long ago lost any nutritional value that nature had granted it.
Thankfully, the waiter offerred to bring out some grilled vegetables, but they turned out to be greasy also. Then, seeing as I had barely eaten, he had the good sense to remove the cfs from my bill. Discussing the cfs, he mentioned that it was not really steak but, rather, ground beef, batterred and fried like cfs. Which might explain why it was so liquidy: In order to keep its shape, a flattened ground beef patty would have to be frozen and thawed out while frying; hence the water content, right? I guess Alamo Cafe does good Mexican food...
Wholewheat pancakes in San Antonio? ...
... or buckwheat maybe? Where do I go to get them? Thanks ...
[SAT] Best Burgers?
IMHO Madrids burgers need all that crap on them, and the size, in order to offset the meat's blandness and the overall greasiness of the thing. It is a thin patty which they refuse to cook any other way but "overdone". If this is SA's best, it just isn't good enough.
A Tale Of Two Cabritos (Nuevo Laredo)
Inspired by you, I went to Moderno on Friday.Yes, you were right: Moderno's is old school (As is Emanuel's in Ciudad Acuna). White tablecloths, black vested/white shirted waiters, dark, lots of mirrors, and a blue lighted half shell band stand. In that wonderful setting, I quickly fell in love with a beautiful Mexican woman at the table next to mine. Unfortunatly, my Spanish was not good enough to even attempt to voice to her my deep and everlasting love. My enthusiasm was also stymied by the guy at her table. Lucky dog.
Moderno's cabrito is "al horno", that is oven baked, and then fried, no different than Austin's Azteca on E. 7th St. Oh, well ... But the tlalpeno soup was great. It is a shredded chicken soup with chunks of avocado, rice, chick peas, carrots and chipotle, which gives it a slight kick. I never did find cabrito al pastor in Piedras Negras nor in Ciudad Acuna, but not for lack of effort. I jones around all over these two cities and did find out that cabrito al pastor was available on the outskirt of Acuna after "6PM and all day Sunday", so I will go back someday, maybe. I hesitate at this point only because, crossing back to Texas, I was stopped by the INS. I had forgotten to bring my passport - not a problem for John Smith from Podunk Arkansas, but a big one for someone from the Mid East with an exotic name such as mine. I was thouroughly interrogated for 3 hours by very polite armed immigration officers who did not seem to differentiate between Israel, Addis Ababa or Timbuktu. Luckily, I was not born in Saudi Arabia nor have I travelled to Africa lately. Even more thankfully, I was not given the rubber glove treatment.
My fellow Americans, I assure you that we are in good hands. I think.
A Tale Of Two Cabritos (Nuevo Laredo)
Is Moderno's cabrito made in the al pastor style, that is, cooked over charcoal? Is the place easy to find? What do you mean by "isn't the bargain that Restaurant Principal...".
I remember that 30 years ago, the cabrito entree was about $5 US. Today it's around $13, which is all right considering inflation. However, $13 seems excessive for the entree in Mexico. I believe that that the dollar has undergone devaluation since the $US/Mexican Peso exchange rate hasn't really changed in over 2 years.
A Tale Of Two Cabritos (Nuevo Laredo)
On a whim, and with little else to interest me on a Saturday afternoon, I drove to Laredo for the cabrito that I occasionally crave. Crossing the border into Nuevo Laredo at 10AM on a Sunday was a cinch as there was very little traffic, and I quickly arrived at the Restaurant Principal on Guerro, parking right at the restaurant’s curb. As it was not yet open, I strolled around the main plaza, tempted but not succumbing to the lure of fresh cold cups of fruit cocktails topped with limejuice and chili, corn on the cob, and exotic ice creams, turning down an offer by a carriage driver for a drive, perhaps a woman. I was saving myself for the cabrito. One hour later I found myself the only guest at the Principal, enjoying succulent pierna (leg) of young goat cooked over charcoal, its uniquely flavored meat soft and juicy, encased in crispy skin while watching the passing pedestrians, traffic and vendors through the huge almost clean plate glass front windows. My order consisted of about one pound of meat accompanied by fresh corn tortillas and sliced onions, lettuce, tomatoes and really good charro beans thick with cilantro and bacon pieces. I took my time, making in turn seven nice sized tacos topped by two medium heat salsa – one a thick greenish chipotle/avocado blend, the other made of chopped grilled peppers - while sipping a bottle of Coca sin calories (diet coke). The bill came to 145 pesos (130 for the cabrito, 15 for the Coca) - $13 US, but I was charged $15 since I paid in dollars. All in all Fantanstico!
Needless to say, I didn’t touch the thick and oily chips so endemic now to Mexican restaurants catering to the gringo trade along the border that my well-mannered and fluent English speaking waiter put on the table as an appetizer, mostly because I was planning to hit the only other Nuevo Laredo restaurant serving cabrito – the well known and veteran El Rincon de Viello, situated about a mile west of the city center on Dr. Meir street.
In the past, I had had some wonderful outings to El Rincon, thoroughly enjoying the outdoor garden dining setting and the immaculately polite black troussered / white shirted service. The lush garden with its double clothed tables was too hot this time, so I opted to sit in the relatively opulent air-conditioned interior. Ordering my second Coca sin calories for the day, I waited for the cabrito order to arrive as three middle aged Mexican ladies at the next table ordered, received and ate appetizers and entrees of the cabrito that I was so looking forward to, amicably chatting all the while as only they seem to be able to do. I, on the other hand, sat in increasingly glum silence for forty minutes, the Coca and its ice long gone, my waiter never making a repeat appearance. My hunger for cabrito was now offset by my anger at the insult so I set a dollar on the table and took off for the border.
It took two and a half long hours in dense traffic to crawl across the bridge back to the Texas side of the river … I would be wealthy if I could only get a mid-bridge restroom concession. Will I return? Yes, even to El Rincon. For all I know, the waiter may have been kidnapped. It’s not unknown to happen in Nuevo Laredo. And besides, El Rincon's cabrito was always great.
Houston to San Antonio and back via I-10
For breakfast I like to stop at Beckie's in Columbus (1237 Bowie Street). It's a real "local" place and the food is good. Or Frank's in Schulenberg, midway between Houston and SA (It's been there forever) and is a popular stop with travelers.
Schobels Restaurant in Columbus is good for dinner.
Montreal-style Bagels in Houston (or mail-order?)
There was talk of Montreal style bagels available at Bayou Place in downtown Houston, but I don't know ...
Here's a link to St. Viateur in Montreal. They take online orders. Good luck!:
http://www.stviateurbagel.com/index/page/start/?/session/0c969457d549b83d1b8eceeed45ccfc8
Hottest / Most spicy food?
Where is the most piquant restaurant food in our fair city, and which dish (es) will set off my capsium meter?
Jamaican patties
My son is desperate for Jamaican patties and I am eager to please him. Does anyone know where I might find them?
Is Doneraki on Fulton still good? (HOU)
... I haven't been there in years and am thinking of taking a group there tomorrow evening.
