Justpaula's Profile
Favorite Restaurant Facebook page
I have to admit that I am a fan of many, many pages on Facebook, I am one of those people who finds the Facebook page of everything I have even a mild interest in to serve as a reminder of those places/events/etc. for the future. For example, I have even "liked" the pages of restaurants that I have never been too, but would like to go to one day. Facebook serves as a bit of a filing system for me. Surely a sign of a restaurant "that does a good job" on FB, is one that I didn't have to think twice about before answering your question. Osteria Morini in NYC has a page that at least twice a week makes me say, "Oh, I really, really must get there" or "I really wish I was there right now!".
http://www.facebook.com/OsteriaMoriniSoho
Cincinnati chili has no kidney beans?
I am curious how the kidney beans that can be added are prepared. Are they cooked separately and added like a topping? And if so, are they just plain, cooked beans?
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
Not to mention....if you are going to suggest your attendees come equipped with reusable water bottles, you are sort of implying - and it would be a nice thing - if you provided them access to refill their reusable bottles. And if you aren't going to do that...then don't mention reusable bottles. Just make it clear and make it happen that there will be water available for them to buy without having to stand on an hour long line. The organizers did a bad job on the water drinking front....that's all.
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
Good Luck with that, GoogaMooga people! I didn't go this year and won't go next year, but, even with the refunds, I wouldn't want to be the guinea pig in the next set of trials. They can toss out as many lines of marketing BS as they like, but anyone who doesn't wait and see them offer a great event for the high-end ticket holders for a good, solid few years before buying one themselves, is a fool...I'd say that makes it a Catch-22 for the organizers, but I am quite confident there are a ton of fools out there.
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
I am all for people paying for water. By choice, I spent $12 for water over less than three hours at a different event on Saturday and I have no complaints about the cost - I am just glad I was able to buy it without killing an hour doing so. Because, sure water at any temp will hydrate me enough to make sure I stay alive, but I am not going to an event with intention of making sure I can be kept alive - I want to ENJOY it. Otherwise, I am just saying that if you want people to have the most enjoyable time at your event vs. just putting on an event that will turn you a great profit while making sure your attendees know that their satisfaction is of as little interest as possible to you, then don't have enough cool water on hand to sell to them. Really, it would have benefited the organizers as they would have sold more water at a good mark-up and the they wouldn't have to deal with yet one more thing giving the even a bad rep. In addition to all of the other issues, they are also people who put on an event where attendees couldn't even buy a friggin' bottle of water with any ease at all.
My comment about the water fountains was actually a way to say to complainers, "Hey, you didn't *have* to stand on line for an hour, you could have just drank free NYC water". But, apparently the organizers didn't make an effort get that to happen either.
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
All good points, but I will make it clear how I feel on the subject of water availability, again based on my own experience from this weekend. I probably could have gotten away with buying one less bottle of water, at the event, than I did. But, with a quarter of one bottle left in my hand, I asked my husband to go buy me another then turned to my friend next to me and said,"There is nothing less refreshing than drinking hot water. I would rather not drink it all" True story! I was thirsty and I did want more water and I wanted it cold. I could have put ten bottles in my stroller, but after several hours in the hot sun, I still would have bought a fresh, cold one.
Now, I did see on the website that they did clearly state that re-usable bottles of water were welcome. I am not sure of the status of water fountains in Prospect Park - if they have them and if they were turned on yet - but if they did and they were, I would have happily refilled my water bottle over and over with the yummy NYC stuff! If it is good enough for me at home, it is even better when spending a hot day outside. :)
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
Well, there you have it. The organizer are refunding the full cost to those who paid for the $20 tickets.
http://gothamist.com/2012/05/23/extra_mooga.php
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
I have seen this said several times to people in various online venues and i think it is a bogus response. I think it is fair to expect water to be easily available at an outdoor festival - particularly one focused on food. Plus, it was hot and sunny. I went to a different outdoor food festival in the city that day and arrived with a bottle of water on me, as I almost always do, but ended up buying two more and drinking half of my husband's that day. He bought three bottles of artisanal soda. I just don't drink soda. I am not sure if people who say, "you could have brought your own water" expect that people should have brought with them and carried around a cooler full of it to cover them during the course of an eight hour food and music festival
Also, I don't know if this is true, but one complaint I read was that there weren't even kiosks selling only water (or other soft drinks), so one had to stand on an hour long beer line to get water. That would piss me off.
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
Well, if nothing else, it is much less expensive at Costco! :)
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
That's what I figured, which is why I commented somewhere on this thread that I feel bad for the restaurants. I mean, I am not shedding tears over them, because they wouldn't do it if it didn't benefit them in some way, but I also mentioned this piece I read on Eater last week. It is also why I feel like the promoters are greedy effers who could care less that they gave out 40000 tickets without being able to properly manage the needs of 40,000 people.
http://eater.com/archives/2012/05/18/chefs-weigh-in-the-pros-and-cons-of-food-festivals.php
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
Agree to some extent. I had not eve realized when I first commented on this thread, that the general tickets were free (if you could get 'em). However, people are entitled to complain if they schlepped somewhere, set aside a day for an event they thought they could enjoy, and ended up at a shitshow because the organizers did a crappy job. I would have just left, but I would still complain. :) And having to scramble and swarm and still possibly not end up with some of the food served is completely unacceptable if you paid $250. I don't know how many $250 tickets were sold, but some sort of amends should be made if they want to come back and do it again next year.
Yeah, retweeting about "haters" is super-douchey (excuse my language, I hate that word but it really fits here) when you ran an event that was deserving of some of the hate. I think some humility is in order here!
Does anyone know how they made money on this? It can't possibly be just the $250 tickets they sold, can it? Also, I am curious to hear about if from the perspective of some of the restaurateurs....has anyone seen anything from any of them???
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
This taste test of designer sauces places Batali in fourth place out of eight - the lowest of the "expensive sauces". . The link describes why it placed where it did. However, I think pasta sauce is a VERY subjective thing and all about an individuals preference. I make my own, but ocassionally I will buy a jar to have on hand and I know I actually prefer a slightly sweeter sauce which is probably not the mark of quality for most, but I like it that way.
Pertaining to this thread, though, I am curious how much you PAID at Costco for it vs. the average $0.41/oz this article say it goes for in regular retail. That price is RIDICULOUS and I am curious what it went for at Costco.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/04/what-are-best-tomato-sauces-pasta-celebrity-chefs-brands.html?ref=search
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
While I do often buy paper towels, TP, and detergent at Costco for convenience and the ease of having them in bulk, I did read an article not long ago...I am sorry, but I don't remember where, maybe Consumer Reports, that broke it down and those items sheet for sheet or ounce for ounce are not all cheaper (and sometimes more!) at Costco - especially if you are a sale watcher/cupon clipper.
I have found the same for meat. Per pound prices are rarely less than what I can get at the butcher...and i have two good butchers in walking distance to me. BUT, sometimes I will buy for convenience. Last Summer the price on boneless rib-eye was actually pretty good. We usually prefer bone-in, but my husband convinced me to buy a giant slab for $113 and he cut fifteen thick, thick steaks which kept us grilling for the Summer. They had perfect amount of fat and tasted great. But, on the other hand, after two dissatisfying experiences, I would never buy a roast beef there again
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
Yes, PLEASE! I live in Woodside, and have had some bad experiences with fish markets and would appreciate reccs. I will go to the one on QB in Sunnyside sometimes just because it is the closest (actually the closest is just a block way from me, buy just. No.) I tried the one on the corner of 31st Street and 30th Ave in Astoria once and it wasn't bad and would go in again since it is across the street from my monthly doc appt. But I am usually underwhelmed by all of them, so I get the same quality stuff at Costco for less money, while I am already shopping there. It is my understanding that a lot the stuff at most fish markets is previously frozen anyway? Please correct my if I am wrong. That is why I usually rely on the frozen bags of shrimp from Costco. At least I know they were frozen while fresh and stayed that way.
However, this time of year, I pick up stuff from the guy at the Greenmarket in Jackson Heights on Sunday...which is such a delight . This sub-thread is something we should probably be discussing on Outer-boroughs... :)
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
I live in Woodside, and always used to shop at the Astoria one because it was the closest. I still do from time to time, it always easy to park there and for a Costco, relatively small and easy to to shop in. Plus, sometimes I start out with a walk along the waterfront. I am sure it is has one of the best views of all the Costcos in the country - :) . However since the one in Rego Park opened, I find myself in that one more frequently. It is definitely is larger (which *sometimes* makes it more challenging) with a greater selection. I don't keep kosher, but is has a very large offering for those that do. I also find the staff more helpful at that one. Because of it's relatively small size, I guess I can understand why your husband may not like Astoria. Have you tried Rego Park? No liquor store there, though, but there is an Aldi which I will also stop at when I am there.
From years ago, I remember the one on Westbury as always being a little too instense for me. Then, about a year and half ago, I was at the dentist right near it, on Stewart Ave. (my MIL is a hygienist - that;'s why I go so far for dental). I drove over and even in the middle of the day, the middle of the week, that parking lot was SO crazy that I hauled ass out of there and back to Queens!
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
I am pretty sure it was not a surprise to most people here. But it sounds like for many people who were there, it was even worse than most had expected.
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
Although this may not apply to you, should other new mom's read this thread, I will say that being unable to nourish my son by my breast and trying three name-brand baby formula's, I gave the Kirkland brand a shot and it was the best one for my child - no gas issues, etc. Of course, every child is different, but try it if you need formula. It cost about a third of the price of Similac or Enfamil which is A LOT of money in formula feeding terms. I heard a few times that the company that manufactures one of them also produces Kirkland. If anyone asls me to recommend stainless cookware I would not hesitate to direct them to Costco.
I find their bags of frozen, uncooked 21-25 shrimp a better price than the supermarket and definitely better quality (you don't get the feeling that they thawed a little at some point). Produce can be tricky, since it is just the three of us, but last time I was there I got a 4 lb. bag of Brussels Sprouts for not much more than I would normally pay for one of those little paper cup filled things they sell in the grocery store. Brussels sprouts last a long time. I look around and there are usually a few things that I can get at great price that I know I will use.
While I guess it falls into your category of "just bulk, whatever", I do like the packages of chicken. Sometimes I get skinless breasts, sometimes, bone-in, skin-on thighs but they both are packages of about 16, maybe (?), but vacuum sealed into sections of two each. So, if all else fails, between those or the 2 lbs bags of shrimp, I know i can always pull out something from the freezer and have dinner ready in a few hours. Some of the meat, though, I don't find are priced any more competitively than the butcher I can walk to most days.
Other than that, over the years, I have purchased thick, soft Tommy Bahama beach towels for about $12 a piece, Nautica, Calvin Klein, and Levi's brands jeans and other clothes for my husband, loads of vitamin and mineral supplements, plenty of "new release" books at discount, the best folding chairs you can find, lots of batteries in giant packages, and plenty of great, fresh, well-priced seafood during their regular weekend "seafood roadshows" (good seafood stored are hard to come by here in my part of Queens, NY.). I have used my Kirkland stainless cookware for several years and it is still in great condition and never fails me.
Oh, and I am heading there this weekend to buy a memory foam mattress topper. We HATE our mattress, but it is only 2 1/2 years old so I want to try the topper before laying out for a whole new mattress - the thing is, and this is something that makes Costco very cool and very worth the membership fee: you can return anything at anytime. So, if after a month or two, or ten, we realize we need to go for a new mattress, we can still return the topper. You can probably eat half a tub of Nutella and give it back (although I can't imagine why). But, yes, even if you just don't like it. For cameras, appliances, electronics, furniture, grills, toys, etc., this is an especially great feature, but also applicable to any food item you may buy - although I will readily admit that I am not the type to schlep back to a store to return any grocery item. But, you can.
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
This is true about NYS liquor licensing. But I shop at two Costco stores here in Queens and the one in Astoria has a a liquor store next door that almost looks like it is part of Costco, although thanks to our state law, it is not. However, the prices there are VERY good compared with most liquor stores in the area and I stop in every time I visit Costco...and it really just feels like part of shopping at Costco. I lived on LI many years ago and if I recall correctly, the Costco in Westbury has a similar set-up with a privately owned liquor store attached to the Costco warehouse/store.
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
There are glitches and then there are total, careless, disasters. The people behind it are the same ones who organize Bonaroo. They should have the festival thing down by now. New York Magazine posted an article describing the chaos, clearly highlightint it as a "shitshow"- and New York Magazine was a sponsor, so that's pretty bad.
They sold 40,000 tickets and apparently didn't sign up nearly enough restaurants. That isn't a glitch, it is greed. Not only does it suck for the people who attended, but I feel bad for the restaurateurs. I recently read an article on Eater, it was actually interviews with four famous chefs about food festivals and it seems that the chefs are often lied to and and for lack of a better phrase, taken advantage of, by many food festival organizers. It sounds like the Great GoogaMooga - particularly the $250 special section - was probably a good example of that.
Only 75 food vendors for 40,000 people? Hmmmm...that doesn't sound like a great idea. Geez...I went to the Taste of Tribeca festival on Saturday, which was small enough that it only took up less than two city blocks and they had 75 eateries there. And it was great!
Although I would have LOVED to see The Roots. :)
Carbonara
THANK YOU SO MUCH, huiray! Just before making the dish, I told my husband i was concerned about my lack of pan-flipping abilities (actually, lack there of). At the last minute, I checked back here and so this last post of yours. I ended up preparing the pasta according to the method in the video you posted. It was EASY and came out PERFECT (although after three or four bites, my two year old started getting annoying and I put eating aside to get him in bed which led to cleaning, etc....and I never made it back to eating). I know it is a dish best eaten fresh, but I will enjoy the leftovers and my husband praised it enough to satisfy me (sometimes I cook to cook, not so much to eat). It may detract from the authenticity, but I did soften about two tablespoons of finely minced shallots in the rendered pancetta fat and it was a good decision. Anyway, now that I know how easy it is, it will definitely show up on my dinner table again. This threads is one of the reasons I really appreciate Chowhound!
Carbonara
This is GREAT, thanks! I skimmed this thread a few days ago after being led to it from another thread. Of course, I haven't stopped thinking about making proper Carbonara since. After a visit to the local Italian market for quality pasta, cheese, and pancetta, plus the usual Sunday morning at the Greenmarket for fresh farm eggs, I came back here for details and am thrilled to have now seen this vid. Okay...time to prepare dinner soon. A little nervous...I hope I can pull it off!
"Taste of Tribeca" - what restaurants should I pick to sample from?
We are going to the Taste of Tribeca Festival tomorrow. It is a benefit for two public schools. I am looking forward to a day with my husband and son and my best friend's family, enjoying the beautiful weather, music, art, kids activites, etc. But, mostly I am looking for the opportunity to try food from some restaurants that I have not and likely won't be able to have a meal at in the near future. The basic ticket includes a tasting card, allowing six "tastes" for $50. My husband and I will get a total of twelve tastes (we are hoping to be able to try as many as possible, so we will share each taste), and we will share a bit of ours with our two year old. I suppose we can buy an extra ticket which will allow us six more tastes, but I think we will stick to twelve. I have no idea what a "taste" consists of, but I hope each is at least a small appetizer-like portion. If anyone knows what you do get, I would appreciate the info. Here is a list of the participating restaurants. If you could only choose tastes from 6-12 places, what would you pick? I want to make the most of the opportunity!
Oh, I am not too concerned with bakery selections - unless you think they are out of this world. A variet of savory choices is my preference.
Thanks. :)
http://www.tasteoftribeca.com/sites/default/files/sponsors/spread%20inside%20map%202012.FINAL_.pdf
Condiments That Do and Do Not Need Refrigeration
Yep, my husband's bottle of HFCS is kept in the pantry, while the real stuff my son and I use (trying to raise the kid up right, ya know?) is safely ensconced in the refrigerator door. I am quite sure that if I only made pancakes or french toast once year, hubs' bottle would not spoil at least until we retire - and we are only in our thirties. :)
Condiments That Do and Do Not Need Refrigeration
I recently started to keep truffle oil in my fridge out of fear that it will go rancid - I had one that smelled pretty bad and I took that as being rancid. I take it out a few hours before using (or dip in a bowl of warm water in a pinch) to un-congeal. Does this sound like the right thing to do? Will these actions affect it in a negative way?
I also keep maple syrup in the fridge. It says to and I see no reason not to. If I am using it as a breakfast topping, I take the cap off and microwave it for 30 seconds to heat it anyway.
Another question I have is, that my g- to salad dressing is a maple balsamic vinaigrette that I make. Since, I refrigerate two of the ingredients - maple syrup and dijon - I keep leftover dressing in the fridge too. Is this necessary? I go through periods where we have a salad every day, but sometimes much longer. How long can I let it sit out of the fridge?
Lastly, I SO KNOW that you don't have to refrigerate ketchup, and my husband reminds me of this almost every time we use it, but I just cannot NOT keep it in the fridge. I have no idea why, but I blame my mother. ;) Keeping it in the fridge is also self-defeating because I don't even like to eat ketchup cold. :)
New Polish Deli/Market in Woodside
I was surprised to see that a Polish place was opening up in my neighborhood, but mildly excited, even though I know nothing about Polish food. I stopped in the other day. It was immaculately clean. I did have to wait a while to be attended to, even though I was the only person in the store, but she seemed to be unpacking a delivery and I wasn't in a hurry. They had a large assortment of cold cut type meats and cheeses. Many different types of hams, it seemed. They had about twelve sorts of sausages, kielbasa, etc. Light ones, dark ones, with names like "Hunter" and "Wedding" and some not named at all, but I fairly randomly picked three. I also took home two packages of pirogies. They are not their own, but produced by W.H. Foods in Greenpoint. All was very tasty. I *really* enjoyed their stuffed cabbage - although, I thought it was weird that I had to ask if there was a sauce - because there was a sauce. I haven't had decent stuffed cabbage in a while, but this really hit the spot. They also had some fried, breaded pork cutlets, a few kinds of soups and a some other things that you can take home if you don't feel like cooking. There were some baked goods, sadly no babka when I was there, but I bought an apple cake (sold by the pound) that was very good. They have a fridge in the back and walls lined with what may be every single packaged product made in Poland (and perhaps a few other Easter European countries). Most of them did not even have English printed on the packages which makes it more interesting. I just bought some aloe and lime keffir yogurt for my son. It looked different than the usual flavors. He is only two, but he approved of it whole-heartedly. :)
Anyway, it is right at 61st & Woodside Ave., next to the Rite-Aid. I am sorry, but I actually did not catch the name. For those people that live near these parts and don't have a place for Polish goodies, closer than Greenpoint or Middle Village/Maspeth,, you may want to check it out.
leftover wonton skins
I had leftovers one time and tried to make a dessert filling with mascarpone and fruit, I think. I tried frying them just like I fried my pork dumplings. It ended up being a messy cooking disaster. Any tips?
Favorite ways to use up a giant bunch of cilantro?
thai pickled cucumbers? Great side dish and/or yummy to snack on and they keep a while in the fridge.
Max Bratwurst un Bier - New German place in Astoria
I should add that I do not drink beer, so I am pretty much just interested in the food. Hubs is a beer guy, so any insight on that end is helpful though, we would only go if the food is good.
Max Bratwurst un Bier - New German place in Astoria
I noticed this place on 30th Avenue in the 40s, while driving today. It appeared to be a new place and an interesting addition to the neighborhood - by which I mean the part of Astoria close to my home in Woodside. I am intrigued by somewhere so close to home for this kind of food. Just wondering if anyone has heard anything about it or has any frist hand experience to share. Thanks!
Spoon fed: how cutlery affects your food, By Fuchsia Dunlop
Thanks, I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it looks interesting
drongo - I use the term cutlery and I have found that I correct myself at times and call it silverware (which annoys me because it is rarely ever silver). I guess I subconsciously realize that other people do not call it cutlery and will be confused by my use of the word. What I hadn't realized until I read dronog's post is *why* I call it cutlery. My mother is Canadian and growing up in the '50s she must have been exposed to the more British usage for cutlery and I got it from her. Now I know, Thanks!
