jennielap's Profile
Gravy for a Brined Turkey?
I saw it in the "New York Times" so it must be true. lol. I'm going to make the stock myself without salt and taste taste taste. Thanks for the advice all.
Gravy for a Brined Turkey?
I am planning to buy my turkey from Trader Joe's (which is selling brined turkeys). However I read that you can't use the pan drippings from a brined turkey, as they will make the gravy too salty, So my question is how do I make a decent gravy WITHOUT pan drippings? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Drinks near Scarpetta
I have booked a table at Scarpetta for my husband's birthday dinner and need to find a place for drinks nearby. Here's the thing: I fractured my knee recently and can't walk very far at all. So the drinks place has to be VERY near the restaurant (West 14th Street). We like classic cocktails and he is also very fond of interesting beers. No place too mobbed would be good, Many thanks.
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Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014
Seeking Cassoulet
No I was teasing, cos Quatorze always runs an ad "Cassoulet on New Year's Day."
Seeking Cassoulet
This cold weather has us craving cassoulet. Anyone have any recomendations? Not Quartorze, please, we love it, but we can't get there on New Year's Day.
Need a pre-theater pick!
Well I'm talking somewhere between McDonalds and Per Se. I would say entrees in the low to mid 20s would be ok. As far as cuisine, I think we are both pretty adventurous eaters, but I'm not necessarily looking for ethnic; plain old Italian would be fine too, as long as the food is good. I was thinking of Marseille, but it's not exactly convenient to the theater, and it can be extremely noisy.
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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
Need a pre-theater pick!
My friend is coming in from out of town next weekend and I'm scanning around for a fun, festive place for dinner before a show. The show is a little out of the theater district, Broadway and 53rd. Any ideas?
HELP!! In Forest Hills
We love Danny Browns--we've had dinner there at least half a dozen times since it opened and never had a bad meal. I would go so far as to say it's Manhattan quality food at Forest Hills prices. Also, we like Uvarara (granted it's in Middle Village, but close enough). Good Italian food (fun to get the small plates) and a great selection of wine. Other than that, I'd have to agree the choices are pretty dismal. Especially looking for decent Chinese food. Sometimes we'll make the trek to Flushing for Spicy and Tasty (our favorite), but on a Friday night, when you're tired...Pizza Classico near the Stop and Shop makes decent take-out Italian.
Desperately seeking good smoked fish...
We love Rego. It is kind of like a speakeasy--tiny sign, hard to get them on the phone, it's truly in the middle of nowhere, but we've always been more than happy with the quality of the fish as well as the reasonable prices. You should see the lines on Yom Kippur...
Eiffel Tower Restaurant?
It's our last trip to Vegas for the foreseeable future and we want to make the last night special. We've considered the usual blowouts (JR, Craftsteak etc.--sadly Picasso and Alex are both closed on Tuesdays) and started talking about the Eiffel Tower restaurant. I'm sure the view's the thing but the menu looks good. However, it is pricey and what a letdown if it's lousy! I wondered if anyone has been. Thanks much.
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Eiffel Tower Restaurant
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Last night in Vegas--we want to shoot the works!
We will be going to Vegas in about 3 weeks for our annual trip. (It's probably our last for a little while; I think our youngest is old enough for us to try Disney next year. Normally we send her to "grandma camp.") On our last night we want to do a really special dinner and can't decide where. We have reservations at Aureole for our third night. We love Craftsteak and are always happy to go back, but thought it might be fun to try something new. Alex is closed that week. I've already been to Prime and wasn't overwhelmed
. What are your favorites for a real blowout? Many thanks.
Drinks before DBGB dinner
Yes I chose it in part because I've heard the beer list is excellent. But we may want to get something prior to...
Drinks before DBGB dinner
I'm taking DH to DBGB for his 45th birthday. Where is a nearby bar that we can get a drink before hand and actually hear each other talk? Doesn't have to be anything fancy. Thanks all.
What to order at DBGB?
Hi all--headed there for the first time tonight. Anyone have any ideas on what to order--the menus looks massive. Many thanks.
French in the Theater District
I went to Marseille once or twice with my parents and thought the food was good. But it was incredibly loud at dinner (another pet peeve of theirs) so I'm not sure I'd go back with them.
French in the Theater District
My husband and I, along with our parents, are going out for dinner after West Side Story. My mil has expressed a preference for French. Sadly, PIerre Au Tunnel (our old standby) is no more, nor is Le Madeleine. Anything too pricey will produce much grumbling (since they will insist on paying). Any suggestions for a decent alternative that won't put us in the poorhouse?
Apiary or Perilla for a birthday dinner?
Thanks. Yeah we actually tried to go last year (before Blue Hill) but it was so mobbed that we wound up at one of the Belgian places nearby (can't remember which one now).
Apiary or Perilla for a birthday dinner?
Whitney, funny I asked the same question recently with a slight variation: Apizz vs. Perilla and chose Perilla (not going until next week). I had also been thinking about August (which I've heard great things about) and Scarpetta. Have you looked into Blue Hill? We went there last year and were very impressed (altho I think since the Obamas went it may be hard to get a reservation).
But on a similar note, any good places around that area to go for a drink before dinner? It's for dh's birthday and he likes classic cocktails as well as interesting or unusual beers. I mean, it's the West Village, so obviously there are a billion places, I'm just not up on the area anymore.
Drinks Before Perilla
Finally chose the restaurant. Now I need a spot for drinks beforehand. Preferably one with either really good, interesting choice of beer, or classic cocktails. We tried the um, Blind Tiger? (Spotted Tiger? something with a tiger in it) last year (prior to Blue Hill) and it was so mobbed we had to leave, but any ideas? Thanks.
Apizz or Perilla?
I have heard good things about both and I have made a reservation at both. Which one should I keep?
What's especially good to buy at Zabar's?
I'm not a fan of their chopped liver (no offense carijo). The couple of times I've had it, it didn't have a lot of flavor. But you must pick up a loaf of their rye bread--it is out of this world. I also like the vichysoisse (sp?), which they sell at this time of year. I agree their prepared food is only so-so (although I do like the stuffed cabbage). And they occasionally have some great prices on cheese (I got some 12-mos.-old Manchego for 5-something a pound last time I was there. Good olive selection too.
August or Apizz
Thanks both. Leah, we are both fairly serious "foodies" but I guess I was looking for "new American." I'm also thinking of Perilla (almost took him there last year but went with Blue Hill at the last minute, which was great) and Irving Mill (which sounds a little pricey, I don't know much more about it). I was hoping to keep things a little more, ahem, economical this year, but by the time you get a cocktail and a decent bottle of wine, nothing's going to be really cheap. He prefers a more casual atmosphere, but after all it IS his birthday, so I want to make it a little special.
August or Apizz
Has anyone been recently and would you recommend one over the other? I'm looking for a place to take dh for his birthday--not too fancy and not crazy expensive, but certainly want good food and relaxing, inviting atmosphere. Both sound good; I'm leaning toward August based on the menu and the outdoor option. Thanks.
Felidia or Babbo
Felidia or Babbo--I'd love to have that decision to make! I hate to say it but I think you should blow off Babbo. Yes, you can have dinner there in 90 minutes, but do you really want to rush and be looking at your watch the whole time? It's such a great restaurant, I think it's the kind of place to linger over your wine for a few extra minutes and take your time. (Altho the service is good and I imagine they will get you out of there fast if you tell them to.) Maybe it's just me, I hate to rush. I'll say good luck getting a cab in the Village at 7:30 on a Friday night! Anyway, either way you can't go wrong. I'll be interested to know what you decide.
Quick NY Bagel Poll: H&H or Ess-a-Bagel
I like H&H but only the West Side branch. I haven't had an Ess-a in about 15 years but as I recall they were good. : ) You really can't go wrong with either.
Birthday Dinner: Scarpetta? Perilla? Others?
Ok, I tried this before, but now I've done some research. Looking for a place (downtown) to take dh for birthday dinner. I want nice, but nothing too "posh"--it's not really his style. I don't mind spending money, since it is his birthday, but things are a LITTLE tight right now, so if we can keep it under $150 (not counting drinks or tip) or so, that would be a plus. (Probably unrealistic.) So far I've checked out sites for Perilla, Scarpetta and Good. I thought about and rejected Minetta Tavern because I don't think we're cool enough to get in and I don't want a restaurant that's heavy on steak (it's all Bruni talked about in the review). Also, I think it might be out of our price range. If it's any help, our favorite restaurants in Manhattan are Babbo and Craft . Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Birthday Dinner
I'm looking for apps in the $9 to $15, entrees in the mid-high 20s and low 30s.
Birthday Dinner
It's that time again...dh's birthday is coming up and I want to find a good place. If anyone saw the write-up of Rustican in last Wednesday's NYT, it sounds like the perfect choice: good food, heavy on the pork products, a huge choice of great beers, a nice room with a casual vibe. Sadly, it is in Chicago and we are in Forest Hills altho I would like to have dinner in Manhattan. Money IS (sadly) an object: I don't want McDonald's, but I'd like to stay away from Per Se prices as well. (Birthday is actually in July, but a lot of places take reservations a month in advance.) Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!
Farewell Dinner
A friend of mine is moving to another state, so three of us want to take her out in Manhattan (we are 30- to 40 somethings, so nothing too crazy. We're looking for a nice place, fun, festive, but not crazy expensive, that has some vegetarian options (my friend is a vegetarian). It doesn't really matter what area it's in; we're coming in from Forest Hills by subway. Midtown would be convenient, but I'm not wedded to it. I was thinking of Rosa Mexicana, but it has only one vegetarian entree. Any ideas? Thanks.
Wonderful Lebanese in Forest Hills- Please Support Wafa's!
We've walked by it a few times (just down the street) and wondered about it. That storefront has been about 5 things in the past few years. Thanks for the post; I'm going to check it out.
