Pancakes at Clinton St. Baking Co.

I just went here for breakfast yesterday and tried both the pancakes as well as potato pancakes. I waited about 25 minutes. I didn't really fancy the pancakes or the potato ones. I didn't find the food to be very good. It was crazy chaotic and I wouldn't go again or recommend it to anybody. Sorry......I really wanted to like those pancakes after all the hype.

gtrekker2003 in Manhattan

Udon Soup - veggie broth?

Hi.
I used to go to the noodle place on 55th between 5th & 6th Ave. They had a great veggie broth udon noodle soup with gooey bits of mochi in it. Last I visited NYC, they weren't there anymore.

Any suggestions of where I can find Udon Noodle Soup with a veggie broth and preferably not loads of MSG. Bits of gooey mochi are a bonus. Anywhere in Manhattan.

Thanks.

gtrekker2003 in Manhattan

Rye Brook, Westchester

Wow, thanks everybody. These are great. Love Latin American, Argentinian and have never tried Brazilian. Sounds like my 3 meals are sorted. :) Cheers.

gtrekker2003 in New York State (exc. New York City)

Rye Brook, Westchester

Hi.
I'm attending a conference in Rye Brook, Westchester and will be at the Hilton there. I won't have a car and don't really know much about Westchester.
However, I'm happy to take a taxi (if not too far) or bus (if available).

I'm looking for suggestions for lunch and early dinners in and around the Rye Brook area. I like everything except Italian and Chinese. Love French, grills, eclectic, mexican, thai / japanese/ korean / vietnamese..... My budget is up to $20-25 for 1-2 meals and preferably less for most meals.

Cheers!

gtrekker2003 in New York State (exc. New York City)

Merghez sAusages

Thanks a lot everybody. These are some great suggestions. Looking forward to trying them.

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Merghez sAusages

Hello. Any recommendations on where to buy good quality merghez sausages in London? Preferably south London but will go anywhere? I want to BBQ them myself.
Cheers.

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Cambridge University Area

Hello.
I'm attending a conference at Cambridge University this week near Churchill College. Will have an hour or so lunch break and a few dinners. I won't have a car. Any recommendations of places to go for lunch and dinner? Budget about £20-25 for dinner, £10-15 for lunch. Preferences: Asian, pub meal, middle eastern, french........anything but Italian and pizza.
Thanks!

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Uh-oh: I'm a vegetarian going to Dublin.

I had a great gubbeen cheese entree at Winding Stair.....still remember it. :)

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Uh-oh: I'm a vegetarian going to Dublin.

Go to Cornucopia - it's a vegetarian haven. I just bought their cookbook and love it. If I had time, I'd have gone their more than once. They have music some evenings. We had a delicious breakfast here too.

Also, Winding Stair has delicious vegetarian options. Had a lovely lunch there.

These were the 2 highlights of our weekend to Dublin and we are not vegetarians although do love a good innovative veg meal.

Enjoy!

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

New restaurants in Dublin?

Went to Winding Stair on a recent trip and LOVED it!!!!!

If you like vegetarian, we also had a lovely breakfast at Cornucopia. They sometimes have music at night. Although I don't think they're new either.

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Holborn for Dinner [London]

Hi.
I'll be meeting a work colleague in the Holborn area for dinner next week. We like most types of food--Asian, British gastropub, Middle Eastern. Just not Italian, and must have non-pork options.
Mid-price (about £20-25, not including wine). And a place where we won't be rushed out and can talk. They're coming from out of town so it would be nice if the restaurant had something British, interesting decor though not necessarily tablecloth fancy, or cool architecture.

Any suggestions?

Many Thanks!

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Newbury or Hungerford, Berkshire

Hi.

Will be spending a day in the Newbury area. Any suggestions of good places to eat----asian, thai, pub meal, pizza---anything good! Any nice cafes?
Thanks,

gtrekker2003

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Algarve in Jan / Feb

Hello.
My husband and I will be travelling through the Algarve area end of Jan / early Feb '11. I have already seen some good suggestions for local Portuguese food here, namely Restaurant Gabriel, Vila Velha and Eira do Mel for the Sagres area.

We will have a car and are staying in Praia da Luz for part of the trip and Tavira for the other portion. We plan to visit faro, then going west to portimao, lagos, sagres, aljezur, marmalete, silves, caldas de monchique, monchique, foia. Then in the east explore the coastal road between olhao and tavira.

I'm looking for any good cafes where we can get nice coffee and perhaps a custard tart near the hotels.

Also, any portuguese local restaurants to try along the way? We're also interested in some piri piri chicken which I've read is good around the Monchique area.

If there are any good food markets, stalls or stands to check out along the way, we'd like that too. Especially if there's anything local like honey, sauces, etc, to bring back to London with us. :)

Lastly, we have a collection of cookware type items (e.g. mortar and pestle, tools from SE Asia, tagine etc) and are wondering if there's anything particular to Portugal we could bring back home?

Loads of thanks!!!!

gtrekker2003 in Spain/Portugal

Bergen, Norway

Hi.
Will be in Bergen, Norway this coming weekend for 2 days. Staying near the fish Market. Heard food is very expensive there.

Any suggestions of cafe's, Lunh and dinner places in the area? Since we are only there for 2 days, we'd like to try foods we can't get here in London or local specialties.

Thanks in advance.

gtrekker2003 in Europe

Cornwall Eats

Hi.
Will be visiting Cornwall at the end of this month/early May for 7 days. I've heard to try Rick Stein's restaurants, and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen so far.
Any other recommendations of places to eat for local fare? Pub food, homestyle food. Actually, if there's anything particularly recommended for Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, we'd be interested in that too, however the main focus is on local foods and eating lots of clotted creme.

Also, any suggestions of places to try for Cornish pasties?

Lastly, any local products that we should buy from Cornwall to bring back to London?

Cheers,

gtrekker2003

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Gozo and Malta Food Report

Here are some recommendations and 'misses' in Gozo and Malta based on our recent trip. Note that many of the restaurants are closed during Winter in Gozo so best to plan in advance.

VICTORIA, GOZO
It Tmun in Victoria, Gozo, which we found in the Lonely Planet Guidebook. We were the only customers in the restaurant due to the low season/end of Jan. The food was spectacular, service was also very courteous. We got the steak with pepper sauce, linguine with lobster sauce, and for dessert (the best part), the most heavenly chocolate chilli cheesecake ever! This was one of the best meals we’ve had! Everything cooked to perfection, including the side plate of veggies and potatoes that are usually so bland in other restaurants. Highly recommend this restaurant. It is closed on Thursdays.

XAGHRA, GOZO
A friend and local in Xaghra both suggested that we eat lunch at ‘Gesthers’ which is near the village square beside a snack bar place. It is inexpensive and has really good local food! We had a vegetable soup and a delicious local fish called Awrat. We only saw locals coming in and out of the place so know it was a good find!

Le Val D’Or in XLENDI, GOZO.
Food here was nice however wouldn’t suggest coming out of your way to come here. The owners are very friendly and personable and don’t rush you out. We ordered the grilled king prawns and the duck with honey and lemon. The owner also gave us some complimentary bruschetta as a starter which was yummy. Both mains were good.

C Seven in XLENDI, GOZO
Food here was lovely, and the café latte was very very good. They prepare all the food fresh so it takes a while for some dishes, however the wait is worth it. We ordered the fennel and orange salad which was nice, the pepperoncini pasta which had such simple flavours but was delicious and cooked just right, and the pizza which was very fresh, hot, and what we were craving. Highly recommend this place. Décor is very nice, and the owners are very efficient and courteous. Relaxing music playing in the background if this is important to you. ☺

Ta Frenc……thought we’d try the top rated restaurant of the island. They’re only open from Fri to Sun for lunch and dinner during Winter.
We were the only ones in the restaurant which added to the appeal of it. It’s set in a gorgeous renovated farmhouse with lovely little details. Staff is very professional which is true of most Maltese restaurants we’ve been to. The food was delicious from beginning to end. They served hot homemade bread with amazing olive oil and Gozo sea salt. Meals were based on local produce. Lots of meat and vegetarian options. The tortellini was divine, soup was incredible, and both of our mains were amazing. It is pricy however they have a reasonable 4-course market menu for €28. We preferred It Tmun for desserts though and still dream about their chocolate chilli cheesecake. ☺ However we had a lovely night out at Ta Frenc and would recommend it for a one-time splash-out experience.

Ta Kris in SLIEMA, MALTA. It’s on a little alley off a main road. We had a lovely dinner here! You should make reservations if you can, as we went early and they only had 2 tables available. It’s a rustic atmosphere and the staff is very good. The food was delicious! We ordered the pasta with marrow and a creamy oregano sauce…….amazing! And we had a grilled local fish called Aurat which was also very nice. The chocolate mousse for dessert was so-so. On a second meal to Ta Kris, we ordered the steak with pepper sauce which was cooked perfectly for us. :)

Mathew’s Bar and Restaurant, Marsaxlokk, MALTA
The seafood in Marsaxlokk looked amazingly fresh so we were really looking forward to lunchtime. We ordered the King Prawns with garlic, lemon, and parsley on rice, and it came with loads of extra sides such as potatoes, vegetables, salad, and French fries. The food here was delicious. Their fresh orange juice was also so sweet. The prices here were much better than the other restaurant menus we saw. We had a yummy lunch.

BOUZOUKI, Malta
We heard good reviews about this Greek inspired restaurant Bouzouki, however it was unfortunately closed either due to it being a weekend or the low season! Next time.

Mdina, MALTA
-Fontanella Tea Gardens
There are also very nice views of Malta nearby Fontanella Tea Gardens where we had some delicious cakes, mocha, and fresh orange juice. This was a highlight of our trip to Mdina.

We also had a ftira sandwich at the Old Priory Café and that was an average snack.

BACCHUS in Mdina, Malta
the menu looked really interesting to us, and there was an interesting history behind the buildings. First was Bacchus which was an old gunpowder magazine of sorts. We decided to have a couple of appetizers here. We ordered a sole with orange and green peppercorn sauce, a lobster ravioli type dish with ginger sauce, and a ‘porcini mushroom cappuccino’, basically a fancy name for soup. We were expecting these dishes to be very tasty and flavourful, however, everything except for the mushroom cappuccino was bland. And they charge an extra 18% VAT tax as well as a €1 per person cover charge. We weren’t aware about the tax which was a bit annoying. The food was nothing special and we wouldn’t go back. You are allowed however to enter the restaurant and take a look around if you like.

Mdina Restaurant, MDINA, MALTA
Mdina Restaurant had nice reviews on Trip Advisor. So we decided to have a couple of starters here as well. This is supposed to be a top-notch restaurant. It is very pretty inside with nice architectural and design details, as well as a warm ambiance. However, our food had come cold to the table and it was very below average. E.G. the parmesan crisps with our risotto were mushy and the gnocchi with mushrooms was bland. The waiter did not seem happy to heat our food and the service was very hurried. This restaurant also charges an extra 18% VAT tax which we were unaware of. We have not encountered this earlier in the cafes in Mdina or any other restaurants in Gozo and Malta.

Caffe Cordina, VALLETTA, MALTA
Had lunch at the much talked-about Caffe Cordina. The décor is over-the-top as others have said, however, the food is very average tasting and priced.

gtrekker2003 in Europe

Glasgow and Ayr

Hello.

I have 3 meals in Glasgow and Ayr and want to use them wisely. :) So far, I have a reservation at Two Fat Ladies in Glasgow. I've eaten at Stravaign once before so am looking for other recommendations. I'm not really into typical Scottish foods such as haggis and organs, nor am I interested in Indian food. Love innovative foods, home style comfort pub food, SE Asian influences, French inspired,.......

Budget is £10-20 per meal. Any suggestions, especially for Ayr?

Thanks!
gtrekker2003

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Clapham Junction Cafes or Coffee Shops [London]

Thanks for the tips. I ended up going to Brew and the coffee was great. I think I'd like to go back for brunch and try out these other places now. :)

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Clapham Junction Cafes or Coffee Shops [London]

Any cafes or coffee shops that you'd recommend at clapham Junction? Just for meeting up with a colleague so seating is necessary. Looking for ideas other than Starbucks or Cafe Nero etc.
Thanks.

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Vietnamese and Korean Market in or near London

I went to New Malden High St and saw plenty of Korean restaurants but didn't see a supermarket. Must have missed it. Would it be away from the high street? would really love some thinly cut beef ribs for Kalbi.

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Vietnamese and Korean Market in or near London

Any recommendations of where I can find a vietnamese or korean market / grocery store?

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Gnocchi near Croydon or London

Hi.
I live in Croydon but would travel to London........where can I find good ready-made gnocchi? Don't care for the grocery freezer section stuff. Thanks.

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Isle of Wight.....Shanklin

Hi Paula76.

Just wanted to say thanks so much for this recommendation. We did go here for lunch with a reservation and had the most amazing lunch we can remember. It was the best meal we had on the Isle of Wight

Thanks again!

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Isle of Wight.....Shanklin

Hi.
I'm heading for the Garlic Festival near Shanklin, Isle of Wight for the weekend. I was wondering if there are any good seafood recommended restaurants, pubs in that area for dinner or any other suggestions not to miss? Any other good local farms to visit? Also, any products from the Garlic Festival you'd recommend from past years?

Cheers!

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Curry Plant

Thanks Peg. Do you just stick the branches in the soil or is it necessary to root them first? I've been trying to root some branches I got from Asda but they seem to dry up very quickly. Any suggestions or advice?

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Curry Plant

Harters,

Which Wyevale have you seen them at? Or what search terms did you use on their site?

I just put in Murraya Koenigii and came up with no results. It sounds like this is the same as the curry plant.
Thanks!

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Curry Plant

Anybody know where I can buy a curry plant? Not the curry leaves one that resembles rosemary leaves, but a curry plant, aka sweet neem, similar to the leaves found in the grocery or Indian stores.

Here is a link:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-8lyKQKwn74/SToYK27CrJI/AAAAAAAAAbc/7lGmSdvMN6E/s400/beautifulcurryleaves.jpg

Willing to travel anywhere or order online. Haven't had much luck finding this yet.
Thanks.

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland

Dried White Mulberries

Found some of these at the Iranian store and on a whim, just bought them. No idea what to do with them though. Looked online and they just suggested to eat them raw.

Any other ideas? Thanks in advance.

gtrekker2003 in Home Cooking

Norfolk, North Coast Eats

Thanks for the suggetions Theresa. We did end up going to Cookie's Crab Shop in Salthouse for a prawn salad and it was so cheap and amazingly fresh. Thanks for the recommendation!

we also reall enjoyed The Stables Restaurant which also has an attached pub called The Lobster I think in Sheringham. Amazing lobster dinner there!

gtrekker2003 in U.K./Ireland