Captain's Profile
Salt Water Grill in Stamford - Blech!
My normal thing is to seek value and good taste in food, with little care for atmosphere and other factors. My wife mentioned seafood and wanting to eat outside Saturday evening. I thought of Salt Water Grille, having been there years ago under a former name. We went, the service was slow, the drinks fine, and the food BAD. My wife had the toughest meat I'e ever seen passed off as a filet mignon. I had scallops with little taste and the texture of rubber bands. I won't be going back.
Vodka for a picky vodka-lover
I recently gave a bottle of Tito's to a Ukrainian. He gave it rave reviews.
Where to find Snake River Brewery beer?
The Snake River Brewery is in Jackon Hole, Wyoming. I am in the NYC area and want to buy beer from this brewery. Anyone know where I can buy some? Thanks.
Beer vs. Wine (Round 2)
I think this is right, and it also seems to fit how I eat and drink. I tend to eat when food is in front of me and rarely lift the glass in front of me, until I am done with the food. My habits, good or bad (I realize that many may criticize), don't really create a place for cleaning out my palate. So, for me, it's all about a cohesive pairing.
Beer vs. Wine (Round 2)
Invite more people to share the fondue, and either give them the wine, or drink the wine before the fondue and have the gueuze with it after.
Piccola Venezia, L'Incontro, Manducatis, or Manetta?
On most occassions, if I had to pick between Piccolo and L'Incontro, I'd pick L'Incontro, primiarly because I have enjoyed the food much more. For Valentines Day, I'd probably go with Piccolo, because meb903 is right in the L'Incontro tends to be noisy. In my experience, the waitstaff st L'Incontro has never been obnoxious.
Large dinner party (50 people) suggestions??
I've recommended it a number of times, for large parties, but you could try Caracello on Greenwich St., just north of Rector. It's a place that I've been to for a lot of business lunches, a number of firm parties for which we took the whole place, and my wedding rehearsal dinner. With 50 people, they will close for your party.
Beer vs. Wine (Round 2)
I haven't, and I admit that I am unlikely to do so. Perhaps I am close-minded, but I've had both vinho verde and gueuze. Neither tastes anything like what I want to drink with the respective dishes. If you do, that's great. I'm not fighting you on it. It's just not for me.
Gueuze could work for me with some cheeses, but if someone made me pick a beer to have with fondue, I'd probably go for something like a doppelbock, maybe Aventinus. If I had to have wine with chili, it would definitely be a red, a big fruity Malbec.
If you want to find the perfect wine to serve with chili, or think you have done so, awesome.
Great fondue??
My wife loves fondue, and of the above, the atmosphere closest to romantic to which I have been is Swizz. I've had better fondue, but it's still good.
Help with Scotch/Whiskey for Groomsmen Gifts???
I like the idea of the flask and some Irish whiskey, but Irish can vary. Although it varies less than Scotch, especially if you don't include the Cooley distillery.
However, that's exactly the stuff I'd look to buy. Connemara is a whiskey that's peaty but even those who don't like peat enjoy it, because of it's very light texture. Connemara Cask Strength is $65 a bottle from Park Ave. Add in a decent flask and you should be hitting right about the price point of $100 tota
Edit: Looks like this might be out of date. Posts from onths ago. Oh well.
Beer vs. Wine (Round 2)
Yes, beer is as suitable to pair with foods as is wine.
Yes, beer fits more with some foods than with others, and wine fits better with some foods than with others, and some beers work great with some foods, while other beers belong nowhere near the same foods, and the same goes with wines. Isn't getting a good match between food and beverage the whole idea of pairing.
Which foods go better with what? That's all a matter of opinion.
As examples:
I would never consider drinking wine along with chili. The right beverage for me is beer. But some beers, like Guiness don't work for me. An amber beer with a fair amount of hops fits for me.
A good steak can fit with either beer or wine, depending on my mood, and accompanying dishes, etc. I might enjoy any number of beers or red wines with a steak.
A plate of German sausages and food would not normally fit well with an English bitter, but a Kostritzer Dark Lager works well.
A Swiss fondue for me really does not work with beer, it calls for a wine.
Generally, pairing a type of cuisine with beverages that have the same origins works for me. But, in some circumstances things can be mixed.
I don't know enough about sake to opine in that regard.
In the end, eat and drink what you like.
Looking for a low key Bridal Party location that is more affordable!
My wife and I had our wedding party the night before our wedding at Caracello on Greenwich St, north of Rector. We had the whole restaurant, and it was reasonable, we thought. Caracello is mostly red sauce, but it will make almost anything Italian you ask for. We had 60 or so people. The location may not be ideal, but it worked for us as our wedding was downtown.
Alert your cardiologist: Keens' prime rib hash is phenomenal
A burger and most of the hash is an accomplishment. The prime rib hash is great.
Do spirits "go bad"?
I've committed the sin of allowing a bottle of fine whiskey to go bad. It does happen.
If you do not open the whiske and no air gets to it, then nothing should happen that detracts from it's taste. No spirit is going to age and improve in the bottle though either. Nothing should ever be able to grow in a spirit. Nothing pathoogenic can grow in beer (according to the "New Complete Joy of Home Brewing" by Charlie Papazian) because of the alcohol. Distilling that amount of alcohol and concentrating it is not going to make it easier for something to grow in it.
The bottlle that went bad on me (a fine bottle of Connemara) did so because of evaporation, I believe. The cork in it did not quite close tightly in the bottle. When I looked at the bottle after a number of months of not drinking from it (I was sampling occasionally from other bottles), the level of liquid was down from what I expected it to be. When I sampled the remains, it was slightly muddy and rather watery tasting. Alas, I lost some to the Angels' Share.
I've also had some corks get very dry and brittle in some of my bottles of whisky/whiskey, after which I had to work hard to deprieve the Angels.
Could a spirt go bad because of other things, maybe. But I am not aware of those ways.
Kurio
I agreed to go to dinner again with two other couples, with whom we had recently eaten dinner. On of the guys had difficulty choosing from the prior menu which was all fish, so I thought something that fit his like of meat and potatoes would be good. Kurio is also in the neighborhood of one couple.
I've had better meals, but the food was darn good and quite a good value. We ordered a number of small plates which the women all ate from exclusively. Each guy ordered and entree and had some of the small plates.
The best of the small plates was probably the steak au poivre followed by fried zucchini. The crab quesadilla was ok, the empanadas good, and the grilled chorizo very good.
I did not get a review of the other entrees, but my beef shank with winter stew was very good.
The wine list had a number of good and inexpensive selections.
The place was pretty quiet, and we all really enjoyed the meal.
4:30am Carl's Cheesesteaks
Carl's certainly qualifies as comfort food in my opinion.
Hope your relative is ok.
grilled whole fish.....rec's please
My favorite grilled fish is Trata Estia???, 2nd Ave about 72nd or so.
But my wife had great grilled fish at Mary's Fish Camp a few weeks ago.
Hoagies??
I think you need to pick and choose the kinds of sandwich you want. That said, some good spots:
Aliodoro, Sullivan between Spring and Prince, good italian cold cuts on good bread. HTe stuff you want on an italian sandwich, but it still breaks my heart that they are not the works of aart they were when Allessandro was running it as Melampo;
Shortys, 9th Ave, just below 42nd on the east side of the Ave., where to get that roast pork with italian seasoning (opened as an off shoot of Tony Lukes on Oregon Ave.);
Manganaro Groceria, 9th Ave about 39th-38th Sts. Another good spot for an Italian sandwich, cold be thicker and more generous with the meat;
Manganaro's Hero Boy, same block as the Groceria although they claim to be unrelated, same stuff but made faster and without as great stuff, but they deliver to much of the area;
Karl's Steaks, 3rd Ave above 33rd, for when you want a cheesesteak.
Anything else you looking for?
Dalga Seafood Grill
We live in the area, but I had never been before last night. It's on 62nd, just east of 1st Ave. We had humus as an appetizer, she had an appetizer order of mussels for an entree, my entree was grilled scallops, and both of us drank the red turkish wine by the glass and had two glasses. The food was all very good, as was the wine. Cost was not bad either, under $75 before tip. If you are in the area and feel like fish, try it. I'll go back.
Steakhouse for 1 Wednesday
If looking to dine alone and have a steak, I'd be in the bar at Keen's.
Places You Can't Walk By Without Getting Something
Not sure if Economy Cnady makes any of it's own candy, but I doubt it does. What I tend to buy are brands of candy that I know are basically pure sugar, because that is what my wife loves. So, pixy sticks, fun dip, smarties, spree, etc., etc. are good choices.
My favorite flavors at Il Lab, probbaly cinnamon and pistachio.
Places You Can't Walk By Without Getting Something
Economy Candy, because someone I know will love what I buy.
Il Laboratorio del Gelato.
Engagement Party Venue for 30 ppl?
We had our rehearsal dinner at Caracello, on Rector Street, and it may work for you. For a party of 30, they would probbaly give you the whole restaurant for the night. It's fairly traditional Italian, but the food is very good and the service is very friendly. It should fit your budget and be acceptable, if the location works for you.
Montreal foodies need reco's for lunch & diner
Questions, more than any recommendations. If you are here with your daughters, what else do you want to do with them besides lunch and dinner? If you want to go to something in midtown, it would not make sense to send you down town. Also, what kinds of cuisines are you open too?
Very nice rye whiskey?
I like some of the others above, Black Maple, esp., but none of them really touch a Van Winkle Rye in my opinion. It's what got me drinking rye, whereas before it was only Scotch and Irish.
Any suggestions for a place to go for Farewell Drinks in the East 50's?
CBSix. Small bar, decent bar food, very good beer selection.
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/44705269/new_york_ny/cb_six_bar.html
Anniversary in Manhattan next weekend...
Fleur de Sel gets good reviews here, fairly often.
As I tried to say One if By Land, does not. I won't fault the atmospehre, and last I went the food was good. But it's food regularly underwelms most of the board, as does the food at Tavern on the Green.
Excellent and romantic spots I'd suggest you look at:
For drinks and something smaller to eat, The Rise bar at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Place.
Expensive, good service, wonderful view of NY Harbor.
Other direction, maybe consider L'Impero, contemporary Italian cuisine is delicious. The wine list is excellent, the service is friendly and capable, and the space has understated elegance. If the weather is warm, you could sit on L'Impero's patio, which has a view of the park across the street.
Anniversary in Manhattan next weekend...
hhhhmmm, you're not giving a lot of guidance, but I'll make soem varying sugesstions and hopefully, you can give some comments on what you think about them.
If I wanted something very traditional New York and what mgiht be more of a masculine atmosphere, I would go to Keen's. It is a very good, well-resepcted on New York steak/chop house, and it also has one fo New York's best whiskey selections. However, it's not really romantic.
One If By Land, Two If by Sea has often been lauded as NYC's most romantic restaurant. It has a formal atmospehre, and the food has been regularly panned here. Have not seen anything on the food recently on the boards, but I don't expect to see good things either.
Another direction might be someplace like the bar at Etats Unis. There are two locations for teh place, on across the street from the other. The southside is a larger "restaurant," while the northside is bar stools and a few tables. This is not a bar at which you will often find two single straight men having a drink. It's just not. The wine list by the glass is excellent, the bar is well-stocked, much of the food is made behind the bar by oen busy man, and it has a modern somewhat chic atmosphere. My wife LOVES this place, which she began to frequent with friends when single. The food is good, but not wonderful, it's all about the atmosphere. Typical meal would be a cheese fondue, with bread and granny smith for dipping; crab dip served with triscuits, with a chocolate fondue for dessert.
Trata Estiatorio, wonderful Greek fresh fish, fairly romantic, another of my wife's favorites. Good service, great food, not cheap.
I'm sure someone else will hate some or all of these. But take a look at some info on them, and write some feedback.
Good Sipp'n Rum
As far as mixers with rum, I've been a fan for years of tonic and ginger ale. Ginger beer is another common mixer. Depending on the rum, tonic may need squeeze or twist. Ginger ale really needs nothing else.
Some good rum sites:
http://www.rumshop.net/
http://www.ministryofrum.com/index.php
http://www.tastings.com/spirits/rum.html
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/drinking/spirits/rum
