lalagirl's Profile
Book Club-Friendly Brunch Spot in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens
I cringe even as I write this, but it looks like my plans for a book club picnic in the park aren't going to work out this Sunday (rain), which leaves me with the challenge of finding a brunch spot that can fulfill the following criteria:
- Location: Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens
- Guests: 6-7
- No excruciating wait
- No rushing to get us out the door
- Not too pricey
Doesn't have to be a "sceney" brunch by any means--just a venue where we can sit down, have more menu options besides just coffee and muffins, and hang out for about 1.5-2 hours.
Help?
Foodie Gift Items from Staten Island and/or the Bronx
Can anyone recommend locally-produced food items from either Staten Island or the Bronx that would make good holiday gifts this year? Food, candy, drinks, baked goods...whatever you got!
Where can I find unripe walnuts?
I'm trying my hand at making nocino and vin de noix as possible gift items for the holidays—any idea where can I find unripe (green) walnuts?
Where can I find unripe walnuts?
I'm trying my hand at making nocino and vin de noix as possible gift items for the holidays—any idea where can I find unripe (green) walnuts?
Better for a group of 6: Tonda or Keste?
My brother's coming into town and he's meeting a lot of my friends for the first time. Between Tonda and Keste, what's the better space for a group of 6? I know the pizza at either will be stellar, so I'm actually more curious about wait times (Friday night), noise levels, etc.
Not Your Usual Cup of Hot Chocolate
Anthos used to have a really great tahini hot chocolate. Anyone know where I can find something similiar—or similarly offbeat? I know Mexican (spicy) hot chocolate's at a lot of places, but that's kind of become a standard type lately...
ISO Stellar Chicken & Waffles
I'm trying to impress someone who recently made a request for chicken and waffles—not looking for the ususal, though. It needs some unique spin, be it in ingredients, presentation, syrup flavor...any thoughts or ideas?
ISO Unique Chicken & Waffles Combo
I'm trying to impress someone who recently made a request for chicken and waffles—not looking for the ususal, though. It needs some unique spin, be it in ingredients, presentation, syrup flavor...any thoughts or ideas?
Where to find glazed croissants?
Let me preface this by saying that I know what a bastardization glazed croissants are to the real deal. I adore true, authentic-style french croissants, however they're hard to come by in this city (I've posted about it before: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/313257). There are a lot of bad croissants out there and sometimes the best thing to do with a squishy, doughy knockoff is to cover it with glaze and sell it as such.
I just got back from the west coast where there were in just about every other dime-a-dozen bakery I stepped into. Anyone know where I can find them here?
New York City-Raised Chefs?
I'm doing some preliminary research for a story idea, and I'm curious to know about NYC-based chefs who are actual New Yorkers (born and raised in the boroughs). Any help?
Update on Patisserie Claude (soon to be "Patisserie Pablo"?)
Anyone know the latest on when Patisserie Claude is due to reopen with Claude's former assistant Pablo at the helm?
I can't even find a decent "substitute" during this renovation period— I'm dying here!
Why a Female Needed To Win Top Chef
Why a Woman Needed to Win Top Chef:
It was definitely time for a female to take the glory. And I'm not even saying that because men have all won the previous three seasons, though that's certainly reason enough.
1. The nature and the makeup of the final competition - The fact that Stephanie, this season's victor, competed against a man (a likely and talented frontrunner, who was a top pick from the get-go) and another woman during the final challenge was brilliant. Even playing field—each equally regarded the other as an opponent. Although Lisa's presence in the top three was a little questionable (how did she manage to eek it out that far???), there was no sorority or girl-power high-fiving between her and Lisa simply because of their shared geneder and the knowledge that either of them winning would be historic.
2 The medium of the show itself - The current tv-viewer's perception of female cooks is a fairly one-dimensional and arguably inaccurate one. And it needs to change. If you look at other food programs on television, most notably on the Food Network, the number of male hosts and chefs vastly outnumber the females. And of the well-known women that do have shows (Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Barefoot Contessa's Ina Garten), none of them are actual chefs, trained and toughened by working the line in real restaurants. Top Chef's female contestants were hardly Sandra Lees. They butcher, they swear (some of them), they sweat—just like the guys. That's an accurate representation of female chefs. Viewers should see them that way, and see them win that way.
3. The prize - Instead of getting their own tv food show, the chance to be a spokesperson for Glad family products, or any other frilly stuff, Top Chef winners actually get cash for a restaurant (which as we know, isn't the easiest thing in the world to open without ample funds). The number of female chefs who own their own restaurants is still dwarfed by the number of men, so that leg up--thank you Top Chef--is perhaps the most fitting prize a female chef (any chef, but specifically a female), could ask for.
Vending Machine Pizza?
I heard about WonderPizza a few months ago, but I can't seem to find any locations--the site doesn't provide much info either. Anyone know where I can find pizza vending machines?
Vending Machine Sushi? Where???
I actually already know about the automat on St. Mark's Place--I live right near it. I'm more curious about the possibility of finding sushi at a vending machine in the workplace or an airport or something like that...
Vending Machine Sushi? Where???
I heard that you can now find sushi in vending machines here in the U.S.... I refuse to believe that until I see more empirical evidence. Anyone know where such a novelty exists?
"Modernish" Decor in the EV/LES Area
Greenwich Village and Union Square too, I suppose. He's older and not into a very long commute for his supper.
"Modernish" Decor in the EV/LES Area
I'm taking an architect out to dinner tonight and he has an aesthetic preference--in his words--for "crazy modernish interiors, like Butter, opposed to the hip rustic hunting lodge thing that is going on in downtown NY now."
We did Butter last time, so...any suggestions? And obviously, food needs to be a consideration too.
Spots to Buy Padron Peppers?
I'm trying to make Pimientos de Padron this weekend with some friends--any recommendations for where I can find the green peppers?
Apple Cider Donuts at Union Square Greenmarket?
Ok, thanks! Hopefully it's a vendor that sells on Fridays and/or Saturdays too. I need some for this weekend.
Apple Cider Donuts at Union Square Greenmarket?
I've seen these plain uncoated apple cider donuts at several farmstands, but the kind I'm in search of have a light coating of cinnamon sugar. Anyone know if I can find these there at the market?
Cakeshop/Bakery in Mission Terrace?
I'm a New Yorker in search of a bakery for my friend's birthday. She lives in the Mission Terrace area and loves the following:
Cupcakes
Cheesecake
Tres Leches Cake
Any ideas?
Websites would help.
Fish 'n' Chips in the SF Area
Looking for authentic, British-style fish 'n' chips. I'm sure there are quite a few down near the water, but I'm an out-of-towner and need a name/location before I arrive, preferably for some place that has seating too.
Best CROISSANTS near E. 64 Street??
I know there's also a Pain Quotidien on First Avenue (between 68th and 69th Streets). Anyone know which is larger of the two?
Best Hangover Cocktails
Thanks for that...any ideas where I can find a wider variety of alcohol-infused hangover remedies? Mimosas, bellinis, and bloody mary's are kind of the norm...
Wine Bar - E. Vil or LES
I second Jadis! Great, cozy little spot--and never too, too crowded, so you'll be able to hear each other.
Best Hangover Cocktails
I'm a firm believer of alcohol being a cure-all. That said, where can I find some fantastic Sunday morning cocktails to cure the pains and ailments induced by Saturday night? Looking for Prairie Oysters, Bloody Bulls, Surgeon-Majors, Scorchers and the like...or perhaps some new inventive concoction I haven't put in my body yet.
Superbowl Party Somewhere Downtown
Got some friends in town for the night and apparantly my tv isn't going to cut it for the game...looking for a place to go--preferably in the Noho/East Village area. I'm not a football fan (just an accomodating hostess), so maybe someplace that isn't specifically a sports bar. Drink specials/food deals would be nice too... Any suggestions?
What coffee goes best with soy milk???
I'm a soy milk drinker--this morning I was making my coffee (french mocha blend) and started to wonder if there's a particular bean/blend/roast that goes best with soy milk's nutty flavor. I know there are various types/flavors of soy milks on the market--mine is pretty straightforward soy milk and unfiltered water. Has anyone else ever thought about this before (or am I just a soy nut...)???
Cajun food downtown... not posh or affected?
I second ACME--went there for the first time last night. Great sweet potato fries and catfish po'boys. I thought I was full and couldn't eat much more but the manager came by and gently bullied me into ordering the banana cream pie...no regrets whatsoever.
