oystertripe's Profile
Tipping in Pubs: Yes or No?
Pub staff never expected tips for food served but I have heard rumblings to the opposite of late. What do you think: Do you tip for food served in a pub dining room (not the bar), such as Sunday lunch? I thought it was an American influence creeping over, like the menus that now list chips as "Fries" or "French Fries". What about a roadside caff?
Cheers!
Bland Oysters... What's up?
I fondly recall tasty oysters in New Orleans but on last week's visit every one I tried (raw, at decent spots like Felix's, Remoulade, etc.) were fresh, meaty... and tasteless to the point of regret for ordering a dozen instead of six. I love oysters, especially those from P.E.I. to Long Island Sound. IMHO Narragansett Bay in RI now produces the finest oysters (Salt Pond Selects, Poppasquash and Ninigret Cups in particular, if you get the chance). But I know that I did USED TO enjoy oysters in New Orleans.
Can anyone enlighten this Yankee dullard? I have heard that the oysters are less briny when Lake Pontchartrain has an excess of fresh water from rains or the Mississippi in spate; I have also been told that the oysters served in the French Quarter restaurants lately were from further afield: Texas, or the Gulf in general. I can believe that, as some of the poorest oysters I've had were from Texas.
I await your opinions and/or outrage. Cheers!
Fried belly clams.
I go to Ipswich & Essex, Mass., for Woodman's and the Clam Box. I live in RI but every time I have tried fried clams in-state they were either too heavily breaded/battered, overcooked, greasy or, worst of all, rancid. As for the clam-fry "kits": Woodman's simply dips the fresh, small, neckless soft-shell clams in canned condensed milk and dredges them lightly in fine corn meal before quick-frying in hot, deep lard. I prefer larger clams like they use at Farnham's in Essex, but find Woodman's and the Clam Box lighter and more flavorful. If you are interested in cooking them, the sadly-defunct Gourmet Magazine published a good article on Ipswich/Essex fried clams some years ago.
Thousands (millions?) of fried clams are sold daily during the summer in New England. Who shucks and de-necks and skins them all? I have been told that groups of women in fishing towns churn them out unheralded. Let's see THAT show on the Food Network!
Oysters in bulk in Providence, RI?
Matunuck Oyster Bar, owned by the farmers of Matunuck oysters, will sell in bulk (100 pieces) to the public. You can arrange to pick them up freshly harvested on the day you will need them. I favor the Salt Pond Selects, but they don't deal with the public. Poppasquash and Ninigret Cup oysters are excellent as well. Please do let us know how you fare. Good luck!
http://www.rhodyoysters.com/
Blood sausage
I have not found any blood sausage (black pudding, morcilla, boudin noir, etc.) worth eating in New England. I am a fan of all sorts, and have tried various mail-order and specialty-store varieties. One of the main factors precluding a truly yummy blood sausage here is the fact that fresh or liquid blood makes a smoother, richer pudding than dried blood, which is typically used in commercial products because it is cheaper and easier.
Your very best bet is to make your own. Fergus Henderson's blood cake recipe from his classic "The Whole Beast" cookbook is simple, straightforward and produces an excellent black pudding. You may tinker with the flavorings or even stuff casings with the mixture, although it works nicely in a loaf pan (cook, chill, slice & fry). If you want to make your own, visit a good Chinese market and check the freezer for USDA pig or cattle blood. Either works well.
The only other top-notch and accessible recipe I can think of is Jacques Pepin's fantastic recipe for boudin noir from either La Methode or La Technique, both as indispensable as Larousse.
Have you tried dark head cheese or blood tongue from one of the local Polish delis? It is possible to find decent prepared deli meats with blood in this area. Schaller & Weber makes a good one. Blue Seal in Chicopee, MA produces a decent, mid-range but inexpensive head cheese with blood.
If you travel to Ireland, keep your eyes open for Twomey's "Clonakilty" brand black pudding. It is always superb.
Cheers!
Bob and TImmy's Pizza - Chow comments?
We like Bob & Timmy's. My wife favors their famous grilled spinach-mushroom-feta pie and I tend towards the traditional oven-baked pepperoni. We are near the North Smithfield location so I can only comment on that store, but we have always been satisfied. The only caveat which I offer is: Dine in-store for better crust. Both types of pizza crust become damp if bought as take-out (and we live only a couple minutes' away). The few Mexican dishes offered are good, reflecting the background of one of the owners.
Lunch in Cork City
Where in Cork City does one go for a very good lunch? The old Arbutus Lodge was great when they served tripe with drisheen on the balcony but those days are long past; Farmgate in the English Market is okay but far too crowded (Why must I balance the bread on my head just to make room for the soup?). I have not tried An Cruibin but read pros & cons. Lunch need not be fancy and I would rather have whitebait, trotters, lamb's liver, squid or duck than lasagna, chicken kiev, burgers or roast & two veg., but am open to anything good. Cheers!
One day & night on Las Olas
We will spend a night at the Riverside Hotel before a cruise in January. Since our flight to FLL arrives early, I thought that the Riverside would be a good base as Las Olas should offer plenty of diversions. But where to eat? We need a pleasant lunch, dinner and breakfast within easy walking of the Riverside.
The hotel menus look a bit pricey. Or is the food worth the high prices?
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
May Santa bless foodies
Regardless of taste;
Faux tofu or foie gras
Or just almond paste.
Whatever you crave,
May he bring it in haste.
Next month is for diets;
Don't look at my waist!
Merry Christmas!
Beef cheeks
If you wish to cook them, you might try some of the mega-stores. I have found them in BJ's and Super Walmart. Good luck!
Mike's Kitchen, Cranston
Mike's is indeed a gem. Next time try the fried squid, the tripe and the giant stuffed artichoke. The polenta is fantastic: buttery-cheesey with a faint hint of garlic and so light that it is almost a polenta souffle. I enjoy the seafood fra diavolo except for the scallops, which, for me, are too sweet for that preparation. I wish I were there now.
Leaf Lard near Providence/Worcester?
Does anyone know of a local (RI/MA) purveyor of leaf lard? I have tried specialty butchers, packing houses and bakery suppliers with no luck. Most people asked don't even know what it is. It is available from Prairie Pride on line, but the shipping & packaging (ground UPS) doubles the cost to about $60.00 for four pounds. With pie season here, leaf lard is desired. Oh, that fragile, meltingly tender crust...
Ducktrap smoked shellfish: RI/MA?
Thanks to all. I asked at a Dave's Market, the manager said they would let me know, but I never heard from them. I might try Whole Foods, but the nearest is a half hour away. Unfortunately, here in Northern Ocean State, our fish markets sell nothing local except littlenecks/quahogs, mostly farmed fish (shrimp, tilapia, salmon, catfish, trout, etc.) and no whole fish. Nor are they interested in stocking local oysters, mussels, squid, etc. The Ducktrap site connects to Mackenzie's for web orders.
Ducktrap smoked shellfish: RI/MA?
Does anyone know of a stockist of Ducktrap-brand smoked shrimp, scallops and mussels? I get the Mackenzie catalogue, but considering that their Ducktrap smoked salmon is about 4X the retail Dave's Market price before shipping, I would like to find some at regular retail, not super-inflated. Ideas?
Thanks!
looking for Minor's chicken base in Hartford, Ct area
I don't know where it may be sold in CT, but here's their site:
http://www.soupbase.com/
Good luck!
Visit to Worcester Mass and North Smithfield RI
The Boynton (opp. Sole Proprietor in Worcester) also does good fried clams, fish & chips, etc. and offers a lot of gluten-free items, even gluten-free beer and pizza. Not much in North Smithfield, although Lindy's Tavern and The Village Haven (next to each other on School Street) offer good fried clams, scallops, etc. Same for Uncle Ronnie's on Rt. 102, near the famous Wright's (chicken) Farm restaurant, not to be confused with the excellent Wright's Dairy Farm on Woonsocket Hill Road off Great Road (Rt. 146A) in North Smithfield. They have a very good and popular bakery, showcased on Food Network for their old-fashioned hermit cookies. Cheers!
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Sole Proprietor
118 Highland St., Worcester, MA 01609
Village Haven Restaurant
90 School St, North Smithfield, RI 02896
Chatham Squire Fried Seafood Rocks!
Agreed on the clams. I've never been lucky enough to visit when the cod cheeks were available. Their raw oysters are excellent: briny, deep cups, fresh daily from Oyster Pond just down the road. Wish I lived closer.
ISO restaraunts & supermarkets Cunard, Bohernabreena country, Dublin
Here is a link to some restaurants in Tallaght. You may want to explore other areas via menupages.ie.
Slainte!
http://www.menupages.ie/Search/Results/dublin.aspx
Looking for breakfast places in the (northern) Blackstone Valley area
Gia is where Ye Olde Oyster Cabin (later: Ironstone's) was. Rt. 146A (Quaker Highway) in Uxbridge, MA, near Exit 1 off Rt. 146. Right next door, Baker Boy/Town Diner serves decent food, including breakfasts. They advertise "Greek-American" fare.
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Oyster Cabin
785 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MA 01569
"Pub Crawl" in Ireland
You will probably pass through Clonakilty in South-West Cork. DeBarra's is an atmospheric music pub (http://www.debarra.ie); An Teach Beag is the O'Donovan Hotel's music venue (http://odonovanshotel.com) and O'Keefe's in the Emmett Hotel is a grand choice for lunch or dinner. Deasy's in Ring (just outside of town) is a decent fish restaurant (dinner only). I do not recommend An Sugan in Clon; it gets a lot of tourist press but the owner is insufferably rude.
Heading Westward, visit Nolan's Pub on the Square in Ross Carbery (http://www.rosscarbery.ie/listings.php?CategoryID=4). O'Briens Pub across from Nolan's is a friendly pub with evening music, but a little run-down ("relaxed" to some, "dingy" to others). The Abbey Bar nearby is okay, but I don't care for the fake-old-fashioned pub in the Celtic Ross Hotel.
Best of luck & slainte!
Ivyleigh in Portlaoise?
We will pass through Portlaoise from Dublin to S. W. Cork. I have read nice reports of Ivyleigh House for breakfast. Has anyone tried them? Any better choices for early breakfast en route?
Gia: New Uxbridge, MA restaurant?
They seem to be getting ready to open; they had a delivery from a Coca-Cola truck yesterday.
Most Over-Rated New England Shoreline Restaurant
Red Pheasant, Dennis: Once was too much. We visited after hearing & reading their hype for ages. Reserved a table on an off-season week night. The milling staff were not overextended, yet service was minimal and uninterested. The gummy-skinned baked duck was not the crisp-roasted bird touted on the menu. I foolishly let myself be upsold on a bottle of wine by the waiter/sommelier; he praised a Volnay (if memory serves) from a Clos unknown to me.
I have always been fond of a decent Burgundy. What we were served was tired, thin and ill-kept; it was a sangria-base wannabe. When I complained, the waiter insisted that it was indeed a wonder of the vinous world and insinuated that perhaps my palate was untutored.
Other aspects were adequate, meriting neither the hype nor the prices.
I love Cape Cod, but will content myself and my miffed palate with fried clams and passable red-sauce "Italian" while getting my shoreline ozone.
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Red Pheasant
905 Main St, Dennis, MA 02638
Gia: New Uxbridge, MA restaurant?
Yesterday an "Opening Soon: GIA Ristorante Italiano" banner appeared on the defunct IronStones (former Oyster Cabin) on Rt. 146A in Uxbridge, MA. Does anyone know about this new venture or the parties involved? It would be nice if something decent opened there.
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Oyster Cabin
785 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MA 01569
Italianos
849 Federal Rd Apt 5, Brookfield, CT 06804
Where's the best bowl of pho in southern NE.?
Brand-new restaurant LOTUS serves decent pho on Rt. 146A in No. Smithfield, RI.
Blended scotch most similar to Johnnie Walker Blue
I have only seen Cardhu in Florida since it was taken off the market years ago. Does anyone know whether/where Cardhu is sold in MA-RI-NH?
Smoked Salmon app in RI?
I had a smoked salmon app on my iPad but luckily it washed off.
A Night near Dublin Airport?
We will spend one night near Dublin Airport after visiting Newgrange. Can anyone recommend a good hotel/country house for room, dinner & breakfast on our last night? Moyglare Manor would have suited were they extant. We like Carrygerry when leaving from Shannon, if that helps. We will also appreciate tips for an early breakfast heading from the Dublin Airport towards Cork.
Thanks & cheers!
Smoked Salmon app in RI?
Agreed. Dave's Market (RI chain) also sells Ducktrap wild smoked salmon at, I think, $6.99/4 oz., which is only a buck more than their farmed smoked salmon and well worth it. A quick & simple app for Alica: put a curl of salmon on cream cheese smeared toast point, garnish w/chopped scallions or chives & lemon.
