MaspethMaven's Profile
Where to buy Florida Avocados?
You can find them in latino supermarkets and green grocers in Caribbean neighborhoods. I see them at Pioneer, at the korean deli, at Key Food. You'll find them. Dont' worry.
Try slicing one over sancocho or some other soup. Yum.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Sourdough, cheddar, cilantro leaves, sriracha, red onion. Buttered on the outside and smashed flat on the skillet for golden brown crunch.
I was trying to find pink candy melts and could not..could I use colring to color the white candy melts?
you will need a colorant that is specifically for chocolate/candy melts. otherwise your chocolate won't temper/remain tempered. You'll get a grainy, unpleasant texture, or worse, your chocolates won't harden.
RE Jfood's goat cheese ravioli in the chicken pot pie post
Jfood,
Can I use the fresh pasta sheets intended for lasagna? The local specialty shop makes their own pasta almost daily.
Thanks in advance,
MM
Italian Grocery in Woodside?
Not exactly Woodside, but close enough if you hop on the bus or have a car, is Iavarone Bros. on Grand Avenue and 69th Street in Maspeth. Its at the junction of Grand, 69th, and the LIE. The Q18 bus will get you there from Woodside/61st, diagonal from Ottomanelli butcher shop.
I really like their products. Good salumi, nice antipasti, excellent fresh pastas and gnocchi, and nice meat department. They also have a very small fish department.
Toppings for grilled brats
Mustard "stewed" onions:
Three large onions, sliced into thin hoops, sauteed in 1/2 stick butter, 1/4 tsp , and 2 tbsp sugar. When onions are translucent, just this side of caramelization, add 1/4 cup german style yelloc mustard, such as Plochmann's. Reduce heat and let flavors concentrate.
Ace of Cakes & Hygiene
having been to many weddings/events/ fancy cake having parties...
the fancy cake is frequently just for show. Very often, there's a sheet cake in the kitchen somewhere that's sliced for guests to eat.
You Are What You Read
I've read Kurlansky's food books: Cod, Salt, and the Big Oyster. He also wrote 1968, among others, which is not about food but is very good.
I liked the Perfectionist by Rudolph Chelminsky, the book about Bernard Loiseau. so tragic,
Also like Swann's Way, but not sure if that counts.
Top Chef #4
Thanks for the synopses of the films. That saved me from having to check imdb to figure out Top Secret.
I think its a little unfair, and perhaps a bit well, indelicate, to assume that someone's going to be passionate and fire-y, simply due to their cultural heritage. Its a stereotype, not matter how well intentioned your initial comment.
With that in mind, the Good Morning Vietnam choice was extraordinarily ill informed. That movie was barely about Vietnam, IMO. It was about a radio dj, his connection to the GI audience in the area, and the usual feel good Robin Williams nonsense. If forced to work with that movie, I would have done a riff on an army issue MRE.
Bottles/Test Tubes for Sending Liquid Samples?
Hi Jim.
I suggest specialty bottle. No order minimum, and they have threaded vials with rubber tops. Some models have dropper option. Easy, safe transport AND dispensing.
They have a 4 dram glass bottle at .51 each, and shipping is about $4.50.
Good luck with your project.
http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=12&gclid=CMv7mNK4tZICFQlXxgodj3lJQA
Top Chef Episode #3
Agree completely that Erik needed to go. After the quickfire we at home surmised he wouldn't last past episode 5.
Ugh, Erik. By the judges admission (talking about Ted Allen's comment) if he had served the corn dogs immediately they would have been great, however transport was not factored into his decision. He should have learned from Nikki's mistake last week, with those ugly mushrooms, and by that logic should have stayed. My assessment is Erik went home because the producers couldn't kick off three women in a row.
Now, Nikki, COME ON, Mac and Cheese at a block party? Seriously? I thought her brick of mac and cheese was a far worse sin than boring pasta salad. Made with Velveeta for chrissakes. She couldn't find a snack tray of cheddar and pepperoni in all those houses? Mac and cheese in the summer is already a WTF for me, but mac and cheese at an outdoor event where the eating is done either standing up or sitting on the curb is just strange. That's like serving fondue at a marathon, imho.
Am so far non-plussed by the cheftestants. And I think Marc reminds me of that guy dressed as schoolboy in AC/DC.
I think people should lay off the speculation of Andrew's habits. Maybe he's just got a hyper personality. Lots of people do. Just because it doesn't appeal to you isn't a reason to slander the guy.
Tipping at $tarbucks
It was this way when I worked there in late 90s.
The "shift" did all the same things we did, but was also responsible for closing up the store, counting out the registers, managing deliveries and cash control, taking care of inventory, all while also helping out "on bar." This is back when we had to grind the espresso ourselves, the coffee urns were on timers, and we also had to sell whole beans.
At my location, workers were scheduled so that everyone saw at least one or two tough shifts a week. It depends on your schedule, though. I did'nt open much, since I was in college and had AM classes.
It really wasn't a big deal to share. But the tips made a difference. I worked 30 hours a week, and commonly made $35 in tips. That $35 bucks bought groceries.
Red Hook Vendors to Stay! Link to NYT article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/nyregion/12vendors.html?ref=nyregion
Looking for some Polish Home Cooking
I've heard good things about the restaurant on 61st street in Maspeth near 55th Road. Take Grand going toward Brooklyn, then make a right on 61st (Russo's bakery is on the left).
There are two knights in armor outside.
Its called Królewskie Jadło. Look for a review on porkchop express. J slab says execution is uneven, but others I know gave it high marks.
They also have a location on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint.
Big Supermarket in Queens with Organic products
You can check out natural and trade fair from some things, but there's really nothing comparable BQE, You could easily spend that much time getting from Sunnyside Gardens to Forest Hills on the local streets.
We live in Maspeth (about ten minutes from Sunnyside Gardens), and we go to Fairway a lot in the summer. We usually hit the ball fields while we're out there, too.
Food/Drink items made in Brooklyn
All from Greenpoint:
Kelso nut brown ale (maybe in a growler) are you shipping or delivering in person?
Acme smoked fish (yum)
Kielbasa from W. Nassau or Steve's or even Polam
Definitely Manhattan Special and U-Bet
Favourite Iron Chef America Judge
he was on because he's having a cultural moment. He's a style impresario, and he's causing somewhat of a stir with his involvement in the barry bonds homerun ball. So he gets asked to do ICA.
Favourite Iron Chef America Judge
I should hope she'd recuse herself if there's a conflict of interest.
squid ink angel hair pasta
Dried at the Grand Central Market, at the italian kiosk near Murray's.
Citi Field Shake Shack-are the rumors even a little bit true?
We get the pernil sandwich with sauteed onions from El Sitio on Roosevelt and 69th$7 for two big enough sandwiches. For $9 we get excellent coffee, too. I'll go to mama's store for the real thing.
FYI, ticket prices are up 20%, so no mama's for me next season.
Where to buy German speck or double-smoked bacon in SEA?
How is German speck different from Italian speck? Should I taste a difference?
I imagine you could call around to Italian specialty grocers to get Speck from them... am I missing something?
Citi Field Shake Shack-are the rumors even a little bit true?
Those $9 sandwiches? I was never impressed by the ones on mezzanine. Are they better on field level?
We almost always bring our own food (cubanos from el sitio... If I could find good banh mi on the way to the game, I'd eat that.
Citi Field Shake Shack-are the rumors even a little bit true?
Recent reports on New York Magazine and Insatiable Critic note outposts by David Pasternak (Esca) and possibly Danny Meyer.
Can anyone confirm or deny?
Favorite Canapes and Condiments
What was the best canape sauce combo you've ever had?
I recently had a delicious chicken mini taco with tomatillo sauce, but am thinking about a better match.
What's your favorite canape? Is there anything that was just OK and you hacked to improve?
Homemade Sauces/Condiments for premade hors d'ouevres
Am hosting a largish cocktail party this weekend. Have got some premade hors d'ouevres from TJ's and want to supplement with well made sauces/condiments. The plan is to put the items down on platters with ramekins of the appropriate sauce/dip on the platter.
Am looking for critique of my pairings and suggestions for recipes for condiments matching for each. What would you serve?
Cocktail franks: spicy brown mustard, curry mustard, plain yellow
Mini Crab Cakes: remoulade; cocktail saucel; perhaps wasabi mayo
Mini chicken taquitos: black bean puree; tomatillo salsa
Spanakopita: lemon sauce
Mini quiche: no sauce
Feta and onion tartletts: no sauce
what do you think?
First date in Greenpoint?
Amarin cafe makes decent thai. Its BYOB and on the corner of Bedford and Manhattan.
Also nearby is the Luncheonette, on corner of Lorimer near McCarren Park.
Other places to eat in GP include Casa Mon Amour on Franklin, Lamb and Jaffy on Manhattan Ave, Christina's (polish diner) on Manhattan Ave, and Paloma, on Greenpoint Ave.
If you don't like those choices, seriously, Williamsburg isn't that far. Neither is Long Island City. You can stroll from Long Island City to Williamsburg in about 45 minutes.
what to do with lentils besides soup?
There's a lentil croquettes recipe by Crescent Dragonwagon (yes, her real name) on epicurious, right now. Its from her book the Passionate Vegetarian, which won a James Beard cookbook award.
What's "the" food where you're from?
I'd venture cheese curds as an even more specific "THE" than cheese. But whaddoiknow? I'm from New York.
Where can I buy Suckling Pig?
Butchers in East Harlem or Washington Heights. Same deal as buying a pig for lechon (a latin preparation of roast suckling pig). Some of the meat markets in Chinatown might have them, too, but I think a latin market is a good bet.
Another option is to talk to someone int the cold room at Fairway in Harlem. They may have a provider or be willing to order it.
Since I see you are in Brooklyn, try any of the butchers in La Marqueta on Moore Street (if still there) in Bushwick, off Graham Avenue. They have them all the time for the holidays.
Giada Should Apologize
FYI JFood, Bobby's backyard, if you are referring to the Boy Meet Grill set, is actually an outdoor stage at Silvercup Studios in Queens. You can see it from the 11th Street Approach to the 59th Street Bridge, heading into Manhattan.
Just so you know.
