centralpadiner's Profile
Favorite Paper Towel?
Brawny pick-a-size. I like to be able to take a smaller towel when I don't need so much. Viva is actually too thick for me, they almost feel fuzzy and I worry about lint. Brawny seems almost as good as Bounty, but lower price. I was getting Scott Natural for a while, they were the best recycled I had tried, but my usual grocery stopped carrying them, so back to Brawny.
Red Rose / Annie Bailey's - Lancaster
Never been to Red Rose. I have mostly been to Annie Bailey's as the "after party" for it's late night scene - seems to be where everyone ends up every time we are at a wedding or other event at the Marriott. It's been a couple years since I actually sat down to eat there, but found the food mediocre.
Shipping Wine to Philly
When we travelled to Italy, we had a half case delivered home and there was no problem with it at all. We lived in Lititz, PA at the time.
Need help with Science Fair food
When I was 7, I poured myself a glass of milk just before we left for a 10 day family vacation, and didn't finish it. In the rush, the milk was not dumped out or glass rinsed, but just left on the table until we got home. It was the most beautiful rainbow of solidified milk and mold I had ever seen!! I'm old, and I still remember how cool that looked!
How far are you willing to drive for a good restaurant?
I live in a really small town primarily filled with mediocre pizza places and fast food. Any meal out is pretty much at least a 20 minute drive. We have regular spots that are 30-45 minutes away, and 2 favorites that we try to get to as often as we can that are just over an hour.
Ocean City, MD Anything worthwhile in the southern part of town?
What do you know, that's where we went! It was pretty good. The drinks were out of this world, best we had all weekend. We shared the lobster and shrimp dip, which was rich and gooey just like we expected. My friend got the crab cakes, which she said were very good, but she was terribly disappointed at the boring and under seasoned squash on the side. The wild rice was just plain overcooked, and also under seasoned. (I tasted it myself, so I totally agreed with her) I got the pork belly and my only minor complaint would be that the grits were very course, and not creamy at all, but their flavor was very good. Otherwise, the pork belly was melt in my mouth perfect, and the braised arugula was different and flavorful. I got bread pudding for dessert with mixed berries. It was slightly dry to me, except for the very center. The atmosphere was loud and casual but, to be honest, we didn't feel relaxed. We felt like we had to eat and get out to make room for the next seating.
We go for our girls' weekend every year, and we decided that Shark wasn't bad, but we'll go back to Liquid Assets next year. Hopefully we'll stay in a condo on the North side as well. I'm not really a B&B person, although it fit our needs and our budget and was very nice.
Non-casserole entree liked by adults and kids
This is us too. We grill year round. Grilled steak, grilled fish, and less frequently, grilled chicken are staples in my house that contains a 9 and turning 11 this week y.o. A roast chicken is also a great suggestion for having friends over. Kids are also less likely to fuss over basic steamed veggies - if you want to sauce them, offer it on the side, because you just never know. For a lot of kids, the casserole thing is about sauce and the foods all touching, so whatever you choose, avoid those qualities.
Another great option for entertaining friends with kids is the "make your own pizza" night, if you are so bold, have a space to spread out, and don't mind a little mess. Buy or make the dough ahead of time and offer up all sorts of toppings. Even if the kids only choose sauce and mozzarella, they are thrilled to assemble their own.
Birthday party idea around food?
Agree, that's expensive, but it looks like it is variable depending on what your actual needs are, and the amount does not sound outrageous, especially considering your location. They may be worth a call to see what they can do for you. Looks like they only go down to age 4, but who knows with a private event.
As far as not liking your own parameters, how were they decided upon? By you, by your husband, or because you think it's what you HAVE to do to please everyone? Maybe the place to start is to think about what your dream event would be if you weren't trying to fulfill all those needs, then work back from there.
Birthday party idea around food?
OK, so I said if it has to be indoors, supply an activity table. (the weather in NoVa CAN be quite lovely in Nov., btw) My point is, I think you are getting hung up on the kid issue and it is strangling your creativity. Decide what you really want to do first, how the kids will be entertained is secondary, they can be fit in. You say you don't like hosting parties with kids, but you already know you are stuck with that - so you have to work with it.
And, I've been to pig roasts that were catered and served indoors. It's about great pork, it doesn't have to be an outside picnic. You're in D.C., you could do a crab feast - again, at the right location, indoors would be fine. It could be themed around his favorite ethnic cuisine. As someone suggested, foods reminiscent of the '60's (it doesn't have to resemble the photo you linked above). Maybe you need to talk to some venues and have them offer you ideas or tell you things they've done in the past.
Your criteria - from what I can gather from OP and your posts since are: 30 people including some unruly children, indoor and preferably unusual venue, not at home, not cooked by Chowser (except maybe the cake), really great and fun food with a theme.
My favorite of the suggestions above is the cooking class. In fact, it seems most appropriate for the kids, since they will have parental help/supervision and it will keep them occupied yet a part of what the grown-ups are doing. It doesn't have to be a class on knife skills. What ages are we talking about? Even 2 y.o. love dumping ingredients together and helping in the kitchen. The right chef/instructor would be able to come up with a plan suitable for a large age range.
Ocean City, MD Anything worthwhile in the southern part of town?
My best friend and I enjoy an April girls' getaway in OCMD. However, this year, the condo, located at 120th, we've stayed at in the past has been recently sold and made unavailable. We found ourselves making last minute arrangements and ended up at a B&B on 5th St. It seems that everything down here is geared toward drunk college students, cheap boardwalk fare, or tourist traps. Is there anything we could walk to or at least not drive 100 blocks that will provide good food and a relaxing atmosphere. Or, just really good food even if it looks like a dive from the outside, but would be ok for a couple of middle aged ladies to get a great crab cake for lunch?
We'll be going this weekend. Sorry for the short notice, hoping I get some replies.
Oh, and if the answer is, "no, drive at least 80 blocks north." We'll understand and suck it up. :)
Birthday party idea around food?
Here's my perspective. My family almost always includes the kids in family events - holiday parties, weddings, major birthdays. If a vineyard is what you want, I would do it. I would, personally, have never had a problem taking my kids to a vineyard - oldest is 10 now, and I would have just as happily done it 8 yrs. ago. Just because the kids can't have wine doesn't mean they can't enjoy the beauty of a vineyard. My daughter has tagged along while my husband and I have toured and tasted in the Finger Lakes (prior to a family wedding) and thought it was just great. Some places happily gave her grape juice or apple cider to try. And if the weather is nice, most vineyards have lawns and outdoor space to allow running around.
In our family, the adults stand around, enjoy their glasses of wine, and the kids pretty much entertain each other with some minor oversight, while the infants are awww-ed over and cooed at while being passed around to adoring aunts.
When my grandfather turned 90, all 18 great-grandchildren were invited. It was indoors (he's a New Year's Day baby), it was a sit-down meal, and our entertainment was a hired opera singer. Yes, between courses the kids ran around and some of the ones with more "free-thinking" parents crawled under the tables, but in truth, they created no more noise than the chatting adults. And when the singing began, my 4 y.o. was absolutely entranced. My son was allowed to sit in the bar area of the venue with uncles and cousins watching football games.
Point is, don't keep checking places off your list, just because it isn't a place you'd typically take kids. The presence of kids doesn't also require the presence of a bounce house. If the weather is nice, and there is outdoor space to enjoy, take some bubble stuff and let the kids run and be happy. If it has to be confined indoors, perhaps a small activity table would be a nice thing to include -- look into Crayola Color Wonders products to avoid crayon or marker stains on white table cloths. Make sure the caterer is willing to provide them with food that will make them happy (if the rest of your menu won't) and let the parents worry about them beyond that.
Eating Raw Oysters, Is it safe?
This is true, I have heard many, many times and for a long while that the "r" rule no longer applies. I have had raw oysters in every month of the year, and never gotten sick. But, I only get them at restaurants I really trust - not only because a bad oyster could make me sick, but because I want the best tasting oysters I can get. I agree that getting multiple types from different locales on one plate to try is one of my favorite culinary experiences.
Potato Chip Afficionado
Yes, a restaurant/inn in the small town of Hanover, PA where chef Andrew Little creates amazing upscale versions of traditional PA Dutch foods and local specialties. It is also farm to table. They grow most, if not all, of their own produce, and raise heritage breed pigs. They use local, organic and cruelty/hormone free farmers for anything they don't raise themselves. It is pretty amazing! I've only been twice, but great food! It's a little over an hour drive for me, so it makes for a long evening out, but totally worth it!
Yummy foods while undergoing chemo
Hi Sra. Best of luck to your sister, I wish her and easy and successful treatment.
My mother was diagnosed with a brain cancer the end of July 2011, and has been on various chemos (and a month of radiation) since September. This type of cancer means chemo for as long as it keeps the tumors at bay, or you can no longer physically take it - so, essentially, for the rest of her life. Her weight loss, nausea and loss of appetite has been our biggest issue. Her tastes change frequently. On day it's almonds, the next it's only the broccoli cheddar soup at Panera. Some days it is nothing at all and only club soda by the quart keeps her nausea at bay. So, as others have said, it is best to be flexible and prepared to change based on her cravings and needs.
However, here is one thing we did learn. The worst thing my parents did was get out of the habit of sitting together at the table for meals every day. My mom was always the cook - my dad can barely fry an egg. So, with her sleeping nearly 20 hrs. a day at some points (radiation really took it out of her), dad would snack intermittently or eat a sandwich in front of the tv after asking if she wanted anything - and she always said no. Having visitors at meal times, or being invited to another person's home, or out to dinner at a restaurant really helps her. When she is sitting up with others eating around her, she is much more likely to eat an adequate amount. Just something to keep in mind.
Best wishes to all of you at this time.
Best Wedding Mains
Cleo, at this same wedding they actually had a "cocktail hour" that had "around the world food stations" ie: pasta, stir-fry, mexican (with tequila shots), russian (think caviar) with flavored vodka shots on ice, a traditional carving station, traditional Eastern European foods (stuffed cabbages, and others I'm sure I can't remember. These circled the room with a full open bar located at about every 3rd or 4th station. In the center of the room was the longest crudité table I have ever seen in my life which included not only your usual veggies and cheeses, but deviled eggs topped with caviar (yes, more). In addition to all of this, waiters walked around with hot appetizers, including lollipop lamb chops with mint sauce. I think my husband (fiance at the time) walked up to me about 5 times with a new drink and new lamb chop in his hands saying, "are you sure there is a full dinner after this? there can't be." But, oh yes there was, and it was good enough to actually knock our socks off . . . while we listened to a pretty amazing 13 piece band.
I was in the wedding, and busy, so didn't get to eat at anywhere close to every station. I remember at one point walking around thinking about what entire 3rd world country could be fed with all that food. At a certain point, it almost felt embarrassing.
BTW, this was in NJ. And it was my understanding that the parents of the bride did the ceremony (did I mention we were all greeted with glasses of champagne upon arrival?) and main dinner (of course, including all the entertainment) but the groom's wealthy parents wanted the opportunity to provide something special as well, so they contributed the "cocktail hour".
Best Wedding Mains
Honestly, the only thing I regret about my own wedding was deciding to offer vegetarian, fish, and chicken choices. It was just way too confusing for the kitchen to be responsible for so many different options, and it took forever to get the meals out with people not remembering what they ordered, or moving around and not sitting where expected. The chicken was dry, only a couple people got vegetarian, but, fortunately, at least the salmon was good.
Except for one very phenomenal wedding food experience where 250 guests were actually presented with menus from which to order and the resulting meal came out fresh and beautiful (I doubt there are many places that can pull this one off, and I shudder to think what it cost my friend's father even 15 yrs. ago), all the best wedding meals I have had are a surf and turf or some other combo (often a filet and crab cake). When given an option, my husband and I now always go for the beef after too many a dried out chicken breast. I've only be severely disappointed once (with the beef choice), at a wedding where the bride's family favored well-done meat.
CSA - how many chowhounds use a CSA
I love my CSA, and just visited their warehouse today to pick up a specially offered, humanely raised, heritage breed half hog - butchered into various cuts and frozen. They are trying to move to a year round format. We really wanted to do the full year (in Winter they offer other farm products, dairy and meat, along with root vegetables, some greens, and winter squashes), but their wasn't enough interest to deliver to our area. Last year we got boxes of produce from the second week of May to the second week of Dec. That was a Spring/Summer share with a Fall share added on (Oct. to Dec.) I actually have been sad buying produce at the grocery store for the past 4 months. They are organic and organic farm cooperative of about 75 farms (they also supply a lot of restaurants in the region) and consider "local" to be within 100 miles. They are located in Lancaster Co. (and so am I) but most of their shares are delivered to the Philadelphia area. They also go as far as NYC and have drop off sights in MD and NOVA.
We are a family of 4 and do a half share. We could probably use a 3/4 share, but full share is just too much. Yes, you get lots of greens. Whether it is dandelion in the Spring, Collards in the Summer or Kale in the Fall, pretty much every week we averaged 2 different kinds of greens. But we also got tomatoes, radishes, squash, onions, garlic, okra, some surprisingly good sweet corn, and lots of other things I can't think of off the top of my head. For us, it was fun. Coming up with new ways to make the items was part of the "challenge." And my kids really never complained, which was a big surprise to my husband and me. The fact that a lot of the items were new to us too, seemed to make them more willing to try things. My CSA also holds picnics at the member farms once a month in the Summer time. Since almost all the farmers are Amish, it's been really fun and educational experience for the whole family to go. They are potluck, and the food other share holders bring has been fantastic and the cooking by the host family - well, there's nothing quite like that.
Gee, can you tell I love my CSA?
The worst thing I can say about them is that their website kinda sucks, you can see for yourself.
http://www.lancasterfarmfresh.com/
Potato Chip Afficionado
Living in Central PA, the potato chip capital of the world, I only buy local chips. The epicenter is definitely Lancaster, Lebanon, and York Counties. Herr's and Martin's are really good and readily available in the broader region. Favorites include the harder to find Deiffenbach's and King's (the 2 brands I grew up on). Kay and Ray's are a relative newcomer to the Central PA chip scene, and are pretty good - I like the dark ones. They are from farther west, Franklin Co., and the parent company is the Martin's of Martin's Potato Bread/Rolls fame. The classic Franklin Co. chip, though, is Gibble's, yum.
Chef Andrew Little of Sheppard Mansion in Hanover makes upscale versions of classic Central PA foods. His chips and truffled onion dip are to die for. I'm actually starting to drool thinking about it. It's a long drive for me, but I must make the trip back there soon.
Good old style butcher shop in Chester County
You'll probably get more responses on the Philly board, which includes the suburbs.
Suggestions for client/good time dinner in Gettysburg?
If looking for a really special experience, consider going to Hanover and the Sheppard Mansion. However I say that as someone that is NOT very experienced with the restaurants in the Gettysburg area. Very likely, someone will eventually post some other suggestions.
Lancaster Restaurant Recommendations for a party of 45
Other places to consider.
The Pressroom just off the square in Lancaster has a nice room. I would consider it moderately priced, and think they have food options that appeal to lots of people. It is another place that has been doing rehearsal dinners and wedding as well as business functions for years in Lancaster (ok, not as many as the Stockyard.)
If you'd consider something ethnic, look into El Serrano. I think they have the space, their property is enormous. And the food is fun, kind of pan-Latin, the owners are Peruvian.
My husband recently threw me a birthday dinner for about 35 people at John J. Jeffries located at the Lancaster Arts Hotel and it was fantastic. However, this would be a higher end option.
The Lancaster Marriott would definitely be able to accommodate your group in one of their meeting/banquet rooms. I've been to several weddings/parties there, and they've all been quite nice, also a broad range in food options.
Checkers Bistro is a great restaurant off the beaten path in Lancaster. It has a private room, but not sure how many it can hold.
http://checkersbistro.com/index.html
http://www.johnjjeffries.com/
http://pressroomrestaurant.com/dining.html
http://www.elserrano.com/index.cfm
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/wedding-planning/lnsmc-lancaster-marriott-at-penn-square/
Good luck!
Lancaster Restaurant Recommendations for a party of 45
I'm curious, which hotel. Also, since you've visited the area before, where else have you dined? Do you plan on being downtown, or are you going to be out in the countryside? I'm assuming, since it is a reunion that there are children that need to be accommodated? Do you have a general idea of what type of food you'd be interested in?
Home 231 Harrisburg
Wanted to update, that we tried Home 231 over the weekend. We took our kids, because the menu showed several items we knew they would enjoy, and they did. We all did. It strikes me as one of those places everyone wishes they had in their neighborhood - relaxed atmosphere, great quality food. We went early on Saturday evening and when we arrived, I was nervous about having the kids there (even though they are 9 and 10) because it was very, very quiet. But, more people arrived soon after, and it was filled with relaxed chatter. By the time we left, it was packed, and people were eating at the bar.
My daughter started with a trio of deviled eggs followed by "the best burger she's ever had!" My husband started with steak tartare followed by the ricotta gnocchi. He loved the tartare, but was surprised by how small the gnocchi portion was, just because it seemed out of proportion to the other entree sizes - he really should have ordered a salad of some type with it (really, it should come with one, because there is no vegetable in this dish), but instead just finished what the kids couldn't. I didn't taste it, but he said the flavor was fantastic, he just wished there was more to it. My son was told that an appetizer would be too much, since he ordered the filet mignon entree. It turned out to be plenty, of course, and he was still raving about it the next day.
I had 2 of the evenings specials. A cream soup of asparagus and broccoli rabe. Honestly, it was a little stringy - IMO, these 2 vegetable do not lend themselves to leaving the soup "chunky". The strong lemon-dill flavor was unexpected, but not unpleasant at all. So, good flavor but a little off in texture for me. I had an herb crusted lamb with smashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The lamb was absolutely fantastic.
The reason we all felt like our bellies would explode on the ride home was because the dessert menu proved irresistible. We shared 3 different desserts between the 4 of us: The chocolate-cherry bread pudding, which came with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream; the cinnamon-brown sugar ice cream (a surprisingly large bowl of it for house made ice cream), and the donuts with a trio of sauces (creme anglaise, chocolate, and raspberry). We loved all of them and I am hard pressed to name a favorite, but those donuts . . . my, oh my, those donuts. A huge dish of at least 5 beignet shaped donuts, piping hot, lightly dusted with cinnamon sugar - I didn't need any of the sauces, personally. The bread pudding was rich and chocolatey enough that the 4 of us could have shared just that and probably been satisfied. The ice cream - well, the rest of us just got a small taste, as my son licked the bowl clean.
So, a big thumbs up from the whole family. I highly recommend it and hope they can keep it going. They've been in business for less than a year, and I was told they really haven't advertised at all. The waitress told me that it was getting tough to keep it going when they were named best new restaurant in Central PA magazine's restaurant issue in January. Since that time, business has really picked up and has been doing well.
Substitute for rabbit (braised)
You are right, of course. Trying to think if I've ever had duck meat that was cooked without the skin, and I don't think I have. I still think chicken thighs, which can be quite good in a braised dish without the added fat of the skin are the best option. It helps that they are readily available and inexpensive.
Lancaster Co.
Are you asking for great food, or great PA Dutch food? We have the former, but the latter is hard to come by. And, I see you may have left already. None of the places I like for PA Dutch food appear to be on your route. My favorite is Country Table, but that is in Mount Joy, the opposite direction from the city. North of the city on Oregon Pike is the Oregon Dairy. I also enjoy the Lititz Family Cupboard, though I haven't been in years. I hear good things about Deiner's, but have never been. It would be most convenient to you, located on Rt 30. Shady Maple certainly has its following, but I've never been a fan. To me it is a quantity over quality kind of place.
Substitute for rabbit (braised)
+2 My very first thought was chicken thighs. They are great in braised dishes. I think pork would actually be pretty lean, unless you are getting a good pork butt with substantial dark meat. Duck would be fatty, IMO.
Looking for Spring Lamb for Easter dinner
Just let me know how it works out! We didn't do it before, because we wanted it broken down, not whole, but didn't have a chest freezer. We still don't, but I just ordered a 1/2 heritage breed hog from my CSA, so it is on the agenda for this weekend! I see a whole lamb purchase in our not so distant future. :)
Looking for Spring Lamb for Easter dinner
My husband inquired about this at our local butcher shop here in E-town, although we never followed up and purchased one. Groff's is a great butcher shop, and supplies a lot of area restaurants. When my husband asked, they gave him the names of some farmers that will sell to individuals, then Groff's will gladly butcher/dress the lamb to your needs. I don't think we have the card for the specific farm they recommended any longer, but I would consider calling Groff's and seeing if they have any recommendations for you.
http://www.groffsmeats.com/
Home 231 Harrisburg
Is it casual or fine dining (food and service wise, not as concerned about how people dress)? I can't seem to get a feel from the website. My husband was thinking of it for his 40th birthday, but I wanted to go someplace with a special feel. Wish Char's new place was opening before June!
