Easter for 2 ---Central MA,please

Looking for ideas for either set menu or buffet for two for Easter?

Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated.

Alyse

alyseb in Southern New England

Search for the BEST hummus and falafel in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, please.

Will be in Israel in two weeks and cannot wait to sample hummus and falafel.

alyseb in Middle East, Southwest Asia & Africa

Magner's Pear Cider

Thank you. I must have it. There will be a road trip in the immediate future.

alyseb in Beer

Magner's Pear Cider

I am told it is available in Greater Boston. Does anyone know where?

alyseb in Beer

A Slight Rant: Silly Pizza Rules

Greetings,

I frequent a little pizza place often....too often... at least three times a week for lunches. They have good soups and are noted for their thin crust pizza with interesting toppings.

Last night I called to place my order and asked for "half vegaholic" and "half buffalo chicken."
I am told "we don't do half and half pizzas anymore."
I say I had one two days ago.
I am told " we *won't* do it anymore. Order two smalls."
Two smalls would cost about $6 more than one large.

I don't want/need two pizzas.

And, to add background data, In the past we were always charged as if it were a whole pizza with the higher-priced topping.

Their pizzas are already 30% more expensive than the norm in my community, but the interesting toppings are what makes the price acceptable imho.

My questions are:

Is asking for a half and half pizza an unreasonable request by the customer?

Does refusing to do so without explanation or notification in change of policy make any sense?

I checked their web site this morning and there is no mention of this.

Chowhounders, how would you feel?

Thanks!

alyseb in Not About Food

Wings wings wings

The craving for awesome fabulous buffalo wings is here.

Any suggestions? I am in Andover, but will travel for yummy wings.

Thanks

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

Battambang Mkt Lowell

Has anyone been here?

Any recommendations or great finds? I do not read Asian languages so I am trying to do my prep work before visiting.

Also, is there a food court or prepared hot food like H Mart?

thanks in advance.

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

Wanted: Diet Orangina

Any sightings?

It is wonderful. I must have it. Will travel.

Thank you.

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

Help Please. Need ideas for side dishes (easy please) for short ribs

Making a special Valentine's meal (I am a bit nervous never having made short ribs before.) But, I am confident that I can follow a recipe provided by a friend who is fabulous cook.

I would like to serve a nice salad, but what other sides that are simple would a nice pairing?

Thank you

alyseb in Home Cooking

Donuts in Andover Area

I am looking for great donuts in the vicinity of Andover and would appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks!

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

dim sum questions

You are totally correct that dim sum flashcards would be wonderful given that I do not speak any Asian language and attempting to discern precisely what I am eating with servers who do not speak English is a challenge.

To clarify, I enjoyed the shu mai and other types of dumplings filled with shrimp and chive, vegetables, pork and shrimp, and pork and water chestnut, I believe.

alyseb in General Chowhounding Topics

dim sum questions

It was a success! I am now proudly say that I have had dim sum. And, I appreciate the coaching of the CH Experts.

I must admit that it was a very enjoyable experience. It is a chaotic scene, but it was nice.

China Pearl was the destination.

My personal favorites:

About six different shu mai. Some were pan fried, some were steamed. All were delicious.

spring rolls

crispy fried squid

dishes of noodles with shrimp and veggies

a water chestnut cake

sweet cream buns

char siu bao ( the BBQ pork one.)

Yes, they had xiao long bao...I was very excited. (and, thank you Chowhounders for teaching me to not call them "soup dumplings.") But, I love them. I really do.

I avoided the chicken feet. I wanted to like the congee, I really did. I would try it again, but I found the texture to be unpleasing...almost gloppy for lack of a more articulate descriptive term.

Best of all, no headache from the MSG. An added benefit!

And, I'm looking forward to a return trip.

alyseb in General Chowhounding Topics

dim sum questions

Thank you all for your explanations. I appreciate your responses and helpful hints. I read the link to the guide, it was great.

The must- have dishes sound delicious. I love dumplings. Do they have soup dumplings at dim sum? But, I'm not so sure about the chicken feet though.

I apologize for asking "red flag" questions. To clarify, I am willing to try new experiences--I have just not had the opportunity to go to dim sum and am really looking forward to it. Although I am not an adventurous eater, I will try *most* things once for the experience.

I will be going with someone who has been to Chinatown dim sum before and he selected the restaurant so that it an advantage.

And, as for the MSG, I will risk a headache for the experience, it certainly seems like it's going to be interesting and delicious.

Thanks again.

alyseb in General Chowhounding Topics

dim sum questions

Ok, I admit it. I have never had dim sum before.

On Saturday, I will be going to a Chinatown restaurant in Boston or dim sum. I'm looking for some hints so I do not commit any significant social faux pas.

I would greatly appreciate some guidance and coaching from those experienced in the dim sum process.

How do I order? How do I know what items being pushed around on the carts?

Any suggestions about things I *must* try or should avoid? I am not an exceptionally adventurous eater.

Is the menu also available during dim sum?

What's the likelihood of dim sum items containing MSG? It's not an allergy per se so I try not to make a "big deal" out of it, but I get migraines if I consume MSG.

Thanks in advance.

alyseb in General Chowhounding Topics

What would YOU do?

I was at what I thought was the BEST fried clams/seafood place in the area.

I was in the midst of making my first trek to this place for the season for out of this world clams and scallops.

It's the kind of place where you order at a counter, get a number, wait in line and pick up your order.

No frills, but visibly clean.

I was waiting in line and kitchen is open.

I was watching a line cook pull a tray of prepped portioned haddock from the fridge to be battered.

Long story short: As he was pulling it from the fridge the lid of the rubber container came off and half of the portions of haddock landed on the floor.

He sighed and bent down to pick them up while stating "the lids always come undone."

He said "I'm taking them out back" and proceeded to plunk the portions from the floor on top of the uncontaminated portions and disappeared.

My question: Why would he have put the contaminated fish on top of the uncontaminated fish if he intended to discard the portions that LANDED ON THE FLOOR.

I shudder as I have images of his washing the pieces and returning them to be prepared.

Am I overreacting? If he did this in front of customers, what is he doing outside the view of people?

Is it a reasonable assumption that is something lands on the cement floor it is discarded or am I naive?

I didn't say anything, I watched. What would you have done??

.

alyseb in Not About Food

Dan Dan Noodles

Where can I find them in Metro West/ Worcester Cty?

I will even go to Boston Suburbs if they're that good. I have a craving and we all know how that goes....

Thanks all....

alyseb in General New England Archive

Bar Food/ Good Drinks- Worc and/or Fitchburg/Leominster

I am looking for affordable options for appetizers/bar menu and delicious drinks.

I was thinking Flying Rhino in Worc, but that is pricey, I know the Sole has a great bar menu and drink specials.

Ideas please???

alyseb in General New England Archive

Thanksgiving SOS

I am in desperate search of a restaurant for Thanksgiving for my mother and I. We do not care if it is sit down or buffet although they must have options other than turkey.

I have called at least five places that are booked.

We live in Worcester, but would be willing to travel.

Please help......

alyseb in General New England Archive

Dealing with Obnoxious Owner

I yelp'd the business and found a review from 2007 citing the owner's "paranoid and anti-social" traits and that she is "horrible" to employees.

I did sent a detailed letter to the owner yesterday and told her I referenced my observations on Chowhound. That being said, I'm on a permanent fruit-cheese tart diet.

Thanks for all your suggestions......

alyseb in Not About Food

Dealing with Obnoxious Owner

I am having an ethical dilemna. There is a bakery in my community, The Bean Counter, that has fabulous pastries (fruit and marscapone tart) and delicious coffee drinks.

Twice I have observed and overheard the owner (who thankfully is not always present) loudly discipline and demean her staff. The first time involved a teenage counter person dropping a slice of cheesecake. The owner in the presence of customers announced in an elevated tone of voice that the employee would have to pay for the dropped slice. The employee visibly winced when she was addressed in this manner in front of a line of waiting customers.

This morning the owner referred to another employee as "stupid" (again in the presence of customers) for incorrectly making a coffee drink.

When should a customer who overhears such an inappropriate exchange say something?

I endorse the 'praise in public, criticize in private' philosophy for dealing with people and believe no one deserves to be demeaned.

Bottom line: I love this bakery, but am troubled by what I see/hear.

What would you do?,

alyseb in Not About Food

Good eats in Andover, Tewksbury Area?

Key West Grille looks good...seems to be crowded during each drive by...

I was disappointed with Burton's. It was generic. Good service, but nothing that would have me return in a hurry....

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

in search of soup...

Dare I admit to having a fabulous crab bisque at Nordstrom's in Natick? I was impressed. Their caesar salad was also far better than anticipated. I feared a Panera-like extravaganza and my fears were totally unfounded. They have two soups a day. The other was a creamy tomato basil served with a cheese crisp.

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

Good eats in Andover, Tewksbury Area?

Thanks for the fabulous ideas...

This weekend's picks were Cafe Azteca in Lawrence. Really good taquitos.

And, Orzo Trattoria in No. Andover. Delicious panko crusted artichoke hearts with caper vinagrette, lovely caesar salad, and a yummy lobster mac and cheese with asparagus and pancetta.

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

in search of soup...

What is the best soup in the area?

Fall has arrived and it is the season for soup.

alyseb in Greater Boston Area

Good eats in Andover, Tewksbury Area?

fabulous suggestions!!!

I look forward to adventures....

much thanks!!

alyseb in Greater Boston Area