melcarr's Profile
I need Pies!!
I highly recommend Honeymoon Sweets in Tempe. You can check out their website, honeymoonsweets.com and see the different varieties. I've never been disappointed with any of their desserts.
Is there a one-dish meal that you can't live without?
This sounds like heaven., Will try in the next week or so and report back. As a novice with the recipe and I'm cooking for one these days, does it freeze well?
cassoulet, tarbais and D'Artagnan
I bought the whole cassoulet kit for Christmas dinner 2009. Everyone loved it and the ingredients were all excellent. It's definitely rich and not heart healthy (the can of duck fat - yikes) but we all felt it was well worth it. I think it was $89 + shipping and could have easily served 8-10 people along with a lovely salad and bread. I don't know that I would do it again, but we were all very pleased.
Need some help with my sourdough starter
For many years I kept a sourdough starter (my friends at work called him Seymour (as in Little Shop of Horrors & feed me) since I would bring him into the office for mid-day feedings) I lived in LA and was a huge fan of Nancy Silverton's Bread book. It was one of the best science projects ever! I used her recipe to create the sponge & maintained it according to her master recipe. I always kept mine in the frig - it would separate and look nasty after a period of time, but then I would give it 3 feedings/day for a few days and then use it to bake. It ALWAYS came back and was great. The only reason I didn't continue to keep it was we moved to Tempe AZ six years ago and it's just too hot here to bake bread most of the time. I would recommend you taking a look at her book if you haven't already.
Experience with D'Artagnan Cassoulet Kit?
I also thought their garlic sausage was terrific. I was unsure at first because the recipe only stated browning the duck/Armagnac sausages but the garlic were my favorite. I froze a portion and we had it with another group of friends on New Year's Eve. It was just as good. I am going to have fun in the future playing with different ingredients but I will stock up on their coco tarbais beans since they were special. Thanks again for your help and Happy new Year!
Experience with D'Artagnan Cassoulet Kit?
I made the cassoulet and we all raved about it. It made quite a bit so I think the price per person is very reasonable. The duck legs and sausages we delicious. I used the whole container of duck fat but next time I will experiment and not use as much. I couldn't be more pleased with the decision to make the dish.
Experience with D'Artagnan Cassoulet Kit?
Sounds perfect for my current situation and I'm definitely going to order it. Any ideas on what'll you serve for accompanyments? Thank you for sharing this information and Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays.
Experience with D'Artagnan Cassoulet Kit?
I'm thinking about purchasing this to make on Christmas Day. Having just had surgery, I'm not up to running around doing all the shopping. Has anyone tried this before? I would hate to invest approx. $115 for the kit and shipping for something only mediocre. TIA for any comments.
Restaurant Gift for residents of Glastonbury, CT
Thanks very much - I think I will go with Luce since it's so close and I know they've been to J Gilbert.
Prescott dining
We were up there a few weeks ago and I think Annalina's is no more. I like Genovese's for dinner and my favorite for breakfast & lunch is always the Dinner Bell. If you like huevos rancheros, go for it. They also own Casa Alvarez. I haven't been to Zeke's in a while but it's also good for lunch.
Restaurant Gift for residents of Glastonbury, CT
My husband and I just visited friends in Glastonbury and would like to repay their hospitality with a gift certificate to a nice restaurant. They are adventuresome eaters (they're expats - Middle East, Europe and Asia) and don't mind driving for great cuisine and atmosphere. We'll probably spend $100-150. All suggestions would be appreciated.
Silverton Sourdough Starter
About 10 years ago I was given Nancy's bread book and made the starter. I kept it going for several years - I even named it Seymour and would take it to the office for mid-day feedings. (Everyone thought I was a bit wacked). I had great success with all of her recipes and especially loved the parmesan bread. I moved to Arizona from So Cal and finally tossed it since it's just too darned hot to make bread here. I don't miss seeing the container in the frig when it would separate and there would be grey fluid at the top. I also found it to be a terrific science project. Maybe I'll start another one someday...
Breakfast outside of Phoenix
I'm with you on this one - I'm not so wild about the food at Rock Springs. We spend at least a weekend each month in Prescott and I don't think you can find a better breakfast than at the Dinner Bell (we always sit in the back room). Their huevos rancheros are sublime. There can be a wait, but it's worth it.
Special occasion lunch in Santa Fe
Thank you - I made a reservation at Compound and will report back.
Special occasion lunch in Santa Fe
Price not an issue since it's a big occasion. Would like to stay with southwest cuisine since we're only there for a short visit. Since the weather is nice, outside seating sounds good. Have thought about the Anasazi but the reviews on other places receive some very mixed reviews on this board. TIA
Special occasion lunch in Santa Fe
Two couples celebrating 15 & 20 year wedding anniversaries are heading to Santa Fe from Phoenix on Saturday. I've looked over recommendations for Santa Fe but haven't come u[ with the perfect place as yet. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
drive from L.A. to Phoenix. Lunch?
We always stop at Macarios' in Indio which is right off the 10 freeway. It's a small family restaurant that has the best Mexican food we've found. We are from Santa Monica but moved to Tempe about five years ago and we always stop there even if it's to get take-out to bring home. I don't remember the off-ramp but the address is 80733 Indio Blvd., tel. 760-342-5649. On Sundays they make barbacoa and it's awesome.
Road trip from Palm Springs to Phoenix
It's very close to you but right off the 10 in Bermuda Dunes is Macario's Restaurant. It's family owned and their food is so delicious. We used to live in Santa Monica but moved to Tempe in '04 - whenever we cross the desert, we always stop there and if we're not hungry, we'll get it to go.
Scottsdale and Sedona - great food, moderate prices?
Last fall we were in Sedona and discovered Cowboy Club on Hwy 89A on the main tourist area (which I try to avoid) but the food was very good. The atmosphere is very cowboy casual and comfortable. My girlfriend and I shared a chicken ranch sandwich and I was sorry I didn't get the order all to myself. Our husbands had a burger and the pulled pork and said they were delicious. I haven't been to Elote but hear nothing but good things.
Pork Shop/Queen Creek
I ordered a very large crown roast of pork for Christmas dinner from the store. Never having been there yet and hearing about it from the Board, does anyone have an experience with this cut? Any other recommendations? TIA
Which cheese for pulled pork quesadilla
I cooked a large pork shoulder last weekend and we've had quesadillas the last two nights. I used a cheddar/jack mix and they were great. I also use Oaxaca cheese when I can get to a Hispanic market. IMO it's the best for quesadillas.
Ideas for a ham bone
Red beans and rice are about the only thing I make with a ham bone. So easy and delicous!
Oven Pork Ribs Advice
My method, which I did for dinner last night, is to put a rack of baby backs, salt & pepper only, on a rack on a cookie sheet. I cover it tightly with tin foil and slow roast at 275F for about 2.5 hours. I then brush them with BBQ sauce and finish them on the grill for about 20 minutes. They were fantastic and so simple!
Le Grande Orange Recommendations?
Their salads in the cold case are all good. I think their tuna fish is the best I've ever had - either with the salad nicoise or on the sandwich.
Favorite White Pizza? (PHX)
I second the recommendation for Miele's - their white pizza is delicious (along with their other pizzas). We've been going there since they opened about four years ago and it is consistently good.
NEW Culiver's Butter Burger of Mesa
I agree with your assessment. My husband and I went on Thurs. night and I had a swiss/mushroom burger with onion rings and he had a bacon burger with fries. The burgers were delicious and sides were solid. We bought vanilla and chocolate custards to bring home since we were full - he's almost finished the vanilla and my one spoonful was very creamy and rich. I must admit I need to try the curds but I was very impressed with the menu overall considering it's fast food. The place was full at 7:15 but was thinning out when we left at a little past 8. They haven't had to do any advertising as yet - all word of mouth. We highly recommend this place.
Any recommendations for Tempe, Arizona?
It's so perplexing because the reason I ordered the combo was to try a variety of their dishes but we our picks were all wrong with the exception of the tostada. I'll take a good relleno or burrito anyday but I seriously doubt I will go back. Maybe it's better at lunch - my spouse used to work at ASU and only went there for lunch a few times in the old location. We both just kept shaking our heads. I think I'll try Dragonfly next time.
Any recommendations for Tempe, Arizona?
I must strongly disagree with any recommendation for Restaurant Mexico. My husband and I went last night for dinner and it was worse than airline food. He had dark meat chicken in mole sauce and I had a combo with a beef taco, cheese enchilada and chorizo tostada. His chicken was all skin and cartilidge and he only had about 4 small bits of meat. My cheese enchilada had probably been made early in the morning and they had not even bothered to reheat it. The taco was boring and the only thing we really found edible was the tostada. I was so hoping for an old school type Mexican meal but this was so horrible. I'm still angry about it this morning!
Quiet Sunday dinner in Tempe (Phoenix) area
I live very close to Classic Italian and have never had a problem getting a table just walking in. They also have tables outside and a bar in case there were a wait. We recently took 2 couples to CIP and they all raved about the food.
What's goin' on in Prescott?
We go to Prescott often and really enjoyed our recent lunch at Zeke's. The portions are large so be careful. There is an Indian restaurant next door that we went into first and looked over their buffet. It looked great but our group wasn't in the mood for that cuisine for lunch. On our next visit, we're going to try it for dinner. We ate at El Gato Azul once and I thought it was "just OK" and a little pricey for what you get. My favorite breakfast/lunch spot in the Dinner Bell (we always sit in the back room). I highly recommend the huevos rancheros! I second the rec for Sweet Tart.
