PaulineF's Profile
Suggestions for vegetarian blini fillings?
I plan to serve blini (buckwheat pancakes) with caviar and some smoked fishes for Christmas dinner as a first course. But this year I will have several vegetarians at the table. Can any of you hounds suggest some good alternate blini fillings for my veggie friends? Thanks.
LA Hound SOS! Help Refine My Reastaurant List for a 10 Day NYC Visit !
Everybody's advice is great, but have you thought of Marea in place of Esca? I love Esca but I love Marea more. There's a relative bargain in their "businessman's lunch" too.
Best Chicken in NY? Almost any style?
The roast chicken at Barbuto in the West Village is spectacular.
What's happened to Lafayette Pastry?
Has anyone been there lately? I just read that the owner is featuring what he calls "drunken negro cookies" (unflattering exaggerated cookie portraits) in "honor" or Obama's inauguration.
So the special trip I was planning to make there for pastries for a brunch is out. I think the guy sounds either desperate or insane...
So.. Can anyone suggest alternatives for authentic French pastry in the Village/Chelsea area? The guy is not getting my business any more.
What would you sub into this cocktail?
Vvindaloo, I just received some fico d'india liqueuer as a gift. What do you do with it? Drink it straight? Mix into cocktails? Suggestions/recipes, anyone? Thanks.
Indulgent dinner the Monday before Xmas
Have you thought of Capsouto Freres? Have the souffle.
Our annual visit to a food mecca!
We're from New York, had dinner at Corson Building last night, and it was unforgettable. You have to be into the family style concept but we had a great conversation with our table mates, and the food and service and atmosphere were fantastic. I'm still swooning over the porcini and jerusalem artichoke soup with truffle infused whipped cream, and the black cod with hazelnuts, faro and brown butter, and the brilliant oysters with Meyer lemon and shallots and... oh, I could go on and on. And for us NYers, a relative bargain.
Restaurant for New Year's Eve in London
We had a sumptuous New Year's Eve feast at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at the Claridge four years ago. It was memorable. A magician strolled the tables (as did bagpipe players, until someone must have complained it was deafening!). It was many pounds, but it was memorable.
Great Veg Food in Rome and Sicily?
Ahhh, Sicily... we just came back from a week in Siracusa and Taormina. I highly recommend two places in Siracusa, on Ortygia island, for great vegetarian fare: Trattoria La Foglia (www.lafogila.it). The proprietor (Beppo) is a vegetarian himself and will guide you through the menu, which is simple but has great pastas, mixed vegetable plates, and wonderful lentil soup. They also serve seafood. Another fabulous place is the tiny little Gazza Ladra (on Via Cavour) which is actually a wine bar, sort of, with a great menu. This is not a vegetarian place but the reason to go is the incredible vegetarian antipasto which we ordered for lunch. It had whatever was seasonal, beautifully prepared including local faves like fennel, pumpkin, fantastic zucchini, eggplants, etc. You won't regret it. They also have great pastas and panini (the real thing). I had a mushroom and mozzarella panino that was amazing. Don't miss Ortygia, it's a fantastic place, full of ancient history and not swarming with tourists (at least when we were there, in late May.) Buon appetito!
Also -- there's a little market in the central market area of Ortigia -- not sure what it was called but it's near the extreme east end of the market area near the main fish markets. It's a tiny little shop that sells local honey, mushrooms, dried tomatoes, almond paste, and some homeopathic cures. Try to find it, it's worth the time.
Breaking in a bamboo steamer??
This maybe sort of a stupid question, but I am a bamboo steamer novice. When you use a stacked bamboo steamer in a pot of water (not a wok) is the bamboo lid sufficient to hold in the steam, or do you have to put the whole thing inside a pot with a lid? Thanks. Also -- does it matter what kinds of food go on the bottom shelf of the steamer, and what kinds go on top? thanks.
It's so hot and I cannot find ice cream....
What about the Shake Shack, in Madision Square Park at Madison and 23rd? Fabulous St. Louis style frozen custard.
