ecwashere7's Profile
Nice dinner near Royal Sonesta, Cambridge
Dante has one of the best patios in the city for al fresco dining. I've always been very pleased with my food there.
Guys Weekend
With 10 people, any place will be a challenge unless you have reservations. Island Creek Oyster Bar and Citizen Pub both come to mind.
Best Breakfasts in New Hampshire
second that. I enjoy their pumpkin pancakes but its probably because I'm so hungry after waiting an hour plus.
Is All-Clad nonstick a waste of money?
pretty much. My mother used to work at Williams-Sonoma and she would complain all the time about how people would thoroughly abuse their pans and return them. She had to take them back. My guess is that W-S still has a policy similar to this. It may not be completely insane like it was in the past, but I'm sure that a pan that didn't meet your satisfaction through regular use would be accepted as a return.
Is All-Clad nonstick a waste of money?
They also note on the show that the A-C pan is the best performer and you can get replaced with its lifetime warranty, so they still recommend that pan.
What Kitchen Scale Do Chefs Use At Home?
I've been very pleased with my OXO scale. I guess there are two models. Mine can weigh up to 11 lbs.
Boston area breakfast recap
If we're including brunch in the conversation, Toro is one of my favorites.
Help With My Wife's Return to Boston
I'm unsure about lunch options at either Toro or Coppa on the weekend. During the week, they are two of my favorite places for lunch. Toro's midweek lunch burger is AWESOME (order it messy).
Help With My Wife's Return to Boston
If it were a small group, you might be able to swing it. They do have an area that is for walk-ins (or at least they used to), but Fridays may be tough. Boston is such a small city, that it couldn't hurt to explore multiple areas in one night. In one evening, I've been to Central Square (Cambridge), Harvard, Kenmore and the South End. It's kinda fun hopping around the city. One of the benefits of Boston being a smaller town. Try calling around too (rather than using Open Table) for a reservation. Often times you'll luck out with an opening or they won't release all of their tables to OT.
Nearby (other side of Fenway park), you can check out Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar. If you want to expand the search, check out any of the places listed already. My particular faves are Toro, Coppa, Myers and Chang and Via Matta.
Help With My Wife's Return to Boston
Everything listed so far sounds great. I would add a trip to one of the many high-quality cocktail establishments. The Hawthorne and the bar at Clio are excellent choices. A meal at ICOB followed (or preceded) by the Hawthorne is an excellent combo.
did I ruin the all clad??
I just re-read that it was LTD. I was commenting on my stainless equipment. Sorry. Still, All-Clad is built to last. If you ever have a problem with it you can get it replaced with almost no questions asked.
did I ruin the all clad??
You can put a piece of all clad through a lot more than that and it will be fine. I had a house fire where half of my house got destroyed and the all clad pieces were totally fine. I took some bar keepers friend to them and they look like new and work the same.
Is All-Clad nonstick a waste of money?
Lifetime warranty. nuff said
If people don't notice the difference between the A-C and the cheapo stuff from Walmart, then they shouldn't be cooking. Huge difference.
Pizza stone on a Weber charcoal grill [moved from Home Cooking]
That looks great. Except that a "conversion kit" costs more than the grill itself. Wow
Smoker. Is it worth it?
To start, yes. Smokers are a necessity to anyone who loves good barbecue and wants to make it himself/herself.
If you have a standard Weber kettle grill, you can go with the Smokenator. It's a piece that you put in your kettle to convert it to a smoker. It works really well for what it is.
http://www.smokenator.com/
Meathead Goldwyn (contributor on Huffpo's food section) has always had great things to say about it. Here is his site:
http://www.amazingribs.com/
ktichen torch
If the big guys scare you, the Bernzomatic Micro torch is another good option. It's the same size as the ones you'll see at Williams-Sonoma, but it works better and it is far cheaper.
http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/TORCHES/MICROMINITORCHES/tabid/251/ctl/Detail/mid/1260/xmid/6951/xmfid/3/Default.aspx
I'd still recommend the one that srgoodman suggested though. Far more reliable and you can do a lot more with it.
Manchester , New Hampshire
I definitely second Republic and 36 Delux.
I would add KC's Rib Shack for BBQ. Some of the better ribs I've ever had (including the ones I've had in Memphis). Their sides are lackluster.
NY Hound looking for a "walking tour"
Good call on Frank Pepe's. My Mother in Law lives in West Haven. Going to get apizza on Wooster street almost makes the trips to CT tolerable!
NY Hound looking for a "walking tour"
You may be a little underwhelmed by the pizza experience at Regina. It's good pizza, but to most NYers it doesn't live up to expectations. I'd love to hear your opinion.
I agree with OpChef in that Paramount is not worth it for lunch or dinner (breakfast is very basic and certainly not like what you can get in NYC at a place like Balthazar or Pastis).
I would also agree to check out the South End for brunch. I love both Toro and Coppa for brunch as well dinner. Worth checking out. If the Sox aren't in town, I'd also consider Island Creek Oyster Bar for brunch.
pink slime free in northernn new england
Amen! I disagree with him a little on brisket. I think it's a great cut for burgers on its own. His blend sounds absolutely amazing though!
pink slime free in northernn new england
Glad to hear you made the jump to grinding your own. You will be surprised how frequently you use the grinder and how easy it is to do. A couple things that will help your grinding:
1. put the metal components of the grinder as well as the meat chunks to be ground in the freezer for about 10 to 15 minutes prior to grinding.
2. If you're using the Kitchenaid attachment, put a little canola oil on the metal axle that goes into the machine. It will help the piece run more smoothly and not rub against the other metal pieces.
As for the meat:
Generally the "cheaper" cuts make the best burgers because of the fat content and the overall beefy flavor. I really like to use brisket or boneless short ribs for my burgers because its well marbled with enough fat that I don't need to mix it with any other cuts.
Chuck is the old stand-by but it usually comes in a roast which yields a lot of meat. Furthermore, chuck is a less marbled meat than brisket or short rib (there are chunks of fat rather than it being well marbled), so you'd need to be conscious of blending the meat and fat evenly. Some people grind chuck a second time to even it out, or they may add some fat to balance it out. Flank yields a ton of flavor, but you definitely need to add some fat like suet or bone marrow to the mix.
If you really want to splurge, go with boneless rib eye. The beef gods would curse you, though, for ruining a good steak.
Stay completely away from filet. Not enough fat. Sirloin is seriously lacking in the fat too, so you'd need to blend it with a fattier cut. I never buy sirloin. It's more expensive than flank (another meat that requires blending) and far less flavorful.
Hope this helps!
pink slime free in northernn new england
If you have a kitchenaid mixer, I highly recommend getting the meat grinder attachment. I've convinced 5 of my friends to do so and they've all thanked me tremendously. Buy whole cuts of meat yourself, so you know that the meat is coming from one cow instead of potentially hundreds (no joke). It is incredibly easy to use and the quality of your burgers and whatever you make will be worlds apart from anything that is already ground.
The Kitchenaid attachment only runs for $50. There are several stand alone models out there too.
Soliciting restaurant suggestions
If I had this problem, I'd go to Bondir, Toro, Oleana or Craigie. You really can't go wrong at any of the suggestions so far.
where to buy local beef - nashua area
I definitely second Miles Smith Farm. You can go to A Market in Manchester (among other locations) and get their meat fresh (rather than frozen) or go directly to the farm in Loudon (not close). Lull also has meat, but its frozen.
I'm a strong believer that everyone should get a meat grinder and grind their own meat. It is a lot easier than you think.
Pizza, pizza.....north of Boston
I am a big fan of Crush in Nashua. They serve Neopolitan style pizza, so it is a pizza that is wetter than what most people in the area are familiar with. There is also a good char to the crust. They serve beer and wine, too.
Favorite ice cream in vicinity of Nashua
I like Doc Davis in Pepperell. It's directly south of Hollis.
Crush Pizzeria, Nashua?
I couldn't agree more. I've been to Crush numerous times and the pizza is exactly what it aims to be: authentic NEAPOLITAN pizza. I too have spent plenty of time in Italy and most of Italy does not eat pizza in this style. In Naples, they do. The pizza at Crush is right on the money here. If you want a similar pizza try Posto in Davis Square in Somerville or Motorino or Keste in NYC.
I will reference this link again for those of you who are tired of scrolling:
http://www.travelchannel.com/video/perfect-neapolitan-pizza-15494
This link demonstrates that Pizza Napoletana is a fork and knife pizza. It's much different than the crap you get everywhere in NH.
They don't aspire to be a fancy place. They do aspire to have good food with fresh ingredients. The service isn't special. IT'S A PIZZA PLACE! I have been there plenty of times and have never experienced service that was rude or inattentive. It definitely hasn't been perfect, but it has been friendly.
I will continue to support this local business. Their lunch special of wings and a 10-inch pizza for $9 is awesome by the way.
Gift Certificate for parents Sunapee / Hanover area
Simon Pearce might be the cream of the crop. My parents also live in the New London area (also love Rockwells). They love the Canoe Club in Hanover. Give it a try.
