Warwickshire - Good Eats?

we've had some really nice meals at the rose and crown in warwick. very nice spot, good food, welcoming atmosphere. we stayed there for our niece's wedding in warwick last year and it was perfect on all counts!

potterstreet in U.K./Ireland

Cozy spot for 10 - Brooklyn - decent food & will let us keep the table for hours

thanks guys. we got a reservation at frankie's and will go to a bar afterwards. both your suggestions look great, but i'm thinking buschenschank might fit our bill for sunday afternoon imbibing, which will definitely be happening!

potterstreet in Outer Boroughs

Cozy spot for 10 - Brooklyn - decent food & will let us keep the table for hours

hi,

my british hubby and i and a bunch of our pals - some expats and some visiting from london - will be rendezvousing in brooklyn on saturday, april 14. we've not seen each other for ages and will need a lot of time for catching up. we like good food and everyone in the group can drink like a fish. looking for somewhere comfy, where we can be ourselves (read: a teensy bit boisterous) and not feel as though we are bothering anyone. i'd appreciate any ideas. thanks a bunch.

jane

p.s. we'll spend and we'll tip well. money isn't a big deal. just want something comfy.

potterstreet in Outer Boroughs

Dinner party inspiration needed - tapas?

We had a bunch of pals over for a tapas night and here is what we served. We also had free flowing cava, wine and beer which added to the festivities.

- Spanish tortilla - basically the Spanish version of a frittata. Fabulously, simple, beautifully presented - this is a dish every cook ought to master.

-Albondigas - Spanish meatballs in an almond sauce - classic Spanish food, beyond belief delicious and one of those dishes which is even better when reheated the next day.

-Cannellini bean and rosemary dip - I made this up taking Tuscan food as my inspiration.

-Catalan spinach with golden raisins and pine nuts - Basically spinach which has been sauteed in olive oil, garlic and anchovies (which disappear and leave a magical taste behind)to which you add plumped raisins and toasted pine nuts.

-Lamb empanadas - I made this up myself and gave the empanadas a very Indian flavor using turmeric, ginger and garlic.

-Grilled Pork skewers - Pork tenderloin kebabs marinated in Middle Eastern type spices. Quite tasty and with a real bite to them.

-Grilled Chicken bites - morsels of breast meat marinated in saffron and garlic. Served with spicy tomato jam made with ginger and Jersey tomatoes.

-Pissaladiere - Classic French onion tart made with onions that have taken at least an hour to caramelize properly, anchobies and Nicoise olives as a garnish.

-Shrimp sauteed with fennel and hot red chilies. Easy peasy but really delectable.

-Mushrooms in a sherry sauce - Plain button mushrooms sliced and sauteed in butter and sherry. Finished with lemon juice and parsley.

potterstreet in Home Cooking

Il Fiore - Collingswood

i like this place a lot. no nonsense, no pretense authentic italian. i always enjoy my meal. my only issue is that they pack people in like sardines which is extremely uncomfortable at times - if you are in a group. my other issue is that when the door opens, diners get a huge blast of cold air in the winter.

i actually love going at lunch. less crowded and i can always get a seat far from the door!

check it out foodies - i think you will like it.

jane

potterstreet in New Jersey

Sunday - Late Afternoon - Evening - Pub Near Park Lane [London]

thanks folks. as it turned out, we all are still at home due to heathrow's closure, but we'll be there in a few weeks and will try your ideas out. merry christmas to all!

potterstreet in U.K./Ireland

Sunday - Late Afternoon - Evening - Pub Near Park Lane [London]

hi,

my english husband and i have a few days in london this weekend before heading into the countryside for a family christmas. all plans are pretty much made except for sunday evening when we are meeting some friends (who are also visiting london). we're getting into london early that day and will grab breakfast or lunch and they are meeting us after having a big lunch with other friends. we haven't seen them in a few years so we're looking for a place where we can talk, have more than a few laughs, eat some nosh and catch up. some decent food would be nice as would some real ale and some good wine by the glass. unpretentious and not fussy works for us. we're staying on park lane near marble arch and so are they so we'd be happy to keep it local, but will entertain other ideas as well. i imagine we'll be tying a few on.

thanks,
jane

potterstreet in U.K./Ireland

The Narrow- Limehouse, London - Ramsay pub

Hi

Thinking about checking out the Gordon Ramsay pub The Narrow down in Limehouse. Anyone been? Did a quick search which didn't turn up much.

We're in the East End so it's not far.

Thanks,
Jane

potterstreet in U.K./Ireland

Beef tenderloin - served cold or at room temperature

hi,

am cooking for 8 of us tomorrow and do not want to have the oven going when folks arrive as it will be 100 degrees here in the northeast. i have a beautiful beef tenderloin which i am thinking of roasting today with some sort of pepper/salt crust. i plan to refrigerate it until tomorrow, bring it up to room temperature and serve it on a bed of watercress with some kind of chilled sauce. any ideas? is it okay to roast today and serve tomorrow. i won't slice till serving time.

i am also serving oven roasted local vegetables at room temperature (done early tomorrow) and a caesar salad. my starter is going to be some sort of cold shrimp - might do ina garten's roasted shrimp today and chill that as well. dessert is being brought by a pal. the usual variety of beer, wine and cocktails will be on offer.

thanks!

jane

potterstreet in Home Cooking

Desperately seeking Irish Bacon... in Philly and 'burbs

the english gardener giftshop on kings highway in haddonfield, nj carries it. extortionate prices so it's a treat for my ex-pat hubby.

potterstreet in Philadelphia

Peshwari Naan Bread Recipe

thanks all.

as always, i went to google first but i was looking for a recommendation! and now i have one. so thanks all.

potterstreet in Home Cooking

Mediterranean Cafe: Haddonfield, NJ

the original owners have reopened it. they had it first, then an offshoot of norma's opened there and now the old owners are back. was there a month ago for lunch. good, fresh food.

potterstreet in New Jersey

Peshwari Naan Bread Recipe

hi,

am looking for a really good recipe for peshwari naan and hoping one of you good people can provide me with it. there are a million versions in books and on the net and frankly my head is swimming!

thanks,
jane

potterstreet in Home Cooking

Pintxo

could two of us walk in - say tonight - or are reservations needed? thanks.

potterstreet in Quebec (including Montreal)

Dry Sherry - Where to find in Paris?

hi,

my friend who is not a chowhounder lives in paris and needs dry sherry for a cantonese recipe she is trying. i told her that i thought she could find it in any wine merchant under the name jerez fino. she seems to think otherwise. could one of you nice paris hounds weigh in on this one? she lives somewhere near the place des vosges, i think.

thanks all,
jane

potterstreet in France

Cork in Westmont, NJ?

Interesting post because my experience has been different. We find it to be a fairly diverse crowd in terms of age. We like Monday evenings for half price bottles of wine. They also have a nice selection of beer on tap. There is a reasonable bar menu and they have this deal where you can got three decent sized appetizers from a special menu for $21.00 or thereabouts. The bar staff - especially Cindy - has been nothing but really nice.

Sorry that you had such a bad experience - ours has been really positive.

Your comment about Inn on the Avenue made me laugh though.

potterstreet in New Jersey

British Pub Dinner

thanks guys - i've tossed the beef pie overboard - don't need it. have noticed that even some of the gastropubs we've been in recently have had gussied up versions of bangers and mash! i honestly think people love all that comfy, cozy old stuff. my husband is never so happy as when he's got a pint of bitter and a slab of shepherd's pie! anyway, like both of your suggestions.

greedygirl, your suggestion of prawn cocktail cracked me up because that is exactly what chris suggested. he also asked for black forest gateau ---

potterstreet in Home Cooking

British Pub Dinner

hi,

the hubby's a brit and likes good old fashioned pub food and apparently everyone else does as well, so this saturday night we are hosting an british pub dinner for 8 people at our house. making bangers and mash with red onion gravy, a beef pie, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert, but need a starter. ideas anyone?

thanks,
jane

potterstreet in Home Cooking

ISO: Du Puy Lentils - French Green Lentils

Hi,

Looking for a good lead on where I can get good Du Puy (or Le Puy, as some folks call 'em) lentils. These are amazing French green lentils and aside from once at Trader Joe's in Marlton, I have never seen them. I live in Haddonfield and will drive an hour if need be. Thanks Chowhounders, i know one of you will be able to help me!

Jane

potterstreet in Mid-Atlantic

Russian River Valley:Grocery Shopping/General Provisions

thanks all. we are driving north on sunday morning so pammel's suggestion for us to check out the marin farmer's market is very good! also, loved the seasonal guide to bay area produce.

i have to say - i absolutely love the whole food culture in the bay area. we have a strong food culture here in the philly area where i live, but yours is different and exciting for me! i can't wait to come. thanks again everyone.

potterstreet in San Francisco Bay Area

Russian River Valley:Grocery Shopping/General Provisions

thanks folks. we're actually staying in cazadero, which is just west of the russian river, i guess. anyway, thanks a bunch for your ideas. this cabin is fully outfitted so i am looking forward to some cooking!

jane

potterstreet in San Francisco Bay Area

Russian River Valley:Grocery Shopping/General Provisions

hi,

we're really excited to be renting a cabin with another couple in october in the russian river valley. we're all burnt out and need of some serious downtime so we plan to have lunch out and do some tasting and general meandering during the day, but we want to cook at night. forgive me if this has been addressed before, but we're looking for ideas on grocery stores, butchers, fish mongers, cheese shops, bakeries, and so on and would appreciate any input you lovely people might be able to give us.

we don't pick up the keys to our rental till three in the afternoon and will be spending the night before that in san francisco (going to A16 - yippee!). would picking up a bunch of stuff at the ferry building be a good idea or should we wait and see what the area has to offer?

also, how is the safeway in guerneville? i've never been in a safeway and am used to wonderful wonderful wegman's - can i expect something similar?

thanks everyone.

jane

potterstreet in San Francisco Bay Area

Eating the Rind of a Rind Washed Cheese

hi,

some wonderful wonderful person brought us a huge chunk of hooligan cheese made by cato corner farm and it is one of the most amazing cheeses i have ever eaten anywhere. my question, and i feel ridiculous asking it, is - can you eat the rind on a rind washed cheese? i don't want to waste one bit of this fabulous cheese!

thanks,
jane

potterstreet in General Chowhounding Topics

Homebrewed Beer Bash Food Ideas

hi,

my husband is quite the homebrewer and on saturday night we are throwing open the doors of our home, porch and patio to a flood of people to sample six of his beers, which are absolutely amazing i have to tell you. but here's the problem - i am a lunatic cook and would happily spend three days slaving over a hot stove making appetizers but chris (hubby/homebrewer) says he wants the beer to stand on its own. i told him that's just utterly ridiculous because you cannot get a bunch of people over drinking in quantity without feeding them so he's now "allowed" me to make a few appetizers and to encourage our friends to bring them as well. :)

i am making a ton of quesadillas, having some retro stuff like chips and lipton's onion soup dip (because, god help me, people seem to love that crap) but need a few more ideas to feed a crowd of beer drinkers. bear in mind - i can't look too good or i will overshadow the brew king - so the simpler the better!

thanks!
jane

potterstreet in Home Cooking

Show Stopping Sauce for Beef Tenderloin

first, thanks to everyone for their great ideas. i am using that pineapple habanero on something soon - think it might be good to give some life to chicken breasts.

i actually just started experimenting and came up with something really yummy and rich tasting. i tossed a bunch of shallots with a tiny bit of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a hint of brown sugar and oven roasted them until they were tender. i then chopped them up and added them to a reduction i made with port wine, beef stock, honey, and a splash of balsamic and finished it all off with a knob of butter. it was really quite easy and lovely on the tenderloin.

thanks chowhounders again!

jane

potterstreet in Home Cooking

Show Stopping Sauce for Beef Tenderloin

hi. so sunday is my best friend's birthday and i am cooking for eight people of her choosing and i want to make something special. i picked up an absolutely gorgeous beef tenderloin today which i would like to roast whole. anyone have any ideas for a lovely sauce to go with this - preferably do ahead - so i can have a few glasses of wine whilst putting the rest of the meal together (roasted asparagus, roasted cherry tomatoes with thyme, garlic mashed potatoes and a greens/beet salad witha citrus vinaigrette).

thanks for any help you might be able to give me,
jane

potterstreet in Home Cooking

best donuts in S. Jersey?

i had the best apple cider doughnut at johnson farms in medford - hot and fresh. mcmillan's cream doughnuts are the bomb - but i only allow myslef one a year.

potterstreet in Mid-Atlantic

Slicing Prosciutto

a boyfriend who bought you prosciutto for valentine's day - he is a keeper!

potterstreet in Home Cooking

Need a caramel-centric dessert...

millionaire's shortbread rocks - here's a version which uses sea salt - incredibly incredibly good.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/238232

also, in my opinion you cannot go wrong with sticky toffee pudding EVER> here's the recipe i use - has them begging for seconds.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/15100

have fun, sounds like a great idea and i might have to do it next year.

potterstreet in Home Cooking