lula's Profile
From Canada and Italy - Food Tour of USA in New York City
Thanks for all the suggestions which I've used for my Chow list...
Thursday dinner: Lupa
Friday dinner: Jazz Standard/Blue Smoke (close to hotel and catch a band at the same time)
Saturday dinner: Caliu for tapas
The rest of the time the plan is to get soup dumplings, hot dogs, lobster rolls, donuts, etc. at many of the places suggested above and on this board.
Thanks again for all the suggestions!
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Lupa
170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012
Caliu
557 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
From Canada and Italy - Food Tour of USA in New York City
I've just been informed that he wants to have hot dogs! Anywhere in particular for hot dogs? Food trucks?
From Canada and Italy - Food Tour of USA in New York City
I was thinking of Joe's Shanghai specifically so we could try soup dumplings since we don't even get those here in Ottawa. We'd all like to try those. Anything else to try there or a better option? My cousin is not interested in sushi as he had a very bad experience in London. Thai, Vietnamese and Indian we will probably have here in Canada.
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Joe's Shanghai
9 Pell St, New York, NY 10013
ottawa
I live in Ottawa and never use this site for Ottawa. I use the local site www.ottawafoodies.com which was mentioned earlier in the thread. I only come here for Home Cooking or when I plan to travel to places that generate more posts.
From Canada and Italy - Food Tour of USA in New York City
Thank you for tha many ideas. I'm compiling a list and I'll let him choose what he wants to try. He'll also be spending time up here in Canada so certain foods we'll be having here (smoked salmon, brunch, cheeses, breads, poutine). Bagels is a good idea since NY style are different than here...
From Canada and Italy - Food Tour of USA in New York City
I totally agree with taking home to places that have food he can't get at home. Part of taking someone to an Italian place outside Italy would be to get them to realize that some places CAN do Italian as they do in Italy (and lucky for you New Yorkers, some of the best Italian I've had outside of Italy has been in your city). I can honestly say that the amatriciana I've had at Lupa is as memorable to me as some that I've had in Rome (and they've been really awesome). The other part of taking him to Italian is that he'll still want/need some Italian fixes when being away from home for over 2 weeks! I know I do! LOL!
The other places are great for compiling my list for lunches and the remaining dinners...
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Lupa
170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012
From Canada and Italy - Food Tour of USA in New York City
Thanks - great start. The lobster rolls and oysters are a great idea.
From Canada and Italy - Food Tour of USA in New York City
I am bringing my Italian cousin who has never been to North America to New York City for a long weekend and I am hoping to visit a variety of restaurants that will give him a taste of the US. I love Lupa (even though it's Italian) so already have a reservation there and we are planning to go to the Jazz Standard and have BBQ from Blue Smoke while catching a show. Looking for other suggestions preferably between downtown and midtown that are reasonably priced (under $40 entrees) and would represent a variety of American food. Some thoughts/examples were Mesa Grill (southwestern), maybe soup dumplings somewhere in Chinatown, definitely Katz for smoked meat sandwiches...other ideas??
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Lupa
170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Mesa Grill
102 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Blue Smoke
116 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016
San Marzano tomatoes at Costco
I just came back from Costco and checked these out. Although the price at $3.99 is very very good, they are not San Marzano tomatoes. It's a brand. My local Italian shop sells this brand as well at pretty much the same price as their other brands of canned tomatoes including Pastene (around $1.89/$1.99 for the regular size cans). They sell Pastene San Marzano canned tomatoes at $3.99. So...good price for canned tomatoes.
Jan 1st dinner - Downtown Toronto
One of my friends is pregnant and can't stomach ethnic such as Thai, Chinese, Indian, etc. right now which is why I'm trying to stick with some plain but good quality food. Thanks for that suggestion though. Will keep it in mind for future visits to Toronto.
Jan 1st dinner - Downtown Toronto
Thanks for the replies. I'm considering Beerbistro and Le Select although still scouting for some others. Now trying to hit a lower price point in consideration of some of the attendees of the dinner.
Jan 1st dinner - Downtown Toronto
I've looked at this list from opentable and ruling out a bunch as not the type I was looking for, in all of downtown Toronto, it seems there aren't even a handful of restaurants open on January 1st...
Jan 1st dinner - Downtown Toronto
Need some recommendations for dinner downtown for 10 people that is open for dinner on January 1st. I liked the looks of Nota Bene (price range, cuisine) but it's closed.
Can I freeze Chicken Satay and Gravlax?
Good point on the gravlax. I guess if it lasts that long in the fridge, then I'm good. I just have to make sure I don't eat it all before the party!
Can I freeze Chicken Satay and Gravlax?
I'm planning a party and am trying to make a few of my appetizers in advance to minimize the amount of work to do the days leading up to the party. I'm planning to make chicken satay, meatballs and gravlax in advance but would like to know if I can freeze and defrost day before party.
For the satay, I'm planning to cook the satay and then freeze them in the peanut sauce. Defrost day before party and then reheat day of. Will this work? Same for the meatballs.
For the gravlax, not sure. I've read that once prepared it can be frozen. Is this correct?
Pointers welcome.
Thanks in advance!
Making Guanciale - Any Tips?
I'm picking up a pig jowl this afternoon to try making Batali's guanciale recipe for the first time. Just wondering if anyone who has made it has any tips on the curing and/or drying process. Anything that I should be aware of?
Thanks in advance!
Black Forest Cake in Ottawa
There is a Swiss Pastries in the basement level of 240 Sparks St. (corner of Queen and Kent) and I believe there is also one on Richmond Road near the Loblaws (but I'm not sure on that).
Black Forest Cake in Ottawa
I'm partial to Swiss Pastries' Black Forest cake as it's the one we had for every birthday in my family since I was a kid! :-)
Bittman Bread in How to Cook Everything
I guess I'm just consdered about the yeast proofing. The recipe calls for the flour, yeast and salt to be mixed an dthen water added. How would the yeast proof. If it's not obvious yet....I'm not a baker! :-)
Bittman Bread in How to Cook Everything
Question...the recipe says that it should sit for 18 hours. How long before I actually see the dough rising? It's been about 3 hours and it doesn't look like anything is happening.
My Dinner at Babbo - Report
Simon I agree. I think I would have at least expected the waiter to be aware that milk can be used in a bolognese at that it can vary. Especially after telling us that his father was a chef and he loves food. No expectation on our part to suit our preferences but just to know. My sister was actually hoping it would be more "northern" style since we always make it with lots of tomatoes.
My Dinner at Babbo - Report
You're right about the variations in bolognese sauces but seeing as it originates in Bologna, the northern part of Italy, I would expect "traditional" to be in that sense. my family is from the south and we make our meat sauce with tomatoes. And yes, bread with no butter is also common in Italy. I usually don't eat the bread there either! :-) I just expected that if he offered the oil or butter, then he'd bring it.
My Dinner at Babbo - Report
Three of us went to Babbo for dinner on Saturday night. I'd say that our experience was average.
Reservations were for 9 pm and we were seated close to 9:30 after standing by the bar constantly trying to keep out of the way of waiters, the host, other diners, etc. Very crowded and an awkward entrance area.
We were seated on the second floor and given menus. I spent some time going over the wine list but couldn't decide so asked the sommelier for a recommendation giving him some paramters in terms of what type of wine I was looking for and price range. He was extremely helpful and recemmended a bottle which we all enjoyed and was actually lower priced than what I mentioned. That was appreciated. Wine service was very professional.
Bread was brought but no butter or oil. The bread tasted exactly like the Italian loaf that I grew up with - I never did like it much even as a child! Later (after we finished our appetizers), when the waiter noticed that none of us were eating the bread he offered to bring butter or olive oil. We asked for the oil but he never brought it. After we had orderd everything we had also asked if he could bring a dessert menu to look at while we were waiting for our food but he never brought that either.
We ordered the following appetizers that we shared: the Grilled Octopus with “Borlotti Marinati” and Spicy Limoncello Vinaigrette and the Mint Love Letters with Spicy Lamb Sausage . The appetizers arrived while we were still nibbling on the amuse bouche of chick pea crostini. All of these dishes were excellent and I thought the combination of flavours was wonderful. We all enjoyed them very much. Since we were sharing, they split the pasta on separate plates for us.
For mains, we all ordered pasta dishes. The Chianti Stained Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu, the Pappardelle Bolognese and the Black Spaghetti with Rock Shrimp, Spicy Salami Calabrese and Green Chiles.
When we were ordering, my sister asked if the bolognese sauce was a traditional bolognese (i.e., made with milk and little or no tomato) and the waiter looked at her like she was from another planet and said it was a bolognese sauce. She basically said nevermind and just ordered it as it was obvious HE didn't know what a traditional bolognese is.
The timing between appetizers and mains was well paced. The two pappardelle dishes were very good. The flavours were exactly as I expected them to be - nothing creative but solid, tomato based dishes. The noodles were stuck to each other though and required some effort to seperate them to eat. The spaghetti dish was more unique in flavours and very tasty. However, when my friend first took a forkful of the spaghetti, they were crunchy - clearly undercooked - NOT al dente. We each tried her spaghetti and all reached the same conclusion. She stopped the manager and informed him that the spaghetti was undercooked. He went on to "educate" us on how black spaghetti is not like normal spaghetti and that it probably wasn't undercooked but he'd bring it back to the kitchen if she liked. He spoke in a somewhat condescending tone like she's never had black spaghetti before. She basically said forget it and kept the dish. The spaghetti that was at the bottom of the pile was cooked more and then the dish was more enjoyable.
After this we were quite full but since it was my birthday, we ordered the Pumpkin Budino with Espresso Gelato to share. It was very nice.
Overall, I'd have to say I was disappointed. The service was spotty and I would have expected better attention to detail (the oil, the dessert menu). I wasn't blown away by anything. Maybe my expectations were too high. I've been to Lupa and enjoyed it much more both for the atmoshpere and the food. I'd go back to Lupa and would not likely make any efforts to revisit Babbo.
Visit to NY - One dinner booked. Other suggestions wanted.
Are reservations for a Friday night required?
Visit to NY - One dinner booked. Other suggestions wanted.
Is Hill Country the place where you order at the counter? How does this all work? Do you get a table and then go order??
Visit to NY - One dinner booked. Other suggestions wanted.
What do you think about Dinosaur for BBQ and entertainment? Is it worth the trek or is there better? And I've read a lot about Eleven Madison Park (for lunch or brunch) and Balthazar for brunch...
Visit to NY - One dinner booked. Other suggestions wanted.
Coming to NYC next weekend and have dinner at Babbo for Saturday night booked but am looking for suggestions for other meals at places that are great but won't require reservations or long wait times...light lunch, breakfast/brunch, maybe BBQ, steak, not really sure what else so I'm open to suggestions but would rather stay away from Asian, Indian, Thai (have lots of good options where I live so would prefer something more "New York"-ish!). Price range around $20 or so for main courses.
Upper East Side Dinner
Will be in town for a few nights and am looking for suggestions. Will be trying to get into Babbo or Lupa for Saturday night but need a recommendation for Friday night dinner. Something other than Italian (ethnic could work like Thai, Indian, Mexican, Spanish, etc.), preferably Upper East Side, price range - let's say mains under $30, casual but lively.
Risotto
I was wondering if you could tell me what proporations of rice to stock you use for this method? When I make risotto on the stove I always just make up a bunch of stock as use as needed so never really know how much I've used.
Downtown Ottawa - Lebanese/Mediterranean Restaurants
I have been to A'roma three times and really like it. Lots of great dishes to choose from to suit all tastes and good wine list. The portions are not big. For 7-8 people, you'd probably look at getting at least 10 dishes to share. Tapas style.
