depends upon how adventurous you and your kids are and how fancy of a meal you want.

It's a bit different, but thanks for sending along. It might work for what I'm looking for.

Does anyone know of cool summer cooking camps or courses for kids in the city? Thanks so much!

Does anyone know of cool cooking camps for kids this summer in the NYC area? Thanks so much!

Marketsgalore - I'm also doing some market research. I'd love to connect and talk about them. shoot me an email at ferst at forward dot com

I'm also a woman in my 20s. First let me say, I think this is great. You clearly care about sharing a passion with your partner and food really is a great way to impress. What about something that's both healthy and hearty? Perhaps a farro salad or another interesting grain. Wheat berries pair well with craisins, feta and arugula. As for meat at a potluck, I think it's incredibly hard to pull off and not have it be overcooked unless you're going for a super long braise like ossobucco. I think healthy is a good way to go but I also think the luscious and sort of seductive texture of chocolate mouse is a good thing to keep in your repetoir. Raspberries might make a nice addition.

Thank you - I particularly can't wait to visit Bi-Rite.

Thank you both so much. I'll look into Ghost Town Farms and City Slicker. I'll also track down a copy of Farm city at the library.

Sauerkraut is also not incredibly difficult to make at home, though it can be an involved process. Another option is to buy prepared sauerkraut and "doctor it." There are some early german recipes from around the turn of the century that recommend adding caraway and butter or oil to already fermented sauerkraut. You can find one in Jane Ziegelman's book "97 Orchard Street."

I just returned from a trip to germany and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of apple in several sauerkraut renditions - if you decide to make it home, this can be a nice addition to the flavor that pairs well with a number of traditional german pork sausages.

I sincerely appreciate your support on this one. I have of course started other means of research (reading san fran food stories in both national and local publications, emailed a couple of farms and been seeking out links to culinary school students who are friends of friends). I grant that the question I posed was incredibly broad but I figured I would start by casting a wide net and see what it drew in, then refine my search as things came to light and crystalized.

Here is a more specific question: I would like to volunteer on an urban farm that is genuinely concerned with education, both of its staff and of visitors. Does anyone know of a good one that is receptive to full-time volunteers?

Thanks.

I'm a food writer in NYC who disturbingly has never been to San Fran. I'm coming in Feb to eat and see what's going on in the food scene, with the idea of possibly returning next summer for a stint on a farm or at a food organization. Any recommendations? Thanks! Excited to finally get to visit.

My sister will be in new york for literally about 2 hours before leaving the country for 7 months. I want to take her out to a really fun and delicious restaurant but we will only have time to go somewhere between Penn Station and Grand Central (aka the deadzone of restaurants). Anyone have any ideas? I would really appreciate it - ideally it would be somewhat reasonably priced as we're in our early twenties.

Thanks!

Hi,

Does anyone know of any excellent Moroccan places in the city? I have a hankering and my dad is coming in from out of town and he's a big fan as well.

Thanks!

Hi,

Planning an awesome evening for a friend coming in from out of town in Brooklyn. We're going to first Saturday and I want to take him out for a great meal - nothing fancy just really good food near the museum - could be ethnic - doesn't have to be. Anyone have any good ideas?

Thanks.

Dev

Does anyone know of any restaurants that prepare the egyptian dish Koshary - it's ubiquitous in Egypt and super hard to find in NYC... Sad.

Please let me know.

D

Does anyone know of any restaurants that prepare the egyptian dish Koshary - it's ubiquitous in Egypt and super hard to find in NYC... Sad.

Please let me know.

D

Dear Chowhounds -

I moved back to New York after having lived in Israel for a year. In israel I was spoiled rotten with excellent challah every week. I feel like a junkie in withdraw without it - does anyone have good recommendations for non supermarket brands? (i.e. bakeries that make it fresh) Please please advise!

Many thanks,

The Challah junkie.

definitely not tied to the 80s - was just a frame of reference as the upper west side is often defined liberally from columbus circle to 125th st.

I just moved back to the city from abroad and am craving excellent food recommendations for my neighborhood (W 80s). From my experience there are a million pretty good places but few truly truly exceptional ones, particularly for a relatively reasonable price. Anyone have any recommendations? Also, west branch - worth it or not?

Thanks!

I too would like to know a place - particularly one where you can sit on the floor and eat with your hands - utensil are worthless in moroccan food.

I don't exaggerate when it comes to food things - I was literally raised in the terminal! My dad goes daily and I spent many a trip with him. Hands down the best food in the terminal is what you buy and take home to prepare but if you want to eat there try the rocco special - it's no longer rocco's but if you ask around someone can tell you and the dish is still called the rocco special. It's an amazing hoagie. Also, basset's ice cream - order it in an old fashioned dish and you'll get almost twice as much - I've never found it's equivalent - anywhere!

Enjoy!

Also, try the fish from Johnny Yi's and salsa from 12th street cantena. Also the cinnamon buns from the amish bakery in the north western corner of the market.

Hi,

I used to live in Israel and can attest to many wonderful nights and lunches with chefs like Schleifer, unfortunately I don't know him. However, Eli Mizrachi (owner of Cafe Mizrach) in Machaneh Yehuda (the outdoor market in Jlem) might know him - Eli's been in the restaurant world of jerusalem since infancy and it might be worth checking with him. Also, Israel's equivalent of phone information is pretty good and assuming Moshe lives in Jerusalem you may be able to find him that way.

Best of luck and if you track him down let me know - I'd be curious to try his food next time I go back.

Devra