Any opinions on where I can buy great pate, etc? In particular, I'm looking for rillettes. Thanks?

MY SO and I are having a craving for good charcuterie, more specifically Pork Rillette. Any tips on best retail outlet for this would be appreciated. Thanks!

Here is the deal . . . GF and I have only one night free during an upcoming SF trip and it is Sunday. We want great Italian for dinner. Perbacco and Barbacco are closed. Cotogna looks great but all they serve on Sunday is a prix fixe. I have no objection to prix fixe menus (and the current one on the website looks great) but I usually like to have the option of a la carte. Is the Sunday Supper a great representation of what the restaurant can do? Or should we save Cotogna for another trip (or Saturday lunch) and go to La Ciccia instead for dinner? Or, any other recommendations for great Italian on a Sunday night? Thanks in advance for any feedback you care to give!

For what it is worth, my opinion as the OP is that I have no problem with being recommended a chain. I do agree, however, that it might be good to point out that it is a chain you are recommending.

Thank you all for your willingness to help a London native who has not lived in London for over twenty years find some nice places to take his Mum and American girlfriend to lunch.

We were planning on starting at the Globe then walking along the river to Waterloo for lunch. However, the Swan looks like a good option. We could always reverse plans: start at Waterloo, walk down for a late morning visit at the Globe, then lunch at the Swan afterwards.

How is the food at Canteen itself? It might suit our purposes nicely. I saw some mixed reviews online.

Scotch egg curry? My word, that sounds intriguing!

Thanks for the tip, Limster. Unfortunately, we will be there on a Thursday.

Looking for lunch recommendations between Southwark Bridge and Waterloo Bridge, or thereabouts. Tasty, reasonably priced food in a casual environment with quick, yet efficient service. I know Masters Superfish and Anchor and Hope are not far away (and are wildly different types of places) but am hoping for a recommendation of somewhere right on the Thames. Your input is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

IMHO what I am looking for is different to croutons, which are more toasted or baked.

I will be visiting family in London for Xmas. I want to make them US-style stuffing which uses much larger breadcrumbs than what is used for the UK-style stuffing I remember from my childhood. In the US you can buy these large breadcrumbs, which are essentially dried diced chunks of bread, in bags any supermarket. Are they also commonly available in UK supermarkets? Or should I expect to make my own using old bread? Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Thanks for the Cheuvront reminder. I completely forgot they sell their cheese retail.

Are there any specialty goods stores in the Valley that sell artisanal cheeses? I am not talking about the (generally) mass-produced "gourmet" cheese you can get at AJ's or Whole Foods. Thanks for any help you can give!

Dear UK Chowhounders (or anyone else who can help)

I am returning to England (I grew up in Ilford--I know . . . how on earth did I develop an appreciation for good food!) to visit family in SouthEast Essex (Great Wakering). I would love to take my American wife for lunch to a cozy, traditional country pub with great food and real ale. Somewhere in the Raleigh-Maldon-Burnham on the Crouch-Southend-on-Sea quadrant would be ideal but we are happy to travel further for the right place.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have!

Greetings,

I will be staying at the Hyatt Regency at 265 Peachtree Street Northest. I would love to hear any recommendations for good BBQ or southern cuisine places within walking distance or a short cab ride. Casual preferred but price not all that important.

Thanks!

Seige, How was the Missoni? I have just booked it for New Year. $500 a night is steep, but it looks great. Worth the expense? While the reviews I have found have been good, there are not that many total reviews. Your personal opinion on the quality of your room, service, general ambience, etc., would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Try Maizie's. $3 Bloody Mary's that are delicious and a decent menu.

You totally should have brought the waiter's attempts to dishonestly double his tip to the management's attention. This was no error. As a veteran of the hospitality industry it is clear to me this was a deliberate attempt to get a "double tug." Such things need to be pointed out to management to minimize the chance he will succeed with the ruse for other, less astute, diners. BTW, for what my two cents are worth, I think it is completely appropriate to discuss ambience and service here. Dining is a complete experience. Great food can be overshadowed by bad service and uncomfortable surroundings. I appreciate getting the whole low-down.

Is this a daytime only thing or are they still there in the evening?

The Parlor, St. Francis, and Maizies.

FnB in Old Scottsdale. Original food, great atmosphere and service. Sit at the bar.

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FnB
7133 E Stetson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Looking for feedback from recent visits. The menu looks good but older posts are mixed on the place. Thanks in advance.

Dunno if they just took some time to get their act together or if I just got lucky but I ate at the National this week and everything was great

Zinc Bistro. I dont know for sure if they do lunch but presume so.

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Zinc Bistro
15034 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste 140, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Hit the Rokerij. 16th Street and Maryland. A real institution. Great Southwestern fare. Great atmosphere--especially in Winter. You can order from the Richardson's menu-their other restaurant that burned down.

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Rokerij
6335 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016

Maizies. RIght near Fez and way better. Or St. Francis if you want something fancier.

Thanks all for your feedback. I was aware of the TA reviews and rankings but was hoping for recent personal experiences from food savvy folks. Looks like I will have to rely on TA after all. I will let you know if the TA reviews remain valid.

Sure, I know it is not in Phoenix. I have, however, searched both the Southwest and Mexico boards and have not gotten any hits.

I decided to canvas Phoenix chowhounds because so many people from here visit down there. I am taking visiting family and would like to eat as well as possible.

I know not to expect any culinary masterpieces. But, any tips on decent restaurants? Seafood is an obvious interest. Not too gringofied if at all possible.

We would be willing to travel a little bit out of town for somewhere special.

Thanks!

Thanks for the input. I am not 100% sure about El Cardenal but pretty sure that when I went there last year they closed at 6 and did not re-open for dinner. I have heard mixed reports about Tacuba but based on your recommendation may have to check it out. Thanks!

Saludos a todos!

Our first night in D.F. we will get in late after a long day travelling. Therefore, we will save planned dining destinations in Condesa and Polanco for subsequent nights. I am looking for dinner suggestions for somewhere fairly traditional in the historical district that we can walk to and take in the atmosphere on the way. I know El Cardenal does not serve dinner. A touristy spot is ok, providing the food is great (although those two concepts so rarely go hand-in-hand).

Ideally, I would love somewhere super-traditional that has not given up on quality due to the constant influx of tourists that negates the need for repeat business. Does such a place exist? I appreciate that many people will want to point me towards previous discussions but felt a separate post was warranted due to the narrow nature of my request. Any help is truly appreciated. Thanks!!