StrandedYankee's Profile
Sunday lunch in Nashville
Ummm, really, I wouldn't do raw oysters in the South in the summer. Nashville is also too thoroughly landlocked for oysters to really be a big deal in the area. I've eaten at Garden Brunch Cafe three times, and have never had a really terrible experience...but have never had an experience that I would rave about either. For what you end up paying, it should be much better that I have ever found it to be. Of the places you've listed ChaChah is my favorite, hands down.
Knishes in Philly & burbs
+1 for Lipkin's. My favorite is their mixed veggie knish. While there, also grab a loaf of seeded rye bread. It will make you remember why rye bread is worth eating.
Boxed Pasta vs. Homemade
Personally, for thinner, more delicate pastas I prefer dried varieties. Angel hair through linguini, give me dried. When it comes to fettuccine, tagliatelle, lasagna and the larger tube pastas, I prefer fresh.
Buffalo Wild Wings???
If you have any place around that does really good or better wings, don't bother. I went twice. Wildly disappointed each time.
not to miss in nashville
Some info about what you would consider "not to be missed" would help recommendations. I mean, do you want "elevated" food and cocktails? Do you want microbreweries with great burgers? Hardcore Southern food specialties? The barbecue places and lunch spots that the actual Nashville people go to? What is your idea of "not to be missed"?
Birthday Cake
It broke my heart when the Country Club really started to go downhill in the 90's. My whole family loved that place, and my first love affair was with their Boston cream pie. It was around the same time as my crush on Shaun Cassidy...
Italian Food in Wilmington, DE
When I mentioned Mrs. Robino's to my Aunt, she said "My God! I haven't been there in YEARS!" and heartily approved the suggestion. She seconded the sentiments expressed here about the cheese ravioli. So, Mrs. Robino's it will be. I am seriously looking forward to it!
Birthday Cake
Yeah...I grew up in Castor Gardens (or as I like to call it, Oxford Circle North). Whenever I will be anywhere near the Northeast, I swing by both Hesh's and Lipkin's. Both are still wonderful, and truly reasonable in price. Seeing the decline of Jack's Deli is heartbreaking, as I believe they made the best real cheesecake in the city. They will make it for you if you order it a few days in advance, but you have to take a whole cake. Fortunately, the cheesecake is still amazing and they want less than $20 for a whole.
Birthday Cake
I'm guessing you were also a Northeast kid? We always got cakes and pastries at Hesh's, and then went up the street to Lipkin's for rye bread, challah and knishes. I am pleased to report that the chocolate chip pound cake at Hesh's is as wonderful as it ever was, as is the rye bread at Lipkin's.
Sick food
Ice cream and (even better!) sherbert are classics for a sore throat. If you live in an area with good Chinese food available, I always go for hot & sour soup when I have a sore throat, a cough or a chest cold. Homemade chicken soup with wide egg noodles and tons of carrots will also work.
The Search for a Cobbler
Yes. Down South.
Serously, having just moved back here to Philly after spending several years living in Nashville, I feel safe saying you won't find a cobbler that will make a Southerner happy up here. Or pie. Southerners kick the crap out of Yankee pies and/or cobblers. However, they can't touch us when it comes to breads, cakes and cookies. Go figure.
If you are determined, I recommend getting a recipie for blackberry cobbler. My favorite desserts down South were chess pie and sour cherry cobbler. I'm considering learning how to bake just so I can make chess pie.
Birthday Cake
In my humble opinion, the best birthday cake I have ever had is the chocolate chip pound cake with buttercream icing from Hesh's Eclair Bake Shoppe on Castor Ave. in Northeast Philadelphia. Actually, their chocolate chip pound cake might simply be the best cake I've ever tasted (it manages to somehow be the richest pound cake I've ever tasted without being the least little bit dense or heavy). This will not be the fanciest or foodiest suggestion you will get here. However, it will be the most delicious. Hesh's will make round layer cakes or sheet cakes from their pound cake, no problem. Their regular birthday cake is very good birthday cake, but nothing like the chocolate chip pound cake.
Sunday lunch in Nashville
TLF's suggestions are all great places. Especially Marche and ChaChah. However, let me add Monell's to this list. Monell's is family style Southern home cooking. They have two locations, and one is quite close to the interstate (Monell's at the Manor) if you'll be driving through.
Marche is my favorite restaurant in Nashville, but there WILL be a line and it WILL be crowded for Sunday Brunch. ChaChah is lovely, with usually wonderful food, and they aren't usually mobbed for Sunday lunch/brunch.
TLF has a point...a bit more info about what you're looking for might help us make better suggestions.
Ten Types of Foodies
Oh, never doubt that anti-snobs are frequently the worst snobs of all. Think about the punk rock fan who holds in utter contempt any artist who sells a lot of their music. Their snobbery is vast, but different. I have an anti-snob streak that I attempt to keep from getting too out-of-hand because in the end, both snobs and anti-snobs are seriously irritating.
Italian Food in Wilmington, DE
Do they do a REAL Caesar? Raw egg? Anchovies? The whole deal? If you say yes, that will clinch it.
I like bitter greens, but there is a point where bitter goes from being a flavor note to being all a dish has to offer or say for itself. Escarole is great in some things, but it doesn't have as assertive a texture as some other greens.
Do not bring me a sandwich - boxed lunch ideas beyond the typical sandwich
A toaster oven can do some neat things...Is he willing to do a bit of assembly? If so, have you considered a flatbread or pita with a bit of pizza sauce in a little Ziploc container on the side, a little baggie with some shredded mozzarella and another with some toppings he might like? A toaster oven would be perfect for making the cheese bubbly and yummy...
I was thinking this would be like a pita pizza, but if it's too close to a wrap, what about a portion of nutritious tortilla chips, a baggie of shredded cheddar, another baggie of other nacho toppings he might like, and a Ziploc container of salsa? I'm trying to think simple, tasty and satisfying.
Italian Food in Wilmington, DE
Oh, how I long for a great Caesar salad. And mac & cheese is one of the ultimate "It's wonderful or it's crap" foods. Middle ground? Almost non-existent.
The broccoli rabe you mentioned? How well have they tamed the bitterness? I've had broccoli rabe at many otherwise great places where it's so bitter it tastes poisonous.
Italian Food in Wilmington, DE
Well, I adore GOOD antipasto. Bad antipasto you can keep. It's like almost everything else in life...the good stuff is great! Seriously, I have been eating antipasto for 30 years. I know all too well the disappointment of receiving a plate of iceberg lettuce, anemic veggies, and meats that taste like they came from Wawa's deli counter. However, it's the chance I take sometimes because when you get it someplace using lovely marinated veggies and wonderful meats, it is a thing of beauty.
Italian Food in Wilmington, DE
As a teenager (please don't ask how long ago that was!) I lived in Wilmington for a little while. I have some awfully fond memories of The Charcoal Pit, but the only food I remember really going a bit nuts over in Wilmington were the Italian restaurants around...was it Union Street? Especially a place called Pala's. None of the places my dad and I would go to were fancy, but they were real Italian-American joints serving truly yummy red gravy dishes. I recently moved back to Philadelphia after several years away, and I have family still down in DE. I am trying desperately to come up with suggestions for places to go for lunch that don't involve chain restaurants around the Christiana Mall.
I learned that Pala's has been gone for some years. This made me sad as I have lovely memories of their food (especially their antipasto and their spaghetti with sausage). I was wondering if anyone here could recommend any other places for good Italian or Italian-American in that area? If that neighborhood has changed so much that there is nothing to recommend, I'm open to other ideas.
What are you favour 3 cuisines?
Jewish-American (my soul food)
Italian-American (food snobs often ignore how delicious this can be)
Chinatown Chinese
By Chinatown Chinese, I mean stuff that is more authentic than what you'll get in neighborhood and/or suburban Chinese restaurants, but selected for things that best please Western palates. For example, shredded pork and spicy turnip soup is a huge favorite of mine. So is duck noodle soup. However, a lot of hardcore Asian foods are simply too gelatinous for my taste (this incudes a LOT of the desserts). The textures turn me off so badly, I can't taste the flavors. So, Chinatown Chinese.
Nashville in June
I agree with you on Robert's about music. If you are going to do Broadway, they are tops for music. I wish they weren't on Broadway...I'd go a lot more often!
Omnivore Interested In Vegetarian Foods
Hi everyone. I am not a vegetarian. I don't think people are supposed to be vegetarian, but having said this...I also don't think we're supposed to eat nearly as much meat/fowl/fish as we do in Western societies. I mean, we aren't cats. So I am always looking for good high-protein vegetarian ideas. I just wanted to say I'm happy to see this board, and plan to check it often.
Gino's? REALLY?!?!?!?
I was driving down Street Road in Bensalem last night when I noticed the sign. After almost crashing in shock, I turned around and investigated. It was late, they were closed. However, I looked at their drive-in menu. I must have been nine or ten the last time I ate at a Gino's, and it was far and away my favorite fast food as a kid. Has anyone been? Is it as good as I remember?
Food Network Does It Again
I lived in Tennessee for 6.5 years. I am aware that pre-sliced supermarket white bread and hamburger buns (like those made by Wonder) are the standard at BBQ places. And the BBQ itself is usually good. The bread, however, is pretty lousy. Wherever it was offered, I usually paid extra and got cornbread pancakes instead. I can't tell you how many times I thought longingly of good rye bread at BBQ places.
What's your very most favorite PB&J combination?
The new(ish) Planters peanut butter is tasty and has the classic silky/sticky peanut butter mouth-feel. If I want a simple but nourishing sweet, peanut butter and a GOOD strawberry preserves on graham crackers with a glass of milk is a true comfort food treat. For a sandwich, a good all-natural peanut butter (freshly ground is ideal) on a hearty bread is the start. Sprinkle on a touch of salt. Add sliced banana, and finally drizzle with honey. Eat cold or toast sandwich. Accompany with milk!
Food Network Does It Again
Mayo on meat sandwiches is sort of joked about in this neck of the woods, along with Wonder bread.
Seafood Buffet @ William Penn Inn?
I haven't been there in 15 years, but when I was in my early to mid 20's and could eat rich food by the pound without consequences, I loved it! Their buffet was never quite as good as their a la carte offerings, but better by far than other all you can eat offerings most places.
Food Network Does It Again
Hey, we could get into some passionate arguments about any of those points!
Food Network Does It Again
As an East Coaster, I'm cool with the mustard and pickles, but the mayo has to go! I love mayo, but not on meat sandwiches.
