Sambossanova's Profile
Need help on polenta and ragu dinner For 12
I bought the veal oxtail specially ordered at an Italian butcher in NYC. It still has some hairs on it unfortunately.
II am an ok cook but I am nervous about trying out a new things that aren't from a single recipe hence my hesitation about making a polenta lasagna with boneless coda alla vaccinara (roman veal oxtail dish in tomato sauce that is a bit sweet and sour).
I might just serve the oxtail with baked polenta or grilled polenta if I dont think I can make it into a pasticciata! It would just be impossible to serve the polenta piping hot when I have ten plus guests and very little help.
Any other suggestions preferably with the veal oxtail as a main dish or how to approach my idea would be great!
Thanks.
Need help on polenta and ragu dinner For 12
great suggestion on the arugula and fennel salad. as for rabbit, I dont know why but I get queasy cooking rabbit (but not oxtail or offal or other things only rabbit!).
Need help on polenta and ragu dinner For 12
Some friends from California are coming to visit Ny this weekend and we are getting together with old and new friends for dinner.I wanted to make a polenta pasticciata (lasagna) dish as a main dish. However, I wanted to put something a little more interesting than the normal lasagna fillings of bechamel and bolognese sauce.
I thought making a polenta lasagna would be an interesting idea because its cold outside, I have some good northern italian red wines, and its easy to prepare before hand and bake it when we start the first course. A few options I was contemplating were making a veal oxtail and mushroom ragu or maybe wild boar ragu as the filling to the baked polenta lasagna.
I will probably have a salad course and some antipasti as well and then fennel and some other side dish to go with the polenta lasagna.
Farmstead Cheese, Wayland Square, Providence
I don't experience sticker shock usually either (I just don't purchase it) but I was really shocked when I looked at some of the prices for the meats downtown. Imported Serrano Ham for 25 dollars a pound or whatever I can understand but domestic Bresaola for 38 dollars a pound seems ridiculous. I am tempted to buy just a slice to freaking try it out since it costs more than ordering a steak online from a place like Peter Luger's.
I know little about the food business, but I feel like they purposefully try to keep the most specialty expensive products to keep prices high when there are much better values to be had. I am surprised they carry naragansett creamery cheeses because of this but then again they charge a lot more for them than other places if I remember correctly
United BBQ in Providence- Eugh.. eugh.. eugh
Agreed. Its pretty bad, espescially the sides. The actualy meats are ok but not worth going to except for takeout if you are close by and have an urge for brisket or pulled pork. Its actually really cheap compared to most bbq like LJs etc... The sides though are pretty deadly, its embarassing. Overall the place is a mess but the meats are edible and cheap and if your loking for a quick bbq fix on the east side its not too bad. Its certainly not a place that I would look forward to going to though.
Authentic Italian/Providence
As someone who has lived in Italy, the only thing close to authentic in Providence would be eating at Italian Corner in East Providence on Fri/Saurday. The place isnt a restaurant except they have special dinner in a seating area on Friday nights and Saturday nights where they serve pretty authentic dishes. The chef is from Northern Italy and the server also spoke Italian (fluently with a nice northern accent).
Otherwise, probably any recommendation you will find anywhere will be Italian-American food that bares absolutely no resemblance at all to food in Florence or anywhere North of Naples. As for Cafe itri, I have never been, but looking at the menu it looks pretty americanized. For example, real pasta amatriciana is made with guanciale (Italian Corner) not pancetta (as it is made in cafe itri) Also, serving meatballs with pasta can be used as a litmus test...for the most part its exclusively an Italian-American thing.
Anyways, I see you went to Cafe Itri and it seems like you had a good time but Italian Corner is probably the only place within an hour of Providence that serves food that resembles what you might eat at a restaurant in Italy. Just make a call first and a reservation and its BYOB which is also nice.
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Italian Corner
10 Boyd Ave East, Providence, RI
northampton brunch
Green Street Cafe. It was pretty good. What a good brunch should be....simple, fresh and tasty. the dishes were all pretty standard (eggs florentine french toast etc...). There is no liquor license so no bloody maries but yes to mimosas. The atmosphere doesnt bring exude "special occasion" ambience but that was a good thing in my mind. Thanks.
northampton brunch
Its my 21st birthday this weekend and parents wanted to take me somewhere nice for brunch. I live in the northampton area but would be happy to go to deerfield or greenfied or anywhere else thats not too far and pleasant.
Where is the Cheapest Farmers' Market in RI?
Is the stuff any good or is it just more affordable. I am debating whether to go to the hope st market or to broad street. Not really interested in prepared foods or farmstead laiterie cheeses, just meats, produce, eggs etc...
How do the two compare in terms of price and quality?
Where is the Cheapest Farmers' Market in RI?
Some farmer's markets in underserved neighborhoods that lack a grocery store are often subsidized. Might be the case with the one on the south side.
Rome Mensa?
I have heard that in Italy there are public cafeterias for municipal workers, I believe they are called MEnsa, that are open to everyone and are very affordable. Does anyone know of any in Rome that are not at La Sapienza (student cafeteria). Student cafeterias also work but most of the branches of Rome University are a little bit on the periphery. I am looking for something like the student cafeterias in Paris where one could get a complete meal for around 3 euros (at least in 2005). Are there any restrictions on who can eat in these cafeterias if they do exist in Rome.
Non municipal type cafeterias are also good as long as they are very budget oriented otherwise I would just go to a tavola calda place and have a meal for 5 euros or so. I am NOT looking for things like a panino or pizza by the weight or kebab type takeout places.
Rome Recs for Under 10 Euros?
What are some of the food markets you recommend? There seem to be a lot and of varying quality. Haven't really found any sort of bakery that is much better than my local alimentari. Still trying to find a pasticceria above the restof them too. A place with a large variety of cheeses would be nice. And is there a real butcher in the area? I have been going to testaccio for most of these things but I was whoping i could find them closer. Thanks.
Food (non Restaurant) recs Trastevere
I am there right now. There are just so many places that I dont think I can try them all. Plus I am trying to be frugal.
Food (non Restaurant) recs Trastevere
I am staying in Trastevere for quite a while and was wondering where the best place to go for specific goods.
In other words, where's best place to buy bread, prosciutto, wine and other goods. Also recommendations for best pasticceria, caffe, or random place. Not really interested in Osterias and Trattorias and such. The lower the prices the better. If there is anything in particular that is recommended at some place, please do tell. Thanks.
Hunan Village
Yes they are. I talked to one of the employees who was moving stuff outside. He also said the chef of the yonkers one was moving to the hartsdale location. He also said they are trying to open before new years. Should be open within two weeks.
Thayer Street in Providence
Practically everything on Thayer street is mediocre to awful. Half of the restaurants, the full service ones that is, are owned by the same guy. All these restaurants have unlimited demand because of the student population etc...They have no incentive to make good food or provide good service cause college students will continue to come.
As for kabob and curry...its practically the definition of tamed mediocre food. I guess it's alright overall, but definitely nothing special. The place I would choose is Meeting Street Cafe whose solid sandwiches and dishes make me nostalgic for good diner food. Plus, the giant cookies and the BYOB policy makes the experience complete. I know its not exactly on thayer but its like 20 feet from thayer.
Red Barn Pizza Hartsdale
the one between the two tailors and close to kazu is not brick oven but is very good. It's called Muzzarella's. Red Barn must be the new place in that lil nook with a parking lot across ihop where the small convenience store is.
Cheap Eats
Tina's on Atwells serves jamaican food for really low prices. They used to be on broad street but relocated a year or two ago. There are also two guatemalan places I like. One is on the corner before nick's, but its not that great. I prefer Mi Guatemala which is where atwells meets manton( i think). Bombay cafe in federal hill isnt cheap cheap but its certainly better than the rest of the horrible indian places in providence.
Does anyone know of a sports bar in Providence i am starting college there in less that a week..?
Since we are going into NY territory. Any bars that show yankees games? I know there is actually a sizeable community of yankees fans in ny because of transplants and I believe a lot of latinos are yankee fans (Dominicans in particular maybe?). I saw a yankees banner in a mexican restaurant in central falls that had a TV but Im not sure they showed yankees game because it didnt seem like they had direct tv or anything.
cool artsy place in Providence?
Coffee Exchange is the obvious choice and probably the one that makes the most sense. Most of the cool places to hang out and eat at are not on college hill. Cuban Revolution is popular with students and its kind of cool but more yuppie (downtown providence). The food is good. Nick's for breakfast and lunch sounds like the type of place your looking for but its sort of further away and Im not sure they have certificates. Same with Julian's (both are on broadway in west end). Sawadee, a good thai place with little to no ambience is close by. Theres also a coffee place in wayland square, which i believe is called the edge. Its rather new but seems like a nice place. Cafe Choklad would probably be the most convenient since it is practically in between RISD buildings, but the food is so so and the place is nothing special except for the chocolates. One last suggestion would be bagel gourmet. The bagels are ok (im from new york but many say its the best bagel in providence), They also have some mexican options which are decent .
Favorite Sushi -- Westchester
Sakanaya on central and Tsuru's on central are two other really good sushi places.
Where to buy Coca-cola (without high fructose corn syrup)?
Good luck but its not even worth trying. Most people dont really care and coca cola has all the infrastructure in place to make it with HFCS as opposed to sugar. We can also thank the government for corn subsidies. Even the coca cola that is sold in the united states with sugar is imported from other countries mainly mexico and some of it isnt even %100 pure cane sugar. There are all sorts of information all over the web about this topic. Your best bet is to wait till passover and stock up like crazy for the year.
Where to buy Coca-cola (without high fructose corn syrup)?
I checked with costco in the burbs, and much to my chagrin, they didnt have ny as of two months ago.
Romantic weekend. A splurge for a pair of college students
Entrees around $26 aren't very hard to find. I like the back garden of Barbone, where you can eat a two to three course meal for around $30 bucks (maybe even $30 with a pasta and appetizer and wine). The service is variable though. The tavern room at grammercy tavern is a nice atmosphere and the food is pretty good. Its got character but it's more tavernous than romantic.
Another good place that might be on the higher end of your price range (entrees 22-30) is Le Gigot, which is in Greenwich Village. the place is a small romantic traditional bistro with very good food and its a nice location.
I also find Ivo and Lulu kind of romantic, but its very small and cramped and also doesnt take reservations. On the plus side, the food is good and more than reasonable (probably one of the best deals in manhattan). The BYOB factor tends to make restaurants more romantic for me since I am on a budget. Instead of paying for some $40 bottle of wine, you can just bring your own good $14 bottle and not feel guilty for spending some crazy amount on marked up wine bottle that probably isnt that great.
cheap yerba mate in nyc?
Are these places uruguayan or argentine by any chance? It be nice to have some of my favorite treats all year round instead of relying on family and relatives who travel often to Argentina. Specifically, I would be looking for alfajore maybe some titas and rhodesias etc...Maybe some conaprole dulce de leche.
Foget Arthur Avenue.....go to our Bleecker Street
I am sort of in shock by your assertion that Bleeker street is somehow superior to Arthur Avenue in terms of food experience. If you like Da Andrea better than Roberto's and Dominick's that is fine. In terms of produce, cheeses, pork store, and other meats, bleeker street doesnt even compare. Especially when you figure that arthur avenue food shopping is a lot cheaper than getting the same type of stuff on bleeker street. Plus, I rather walk around arthur avenue any day rather than Bleeker Street. The character of the place is completely different and the cafe's on 187th are extremely pleasant. And variety and choice is ten times that of bleeker street. As for the poster who is complaining that arthur avenue is albanian, well bleeker street is investment bankerish? Hope I am not being rude but the original post just really caught me by surprise. To each his own though.
Recommend me a Beer for my BBQ
reaplace the stella with a hoegarden and you should be good. If you want to step it up a notch, teh allagash white would be a good beer.
Providence, upscale
Cant list top five because....well I don't go to upscale restaurants that often. Of the few that I have gone to, I liked Mediterraneo's for Italian and Chez Pascal for french. As far as mill's goes, I was unimpressed and found it to be ordinary dressed up bistro food in an upscale setting with high prices. Ruth's Chris is probably alright but its a national chain...I would imagine you are looking for a place that is more local.
Providence's Shaw closing and other terrible supermarkets
I got some problems with eastside market and I used to go to shaws somewhat regularly. Isnt eastside market the type of thing your looking for????
