Altaira's Profile
Boston - Cambridge Tapas Sunday Noonish
Hi Hounds...looking for great tapas in Boston or Cambridge for lunch/brunch on Sunday. Any favorites?
Cooking in the NE during power outages
Our power's been out since Sat night...luckily I have town water, so plenty of (cold) water, and also luckily I have a fireplace. I have a whole new appreciation for the 18th century. First night, I cooked steaks in a big ol cast iron frying pan over the fire. Next night...leftover mac & cheese, with leftover steak bits, leftover chicken and gravy, and a can of chopped tomatoes for liquid. I just couldn't face cooking everything in seperate pans. It was actually way better than it sounds. Coffee was easy: broke out the camping equipment, but heating enough water on the fire to wash dishes is a drag. We're having sensory withdrawl, since no tv, no radio, no internet, and I've been reading aloud.
Crabs on the Waterfront in Baltimore
What about Obrycki's? Our hotel bartender rec'd it, but we didn't get a chance to try it. They still seem to be serving steamed crabs.
inner harbor- little italy
I second Gia's. Three of us had a great meal there.
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Gia's Cafe
410 S High St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Good recs for Inner Harbor area without a car?
Don't know about burgers, but there's a great italian place, Gia's, within walking distance, but it wouldn't do for your Friday--definitely a place to linger. I just got back from a conference, and sampled food from a couple of other places. Noodle & Co. was fast, but nothing special. La Tasca had quite acceptable tapas....we had a vegetarian friend with us, so we didn't have any meat, but everything else we tried was fine, particularly the Pan a la Catalna, the tortilla, the asparagus, the spinach and pear salad, and the gambas al ajillo. I had a drink and a spider roll at the kona grill: good, but expensive. Really Gia's was the best meal we had. Didn't venture to any seafood places, since I couldn't bring myself to eat at the Rusty Rudder. The bartender at the hotel rec'd Obrycki's, and would have tried that for the traditional crab pickin' but that's no place to go with a vegetarian, so we didn't. There's a Hard Rock and a Hooters, which I would not patronize, but they should be able to make a burger.
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Gia's Cafe
410 S High St, Baltimore, MD 21202
What hot dog brand is best?
Personally, I like Kunzlers, but kayem, hebrew national and boar's head are all pretty good.
Martha's Vineyard - Summer 2011
The Scottish Bakehouse has the most amazing danish pastries...very pricey, but a total tastegasm. Go for the mixed berry...and go early: they sell out. The amaretti are terrific also, but find out when they were baked. Not so good when they aren't fresh.
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Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Rd, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
One Day on MVI in mid-June - lunch in OB, Edgartown or Vineyard Haven?
Check out the bus schedule: http://www.vineyardtransit.com/pages/vta_schedule/may_june11/routelist
If your ferry docks at Vineyard Haven, I would rec. the Art Cliff diner...never had a bad meal there. If you dock at OB, you have a lot more lunch choices. Head up to Circuit Ave and you will find plenty of restaurants. Slice of Life seems popular...depends on what you're looking for. The harborside restaurants, Nancy's and so on, are also easy walking distance. Nancy's has good fried seafood (and onion rings!) but def. not cheap. We paid over 65 bucks for a clam plate, onion rings, 1/2 pint each of clams and shrimp, a beer and a wine.
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Slice of Life
50 Circuit Ave, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Blue crabs anywhere in the Wilmington, Delaware general area?
Well, the best laid plans...as we were coming over the Del Memorial Bridge, spouse and I discussed the crab issue--he is indifferent but not hostile to picking crabs, I the one who longs for the cerulean crustacean. He was not keen on Toughkenamon for some reason, and pointed out that we were pretty close to New Castle right then.
Of course I did not remember the names of any of the crab places in New Castle, and am too poor to pay the monthly service for a smartphone, but I figured that NC is not such a big town--surely there would be signs, perhaps billboards, for the aid of the crab famished.
Well, no. But stopping at a bar and asking provided directions to Lestardos. It was a small, genuine beer-after-work bar with a larger room with all the signs...paper covered tables, mallets, paper towels. Empty but for one couple--who were picking crabs. We sat, ordered the last seven large (all males...I dimly remember thinking that the interior arrangements of the females make them easier to pick, but perhaps that was a dream) and a mixed fry for spouse. I did let him have one crab. The mixed fry was ok, but the fries! I don't even like french fries much, but these were the real magilla: peel left on, just the right thickness, hot and yummy. Total tab, including two draft Yuengling and a cup of crab bisque (thick with crab meat and cream, not over seasoned) $59.34. Service was very friendly and attentive (the first couple hugged the waitress when they left, but I believe they knew her) and the waitress followed us out to thank us for the $12 tip.
Hot crabs. Hot damn. First night of the trip. I gave it 3 stars, just because I would reserve 4 for fine dining, and 5? Not so far in this hounds life.
Thanks for all the input, one and all.
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Lestardo's Crab House
Prangs Ln, New Castle, DE 19720
Blue crabs anywhere in the Wilmington, Delaware general area?
I have been to Sambo's many times (when I actually lived in Delaware) and that is truly crab heaven. Mickey's in Bethany is pretty good also, but both those too long a drive. Hilltop it will be. Thanks!
Have you ever slaughtered an animal? Would you?
I used to keep my own chickens, and slaughtered them myself since I thought it would be a wimp-out to ask my husband to do it. My mother told me that her grandmother wrung necks, but this was a technique I never learned. I used a hatchet. My husband tried to wring the neck of a troublesome rooster once...we were sheltering a one-winged turkey vulture named Walter at the time, so the rooster, post-wringing, was thrown in with him for a treat. Next day, Walter was at the top of his pen looking frantic and the rooster was up and around...but much more respectful...
Best farmers markets in the mid-atlantic region?
Lancaster, PA farmers market. It's quite a production, but well worth the trip.
Blue crabs anywhere in the Wilmington, Delaware general area?
I'm not sure you ever get "local" blue crabs anymore. I was in Bethany Beach at the height of the summer season a couple of years ago and the server said that their crabs always come from Louisiana...but maybe they're just heretics.
And I'll try the Hilltop...thanks!
Blue crabs anywhere in the Wilmington, Delaware general area?
Hey Hounds,
Going to a friend's wedding and staying at my brother's place near Wilmington (Hockessin, actually.) I live in Massachusetts now and whenever I get this close to Maryland I start to think longingly of pickin' blue crab. Is there anyplace within a half an hour of the area that has blue crabs? Not interested in king crab or dungeness crab...I need those blue claws for my fix. Soft shell crab is an acceptable alternative, but not too upscale, please.
If it doesn't exist...I guess I'll have to buy some crab meat at the grocery store and make myself some crab cakes instead.
Thanks for your help!
Sal's Pizza comes to Sturbridge
A couple of days ago my husband came home with a menu from Sal's Pizza, which has just opened in Sturbridge. So it being the night before Thanksgiving, figured we would give it a try. Hey, it's Sal's Pizza! Like in the North End!
We couldn't get through on the phone, and we live five minutes away, so we figured we would just go down there. Mad house! Long wait, which is understandable. They seemed to have plenty of help, but not enough oven space. We ordered two steak and cheese calzones, one with onions and mushrooms, and decided to take it to go rather than wait in their dining area, particularly since they had Glenn Beck on the television. Now, if you like the Beck, fine, but if you're in business, I would think you would not have something quite so polarizing playing in your place. Drove back home and figured we'd give them a little extra time.
Anyhow, came back after 45 minutes, waited a little while longer, took food home, and....no steak on the one with onions and mushrooms. Their 'famous two pound calzone' was mostly bread. They had greek salad for sale...with regular canned black olives. The calzones were soggy.
Probably not going back.
Slipping the waiter a "tip" under the table
I worked in the restaurant business for many years, front of the house and administration, and I loathe the idea of tip pooling. I worked in some very nice places, but never encountered a waitstaff where there wasn't a slacker. Why should the good servers be penalized for their cohorts' poor performance? I always wonder about the dim sum cart ladies and if they even get a share of the tips, since there's always a waiter who brings the tea and the check, at least in the places I've been to.
I've never slipped a server extra dough because of tip pooling--never thought of it, and of course you don't always know the restaurant's policy--but I have lingered behind to make up a better tip when dining with cheapskates. Anybody who has ever waited table knows how tough a job it is, and how grateful you can feel to a regular who tips well. About a zillion years ago I worked in a fried fish place on Cape Cod, and there was one guy who always tipped ten bucks...around a 90% tip in those days. We loved him. I'm not that generous, but all servers know that restaurant folks tip the best.
Sub sandwich
Ok, I grew up in Delaware, which, while not Philly, still had great subs. Alas, the area where I lived (and where my brother still lives) near Newark has slid somewhat from its sub pinnacle. We used to patronize Nardo's Sub King on the Kirkwood Highway, and oh, my.
When I moved to the Boston area several (cough) years ago, I was appalled by what they called a sub or a grinder. Chopped vegetables, stingy meat, blah. An outrage. Things have improved, but oh, the subs of my youth...still can get a pretty good one at Casapulla's in Elsmere.
Now that I work in Worcester, I have found a very good sub at Belsito's on Plantation Street. I am not usually a bread person, but their bread...is awesome. Crusty, chewy, yummy....not the fluffy tasteless stuff you usually get from chain shops. Belsito's is a family owned and operated place, and has a small selection of imported italian goods as well as homemade soup and a fine selection of sandwiches. I'm a turkey sub aficionado (sacrilege for some, I know, mea culpa) and theirs is fine.
Not quite what you might get around Philly...best subs I have had were a roll of meat and cheese surrounding the veggies and surrounded by bread. But Belsito's has the best subs I've had in New England. We always get Belsito's Withdrawl when they go on vacation.
Good stuff.
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Belsito Deli
305 Plantation St, Worcester, MA 01604
Crabcakes?
Howdy, all. I have a sister and brother-in-law traveling to New England from California, and thence to Philadelphia. They have a hankering for Crab Cakes...any joy in Phila? I grew up in Delaware, and prefer to get my crabcakes either in DE or MD, but my husband thinks Phillie should also be in the crab cake zone. What say you?
Cape Cod 2010 - where to eat?
Is the Kream N' Kone in Dennisport still good? Daughter lives on the Vineyard so we never get to the Cape anymore, but I used to love the fried seafood at the Kone. Clam roll, lobster roll, real onion rings...used to rock, but it's been a long time.
Dog Friendly Martha's Vineyard
Mmmm....Scottish Bakehouse. I love their amoretti. This time of year no need to ask when they were baked...last winter I got some stale ones, and since they are quite pricey it was a disappointment. Their breakfast sandwiches are great.
Martha's Vineyard - Birthday Cake, Take-Out Seafood, and More
For fried seafood I really like Nancy's snack bar (not the sit-down upstairs) in OB--they have real onion rings--but The Bite in Menemsha really is great. Net Result also quite good.
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Net Result
79 Beach Rd, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Nancy Chang - Worcester- A Treat!
I have found the food at Nancy Chang's to be pretty bland and boring.
I have been trying to find a Chinese food fix...I live in Sturbridge, and there is a cheap buffet place, which is only for emergencies, the Dynasty in Southbridge, which isn't anywhere near as good as the Peking Chef it replaced...and I haven't been to Chef Sau in years, so I'm interested to read that folks still like it. I kind of hate to bring take out all the way home from Worcester, where I work, because after a half an hour...well, everything ends up overcooked and mushy, even if it started out ok.
Chef Sau, eh....might have to go there tonight.
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Nancy Chang Restaurant
372 Chandler St, Worcester, MA 01602
Chef Sau Restaurant
148 Main St Ste 1, Spencer, MA 01562
A few days in Portland
I should mention that I'm on a budget...looking for interesting food, but not molecular cuisine.
One Day, Two Meals, in Portland?
I'm staying at the Eastland Park right now, and I find it quite nice. It's an older hotel...not perfect, but clean and comfortable, and front desk staff VERY friendly and helpful. Also, free wi-fi that works. There's no exercise room or spa, but there's a spa down the street, and who needs an exercise room when this is such a great walking city.
Not keen on the food at the Eastland Park, though...pricey and ho-hum so far. Their top floor lounge has a great view, but only serves apps, and I was totally underwhelmed by the quesadilla I had there. However, there are no shortage of restaurants in the area. I guess I'm going to have to see if I can afford Hugo's, since every Portland post raves. I had a great bento-box lunch at a new japanese/korean place, Soju, down congress st. a couple of blocks.
A few days in Portland
I'm in Portland for a few days at a planetarium conference and just had a terrific lunch at Soju, a Japanese/Korean place on Congress st. I had their version of a bento (they call it a lunch box). Choice of chicken, beef, salmon or tofu teriyaki, served with miso, salad, rice, fruit, shrimp & veg tempura and a choice of california, tuna or cucumber maki. I had the tofu and the california...underwhelmed with the maki, but the rest totally rocked. Tofu was deep fried, excellent teriyaki sauce, tempura perfect, salad, miso...everything very good, and $8.95. They also brought over the usual Korean pickles...kimchi (very garlicky, but not very spicy, oddly enough) pickled black beans, cucumbers and potatoes...never encountered that one, before. Staff was eager to please, green tea was good, and I was way too full to finish. Quite good.
On the trip up from Mass. I stopped for lunch in Ogunquit at Bintliff's on rte. 1 for one of the best lobster salad sandwiches I've ever encountered. Toasted croissant, lobster mayonnaise, and side mesclun salad (or hash browns). They had a roasted shallot vinaigrette that sounded more intriguing than it tasted, but the sandwich was perfect: not too much mayo, and no peppers, celery or onion cluttering the thing up. If I get there in time for brunch on my way back I may have to try their homemade corned beef hash.
Most of my trip will be conference food (!) but I have another couple of meals free...any other place in or near the arts district I should not miss? Staying at the Eastland Park hotel on High st.
Tower Hill wedding, Worcester - Pepper's Catering?
You should be safe with Peppers. I've been to several functions where they were the caterer, and never was disappointed. Good luck!
Crystal River, Florida...anyplace we should go?
Howdy, all. Husband and I are going to visit his brother in Crystal River a week from tomorrow. Anybody know a place we could take our host & hostess out to eat? Price not really an issue, but should not require fancy clothes. Brother is allergic to shellfish, so someplace that has some landlubber entrees would be good. Thanks!
Worcester Brazilian restaurant on Grafton Street?
Can't remember the name...but I'm booked to go with some friends from work next Friday. Has anybody been there? Pricing? Stuff to avoid? I've only been to a churrascaria once, in NYC, and as good as the meat was, all the little salady things were almost better.
Thanks...
On the Upper West Side for a couple days...
Thanks, all for your suggestions. We found:
Momofuku Noodle Bar was awesome. Loved, loved, loved the pork buns.
Saigon Grill also good. Had a great meal there.
Katz's...yeah, we did that. Pickles were the best part.
Perry Street...half an hour after our reservation (10:00!) before we were seated. Had the prix fixe. Amuse bouche was a celery root base, nice mouth, complex flavours. Shrimp appetizer was a little over-fenneled for my taste. Fried chicken was...fried chicken. Meh. Wouldn't go back. Momofuku was our fave for the trip.
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Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Saigon Market
91 University Pl, New York, NY 10003
Dinner in Harvard Square...moderate prices
Thanks, everybody! Time will also be of the essence...I'll let you know how we made out.
