corndog1's Profile
Chinese food for a visiting NYer
With a few qualifications.
Looking for a place for Sun. nite that will be v. distinctive from Chinese food in NY. Don't really care about which region it's from. BUT I'm traveling with my 77 year-old mom who tires easily and we're staying by Fisherman's Wharf (i know, I know); ideally, I'd like to be able to get to the restaurant by public transportation that's not too strenuous.
Thanks in advance!
Does anyone know where to buy fresh bay leaves in Manhattan?
I bought some yesterday at the awful Key Foods on Ave. A.
Solo lunching/dining in London
I ended up at St. John's Bread and Wine and it is the perfect place to send a solo diner. I got there about 2:30 and only 1/2 the tables were occupied---one by another solo diner (taking photos of his food). As I was eating, a woman came in, ordered just a cappuccino and paged through a magazine.
I had planned on being experimental, but ended up w/tame choices----every one delicious though! I l felt the need for a green vegetable, so I started w/ asparagus w/hot butter. I love a good mince, and was completely swayed by the "on dripping bread"---and it was the best mince ever. Ended w/the chocolate tart w/sour cream ice cream, a brilliant combination. Had two v. nice glasses of the house red---and the smallest drop of espresso I've ever been served.
I felt a big ignored at first, considering i came in extremely thirsty and famished, but the service picked up. It was so good that I actually thought of going back my last day in London.
After that I walked the Ridgeway & the Thames Path. In Ogbourne St. George I had a v. warm welcome and lovely service at The Inn with the Well and a delicious local cider. The steak was just OK, but the chips, onion rings and peas were perfect, and the banoffee pie (my first!) was one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted. The next night I had fish and chips and sponge at the Court Hill hostel, which was no better than it should have been, but I was too bushed to walk up a mile downhill to the pub. Then it was a Stilton ploughman's at The Bell in Aldworth, a great pub, where I had flat cider that I thought I wouldn't like but did. As the next day was Sunday, I was determined to have a Sunday Roast, so I stopped at Wallingford at the Partridge and had a great one, with an enormous amount of roast beef, preceded by a Stinking Bishop. Really interesting menu, friendly service. I ended that day at the George Hotel in Dorchester, which had one of those eh menus (curries, nachos); i had an apple crumble that didn't do anything for me. In Oxford I had a good (if pricey) Indian meal at 4500 Miles to Delhi---pappadum with four interesting dipping sauces, grilled lamb, stuffed green chiles (both appetizers), sag paneer and naan. My final night in London I got tickets for War Horse so ate in a nearby pub (Prince of Wales?)----overbattered fish and chips, but it was quick and fine and inexpensive---and a lot better than what I had at the hostel!
Solo lunching/dining in London
Yes, that's the route---my plan (right now) is to head over the tower bridge later in the day to eat at St. John's Bread and Wine at an off-hour---3ish or 4ish. Since I land tomorrow morning (I'm leaving in a few hours)---i may have to stop off somewhere else along the walk before that for a bite.
Solo lunching/dining in London
Thanks sandyone, that's v. helpful. As for solo dining, if someone were to ask me for a recommendation in my East Village,neighborhood in NYC, I would steer them to the places where I know you can eat well at the bar as opposed to having get a table for one.
Solo lunching/dining in London
I'll be on my own for two days in London next week. I plan to do the Jubliee walk the first day and am interested in places along the walk route where I would be comfortable eating lunch alone---ethnic food is fine (though I live in NYC so have excellent Chinese, etc.) but I would really like to enjoy more traditional British fare---I would love to try one of the St. John's but 1) would it be welcoming to a solo diner and 2) is it awfully far from the Jubilee walk?
I'm also looking for solo dining options for the two nites, one in Holland Park and the other near Oxford St..
Thanks!
St. Joseph's day zeppole and sfingi
I prefer the ones a DiRoberti's on 1st Ave., round the corner from Veniero's.
Primitivo Osteria?
I've eaten there a coupla times, don't remember the tables being particularly on top of each other. I do remember that the salami was awesome, as was the wine (the primitivo of course), and the chicken parm (if you're into that kinda thing) was HUGE---and good.
Katz's not only downhill but off the map!
Get the pastrami---but if you have to try something else, the hot dogs are really good too. Forget the french fries; I always think it's a good idea, but it's not. Pastrami and pickles (especially the green tomatoes) are the way to go.
New wine bar on Union....Bussaco
I rarely venture out of my nabe (LES) but I offered to travel to Park Slope for a pal who usually comes in to see me. She knows her wine and wanted to try Busssaco. The wine was fine, and the food was outstanding. I appreciate the portion control, and the 2 of us had plenty to eat; we split everything, starting with a soft cooked egg on frissee with cubes of ham. Perfectly cooked egg, wonderful with the salty ham and bitter greens. My pal is not a big octopus fan, but she even took a second taste--it was tender and smokey. In return she got most of the quail, which means I only got a taste---it's a quail, after all---we probably should have ordered two of those. What I really liked was the squash tortellini with mushrooms---every bite tasted slightly different. But my favorite part was the 3 types of bread: an olive bread, a baguette type, and a slightly sweet bread. Made me glad for the not overwhelming portions.
St. Joseph's Day
DiRoberti's (DiRoberto's?) on 1st Ave. between 10th and 11 Sts. has wonderful St. Joseph's Day pastries---get 'em today or they'll be gone?
Barcelona: Boix de la Cerdanya or El Trobador for Christmas Lunch?
Perfectly! Thanks Maribel (are you THE Maribel?) I'm keeping the Troubador, sounds perfect for my family. Before I cancel the Boix rezzie, anyone Barcelona bound Dec.25 interested?
Barcelona: Boix de la Cerdanya or El Trobador for Christmas Lunch?
I sent out a slew of e-mails to restaurants in Barcelona trying to find a place for our family to eat Christmas lunch. And I got 2 confirmations! We only want to eat one lunch (even thou it's Christmas)---anyone familiar with either of these restaurants? Which one should I keep?I need to cancel ONE reservation so some other family can eat!
Standing Rib Roast...
I always buy my standing rib roast at East Village Meat Market on 2nd Ave. & 8th---you do have to order it in advance. I've also eyed the ones at Whole Foods---they look really, really good. For a small portion, I've had good luck with the vacuum packed one or two rib portions from Trader Joe's.
There is nothing easier in the world to make than a rib roast!
New Year in Barcelona
Yes that's the one:
http://www.lacremacanela.com/
they have a NYE menu 85 Euros, no way to book online that I saw. There is a phone number and they speak English---and they're closed on Christmas Day....
New Year in Barcelona
A few years ago we had NYE dinner at Sette Portes (sp?)---special menu, food was very good, and wonderful, gracious service. We had booked quite a while before hand. I also saw that one of our favorite places in Baracelona, La Creme Catalana, is having a special NYE menu.
Taco carts - 6th and 28th
I can't resist a taco cart. I grabbed 3 canita tacos at the 29th St. cart---nice filling lunch for $6. They had a hot Mexican Sausage that looked good too---what made it for me was the hot hot hot pickled jalepenos and carrots the vendor added on top--I think I would eat shredded tire tacos as long as they had this stuff on em. This cart's rice and beans combo (pork chop,fried chicken) looked very filling.The other cart looked like it had more interesting menu items---I'll have to try that one next week.
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Jerriechen---A few years ago we had Christmas Eve dinner at Hotel Europa---my memory is that it wasn't as much as Wellington---it was very festive, multiple courses, champagne to start, matched wines--prix fixe only, 2 seatings. We went shopping that day, everything was open till around 6. Then literally everything shut down---bars, stores---we didn't see a single place that was open either going to dinner or on the way back. P.S.---I booked via e-mail and they were very responsive and helpful)
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Chef, you may also want to make a reservation for New Year's Eve in Barcelona, too. It was CRAZY when we were there!. Besides Sette Portes, our favorite restaurant was La Creme Canela, on Placa Reial (sp?)---we ate there twice!
Day of Eating and Drinking
My BFF is coming up for the weekend; Sat. is our designated “Day of Eating and Drinking” Here’s our itinerary so far; please chime in with suggestions! This will be Sat. nite in the LES so we need to be flexible and have some fall backs---I’m thinking Suba, although I’ve never been)
Subway/bus to Red Hook Ball Fields-eat
Subway to Bohemian Beer Gardens-drink
Subway back to Manhattan to visit Trader Joe’s (she wants to see it).
Walk to Momofuko
Walk to Via Emilio (new Italian joint on 1st Ave.)
Walk to Aroma (my favorite wine bar)
Drop in at apartment for rest/change of clothes
Walk to inoteca
Cross street to Sptizers corners
Finish at Rayuela (my new favorite restaurant) for their ceviche bar
Need Suggestions for Christmas (Madrid) and New Years (Barcelona)
Chefsofee---we did that same trip 4 years ago. Madrid was DEAD on Christmas Eve---I made reservations by e-mail for dinner at a fancy hotel that was written up in an NYT article on "hotel dining on Madrid" (sorry, can't remember which one). It was a set menu, two seatings, with different wines at each course. I would say hotel dining may be your best bet; as we were walking back to our hotel, we ran into tourists who were starving and who asked US if any restaurants were open. Christmas Day was pretty dead too---we went to Toledo where almost everything but the shops were closed, had a mediocre lunch at the only open restaurant.
I also e-mailed Botin for a Christmas day reservation. I know Botin gets mixed reviews but we loved it---surprisingly it didn’t feel full of tourists and we had a great meal---my family still talks about the garlic soup and the roast pork. Christmas Day night Madrid seemed back to normal---8 grillion people on the streets, it seemed like most of the bars and clubs were open---maybe people had had enough of family time.
We were in Barcelona for NYE---I had again e-mailed Sette Portes for NYE reservation, and it too was wonderful. We could not get a taxi---our hotel called twice, and we finally gave up and took the subway---so we were really late for our reservation. They couldn’t have been nicer! Great meal (again set menu, including splits of cava) and even though we had planned to be out on the town at midnight they didn’t rush us out---so we were there for the 12 grapes at midnite ritual. My memory of New Year’s Day is understandably foggy---but I think I remember Barcelona being wide open.
Anyway, long winded way of saying I think e-mailed rezzies are the way to go.
This year we’re doing the opposite---we land in Barcelona on Christmas Day and be in Madrid for NYE. I’m thinking of doing a nice late lunch on NYE, or visiting Sergovia that day, and then going back to Botin for New Year’s Day.
I know it's "not about food" but how did you find your Madrid aparment? I'm having a hard time...
East Village and mom request
My 73-year-old mother is coming to visit this weekend. I'd like to take her out somewhere in the East Village this Sat. nite where:
- the food isn't too "weird"
- we can get a reservation
- good people watching so she can make catty comments (her favorite thing to do, next to eating)
Credit cards preferable, so we don't have to wrassle over the check. She's been to Max, Five Points, Lucien and Lil Frankies---my initial thought was Freemans, but even for early diners, I'm a bit worried about the wait.
Ordering in in East Village
I am determined to watch the Mets win tonite, and to have a good meal at the same time. I ALWAYS order from Grand Sichuan on St. Mark's---but my fellow Mets fan who's coming down to cheer 'em on, does not eat Chinese. Go figure. I'm thinking Lil Frankies, but the pies are always so much better when you eat 'em on site, it hardly seems worth it. Any other suggestions?
