bigonion's Profile
locating Saucisson A L'ai - French sausage
I need it cooked. Thanks for the Brooklyn suggestion!
locating Saucisson A L'ai - French sausage
For some reason I'm having trouble finding traditional French garlic pork sausage...Saucisson A L'ai. Anyone have a suggestion where I can get some? Need it for a home-cooked cassoulet. Thank you!
live crawfish in NYC?
MMRuth - I found them! Wild Edibles was able to get me 15 pounds of live crawfish. We boild them up last weekend. Crawfish, head-on shrimp, corn, potatoes, it was great.
Cochon on Fri., Brigsten's on Sat. Help on Thursday?
Just back from a few days in New Orleans. Cochon was amazing - strongly recommend going hungry and grazing - baked oysters, house-cured meat plate (best head cheese I've ever had), rabbit & dumplings. Strawberries are in season already - fantastic dessert.
I enjoyed brunch at Brennan's. Also had a nice dinner at Lilette on Magazine Street, near the Garden District. Nice small local restaurant - good food with French influence. Also crawfish are in season - try to find a good crawfish boil (I ate them non-stop in Houma, LA). I also recommend the Chart Room Bar on Chartres Street - good place to sit in the window and drink bourbon watching the world go by - a few blocks from Bourbon Street but a world away.
live crawfish in NYC?
They are definitely in season in the Gulf states. Companies down there are shipping them daily. I would just prefer to buy them in person.
live crawfish in NYC?
anyone know where to get live crawfish in NYC? trying to do a Louisiana crawfish/shrimp boil. THANK!
Dining in/around Houma, LA
Thanks for all the suggestions - exactly what I was hoping for - I would *love* to avoid the chains!
TigerAtty - why Houma for four days? Catch & release flyfishing for redfish on the bayou.
Dining in/around Houma, LA
I'm heading to Houma for four days in mid-March. Any restaurant/dining suggestions would be appreciated!
Traveling Lincoln Highway through IN, IL, IA, NE - need recommendations
Another thought...I recall staying in an interesting Iowa hotel - Jumer's Castle. I think they are a small Midwest chain. We stayed at the one in Quad Cities. Gothic styling, decent German food. Not sure where other Jumer's might be - but could be along the route.
OrganicGal, Yeah...serves me right for emailing at 6:30 a.m. before my full coffee quota. Dropped "depot" from the "old train".
I must say, for me, in the midst of a long road-trip with nothing but bad food behind me I'll drive a couple extra hours for a good meal!
Traveling Lincoln Highway through IN, IL, IA, NE - need recommendations
I've got family in Nebraska & drove the Lincoln Highway across Nebraska a few years ago. Most exits had a single fast-food joint with a mini-mart & gas pumps. But if you take an exit and go a short distance into town (not sure if your stops must be "on highway" or detours are ok) you can often find one or two local diners/restaurants. Some haven't changed since the 1950s. It might be hard to find decent coffee! Valentine is a bit out of the way...but Valentine NE is a popular place for locals to have weddings & to mail cards for Feb 14. Small town, two good steakhouses where the potato is the veggie...I always enjoy the long list of "international" beers - Coors, Bud & Michelob...don't dare ask which is imported!
If you are passing through Omaha head into the Old Market area - this old freight train has been turned into large market with antique shops & cafes. I cannot recall the name - but there is a nice food/wine shop that serves good food. Had really nice wild rice & duck soup, salad & glass of wine.
I would definitely second Ole's - food is better than OK but the experience is worth it! Get a postcard too - some people won't believe a verbal description of the place.
If you get close to Beatrice there is a really nice place - I think its "The Black Crow" - but not certain. Also you might see the comedian "The Cable Guy" - he lives nearby.
Lincoln has a couple of good restaurants as well. Most locals would call Lazlo's the best steak in town. In the Haymarket area there is a brewpub, a good Indian restaurant - The Oven, too.
Finally, on the western end of Nebraska be sure to check out the massive Cabela's. While the restaurant is mostly fast or near-fast food, they also have stuff to take with you on the drive...elk jerky is one of my favorites. We brought a cooler and got a nice tur-duck-hen.
The Best Pizza in Brooklyn
For what its worth - the current issue of Time Out New York is all about the "best" pizza in New York City. Most of the chosen 10 best are from the "outer boroughs"
Please help! My vegetarian partner & I are going to Southern VT for New Year's
Having stayed at the Inn at Sawmill Farm a number of times I second the idea that they do a consistently excellent job. The are part of the Relais & Chateaux group - a group with rather high standards. We were planning a special occasion dinner and called up the chef/owner Brill - had a long conversation and he created a wonderful meal for us. The "standard" dinner there is a 4 to 5 course meal. Not counting specials or special requests there are always multiple choices for each course.
However, with that said, you are most likely too late to get a New Year's Eve reservation. Sawmill Farm is a book-months-in-advance destination.
Foodie Souveniers from Paris
Duck fat is exotic? We can get it at the local Key Food here in Brooklyn. Granted its from D'Artanain (sp?) but always available.
The Best Pizza in Brooklyn
Anthony's is great to eat in the shop. I find it just doesnt hold up in the cardboard box for take out.
GAP farmer's market
The farmers market is not just about organic food or about lower cost food. I always shopped at the farmers market because I like to know where my food comes from. Keeping my food purchases as local as possible. The ability to talk with a farmer or his/her respresentative about the food. Knowing how old the pig/goat/lamb was when slaughtered. Maybe even seeing a photo of what we are going to eat. Not just seeing a nice apple in the store - but being able to talk to the farmer about how the season is going, if the crop is going to be large vs. small, etc....
Wasn't it large agro-organic spinach that part of the recall last month? We never stopped eating spinach - we got to see where it came from and knew it was safe.
First Chef's Knife?
The brand question has been well tackled - there are many excellent knives out there and definitely go with what feels best in your hand - size, weight and balance.
I'd suggest whatever you choose, for first "good" knife, go for a 6 inch chefs knife. I find it to be a great workhorse of a knife. I've got a few of them - mostly use a Japanese "cosmic steel" aka Kiya knife.
Lasserre or other "traditional" French?
Anyone with thoughts/comments/reviews of Lasserre in the 8th? We have been to Lucas Carton (RIP) and Le Grand Vefour. Hoping for an evening of fine dining, good wine & a memorable experience.
Foodie Souveniers from Paris
I strongly second the Ch. Ferber jam! We rationed the orange marmalade very carefully! Also agree with moutarde violette - impossible to get anywhere but Maile in France. Disappointed to hear about it being taken at CDG...we'll pack our in the suitcase just in case.
I would also suggest a stop at Dehillerin. I always like to bring home of the foodie-prep gear too! I have dreams of building a collection of copper pots/pans.
CHEZ L'AMI LOUIS
We had a fun time dining here summer of '05. Made the mistake of ordering both the fois gras & confit along with mains. I wouldn't say it was my favorite - but definitely memorable for many reasons above & beyond the food.
I called the concierge at our hotel about 6 weeks before our arrival and had him make reservations. Actually, found that by calling and introducing myself we were able to then continue via email. Excellent concierge at an ok hotel on the Left Bank.
Any great muffins in Brooklyn?
Maybe because its closest to home...but I like the muffins & scones at Two Red Hens - 8th Ave & 11th Street in the Slope.
Firsts...Bringing Wine to a nice Steakhouse...What do I need to know?
Carswell - well put.
The only thing I would add - you might want to consider the effort made by the server when calculating your gratuity if you have special requests/needs (i.e. decanting, multiple glasses/bottles, etc...).
Cranberry vodka and blood orange juice... what else?
Try Charbay vodka - the blood orange & red grapfruit are incredibly flavorful. I'm not one for flavored vodka, but these are excellent. Excellent straight on the rocks - no need for a fruit mixer.
Cassoulet in Paris
Heading to Paris this winter and hope to find good traditional cassoulet. Any suggestions?
Gertel's RIP
Gertel's on Hester Street (between Ludlow & Essex) is very much open and they have no intention of closing...or as they say "Closed? Not yet." I work with them on a regular basis. They are getting calls daily but say its all false. The building next door - used to be Kadouri's went condo and those units are now for sale. But if the folks at Gertel's are telling the truth (and I've got no reason not to believe them) they are staying put. In fact the mere rumor of them closing has boosted business!
They had a small shop on the Upper East Side that closed some time ago.
