Thanks guys. Honest to god, I could not see anything resembling a tab on these. The tab tops before were a pain to figure out also, but these, Jesus Christ. I'll try this on my next order. I'm scared to buy anything now. My last two orders have been huge pains in the but because I couldn't get into my food.

I'm pretty shocked at how horrible FreshDirect's customer service has been on this issue though.

Fresh Direct started using these new deli containers and they're impossible to get in to. Not the tab and pull ones, these have half an inch deep plastic running around the outside edge, with semi perforated lines about 1/3rd an inch apart. They don't break off, they don't pull off, the lid won't come off. After trying for forever to get into my grated cheese, I gave up and took a knife to it.

I have contacted Fresh Direct several times, via email, phone and their facebook page and still no answer. Their phone CS people say they don't know and that they've been getting a lot of call about the containers, no one has responded to either my email or FB message.

Does anyone know how to get into them? This is ridiculously frustrating.

I am having mad, burning, yearning cravings for a good pattymelt, but I've yet to find a good one in Midtown East, where the office is. Any suggestions? This already bad work day would be greatly improved by a good lunch.

I'm looking for really good chili in Midtown (preferably Midtown East). Is there such a thing? These cravings are killing me, but I've not had much luck in my neck of the work woods. Any suggestions?

Does anyone from the area have a recommendation? The place I used to get it from closed a couple of weeks ago and I am (a) bereft, and (b) jonesing.

Howboy, try Fresh Direct's whole wheat pullman loaf. It's good untoasted, though I prefer toasted. But then, I prefer all sliced bread toasted. Anyhow, the stuff is awesome. It comes frozen and sliced and is absolutely delicious. And since it's frozen, no worry's about it going stale or bad.

It's always a crapshoot with jalapenos. Thanks, sirregular, that does explain a lot. I remember when jalepenos had a really nice heat. Now? You just never know. I end up buying at least 2x as much as I think I'll need, just in case. And you know what? I almost always have to use them. Serranos are also less hot than they used to be. It's kind of frustrating, because I like the actual taste of a jalepeno, not just the heat, and certain foods need that actual flavor.

Hi. I was just wondering whether any of you guys have signed up to the recipe testers for Cook's Illustrated/America's Test Kitchens. They've open the site to sign up at:

http://americastestkitchen.qualtrics....

which I jumped on immediately. Any of you?

For really good marketing - Agata & Valentina on 79th & 1st. Their prepared food costs a fortune, but for the fresh stuff (fruit/veg/cheese/meats/fish, etc.) the prices are good. The quality is way better quality than Food Emporium and usually cheaper.

For nonperishables, miscellaneous, I highly recommend Fresh Direct, which is pretty much always cheaper for canned/frozen/household goods.

Sushi - Sushi of Gari on 78th btwn 1st and York

Chinese - Wu Liang Ye on 86th btwn 2nd & 3rd

Brunch - I love the brunch at the Mustang Grill on 85th and 2nd. I hear people complain about the service, but I've never had a problem with it.

Chicken - Pio Pio on 90th and 1st has the best chicken ever. Delivery, in my experience, is horrible. Best to just go pick the food up.

Diner - The Green Kitchen on 78th and 1st.

Burgers - Finnegan's Wake on 73rd and 1st.
These are my personal neighborhood faves

All of a sudden, I can't seem to find rosewater. I go thru periods of using it all the time (it's awesome with barley, dried fruit, nuts and honey), to year long stretches without using it.

I keep buying and tossing Coleman's Dried Mustard. It sits around for a year or so, I dump it, immediately remember that I must have it for all those things I don't use CDM in. This cycle has continued for more years than I'm comfortable admitting. I'm pretty sure this pattern will continue until I die.

DeCecco for strand pasta, especially their Angel Hair which I think is the best ever, or shapes; Barilla for shapes, Ronzoni for their awesome Perciatelli.

My all time favorite is lettuce, tomato, avocado, cucumber, sprouts, a few thin slices of super sharp cheddar, on a whole wheat hero with mayo. I could eat it every single day.

I've tried both Cento's and Rao's. My personal preference is for Rao's Marinara, which is awesome. Depending on where you buy it, it's either 26 or 32 ounces, and is pretty pricey, but totally worth it. I can just sit there and drink the stuff.

That said, their other sauces are just meh.

Rao's cookbook has the recipe for the Marinara. It turns out really well and is very easy.