Etcetera's Profile
Al Dente - Moorestown, NJ - a brief review
My DW talked me into going here this weekend. I thought it was just an upscale pizza joint, but was pleasantly surprised.
Some general notes: The waitstaff was very attentive, and particularly kind to our 3-year old. The room is very nice: clean, modern and nicely decorated. I like a place that is neither cheesy nor pompous.
Now the food: Overall, it was very good (as in better than good, but not excellent) overall. We shared some Pasta Fagioli which was very rich and flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. A Caesar salad was adequate. We asked for "light dressing", and were delivered a plate with "light dressing". There was still an awful lot of dressing on that salad. I hate to see what the regularly dressed salad looks like! Regardless, the salad was fresh and the dressing tasted great.
A little surprise: an intermezzo of lemon sorbetto. It was quite good; tart and sweet...certainly a good palate cleanser. The only problem was that my child wanted to forgo her entree to eat the sorbetto.
Entrees were chicken marsala, fettucine bolognese and spaghetti and meatballs (from the kids' menu). First the not so good news: the chicken marsala was...well...blah. The chicken was bland, the sauce was bland, the mushrooms (a nice variety) were bland. Even the potatoes on which the chicken was served was bland. It was perfectly edible, but it was the kind of dish that I'd imagine eating if I ever have to (gasp!) eat a low-sodium diet. Now the good news: the two pasta dishes were excellent. I am happy to report that both the fettucine and spaghetti were perfectly al dente. It would have been an ironic catastrophe had they not been! The "gravy" on the spaghetti and meatballs was rich and thick. The meatballs looked very fresh, even down to the chunks of herbs interspersed throughout. They were a perfect texture: soft enough to break apart with your fork, but not so crumbly that they fell apart. Although the child didn't finish it all (it was a pretty large portion) the DW and I managed to put away the rest. The fettucine bolognese was the winner of the night. The sauce was rich and meaty without being a uniform slop of ground meat in tomato sauce. It was a winning combination of texture and taste that I will surely order again when I return.
We had a bit of dessert: one serving of the lemon sorbetto (again, very good) and one of the chocolate banana gelato (just ok).
The price was quite reasonable for what we ordered - under $45 for the three of us (plus the BYO beer/wine). This meant a really nice upscale meal for about what we'd pay to eat at some chain joint. Nice!
We will definitely return.
Etc.
Cinnaminson - Where to eat?
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience here Hungry100. I went with the DW and another couple. Everything was quite good. The sausage-stuffed fried olive appetizer was the surprise of the night: incredibly rich though, unsurprisingly, salty.
The only problem that I had was that the couldn't find a carafe for me to dump my old bottle of wine into.
I would certainly go back.
Etc.
Touch of Puerto Rico in Lindenwold closed?
I planned to dine at A Touch of Puerto Rico in Lindenwold today but their number is disconnected. Say it ain't so! Does anyone know if the family who ran this wonderful little joint has moved or is planning to open up another place in the area?
Etc.
Looking for a BYOB with great steak(s) in South Jersey
Can anyone recommend a BYOB where I can get a great steak in South Jersey? I have a few special bottles of wine to crack open in celebration and would love to drink them over some well charred beef. We are in Mt. Laurel, but will travel a bit if needed. Price is not a concern.
Thanks in advance for the tips!
Etc
Birthday Dinner in Philly
Buckethead - Let's call it under $200 for dinner and drinks for two.
Birthday Dinner in Philly
The dw is planning to take me for a bday dinner next week. I'm looking for something a bit extraordinary. My criteria are few.
- Should be in/near center city (we'll be bridging in from NJ)
- Can be a BYO, but doesn't have to be
- Menu shouldn't be too...ummmm... unique (the dw doesn't like to be around offal or unreconizable foods), but ethinicity is unimportant
- Shouldn't be ridiculously expensive
- Should be kind of fun (i.e. not stuffy/formal) without being too noisy/trendy
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Etc.
BBQ and Blues Festival in Mount Holly, NJ
I am very excited to go to this event. I hope they bring some great Q !I'll see you there!
http://www.bbqandbluesinthepark.com/
Etc.
New stomping ground - Mount Laurel. Gimme some eats!
Here's my list:
Pizza: Angelo's on Larchmont (and Hainesport - Mt. Laurel rd) is our favorite. They do good sandwiches, but their pastas are just so-so.
Chinese: The sesame chicken at China Cafe (NW corner of 38 and Ark rd) is worth a special trip. Not much else there is, though. I have not yet found consitently good Chinese around here.
Japanese: We have taking a real liking to Wasabi (NE corner of 38 and Ark rd) for sushi. It's not spectacular, but is consistently good, with a talented sushi chef and attentive waitstaff
Burgers: I am not a big fan of Prospectors (SE corner of 38 and Ark), but they do make a fine burger (and have a full bar). You can always trust PJ Whelihan's (one is on Lenola and 38) for a good burger and brew as well.
Mexican: There's a new Mexican place in Mt Laurel, but I will not share my review as I went there within its opening week. Let's just say I need to go back to see if they finally got it right. Ok...ok...it's the macho taco...but i wouldn't send you there.
BBQ: Finally...some decent BBQ in the area: Bassett's in Moorestown (in the KMart shopping center across from the Moorestown Mall). I am a huge BBQ afficianado and have been continually dissapointed in the BBQ around here, but Bassett's is actually pretty good. I hope to post a full review after trying a few more of their offerrings.
Sit-down Italian: Someone already mentioned Barone's off of Centerton (I think) in the ACME shopping center behind Wegman's. This place makes consistently good Italian and is a BYOB. Some of their dishes are deep-fried and come out of the kitchen heavy on the grease, so be careful what you order.
Seafood: You need to leave Mt. Laurel for good seafood. With the death of Emerald Fish, the best place is around is Ritz Seafood in the Ritz Center down in Voorhees. If you have a craving for crab cakes, you can get them at the Bobby Chez takeout in the Wegman's shopping center in Mt. Laurel. If you go, get a few coconut shrimp too...they're awfully good.
If you are looking for good Indian, Mexican or French, you will have to leave Mt. Laurel as well. There is consistent good talk about Blackbird and the Tortilla Press in Collingswood, and A Little Cafe and Coriander in Voorhees. These four are some of my faves.
Enjoy!
Etc.
Brunch near Jericho, Long Island.
Greetings!
We are planning a family get together for a Sunday brunch in January, and we are looking for a chow-worthy recommendation.
The facts:
Should be within about a 15 minute drive of Jericho.
We'll be 12 people (including 2 children)
Can be either buffet style or sit down service
Any ethnicity will do
No place too "stuffy"
Thanks in advance!
Etc.
Cooking Classes in South Jersey
I am looking for some places that do hands-on cooking classes in South Jersey.
So far, I know that the following places offer some kind of cooking class:
Sur la Table
Williams Sonoma
Kitchen Kapers
La Campagne (in Cherry Hill)
Can anyone offer any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Etc.
William Douglas Steakhouse - Cherry Hill, NJ
I was poking around opentable for a Father's day destination and came across the new William Douglas steakhouse in Cherry Hill. I didn't find any postings here, so I checked the menu, which looks typical steakhouse. So far so good...
*** Attention *** wine snob alert *** snooty wine guy opinion coming next ***
The menu also includes their wine list. Although devoid of some dreadful stuff (no Blackstone Merlot, for example), and listing a few moderately attractive wineries, there are no vintage dates on their regular holdings. This sort of irks me and already has me prejudging the place. If I'm going to dole out ~$40-50 for a steak (in the suburbs, no less) I expect that I'll be able to find a decent bottle of wine to go with it. It just seems either ignorant on the part of the folks that run the joint, or insulting that their customers simply don't know or care, and will be willing to pay upward of $125 for a wine that may be from an awful year.
*** Wine snob message ends ***
Has anyone been here yet? I would appreciate a review. Also, can anyone tell me if their online wine list is simply representative and their actual list has all of the appropriate detail?
Etc.
A pleasant surprise - The Kibbitz Room in Voorhees, NJ
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll check it out!
A pleasant surprise - The Kibbitz Room in Voorhees, NJ
A few weeks ago I went to a "hoagie shop", that South Jersey sandwich-making staple, with a craving for corned beef. The sandwich was...well...let's just say that after I finished, I had still had a craving for a corned beef sandwich.
Driving past the area around lunch time yesterday, my wife suggested the Kibbitz Room in Voorhees (at the intersection of Evesham Road and White Horse Rd/Springdale Rd). A deli? I mean...a real deli? Not a hoagie shop? Ok...I'm in.
It turns out that the Kibbitz Room is, in fact, a deli. Hooray! What a pleasant surprise!
So...we got some potato knishes (the round kind, although the had both round and square) and shared a hot corned beef sandwich on rye (1/2 a sandwich each was enough for lunch). It was very good; not the best I've ever had, but certainly the best around. The "pickle bar" is a nice addition (full and half sour pickles, hot pickles, cucumber and onion salad, kraut, etc).
I am looking forward to going back...just don't tell my cardiologist!
Etc.
Culinary Wasteland That Is New Jersey
Wow....that is one of the funniest, nastiest....funniest food reviews I've ever read. Where can I get my can of infected corn?
:::starting to think that maybe Taco Bell isn't so bad :::
Etc.
Ritz Movies - Voorhees NJ
Or, Etcetera's review on Chowhound ;)
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/450783
I thought Blackbird was outstanding, but a bit far from the Ritz
Culinary Wasteland That Is New Jersey
I certainly agree with Ms. Chow's assessment of the Mexican Food Factory. After hearing people rave about it, my SO and I tried it. The word "dreadful" comes to mind. Forgetting that it is far from authentic, it is also far from good.
Review: Brunch at Rae in Philadelphia
The brunch alone was $25 (not including coffee/drinks). It was only an additional $15 if you order an entree. I believe the the eggs cost $12, so my friend paid $27 for the eggs/buffet combo. A bit pricey, but I thought it was worth it.
Review: Brunch at Rae in Philadelphia
Greetings all,
I did brunch with a friend at Rae today. The short version: food was quite good, service was mediocre at best.
Longer version
Started with Bloody Marys from the bar. Quite nice...chunky horseradish, just the right amounts of red and black peppers.
We got an order of the Bloody Mary Eggs and Hash. The description provided by our server was: "scrambled eggs with bloody mary sauce served over roasted potatoes". Enough to pique our curiosity. When the dish was brought to the table (nicely presented in a worn looking fry pan), it appeared to be scrambled eggs on roasted potatoes. After the server confirmed that they were in fact the bloody mary eggs, we dug in. To our surprise, there was still only eggs on the eggs (and a bit of fresh chive garnish). So, we asked our waiter to please confirm that these were, in fact, the bloody mary eggs. We finally learned (after the waiter confirmed with the chef) that it was the potatoes that were "bloody mary" style, and the eggs were meant to be plain. OK...we could live with that, and dug in. The eggs were good, fresh, properly done. The first few bites of potatoes were quite good, with a richly flavored tomatoey (sp?) coating. It took until I hit the bottom of the pan to realize the magic of the dish: the spectacular mirepoix that made up the aromatics in the sauce (not exactly a mirepoix -- is that cucumber in there?). I scraped the bottom of the pan clean. I wish I had know earlier, as they would have made a truly excellent condiment for the eggs. This dish is reason enough to come for the brunch, although I'll petition that they should call the dish scrambled eggs with bloody mary potato hash. That would've been truth in advertising.
Other than this, we are from the buffet. This is not the typical scrambled eggs, greasy bacon, dry sausage, pancakes from a box buffet. The presentation was understated and pretty elegant. On one table were roasted fennel; roasted garlic, cipollini onions and shallots; chicken salad with grapes; and baby carrots. There was a pastry table that included some very nice homemade muffins (I saw crumb and blueberry, there might have been more), some other nice cakes and fruit tarts, mini cheesecakes, and some others. The highlight here was the donut holes (if I could have snuck a bag up to the table, I would have simply dumped the whole batch for later consumption). These were cinnamon, sugar and chocolate flavored and not at all greasy. Very, very nice.
Also on the table were jumbo shrimp (a bit overcooked, but nicely flavored), oysters on the 1/2 shell (don't ask me which kind, but they were small enough that I had a couple without being grossed out), and some beautiful smoked salmon - rich, smoky and buttery tasting -- with the appropriate accoutrements. There was a nice selection of fruits, some Irish oats (nicely presented in a tagine) and the reason that I wanted to go: a selection of artisinal meats and cheeses. Nothing makes my day like good charcuterie, so I was very excited about this. There was a nice, eclectic (read: not well matched) group of cheeses. The cheeses were pretty standard fair -- Parmigiano Reggiano (always awesome), some adequate cheddar (just ehh), some spectacular Feta (sharp, but creamy) and some great Bleu (extra funky with rind, more creamy and mild without). I was hoping for something a bit more unusual, bit...the Feta and Bleu required a repeat trip. The meats were nice, but not spectacular. Some spicy chorizo and sopressata, a bit of very nice capicolla, some speck (I think?) and some prosciutto. The selection was nice but, again, nothing unusual. Also on the platter were some figs, cornichons and other accoutremonts. On the down side, the way the the cheese/meat platter was set up prevented me from seeing all of the meat offerings. It took until a trip back (for more cheeses) to notice the proscuitto and capicolla. On the up side, I'd already put some melon (musk and honeydew) on my plate that was just asking for some pork product.
So the food was pretty good with a few flaws (not bad enough to stop me from going back). The service was not so hot. We had to repeatedly ask for things like coffee and soft drinks. Our servers were nice, and seemed to be doing the best that they could, but...considering that the place was pretty empty, and the service was buffet style, I don't think it was unreasonable to think that they could offer to fill my empty coffee mug.
One other problem: who knew that there was a crepe bar as part of the buffet? We sure didn't, and no one told us... I only discovered it as I was standing nearby waiting for my coat.
Summation: Good enough to go back, but don't expect white glove service.
Bon apetit!
Etc.
Ritz Movies - Voorhees NJ
Don't miss A Little Cafe a few minutes south on White Horse Road. There are a number of postings on this board about it. The food is excellent, but their hours are limited -- no more lunch :(
M/O is also in the Ritz shopping center -- we were a bit disappointed, but it may be worth a try if you are looking for something local/new/different.
Bon apetit!
Etc.
Where are you going for S Jersey Restaurant week?
I am always impressed with the Tortilla Press. I've been there a few times in the last year and it is exceptional. I tried the Tortilla Press Cantina and was dissapointed. Although the service was excellent, the food was fair and the Margaritas were the type I would expect to get at an "On the Border". It simply didn't hold a candle to the Collingswood branch. I would go again, but would prefer the original.
Etc.
South Jersey Beefsteaks?
Greetings all!
I just finished reading the NYT article on Beefsteaks (check it at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/dining/30beef.html?em&ex=1201842000&en=754ea2f14a926532&ei=5087%0A).
Do these happen anywhere in South Jersey? I am salivating just thinking about it.
Etc.
Pls help-need chopper for non-dextrous dad
I have the Williams-Sonoma Chop and measure. I like it quite a bit, but it is not good for everything; food periodically requires pre-prep before using it.
It is excellent for soft foods (it makes awesome egg salad), but less so for hard or dense foods (I had to slice onions fairly thin in order for the device to chop well).
Pros:
-Multiple chop sizes (there are two inserts: a large chop and a small chop. If I recall, each of these has a smaller "mince" area.)
-Fairly easy to clean and is dishwasher safe
Cons:
-Chopping area is somewhat small
-Only fairly easy to clean
Overall, it's the best chopper I've owned so I would recommend it.
Good luck!
Etc.
Skillet, with ridged bottom : what do you use them for?
I owned one of these pans for a while. It was essentially worthless as a cooking tool, but did a fine job as a meat pounder .
AFAIK, the ridges are set to minimize contact between food and pan further reducing "stick". The ridges were not deep enough to keep meat out of its own juices which kept it from being a good grill pan. I recalled seeing someone cook eggs in this type of pan, so I gave that a try. This was followed by an hour elbows deep in warm soapy water with a toothpick to clean the ridges.
My advice is to ditch it!
Etc.
Corkscrewed wine shop in Cherry Hill
I guess I'm wondering if they will fill the niche between specialty products (i.e. the independent producers that you can find at Moore Bros) and the mass produced stuff that you can find at Total Wine and More.
The Whole Foods market near where I lived previously sold wine. They had some very interesting wines that I couldn't find in other stores...interesting enough that I would go there periodically just to buy wine.
I suppose I'm looking forward to checkin' it out!
Etc.
Corkscrewed wine shop in Cherry Hill
Ah well...another good wine store bites the dust.
Is this going to be a good thing or a bad thing? Anyone have experience buying wines from Wegman's?
My review: Blackbird Dining Establishment, Collingswood, NJ
My SO took me out for birthday dinner to the Blackbird Dining Establishment in Collingswood (all of the internet maps call this address Oaklyn?), NJ. We will most certainly go back.
We were seated in the front room, so I did not get to see the entire place. The room was nicely decorated and quite clean. The menu is a bit limited in number, but all choices looked pretty appetizing. Despite this, there appeared to be a wide enough selection to appease many tastes.
After being seated, we were given some bread and olive oil. The oil was excellent (sweet and mildly fruity) coupled with bread that was super fresh with an amazing crispy crust. I probably could've eaten an entire loaf by myself!
For apps, we had the soup and the sweetbreads. The soup was a butternut squash soup with a bit of tupelo honey drizzled in. The flavors were nicely balanced with a bit of extra depth from the honey. The texture was beautifully creamy. The crispy sweetbreads seemed to be dusted with the same arborio rice crust that was on the shrimp dish (see below). This dish included 3 slices of sweetbreads (nicely seasoned and pan fried crispy) and set on a base of barley with sliced olive. One of the slices of sweetbreads had a few mushy bites, but the rest were very crisp and tasty. The dish had a nice, earthy flavor and (with the exception of the mushy bites) had a sublime, melt-in-your-mouth texture. All things considered, this was a super dish.
We shared the arborio rice and coriander crusted shrimp over avocado salad. The shrimp were plump, crisp and tasty. The avocado "salad" was densely flavored with a bit more spice than expected (not overly spicy, just more than I thought it would have). I am not sure why this item is described as a "salad"...it seems to me to be more of an appetizer. Again, it was an excellent dish.
For entrees, my SO had a beef tenderloin special that was simple, yet delicious. It was nicely prepared, and was a sizable cut. The dish of the night, however, was the duck confit with choucroute and marscapone cheese risotto. This may have been the finest duck dish I have ever eaten. The dish consisted of two duck legs/thighs with super crispy skin. The meat was tender and tasty. The choucroute was laced with a few lardon and had a mild sweetness that countered the acidy tang often present in this dish. The marscapone risotto offered a smooth and creamy counterpoint to the crisp and salty duck, and the tangy-sweet choucroute. This dish was simply perfect. I will be back soon just to have it again.
Although the dinner was not inexpensive (~$100 for the two of us), it was superb. I highly recommend it!
Etc.
Any reviews of Blackbird in Collingswood, NJ?
Greetings all,
I have started to hear a bit of buzz about Blackbird Dining Establishment in Collingswood, NJ. I was unable to find any substantial postings. Mrs. Etcetera is planning to take me here for birthday dinner. Anyone care to share their opinions/experiences?
Thanks!
Etc.
decent seafood in south jersey
My favorite place so far is Ritz Seafood. Don't fall for their "signature appetizer" though...very disappointing. However, I have eaten here a few times and always leave happy. Food is fresh, and well prepared in creative (but not far out) ways.
Little Tuna (Haddonfield) was ok, but not nearly as good as the Ritz. You can check out my review at http://www.chowhound.com/topics/338420?query=little%20tuna
Some friends also highly recommend Emerald Fish on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. I've heard it's as good as Ritz, but haven't had the chance to try it yet.
Etc.
Good Indian in Cherry Hill?
I second Coriander in Voorhees. The food was excellent, with a very broad menu. I do not know how often it changes, but they say that they offer specialties from different regions throughout the year.
Etc.
UES Date Spot
Met a girl on a Wednesday...took her to Le Refuge on Friday...we got married on a Sunday (though, not that Sunday)
Toot dated there...and got married. I dated there...and got married. They say the third time's a charm. I might be biased too, but I also highly recommend it.
Etc.
