These are all great suggestions, and we would not know about them otherwise.
Thank you, everybody!

Hello
we are looking for a place that serves cocktails (and maybe bistro/brasserie style food) in London, anywhere by Tube. Stylish but not stuffy or formal. Friendly counts more than trendy.
American Bar at the Savoy would be great but 14 pounds per cocktail a bit steep. Were thinking around 10 pounds per cocktail. He knows cocktails, will disapprove of sweet pre-mixers, "toy" flavoured vodkas, etc.
The ideal place we have in mind would be like Balthazar in New York City, or Eastern Standard in Boston, if you are familiar with them.
Thank you!

Hello
Can anybody recommend a Chinese restaurant around Boston that has Jiangsu style cooking?
Thank you!

Thank you everyone.
I tried to get the Sazerac 18. Brix in Boston thought at first they might be able to special order it, and then found out from their distributor they won't be able to get any for around 6 months. Brix has the Black Maple Hill 16 year old Bourbon for $150. And reports: "the Black Maple Hill 18 year old Bourbon is no longer available. Pappy Van Winkle is highly allocated and we cannot say when we’ll have it in stock. Rittenhouse 21 year old Rye is also no longer available, but we do carry the Rittenhouse 100 proof Rye for $24."

Bauer on Newbury St Boston said they couldn't do Sazerac 18 but did as of last week have a Thomas Handy at $80, and won't be getting any more of it this year.

In the end I got the Thomas Handy for $75 at Brix. I think it might have been their last one.
I'm sure he'd enjoy any of the ones suggested here - as they say, "it's all good"!

You mentioned Woodford Collection 2011 - would you also recommend of Woodford Reserve Masters Collection "Four Grain" 92.4* ?
or
Jefferson's Presidential 18Yr?
thank you

somebody on ebay sells the sazerac 18 (just cough-cough the bottle - the contents happen to be in it) for $100-110 plus $20 shipping so a bit much compared to shop price

Anybody try Berkshire Mountain Bourbon?
ok reviews here not raves though and want to get a nice gift!
http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums...

I am in Boston - will do re: Sazerac 18, but not too hopeful. It's the one every place I ask says "no can do" right off the bat.

thank you for your expertise!
what would you expect as price points on any/all of these?
any other suggestions most welcome.
Thank you!

Giftee:
He likes Islay single malts esp Laphroaig, so he can take the strong stuff. but also appreciates smoothness, depth ..
Which would you think best?
Thomas Handy Sazerac rye Buffalo Trace
Pappy 23 yrs
Black Maple Hill 16 yrs
Thank you!

Centerbe is available at Cirace and Son in the North End - it just came in.
if you try, please report back!

This is terrific! Thank you
PS My husband likes the real Unicum too. Still waiting to hear on Centerbe...

I can't vouch for it personally but I did run across this:

"Called the Marche Shimmer, it contains Meletti, freshly squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup and prosecco, served over ice in a rocks glass. He says it is one of their most popular house cocktails."

http://www.bevnetwork.com/monthly_issue_article.asp?ID=145

and this one, with rye
http://www.cocktailnerd.com/2009/05/m...

PS:
http://www.dandm.com/advanced_search_...

there are tasting notes for the some of individual amaros listed here.

Thank you both so much for all your help!
Just back from Cirace - the salesman was also helpful and knew the different amaros.
He described the Lucano and Averna as somewhat on the sweet side. Going from what I learned here and giftee's tastes (likes Averna - but loves Fernet Branca on one end of the scale and Nonino on the other) , went for Nonino, Ramazzotti, and Abano. (Fernet easier to find and wanted to try some new ones).
The nonino was around $40, and the others plus or minus $20. One -(maybe the Meletti?) - he described as slightly rougher than some of others, and it was also cheaper at $17.
And with their selection, there is more to look forward to!
Thank you again!

Thank you! This entry is a little primer on a few amaro types but not as advanced as your entry here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaro_%28drink%29

I'm buying as a gift for somebody - who loves fernet branca, and nonino; and likes averna.

The distribution state by state is a real pain in the neck - to see things the seller has - but cannot ship to MA (although often can to NH)

Cirace will let me know on Friday if they can get centerbe - I read somewhere it compared to Chartreuse
http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/...

thank you - were you ever able to find Amaro Ciociaro anywhere in Boston - it sounds interesting!

Great, thank you!

Hello - anybody know where I could find centerbe in Boston MA?
an Italian herbal digestif

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centerbe

Thank you!

Right - and there are people who make a practice of drinking "young" - I think more prevalent in the USA than UK. (giftee is UK)

Thank you - 2007 is fully drinkable now?

For a gift I'm wondering if anybody can a suggest an esp. good vintage port . He favors lush, deep, rich, dark. He likes Grahams Malvedos. For drinking now. Up to $150. I read that 1994 year was overall great but I'm not sure and want to get the best one I can. Thank you!
PS I can get a deal on Graham Malvedos 1998 - anybody know it?

Niepoort Tawny Port 20 Year Old is a great tawny!

Would you recommend Blaue Gans for a quiet romantic dinner - early mid-week?
What is the atmosphere? Recommend (or not) any particular dishes?
I'm very fond of Austrian food - but is the food there so rich it's really better in further into fall/winter? Thank you.

I used to get them from Dairy Fresh Candies on Salem St in the North end - but it has closed.
Any suggestions for where to get glaceed fruits, and also hazelnuts, etc for baking, in the immediate Boston area? Thank you.

My brother-in-law swears he once had a cherry brandy made by Cointreau...it was at a wedding in England. I've asked around for it, but all anybody knows about is their orange-flavored liqueur.

Has anybody here had or heard of or knows where to find Cointreau cherry brandy?
I ran across Cherry Marnier - is that substantially better than de Kupyers cherry brandy?
Thank you.

Nobody in Boston looked at had it in a full bottle. So I got it online at www.tinamou.com, in CA. I thinks it's run by a couple of Frenchmen who transplanted to Sonoma. Patrick there was great.

I wrote into Chowhound seeking advice on a port to buy as special gift. And got great advice - wound up getting a Taylor Fladgate vintage 1970.

"Lucious," reports Mr British Giftee. "Complex...wonderful."

And also, and this was also a revelation, StriperGuy suggested Warres LBV as exceptional value. And so it is! And best of all, the Warres we can afford to buy more than once a year! As promised, Chowhounders were toasted.
Thank you to all concerned!

Yes - that was exactly our experience with it in its Cafe Armani incarnation. Once we were with somebody who did order a main dish of pasta, and it looked good, but almost like a loaf of bread - all pasta, very little bacon/salami/ whatever meat it was supposed to have.
We'll likely stick with the apps/wine options.

Wondered about this myself. Accd to Improper Bostonian, the chef, manager, barkeeper and some service are from the now-closed Cafe Armani. The menu is online and looks much the same. Used to go to Armani for glass of wine, and appetizer snack (not a full meal) so will proabably try this at some point. Like you, I was hoping a chowhounder had already been and could report back!

http://cafeteriaboston.com/index.htm.

At first when a Chowhounder here suggested the label "Taylor Fladgate," I thought it was a label I wasn't familiar with. Americans tend to say "Taylor Fladgate." The British tend to say (and the only port-yakkers I personally know are British) plain old "Taylors." All is explained!
Bad news, about Martignetti's closing in separate topic.