Substitute for Tri-Tip Roast?

I found a couple recipes on Chow that look great but call for tri-tip roast. I went to my local store and was unable to find it. Could anyone recommend a good substitute?

brappnyc in Home Cooking

Haleem in Jackson Heights?

I LOVE Sunshine! I go there every once in a while. They have amazing brain masala on weekends.

brappnyc in Outer Boroughs

First Time Cake Baking - Storage Tips

So, you both would recommend to hold off on frosting the cake until Saturday? Clearly, if I frost on Friday, I'd have to store it in the fridge, but will that affect the quality at all?

brappnyc in Home Cooking

First Time Cake Baking - Storage Tips

Hi all,
I'm going to attempt to bake my first layer cake tomorrow. I'm baking it tomorrow night for use on Saturday night.

My first question is if making it the day before will be ok. Chocolate cake with a caramel butter cream icing.

Second - What is the best way to store this over night? I was thinking of buying a Rubber Maid cake carrier and leaving it on the counter. Should I refrigerate it?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

brappnyc in Home Cooking

Rest-au-Rant in Astoria/LIC

Hey all,
I just moved about a block or two from this place on 35th Ave. It looks like it could be good, but I can't find too much online about it.

Has anyone been there?

brappnyc in Outer Boroughs

Parents Coming to Astoria for Dinner - Narrowing Down Options

Thanks for your replies. I think I'll go with Malagueta, but I'll check out Vesta, too. Unfortunately, my parents don't like Indian...clearly, they're wrong. Otherwise, I'd probably head straight to Jackson Heights.

brappnyc in Outer Boroughs

Parents Coming to Astoria for Dinner - Narrowing Down Options

Hi all,
I know Astoria gets done to death here, but I'm trying to narrow down my options for when my parents come up for dinner in a few weeks. The preferences are as follows: casual but not divey, no Indian, Chinese, or Italian. I'm thinking of sticking with Brazilian or Greek, maybe Bosnian, since it's different than things they normally get. If anyone can help me decide, that would be great!

1) Brazilian - Malagueta vs Favela?

2) Greek - Kyclades vs Zenon vs Philoxenia?

3) Dark horses - Cevabdzinica Sarajevo, Mundo,

What are peoples' thoughts on these choices? I'd love to narrow it down to 2 or 3 to give my parents choices. Any place I haven't mentioned that you think would be perfect to showcase the culinary diversity of Astoria?

Thanks a lot, all!

brappnyc in Outer Boroughs

Driving from NYC to Nashville - Rest Stop Suggestions?

These have all been extremely helpful. Thank you, all!

brappnyc in Pennsylvania

Driving from NYC to Nashville - Rest Stop Suggestions?

Oops! You're right, and I've fixed the error. Thanks for the advice, too!

brappnyc in General South Archive

Driving from NYC to Nashville - Rest Stop Suggestions?

Hi all,
I'm going to be driving from NYC to Nashville, and I was wondering if there were any good places to stop on the way. I'm not looking for anything official, just something better than fast food at rest stops. Any local delicacies? I'll be on route I-78 and I-81 through PA, MD, WV, VA, and TN and then I-40 in TN to Nashville.

I'll x-post this on the South board, too.

Thanks!

brappnyc in Pennsylvania

Driving from NYC to Nashville - Rest Stop Suggestions?

Hi all,
I'm going to be driving from NYC to Nashville, and I was wondering if there were any good places to stop on the way. I'm not looking for anything official, just something better than fast food at rest stops. Any local delicacies? I'll be on route I-78 and I-81 through PA, MD, WV, VA, and TN and then I-40 in TN to Nashville.

I'll x-post this on the PA board, too.

Thanks!

brappnyc in General South Archive

Denatured vs Isopropyl Alcohol for Fondue Pot

Thanks. Sounds like I should just make the effort to get the denatured alcohol and use the rubbing alcohol as a back up. And I'll just keep the fire extinguisher handy!

brappnyc in Cookware

Denatured vs Isopropyl Alcohol for Fondue Pot

Hi all,
I'm not sure if this is the right board for this question, but here goes. I just bought a fondue pot that takes denatured alcohol for the flame. I've seen various posts saying that you can substitute isopropyl alcohol instead, but the postings didn't seem too credible. Does anyone know if I can substitute the isopropyl alcohol for denatured? I'd rather not burn the house down.

Thanks.

brappnyc in Cookware

Old-School, Italian Red Sauce Restaurant

Sorry that this reply is about almost a year too late. It used to be great, although I haven't been to Ralph's in probably 10-15 years, but I'd be surprised if much has changed. Definitely check out Villa di Roma in the Italian Market.

brappnyc in Manhattan

Good, Cheap Moroccan Food for Fun Christmas Eve?

Hi all--looking for great, reasonably-priced Moroccan food for Christmas Eve dinner with friends. I'd say our budget is a max price for a main dish of $15-$20, but ideally, we'd like to keep it cheap, good, and low key. Mostly looking for recs in Manhattan but definitely willing to consider the boroughs (some of us live in Queens). Thanks for any help!

brappnyc in Manhattan

Question from California regarding what restaurant this is..

Just north of the Seaport is a great little area of restaurants and bars. Nothing outstanding, but if you're in the neighborhood, it's your best bet. I really like Fresh Salt for drinks or Nelson Blue, a Kiwi gastropub. I can't vouch for the food at either of these places, but I really like Fresh Salt as an afterwork drinks place, and they have a little bit of outside seating. Jason's Ale House is reminiscent of a frat party, which might appeal to you, I don't know. Take a walk between Beekman St and Peck Slip, between Front Street and South Street, and you'll see them all.

brappnyc in Manhattan

Food near Financial District

I think Seh Ja Meh is closed. The falafel place in Zucotti Park is Sam's or Sammy's, I think, although I also like Alfanoose for Middle Eastern. That's on Maiden Lane. Decent bagels can be had from Toasties on John Street, and I think Lenny's, further up John Street, has H&H bagels. I could be wrong about that. Adrienne's for pizza, although if you're just looking for a slice, there is Caruso's on Fulton Street. It's better than your average pizza slice, but nothing to write home about.

brappnyc in Manhattan

Old-School, Italian Red Sauce Restaurant

Wow...that's a lot to take in. Thanks, everyone. I'll do a little bit more research with all these suggestions to narrow it down.

brappnyc in Manhattan

Old-School, Italian Red Sauce Restaurant

I tried searching, but I couldn't really find anything, although I'm sure this question has been asked a thousand times.

I'm going out with friends for Christmas Eve, and nothing says Christmas Eve to me more than good, old-school Italian. Growing up, we used to go to Ralph's in South Philly every year, but now I'm in New York, and I don't know where to go.

I've heard about John's of 12th Street, but I can't tell whether it's any good, or if it's just over-hyped. Also, I think going to Arthur Ave in the Bronx is just too far out of the way for me. Can anyone vouch for John's, or can you give a good recommendation?

As for price, I'd like to keep it about the prices of John's, but we could probably go a little higher.

Thanks, everyone.

brappnyc in Manhattan