We went to WB on Saturday, April 23 and had a completely different experience. We enjoyed a serving of onion rings to start. DH had the small burger with swiss. Was very happy. DS had the largest cheese burger i had ever seen, and was very happy. DD had a small child's burger. I had a philly cheese. Everyone was pleased. Fries were good. Desserts were good. No complaints about seasoning or cheese quantity. Service was attentive and pleasant.

My only quip might be that there were only 8 medium sized onion rings in a 6$ order.

Yes, when I make a burger at home, I do season the meat. But I know that my taste in seasoning the meat differs from others. I guess that's why salt and pepper are on the table. Some people avoid salt for health reasons.

We also like PK, but did not want to deal with the fight for a table during March madness.

There was supposed to be a Cajun truck in the soundside park in Mamaroneck, but I never found it.

In Scarsdale, my go to caterer is Standing Room Only. We used them for my daughter's christening. For a more casual and economical, Lange's of Scarsdale can't be beat.

Nay to the knock off of the snap pea crisps. They are not as good

Yay. to the brown rice mixed with the radish seeds. Excellent. Everyone from my 80 yo dad to my 9 yo daughter loves it.

sort of like a cross between cheezits and goldfish. I was looking for a TJ knock off of Cheezits, and they suggested this. It was ok for a knockoff of goldfish, but if you want Cheezits, go to Nabisco.

was at a lovely BM this weekend at Tappan Hill. Food was outstanding. Abigail Kirsch catering was very good from the passed hors d'oeuvres to the three small desserts. Is worth every penny.

Went on Wednesday for lunch and we were very pleased. We ordered two appetizers, then shared the seafood hot pot. The summer roll was very good, although I wondered if the sauce had been scorched. Unless that's the taste of the sauce for a summer roll. I've only had it a few times, and don't recall eating it with sauce. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and very high quality. The second appetizer was a rice crepe filled with and minced pork. That was wonderful, with fried onions on top. The seafood hot pot was very good as well. The broth was very flavorful, and the tofu in the broth was silky. My first choice of beverage was not available yet, but the fresh lemon soda was delicious, even on a cold February day. The beef and leek appetizer which we had chosen was not available as the server admitted that they did not like how it was turning out. I am glad that they have such high standards, and I'll return again to try it soon. Service was a little slow, but as the restaurant had not been open 24 hours, I attribute that to first day jitters. The staff was so happy and friendly. I definitely look forward to returning to try other items on the menu. No bahn mi on the menu, but I was promised that it would be seen on the menu as a special.

They were our savior when we lost power for the Hurricane.
They took in guests seeking a hot meal on Tuesday. Despite the fact that many of their staff were not avaialbe to come in as they had lost power, they rallied, served a lovely meal, and gave us a warm place to rest when there was no heat to be found! A+++ for service. A+ for food. Gelato was yummy too.

I think the best advice given from a friend who is a marine ecologist is to avoid all farm raised seafood, especially the Asian shrimp. I always seek out wild gulf shrimp. Yes, you pay more, but you support our shrimpers and avoid all nastiness associated with the Asian fisheries

Made excellent one last week (2x) from Barefoot Contessa/Food TV website. Sour Cream. Yummy

Lovely birthday dinner in Irvington for two birthday girls and their husbands. Snapper special was delicious with creamy polenta at the bottom of the bowl, perfectly cooked shrimp and delicious sauce surrounded. Other birthday girl loved the venison special. DH1 enjoyed orchietti (sp?) carbonara while DH2 had the lasagna. He was the only one not raving, but it looked good. For appetizer, we had small plates of two of the cured meats and Parmesan cheese plus two veggies. Desert of the banana bread pudding was o.k., but I'd chose something else next time. Will definitely go back again!

aberdeen and central seafood both in white plains

yes, I have a special set of mugs which I pull out each year for this party. I actually, ended serving gumbo. Although I like bean soups, thought that sometimes disagrees with people. I love the avogolemonno soup, but was uncertain how that would keep on a buffet in a tureen. Loved french onion soup, but thought that was best when you can melt the cheese on the crouton floating in the soup. Again, won't work on the buffet. Gumbo was great, although I may have ruined by Le Creuset dutch oven browning the sausage then the chicken in it. Need to work on scrubbing now.

yes, there is curry in the shaker chicken soup recipe. you just jogged my memory!

our menu for open house New Year's Day:

smoked turkey with Pepperridge Farms VT sliced bread with Dukes Mayo

ham with sister shubert rolls with whole grain mustard or honey mustard

Hoppin John (Black eyed peas with smoked sausage)

crudite with basil cottage cheese dip (Best of Gourmet recipe)

Fruit plate

Soup (TBD)

Cheese plate

Pound cake

Bloodies and Screwdrivers/Mimosas

It's a recipe from Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, KY. Our family visited in the 70s and purchased their cookbook. We have enjoyed the recipe since that time. Chicken with celery, peppers, onion, and apple. It is finished with milk. I'll find the recipe and repost.

I always have an Open House on New Years Day from noon to 4 p.m. I serve a ham, turkey, black eyed peas and always a tureen of soup. Looking for a suggestion. In the past, I've done leek and potato, corn chowder, shaker country chicken. Just looking for inspiration ...

The owner is one of the nicest guys in the business. Food is great, but he just makes you want to come back. Bisque is first rate. Every time we drive by, my son asks when we can go back. Great family place. Parking is just across the street by the city building.

North End Quality Meat/ Honestly, I don't know if they get it in cryo-vaced or the whole 1/2 of a cow. I have been very pleased with them.

so desperate for banh mi, drove to grand street

wish someone would update this list!

love Dietrich meats! My father won't let me come home anymore unless I bring him 5 lbs of brats from Dietrich meats in krumsville

I have drive east and west across I-78 20 times over the past 10 years between I-95 and I-81. We have attempted to find a lunch or dinner break that is not fast food. Some evenings, the wait at Cracker Barrell is over 1.5 hours! We have been thwarted, and think that our last attempt, a Chinese buffet near Cabela's might have poisoned my family! The worst was the nasty neon yellow chicken gravy at the Skyline Restaurant. Is the only option to pack a picnic lunch? If so, is there a nice picnic area which people recommend?

Desperate, leaving on Wednesday. Will be coming through again the end of August.

We also liked Sam's of Gedney Way in White Plains. It was very accommodating for the children, and good for parents too. Good brunch, but you may want to confirm that they'll do pancakes at lunch time for a special pre-school graduate.

I know that PF Chang's is a chain, but my children always love it. Plenty to entertain them with, especially these sticky wax sticks. I was going to suggest City Limits, again extensive kids menu, but lots of interesting food for parents, but they are under renovations. We take our children out for dim sum too at Central Seafood on Central Avenue. The children like the soup and dumplings, while the adults enjoy the more interesting parts of the menu. It's more casual that Aberdeen, and the children like to look at the fish in the aquarium. Just don't tell them that they are there to be served as lunch!

If you (and your parents) like tacos, in Port Chester Bar Taco is fun. Again, you can sit outside and watch the boats while you wait for the food. The child will love the churros dipped in chocolate for dessert.

(wrote above before I saw the sentence -- loves pancakes) You can introduce her to pancakes from around the world. Moo Shoo Pork at Central Seafood is served on Chinese pancakes, and the tortillas at Bar Taco are just Mexican pancakes.

For traditional breakfast, your best bet may be a diner, however, there is Eileen's Country Kitchen in Yonkers. They do a wonderful breakfast.

If he likes well seasoned chicken, this is a mistake which lead to my personal recipe. My mother (actually the maid) would put flour, salt, pepper, and paprika in a paper bag to shake the chicken in. When frying 3 batches of chicken for a picnic, I grabbed for the paprika and shook the can vigorously. While the chicken was in the skillet, I realized that I had grabbed the chili powder instead. It was delicious.

breading: flour, salt, pepper and chili powder. Do a test batch to make sure that your seasoning is o.k.

oil: we always used crisco shortening, but I've done it recently with Wesson Oil as my DG has banned Crisco from the house (I have some hidden)

Pan type: heavy. Either cast iron, or heavy stainless steel pan. Annodized aluminum (original calphalon) would work too.

technique to bread: room temp chicken. Flour chicken, rest, then flour again right before going into the oil.

temperature: I cook at 350 deg.

instant read thermometer. you want to check chicken when it comes out. 165 degrees for breast, 175 degree for thigh.

Good luck, and it's a sweet gift for a friend.

Picked up some CT strawberries yesterday at Stews, and they were lovely this a.m.

saw them at farm market last week

love it even more. Found excellent pimento cheese. Now, with Fresh Market carrying Dukes Mayo and pimento cheese, I have two less reasons to move back down South.

my son's 6th grade French class made crepes and it was a big hit. The children made them in the home ec room.