keech6's Profile
Chocolate mousse help?
Looking for some guidance. Am making chocolate mousse tonight for my husband's bday tomorrow and am trying to decide between Maida Heatter's and Julia Child's recipes.
The Heatter one looks easier but perhaps that means easier for a newbie like me to mess up? Also appeals to me because it has no butter or whipped cream which is good b/c my husband can't tolerate much dairy. Another concern is which can hold up best for 24 hrs until tomorrow night?
Other recipe suggestions welcome. Looking for something awesome and not too hard for me to pull off on a first try ( would like to avoid a repeat of last year's lemon meringue pie turned soup)!
Thanks!
K
ISO: Santa Cruz food/cake delivery recs?
Wondering if anyone can help a DC Chowhound find a really yummy cake delivery outfit or other fantastic food delivery option in Santa Cruz. I am trying to send something special from afar to a friend's bachelorette/birthday weekend as I am too pregnant to travel. But need some local intel on where to try....
Was thinking a delicious, rich cake but am open to other fun foodstuffs that would wow her if you can offer suggestions. I saw Hoffman's bakery online -- as good as they brag? Other options?
Thanks so much for your guidance!
Seeking dinner spot in Eastern Market/Capitol Hill?
thanks all for the great suggestions. sounds like i have many dinners to try!
Seeking dinner spot in Eastern Market/Capitol Hill?
Hello, chowhounds. I just moved to the area and am looking for a good spot for this Friday dinner near Eastern Market/Capitol Hill.
Am open to chowish dives or fancy schmancy, any ethnicity of food or standard American burgers -- just want it to be yummy. Cheap to mid-range would be ideal. I saw some posts about the Good Stuff Eatery but wondered if the long waits from last month's posts gone down? Any other gems I should try? Thanks for your chow leads.
What to serve with gravlax for dinner?
My boyfriend and I scored a lovely piece of Alaskan salmon and plan to make it into gravlax for a small dinner party this week. But we need some guidance, lacking any swedish background, in what to serve with it....This is as a main course, not an appetizer.
I saw some suggestions of a cucumber salad, dark bread, a mustard dill sauce and deviled eggs. But seemed like not enough? Maybe a warm red potato salad? Other suggestions?
Last Minute in JP for 4: Zon's, Cafe D, ?? What Else?
I agree that Bella Luna is a mixed bag. The ambiance is fun. The staff is nice. And if you stick to the basics like pizza you seem to get good food that's affordable. But when I've been and ordered things like steak frites ($18) and sage gnocchi ($16) it's been only so-so food at too high a price.
Where to buy Harissa?
Looking for some guidance from chowhounds on where to find harissa, the red pepper paste common in Moroccan cooking. I know it must be somewhere, but so far every place I've tried doesn't carry it anymore or the clerks look at me funny when I ask about it.
Ganache guidance?
I messed up my ratios when making some chocolate truffles. I was thinking I could use the liquidy ganache as a nice icing on a cake instead. Any guidance on best practices for making it pliable enough to ice a cake with after it's been chilled in my fridge? Is using a microwave a terrible idea? A water bath better?
Thanks from an inexperienced-but-eager chocolatier.
Quincy area recs?
Last night we went to East Chinatown -- also one of the fine recommendations from fellow chowhounds (and coincidentally a spot just given a shout out in the Globe).
It was a lovely meal. We had fried duck with taro, which wasn't at all what we expected but delicious. It was pieces of duck, some of them crispy on the bottom, coated in a taro topping which was soft, pillow-like in the middle and flaky, crisp up top. It was served with a bowl of brown-colored sauce in which meaty mushrooms were hiding in the bottom. A dish of stirfried watercress nicely offset the greasiness.
We also had an order of scallion pancakes as a starter. They ended up soaking up the yummy combos of juices on our plates from the mushroom sauce and watercress. Fine meal.
The service was also nice. My one complaint was the door opens directly onto the small restaurant's seating area, blowing in cold wind. You can tell that they've cranked the heat to combat it but try to avoid seats near the door if you visit in the cooler months of the year.
Mid-afternoon bite in Harvard Square?
i second the algiers recommendation. yummy light options and great atmosphere upstairs. darwin's also has fabulous sandwiches.
for a bigger meal, i'm always partial to Mr. and Mrs Bartley's Burgers near the harvard book store. definitely a meal, though you could opt for an elvis milkshake only if you wanted something "lighter" (ha!)
also, cafe pampalona, used to have lovely media noche sandwiches (like a cubano but smaller and simpler) and chocolate mousse. not sure if they're still the same but was one of my favorites tucked down in a small space.
Quincy area recs?
Thanks again, all, for the recommendations. We tried Little Q Hotpot on Friday after several of you recommended it. What fun! Had never had Mongolian hotpot style and it was a great adventure for a small group of us.
The servers were very kind to us as we asked question after question. I had some nice and interesting plum wine, then we shared a mix of plates to cook in the yin-yang broth pot -- spicy broth (we got mild and it had plenty of kick) and the Mongolian veggie broth. I kept losing my noodles so will need to go again to perfect the cooking art, but I especially enjoyed the nice selection of mushrooms. And those scallion pancakes a few of you mentioned were indeed awesome. Am so glad you recommended those.
Thanks again. We look forward to trying some of the others you all mentioned while we're in Quincy. Indeed, not a bad place to be "stuck" for a few weeks with all these good choices.
Best Chicken Salad Sandwich in Boston
I agree that Hi-Rise has a great chicken salad sandwich. Also in that area there used to be Cheddar's, this little sub shop opposite from the Fresh Pond shopping center. Not sure if it's still there but for some reason there chicken salad was incredible. It was finely shredded chicken with a pleasant, peppery kick.
Three days in Charlotte - suggestions please!
I second that Rooster's is great if you're willing to head down to SouthPark. (Get the pan-fried corn as a side.) I like it better than Barrington's where I had one pricey but somewhat uninspired meal. Also I second the Penguin if you're looking for a place with some character and a good greazzzy burger (order it Southern style with slaw and chili for the real deal) and great fried pickles and sweet potato fries. Sometimes there's a wait but the people watching makes it worthwhile.
Quincy area recs?
Wow! Thanks all for the great recs. I'll report back on what we try.
Quincy area recs?
Anyone have any good recommendations for the Quincy area? Could be a dive breakfast spot or a high-end dinner place. Looking for some good grub while stuck here for a few weeks. Thanks.
Three days in Charlotte - suggestions please!
Blue is alright. Nice/bustling scene, on my one visit the food was pricey, good but not mind-blowing. Other suggestions....
Uptown/close to your hotel:
SOUL FOOD: Simmons Fourth Ward a soul food/hole in the wall for delicious fried pork chops and charming staff. Or Merts Heart & Soul (closer to your hotel and less hole in the wall feel. Good spot for brunch)
ARPA, nice selection of Tapas. Right near Trade and Tryon in the heart of things.
COPPER, upscale Indian/fusion place in Dilworth (about 10 min. from uptown) on East Boulevard. Not super pricey compared to white table cloth scene but pricier than your local Indian spot. Excellent, creative food.
CARPE DIEM In Elizabeth, also close, less than 10 min.
FIG TREE in Elizabeth on 7th St., also less than 10 min. Good, fine dining a bit overpriced. But your husband could definitely get some meat -- maybe even elk as they had on the menu last time I was there. It's also in a lovely old house. Better than the uptown chains in charm and feel.
LULUs... about 10 min. away from uptown on Central Ave. in Plaza Midwood. Small French-ish bistro with delicious, extragavant burger and other nice plates. small place. Yummy for dinner or brunch.
Also good for brunch; Pewter Rose, on South Boulevard in Dilworth. Each brunch starts off with a hot butterscotch chip scone. Yummy yuppie spot with Southern eccentric touches.
Brunch in Charlotte?
Maybe try Nolen Kitchen (in Myers Park off Selwyn, I think)? I've had excellent dinner there. Brunch with a group was pretty good but have only been there once.
One Lunch In Charleston - Need Recs!
i've had lovely lunches at Magnolia. Hanks has also served me well with nice seafood -- not sure whether they are open for lunch, too, though.
Pewter Rose for brunch...what to order?
they may have changed the menu after winter renovations but i'd say if they have the banana foster french toast you should get it. it's super rich but delicious. my ideal is to have a friend order the corned beef hash and eggs meal, then share the two so you get the best of both worlds: savory and sweet.
Ramp festivals?
I went last weekend to the festival in Waynesville and enjoyed the celebration for the stinky wild green quite a bit. The festival appeared to mainly attract locals -- old folks, families with kids and of course the politicians that gather like flies at such events.
Food served up on the plate:
*baked beans with ramps chopped up and thrown in (yummy)
*scrambled eggs with small amount of ramps (wanted this to be better than it was; made in smaller batches i bet it would be.)
*meatloaf with ramps inside (somehow gross but that had to do with the meat, i think, as I usually love meatloaf.)
* cornbread (or rolls if you preferred): done nice and unsweet so it went well with the baked beans
* delicious country ham cooked up until crispy: the highlight even though no ramps inside. made everything taste better.
* boiled potatoes with ramps thrown in
* delicious flavorful sweet tea (no ramps in there, thankfully)
we also could buy our own fresh ramps, which we tried uncooked. they really were across between an onion and garlic flavor. quite strong and stinky but yummy.
the best part was the ramp eating contest when five brave (stupid?) men stuffed their faces with raw ramp bulbs, each about 1 inch long. they must have eaten about 30+. one man was pratically crying as the heat started to catch up with him.
upshot: the scene was better than the food, but with fresh ramps available to take home and try out in my kitchen it was well worth the trip for the experience and the introduction to a new food.
Any comments about Fig Tree in Charlotte?
I've been there just twice and it's a bit uneven. Some things were lovely -- lamb chops on my last visit with a lovely veggie puree type polenta and a caramel cake for dessert. But I've also had underdressed salad and ho-hum duck. Prices are also geared for the banker's expense account.
Kings Mountain, NC
Well, nearby actually does. Bridges Barbecue in Shelby (just off U.S. 74 before you get into Shelby) is great Carolina barbecue. The hush puppies are also great with just the right amount of onion.
for more info:
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=192
Rooster's in charlotte, nc
anyone gone since this post? i'd love to hear your thoughts on it b/c am thinking of taking out of town guests there this weekend.
Penguin restaurant s Charlotte
Sweet potato fries and the block burger, southern style.
Bistro Savannah, Elizabeth's, Gottlieb's
Can you let us know what you think post-trip? Am headed down there myself soon and have some of the same questions about where to go.
Anything new in Charlotte?
I second Kathleen on Creation. It's faux Asian/fusion with an emphasis on noodles and rice dishes. Lots of coconut milk items and relatively cheap compared to the other places suggested. It's got a nice atmosphere. It's in Plaza Midwood across the street from the Harris Teeter and behind Thomas Street. Commonwealth? Sorry don't remember the street name.
Lulu's also has a terrific burger with genius fries.
Also good:
* Ilios Noche way down in Providence if you live in south, south Charlotte or are willing to drive. (Not very new. A couple of years?)
* Nolen Kitchen -- same owners as Ilios Noche but in Myers Park. Off Selwyn.
* Mac's Speed Shop on South Blvd near South End if you're looking for more casual and fantastic non-Carolina BBQ. Brisket sandwich is my favorite. Most seating is on stools at high table tops, not the most comfortable. (More than a year old.)
* Rooster's -- I've heard it's good but haven't been yet; it opened in December, I think. (Would love to hear others' input; am thinking of taking out of town guests there this weekend but am not sure. Any thoughts?)
Ramp festivals?
Thanks for the tips. If I end up going, I'll post a report on just how stinky it is.
Ramp festivals?
Looking for some guidance from seasoned southerners and food explorers. I've heard about festivals in the mountains each spring that celebrate the glories of ramps. Are they worth going to? (I'm prepared to be stinky for a few days after eating the wild garlic/onions. So that's not a concern.) I've heard that Waynesville has the biggest one in the Carolinas. Is that the best one to go to?
Much thanks!
Good eats in Davidson, NC?
I'm looking for recommendations of a good spot for dinner in/around Davidson. Splurger or dive, it doesn't matter. Just looking for somewhere the grub is great.
