Coconuts's Profile
Do Different Types of Alcohol Cause you to Act Differently?
The bar where I had it used Jager, Rumplemintz and 151 in a Liquid Cocaine.
Thanksgiving in Bloomington, IN
Brown County/Abe Martin Lodge had been our Thanksgiving tradition for years (Dad developed a wheat allergy, so that's out this year). There have been years where it's impressively good, and some years where it's average buffet food- but I've never dreaded going.
Jaleo or Todd English's Olives on Sat. night?
My review or the one I replied to? Fleur was fine, and if you go in expecting high quality food in pretty standard preparations and average service, you'll be ok. If you're expecting to be pampered and amazed by the food, you'll be disappointed. Do be sure to buy the Restaurant.com coupon- the current 70% off code is "Share".
We loved China Poblano (we had a mid-afternoon lunch there), but I will readily admit my love for Mexican taco stands.
Cheap eats for foodies?
Make sure you call first- we got there and found a lovely hand written sign that they were closed that night. I would be understanding if it was listed on their FB page.
On the bright side, they share a parking lot with an escort service, a swinger's club and a toy store, so there are always cabs available.
Fleur , not so nice
Our experience was not nearly this bad, but it certainly wasn't special- and for the price, it should have felt a little special.
The service was on par with our favorite local brewpub, and we rarely spend more than $50 there for the two of us.
We had the seared foie gras, which was incredible, but I wouldn't swear that I can't recreate it at home. Same with the tuna tacos (only I am completely sure I can make those at home). I didn't like the braised hamachi, but I do hate teriyaki flavors. DH did like it. The chicken croquettes were only ok, as was the fig flambe.
[DTW] Pigs in MI
We've bought so much pork from them over the last few years. Two or three suckling pigs, hams for every holiday, shoulders, ears, plus just the everyday pork.
They use a custom butcher, so you can pretty much specify whatever part of the pig you want. I think the ears were free (I think Jon was kind of grossed out that we eat them, but whatever).
Fuji Japanese Buffet [Madison Heights, MI]
We tried it over the winter. It wasn't bad at all, but we haven't been back, either. The only thing that made an impression were the chicken feet, because I hadn't tried them before and it never registered that they had bones in them (talk about a DUH! moment). Something else was really good, but not good enough to remember what. I think it involved pork, maybe a dumpling.
I did not eat the sushi- I avoid raw foods of all kinds (even salads) from AYCE buffets.
What have been your best and worst liquor purchases?
Oh God! I had forgotten about the 99 Bananas! Someone brought a bottle to a tailgate party, and we gave it to the guy who was wandering around giving free shots with the stipulation that he couldn't bring it back!
Pritchard's Rum is pretty decent bourbon. I'm not so sure I like it as rum though.
I need to append my previous bad list- Carolina Catdaddy Moonshine is awful.
Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Playa del Carmen: Dining Recs, Groceries?
We were in Tulum about a month ago. One of the best meals we ate was at Lucy's Too in Akumal. I had the fish tacos and DH had the filet (we had been snorkeling, so we were hungry for fish), and both were outstanding. I think we paid $25.
I don't remember seeing a real grocery around the Akumal exit, but I wasn't looking for one either.
The pastries at the St. Francis market in Tulum were really good (and cheap), but it depends on where you want to stop for food- that doesn't help if you want to stop in PDC (although you could hit the ruins and stop on your way back).
Moving to the Detroit area & wondering
I realize this is old, but I've never had close to a good meal at Howie's Bayou.
2010 Detroit Auto Show - Looking for local rec's
Whatever ME place you choose, be sure to get the baklava! It's not the gooey stuff you get everywhere else- it's crispy and buttery with lots of pistachios. I think one bakery supplies most places here- at least, it tastes the same everywhere I've tried it here
Please help me decide! First real NOLA trip!
Acme at the airport was on par with Felix's, which was good, but not as good as Acme. The oysters at Acme were about twice the size of the Felix oysters, and Felix's had some dirt on them.
I don't know about NOLA vs. Red Fish, but I would not go back to NOLA. It was ok, nothing bad but nothing special either. I don't even remember what I had (I think it was a garlic-crusted drum, but I'm not positive).
Have you considered Cochon or Green Goddess? I have not tried Cochon, but it's well regarded (we'll get there one of these trips). Green Goddess was amazing. MILA was very good as well, but that was a few years ago, and I'm not sure about the dress code.
8" Chef's knife - $30 Henckel or $130 Shun?
I only bought the granton edge, but I do absolutely love it! I have several other good chef's knives, so even as great of a deal as the other one was, I left it for someone who needed it more than I did.
Best Butcher or shop for grass fed meat Michigan (DTW)
Eastern Market has at least two stalls that sell beef. I know one is grass-fed, but I haven't been down since they moved everyone into the sheds for the winter, so I'm not sure where they are now. I have not tried their beef.
Best Butcher or shop for grass fed meat Michigan (DTW)
I was going to suggest them too, but from looking at their website it looks like they might not have cows any more.
Anyone been to Lily's Seafood in Royal Oak MI?
A friend recommended it to us a year or two ago- we were thoroughly underwhelmed. Everything was just bland and uninspired. We had the frog leg appetizer, which was served still on the hips. Those were fine. I had some really simply prepared thing- either the platter or the shrimp and scallops. I knew it was simple, but there was nothing on it besides salt. My husband had something with a "spicy" broth that was barely spicy.
The beer was just bad.
8" Chef's knife - $30 Henckel or $130 Shun?
I got a granton edge Shun Classic 8" Chef's for $80 at the beginning of July from Amazon, and then found a non-granton at Williams-Sonoma for 50+shipping at the same time.
HAND BLENDER - WHICH ONE?
The Bamix is really expensive, but the blades attach under the hood/bell part, rather than in the middle. Because the middle connection point was where both of mine broke, I decided it was worth it.
I bought mine at cooks.com, because they lied and said they had it in stock, and Pleasant Hill Grain said it was backordered for a few days. The prices were consistent across the web.
HAND BLENDER - WHICH ONE?
Third. I managed to break two within two years, so it made sense to bite the bullet and get the really expensive one. I didn't burn the first two out, the plastic piece that held the blade to the motor broke on the $15-20 Oster that I bought to see if I liked an immersion blender, and then the pieces weren't clicked together properly and I stripped the plastic gears off of the second (I can't remember if it was a KitchenAid or a Cuisinart- I know it came from Costco).
I've barely used my food processor since I got the Bamix. It grinds buckwheat like nothing, will make snow out of ice in less than a minute.
I agonized over which model I wanted, and decided against the extra-long shafted one (I don't remember why). I've been fine with the shorter shaft.
The Restaurant Buy-Out Thread
Enough restaurants don't keep their website up to date that I don't bother checking locally. If I'm traveling, I'll browse websites, or if it's somewhere I've not been before, I'll check, but never for one of our usual places.
good low end liquor
I did not like the Barbancourt at all. DH thinks it's ok.
My favorite rum is Ron Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, but it's pressing the top of the price point (although it would still be excellent at $45).
Help with bourbon & cider cocktail
I've started adding about half homemade ginger beer to my cider cocktails since all I can find is pasteurized cider (aka cloudy apple juice). It really makes the flavor sparkle the way good cider should.
Staging a Rum Rebellion
On one hand, I think these people don't have the faintest idea about good rum.
On the other hand, if it means that the masses flock to the mass-produced crap and leave the good rum for me at its current cheap prices, I'm pretty good with that.
Green Goddess Tips
We were there two weeks ago- the place was empty when we wandered over, but it was 3:30 or so.
ETA- the food was outstanding. We had the BLT salad, the pulled pork panini, and the Ploughman's Lunch. We considered just staying and having dinner there when they reopened.
No Coke, Pepsi!...at Costco
I'm just upset that the MexiCoke with sugar instead of corn syrup is gone. I hope they get this worked out, I like it well enough to pick some up when we're at Costco, but not enough to seek it out anywhere else.
Stupid easy recipes you really love
I make potato leek soup- chop a few leeks, saute in olive oil, add six cups of chicken stock (I use water and Orrington Farms or Better than Bullion most of the time), bring to a boil and add a packet of Good Earth instant mashed potatoes.
No-knead bread as general bread replacement?
Personally, I think the NKB is too crusty for sandwiches.
I like this recipe for whole wheat bread: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Simple-Whole-Wheat-Bread/Detail.aspx
It makes three loaves that freeze well. You can (greatly) increase the amount of whole wheat flour- I usually use at least half ww. I also forgot the butter the last time I made it- it was definitely rougher, and I would not suggest it.
Again...Galatoire's versus Commanders Palace...
When *absolutely nothing* is prepared with any care at all, there's no reason to bother sending anything back.
Again...Galatoire's versus Commanders Palace...
We had a great meal at Commander's, and food that would have been more at home at a nursing home cafeteria at Galatoire's. The sweetbreads were completely devoid of salt, the asparagus was overcooked, and one of the sauces was broken. It was JazzFest in 08, but so was our Commander's visit (as well as MiLa, which was also excellent).
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Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130
What have been your best and worst liquor purchases?
You got paint remover? I thought it tasted like antifreeze.
My worst was the Tres Anis from Puerto Rico. The bottle is cool- a huge sugar crystal with stems planted in it. And it might be fine if you like that flavor- I can barely tolerate it in anything. At least it looks cool in the bar.
Best is a toss up between Ron del Barrilitos, Ron Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, and Guatamalan Zaya.
