rshorens

In the 60's and 70's, my boyfriend-turned-husband and I would drive for an hour just to get to some of our favorite food places- A & W, International House of Pancakes, sushi. We even had our own A & W mugs. Now these things are either very accessible or we wouldn't go out of our way!

Cathy-Ann, do you happen to have the phone number handy? If so, I'd appreciate having it. Thanks, Roz

When growing up in Freeport, LI, my family never had money for going out to dinner, but my big treat was going out for a $ 1 chow mein lunch at the Mandarin Inn. It wasn't until college and graduate school in the late 1960's that I was introduced to the type of Chinese food we eat now, at Joyce Chen's in Fresh Pond, near Cambridge, Mass. She was a pioneer, at least in New England. There was also a good restaurant serving Peking duck somewhere near the Mystic River Bridge. Roz

I've been looking around for moderately-priced pinot noirs to have with everyday dinners at home. I liked Saintsbury Garnet and Parker Ridge. Yesterday I had Laurier pinot noir (Los Carneros district of Napa) and really enjoyed its fruit and body with my meal of ribeye steak, asparagus, and salad. It was a great buy for $7.99 at my local Trader Joe's in Santa Cruz, CA. Does anyone have any other suggestions for wines that would be relatively easy to find? Roz

Thanks, Pan and kurl. I'll do that Roz

I was born in the Bronx and raised in Queens and Freeport, Long Island; I thought I knew Manhattan, but I guess I don't! Is 50th St and 9th Avenue really Hell's Kitchen(as in the movie "In America")?? Somehow I thought Hell's Kitchen was more downtown. I would rather go to the G.S. that has better food, but now I'm not so sure my family will appreciate the neighborhood. Am I being squeamish? Roz

Does the G.S. at 50th and 9th take reservations? My family from California and Pennsylvania will be in New York for a wedding and this sounds like a good place for dinner the next day for our party of 10-12. Thanks! Roz

Has anyone mentioned Rules near Covent Garden? Jeffrey Steingarten wrote in this months's Vogue that he had very good woodcock there- that sounds pretty traditional to me Roz

I will wade in here with the other 50-somethings. I remember going to the Automat with my grandmother- I don't remember much about what the food tasted like. I also watched Jackie Gleason's tv show and recall feeling so sad I cried(I was 7 or 8) when he did the "poor soul" routine who always lost his money and never succeeded in eating anything there! When I was a freshman at Wellesley in 1965, a friend and I were taken to Lock-Obers on a blind date by 2 visiting Princeton students from the Midwest-we were the fortunate beneficiaries of their parents' recommendation to go to Lock-Obers when coming to Boston. The food, service, and ambiance upstairs were quite astounding! Never saw these boys again, however. A few years later when I was first married, my husband and I were (financially)starving students but had such a craving for their wonderful Baked Alaska that we called one evening and they let us come to the restaurant later just for dessert! I thought that was very classy of Lock-Obers. A really classic place was Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound on Mount Desert Island, Maine. It hasn't changed in 40 years and is still run by the same family. Roz

I am ready for anything on Saturday, April 24!!! Roz

Okay-you all convinced me! We will try to get to Jazzfest before lunchtime. Brooks, should we wait until closer to the date to organize details and then have Rachel notify others in the area? Can't wait! Roz

Thanks for your post, Brooks. I'm trying to figure out how to combine jazzfest with my medical convention committments(ostensibly the reason I will be in NOLA from April 20-25) Is it necessary to buy tickets in advance, or can you do that at the gate on the same day? Do they ever run out of tickets, or is the gate price higher than advance ticket sales? I was thinking of cutting out of my meeting early on Saturday afternoon, and spending the afternoon and evening listening to music and eating at Jazzfest. The variety of food at Jazzfest booths seems incredible! I don't know how to decide what to eat! Would you and other egulleteers be interested in doing Jazzfest as an egullet event on Sat., April 24? That way the experienced NOLA eaters like yourself can steer us in the right direction. Cheers. Roz

When I cook 1 chicken in the Ronco showtime electric rotisserie, it comes out nice and crispy. I think the supermarket chickens aren't crispy for at least 2 reasons: they are crammed in too tightly together when they are on the spit so they don't drain properly, and then they sit in their juices in their plastic containers for awhile before you buy them. The best rotisserie chickens I've bought are from Costco, but even those are not as crispy as the ones I cook at home. Roz

I made a pretty good turkey stuffing last Thanksgiving with quinoa, wild rice, chestnuts, dried cherries, sauteed onions, mushrooms, celery, and carrots. I cooked the quinoa and also the wild rice in low salt chicken broth first, before assembling the dressing. Roz

Although the review in my local paper called it "vulgar", I am really enjoying the Medici tv series too. Did anyone mention the Chapel of the Magi, painted by Benozzo Gozzoli, in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Via Cavour 3? I went there on my last trip to Firenze and found the frescos there magnifico! Those of you who watched the first segment of the Medici tv show saw the room where the supplicants were taken by Lorenzo de Medici to admire the history of his family in the gilded paintings Great place to visit, not as well known among American tourists. Roz

I like Healdsburg/Russian River/Dry Creek areas a lot, especially Preston and Pezzi-King because they have the most wonderful picnic areas. Navarro in Mendocino area/Anderson Valley has wonderful wines and is in a beautiful area too. Roz

Another issue is the fact that having even a medium priced glass or bottle of wine requires extra tax and tip, which can make a moderately priced meal even more expensive. Given the general feeling that wine markups are steep, do you think that one is obliged to tip the usual 15-20% on the wine part of the bill? I do, so that I won't seem stingy, but it does make the experience less enjoyable, and I will eat out less often.

The best nonpareils(sp?) and a good selection of bittersweet chocolate bars(the latter very strategically located near the check out stand) Roz

David, do check this forum for recommendations on restaurants in Rome. I forgot whether this is your first trip on not, but on my first trip to Rome, I had some bad experiences in Roman restaurants that detracted from my overall sense of Rome; on subsequent trips, I've had much better luck with finding friendly and delicious restaurants offering value for the sadly dwindling dollar. Post back here if you don't find what you're looking for on prior threads Have a great time! Roz

I also second the recommendation for Saintsbury "Garnet" Carneros Pinot Noir- we had it tonight with loin lamb chops and it was excellent. My local wine store sells it for $13.99 a bottle. Roz

Thanks, Josh. You're right-the group dinner has already been booked(at the Firehouse-don't know anything about this place), but I will use your suggestions for the nights I go out with a few friends. Roz

I had a Farberware rotisserie when I was first married in the late 60's. It was a pain to clean and I don't recall the chickens tasting anywhere near as good as with the Ronco showtime rotisserie.I've tried cooking chickens lots of ways, and the Ronco comes the closest to the best French or Italian rotisseried-by-the-butcher-shop chickens. By the way, the elasticized trussing twine-loops that come with the Ronco are great time-savers, but when you run out of them, Ronco's price and shipping charge for additional ones are rather steep. Does anyone know where you can buy them? Williams Sonoma doesn't sell them. Roz

I was looking for a budget Pinot Noir and tried Parker Ranch(made by Fess Parker)Pinot Noir- it cost $10 at a local wine store and was quite good. Roz

I just checked current prices- they haven't gone up, although the dollar has gone down. I guess we must have paid $125 in 2002. Roz

In June, 2002, my daughter and I stayed at Albergo del Sole al Biscione, Via del Biscione 76, 00186 Roma( phone 011 39 0668806873; FAX 011 39 066893787) Albergo del Sole al Biscione The cost at that time was $150 for a double room with private bath. The location is fantastic, a few steps from Campo di Fiori/Piazza Navona/Piazza Farnese. There is a roof garden with lounge chairs overlooking the domes of the Church of St. Andrea del Valle(where the opera Tosca is set) and where I was able to hang up my wet laundry every day(a real boon in the summer). They don't serve breakfast, but there are several lovely patios with picnic tables where you can have a meal or snack at any time of the day. I would get up every morning and gather fresh melon, cherries, yoghurt, etc. from the produce stands at the Campo di Fiori, and then we'd go to a local caffe for the best cappuccino and suco d'arancia. There's an elevator in the building. The rooms vary in size. We lucked out and got a triple(for the 2 of us) and had lots of storage space in the antique wardrobes in our room. Lots of cute boutiques and restaurants close by. We stayed for a week and felt as if we got to know the neighborhood Boun viaggio! Roz