Rachel Perlow

I wasn't asking him to pick the restaurant, just the type of cuisine. I would be proud to bring anyone to an excellent representative of any of the cuisines noted above all within a half hour of our house. Except for maybe Italian, we have some of the best ethnic places in the NYC area right here in Bergen County.

Figure closer to 7. I think we should bring him to one of our two favorite Mexican dives. Style of cuisine up to Andy. What can't you get at home, dear boy? Highly recommended without having to drive too far would be Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Italian, Barbecue, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Spanish/Portuguese, or great burgers at a diner. Edit: How could I forget Korean & Japanese?

Good to know, we hadn't yet had the chicken taco there. Perhaps if you ask for the shredded chicken they'll give it to you. Who knows, they may respect you more too.

My congrats got lost too. Hope you are able to get a job somewhere for the summer.

It's the same building & parking lot. Not open for a while yet, we could see through a door into it and it is still in initial construction stages. We'll let you know when it opens.

My Third Ed ©1995 Scrabble® Dictionary doesn't have it listed. However, the publisher's website, Merriam-Webster.com has it listed with three variants: portobello, portabella, and portabello (and their plurals). All are defined as an "Italian ... meadow mushroom .... a large dark mature cultivated mushroom noted for its meaty texture and belonging to a variety of the button mushroom -- compare CREMINI."

Thanks for the info Alan, now that's a remote thermometer designed to deal with a lot of different needs. My only question is what is the temperature limit of the wire between the unit and the probe? That seems to be where these types of things get damaged. In a smoker, the temp is pretty low, but can you use it while grilling at a higher temp?

There was another table, and we got to chatting about eGullet, etc. The burger was supposed to be bunless - an Atkins orderer.

They're still building the Italian place so if you visit the diner you have time to influence the wine list. All that talk of meatloaf made me want to go for dinner (I wasn't with Jason for lunch). Actually, I ended up ordering the braised pork chop special, while Jason got the meatloaf. I prefered the zesty chop, braised with tomatoes, carrots and other vegetables & herbs to the meatloaf, which was just good, IMO. Actually, the best part were the side veggies, best diner veggies ever. Green beans, carrots & other shredded veggies (zucchini, onion), freshly sauteed with garlic - I bet he could mix them with some pasta and call it primavera. Nice people, plenty of parking, currently BYO, but soon they'll have the bar, go there and give them more business at dinner time! Jason will be posting pics soon. Oh, and since no one posted the address, here it is: The Diner (6 AM - 9 PM) 279 Kinderkamack Road Oradell, NJ 201-261-9500

I love my 6" Circulon I use strictly for eggs. I use a heat resistant rubber scraper as an implement. It is the only nonstick I use with regularity. A 2-4 qt saucier is also a great pan, it takes the place of so many miscellaneous pots.

I think Saveur did an article a year or two ago with Cesar's daughter returning to the restaurant in Tijuana years later.

Jason forgot to say the guacamole was excellent. I had the fish special on Saturday night. It was good, with lots of fresh veggies. We've got to find out if they offer black beans, but the refried pintos were better than average. I loved my chilequiles, finally satisfied that craving I've been having for about five years, ever since the Mexican place in Chatham stopped doing breakfast. If you intend on ordering it, I do recommend you refrain from filling up on the tortillas & salsa before it arrives. The Tacos Mexicanos include Cecina (Aged Beef), Chorizo, Bistec, Carne Enchilada, Pollo, Lengua (tongue) and Cabeza de Res (Beef Head), $2.00 each. Cinco De Mayo 201-385-0303 (they deliver locally) 83 N. Washington Ave Bergenfield, NJ

Here's one for Jon to try that's near him: Fresco Tortilles, 42 W Palisade Ave, Englewood, NJ (it's about 10 doors up from the Chinese take out place next to Saigon Republic) I got a quesadilla there once, it was OK. I was getting lunch for some guys working at our house. When I called and offered them Mexican they had no idea what to order, but when I mentioned there was a McD's across the street, that they were familiar with.

Even the soup?

I'm not sure about Fat Guys statement that "the menu at Craft is now essentially a normal restaurant menu, with a little more choice than is normal." It is still a completely a la carte menu (oh, wait, I think he's talking about the fact that you used to be able to order the sauces a la carte too), with the exception of the Tasting Menu. The problem with tasting menus is that the entire table has to order them. I usually want the tasting menu, Jason almost never does. If the tasting menu appeals to your table then feel free to order it, if not, have everyone select an app, a main* and a side or two and share, share, share. * If you are getting 2 sides per person, then it it not necessary to get a main per person, get 1 or two less. Leave room for dessert. Edit: I'm an idiot and just realized your dinner was last night. How'd it go?

OK - I just bit the bullet and bought the wine racks from Shelving Direct. Our concern is more for storing wine on its side for drinking, not for long term storage of valuable bottles. The shelving will line a wall of our guest room. Yes, I bought the rubber mallet. The prices is similar to Home Depot and Sears so I figure I may as well have it brought to our home all at once. Will let you all know how the assembly goes next week.

What is on that Vietnamese Sandwich - it looks pretty good. That was either the BBQ Pork or Chicken. They're both good.

My only question regarding the freshness of your chicken is that you bought it first (in June?), then went to another grocery store for a few more supplies, while the chicken sat in your car? Spoilage is not surprising in that situation.

Between the two of us, Jason and I have eaten everything on the menu at Saigon Republic in Englewood, NJ. We host their website and worked through most of it when taking pictures for the site.

Why'd ya choose to use lard & butter when everyone on the original thread seems to say that Crisco shortening is mandatory?

I was about to quote that same paragraph. Scary food science at work. Ugh.

I keep my mostly used vanilla pods in a spice jar filled with rum. I find vodka too harsh. It's lighter in color than pure vanilla extract, but the flavor seems to work fine.

There's even a picture of the ramp on their website.

Like tommy & jhlurie said, it's not that we don't think the food at Bangkok Garden isn't "very good," it is. It's just that the food at Wondee's is better and a little less expensive. Both dining rooms are accessable, but the bathroom at Wondees is definitely not handicap accessable, whereas the one at BG's is, I'm pretty sure - call to check about steps.

I posted a link to this thread in eGullet's Special Occasions forum, the Mail Order Food thread.