Rachel Perlow

Maybe the lady in charge is his sister?

The Pimaan rolls were crispy (shrimp wrapped in something like phyllo), not the steamed summer roll thing. That was the steamed spring roll. They were good and something I haven't had before. 201 and I agreed that the duck curry was OK, however the duck should have been more tender, i.e. braised. Instead it was like roast duck put in the curry sauce. It was tasty, but not perfected. If you want to special order the larb, I suggest going on a weeknight. It was way too busy on Saturday night to do a special request. They've been open only about 5-6 weeks. Address is 79 Kinderkamack, Emerson.

If we want Rosie there, we should make it Sunday, she always seems to have her Saturdays booked. So, Sunday June 8th, 5:30 PM, at China 46. How does that sound to everyone? Should we start a new thread for RSVPs?

It has a higher fat content than cream?

I can't find the review for Max's online, but since you mentioned they were reviewed, we decided to try them before they get crowded. Everything was very good, especially the mussels appetizer. They have a marinara version on the regular menu, but we had them with a saffron cream as offered with the specials. The sauce was OK, but the mussels themselves were superb PEI specimens. We also had the carrot soup, the turkey special and the steak off the menu. Everything was very very good. We'll have to go back a few more times to decide if there is any specific item we'd want to recommend because right now I'd say, order what sounds good to you, we did and everything was.

A little bleach goes a long way. Didn't smell of cleaners. No smell but nice fresh air. The seafood counter was very busy they whole time we were there (mid-afternoon on a Friday), so they obviously have high turnover - another good point.

Tables? To answer my own question, I called them. They have 2 tables "out front" (Hmm, I hope that is inside the store, not on the sidewalk). We're gonna check it out and report back later.

NY. Oh, that's helpful.

In that vein (retail shops that also cook), would be Denville Seafood. I miss going there. If you want to go for dinner, best to get there by 6 PM at the latest.

Tables?

Menton - Thanks for the suggestions re: seafood, that gives us a couple places not too far afield to check out. toddevan - Where's Saigon Grill? This is the first I've heard of that one. I think I'll skip the rec for California Pizza Kitchen, though. This doesn't make any sense to me. You're bashing chains on one hand and recommending one out the other. You don't even mention which mall you're talking about (there are like 5 of them), and I pretty much avoid most the Paramus malls anyway.

It's always on the regular dinner menu as a platter.

Jason and I have been talking about doing a North Carolina furniture buying expedition for a while and it looks like it might actually happen this fall, so we may be able to schedule it for that week. I could probably confirm us, or not, sometime over the summer. How far away are you from the furniture Mecca?

toddevan - You keep telling us what you find uninteresting and uninspiring (not that I'm dissagreeing with you about Legal, but sometimes that's the best option. When you're shopping in a mall it is not always convenient or even conceivable to leave the mall (and your parking space) to have lunch). Could you tell us (in another thread if it is not appropriate to this one) what places in NJ you enjoy? PS - another good option at Legal is the fried whole belly clams. You basically can't get them anywhere else in the area. If someone could tell me where else to get them within about a 30 mile radius (well not radius, how about west of Manhattan), I could happily avoid the dreaded chain.

201's suggestions of Kuma and Namaskar are reasonable. They are both decent if not knock-your-socks-off places. You are near Fink's and don't eat thereof regularly?

Why do people have to be categorized? It's not possible to patronize both sorts of places?

Which says to me that you live closer to Nutley than to Englewood. I could just as easily say that Saigon Republic is a great restaurant, no need to go to Nutley. But, of course, sometimes I may just want to go to Nutley. Oh my, I guess I'm with 201 on this one. It is actually possible to patronize two different places.

What you said: You didn't state it as an opinion, so I didn't address it as one.

I just noticed this Qdoba place for the first time today. However, we opted for the new Legal Seafoods instead, see here. Back to Rosie's original question, just a reminder that there a couple sandwiches & salad type places within both Nordstroms (Nordstrom Cafe on the 3rd floor) and Bloomingdale's (although I never was a big fan of 40 Carots). Here's a list of the current food offerings at the Short Hills Mall from their online directory: Food Specialty Black Hound New York General Nutrition Center Godiva Chocolatier Mrs. Fields Cookies Sbarro Buffet Italiano Williams-Sonoma Full Service Restaurants Au Bon Pain Joe's American Bar & Grill Johnny Rockets The Original Hamburger Legal Sea Foods Papa Razzi QDOBA Mexican Grill

My mom and I just had lunch at the new Legal Seafood at the Mall at Short Hills. It is located between Neiman Marcus and Tiffany's on the lower level. The only entrance to the restaurant is from the exterior of the mall (but it is adjacent to a mall entrance so it is easily (if weirdly) accessable by mall pedestrians). They seem to have adopted a new Indian influence to a few menu items, but I wouldn't recommend the Rasam Seafood Soup. However, the scallops on my salad of greens, green apples, avocado and goat cheese with a chipotle flavored vinaigrette, were excellent as was the salad itself. I am so frequently dissapointed with scallops, but these were really really good, and cooked perfectly too (that is not well-done, but kind of medium-rare). My mom had this blue-plate special looking concoction called the Jasmine Special. Jasmine rice topped with (grilled/sauteed?) shrimp (they tasted like they may have been brined), surrounded by well cooked broccoli (ringing the entire plate ala General Tso's chicken) and topped with a Monterey Jack Cheese sauce. Eh. Service was excellent and I think they may have transferred experienced staff from other restaurants rather than start over with all new people. Anyway, they just opened Tuesday and are already getting slammed at dinner time (although lunch didn't pack the place), and I assume (although I didn't ask) that they have the standard Legal policy of no reservations. So pick up your buzzers and browse at Tiffany's while you wait.

Well have fun, whoever's going. We have other plans but it does sound like it will be a blast.

Little Saigon is great too. Actually it is more of an "authentic" Vietnamese restaurant than Saigon Republic. KT at SR likes to try new things, most items are plated individually, although it is perfectly acceptable to share. It is also slightly more expensive than most Vietnamese restaurants. LS has a more extensive menu, but no specials to speak of. Also, if you like or live by Nutley, go to LS, if you like or live by Englewood go to SR. Or both, like we do when visiting friends in Nutley. And, as tommy was "making a point to say something nice about Nutley" then the comparison between the two is pointless with regard to this thread, which should be about Monclair and the surrounding area (?) of which Nutley may be included, but I wouldn't include Englewood. That being said, however, I think tommy's assertion that "little saigon is the best vietnamese within 20 miles" is mistaken. As not only is Saigon Republic within that 20 mile radius, but so is Saigon Cafe in Jersey City. There was also a place, just down Newark Ave from Saigon Cafe called, I think, Miss Saigon. This is the one that I would consider most on par (food and price-wise) with Little Saigon, however it was a much larger restaurant. I can't find it listed on yp.yahoo and we haven't been there in a couple years. Does anyone know if it still exists?

Nope. Stuck in the boonies of being an RA over in Rodney. There's at least one other U of D grad on eGullet too, but I knew her.

Great article, despite the pointed out shortfalls. I'm curious about the seasoning/herbs you add to your stock. Usually, I just use basic ones like black pepper and parsley which add a good base flavor, and wait to add stronger flavors until I am making an actual soup or sauce. When you say you sometimes add "star anise and cloves, lemon grass and ginger" all I can think of making of a stock with those flavorings is Vietnamese Pho or Thai Tom Yam Kai. Not that there's anything wrong with those soups, but I can't imagine using the stock any other way. Edit: Do you ever use Olive Oil? How do you know when it's gone carcinogenic?