Rachel Perlow

More poor dead piggy pics!

Here are some photo highlights of the construction: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laying Tile . . . . . Spackling the Tray Ceiling . . . . . . . Customizing a cabinet . . . . . . . . Pantry/Peninsula

I feel like I'm living an episode of Junkyard Wars, between the mess in the garage and the little things that keep going wrong. Remember that the sink base didn't arrive? Well, the replacement arrived damaged so that's been re-ordered, again. The cabinet installer came yesterday and in planning out all the cabinets we realize there's room for a 12 inch cabinet where we had bought a 9 inch. Also, the microwave hutch has a frame around it that narrows the opening, meaning the existing microwave won't fit. There is actually room on that wall to have a larger cabinet (I think we were leaving room for light switches, but they have been put on the living room side of the wall rather than the kitchen side), so as long as we are ordering the 12 inch cabinet, we are going to get a wider microwave hutch too. In addition, (how did they miss this???) the three pot drawer cabinet is not in the garage, instead it is a normal one wide drawer with reg cabinet doors underneath. So, that needs to be reordered. Actually that is a good thing because it probably wouldn't have had the finished back it needs to have, since this piece is the peninsula. Argh. Meanwhile, they are installing everything that is installable so they will be able to measure for the counter top template. This means that reordering the cabinets won't result in much of a delay, since it will coincide with the delay that would have happened for the countertops anyway. There are additional pictures up on the Kitchen Construction album. This link takes you to the second page of the index, so you can see just the new photos.

Oh Lord. We didn't even go there last night, Jason wanted to go to China 46 instead. Thanks for the anyalysis. BTW - they have a menu on their website. I just read through the reviews and it sounds lovely. Hopefully we'll go in the next week or so. They have a prix fixe Tues-Thurs dinner. The notes on the bottom of the NYT review make it sound as if it is not open for Friday dinner. ??

I read about it A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain, but that's all I know about it. He summed it up by saying that (paraphrasing) Mecca shouldn't come to the people, a large part of the experience is the journey to get there. That wouldn't stop him from going however.

Has anyone ever been? I ran across a listing while searching for someplace else and intrigued, I called and asked about the place. It is a small BYO french place in Bergenfield, seasonal menus. Open Tuesday-Thursday for lunch, Tues-Sat for dinner. It used to be called Chez Madeline. A French chef (uh, from France) who'd worked at La Reserve took it over two years ago. I think we're going to try it tonight.

Whoa. It's been a slow couple of weeks. Very minor work being done, grouting, lights, etc. But basically, it was mostly waiting on inspections and then making the modifications to the insulation for additional fire resistance required by the building inspector. Construction has finally begun again. They are here today working on the drywall. Yeah! There are additional pictures up on the Kitchen Construction album.

Sounds like you've had a rough couple of days. Glad you did well on your written test and good luck on Monday.

So which is the place that is charging the corkage?

Yes, it would be helpful when you make posts like this (i.e. "Has anyone been to __?") to include the address of the restaurant.

jbauer - So, how did they come out? Steve - Could you outline the correct procedure for a chocolate fondue? We did this recently and used a high-quality dark chocolate. Jason wanted to add some rum (we put in about 2 Tbs to 8 oz choc), which we did when the chocolate was in the process of melting and it seized up. I ended up having to add butter to get it to melt properly. The end result was good, but I would have preferred to not add the butter. What are the proper ratios if you want to add liquor to the melting chocolate?

LIke I said, I've only gone (repeatedly) to the Penang in NJ and we really enjoy it. But it's not like there's more than one Malaysian place to go to in the area, which is not the case in NYC. On another note - I agree that this would make an interesting thread in General, so I am moving it from the NY forum. Let's here the rest of the world's opinion on this topic.

Should this be in the General forum? We always order the Basil Beef at Taipai Noodle House in Parsippany, NJ. We may get other things too, but we always end up getting that dish. Tofu nyonya and Clay Pot Noodle Soup at Penang (East Hanover, NJ, never been to the ones in NYC which I've heard aren't as good - not as many choices for Malasian in NJ). The duck or pot au feu at Chez Josephine on 42nd in NYC. Sometimes the restaurant dictates the dish (in other words we are going to a restaurant and I'll get the same dish even after trying to find something else on the menu), sometimes it's I have to have noodle soup, "let's go to Penang or almost any Japanese for Nebayaki Udon."

Hey Mike calm down! There's no need to get all pissed off. I thought I was pretty polite in pointing out what I did to you. I wasn't saying don't post about it at all. However, this is a regionally specific thread. I was in fact encouraging you to go to your regional thread to discuss it and/or to start a more general thread about big burgers in a non-regional forum. It was advice to a relatively new eGullet member. It's not like I deleted your post or said, "get the F off our NJ forum!" No. I nicely said there was more appropriate places to post what you did. You see, not everyone reads the NJ forum, and while the post you wrote was great, more people would see it if you started a new topic in General about how you and others feel about big burgers. Get it? Feel better now?

The friends coming with us to St. Martin are even more addicted to the internet than we are. Even before booking their tickets she'd looked up internet cafes so she can check her email. Curious, I looked them up too. Here's a list of interent cafes on St. Martin for future reference: DM Computer Center, 109 La Savane, Grand Case, $8.00 per hour A list from winlink.org for St. Martin: From St-Maarten.com: Via email the people at megatropic.com gave me these locations:

I suppose I could wait for Fink to explain this, but the reason they can't have any tables has to do with parking spaces. I recall (please feel free to correct me if I have my figures incorrect) Fink telling us that he is only allowed 2.5 seats per space (town ordinances) which yielded 10 seats. They decided to concentrate on carry-out and put in a counter to accomodate those that wanted to eat their take-out, in.

Not that I object knowing about a place in Nebraska, but this thread is for big burgers specifically in NJ. The people in The Heartland may appreciate hearing about this place. Or, you could post thoughts about big burgers in General or how to cook them in Cooking.

I've changed this thread to all of NJ, rather than just North Jersey. It's not like there are so many Vietnamese places in the state that they need to be separated into North & South Jersey. Here is my contribution to the southern half of the state: Little Saigon on the corner of Arctic and Iowa Avenues, Atlantic City, 609-347-9119. We haven't been there in a few years, but I recall it being pretty good with many Vietnamese people eating there.

May I recommend the following threads to you for posting about these places? Vietnamese food in Bridgewater area? or Vietnamese Restaurants in New Jersey

Exactly. If I don't have a question to ask, I feel silly being the third or tenth person to say what a wonderful diary entry, but Ive always thought that. Please assume I think it if you don't see a response from me, because I read all of you entries. Just look at the view count on the index as an indicator of how many people are reading every entry, just not everyone posts. Oh, and I realize you aren't fishing for complements, I just want you to be reassured and validated anyway. But if you want to know how much these are anticipated, just look at this thread. The first two responses came in within an hour of your posting. I know I read your entries as soon as I notice a new one.

May I add: Italian - Pasta Pot in Hackensack (your meal includes a salad) Indian - Maharani in Fort Lee (recent dinner for 2, 1 app, 2 curries, $43 incl tax & tip) Chinese - Taipai Noodle House in Teaneck (great noodle soups) Mexican - Il Gran Mexicano, that luncheonette place in Bogota ($2 tacos, but you'll want 4 or 5 of them)

After several attempts to go there for dinner on weeknights (need to remember to call ahead, one time they had just seated a walk-in), we managed to get a table for lunch on Saturday. Even at lunch they are now busier than they used to be on weeknights. An interesting phenomena that Joe has noticed is all the Asian women there every Saturday lunch. Jason proposed it is because their husbands were out playing golf. After striking up a friendly conversation about restaurants and eGullet with our neighboring table, they confirmed that indeed that's what their hubby's were out doing while they shopped and did lunch! I am very happy for them, although KT sounds like she could use a massaging foot bath for Christmas. This post is mostly a shameless plug so you guys remember to make your reservations.

We headed to Capri Mia in Hackensack about a week ago, a place we've been meaning to try for quite a while. When we arrived we were surprised to find that it had changed names, to the anxiety arousing "Pasta Pot" (complete with lighted sign including a picture of a pot of water over fire with ziti logs). "What the heck?!" we said as we decided to try it anyway, we were hungry and they weren't busy on the weeknight. In summary, it was worth the risk. The same people who've owned Capri Mia for about 10 years, had recently decided it was time to downscale the operation. It was previously a relatively formal place, located right across the street from a Target department store (which opened last year). Loyal customers had commented to them on more than one occasion that they had thought of going there for dinner after shopping, but didn't feel dressed for it (and other words to that effect). Rather than stick to their guns and die a slow death, they decided to adapt to the times and the neighborhood. They now serve a moderately priced Italian-American menu. Traditional favorites, like veal parmesean ($14.95) and chicken francaise ($10.95), pasta fagiole soup ($3.95) and rigatoni with meat sauce ($9.95). Seafood is represented as well, we've tried the Spaghetti Pescatore ($14.95) an excellent version with mussels, squid and shrimp, and the Sole Provencalse ($15.95), the filet topped with a light tomato broth and clams. What really makes their more casual approach work is that the food is delicious. The chef has made the rounds of the dining room on both of the occasions we ate there, saying hello to returning customers as if to reassure them that although the menu has changed, he is still there to take care of them. A table next to ours on our first visit was obviously regulars who looked nervously as the revamped menu. The waitress reassured them, saying if they have the ingredients they'll make any of their old favorites they wanted. On our second visit we really tested their new casual approach, by coming with a toddler in tow (our god-daughter and her parents). On a Saturday night no less (we're evil)! However, it was "no problem to have a high chair ready" they said when we called ahead. The staff were all very accomodating and the baby loved all the bits of food we put in front of her, as did the adults. We have been told that all the desserts are homemade, but have yet to sample them. On our Saturday night visit, specials were offered as a menu insert (with prices). They do have a liquor license and a moderately priced wine list (six choices by the glass for $5 each, bottles ranged from $17-$32). The only dish that we've tried so far that has not been steller was the veal piccata, I didn't care for the strong wine taste. Other than that dish we are very pleased to recommend the Pasta Pot. Pasta Pot Restaurant and Grille 70 Hackensack Avenue Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-489-0743

We went there and thought it was pretty good, but not the best ever. We sampled udon soups and sushi. They did prepare some of the best edamami we've ever had - served hot and not overcooked. Also, the desserts were completely worth it. I wasn't going to have any, but when told they had homemade apple pie (at a Japanese restaurant!?) I had to try it. It was more of a apple napolean, sauteed apples layered between phylo, baked crisp. A completely unJapanese dessert. The fried bananas were more in keeping with an Asian restaurant, but they too were presented in a very contemporary manner. We'd go back if we were in the area.

Did your classmate have to completely start over, recutting all the potatoes? Is there a reason why he couldn't have A) put the potato slices in water to prevent oxidation, or B) begin simmering the potatoes in milk while getting the cheese together? Or, did he just not realize that the potatoes would oxidize if he left them sitting on the counter? If this is the case, did your instructor go over the options your classmate had other than allowing the potatoes to go to waste? I'm sure you are following recipes, but in a real restaurant you would have to adapt if problems come up and you wouldn't want to waste your resources either.