Rachel Perlow

Jason's parents are taking us to The Breakers for Sunday Brunch. I don't think we'll be doing much northwards driving as I'll be visiting my uncle in the hospital in Miami a couple times during the week. Any more suggestions?

Nick - all very good points. That said, we went to Wondee's last night. A while back someone complained that they burned themselves on the metal pot the mussels came in. We ordered them for the first time last night and they are now served in a ceramic vessel. May not keep them as hot from first mussel to last, but then there's no hospital visits either. BTW, now that I've had the mussels at both locations, they are both very good, but I don't remember the mussels at Bangkok Garden being as gritty as the ones last night were. I don't know if it is the restaurant's fault or just the way mussels are right now.

Steven, Are you prohibited from posting weblogs here because of your articles appearing in canada.com and Canadian newspapers? We miss your journals.

I've never made any Biryaani at home, do you have a good recipe for it Suvir? If I were going to order Biryaani out at a restaurant, I would probably get a lamb, shrimp, combination or veggie biryaani before a chicken one. However, we usually just stick to the regular rice or a simple pillau with spices and peas as they don't compete with the sauces of the other dishes.

Since I'm interested in attending the walk at the South Mountain Reservation, and I live in NJ, I'll be driving. I would offer you a ride, but the Millburn train station is right across from where they are going to meet up. The walk leader called me back a couple of days ago. I told him that it was to be my very first time mushroom hunting, he said I shouldn't try to carry a book and a basket at the same time and that they do mushroom IDing during the lunch break (told to bring a sack lunch & water). He also told me to check with him a few days before any walk to make sure it is still on (in case of dry weather & poor mushrooming). Do you know of a handy lightweight guidebook or online guide I could bring that wouldn't be in the way (I could do a color printout of online sources). Also, do you know what kinds of mushrooms are to be found at that location then? He mentioned chicken mushrooms among others.

And I thought I was a klutz! I can usually manage to chop my veggies w/out incident, but I've sliced my left middle finger on several different occasions. I can still recall how each scar was acquired (usually slicing fruit while held in hand instead of on a cutting board). Unattentiveness led to the burning of a favorite skillet, really big flames, thankfully I had the lid to contain the flames nearby. Lots of small burns, even one on my foot from dropping a little almost boiling water. Tattling on Jason: recent grilling had a major flare up. I was yelling, shut the lid and turn off the gas - He ran inside to get the tongs to save the food, got to have your priorities! Tommy - water on hot oil? Even I'm not that brain damaged!

I wanted to add a Thank You to Mark for planning the next dinner. I will be crazed this summer with work about to begin on our kitchen (finally!) in about three weeks so I really appreciate his initiative. If anyone would like to plan a dinner I think it is a great idea, it isn't that difficult and it is fun too. We have found an early Sunday dinner to be the best time, although lunch would be welcome too, but of course, if you are planning it, you may set whatever parameters you’d like. You can completely arrange the menu and price ahead of time or, if the restaurant prefers, have everyone order from the menu and split the bill at the end (be sure to post an estimated cost). Also, BYOB places are preferred, but not required. And be sure to post if the place doesn’t have a no smoking area. Feel free to email me for help or advise.

The mango sorbet is all ready! I made it yesterday, what a sticky mess. It is awaiting the pot luck well wrapped in our deep freeze.

Bangkok Garden used to be our regular Thai place, and we recommended it to people frequently. However, since we started going to Wondee's we've only been back there a couple times. It is a prettier restaurant, which may be important to you if you are going with non-foodie people or on a date. The food is quite good, but the food-vibe at Wondee's is much more serious.

tommy, you used to live in NYC, didn't you? As someone who grew up in NJ you get used to traveling the Parkway/Turnpike whenever. It is a cliche I resent out of state-ers using, but the "What exit are you?" joke is really a truism. If you are so concerned about the driving, we could carpool to the restaurant. Mark, pick a date/time and stick to it. I think it sounds great, but you can't please everyone all the time. The only other place I suggest you compare dates with is the NY forum, cause you wouldn't want to have it on the same date as on NYC event. And you don't want to have it the same weekend as a holiday (like July 7th). As for me the last two weekends in June and July are both free right now.

I used my food mill most recently when making Mango Sorbet. Tommy, what kind of food mill do you have?

I don't know how "authentic" they are, but the only Penang we've been to is the one in East Hanover, NJ. It is excellent. Sometimes there are some service difficulties, but we have enjoyed about 95% of the food there. I especially like the Pearl Noodles, Clay Pot Noodle Soup, the Tofu Nyonya, any and all of the fresh fish dishes, the Jumbo Shrimp prepared in a variety of ways, the mango or pineapple chicken is good for someone who is unfamiliar with the food (a "safe" choice, for my dad, for instance). I second that. Great idea. Please have it on a weekend night so we can come. I'd love some education on the cuisine, because, as I said above, Penang is our only experience with it (well there was a place in Washington DC too, but I don't think we ordered right there). Yay! Goody, I'm excited. I hope your Malaysian friend will come to the dinner, too.

Ted, Welcome. I'm glad you were able to figure out how to post. Our other two dinners were both on Sundays, and we will be having them on Sunday again. I don't think we'll be having any big events on weekdays due to people's work schedules. However, because it is actually more convenient for many, the NY Forum has discussed doing NYC events on weekdays and has had a lunch and a "pub crawl" during the work week. Anyway, despite the small turnout, last night was very nice. Sean at Bella Rosa really worked hard to welcome us. They put a "Bella Rosa Welcomes eGullet.com" insert in the menu folder with our personal menu. Several different appetizers and salads were passed by the waiters. Interestingly, even though we could select any entree on the menu we wanted, three people had the Veal and Shrimp Amaretto, and there were three orders of the Onion Crusted Halibut (which I had, it was delicious). The desserts were particularly generous. Very popular were the warm chocolate cake (which wasn't melting as I thought it would be ), the Cobbler of the Day was apple and it looked good. Both of these were served with homemade ice cream. We all talked and talked, and finally just had to roll out of there, where we talked some more outside. We had to admit it was rather loud in there. But I think the management likes it that way, they know when it's busy! However, if the noise really bothers you it would be an issue. Sean said it is less noisy during the week and you can't please everyone. Their creative and delicious food is enough to please me.

We're down three people due to colds, oh well. Someone else was worried about being late due to an appointment. So, I'm changing the reservation to 6 PM. I contacted almost everyone by phone, so see you in a few hours.

We've already discussed it with Katie.

See you all tonight!

Glad you liked it. Did you happen to tell Katie or Joe in a previous visit that we recommended it to you? They said someone came in saying we referred them, and we figured it was you.

Hey I remember that radio show! What ever happened to that guy?

Ooh, how about a lemony-tart icing as a dip/glue? That would be a nice foil to a creamy vanilla pastry cream. I think they would be a little like glazed donuts. When your friend uses white chocolate, is the ball completely covered or just partially, enough to glue it to the adjoining balls? It would be a beautiful dessert for Christmas if completely covered then drizzled with red and green colored white chocolate.

B Edulis - Are you planning on going to the hunt in NJ? (we could ride-share) This would be my first time out foraging for mushrooms period, and I need some hand-holding I think. Are the members usually helpful to newbies, or do they expect everyone to have their own guide books and be able to identify the different mushrooms for themselves? BTW - I haven't yet heard back from the walk leader from my phone message.

Quoting the article in question: This seems to sum up the article to me. You can use a crappy electric stove as long as you pre-heat the pan and use an exhaust fan that sucks all the smells outside!

I don't know how he ranks them, but they are not in alphabetical order. eGullet used to be way down the page (with CH nearer to the top), now we are like the 3rd link listed!

I think the place you are referring to is called Tawaraya (you had put Tawarana, I've edited the thread title). Here is a link to the thread where we previously discussed it: Japanese restaurants/NJ Forum. The main dining room area wasn't very busy, but there were people at the sushi bar and there are also areas off of the main dining room (booths and I think tatami). They would do better to try to seat people in the main room before the side rooms so they'd look busier. Re: sushi, I asked the sushi chef what was fresh, and we had a few pieces, and it all seemed fine. However, what they specialize in is an extensive selection of appetizers. Of course, Tuesday night wouldn't be as busy as a weekend, and I think they do a pretty good lunch business. They are also one of three restaurants, so I'm sure that the ingredient ordering is shared by all three.

I've only been to 2 of them: 12 MENCHANKO-TEI 16 GRAND SICHUAN INTERNATIONAL MIDTOWN There are just so many places to try in this area of the country. I'm overwhelmed.

The code for a wink is :wink: not ;) on this website. It's that way cause we kept getting smilies in all these weird places, like within date/time, when you just use the : ) thing.