Rachel Perlow

Folks, we have decided to postpone this event. We will consider rescheduling it in the Spring of 2006. I know that several NJ, Philadelphia and NY eGullet Society members are heading to Varmint's Pig Pickin, myself included, so I hope to meet some of y'all there. To answer one question in advance, yes, if you have already paid, we will issue refunds upon request (of course, you always have the option of making it a contribution to the eGullet Society!).

Make lots extra. Mmm. I make mine with hard cooked eggs chopped in, usually red potatoes or any new/small potato, scallions or red onion, mustard, mayo, vinegar, celery... I don't usually work with a recipe for potato salad, but if there's a spot at the stove to boil more potatoes, I'll make some on Saturday. Hopefully, I'll get that mini-fridge for the jello mold making on Friday -- anyone down there have a hot pot/electric tea kettle I could borrow for jello mold making at the hotel? -- so I could store it back at the hotel on Saturday night.

Watching No Reservations this week put me in the mood for Vietnamese food. I came to this thread looking for a picture of the snake in a bottle liquor that I know we took a picture of a couple years ago. I think we'll head over to Saigon R for some Grilled Pork topped Bun for lunch. Mmm.

If it's as good as you all keep saying, I'm sure we'll be joining any additional field trips that weekend as well. It never hurts to ask if they'd deliver, the worst that could happen is they say no.

With that size order, perhaps they'd deliver? That way you can schedule the delivery for a few hours into the day, rather than take up room in the freezer or worry about them melting, etc. Who knows, they might already have one of those freezer carts or something for street sales. A free invite to the pig pickin might be fair trade for them to send over a vendor to pass out "free" pops. They could pass out coupons (or business cards or flyers) for the locals. Regardless, I believe a detour to the place is in order straight from the airport, before checking into the hotel even.

I've sent a request in to the Brownstone for a mini-fridge for the room. I wouldn't want to risk a non-level surface, or the mold being jostled while gelling, in your packed refrigerator that weekend.

Well I was going to volunteer to make the potato salad or banana pudding, but these seem to have been spoken for. I guess I'll just be on hand to do tasks people assign me. I'm pretty handy in the kitchen myself. <-- Anyone sign up to make a jello mold yet?

I know you're the queen of deviled eggs, but JIC you didn't ever think of it (I certainly didn't until it was mentioned here), it is most convenient and space saving to slice the whites in half, remove the yolk, store whites in an airtight container, prepare yolk mixture(s), store the mixure(s) in baggies. Bring to party separately, snip off a corner of the baggie and use as a pastry bag to fill the trays as needed.

This thread reminded me I have banana chips sitting in my dehydrator in the garage, for about a week, whoops! They're quite brown and stuck to the tray. Ah, so that was the inspiration for Fear Factor.

That was a Japanese supermarket, not Vietnamese. The only Vietnamese store I know if is in Maywood and it is tiny. Or maybe it's Thai. But Mitsuwa is definitely Japanese. For those who liked the look of Bobolink Dairy in the winter, you should check it out in the late summer/early fall... by coming to the NJ Potluck!

It's for those who want to be more generous.

Since Varmint's got like a 100 people or more coming to this event, I'm going to plug the NJ Potluck over here. Did you see the Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations episode about New Jersey last week? Well, our event on September 18th is taking place on that dairy farm that also bakes bread. Come see Bobolink in all its late summer glory! You can taste the cheese and bread, buy some to take home, pet the cows, try to catch a chicken, all in an area of New Jersey that most tourists never see. Plus, it's very close to the Hudson Valley area of New York -- you could tour some wineries! For more information, click here for the Third Annual NJ Potluck and eGullet Society Fundraiser.

Thanks for the great idea, Susan. I happen to have all that in my fridge or garden right now. I think I'll be making that very soon.

You can prepare the crostini for bruscetta ahead of time, they keep for quite a while in airtight containers. I was also thinking of interesting homemade crackers.

For the spinach, I would figure 1 bag for every 4 people. I know when I make it as a side dish for dinner, 1 bag is barely enough for the two of us, but you'll have other vegetables, so people will take a smaller amount of the spinach.

I don't know the actual name of the restaurant, but the only English on their sign is the words "Soft Tofu" and it is on Main St. in Fort Lee, a couple blocks east of Lemoine, on the south side of the street. I liked most of the episode, but the part about the shore, only showing condemned and depressed parts of Asbury Park pissed me off. He couldn't contrast that with a few shots of the more family friendly (Seaside, Point Pleasant) and/or adult oriented (not in a Bada Bing way) (Belmar, Atlantic City -- he coulda hit White House Subs) areas? It just seemed like he was saying the whole of the Jersey shore is downtrodden. In the rough cut version I got to see on tape (unfortunately after I had already interviewed Tony), there was also a very nice scene with Jose de Meirelles from Les Halles, where they explored Newark's Ironbound section, including a great looking meal at Seabra Marisqueira. That bit was so much more interesting than a rehash of the "real Sopranos" locales and a run down HoJo's. Did you know that Newark has the largest population of Portuguese outside of Portugal? Jose wants to have a vacation pied a tere in Newark!

I'd fly into Newark if you're going to fly. Ronnie could forward you a lot of info that I sent him with regard to timing.

Just a heads up to everyone... I need to confirm the rentals by September 1st, so please sign up and pay as soon as possible, so we have a realistic headcount. Thank you.

Japanese supermarket: Mitsuwa Corp Address: 595 River Rd, Edgewater, NJ 07020 Phone: (201) 941-9113

The only problem I can see with getting congee at any of the above mentioned Chinese places (add Silver Pond in Fort Lee to that list too), is that you are planning on being there at night and isn't congee a breakfast food? That said, there are plenty of interesting and/or simple noodle soups available at all these places. For your trip from EWR to the throughway, China 46 might be the easiest detour, or Taipei Noodle House in Teaneck (483 Cedar Ln, 201-836-8230).

It looks like you have to exert considerable pressure on the mango to make the splitter go through. The mango in the movie looked rather firm. I wonder how a soft ripe mango would come out?

Drove by the Pasta Factory in Teaneck the other day and noticed tables & chairs on their patio.

OK, OK! Stop teasing! We're coming. Plane tickets are purchased. Hotel and car are reserved. And, the one you care about, Pig Pickin Tix purchased. See you next month!

Varmint - How far is this from your place? I think a field trip may be in order for Saturday of Pig Pickin weekend. Hmm, it's only about 20 minutes from the airport...