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lcdm

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Posts posted by lcdm

  1. Hi - Thanks for the replies. I think we are going to try The Park Steakhouse in Park Ridge. I'll let you know how it was.

    So how was it? If you were going to head into "North" Jersey, aside from the River Palm, I would have suggested you consider The Assembly. The Park is reliable and I hope you had a great anniversary.

    Hi we ended up at the park steakhouse. The appetizers, decor, and service were great. We split the porterhouse, creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes for our main meal. The steak was a little tough the spinach had a little too much nutmeg & the potatoes needed more salt. All in all it was fine (just could have been a little better) we had a nice time.

    Next time we'll try the River Palm.

  2. Hi - I'ved searched and read about NJ steakhouses and the thread is a little old. My husband and I are celebrating our 20th & we love steakhouses; we've been to a few in NYC and would like to try to stay in NJ this time. Can anyone recommend one? How is the River Palm Terrace in Edgewater or Edward's Steakhouse in Jersey City?

  3. I highly recommend - David Drakes in Rahway. My husband and I have been there twice - excellent food, wonderful service, small cozy & romantic.

    Cafe Matisse also has excellent food, wonderful service, and is small, cozy & romantic, but I would rate David Drakes a little higher. I think Cafe Matisse is a BYOB so you might want to bring something special to drink.

  4. My daughter is in Italy as an exchange student (jr in HS) for the full year.

    This is from my experience & in speaking with others. I do not know where you live. We had to go to the NYC consulate to apply for a student Visa. 1st I had to make an appointment by phone (which cost per minute - we called a service not the actual embassy, so no asking questions). I think I called in June and got a Sept appt. They are very strict. Which ever consulate you go to look at the consulate website and see what you need http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it/NR/exeres...RMODE=Published . Go to other travel site or the expats in Italy site mentioned above (here is one for exchange students - but it may help http://www.cultures-shocked.org/Joomla/forum/index.php. If one site says one thing and the other site says another either call or bring both items (from what I remember even the NYC site had different info on different pages).

    If they want something notarized get it notarized - even if it does not make sense. I had to have the bank notarize their own doc, the bank told me it was silly but I asked them to do it anyway. The Visa office wanted to see the raised seal. Make three copies of everything one to keep and two for the consulate.

    This may seem silly - but dress nicely, speak only when spoken to, be polite, follow all the rules (if it says to stand behind the yellow line - stand behind the yellow line) think of the soup Nazi episode in Seinfeld. If you get sent away because you are missing info - repeat back to them what you need politley, write it down & thank them. Do not argue or say - that the info is not on the site or why do I need that or I know of another person that did not need it. There was a guy standing in front of us in line that was going to culinary school in Italy and it was the third time he was back because he did not have the proper documents.

    One lady argued and they told her to come back in 6 months. When she said she would just go to Spain and get the Visa the consulate women blacklisted her in all the Schengen Countries (I guess they talk to each other).

    I think getting a work Visa for Italy will be difficult because their economy is bad and Americans are not tops on their list right now. I don't mean to discourage you - just to make you aware.

    Good Luck

  5. When I think of white fence - doll house here's what comes to mind:

    The Picket Fence

    The Cottage Garden

    Alice's Doll House (reference to Alice is wonderland)

    Queen Mary’s Doll House (famous doll house)

    Iris & Ivy, Wisteria Lane, The Lilac Inn (Nancy Drew reference)

    (or some other kind of purple/yellow/white flower reference) there are a lot of cool old garden rose names - like Ghislaine de Feligonde light yellow/blush european rambler; was propogated in 1916. here is the story behind the name, a young officer, the Count de Féligonde, who had been seriously wounded in battle and left between the lines in no man's land, where nobody could venture to fetch him. His wife, Ghislaine, hearing it, started at night, found him, dragged him to safety and nursed him back to health. Mr. Turbat, hearing the story of the heroic woman, decided right then to name his new rose "Ghislaine de Féligonde." Plant a few of the shrubs and name the place Ghislaines Cafe

    When I think of pastries/old Europe - I think of Vienna:

    Cafe Vienna

    Kaffeehäuser

    Cafe Mozart

    Cafe Europa

    Old World Cafe & Bakery

    French:

    "Your Name Here" Pâtisserie

    (but not Hac - makes me thank of hack - someone not skilled or to hack up something) - no offence but that what it makes me think of - of course this may be a USA thing and different in the Philippines.

  6. My kids love Honeycrisps. They even ask to have them in their lunchbox (that right there is enough for me to buy them). My husband went to the store last and purchased Gala, they were a lot cheaper and he figured they would not know the difference. He was wrong. I didn't even know what he bought until my daughter came up to me and said that the apples did not taste like anything; how come? I checked the tag and realized he picked up the wrong kind. Now the kids will not eat them (I'll make apple crisp or bake them). It's worth the extra $$ to me if they reach for an apple instead of junk for a snack.

    I myself like HoneyCrisps but my favorite apple is Granny Smith.

  7. Dried Blueberries, Cranberries, Cherries (from Maine/NJ/Mich)

    Salt Water Taffy

    Peanut Butter (candy, cookies, brittle)

    Local made jams/chutney/relish/salsa/butter (apple or peach butter)

    Small Batch wine/bourbon

    Jack Daniels soaked fruit cakes

    Dried smoked tomatoes

    Hawaiian coffee or macadamia nuts (candy, cookies, brittle)

    Brownies (we have had exchange students visit from Austria, Italy, France and Germany - and all of them loved Brownies - I was surprised that they did not have them in their countries - they really liked the little bite size Costco brownies)

  8. I made the red chilie chicken enchiladas last night they were very good. When I tasted them they were a little sweet for me, my daughter also made the same comment. It was than I realized I used a maui sweet onion instead of a regular one - duh. Besides that it had a nice balance of spice and the chicken/cheese/sauce ratio was perfect.

  9. If this was me:

    1. I would drop any expectations for a perfect Thanksgiving meal like cooked in the past - Thanksgiving is just a day - when I got back home I would host an alternate Thanksgiving diner and invite a few friends over.

    2. You are doing this to be with family that's the main focus - think of the cooking as a challenge or an adventure.

    3. As Marlene sugessted, I would call ahead and order a fresh turkey (to be honest I really can't taste the difference between fresh and free range) - also I would find out if they also offered any other Thanksgiving treats (maybe homemade pie, apple cider, soup, dressing......).

    4. I would get a 13 - 15 lb turkey, cook it unstuffed and use a probe thermometer, cook until thigh registers 170. Let rest before carving.

    5. Make the stuffing in a seperate dish & baste with turkey juices (not the same but it comes close).

    6. I would not worry about making any pies/dinner rolls. I would order ahead from a local bakery.

    7. Drink wine, enjoy my family's company, have fun and relax.

    8. If all else fails drink more wine & have a funny story to contribute to the cooking disaster thread. :smile:

  10. Thanks for your suggestions. I think you are right about the cookbooks.

    We are hosting a student from Italy this year - her favorite "American" items are brownies and pancakes w/syrup. Maybe I'll give my daughter some mixes and she can cook for the family. Our host daughter also loves Disney movies, I'll find out if the family has a DVD or tape player (but there may be diffrences), maybe something related.

  11. To serve eye round you would have to slice it very thin. My mom always made eye round - she cooked it about 25 minutes a lb. waited until it cooled a bit and sliced with a meat slicer. Last superbowl party I made it that way the day before the party and reheated in brown gravy, everyone made hot roast beef sandwiches. If you don't have a meat slicer maybe the supermarket/butcher would slice it for you.

  12. Hi - My daughter is leaving for a High School exchange later this month (she is 16). We have hosted 8 students and my favorite gifts were local cookbooks, most were in English. I was wondering if there were any American cookbooks that are translated into Italian. And if so would you think it would be good gift. If not maybe you could give me other ideas. I'm from NJ.

    Thanks - Lisa

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