[DIGEST: Gourmet magazine]

I really like the digests and am sad to see they have taken a back seat. I know they're a lot of work, but if there is a wide interest I think we should try.

I generally receive F&W, Bon App, Saveur, Cooking Light, and the NY Times and would be happy to cover one or two. (We place a lot of food ads for one of our clients, so I get put on a lot of comp lists. )

We should probably start a separate thread to determine interest.

[Brasserie Les Halles]

I'm not so sure this thread is being watched so closely lately, but as I just ate at the Park Ave LH last night, I'd like to drop my thoughts.

Overall, the food was great. I've now been to both Downtown and Park and am very happy with the experiences. My previously red meat averse better half loved the steak frites and salade and we now routinely order the same. The Onion soup is classic and actually tastes like caramelized onions, broth and good, stinky Gruyere. The best. We ordered an apple tart for dessert which is classic as well, but a hell of a lot better than the version I make at home.

But, I have to say that our waitress left a lot to be desired. We were greeted at the table with "Oh. Did you want to order?" This was after she walked past us with her hair clip in her mouth, turned around quickly to address us, and then finished putting her hair up.

On a positive note, she ignored us for the rest of the night. So we didn't really have to deal with her till the check. (Which was reflected in the tip.)

I love the food and will keep going back. But perhaps I'll stay downtown.

[Richie Cecere's Restaurant]

Also, it's in a very weird spot near the train station. You would never know it's there unless you were looking for it.

[Richie Cecere's Restaurant]

I recently took a group of clients to Richie Cecere's. Overall, we all felt the food was passable but the service was a bit smarmy and confused. (I'm in advertising and with a food client no less, so we generally try to pick interesting places. Please, don't hold my work against me. It's a means to an end, and if your end is good food, then Adv is a good place to be.)

They had an interesting array of appetizers from grilled scallops to sashimi salads. Several of us had the Steak au poivre, which was a huge cut and had a good crust. It also felt a bit hard to classify the place as the menu included foie gras, something Don Amiche, things stuffed into puff pastry, and baked brie. A very Northern NJ/Sopranos goes to France kind of feel.

The worst part of the dinner was the bar service. While the wine selection was good, the waiter had a hard time translating our drink orders to the bartender. I ordered a vodka gimlet and repeatedly got straight vodka. With only two ingredients how do you screw up a gimlet?

The food was passable but the staff seemed very "slimy".

[English Traditional]

I can attest to Sally Lunn in the heart of Princeton. It's right on Rt27 just across the street from the university.

It's an old, pink looking house that smells of lavender on the inside. I had a great curried chicken/ mango salad the last time I was there. Though we purchased the best lavender tea and fresh strawberry scones from the take out spot/ pantry downstairs. They had a lot of traditional (or what looked traditional to me) English groceries.

Scones were definitely not like any other I've had. Much more creamy and light.

(Sorry if this post is a bit off the mark for the dish you are looking for, but hey, you asked.)

[Red]

Rosie,

Thanks for the post/review. I'm a fan of Red Bank and always thought it was just a "trendy" place to get a drink. Never considered the food. I will absolutely try it now.

On a separate note, have you tried La Petit France? It's open for about 4 hours a week and feels like you've just stepped off a plane in Paris. (Not that I've been, but it's what I imagine it to be like.)

Flounder

[Superbowl Food]

I thought it was a great half time show. That is, if it was 1997.

As far as the food went, we had the standard fare: wings & junk food, but I also made Alton Brown's sliders. After watching his "Man Food" show during the week, I thought 'why not'. They were pretty easy too.

Just a little ground meat rolled out on a sheet pan, seasoned, and sliced into squares.

Everyone had them, and no one got sick, so I claim it as a success.

[Best Drunken Meal]

If you're from Central NJ, like I am, it's a toss up between:

Exit 12 on the NJ TPK's "Burger Express", where a greaZZy, deep fried chicken breast sand w/mayo, a Mountain Dew, and cheese on the free fies (crinke cut that is) will put you into a guranteed oily coma

-or-

A Fat Cat from the Grease Trucks at Rutgers. Nothing's better after a night of binge drinking than 1/2 an Italian roll stuffed with 2 cheesburgers, fries, lettuce, ketchup and mayo. Also, who doesn't love the random middle eastern man who runs the truck asking you (in your best Turkish/American accent) "Hey buddy. Where you been? How's class?"

[Lavender]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

We'll check out a couple sources and let everyone know which ones worked and how the dishes turned out.

Flounder

[Lavender]

On a recent visit to Gramercy Tavern in NYC, my girlfriend and I had a great Chocolate Creme Brulee with Lavender. (We also had an unbelieveable Thyme flavored ice creme.)

But we are trying to re-create the Brulee and were wondering if anyone knew of a place to get some Lavender in Central New Jersey?

(Plus, if anyone has been to Gramercy Tav lately we would love to hear about that too. But maybe in another forum.)

Flounder

[Wegmans Tandoori Oven]

I grew up in Woodbridge and can't beleive they get a Wegmans after I move away. (Luckily I moved close to the Manalapan one!) It's a great idea and there is no way the tandoori oven is not connected to the HUGE Indian community less than 5 min away in Iselin.

I've talked to people from Manhattan who couldn't tell me what was on the other side of the Lincoln or Holland tunnels, but they knew you could get a sarri in Iselin.

Separately, I'm happy to see the area going through some good changes in the past 6 mos or so. There is now a Wegmans, a Panera, a Cheescake Factory, a Benihanna and a 2 level Barnes & Noble within 5 min of each other. This may not seem that earth shattering, but for a while the only thing to get excited about was the re-development of Menlo Park mall.