mjr_inthegardens

where can I find them in downtown manhattan?

sad to report that perhaps 1 in 3 'bartenders' in NY knows how to make a sidecar based on my observations

I. am. so. down. -mjr

I have a small set of wusthof classic knives Got them for last christmas and they've never been pro sharpened I feel it is time What edge do I request for them?

My friend helped design the OXO and he raves about it. Biased obviously but generally not given to hyperbole.

A couple of recent dining notes from Brooklyn: Paid another visit to Dafonte's sandwich shop and tried the Roast Beef with Fried Eggplant and Provolone. Unfortunately not as characteristic as other sandwiches I have tried there. Both the more traditional italian sandwiches that my sister and gf got were better. The pickled peppers they add to sandwiches are to die for. The fried eggplant adds a substantial weight to all the sandwiches it is featured on, but I suggest sometimes is better not adding. The sandwich bread, meats and fixings remain top notch and make Dafontes one of the best sandwich shops in Brooklyn that I've visited. Dafonte's is on Columbia Street in Red Hook. The counter guys are really friendly and are true blue Mets fans. ---- Had Sunday before labor day dinner at Queen on Court Street (above Atlantic Avenue), my first visit. Very impressed. A special menu for the day we dined was adorned with specials from the sea, the land and the noodle. We opted for an escarole appetizer to split -- sauteed with golden raisins, garlic, and pinenuts. Fantastic and spooned out to two serving plates by the waiter. Queen has the style of the white table Italians of old. I opted for a pasta special -- 'Paccheri al Forno', Rigatoni with fresh peas and proscuitto. Piping hot from the oven, this creamy homespun dish was thick rigatoni (not homemade I think) with rich cream and chunks of proscuitto. I'm afraid it outshone my companion's Linguine alla Vongole, which though it was a well turned rendition with whole fresh clams, lacked the same oomph. We followed with a fresh fig gelato which wasn't creamy enough for our taste but still hit the spot. I saw another table receive an order of Italian cheesecake which was portioned for a linebacker. I was sorely tempted. A couple of other highlights: -diverse fresh bread basket which was enhanced midway through our appetizer by the addition of warm parmesan rolls, sort of cheese zeppoles. Delicious. -most perfect espresso I've had outside of the mother country At $72 + tip for a sunday dinner for two with 2 glasses of wine, it's not exactly cheap, but with this level of service it's well worth it. Everything I thought Marco Polo might have been when I came to the nabe. Cheers -MJR

It is a little annoying when dining at a $50 a head establishment in NYC to have to use Chinatown equivalent bathrooms. Duane Park Cafe is a good example of this. Going to the loo distinctly feels like leaving the first world for the third. -Mjr

Fluid is supposed to be good (for prog house, tech house) but you should ask on Maneo.com or if I can toot my own horn, Rhythmism.com. Those are nightlife message boards. -MJR

I think that would give me agida

I think that squeat was saying they preferred people to order them during that time rather than during evening hours.

recent threads on this subject: One visit to Oak Tree Road http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=46196 Ming http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=12290 Dragonel (chinese indian hackensack, recc by j. perlow) http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=35844 South Indian dining in North Jersey http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=4410&hl= Moghul http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=11321&hl= There are other threads too. Map of Oak Tree Rd with business names/restaurants http://www.indianj.com/oaktree/default.asp

You've clearly been frequenting the wrong parts of NJ You need to go to Oak Tree Road in Edison/Iselin NJ (Exit 131 on the Parkway) Moghul, Moghul Express, Ming for Indian/Chinese, and a whole bunch of other fast food and sit down restaurants. -mjr

If you want to see a real street festival and are in NY in September, check out the Atlantic Antic, last saturday in September, Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn. -mjr

I would have mentioned to her the 8pm show That way she could be sure to accomodate you Waitresses aren't mindreaders

Heikki, I love your site and your experiment documentation! Keep it up!

re the dallas news website I always use bugmenot.com to get around pesky privacy invading regstrations -mjr

According to http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/08/...ds_downtown.php Beard Papa Japanese Sweets Cafe is opening a location near NYU. I suspect many of egullet's NY crowd are black-wearing, cafe-haunting downtown sophisticates, so this should be good news. -mjr

I was under the impression that bacardi bottled beverages in the US and Smirnoff Ice were MALT beverages not liquor mixed with mixer. You have to go north or south of the border for those.. (v popular in Canada) -mjr

To try and convert carnivores.

Had a pleasant dinner at Landmarc on Saturday last Were eating light because of a heavy night of partying ahead so just split an appetizer, had an entree each, and followed with 2 desserts. We split a 1/2 bottle of a '00 Chateau St Georges, I think a cabarnet blend that was very nice and a good price $18. The goat cheese profiteroles were very light and the goat cheese had a strong sweet flavor. I had the quail with bacon, mushrooms and halved cherry tomatoes in a reduction which was loaded with flavor from the bird and the lardon. The sides combination with the quail definitely appealed to the englishman in me. I have to report that my girlfriend's medium hangar steak came out decidedly medium rare. Still delicious, if a little chewy, but I think the kitchen may want to pay a little more attention to color/temp in the steaks. Our desserts and espresso (nice layer of "froth") were perfect in portion -- not too much to burden us but ample to share. We had the ideally tart lemon tart and the blueberry crumble on suggestions from here. Our waiter was friendly and conversant about the menu. We also discussed Amanda Hesser's insult of their desserts as "priced at $3, alas $2.75 too high". I take it they were taken aback as they consider the desserts to be not revolutionary but certainly good and innovative in price structure. At <$100 before tip for the meal we will definitely be back. -mjr edited for grammar

was it diff. to get reservations?

HOT SAUCE IS CRUCIAL!!! GET EXTRA NAPKINS!

That is not an italian cheeseburger sub It is a Fat Cat. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=38713&hl= Adding Bacon & Eggs is another option. -mjr ps I always had a soft spot for edam cheese, fresh sliced tomatoes, butter on wheatbread and S&P.

Westside!

one of my favorite dishes is a quinoa mango red-bell-pepper curry that I found on epicurious It's great cold and is still filling with great taste peaks from the mango, mint and curry -MJR