Curlz

That's because you people live in the BOONIES and can't get there fast enough!

SO true! But if you think I have the full list of dishes memorized, well...give me another few visits! I just had leftover chicken casserole for lunch. DElicious, and even spicier today than it was last night...YUM.

I guess I've been too busy eating at Chengdu 1 to post about it here, but last night (after my first great meal of '08) I realized that we're doing our fellow eG readers a disservice by not reminding you all of how wonderful the food is here! Thanks to a certain person who shall remain nameless, I've been going to Chengdu 1 at least twice a month, and the food just never fails to knock us out. I've taken friends who aren't normally excited about food, I've taken vegetarians (!), and I've even taken my folks. Everyone agrees that this is exceptional food at exceptional prices, and we always introduce someone to a dish they've never seen/heard of before. Our crew's consistent favorites: The (free) pickled broccoli stems in hot oil Spicy Baby Wontons (get a bowl of rice and pour the remaining sauce over it) Lamb with Spicy Pepper Sauce Salt and Pepper Shrimp (these seem to get larger each time I'm there) Snow Pea Tips Chicken Casserole Whole fish in hot bean paste Ants on a Tree Shredded potato with pepper Double-cooked pork Sausage with leeks Chicken (or shrimp) with crispy walnuts Scallion pancakes Peking Duck (with HOUSE MADE pancakes!!!) I also want to remind those who are spice-shy (or intolerant) that Sichuan food isn't all spicy! There are plenty of options on the menu, and the chef (Lien) and the waitresses will tell you honestly if a dish is hot. I've also found that the heat from the spices/peppers used is very different from the heat you'd get when eating something like a jalapeno; even if I try something that's too spicy for me, it hasn't killed my palate for the evening. The heat/spice hits, and then it dissipates. Bottom line is that this is a VERY good restaurant and if you haven't already given it a try, it's well worth the trip.

I'll usually choose drinking dessert over eating it! Here are a few of my favorites: Licor 43 Belle de Brillet pear cognac (not always easy to find but big stores can usually get it) A good glass (or 2) of port Quady Essencia Orange Muscat (sunshine in a glass, imo) Happy New Year, y'all!

So this place has already changed owners? That was fast!

I'm not sure why, but I'm always disappointed by Whole Foods' soups...are there any in particular that you like, Montclairite?

I suspect that most of the good soup available in NNJ is being made in our kitchens, Batard! I'm with you; there are very few soups that I can purchase that aren't overly salty/chemical, etc. The place that went out of business in Montclair was The Daily Soup, which was on Watchung, but not at Watchung Plaza. TDS is a small chain, also in NYC, and I'm pretty sure there is still one on Halsey Street in Newark near the Rutgers campus. I thought some of their soups were great, but definitely $$$$, especially for the serving sizes. While I'm not a huge fan of the place (maybe b/c there's something so old-lady about it), there is a place on Church Street in Montclair that has a number of (I'm told) house-made soups each day. Iirc, it's called the Stock Pot, but don't quote me on the name! It's across Church St from the movie theater. Tiny storefront. I'd tell you to go to Binh Duong in Belleville or Viet Ai in Florham Park to get excellent pho--even to go!

What kind of food/atmosphere/price point are you looking for? You can go up Bloomfield Avenue to Trattoria Fresco or Nori in Caldwell, go to Bacchus in Fairfield on Passaic Ave in Fairfield proper, have Indian food at Jyoti on Rt 46 immediately before Willowbrook Mall, or go another mile or two further on 46 and and have thai at River Kwai in Totowa or coffee/sandwiches/soups at The Find Grind in Little Falls...

What route are you taking to New Brunswick, Shmily? If you're coming up/down Rt 287, you can hit the new Amazing Hot Dog in Bound Brook...or eat at Wegmans in Bridgewater (they have a 'cafe' upstairs where you can eat food from their prepared department...there are also a few places along Easton Avenue in Somerset as well. Let us know; maybe we can offer some other ideas.

I'd go to David Drake, simply because it's at the top of my list of places in NNJ that I want to try!

Rosie's got a list here... Scroll down a little bit and you'll see the listings; most are for the Eve, so you should have plenty of choices. Enjoy!

Just heard back from my friend; it was the Bernards Inn that they loved so much (for both Christmas and New Year's Eves), but she said they haven't been there since '05 (darn kids...). SO--not sure that it's a good rec, esp since Shmily had a first-hand report. Just FYI.

Rosie has a list of restaurants that will be serving on Christmas Eve/Day here... scroll down to see them. From that list, it appears that Highlawn Pavillion, Hilton Short Hills and The Manor are options on the 25th, but I'd call around to be sure. Friends of mine also rave about The Bernards Inn, but that's a longer drive than what you seem to be looking for; just thought I'd throw it in the mix.

And I think I'll stick to A Mano.

From what I read in that article, they're currently only doing home delivery in/around Florham Park, which is in Morris County. If you click on the Contact link on their site, though, you'll find phone #s and an email...ask if they'll come out this way!

I was behind this truck on Rt. 80 out in Parsippany yesterday, and just had to find out what they were all about...anyone ever have their pizza? It's certainly an interesting concept! Their web site has a link to a terrific article from the Bergen Record; the visibility of the article looks bad when it first opens, but if you click on the article text, it enlarges it and it's very clear.

According to Grub Street, it's being served at Mercat, for a mere $14/plate--but will likely double in price next week. ETA: "...it’s the free-range ibérico and not the top-shelf “bellota,” which is made from pigs that are fed on acorns for the last four months of their lives. That variety, which we taste-tested a while back, will be available in July of next year."

Couldn't agree more! BUT. Some people are adamant about remaining clueless when it comes to eating or learning about food and/or its culture, history or traditions. I've learned that it's not worth my time and enthusiasm to try to get them interested. Then there are those fun moments when someone who has declared they will never eat ______ says "WOW. I never knew that's what ______ is supposed to taste like!" I'm happy to entertain/go out with people like that any day. Open mind, open mouth...

One of the head elves at AHD tells me that the Bound Brook location will open on Monday, Dec. 17th. Congratulations, guys!

I saw it on Rosie's list of December openings, but didn't realize they had opened this week--thanks for letting us know! What are the prices like? And are they offering takeout, or just eat-in options? I can't imagine that stuff travelling too well. Congrats to Zod and crew! Looking forward to getting in there--but I must admit that it will be tough not to go to the other next door.

TK, I completely agree with everything you said above--really! But I do think that these kids provide friendly (albeit slow and casual) service--and I do like the coffee there, 'tho I'm definitely no coffee expert. I do love Bluestone's coffee (and OMG, their zucchini bread!), but their hours don't always work for me. That's one of my go-to places in Montclair. Definitely a different 'vibe' from FG, though.

Just want to bump this up and thank SK for posting about Viet Ai... I found myself in Florham Park today and in need of lunch when I remembered reading that there was good Vietnamese nearby, and a bowl of pho seemed like the perfect lunch on a cold day--indeed it was! I arrived just before 1, and am absolutely serious when I tell you that I was the only non-Asian in the place (they probably seat 50-60 and the place was close to full)! That changed just a tad by the time I was leaving, but it's still an excellent sign, imo. I had my standard favorite, Pho Tai, which is very basic (just the raw slices of beef). This was a wonderful bowl of pho, though--the aromatics were particularly lovely, the broth included both onions and scallions, and the standard plate of bean sprouts, basil, and lime was overflowing. All for...5.95! Gotta love that. The menu was pretty large, but I'd say that the majority of people seated near me were having some type of pho; didn't see much else being ordered, save for some fried spring rolls. I'll certainly go back the next time I'm in the area. Thanks again!

I was back at the FG (yes, again) and I think I've figured out the a decent way to describe this place: it's rock and roll, not Mozart. I don't mean that in a nasty way; just in reality. You shouldn't expect to go in and find impeccable, efficient service; for that, my guess is you have to go to the corporate-owned giant. What I do see are decent manners and somewhat disjointed service, but a place that's comfortable with a great atmosphere and a nice overall vibe. There are kids (KIDS! Since I'm double their age so I can say that) working there when the owner isn't and they're nice, but they're not fine dining staff members. They sit down at the adjoining table to take your order, they tell you which items they hate or love on the menu, and they b.s. with their friends and the regulars who come in, and they hang outside in the back to have a smoke. If you can go to there expecting that sort of atmosphere, I think it can be very enjoyable. And the coffee is great, as are the cupcakes!

Heehee! But I'll say this; I'd have been willing to serve them to any of my food pals--they were that good. Go figure!

Can I admit this here? I think I can, so I will. Last week while doing a major cleanout/inventory of my freezer, I came upon three large Ziploc bags...one labelled Plain, another Sweet Potato, and the last Leek/Potato. Latkes from LAST YEAR. I decided to do the only proper thing; I threw a couple of 'em in to the toaster oven @ 375, and about 12 minutes later, I tried them. I can't even begin to explain how good they were! I swear, they tasted like they were made within the few days! I had wrapped them in single layers in parchment and then in foil before sealing the bags, and it obviously worked well. We had the remainder tonight, and the family didn't believe me when I told them (after they had each eaten one, of course)! Now if I want more latkes, I'll have to make new ones. I guess it's about time...