Curlz

I'm betting that you could also get one at any of the places in the Ironbound (Newark)...let me see if I can get a name or two for you.

TAP, TAP, TAP...hello, Eric! This is the UNIVERSE. Vibes are overwhelmingly good here for you!

I was recently at a small (15-20 tables) restaurant near where I live, and we commented to the owner that we were surprised that he didn't have a web site (they've been open for 8 months, fwiw). We had an interesting discussion about it, and he explained that he wants the place to stand on its own merits via word-of-mouth and local newspaper reviews (all of which have been good, from what I know). He said he doesn't want to make/break it because of a web site. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the topic...are there other restaurateurs who feel this way? I know what my comments were as a customer, but I'm curious to hear what others have to say.

There are a lot of decent restaurants (esp Thai, for some reason) in Somerset/Bridgewater. Unfortunately, I don't know the names of any of them as I don't live near there, but maybe some other folks will jump in with their thoughts. We just can't have you going to Ruby Tuesday's again!

FINALLY made it to Fortunato. Now I know what the fuss is about, and I have to start by saying that it's a very welcome addition to the neighborhood! Many of you may recall that I'm not exactly fond of the abundance of red-sauce Italian places in the Lyndhurst area; Fortunato is the exception. Chef Anthony LoPinto is cooking some wonderful food with great care, love, knowledge and passion--all of the crucial elements I like in a chef! Being the adventurous souls and good guests that we are (some might say ), we put ourselves in the chef's hands, and we weren't disappointed. First came mussels and clams in a stunning broth, with one slice of toast on top. Two slices of bread were brought over without our having to ask so we could mop up the broth (crucial); my only complaint would be that the bread was very ordinary, but since it was merely a vehicle for the broth, I didn't care. Next was the eggplant 'tower,' which was a gorgeous creation to look at, and even better when we cut in to it; a wonderful mix of textures and unexpected spices. The slices were fried, but not at all greasy, and had a great crunchy bite but you could still taste the eggplant (what a concept...). In between the slices (and on top of the tower) was what I can only describe as an eggplant mousse. Just LOVELY. Pumpkin ravioli. Two words that make me happy on their own, but put 'em together, and I'm thrilled! These were just fantastic. As I told the chef, he does a great job of staying away from sugar where many others feel the need to be heavy-handed. This became even more evident with the next course...a sea scallop with vanilla mashed sweet potatoes and a maple vinegar sauce. Fantastic sear on that scallop. And while the sweet sauce really could have taken over the dish, the balance of the unsweetened sweet potatoes, chock full of vanilla, along with a terrific side of spinach made all three of the items complement one another beautifully. And the scallop was about a foot in diameter. Seriously. HUGE. After the ravioli, I made the comment that although I certainly didn't mean it , I could have been done and been very happy. But no...there's MORE. Papardelle with braised short ribs and sausage. Exactly the kind of warm and cozy dish that you want to eat when it's crispy fall/winter weather (if we ever get that)! The papardelle were gorgeous, not at all gummy (as has been the complaint about them at other restaurants), and I was sadly too full to finish my portion. I will trek through a big snowstorm for this one! Then came dessert. Desserts. A very light individual cheesecake topped with mango, a roasted (mandoline-thin sliced and stacked) apple, with muscat-bloomed currants, cherries and dried apricot on top, and a hot apple cobbler with a scoop of good vanilla ice cream. I loved the spices in this cobbler--just wish I had room for more at that point in the evening! Finally, Anthony brought out a plate of chocolates, which he hand-makes and sells locally and of course, at the restaurant. I am not a chocoholic, but I swooned over the peanut butter-filled one and the rocher, which looked like a nest of almond slivers covered in stunning dark chocolate. Along with a glass of port, it was a lovely was to end a delicious meal. We drank wine throughout the meal, but I don't have the names in front of me. Know this--there is a large and very reasonably priced wine list. We did a loose count of 40 under $40 and 50 under $50. The bottle of sangiovese (?) that we drank was $39, iirc. And the stemware was stunning. Go. A lot of thought and love have gone in to this restaurant, the menu and the wine list. The place is small but cozy, the service personable, the staff knowledgeable and helpful, and both the chef and owner are very happy to have 'good eaters' in their midst. You'll definitely need a reservation for the weekends, but the weeknights are a great time to give it a try too. And although I neglected to get the details, the sign out front says that they are now offering a prix fixe for $23.95.

Didn't realize that Thai Essence was in the former LS location; I've heard good things about it from folks who live in Nutley, but haven't been yet.

Give him a break, Lou. It was 9:22pm on a Tuesday; he shouldn't have been typing at that hour!

Rich--What's the word...?!? How was your dinner?

Yeah...what's going on at eG today? I got the same notification/reply 6x!! Odd.

That IS good news indeed. The place has a very loyal following, so I'm not surprised it was full. Thanks for letting us know, Tom!

FYI, the Montclair FM will be open for the next two Saturdays (11/12 and 11/19); then they close for the season. Snif...

Duh. Forgot that info, huh? More of those corn-jalapeno-cream cheese muffins and one of the potato focaccias...the woman ahead of me sadly bought the last zucchini one, which I had my eye on, but seeing how quickly they all seem to sell, I went with my second choice. Will let you know how it is!

Hi. My name is Curlz, and I'm officially addicted to Gina's. Let me hear it...HI, CURLZ! And it's not JUST b/c the counter guy is so cute, either. PFFT! This is now at least a weekly stop for me, and since I was at the Montclair FM again today, well, I went to Gina's. Big news--they're going to start a mail order 'division'! I know that's not important for those of us in the area, but it's great for former Montclair-area residents who are missing those treats. Meanwhile, they're already taking orders for T-Day; there's a limited number of pies, muffins and breads b/c they get do such a huge amount that week. All orders have to be in by 11/17. And they'll be open on T-Day from 10am-2pm.

WEGMANS WEGMANS WEGMANS Not only do they have a tremendous selection, but their staff is VERY knowledgeable--and helpful!

While I have yet to eat at the Montclair location, we've done takeout a few times in as many weeks. Overall, I think their food is decent...it's certainly fresh and flavorful, and the prices are very legit for the portions. I've had the chicken Tinga burrito as well as the spinach/portabello one, and others have had the blackened catfish tacos and really enjoyed them. I'm particularly fond of their guacamole--something I've only begun to eat in the last year or two, believe it or not! Service is always friendly and competent. My only complaint is that their 8oz of guac (lg on takeout) is accompanied by the same small bag of chips that I got when I ordered the small (2oz) version. And of course, I didn't see this 'til I got home...

Friends whose eating habits I approve of ( ) ate at Lua last night for the first time...the report included a (warm) octopus salad ($12), a steak special w/mushrooms and squash in a port (?) sauce ($28) and a huge piece of "what appeared to be part of a full roasted pig that they just hacked off...it had a huge layer of fat on it, but the meat was terrific--very moist and tasted great!" That was $20. With 2 Coronas, a mojito ($10) and two $10 glasses of muscat for dessert, the bill was around $120 with tip. They said that the atmosphere was definitely NYC 'scene' and that the place is spectacular in decor. The noted that the service was excellent, but they noticed that there was an obviously planned mix of waiter 'types'--mostly attractive, seemingly gay (not that there's anything wrong with that...) males, and all very hip/trendy. This is coming from a pair in their (barely) early 30s who used to live in NYC, btw. They also said they felt like they were on a date, which they enjoyed. Haven't been there, but it certainly sounds like it's worth a trip.

Was going to point out the same thing. Well put, Tommy. As for the stemware, why is it that this place, which is touted for its wine list, has cruddy stemware?!? Btw, I think JohnL's comment that I always thought of P&O as a very good diner with a superb wine list really hit the nail on the head. Whenever anyone asks me about P&O, I find myself fumbling through a whole bunch of comments--that at least is a legitimate way to summarize it!

Talked to my dad (a legit wine guy), and he said he had no time to post right now, BUT... "It's unfair to make a statement about Canandaigua all being sweet...sure Mogan David is sweet, but they own so MANY wineries (too many for me to even think about) in the range of wine there are dry/drier and driest. Look up Canadahguia web site and see how many labels they describe! And if you want to add to the collection discussed...add Faithful Hound a spectacular Bordeaux blend made by Mulderbosch/Stellenbosch in South Africa...when we were there, we met the dog..I have a pic of him taking a log to the fireplace." I can vouch for said photo--it's hysterical! Their dog has been trained to stock the fireplace. When it's not lit. I hope.

I am simply thrilled to post these, both of which are in my collection: Big Moose Red (completely acceptable red table wine; my bro bought me 1/2 a case for my b'day last year) And last week, I accidently came across 3 Blind Moose, which is made by Canandaigua Wine Company; my dad tells me they're bigger than Gallo. I haven't tried it yet, but the label is what got me--and for $7.98/bottle... And the logo and text is hysterical, right up to and including a silhouette on the top of the capsule! If you haven't yet figured out MY favorite animal, check my avatar.

Good to see that great minds are working together tonight in terms of timing, Ms. Katie! I'm assuming that it's something that Suzi refers to as dope b/c of the effect it has when she eats it--just the same way that I refer to Dunkin Donuts coffee as crack. As in, "I need a cuppa crack... " b/c I don't know what it is they do to their coffee, but I. LOVE. IT.

Fwiw, there's an excellent Indian restaurant in northern NJ called Saffron. I love the idea of a one-word name, though, i.e. Tamarind.

Okay, for those of us DOPES, can you please explain what toast dope is?!? I hope you're not going to tell me to read through 400+ posts, Suzi!

Gastro--why not try to get a few informational interviews with the higher-ups at Dean and Deluca and other places that interest you? I think that it holds true for most professions that the viewpoints of a career can differ greatly from those who are actually walking the walk to those who are considering it. Chatting with someone who is working in the specific area you're interested in could be very enlightening, and most people are happy to speak honestly with someone who is considering a move like you are. You've got nothing to lose by asking...

This is interesting, b/c I really like the carrot/raisin muffins that MBC sells at the Farmer's Market, but I once bought a loaf of one of their multigrain breads, and it was so dry that I tossed it. Bleah.