Curlz

:laugh: And I'll echo his comments...a tasty bird indeed!

Raw tomatoes. ANY raw tomatoes. Heirloom, Jersey tomatoes in August...doesn't matter. Hate 'em. And olives. BLEAH.

I'm so happy that I've turned someone else on to the Costco chicken! Then again, that's one more pair of hands grabbing for them when they come off the spit... I'm going to ask my dad if he remembers what it is they DO to the chickens; I'm positive that he once asked, b/c he's the King of Costco. Iirc, they inject or brine them. And btw, I've never once had a chicken with dry white meat from there! Curlz

What she said!

I'm not a calorie counter by any means (please--if I were, I'd be a size 2 ), but I do have to have something every 3-4 hours--definitely a low blood sugar issue. I find that the Go Lean stuff is good b/c it's low in processed sugars, so it has better staying power. And for whatever reason, an apple is the best of all fruits for me in terms of how long it lasts. As for cheese, the mini Bonbel and mini Babybels are good 1-2 oz protein snacks, even better with the aforementioned apple.

First of all, let me say that while I'm sorry that the pup's pic gone, that is one cute kid! You are absolutely speaking my language here, Chris...I can eat lunch at 12 or at 1:30, and regardless of what I've had, the 3-4pm hour is always tough at work! I have an office job, and keep my desk stocked; there is always a Go Lean Bar (usually p.b./chocolate), a bag or can of almonds, a Nabisco 100-calorie pack (either Chips Ahoy or Oreo crisps), and some Go Lean Crunch cereal in my desk for just such emergencies. The cereal is there b/c I put it in a yogurt every morning, but on rare occasions when I'm truly starving, I'll put some in a coffee mug, add milk, and that's my mid-afternoon snack. When I have good apples in the house, I'll usually bring one in and have that either in the office or on the ride home if I've staved off the hunger pangs until then. All in all, pretty healthy stuff, I know! But I'm (GASP) not a sweet freak--for me, it's usually about getting some protein/fiber. Any one of those snacks plus a bottle of water will do the trick!

I'm a fan of Costco's rotisserie chicken...unlike the ones sold in area supermarkets, it's a large roaster--for $4.99--and VERY tasty. The only problem is getting one! I swear, there is a line at the counter every time I go, and the guy literally can't get them off the spit fast enough.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOW...thanks for posting all of those photos! They're gorgeous! Someone from Bride's mag was on Good Morning America yesterday, and she had 4-5 of the cakes in the studio; all I could think was that they moved them AGAIN and that they must be nuts! They showed the blue one with the lovebirds, the funky stripes and dots (inspired by a fabric that the creator liked), the bamboo one (which blows me away), the origami one, and the b/w 'Taj Mahal,' which she said is not the Taj, but an estate built in...oh, my brain...can't remember. Regardless, every single one of these is a true work of art. Thanks for sharing!

I know that Carvel sells a fat-free soft serve, but it's not sugar free. Ditto for hot fudge, iirc. Applegate definitely offers a handful of flavors, but they're not soft serve. With the many brands being offered in the stores, I'm hoping that local ice cream places aren't far behind! I always have some of the Klondike fat free/no sugar added bars in my freezer...

I would be that the Carnegie Deli or Katz's has kasha varneshkes (sp?) on the menu, if that's any help!

There's an interesting article about Jersey asparagus in today's Star Ledger.

Has anyone been here lately? I just found out I'm going in a week or so...

THE JEFFERSON. 14th and Washington, parking in the big lot at the top of Wash St (in front of the huge condos). TJ will validate. GO.

Have to agree with you, Tommy; we had this dish last week, and I didn't find the pieces of sashimi to be too big. There were generous portions (3 good-sized pieces each of tuna and salmon), and every piece of fish I had that night was just gorgeous! And yes, the sauce/dressing on the dish was light and refreshing--but also SPICY! In a very good way. Very good indeed...

Rosie-- Do you know if they're reopening at all? And if so, where?

I have, 'tho only for brunch so far...there are a few reports here. EDIT by JP: Threads merged.

Are you talking about the one behind Staples in Rutherford/Carlstadt?

The fully assembled Sandubao.

Congrats on this week's piece in the NYT! Are you the only writer who submits his own photos along with the copy?

Finally made the trip up Rt 17 last night, and our group of 7 enjoyed a CRAZY amount of food--a nine-course tasting menu!! Thanks to one of our crew working diligently with Vincent, we had the following: Tomato Egg Blossom Soup with cherry tomatoes and EVOO Spicy Tuna and Salmon Sashimi Salad with diakon, cucumbers, red radish, mixed lettuce and ponzu sauce Crispy Pansticker with Taiwanese Black Vinegar and Red Wine Gastrique Steamed Shrimp and Pork Wonton with Spring Rhubarb and Veal Reduction Thai Curry Udon Noodles with Angry Calamari with Red Thai Curry, Coconut Milk, and Thai Basil Soy Honey Glazed Black and Blue Tuna with stir-fry of Asian vegetables, Wakame Salad, Crispy Bonito Rice, and Marinated Diakon Pan Roasted Beef Triangle Steak with Roasted Garlic, Shaved Sweet Onion Salad, Black Pepper Coriander Gastrique Chilled Coconut Lemongrass Soup with Pineapple Salsa, Strawberries, Basil Oil, and Nata de Coco Banana Tart with Valrhona Chocolate Pastry Cream, Caramelized Banana, Malted Milk Shake, and Chocolate Ice Cream I did say it was a crazy amount of food, right?!? Needless to say, I'm having the triangle steak for dinner tonight! If I was forced to pick my 3 favorites, they would likely be the Angry Calamari (what they do to p*ss it off is beyond me...), the Black and Blue Tuna, and for sheer unusual flavors, the Coconut Lemongrass Soup. But it's tough to pick favorites, because we had SO many different things to sample! There is no question that this is a kitchen that is putting out some unusual, interesting and very tasty food. At various times throughout the evening, we commented on Thai, Vietnamese and other Asian flavors that were coming through the different dishes. MAJOR thanks to Vincent, Chef Doron and our server, Patrick!! We kept them all busy for the evening, and they kept us happy! Hopefully someone will get a few pics up for us... Edit: How could I not mention how beautiful the space is?!? Really unusual, more especially considering it's in a bland NJ strip mall!

Love the topic, Busboy! Depending upon whose info you use, I'm at the very early end of Gen Xers or the very late end of the Baby Boomers. Regardless, I never go to anyone's house for dinner or a party empty-handed; it's just the way I was raised. I've always enjoyed entertaining and cooking. My friends? They enjoy EATING. For the last 5 years or so, I've lived in modest-sized 1BR apts, but I'll still have 8-10 for a dinner party. I've learned that when friends ask "What can I bring," I'll ask for things like ice (my freezer's too full for a bag!), soda (I don't drink it--why waste the space?), flowers for the table, etc. I do this because if I say "You really don't have to bring anything. REALLY!" I end up with mediocre wine, candy that sits in my cabinets for years, or a case of beer that will require that I have a few of them over again just to get it out of my house. I'll always ask for help with dishes, as I have no dishwasher! I have no shame, nor do they, and it works out really well for all of us! My favorite recent example is one guy friend who can't cook, but he's a music FREAK. He arrived for my last party with a cd that he had made for me and said "Here. I don't bake, I burn." I'll echo the "It's about the fun, the love, the laughing" when I entertain--that's why I do it--because I want to!

It's really no different than what higher education deals with in terms of the US News & World Report rankings that come out every year; if you had a clue as to how USN&WR gets their numbers, you'd scream! But that's what prospective students look at when they start to consider universities--just as prospective diners look at Zagat. SIGH...

Glad you floated this topic back up...I just saw Sweet Potato and Pecan when I was at Egan and Sons last weekend. Does anyone know if they're any good? A friend said she heard it was "real deal Southern cooking!"

Actually, Lou, I think it was directed at me.

That's a rather surprising comment. Care to elaborate? Edit: I was merely pointing out that after Zagat's told the owner of a terrific restaurant that he was (finally) going to be in the new Zagat's guide, it was odd that there were no ratings to accompany the listing.