Curlz

That's a great description, Chef, as my suggestion was going to be that Glenn call it the Sinus Cleanser (or something like that)...

edit: WRONG THREAD--sorry!

I'd like to strongly recommend you get OUT of South Orange/Maplewood after graduation at SHU...those are fairly small towns, and I can only imagine how nuts every restaurant is after graduation takes place!! Plus, parking can become an issue with some places. First things first, though--does he want a place where he can afford to treat a large group to dinner, or is his preference to have them join him afterwards for drinks? I couldn't tell from (I assume) his note to you, but I think knowing that would make a difference. Either that, or give us a price point! BYO thoughts, along with the restaurant web sites (do a search on the NJ forum of eG and you'll find plenty on each): Trattoria Fresco in Caldwell (esp in May--you might be able to sit out on the patio!) would work well whether for dinner or joining up for drinks, and it's all of about 3 miles further than Highlawn Pavillion and a LOT more relaxed. And I'm betting that Evan could work out a menu for you/him if he does want to host dinner!! Scalini Fedeli in Chatham (more $ but still BYO) is lovely for dinner but may be too $$ for a big group. If he'll give up the BYO idea and/or wants a better location for drinks after dinner, the lounge at the Hilton Short Hills would work well. For a non-BYO dinner, how about Restaurant Serenade in Chatham? I'll keep thinking on this one...but whatever you do, don't wait too long to make a reservation wherever you end up! It's only a month away, after all.

SO sorry, gang! It didn't occur to me that it was a link via subscription only. The other recipe posted looks very much like the one I got from CL...I'll confirm that from home and let you know if there's any difference. And thanks for the idea about pecans! YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM.

I found a TERRIFIC and super-easy dessert in the April '04 issue of Cooking Light, and have to share it, b/c it was too late last year! It's called Matzo Buttercrunch and it really is as simple as it sounds. The only warning is that you do need to keep an eye on it b/c it cooks very quickly and can burn just as fast. I must have made 6-8 batches last year, b/c everyone who had it needed to take some home, and the folks in my office scarfed it up too. Great to make a day or two ahead, put in a tin and take with you if you're going to seder somewhere...

Don't know anything about this location, but iirc, there's a place with the same name in Parsippany...it's in the shopping center across from Eccola. Last time I was there I just thought it was weird--they use things like "chicken" and "beef" in their dishes--all fake, of course. Personally, I like my protein without quotation marks around it! But I will say that the vegetarians in the crowd LOVED it, and the all-veg dishes (without the soy "meat" were tasty. I'd still rather go to a real Chinese restaurant where there are veg and non-veg dishes available, though. My two cents!

What a great thread! Since I am known to celebrate not only the birthDAY but the WEEK and MONTH , I can certainly contribute! As a kid, we usually went out for Chinese food b/c my birthday is always close to Chinese New Year. Since my dad turned us on to (real) Chinese food when I was about 8, I suspect I just loved the added attention that MY day got from the owner of our favorite local place. These days, I tend to decide where I want to go with friends and I plan it. I love my friends, but they don't care too much about where they eat (althought I'm really trying to change that). In recent years, that has been places in northern NJ, and this year, it was Fascino, a restaurant that I had been anxious to try since it opened. As it turned out, my dinner with friends was the night after my birthday, but lo and behold, a few eG friends were happy to meet me the day OF, and not only offered their cameraderie and wine, but refused to let me pay! Lunch the next day was planned around my 3.5 yr old niece and friends with a little one...a princess b'day party (at my new favorite Indian place) where we ALL wore tiaras. Then there was dinner that night with other friends, and brunch the next day. And of course, the celebration was extended a few weeks later when my folks were in town! No complaints this year--that's for sure!! And yes, I'm already thinking about what I want to do next February, as it's going to be a rather MAJOR birthday.

Please let us know if you find out what day it is supposed to run, Glenn!

I'm not looking to start WWIII, but I think the soup dumplings are the BEST. ANYWHERE. EVER.

Am I correct that jiaozi is the overall/generic term for dumplings? Or does it mean a specific type (i.e., "ground pork with shrimp or crabmeat, ginger, garlic and scallions, sometimes with bok choi")? C46 has a fabulous list of dumplings, esp for Sunday brunch!

Ghost, are you allowed to watch a show about CHEESE when at cardiac rehab?!?

How funny...the first thought I had when I saw the name of this thread was Delicious Orchards! Sadly, it's definitely not in North Jersey. What about Wegmans (Bridgewater, Woodbridge)? Nettie Ochs in Livingston has great pies/tarts in the fall...not sure if they make them year 'round, though.

In the universe of the bizarre, here's my experience from yesterday...I had never even heard of 3 West before Lou's post. Last night, I was grabbing a (wholly mediocre) bite with friends before the Pat Metheny Group concert and a friend of a friend said "The one place I really miss since moving away from the Bridgewater area is 3 West. Have you ever eaten there?" You should have seen my face! According to him (not a food person, from what I could gather) it's a nice place--not the sort of restaurant you go to 3x a week. So Lou, do tell!

Nah, that's just LOU. No worries!

Don't know it, but please post your 'findings,' Lou! I have a friend who lives in B.R. and we always end up at one of two places out there. I'd welcome an addition!

Ooooh...I love some good kitchen porn in the morning!! Thanks for sharing! And you're right--Boggle DOES rule. I don't play it often enough, but plan to do so over a cup or two at CC.

Completely agree with Rachel here--if you start them early, most kids will try anything!! I have a niece and nephew who were both eating artichokes and mussels (hell, fighting for them) by age 3! And my other niece (now 3.5) started eating spicy hummus by the handful at about 1.5 years old. She has been to Saffron, where she scarfed down naan, rice, lentils and tandoori chicken. My friend's 15 month-old daughter can't eat enough spicy food right now--and I mean SPICY. Pepper-jack cheese, black bean soup that would make any adult sweat, olives (BLEAH), olives with FRUIT yogurt (double BLEAH)...the list goes on. There's a great thread here on What Children Shouldn't Like To Eat But Oddly, They Do. And as my mom is fond of pointing out, little kids from (insert country) have been eating that food since they went on solids, and they all do fine. It's my opinion that we'd have a better country of healthy/interesting eaters if we all encouraged them early on! It's true that around 4-5 their taste buds start to change, but as Hitmanoo said, some of us also get them back as adults!! I just try to expose kids to whatever music/food/culture/ideas/silly stuff I can while I can still influence them. And now the 3.5 year-old gets in my car and demands that I play "ELLA!" As in Fitzgerald. Can't beat that...

Great to know there's a lot out back...I had no idea! And I look forward to seeing this Scrabble board--wow! Are you sure you want to leave that out?!? For Scott and others who are familiar with Lyndhurst and Rutherford, it's REALLY easy to get to CC from there--just take Park Avenue through Rutherford, cross the train tracks, and follow Park to the end. Turn left, and CC is on the right on the next corner! Tough to miss it coming from that direction--I promise.

Lou, every one of your points is dead on right. When it comes to Rt. 10, it's all about the timing and the traffic. If you hit it right, you're really not far from anything. Personally, I come up the back way from Denville. And I love #2! That's really a great testament to what you've built.

Er, um, that would be moi. (blush) But you beat me to it...I was planning on posting that I had stopped by b/c I was in E. Rutherford tonight and just had to see the place. It's adorable! I used to live all of a mile from there, and there was nothing except the Dunkin' Donuts nearby for coffee...we would have loved a place like yours! So kudos--it's really nice, street parking over there is rarely a problem, and I can't wait to stop in with a friend or two. And I love that you had board games available (When's the last time you played Connect Four?!?) for the customers. Add a Scrabble board or Boggle, and I could spend the afternoon! For those of you who don't know the area, it's a really easy off/on to Rt. 17, which connects to Rts 3, 80 and 46...so no excuses!!

In terms of quality, absolutely. (As is the service, btw--they are just ultra-attentive there!!) I've never been to a buffet that has so many dishes available, and you certainly can't beat the price--it's 9.95pp including naan. There has been a wide assortment of veg and meat dishes each time I've been there. Do they offer all of the $17.95 entrees? Definitely not. But each time I go, I get to try at least one new dish! Great spot for a Saturday lunch, too.

Have to agree that for a sushi newbie, a seat at the sushi bar and a good sushi chef help tremendously from an education standpoint! Just watching them make each roll or piece of sushi helps you understand the process. And of course, you might see something that looks good and give it a try! I don't think I've been anywhere that doesn't list what is in a roll (esp the 'creative' ones), but I also only have a few things that I like. In terms of rolls, a shrimp tempura roll is always a good bet when you start out, b/c it's two cooked shrimp--no fear of the raw stuff! And I absolutely love maguro (tuna)--it's not fishy tasting, and if it is fresh (as it should be), it's like butter--just melts in your mouth. One of my favorite spots isn't far from Lincoln Park--it's in Caldwell...here's the thread about Nori. And the thread about our eG lunch there. They have some really interesting rolls, and definitely offer the descriptions! Regardless of where you end up, don't be afraid to ask!!

So glad to hear that Saffon has the Rosie Seal of Approval! Now if you can, get over there for the lunch buffet one day--it's a great way to try lots more of their dishes CHEAPLY!! Curlz

AAG might not be right for the wrong 6 year old. Did that come out right? No harm meant--believe me. But I'll let Lou weigh in officially. Next time, if you like Indian, go to Saffron! They're right on Rt 10 in E. Hanover, and they are extremely kid-friendly. Don't let the attractive space fool you--this is definitely a family-friendly spot for either lunch or dinner! As you'll see by the comments on that thread, the food is excellent. Bill & Harry's Chinese (in the small strip right after McD's) is also terrific, and is family-friendly. Haven't been to Panevino in a while, but it's definitely ok for kids as well. Finally, if you head south from E. Hanover to Madison (all of 4-5 miles), hit Firehouse Pizza on Central Ave some time! Nicky has been putting out great 'red-sauce Italian' and pizzas for years, and it's always full of kids. In the summer they even put out kid-sized picnic tables on the patio so the adults can at least have their own tables.

So, Chef...did you get to The Jefferson?? Do tell!