Curlz

Interesting...I've never heard of it before--thanks for the details! Do you know if it's easy to find/buy commercially (in the US)?

Halon? Can someone enlighten me? Thanks!

Although I hardly qualify as the appropriate age (I'm late 30s), I thought I'd throw my $ .02 in...in the early-mid 70s, my dad introduced us to "real" Chinese food--stuff nobody else seemed to be eating except the people running the restaurants! When did that whole Chinese food trend start? My first tastes of Moo Shu anything, ground chicken sauteed and eaten out of a lettuce leaf, hot & sour soup, and long life noodles for birthday outings seemed so exotic! My friends had only ever had (Lord, can I even type this?) Chicken Chow Mein (does anyone remember those orange CANS in the supermarket???) egg rolls and egg foo yung if they were really adventurous. By the time I was 10, I had been taught by our favorite local restaurant owner how to properly say Gung Hey Fat Choy, and to this day, have surprised people when I've said it. Good memories, for sure!

I've just seen this thread for the first time, but I'd like to suggest that you keep the dress shoes and Grey Goose SEPARATE!! Unless, of course, you drink the GG while watching the shoes burn... Or bake... Seriously--don't waste the good stuff on a jerk. And I'll echo what others have said--taking care of you really will empower you and help you heal. And although it sounds really petty, time will help--I promise! We've all been through this at one time or another, and it sucks, but it will also make you stronger in the end. We're sending good vibes your way!

Well, if she wants to educate people, Mo Pho won't help...but I don't know the attitude of the place or the owners. Just my $.02, but I think she should remember that many people aren't familiar with Vietnamese food or pronunciation. Bottom line--I'll be happy to have another place phor pho!

I have to be honest, Rachel...Although I think it's damn funny, I suspect they would offend people with a name like that, even if Kingu really is where she's from. If that's the case, she should consider Kingu Pho. But that's not punny. There are some great suggestions in this thread--hopefully she'll go with something that's playful and that will appeal to people, even if they don't know for sure what pho is!

That's interesting...I had a convo about this with the chef there on Sunday. The only future site in NJ that's currently listed on their web site is in Ocean Twp (Fall '04). I believe that somewhere in the DC/DelMarVa forum there was a thread on Wegman's and someone with inside knowledge said they were considering Wayne NJ (OH, would I be thrilled!) but the chef said they hadn't made any decisions that he was aware of--and he's at the regional level. I'm with Rosie--don't know where there is space for a 130-150,000sf store + parking in East Hanover!!

Phogeddaboudit? This IS New Jersey, after all...

Katie, What's Pho Dinner is KILLER good!!! So far, my vote goes to that one! I'm certain I'd laugh out loud if I drove past it. I will remind you all of my post asking you all to help me Phind Pho. With that in mind, they could call it Phabulous Pho, Phantastic Pho, Phundamental Pho, Phill Up on Pho, The Phuture of Pho... And for the Jewish Vietnamese clientele, they could always call it Phocachta (sp?)!! Oh, help. Make it stop!!!

Let us know what you think, Johnny! I'm sure you'll find the staff there to be very well-informed and helpful...let them know if there are specific things you're looking for, too.

Johnny, I think it's time you take a ride to Wegman's! I was at the Woodbridge store on Sunday, and as part of a tour (something I'll post in a separate thread), we did ooh and ahh over the seafood department. They had a tremendous variety of fish, and even within each type, numerous kinds (i.e. there were at least 4 kinds of salmon). As one example, the chef mentioned that they get skate, something that isn't usually easy to find. Their supplies are very fresh and constantly changing--might be worth it for you to check out! At the very least, you could call and ask what they're currently stocking. There are now Wegmans stores in Bridgewater (an easy shot down 287 to 202 for you), Woodbridge, Princeton and a fourth further south--I believe in Manalapan. Woodbridge is the largest store, and if you like to eat and cook, I'm guessing you'll be pleased with the quality and selection of seafood and everything else!

Markk, I'm very sensitive to smoke but tend to put up with it only on trips to the Ironbound (really!); had lunch at Adega Grill on Ferry Street a couple of weeks ago, and actually commented on the fact that there wasn't anyone smoking. You might want to call them and ask if the restaurant is non-smoking (there's also a bar and a real NYC-style lounge--both separate). The food was delicious, sangria very tasty, and the service was far better than anywhere else that I've been to in the Ironbound. Don't forget to let us know if you have luck at any of these places!

Not to make this a Hoboken thread, Glenn, but I've been going to India on the Hudson for about 4 years--since my then-boyfriend (Indian) dubbed it as one of the best places he had eaten in--and he was formerly a fan of a few places in Edison and Jersey City! I've eaten plenty of Indian food but keep going back there--and trust me, it's not for the service or the decor (which they did recently upgrade)--it's all about the food!

Fwiw, there's a lot on the end of Washington Street at 14th that offers free parking in conjunction with many of the restaurants on that end of Hoboken. It's in front of the Tea Building (residential). If you pull up to the attendant, you can always ask if AD validates; if not, you can pay to park there. That's where I always park (for free) when I go to India on the Hudson.

Lou-- One thing I meant to add was that I'm much more inclined to go out to eat mid-week if a restaurant I like or have wanted to try offers something special. I think a tasting menu on a Wednesday night, for instance, would pull lots of folks who are really interested in trying a restaurant. Just my $ .02...

Good questions, all, Lou! Maybe I bring a different perspective to the er...table since I'm single, as are many of my friends. Just curious, what night do you go out to eat and why? I'll go out almost any night but on most Sundays, I seem to end up cooking. I prefer not to go out on Friday nights just b/c by the end of the week, I look forward to a 'veg' night at home--with or without company. Do you drink more weeknights or weekends? Definitely on weekends, but I'll qualify this--although I don't consider myself a big drinker, I rarely pass on the opportunity! I've been to the Ironbound twice in the last week (unusual, but it happened), and both times--dinner on a Sat and lunch on a Fri--ended up enjoying more than my share of sangria. Do you prefer to dine as a couple or with others? Although I certainly enjoy dinner as a couple, I always think it's more fun to go with a group--small or large! Is anymore more apt to dine at restaurant with a liquor license if they waive the corking charge? I've never brought my own wine to a restaurant with a license, but I certainly know people who do/would. How far will you drive to a restaurant on a weeknight? I'll go within a half an hour, but if I'm meeting friends, it's sometimes a bit further. Weekend? Within an hour.

The best method I've ever used for peeling red peppers is to roast them (which you can do over an open flame on the stovetop, btw) and then put the pepper(s) in a brown bag for about 15 minutes and roll the top of the bag closed. The steam inside the bag from the hot peppers loosens the skin and it comes off VERY easily.

I'd be surprised if they would hold a table unless it's for a big group (6 or more), but it's certainly worth a call. Fwiw, the first time I went was on a Fri night around 7:15 and 3 of us were seated at one of the 6-tops because the other tables were all full. There are VERY few tables, but the turnover was fairly quick, and there was a line of people waiting for both tables and takeout by the time we left around 8:15.

And PS, last Saturday (Feb 7--a non-holiday) a group of 8 of us went to Casa Vasca to celebrate my birthday; we had a 7:30 reservation and were finally seated at 8:55. The group had mixed feelings about the wait--most of us felt like it wasn't too big a deal b/c we had time to b.s. and drink plenty of sangria before we went in for dinner. BUT...the owner explained that they were waiting for the second of two four-tops to leave--and that the customers had been sitting there with their check for 40 minutes! She was also smart enough to buy us a pitcher of sangria for our troubles, which we graciously accepted. We then went in and had a terrific meal and a great time. I realize that most people aren't so willing to "go with the flow" when they have a reservation, but some of us really can be cooperative! I hope you have at least a few patrons like that, Lreda.

As someone who has never worked in the restaurant business, I'm completely appalled to read your post. Lreda--I definitely would have been making those calls at 12:30 if I owned the restaurant! But as a consumer, even before I got to Glenn's comments, my first thought was, "Can't they take credit card numbers?" I agree that the mere thought that people might get charged $25-50 might inspire them to call and cancel. Sadly, it might be the only way to reel in a few of these oh-so-self-absorbed patrons. And let's face it--with the glut of cell phones, there really is NO excuse for the lack of calls! This leads me to ask, though...is there a formula/% that you use when overbooking? And/or, even on holidays, do you leave a few tables unbooked at each seating so you can accommodate a few walk-ins? Just curious.

That actually sounds pretty reasonable to me...'tho nothing beats Nori's lunch specials, but you are restricted to two rolls with the gyoza or shumai. Regardless, it sounds like I'll have to check out Kyoto. Thanks!

Just curious...how are the prices at Kyoto? Do they do any lunch specials? I have a few friends who balk at having sushi too often because of the cost.

Count me in! And I fully agree that a) We won't be too drunk to drive after a food/wine pairing--that's not the idea! b) We should DEFINITELY have a bus. Just think of the publicity we could get if we got one donated... c) I'd like to see Rosie drive said bus.

I wholeheartedly agree with Kim...unless someone specifically doesn't want a big group to attend an outing, let's put our social side forward and have a thread for these gatherings! I didn't know about Fascino until this week either. Snif...

Ooooh...thanks for reminding me about Pad Thai; I've been there and enjoyed it. Good option--thank you!