robyn

Only you can say whether you hate your counters. But if you decide to replace them - much as I like white corian in my kitchen - I don't think I'd like it in yours. The gray you have now works well with the stainless appliances - and the cabinets. By the way - what do you dislike about your current floor - and what do you think you'd like about Marmoleum (I have Marmoleum in my kitchen). Finally - how do you upload pictures here (I've been looking and trying to figure it out for a while - and I can't)? Robyn

Well - the one thing I know about Houston is it's *really* big and slurby. Makes a Florida person feel right at home . I suspect we will be staying more or less in the "downtown" area near the museum. I think the most important factor isn't the particular type of food - but what would be best if we didn't care to learn the ins and outs of the local interstate system after dark. We'd be particularly interested in really good hotel restaurants - or restaurants within a reasonable cab ride of good hotels (I'd hate to have to learn about the DUI laws in Texas). We're really eclectic when it comes to food. Will try just about anything. If you told me the best restaurant in Houston was fusion Italian/BBQ - I'd give it a try . About the only thing I'd rule out is stuff like steakhouses. Relatively plain (even if good) food. I like to go out to eat things that are too complicated to cook at home. By the way - my husband and I are near 60. Therefore we're not crazy about places that are better at serving attitude than food. On the other hand - I really like cutting edge decor and design (although not at the expense of the food). Hope this helps. Robyn

OK - I'm a freak. I'm not going to the Superbowl. I'm interested in going to Houston to see the Diane Arbus exhibit this summer. Also interested in seeing the new Nasher museum in Dallas/Fort Worth. I can see the Arbus exhibit in New York in 2005. But who knows if I'll live that long? And I haven't been to Texas for a really long time (except for passing through the airports). I know I probably can't get food that's as good as I'd find in New York - but can I find something better than Jacksonville Florida? Hope so - with a little bit of help from you. Note that I can probably find the "cheap eats" on my own. I'm looking for bigger deal restaurants that are worth what they cost. Any suggestions of places to stay - other things to do - would also be appreciated. Robyn

Just curious - what do you think is "threatening"? There are some Chinese things I don't like - like sea cucumber - but I don't think that a sea cucumber has ever threatened me . And what do you think is interesting? I live in a pretty hick place when it comes to Chinese food - but I am an experienced eater. Just recently - we had an immigrant Chinese family open a large Chinese buffet. Best in the area. Clientele is about 75% Chinese. And the combination of foods is kind of strange. Everything from chicken feet and sesame balls and longevity peach buns to apple pie and pizza. I am not sure which of these is threatening - and which is interesting . Robyn

Pan - The main point I was making is there's a decent dim sum place on the upper west side for someone who wants to eat dim sum in that neighborhood - for any reason. On my part - on 2 occasions - it was combining a meal and a museum trip on the upper west side with family/friends - also from out of town - who insisted on dim sum - and didn't want to spend half the day making the round trip to Chinatown. That's how I found the Shun Lee Cafe. Is it the best dim sum in New York? No. Is it the best food on the upper west side? No. It's just a place people can keep in mind if they're trying to put together the kind of afternoon I was asked to plan (dim sum and MOMA or the Museum of Natural History). By the way - in one case - the friends in question had never eaten dim sum - and they enjoyed the place a lot. In the other case - the family in question were experienced dim sum eaters and they also enjoyed the place. So did we. Particularly because we weren't rushed out in 30 minutes (which sometimes happens when you slog down to Chinatown - the round trip from mid-town takes more time than the meal). In my opinion - it's just one option out of many for people to consider. Robyn

I was at Shun Lee Palace once - so many years ago that I can't remember anything about it other than I ate there and that it was a big deal restaurant. Never went there again. Not sure why. Perhaps I didn't care for it - or just found better places. Shun Lee Cafe for dim sum is a different animal. The dim sum is pretty good. Has lots of carts. Not great - but no dim sum in New York is great compared to what I've eaten on the left coast. It is more expensive than what you'd spend in Chinatown - but not that much more. It's certainly cheaper if you happen to be/live midtown or uptown and don't want to pay cab fare to go to Chinatown. And it's more convenient if you want to spend the rest of the afternoon going to the numerous museums in that general area, do a little shopping, or - if it's a nice day - just spend some time walking in Central Park. I do agree that anyone who has never seen Chinatown in New York should see it - spend at least some time there. Particularly after 9/11 - when it especially needs the business. My husband and I have spent lots of time in New York over the last 35 years - and - when we were younger - we used to delight in finding and returning to all kinds of downtown places - from Nom Wah's to Yona Shimmel's to Ratner's. We went through the development of places like Soho with friends in the arts community. We still return to some of those places. And I heartily encourage people who have never explored the many neighborhoods of New York to do so. On the other hand - I can't and won't rule out places that are mid-town or higher simply because they're in those neighborhoods. That's what life is about - finding new places no matter where they are. Robyn

Took a look. You're a little younger than I am - but you have the same hair cut. Maybe even the same glasses . I read a couple more write ups about the places I mentioned. In light of what I read - I'd probably go to Boulud for a big deal restaurant on Palm Beach proper (if I had to choose one). All of the restaurants seem to be somewhat inconsistent - but I know the room at Boulud is pretty. That's not going to change. If you've never been to the Breakers though (where L'Escalier is) - you have to take a look around - just for the building and the architecture. Tour the Flagler Museum too. Flagler is probably the most important figure in Florida history - and the landmarks he left from one end of the state to the other are always worth some time. I can't recall whether you moved to the Daytona area from another state. If so - I recommend buying a copy of the Michelin green guide to Florida. Lots of great history (for a state that sometimes doesn't seem to have any). Robyn

They sell them in Costco where I live (Florida). Robyn

Well - that's 2 votes for a chocolate lunch . By the way - Jacques Torres sells some of his wares on line. You can see them here. Robyn

I think you underestimate the average tourist in New York based on the thousands I've run into in places other than Times Square - the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. The problem for a lot of tourists - even if we're only talking about Manhattan - is that it's big in terms of computing travel distance times. Now I can go the equivalent of a trip from Columbia to Soho on I-95 in Florida in maybe 10 minutes - but it's not so easy in New York - particularly if it's raining (and it's hard to get a cab) - or there's a disruption in the subway system (and you can't get a cab or take some subway lines - etc.). I suspect I am not unique in that if I'm there on a 3 or 4 day trip - I try to group things I want to see/do/eat in terms of neighborhoods. I don't want to make more than 1 roundtrip updown/downtown a day (although I sometimes wind up doing that). And I definitely don't want to take an hour or more roundtrip to get to a restaurant that takes me out of the general area where I'm planning to spend my day. That said - it might be a good idea to put together a small list of "non-fancy" restaurants by neighborhoods - both neighborhoods that many tourists do see (including some out of the way ones - like - for example - the Queens neighborhood where MOMA is camping out these days) - and neighborhoods that more tourists should see (e.g., there was an article today about tourism on the lower east side). I've found many "smaller deal" restaurants - especially for lunch - that were very enjoyable simply by looking up the neighborhood where I was planning to do things on a given day - and checking out the restaurants in that area (although I wasn't so successful in this last time I went to the Bronx zoo ). I don't generally like Zagat's - but it is ideal for this purpose because it breaks down restaurants by neighborhood. Robyn

Just in case someone misses my edit above: I was talking to my husband at lunch and he told me the deli I disliked wasn't Katz's but another famous New York deli which hasn't been mentioned in this thread. No need to mention that place - and I apologize to Katz's. I think the drugs I'm taking both after dental surgery and for a very bad cold are starting to take a toll on my brain . Robyn

is it at all possible the price could be a factor? Price isn't a factor in awarding Michelin stars. Robyn

Couple of rounds a day? Sounds like you'll need spa suggestions too . If you need a few hours off - and don't like "cute" stores - you might spend a couple of hours at the Jacksonville zoo (perhaps 30 minutes away). It is not a "world class" zoo (I'm a zoo fan) - but it's worth a trip if you like zoos. It is down the road from the Budweiser plant (tours and tastings). If you have a condo type arrangement - you can stock up at the Harris Teeter - just down the road from the Plantation (there's a "gourmet store" at the Plantation - but I'd just go to Harris Teeter). If you do get to the casual restaurant at the Ritz Carlton - try the Chef's special "bento box" of the day (it's a lunch item - might be a dinner item too). When I was there in December - it was kind of Asian/Southern fusion Christmas . Sounds strange - but it was delicious. It is the dish where the chef experiments - so no guarantees. Have a great trip. Remember that we can get some pretty cold damp dismal weather in February - as well as temps in the 70's-80's. Norm is mornings in the 30-40's - going up to 50's-70's in the afternoon. So bring lots of layers. Also some water balls (I seem to remember some pretty awful holes on the courses at Amelia Island). Robyn

Interesting. Last time I even bothered to look in was maybe 1982-83 - and there were maybe 2 people eating. I mostly ate there - like you - in the 70's. Robyn

More or less, but not in Chinese restaurants, for example. And Katz's is basically just a pastrami sandwich with a soft drink and cole slaw, though I've had cake there once and liked it. You'd be hard pressed to name more than five or six that fit that description? You mean exactly that description, with the three courses? And are you including Outer Boroughs or not? Katz's Grand Sichuan Congee Village Kangsuh Cho Dang Gol Madras Cafe DiFara's Sripraphai Restaurant Malaysia Woo Chon's Kissena Blvd. location Sichuan Dynasty That's 11, with one in Brooklyn and 4 in Queens. Let's argue about these suggestions. I am not from New York. I'm either there on business or pleasure (as a tourist). I went to Katz's once. Grotesquely huge sandwiches (expensive because they were huge) served with a lot of attitude. Not a very clean place either. What visitor wants to spend twice as much as necessary to get a sandwich when you can't take home the half you can't possibly eat (unless you're inclined to stick it in the mini-bar in your hotel)? I vote for Payard Patisserie. Get a little something for lunch with a lot of pastry. Perhaps just skip the little something . I think most women would rather eat great pasty in nice surroundings than a lumberjack sandwich that's not served - it's thrown. Also from a woman's POV - especially with a child in tow - I still enjoy Serendipity 3. Unbelievable - the place has been there for decades. IOW - never underestimate the powerful attraction of chocolate . By the way - if you're talking about tourists in New York - forget about Brooklyn and Queens. Only time I ever crossed all the bridges to Queens was to visit my grandmother before she died. Robyn ADDED 1/23: I was talking to my husband at lunch and he told me the deli I disliked wasn't Katz's but another famous New York deli which hasn't been mentioned in this thread. No need to mention that place - and I apologize to Katz's. I think the drugs I'm taking both after dental surgery and for a very bad cold are starting to take a toll on my brain. .

And here is an opposing point of view - from my husband - who's not exactly "Mr. Liberal". He said the incident reminded him of the flap at the Masters Golf Tournament where Fuzzy Zoeller - upon hearing of Tiger Woods' victory - said they'd all be eating fried chicken and collards at the next Masters' dinner (for those of you who don't know the tradition - last year's winner gets to order the dinner next year). He said it was tacky. He also said that if the people at the school had any brains - they would have run the idea by the Black Students Association before they did the meal. And only done it if it got the required blessing. So now I have to think (I don't always agree with my husband - but he never ceases to challenge me ). Robyn

This is definitely true. Growing up in Boston as the son of Southerners, I can tell you that none of my peers were being served things like the mustard greens, grits, fried porkchops, etc. that were regular features of dinner at the Kinsey household. Things have changed. I am Jewish - born and raised in the New York area. Spent most of my life in Miami - which is the "south" in terms of the history of segregation - but not so much in terms of food.. When I moved further "south" (i.e., north Florida) - I learned how to make collards and black eyed peas and corn bread - and grits - etc. Love fried chicken - but it's kind of messy to make at home. This is southern black food - and white cracker food. Depression and bad economy food. Like the traditional "grits and grunts" you find in the panhandle at every politician's picnic. I do not consider it condescending to cook it - or eat it. I am learning how to cook decent, interesting food - and learning something about history at the same time. What's the big deal about some students in the north learning about what people in the south eat/ate - particularly when economic times were bad? Robyn

HSF is also a "usual suspect" (although I haven't been there since 9/11). Used to go to Nom Wah's years ago. It was a dump then - and I suspect it's even more of a dump now . When visiting New York lately - I have found it inconvenient to get to Chinatown. I've found that Shun Lee Cafe on the upper west side offers - to my mind - very adequate dim sum. With carts. The atmosphere is nicer than most of the Chinatown places - and when I'm trying to have a meal with family/friends I haven't seen in a while - it's nice that they don't try to turn your table over in 30-40 minutes. With the carts - you can point. If you don't know even approximately what something is - you can ask - what is this. Don't expect to get a more complicated answer than shrimp dumpling or chicken feet - but you should be able to make up your mind based on what you hear. Brings lots of people and try lots of dishes. Robyn

Will you be in Jacksonville proper (as opposed to Amelia Island) for any reason during the day - shopping - business - whatever? There are some nice lunch places or places for an early dinner I can recommend. Keep in mind that it's at least a half hour drive - maybe 45 minutes - from Amelia to any part of Jacksonville where there are restaurants you'd care to eat at - and you'll be driving dark 2 lane roads over lots of bridges. Best eating on Amelia is at the Ritz Carlton - it has 2 restaurants - 1 formal big deal - 1 relatively casual. It will be hard to do better than either of those restaurants for dinner in Jacksonville (was just up there for lunch a couple of weeks ago). But you could get close. I agree that the food at the Plantation is pretty institutional. OK for lunch. That's about it. The Beech Street Grille in Fernandina is highly touted - but I've never eaten there. The restaurant in Ponte Vedra that was mentioned was Barbara Jean's. It has a branch on Amelia Island. Look it up. I live in Ponte Vedra about 6 miles north of Barbara Jean's. It's about an hour or so from my house to the Plantation on Amelia - add 10 minutes for Barbara Jean's here - and there's no reason to come here if there's one there. It is a basic crab cake southern veggie place. Cheap and popular (because it is cheap). Certainly not a destination restaurant - but ok for a night you want to do simple. Robyn

Nope - never been to Coral Springs except passing through heading east. I lived in Miami for 20+ years - and I liked Versailles - especially when all the politicians came tromping through during election season. But I don't think any restaurant in Miami is worth a 3 hour round trip from northern Palm Beach county. Robyn

I don't think I was even 30 years old at the time, and I assure you it was the totally "in" product and we were the envy of our peer group. You could have opened up any design-and-decor magazine at the time and found this material and color used in kitchen and bath renovations. I hadn't quite figured out at that time that following trends is kind of stupid when you're buying something you have to live with for decades. That's why I stick with my "white on white". Discovered I really liked living with it when I did my first kitchen in my first condo (it replaced a brand new kitchen with harvest gold appliances so I guess that kind of dates me). After you live long enough - just about everything passes into and goes out of style - and then it comes back again (usually just about the time when everyone has tossed whatever they had in that style in the junk heap ). Another consideration with kitchens is stuff like dishes and glasses and accessories. People have taste in those things too. And once you assemble enough of that stuff - it's nice to have it at least most of it go with your kitchen/dining decor. So find something you really like - and think you can live with for a reasonable period of time. Robyn

Think what a back splash is. Do you really want to splash stuff over something that has grout? I like solid back splash surfaces for ease of cleaning. Even a semi-gloss finish paint which can be wiped down is better than tile with grout in my opinion. Robyn

Yes - the Buckhead Ritz. Thank you for the information and the recommendation. We get to Atlanta about once a year - and will have to give Joel a try. I love any chef who puts short ribs on his menu (took a peek at a restaurant review). Robyn

I don't know if you live in - or travel to - Atlanta - but last time we were there - my husband really liked the wine pairing at the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton (kept the menu - it was $55). The staff explained all the wines - offered him a little - and then if he didn't care for a particular wine (which I think happened once) - they offered to pour him more of a previous wine he liked better. They also topped off the glasses of the wines he liked a lot . Luckily - we weren't driving that night. Just stumbled upstairs after. By the way - the food was excellent. Robyn

OK - let me add my opinions about liquor at ADNY - even though I know much less about wine than most people here. Let me start by saying that I can't drink most wines these days for medical reasons (no big whites - and no reds at all) - and I can't drink much of the ones I can drink. But I do like to drink. So I drink cocktails (remember those?) most of the time. At AD - it was impossible to pass up the preliminary glass of champagne. I seem to recall there were 2 - one was about $20 - the other was perhaps $25. We had 2 glasses of the more expensive one on the basis of a staff recommendation. Two thumbs up. My husband does drink wine. Faced with the staggering array of wines we knew absolutely nothing about - he told the staff about what he was looking for to go with what he had ordered - his approximate price range - and he asked for a wine that I might be able to share a little with him. What arrived was a stunning dry riesling that went perfectly with the food. I think it was about $140 for the bottle. No need to quibble about whether the bottle had 3 or 4 or 8 glasses in it. I drank about 1/4 and my husband drank the rest. I have no idea whether this wine was marked up 2X or 10X. And I don't much care. On that particular evening - I was paying a restaurant to stock a million wines - to have staff that knew the inventory and understood how to pair a customer's wants with what the restaurant had to offer - and to serve what was chosen appropriately. Based on these expectations -again two thumbs up. (I will compare this with another experience at Jean Georges. We did the same thing. Wound up with a similarly priced bottle of a white wine that I can only describe as "weird". It wasn't turned - or corky - it was just weird. We didn't like it - and I wonder if the person who recommended it had ever tasted it.) I did have a few cocktails with my meal. Beefeater and tonic (which I drink all the time). The prices were certainly in line with those at other places in New York - and the drink was fine (bottled tonic - one would expect that at all high end restaurants but frequently you get stuff out of a gun). My husband had a relatively modest after dinner drink (cognac) which he enjoyed. Seem to recall that it was about $25. So I guess we spent about $250 on liquor overall. I really hadn't thought about what we'd be spending ahead of time - on liquor - or food - because we were last minute walk-ins (didn't have a reservation). But afterwards - we thought the total was appropriate. We certainly didn't have any complaints. By the way - for people who simply hate paying large markups for wine - just order liquor. It's a heck of a lot cheaper - and there are enough drinks around to satisfy just about any type of taste. Robyn P.S. "Weird" didn't seem enough to describe the Jean Georges wine. The closest thing I had ever tasted like it was retsina (but it wasn't retsina).