robyn

Interesting. The AoE piece really made it sound like Mecca for unusual tropical fruits, unique in all the USA. ← Just about any market in the US (and especially in Florida) which has a reasonable number of Hispanic customers has what a lot of people consider "unusual tropical fruits". That includes my local Publix in northeast Florida . Most of the items that are "unusual" in Florida are those that aren't grown on a (large) commercial basis. Things like Florida key limes (you can get bags grown in Mexico now - but local ones are hard to come by). Ditto with Meyer lemons. When I looked at the "Robert Is Here" website - there were a few things I don't normally see in my Publix - but not a whole lot (and I suspect you'd be able to find most of those things in a south Florida Publix). Robyn

Any particular food you especially want to try on the high end? I can recommend a couple of the places we ate at in Tokyo. One sushi - one tempura. Also - do you speak any Japanese? If you don't - I assume your father-in-law does - and I'd recommend taking him along for his translation skills. We went to very few places in Japan where any English was spoken - and - although my husband learned a little before we went - I was happy on those occasions where we had company who spoke Japanese. Robyn

I'm familiar with The Art of Eating. Perhaps the Fruit and Spice Park has gotten snazzier - but I tend to doubt it. I'd still vote for Fairchild Garden - which used to be a world class attraction - and has recovered substantially since Hurricane Andrew almost destroyed it. Perhaps other people who've been to both places can cast their votes . On the way to Fairchild Garden from parts north - there is (or used to be) a really nice fruit stand on Red Road (a few miles south of South Miami). It isn't a tourist attraction - more a place where local people stop for fruits/veggies - a snack - whatever. There's a big ugly fruit tree in front. I haven't been there in a few years and maybe it's a gated community now. Perhaps someone who lives in Miami can provide an update. Note that early December is kind of early for Florida citrus. We need some cold weather to sweeten up the fruit - and - even in north Florida - we usually don't get those "chill hours" until late December or early January. Tried my first Meyer lemon the other day - and it was still pretty sour. One thing you should see in the area is Vizcaya (in Coconut Grove). Historic house. Attractive - and gives you a good idea of the area's history. When you come right down to it - if you have a car - and plan your route - you can hit all these places in a day if you start early. The distances look like a lot - but you can take the expressway roads to get way south to the Fruit and Spice Park pretty quick during non-rush hour. That way - if you don't like it - or it's a 30 minute place (which was my impression) - you can spend some time there - and go to the next stop. The one local road down south I wouldn't miss is Old Cutler Road in the Gables (it's very pretty) - which you can take going north. Even if you're traveling during afternoon rush hour - you'll be counter-flow. Should be bougainvillea season by early December (maybe?) and that is quite spectacular. Don't know if you're a zoo person - but Metrozoo (in southwest Dade) is a nice zoo. Not quite world class - but a zoo person would enjoy it. As for restaurants for lunch - kind of depends where you'll be and when. What part of town will you be staying in (because that's where you'll probably want to eat dinner)? Robyn

There are good jazz clubs in the Village, and some in SoHo, as well. Robyn, SoHo has been touristy to some degree for 40 years! I was getting dragged to shows in SoHo art galleries by my father at least as early as 1969 (and probably earlier, but I can't remember). By the way, the new hot gallery location is way-west Chelsea. ← Since Ivan Karp was the first person to open a gallery (OK Harris) on West Broadway in 1969 - I doubt it was too touristy then (although 1969 was before my time). Other galleries - like Louis Meisel's - opened in the early 70's. Quite a few of these "early settlers" are still there. And I try to spend at least a few hours at the Soho galleries I like when I'm in New York. And maybe have lunch at Balthazar. I don't know from "hot" and "trendy" galleries. I am interested in certain kinds of art - and tend to find both the older and newer galleries which specialize in that art no matter where they're located. Note to tourists who like art - I have found that gallery owners everywhere - including New York - are very knowledgeable - and usually very friendly. Even if you can't afford the art they're selling - all you have to do is walk into the gallery on a slow day (like a Wednesday afternoon) - armed with a little knowledge - and a lot of interest - and you will frequently be treated to a private art lesson. In fact - there is almost a direct relationship between the price of the art and the friendliness of the staff (I've been treated better at Pace than at galleries no one ever heard of before). Just be honest with the people you're dealing with - if you're looking at stuff you can't afford - say you love artist X - but can't afford him. Second note - one great thing you can do in New York is go to art auctions at places like Sotheby's or Christie's. Except for the most hugely expensive auctions (like the evening impressionist and modern auctions) - you can just walk in at 11 am and watch. They're the best free shows in town . Robyn

Haven't been for quite a while - but I don't recall the Fruit & Spice Park as being worth a second trip (I lived in Miami for over 20 years). OTOH - Fairchild Tropical Garden is worth a second - and third - etc. If you like to bike - you can rent a bike (maybe in Coconut Grove?) - and take the bike path down south through Coral Gables to the Gardens. It's a lovely ride. What is Robert Is Here? Robyn

One general suggestion. Many of the higher end restaurants in Tokyo serve lunch - and lunch is frequently a lot less expensive than dinner. So by having your main meal at lunch - you can "have your cake" (great meals) and "eat it too" (save a few yen). Also - you can plan some days around Tokyo sightseeing and dining without having to worry about getting back to Fuchu too late. Robyn

Or maybe a room with a microwave - like a Residence Inn? Simon - I hope when you said you're taking them all "on board" - that you don't mean you're planning to find a hotel when you arrive. New York hotels are hugely crowded these days - and you don't want to wind up in Newark New Jersey (no offense to those of you who live there). Also - if either of you smoke - remember that quite a few hotels (all Marriotts - all Starwoods - etc.) do not allow smoking in the US these days. Of course - the restaurants and bars in New York don't allow smoking either - but sometimes the smoking rules in hotels catch visitors from Europe by surprise. Robyn

"And what's better than leaving the subway to go to a 4-star restaurant." I was being completely sarcastic here... Nobody is above taking a taxi, not even heads of state! See Taxi Driver. NYC's yellow cabs are regulated unlike other cities... ← Regulated unlike other cities. I can agree with that (having been involved in a not minor accident involving 2 taxis on our last trip - kept getting phone calls when I got home from the "Mystic Insurance Company" ). Has to figure - 2 cabs - and the passengers were 3 lawyers! By the way - in terms of tourism these days - there are few parts of Manhattan that aren't tourist areas. Maybe Soho and similar places weren't tourist areas 15 years ago - but they're teeming with tourists now (several galleries we go to have actually moved to mid-town from downtown to avoid a tourist-crazy rent-crazy area). And I don't think the shopping's that great. In terms of "window shopping" - seeing the things that those of us in the sticks don't get to see much - it's hard to beat Madison Avenue. A great day for me - designed to burn off lots of calories walking - would start at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - wander up Madison - and wind up at the Whitney. With a stop at Payard Patisserie . As for hotels with amenities like kitchens - I've used the Affinia group of hotels before. Had some good results. The place I liked the best was the Surrey on the upper east side (people actually live there - it is primarily a residential area). I really can't say too much about restaurants. Last time I was in New York was 2004 - and I'm sure the entire restaurant scene has changed since then. Judging from what I've read - I think the one new "must do" if I were going on a trip tomorrow would be Gordon Ramsay's new place. Sounds similar to his places in Europe - somewhat classical French designed for modern sensibilities (which Simon said is one of the things he's looking for). Robyn

Who said anything about a cab ? I just said the subway was unacceptable for a visitor who is taking his wife or SO out for a big deal birthday evening. As for a generation gap - ask the 30-somethings wearing the Manolos how *they'd* like to get to dinner. As far as hotels are concerned - bargains - even relative ones - are few and far between in New York these days. But - since this is essentially a food discussion site - I won't get into hotels. My favorite website for discussing hotels (and frequent stayer/flyer programs and the like) these days is Flyer Talk. Robyn P.S. Don't know about New York - but we stay in a fair number of hotels which have complimentary car service to places within X miles of the hotel - it's a nice perk if a hotel has the service.

That's really high on my list - getting dressed up in my best - heels and all - and schlepping around Manhattan at night in the subway . I don't care where a guy has made reservations - that's a good way to piss off his wife or SO on her birthday. I think an essential part of the dinner experience is a nice trip to and from the restaurant. Robyn ← That's what taxi cabs are for. In the grand scheme of the cost of dinner, what the hey. Besides one does want the complete NYC experience. ← Agreed . That's one reason why - on a short trip - I'd try to pick a hotel reasonably close to where I was having dinners - assuming my dinners were in one area of town. No reason to stay in Soho if all my dinners were mid-town or north of mid-town (although cabs aren't hugely expensive - they can run $20+ each way from Soho to the upper west side where JG is). Robyn

Simon - One word of caution about Jean Georges. It has a nice (romantic) patio. But don't make reservations there. We did once - and the night of our reservation it rained like crazy. And the only place they could seat us was at a table in the bar (which we declined). So make your reservation inside. Robyn

That's really high on my list - getting dressed up in my best - heels and all - and schlepping around Manhattan at night in the subway . I don't care where a guy has made reservations - that's a good way to piss off his wife or SO on her birthday. I think an essential part of the dinner experience is a nice trip to and from the restaurant. Robyn

Check out Zagat's Tokyo edition to begin with. You're talking about so many places - I don't think anyone knows where to start. Do you live in Japan - or are you planning a trip there? Do you speak Japanese? Any particular neighborhoods you're interested in? Robyn

A few points. Unless you're better at jet lag than I am - you'll be up for early dining during your short stay (just like I'm up for late dining when I go to Europe). Might work in your favor in terms of reservations. You can do early dinners - and a show (or two). Like when I'm in London - I'll do a show - and then a really late dinner. As for lunches during your "full days" - I'd hang loose and plan to lunch in the general areas where you'll be sightseeing during your full days. Anything special you'd like to see/do (there's lots to see/do in New York - and it is here - there - and everywhere)? Also - don't think you mentioned where you'd be staying (think you haven't made your hotel reservations yet - right?). There are a lot of really good places to eat in New York - and there aren't many that are worth a round trip from downtown to mid-town or further north and back for dinner (or vice versa). Hotels in New York are very very expensive these days - so you might check out hotels - and then plan your eating based on the location of your hotel - and your sightseeing. Finally - you haven't mentioned what kind of food *you* really *love* to eat. And what kinds of restaurants you're looking for in terms of atmosphere. Particularly on a special (birthday) trip - that would be the question I'd ask first. The point of your trip isn't to "get" what pastrami is like (I happen to like pastrami but would never have a huge sandwich at lunch the night before a fine dinner - too much food). It's to have terrific meals that you and your wife will enjoy. Budget would also be useful information - especially after you check out hotel prices. Robyn

I love this recipe though it takes a bit of work. Very pretty. ← That looks pretty good. I've tried making my key lime pie recipe with meyer lemon juice - and it doesn't taste anywhere as good as the key lime recipe. Must be differences between the 2 kinds of citrus juices. I have to admit that although I make pies and quiches and the like - I usually cheat with store bought pie shells. This recipe looks like it might go well with a graham cracker crust as well as an ordinary pie crust. The unfortunate thing about me and pies is that with only two of us in the house - on a semi-perpetual diet - they are a special occasion item only. Does anyone have any savory recipes? Can the juice be used to good effect in any marinades? Robyn

Bump - Last year a spring northeaster blew all except 3 of my tiny Meyer lemons off my little tree. This year I lucked out - and I think I have about 35 or so which are almost ready to harvest. Any new ideas about recipes to use them in? By the way - for Satsuma fans in north Florida - they are at the flea markets now (probably produce markets too if you happen to have one near you) - they were five for a buck last week near Gainesville. Robyn

No need to be impressed . They were in the small refrigerator in my garage. Just stood the stalk on end - on the diagonal from the left back to the right front of the refrigerator. Had to move some things around - but it worked fine. If worse comes to worse - you can always cut the stalk in half! Just thought I'd report back that considering how many sprouts we got off the stalk yesterday - and how many are still left today - that this is actually a pretty economical way to buy brussels sprouts. Plus they were very fresh. Which is important for my dish (a salad which contains halved sprouts cooked for just a few minutes in the oven with butter and pecans). Overall - I give this product a thumbs up - although I have no intention of trying to grow them in Florida . Robyn

Note, Robyn, that the first listing on the a la carte menu is indeed pigeon, quite a lot of which appears on US fancy-restaurant menus. ← True. On most menus it is called squab rather than pigeon. Of course the pigeons are generally not from Bresse. ← Never knew that a squab was a pigeon. Of course - I don't think I ever thought about it before . Anyway - here's what's on the NY menu: Roasted squab with truffled cabbage, fondant potato, sweet onion purée, girolles and roasting juices And here's what I had in London: Oven-roasted pigeon from Bresse with sauteed foie gras, creamed spinach and mushrooms, braised root vegetables, truffle jus Of course - the menu in London was pricier - 65 pounds for 3 courses at lunch. I am pleased to hear the good reviews though - I thought RHR was the best restaurant I've eaten at in a couple of years. Hope the place in New York does well enough to "kick it up a notch". Robyn

OK - I get a bit carried away when I shop for the holidays. One of our stores had brussels sprouts still on the stalk. They looked cute. So now I have a 2 foot stalk of brussels sprouts sitting in the refrigerator. Anything special I have to do to get the brussels sprouts off the stalk? If there are too many (and it seems like there are lots compared to how many I need tomorrow) - how long should they last on the stalk? Is there anything I should do to make them last longer? Any recommendations would be appreciated. Robyn

If you want to "jazz up" sweet potatoes - make a vegetable puree with them. I add roughly equal amounts of rutabagas - parsnips - turnips - and carrots - boil them up. Puree them in the food processor. Salt - brown sugar - butter and heavy cream (lots of the last two) to taste. Robyn

← Some of these preparations seem somewhat simplified compared to those at RHR. If someone is a chocolate lover - try the bitter chocolate cylinder. Tell me how many layers it has. At RHR - it had about 6 - starting with the ginger mousse at the top. It was truly a spectacular dessert. Of course - there are some items available in the UK that it would be difficult (or impossible) to get here - like scottish lobster tails and Bresse pigeons (although I don't think that pigeon would be very popular in the US). Robyn

That's exactly what I was thinking, and I sent away for the stuff. I use a lot of olive oil (I gave up butter and saturated fats mostly), but still when I make dinners with a cup of oil for two people, I'm adding a lot of calories, which I'd be glad to reduce if I could. So far the only thing I used the z-trim in was mashed potatoes, and there was no discernable bad taste, and no ill-effects, so tonight I'm planning to use it in something more adventurous, and I will report back. ← Just curious - what do you make that uses a cup of olive oil for 2 people? Eggplant? Robyn

I don't much like marshmallows - so I make a sweet potato casserole with sauteed apples on top. As for things being too sweet (I don't like things that are tooth-aching sweet either) - you can just add brown sugar *to taste* - whatever your taste happens to be. That goes for sweet potato pie too. Robyn P.S. They serve the very authentic version of the sweet potato/marshallow casserole at Golden Corral every day . P.P.S. My congealed cranberry salad recipe contains sour cream. Never met a dish with sour cream that I didn't like!

OK - a "generic lounge" with a "boring and safe menu" - and you didn't eat there. Can you give me any other reason to eat there ? I go to Atlanta several times a year - and if I wanted what you describe - I'd stay home in Jacksonville. We'll be there in January - 3 nights. Have one reservation at the Four Seasons - which has an excellent restaurant. This doesn't sound like a place worth trying. Think I'll keep looking. Robyn

The legs I have are pretty small - so I don't think I'll have problems with the tendons (which you usually find on really large legs). Reason I chose legs is I have had 2 fabulous turkey legs in the last couple of weeks - one BBQ'd at the Gainesville Art Festival (street food) and the other braised at Piccadilly (southern cafeteria chain). And I'm not really fond of thigh meat - on most turkeys - it's kind of greasy (at least when you cook the bird whole). Besides - I've found a handful of recipes for "turkey two ways" - and they all call for breast meat and leg meat. What I wind up cooking Thursday will probably be a combination of the recipes I found. Robyn