EDS33

I don't understand why you find it neccessary to call NJ a "culinary wasteland". Is this your attempt to be hip by mocking NJ. I guess jokes about the turnpike or Bada Bing might be somewhat funny, but I guess you think it's ok to add food to the list. I have been selling produce and specialty foods throughout the state to Hotels and Restaurants for two years. I can assure you there is plenty of excellent food being prepared in this state. Many chefs train in New York and then come to NJ. I hope you will be more open minded in the future. If you read this forum daily, you will find most people will agree with me.

Both Executive Chefs have left 22 West. The New chef previously worked at Sushi Samba in Manhattan.

Has anyone been to Venue in Hoboken? It's on Washington Street.

I had the opportunity to attend the soft opening of Ginger and Spice. There's definitely nothing like this in Bergen County. The chef is able to combine French and Asian cooking techniques with some very interesting products to create excellent Food. My table shared the laqcured duck ( I need to find out the secret ingredient here) with lychee salsa, Udon Noodles with chicken, vegetables and red currey sauce, and an incredibly crispy and moist chicken breast with fried rice. The wontons were the best I ever had. Deserts were great:Chilled coconut and lemongrass soup with tapioca and brunoise fruit salad, and the Smores, well you'll just have to try it for yourself (a very original preparation). The prices are very reasonable. Go now. It'll be packed soon. Oh I almost forgot, there is a Chef's table for 6 and Doron (who worked closely with David BUrke of The Park Avenue Cafe) can hook all the foodies up.

This is how that promotion is supposed to work. Every day Restaurant.com auctions one gift certificate for the restaurant. There is supposed to be a link to ebay where you bid for it and at a certain time, the bidding is over and someone wins and they can print the certificate, but it is valid only for that evening, and there is only one winner every day. I don't know how you were able to print mutilple certificates, but it sounds like the restuarant didn't know how the program works.

I cooked in restaurants for 8 years and I wish I had the chance to work in a place like Fascino. I ate there last night and rarely does a place live up to the "hype", but I had one of the best meals I ever had. The Zuchini Flower stuffed with Lump Crab Meat, a yellow tomato compote, and oregano oil was perfection. The foie gras with wild boar proscuitto, fresh peaches, and port blew me away. The Halibut with Grapefruit, Kalamata Olives, and Blood Orange sauce was a great summer dish, light with a lot of flavor. The two deserts : pluot and fig crostada, and blueberry bread pudding were... well can I say ridiculous. (in other words, very very good.) The staff was extremely nice, attentive, and very well informed about the food. I can't wait to go back.

I ate there last night. Full disclosure, I do sell some produce items to them. They have a wood-burning oven and the pizzas may be the best in Hoboken (try the one with serrano ham and manchego). The tamales are excellent. The chocolate flan is beyond words. The restaurant is extremely cozy and comfortable. Try it.

I ate at Stick's Sunday evening. The idea of a solid Q joint in Teaneck is a great one. Granted it was early, but Stickey's has a long way to go. They were out of every meat except pulled pork. This didn't realy bother me because it was their first weekend and I'm willing to cut them some slack. The pulled pork I had was cold and the BBQ sauce (GET IT ON THE SIDE) completely overpowers the meat, which had no discernible smoke flavor at all. The macaroni and cheese also wasn't hot and it was overly dry. The corn bread was ok. It seems like the kitchen lacks trained chefs because the food was just plain bad and someone should be making sure the food is hot. I'm willing to go back after a month or so and try the ribs. If you have a BBQ craving, try Finks or take the ride to Montclair's Indigo Smoke, where the food is excellent and actually cheaper than Stickey.s

The sister restaurant to Indigo Smoke, Montclair, called Indigo Mood does afternoon tea. I would call Indigo Smoke,a sk for Lance to get more information.