StInGeR

Just don't leave a copy of the NY Post around

This is a very hard question as it depends on your status in the Army. I was in The Australian Army for a long period of time and found it to be good, however I was also an officer candidate and then an officer. At Duntroon (the equiv of Westpoint), the food was basic but good. There was basically a hot buffet and a carvery ... food ranged from fish and chips, to roast beef, chicken, pork and all the trimmings or you could just grab a sandwich or salad. On base there was also an ATCO which was an on base food shop which you only went to when you needed a fill of saturated fat After Duntroon I was posted to Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin where as an officer the food in the mess was of more restaurant quality. There was a menu and you could order such things as whole panfired barrumundi, rib steaks cooked to your liking, lamb chops etc etc etc There was also always the choice of a salad or a roast. Overseas stints included trips to the US, the UK, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia for training and exercises. I found the Asian countries to be interesting in that the food was condusive to the region you were in lots of chili, asian herbs and spices and alot of god knows what it is but it tastes good The US and UK were pretty much similar to the Officer's mess' in Australia, decent if not good food but alot fo the time we found ourselves eating off base with other soldiers just to try the local food (we did the same in Asia). Having lived on mess tent grub and MRE's during Gulf War 1 and various exercises all I can say is thank god my stint in Kuwait, Saudi and Iraq were only for 6 months The food isn't really for taste more nutritional and calorific value, mind you I'm still wondering if there was any value in all in some of the things we ate Damn those camels started looking good after awhile Regards Tom

Hey Suzi does johnnybird work at picatinny?? My brother in law works out there. Hmm I'll have to ask him about the food there

And I just saw that I really am the newbie on here with only 56 posts. Jesus where will my day end

Damn I saw this and thought "YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE" Now to my disappointment I'm going to miss it (coz we're back in NJ for a cple of weeks in March) and have to wait til we move back to NJ later this year to meet all you guys Regards Tom

We'll actually be staying with the in-laws out in Sparta and it was their suggestion and their offer to pay for dinner To be honest being Australian (me), married to a NJ girl sort of limits my knowledge of NJ to The Caldwell's and the area around Sparta, however I know NYC better than my wife who worked there for 10 years SOOOOOOO any suggestions are appreciated. Regards Tom PS Don't even bring county's into it otherwise I'll get really confused

My wife and I are going to be back in NJ in late March and my in-laws have just asked if we'd like to goto The Manor in West Orange for an early anniversary dinner. I've checked out their website but has anyone been there lately and what are your thoughts on the place. Cheers Tom

In Adelaide a long black is usually a LARGE expresso but I've found that everything is so much different everywhere that even I get confused. Try getting a short white in NYC like I did last year - all my wife did was laugh like hell at me. Damn native NY'ers

A "long black" is a large cup of expresso, and a "short black" is a demitus (spelling) of expresso gotta love em

Haigh's also starts from the bean instead of extracts http://www.haighs.com.au/dir29/ws.nsf/Publish/127 PS I was joking about Darrell Lea

As far as I know in South Australia it's really only Haigh's which is a SA company - man I love taking the tour of their factory. Can anyone say FREE tastings Oh and I forgot there's also Darrell Lea BUT I ain't even going there!!!!

website Thanks Tommy

The outlaws actually live in Lafayette and Newton is the closest ShopRite. I'm gonna have 2 weeks of basic free time and food shopping and cooking are a passion of mine so I always search out the freshest produce I can buy. I would appreciate the directions to Appletree when you have time. Regards Tom PS As we're coming back from Australia what shellfish is in season at the moment?? And where would you guys and gals suggest I go to get it??

Could someone give the address for Corrados in Clifton. I'll be back in NJ in March and will probably be doing all the cooking at the in-laws while we stay with them. The prices at the ShopRite in Newton are just too way over the top for me. Regards Tom

Nope sorry Cusina BUT there is NO WAY in hell I'm following this blog. Even I'm smart enough to realize that even I couldn't follow this Regards Tom I believe it is gsquared's solemn duty to Egullet to rightfully tag Stinger. And I believe herbicidal has been smoking something

Well I'll say this then - you're a braver man than the rest of us Regards Tom

Nope sorry Cusina BUT there is NO WAY in hell I'm following this blog. Even I'm smart enough to realize that even I couldn't follow this Regards Tom

I miss the days when someone had to be beaten into submission before acquiescing and agreeing to do the next blog. They seem like just yesterday. You're right herbicidal it was just like yesterday. I put my name forward for the one after Al-dente's BUT there is no way in hell I'm gonna put my name forward after gsquared's. I think I'll wait like a year or two after this Regards Tom

Geez Pan you're really making me think hard here, I mean it was last April and not being used to NY Chinese I let my in-laws, who used to be cops in that area, do most of the ordering. I do remember hout/sour soup which was good, some sort of wontons, which were a little bit oily but tasty. There was a spicy beef dish which in my mind could have been spicier but was still good, also egg foo yung also good and from memory we also had the green bean dish too. There were a couple more dishes but for the life of me I can't remember what they were. Like I said it's not fancy. For the record this is the downstairs version of Wo Hop Regards Tom

Like you said Pan agree to disagree

Well I'd have to add WoHop in Chinatown to the list of definitely "non-fancy" April last year 5 of us walked out of there absolutely stuffed for $150. It's definitely not fancy but the food is good. Regards Tom

Sorry Tom. You're by no means out of the running. I just wanted to open it up to a democratic vote of sorts. Of course, I could be swayed. I need a vacation. What perks could be provided to me down in Australia if I were to go there for a trip? Just kiddin.... It seems to me there was a recent Aussie on the blog. Am I right? Lets see Im in the premier wine growing region of Australia, beautiful warm weather, great food :)) And you're right there was a recent Aussie blog from the other side of the country tho... regards Tom

Sheesh I really am offended but I'm sure I'll get over it Regards Tom

Oh god here comes the list from hell Le Bernardin - NYC Aquavit - NYC Veritas - NYC Oceana - NYC Tocqueville - NYC (It's a special place for my wife an I ) Rockpool - Sydney, Australia Tetsuya's - Sydney, Australia The Grange - Adelaide, Australia And last but not least - The Thirsty Moose - Sparta, NJ. And no I'm not joking I can't wait to get back there so

You're kidding? They sell waterbugs (huge cockroaches) for eating, with the approval of the Department of Health? Wouldn't dead cockroaches in a store normally cause it to fail inspection in the U.S.? Yeah, they look like three inch long cockroaches! Isn't that crazy? Next time I'm there, I'll see if she'll sell me some and post a picture. Geez, I hope they don't get shut down because of my big mouth! Cmon don't just post a picture....... try a couple and then report back on how they taste