Daniel

I might have to disagree with this statement.. You are saying the experience at Del Posto is elegantly sedate.. More so then Babbo.. I will have to disagree with that.. Babbo is in a charming townhouse, while Del Posto is raucus and busy.. It does seem the 49 dollar tasting menu might be the way to go,(considering its cheaper then one of the risotto's we had) but it then still works out to a 100 dollars a person with extra food and wine.. Were you stuffed after ordering more pasta, or does the 49 dollar tasting menu leave you hungry..

Hey sneak, you are worth a lot around here!

I went by there the other day and picked up dinner.. The place is very unassuming.. The food was well packed and the staff friendly.. This is what I picked up.. For cold we went Spicy Szechuan Noodles, wonton in hot oil, spinach in ginger sauce, conch in spicy sauce,shredded chicken with fancy sauce... For main we had twice cooked pork, beef chen-du style and some other dish.. We ordered a ton of things because Chinese Food in most cases is awesome the next day.. Especially Sichuan cold dishes.. The heat only increases with time.. I must say, all dishes were good.. To me, it was a far second to Grand Sichuan.. There was not one version I liked more then Grand Sichuan.. The place would be a star in most places outside of New York City. If I lived in the delivery area I would certainly order from there. But the place wasnt amazing.. The spice level was pretty good and they definitely use Sichuan Peppercorns.. It could be personal preference, could be

I didnt realize what a good cheese it was.. Never mind a lot of my suggestions..

You can put it in a gratin with bacon, sliced potatoes, and kale,spinach,and or collard greens.. Cover with cream.. Make a lot of blue cheese stuffed olives.. Make a blue cheese quiche.. Stuff them in little buffalo style wings and fry them.. You can freeze them if you want.. Stuff into quails is always good.. Make a blue cheese dressing of course..I have heard of stilton ice cream too!

Thats funny my girl is trying to talk me into go to Baba Louie's in Great Barrington right now..

I am going to disagree with this as well.. The whole point of chain food is to have food that will never vary from place to place.. Thats why most sauces are premade and come out of containers. All the ingredients require minimal to zero real cooking.. A Applebees in Chicago should taste exactly the same as the Applebees in Ohio.. Thats the chains goal..

I hear what you are saying but in the past 2 years I have done 4 cross country trips, and driven from Florida to Canada.. We have not stopped once at a chain and although not all the food was made with love, it was easy to avoid the chains.

I went to the Hudson Farmers market yesterday and got a bunch of great things.. I purchased this huge hen of woods mushroom.. It was in one piece and easily served 4 people.. It was 10 bucks.. I also purchased two types of kale, these really pretty fingerlings, gooseberries, the garlic was too expensive, fresh milk and cream,some bacon, some apples for a pie, wild baby arugala, and a shopping bag full of basil for 2 bucks.. Really. the amount of basil I have is ridiculous.. Along the way to Hudson we also stopped by Shortcake Farms where I bought some really pretty Heirlooms.. The market is small but, the products are great.. Speaking with one the vendors, he just sent some pigs to the butcher so there will be some fun pig things next weekend.. Will post some photos later, anyone know if the market is open today?

I always find it interesting when people criticize other people for not liking huge faceless chains that sell frozen, pre-fabed, mass produced food in a cookie cutter, impersonal, and contrived setting.. I dont need to go into a restaurant that doesn't take in to account anything about the setting or character of the local people and scene. This is not snobbery on my part. Its snobbery on your part for thinking I am acting too cool to go there. Sorry, I just prefer to support local eateries and people who cook with care and love. Not someone who follows a lamanated flow chart. This is a website dedicated to food. If everyone ate at the same chain store, there wouldn't be too much to talk about. This has nothing to do with price or social status. It has to do with the respect of your food and where and how it is made..

John, you did not shock me with that one.

I saw the commercial and thought "its not like it could get worsE." Tyler is an alright guy who has made a couple of good things on his Ultimate Show.. The fried chicken is the first thing to come to mind.. Anyway, I am sure he is getting a lot of cash..Am I going to Applebees? Not a shot.

Ok.. So I am guessing Rao's isnt a neighborhood restaurant..

If Jean Georges is in the lobby of your building and you are loaded, isnt that your neighborhood place.

I agree with Busboy, not only does the price have to be affordable but it also has to have a "reservation structure such that neighbors can go there on impulse." And affordable for the neighborhood.. When I went to LCB it looked very much like a neighborhood place, an extremely wealthy neighborhood.

Did not read the Perry thing, so I am sorry if I am repeating someone. I think if its in a price range which allows the average person to eat there weekly, but is awesome.. It can be both.. I.E Celeste is a destination and a neighborhood place.. For cheese plate, for frito misto.. I would also think Grand Sichuan is a neighborhood and destination place.. Or Pam Real Thai is a destination for me at least and would be a neighborhood spot as well.. Tehutzingo is a destination for tacos for me as well as a neighborhood place.. Katz's is a neighborhood and destination..

My girl has arranged my cookbooks in a really thoughtfull way..On the book cases she used a label maker to reserve the space.. The first areas are for Restaurant Books.. I.E Inn at Little Washington's,Babbo, Terra, French Laundry, Bouchon, Fallon, Les Halles, Antoine's, Galatiores, and so on.. .. Then she does the country of cooking in alphabetical by the Title.. Some subjects that come to mind are, Southern, Creole, French, Italian, Indian, Greek, Portugese, Mexican, Cuban.Spanish and there is a Compilation Section too.. Of course in alphabetical by cuisine.. Then there is a section of desserts subdivided by Chocolate, Ice Cream, and Baking.. I still screw it up.. I often just put the books I use on a table and she puts them away for me...

Holy egullet... What a wonderful trip you had.. It was amazing how much you guys fit into your trip. Nice to see you had some BBQ too! You took such wonderful photos of everything.. I think this might be my favorite one: Talk about your head in the clouds.. Looks like such peaceful moment..

I was basically saying, "whenever I watch her show" in the literal sense.. If I am flipping through the channels and see her, I just watched her show.. I was not talkking about regularly or ever an entire show.. Again, I dont spend much time on her.. But when I do see her, its basically the same reaction..And her travel show is easier to handle because of the scenary..

Hey Dagordon, I have a question about the goat you had.. Was it served with the same polenta? Because that was a bigger disappointment then the goat.. I liked the goat, but I cook goat, have smoked it myself, and have had it at a few great BBQ places.. Its the type of thing where you can get a huge order for not a ton of cash.. And I am a huge quality over quantity guy when the situation calls for it.. I see that you were at Memphis in May as was I.. If you do your own BBQ'ing I would tell you to go to a Spanish Supermarket and get some Cabrito..

I wouldnt say I hate her, I dont hate anyone. But I really dont care for her. I watch her show and am continually annoyed by her.. Her hand movements while talking, her cheesy sayings, that laugh, all would be fine if I liked her cooking. In terms of her other show where she is traveling aorund stiffing waiters across the country, I watch that sometimes.. However, I have been to many of the Cities where she has filmed and never felt compelled to visit any of her choices.. Nor would I order anything she does..

I think that its unfair to assume that my or anyone else's opinion is so easily formed the way you suggest.. If it was tucked away somewhere, it would have been 1/3 of the price and the food would have tasted the same way. The food was good, just not memorable in anyway..

Great looking dinner, Bryan.. You are really so brave to be doing this and putting yourself out there.. Its really so cool that you are doing this.. Is that the aerogarden I see in the wine glass? That shot reminds me of an Alec Balwdin skit on SNL.. Now you can put your loved one in a brandy snifter.. That fennel and raisin combo sounds fantastic.. What a pretty piece of salmon..

That was the dish exactly..I unfortunately was sick this weekend, so my eating was cut in about half.. Next time we are in Philly a group Chinese Crawl might be in order..

No there isnt an embargo.. I have been to numerous places all over the country that say they make Sichuan Food.. Very few use Sichuan Peppercorns.