Kim WB

Had a late, solo lunch at the Bar at Soho on George, George Street, New Brunswick. Had a $7 glass of Australian chardonnay. Highway robbery. The only other chard was a Calif, $14 a glass. When I arrived, one other person was a tht ebar, an apparant pal of the female bartenders. She ordered soup only, whcih came with bread, a few chunks of cheese, and butter. I also ordered the soup, a great Seafood Bisque, creamy without being cloying, with plump grilled shrimp. However, I didn't get a spoon, napkin, bread or butter, without doing hte little "bartender wave". I also ordered the Lobster club on brioche. While this is a well balanced and tasty sanswhich, with warm lobster layered with fresh greens, smoky bacon, sliced cherry tomatoes and a herbal mayo, it had a strange bite to it. I even took the half apart, trying to identify tha ttaste. Finally, I turned the sandwhich over...burnt brioche! At least when I try to pull a fast one on my kids in the morning, I scrape the blackest parts off and try to cover it with lots of butter. The gaufrette chips were bland and totally unsalted. And then, Irealized I had no S and P, so I had to flag her down again...her friend was joined by two others who placed a to go order. It took a while to get my check, and I was not happy. I felt like the invisible patron. When she returned my card and the slip to tip and sign, I felt like asking her how much the woman next to me spent..$5..$7? And how bout the to go order...did she get a tip on that? Because since she ws so busy with them, and ignoring me ( there were only 4 people at the bar...me,and the threesome) , my tip was going to reflect that. Then, I thought it through. I will be working in New Brunswick until Nov 5, and I do enjoy the food there. So if I confronted her or the manager, was I biting off my nose to spite my face? I tipped her $ 4 on a $26 check. And I'm going to Stage Left tomorrow..if they are open for lunch. Plus I like Scechaun Gourmet, too.

Yeah! Count me in, too. Wow, Suvir, it looks like you've gotten a positive, enthusiastic crowd in a short period of time...look for a place that can handle a crowd!

'taylor Porkroll is the definition of regional food! I was on a segment of the Rosie show, two years ago. We wee to film a segment of the new Family fued, with Louid Anderson. It was Rosi'e team vs. our NJ chub club. The clue was______roll. Rosie's team took it: Swiss, hanburger, we were to steal the last place, we choose Pork. There was total silence in the audience. Rosie and her staff said "WHAT??" Us 4 central NJ girls could not believe that they had not heard of it. The entire segment was a bust, they never aired it. 2nd Pork Roll story: My first day at NYU, I graduated HS early, so I was not quite 17, away at college in NYC. Went to a deli in the mornign, ordered Pork Roll and Cheese..they had no idea..I clarified, Taylor Ham and Cheese..I got a boiled ham and cheese sandwich. Oh. Dorothy, I thought, we're not in kansas ( or the other side of the tunnel) anymore!

Sorry, I can't make it on Halloween. But I agree with Rosie, Lou..you just need to set these things and see what happens...but Haollween is a tough one, if you have kids. It's become a BIG holiday.

Let's do it...if there is anything I can do to help , let me know.

What a wonderful post. It brought back a lot of great memories for me...I spnet 10 days in Guanzhou in July of 2000. The food was spectacular, especially the fish selections and hard shelled crabs. In Guanzhou, I was wiht large groups of Americans who were finalizing their adoptions, having just come from the province of their daughter's birth...but all agreed that the Cantonese food was the freshest tasting, most diverse, and skillyfully prepared than soem of the other cuisines. Plus, since Guanzhou is a larger city, there are wonderful Sechuan and Mandarin rests. if you seek them out.

Thanks for taking the time to figure it all out and get us these photos...it makes reading your diary easier to "picture" now. OK, VERY bad pun.

Yes, there is,and I mis spoke...mis-typed?? But it is what Forrester requested, and he knew there would be a fight. Anyway, I enjoy this site too much to get bogged down in politics, so this will be my last comment. The most important thing is to vote...no one will change my mind about a candidate, and I suspect I'll not change anyone else's...I just hope everyone who can, votes.

If anyone watched MSNBC last night, that was my husband ( "noted election attorney") who debated the issue with the attny from the RNC. My husband has also spent the day in Supreme Court, as part of the team representing the interests of the voters of NJ. I have only briefly spoken to him, but the initial report was that the D's felt confident..I'm sure the R's are saying the same thing. To me, the essence of elections are to provide the opportunity to choose...and that opportunity should take precedence over any arbitrary law. Don't forget, there is a large part of the population that do not vote int he primaries, but will still be disinfranchised if not given the choice. I also personally feel that Forrester has been asking Toricelli to resign, and got what he wanted, and now needs to follow through on the inevitable legal wrangling that was bound to happen. Certainly, with the balance of the Senate at issue, he did not expect the D's to come out with their legal guns . Speaking of guns, it would be absolutely wonderful if Forrester would let the foldks of NJ know his positions on Gun violence prevention, choice, Iraq, and a host of other REAL issues.

Especially on the Cruise ships, when the wine is often the best part of the meal! I

Um...but you were. If that wasn't your intent, then why be mean and harsh?

Tepper Isn't Going Out, by Calvin Trillin... great character study, very funny -city centric story.

A couple of options: My favorite is Main Street cafe, in the Princeton Shopping Center on Harrison. Mediterra on Palmer Square has a small but interesting lunch menu, if you like Mediterrian inspired, if not authentic, food. There is a wonderful hole in thewall Japanese place on Chambers Street, whcih has very good Bonito boxes. The A and B previously mentioned is decent...their salads are never as fresh as I'd like, but their pastas and grilled sandwhiches are winners. A quick trip over to Route 1,and there is Big Fish in the Marketfair, a great great great choice.

As mentioned, I went on the 15th..it was fantastic! Check the Penn board for some reviews..and if you go...make note of the table lights!

Thanks, Rochelle, for your ongoing reports. I look for them every day! OK, being an occassional co-dependent, but ALWAYS a mother, I have some input regarding choosing the location for your externship. The transportation issue, which is really a safety issue, needs to be the priority. If you are not going to be able to get home after a long night in the kitchen safely and relatively quickly, it will compromise your health in a number of ways. ( Crime, driving while tired) This should continue to be an important part of your decidion making process!

I know, isn't Rachel like our own little internet librarian or something?? She is always the first to come up with the appropriate link It's really starting to look like a kitchen now! Again, I am impressed by how the cabinets, appliances and flooring are really complimenting each other ..as a real estate agent in Princeton, I see some major kitchens...but you'd be suprised by how few really manage to blend the components together..even with the help of a decorator! quick funny story, I was in a house this week, the owners had been there two years, and when the client went to open the oven, the factory seal was still in place...never used. The home is listed for 1.4 mil, the kitchen itself is the size of a small house, viking stove, sub zeros, $2000 worth of copper hanging from the potrack...and they never used the oven!

And I went to Morimoto last sSunday, so you are all going to have to listen to me talk about that!!

Just found this thread, didn't realize it had turned into an e-gullet get-together. Maybe it needs to be retitled? Anyway, I'm in for the 17th, I don't care where we go, I would prefer a set menu...I think I answered everything. Also, when we dicide on aplace, the precise address would be helpful for those of us coming a distance...I like to use mapquest.

That's an easy one...Indian Fields elementary school has them on the menu today, with tossed salad, ginger snaps and a carton of milk, $1.65. Never mind...Tommy hanging out with fourth graders is too scary! I use the powder mix, I think by heinz, that you add beef and tomatoe paste to. They're not my cup of tea, but my one son lived on them when he firt got his braces and couldn't chew!

that is so wrong. It's just so....wrong. milk choc is way better, and it goes across the quality board...cheap milk choc is better than cheap dark choc, and premium milk choc is better than premium dark. IMHO, of course!

Wow, what a great thread, I've really enjoyed hearing about the effort and interest that goes into setting the table. Alas, we have 1 set of boring lenox china, corelle, and lots of paper cups and plates. We have a big screen TV that spans the lengthof our family room, however. Can we start a thread on living with men who feel effort and interest belong to football season and not tableware? edited to add that we do not watch TV while eating a family meal...its in another room. We might use Corelle, but we're not TOTAL barbarians!

I had a terrible experience as a waitress for Rachel Hirshfield's short lived Rib place, Rachel's. It was a copy of Tony Roma's, and abe Hirschfield was always there, since he financed it, a nd crazy as could be. But boy, their cole slaw was good. Lots and lots of celery seed.

I was not impressed with Peristyle. As I often dine in Ny and Philly, I must admit that I thought the menu and style of Peristyle a little behind the times, and, well, predictable. The food was well prepared, but he experience left a lot to be desired. I would pick Bayonna, hands down, over Peristyle.

A London Broil question: my grocer has a "oyster cut" which I prefer over their other cut...why is this cut different from others?

Yes, yes, it was onthe tip of my...keyboard! They are great, we often choose then wehn at an oyster bar and faced with a selection.