Kim WB

ok, now we must have an e-gullet get together here..soon!!

Banzai in Hamilton Township, Quakebridge Road, and Shumi on Main Street in Somerville

I don't expect a Cape May place to be cutting edge..its not the market. Kim, I think that you might be pleasantly surprised with a few other places in CM that might not be "cutting edge" but are above average.

Thanks, Tommy. Just for being you. Fade to instrumental strings, sunset....

Yes, I think that the Washington Inn has stuck witht he tried and true, without evolving or changing...but that's only part of the problem. My complaint is not only that the menu was outdated ( gaufrette potatoes, a big square of them, on the side, with overcooked zucchinni!) but also that the outdated selections themselves were not executed, I don't expect a Cape May place to be cutting edge..its not the market. But if they are making a gaufrette ( am I spelling that right??!!) it should not be mushy, drowning in cream, etc..IMO, a menu with pistachio crusted lamb is old news. But at least make it a GOOD version of an OLD dish. I'm still at the beach, had lots of guests this week, so we did local Avalon/Stone Harbor places: Fish Tales, Sea Grill...or ate at home. ( lots of visiting small kids, easier to make a few London Broils, corn and tomato salad thatn drag them out.) I'll be visiting Karen and Rei's, though...it was a favorite when it was in Avalon, and worth going off island for.

WEll, I can confirm your suspicions: the shine is gone. Well, not having been there before..but really, an all round mediocre meal: service, food, experience. While the Inn is very pretty, its decorated in this Martha Stewart gone bezerk style, too many flounces, florals and frou-frou. I understand its victorian, but a little less fringe would make it seem fresher...it smelled musty. The bartender ignored us and happily chatted away with some regulars about Lisa and Mark who had a giant fight and had to call the cops. Drinks could not be transferred over to the dinner tab. I hate that. I understand the practicality of it, but I don't like it. Wine selections were strong, they didn't gauge us, had a Lakoya Cab. Server was overly-friendly and when we didn't respond accordingly, became pompous. Food was blah. The foie gras app was in a reduction that was reduced to syrup. Husband's steak was soaked in butter. My rack of lamb were so overly crusted with pistachios and something way to sweet! My caramel banana tart was served ice cold, the bananas were rock hard. This is a very apparrnt display of a restaurant surviving on its reputation.

I'm looking forward to my first visit to the Washington Inn in Cape May this coming week. Hads anyone been recently? What other favorites do you have in that S. Jersey Shore area? We'll do Karen and Rei's in their new location, and then Sea Grill in Avalon and Backporch (backyard?) in Stone Harbor. Wahington Inn and K and R's will be just the two of us, the other places will be with the crowd of assorted in laws, outlaws, teens, friends of teens, etc. that wind up at the house, which is in Avalon.

I just took a look at this chart, for inspiration...not very inspiring! Once again, it was smart to turn it into a lobster celebration. Coral? If I was married 35 years, I'd be looking for more than coral..though perhaps if it was accompanied by a trip to Cozumel, a private sail boat to a secluded cove, diving lessons, etc....Tha alternative is jade..which might mean a trip to Guangzhou, which could work....ok, ok, I can see how this list might be inspirational, but the food theme is better!

Just one more adding tot he congrats..and, replacing bronze, linen or lace with lobster is a great idea....next year is the foie gras anniversary? followed by....this is a great new way to celebrate marriage! Except for whatever year is diamonds, cause when I hit that, I want one of those diamond anniversary bands...I'm reverting back to tradition!

OK, no links or serious refernces, but I swear, Gael Geene once spent two paragraphs describing Bouley's eyes....wish I could find that review.

no offense, because JHLurie thinks we should be very tolerant...but really, I have 3 kids, too....but am not on e-gullet looking for reccomendations to Outback. Are you really willing to go off the beaten track. or are you dedicated to trying every chain in your area...and really, how could you think the Cheesecake Factory is FRESH food...waht is your dining background? No one wants to get mean, either do I, but I don't feel like I ccan contribute to a thread without having a better idea of what you really want in a place....if we bust butt coming up with alternatives, is DH going to veto it and wait online at country buffet ( PS, I have given birth to a human being , whose father is a chef of some repute, who feels this is the epitome of dining) , dismissing our suggestions?

When I was growing up, the steak place near the station was called Pete Lorenzo's. Marsilio's a power place? Wow! It used to be a family red-sauce place, very homey. Maybe it still is. You're making me homesick. yes, Pete Lorenzo's is the complete name....his partner, Anthony Merlino. left the partnership and opened his own place, more suburban, up on Rt 29 on the way to New Hope...in Ewing. I was at Lorenzo's 3 months ago, in May, for a Torecelli fundraiser ( before the ethics thing, thank you). The place was oficailly closed, as it was a Sunday. I ordered a Cosmo at the bar, and had a brief conversation with the tender about my upcoming 4 day VAYKAY to NOLA. Fast forward, 3 mos later...meeting another couple for dinner, waitng at the bar. Ordered a cosmo, commented that "they make them so good here"....and the bartender asked me about my NOLA visit! HOW GOOD IS THAT????Yes, the place has the worst ventilation, and the cigar morons are taking over the place, but what a nice service accolade! Very rare, in the land of suburbs and sameness!! God, I'm starting to think about mylife with the same disdain as the NY board..No. not...

Shaw is absolutely correct, its DeLorenzo's...don't know what I was thinking. Lorenzo's is a cigar filled steak place by the Train station..used to be the Trenton powerhouse place, but has been replaced by Marsilieo's. I've had great steaks at Lorenzo's, but ugh the ventilation sucks.

Fornos and some of the Ironbound places always have families. Tiger's Tale in Montgomery, but always a wait. Sante Fe Grill in Rocky Hill. both Somerset Cty. Winberries, Mediterra and Therese's in Princeton, plus Conte's for pizza. Big Fish in West Windsor, and Merlino's in Ewing. Cranbury Inn, and Cranbury Station,inCranbury. Mercer Cty. The Burg is filled with families, except Diamond's, Marsilio's and Lornenzo's...more business/special occassion. A very quick trip over the bridge into New Hope, Bucks Cty PA, and there are a few other options: Logan Inn, The Porch, Martine's.

Here is the glory of suburbia ( and I know how highly many of you feel about the burbs) there are different levels of clubs...in my Princeton area, there is Jasna Polana ( excellent), Green Acres CC, ( updated, good food) and then there is the Trenton CC ( iceberg wtih Russian dressing). All are dedicated to golf and business, with food as an afterthought. ( The level of golf is comparable to the level of food, which is comparable to the cost, by the way. Jasna is 50k membership, 20k a year dues, ) I suspect that whether you are a member of a suburban golf club, or a city University club, the focus is camraderie and not food, hence the more simple menus.

A similar argument is made by gun control advocates. No, the "guns don't killpeople, people kill people" line is from the NRA, not the gun violence prevention people.

I'm sorry, but working on the premise that the only stupid question is an unasked one, what is slurry? However, there are many stupid questions. 15 years ago in my Lamaze class, when told that ice chips may be helpful during labor, a prospective father asked how to make them. It is actually rather frightening to think of how stupid some people are..and this one was breeding!

WE skip the tomato alltogether...and just go for Bullshots, which is spiced Beef Bouillon.

My youndest son comes up with some amazing quotes, too...and relating to this on butter, a few days ago while eating an ear of fresh corn, he said " you almost don't have to eat the corn...just sucking on it is enough"

Boy, do I fail Geopgraphy 101!!! I went on mapquest to really plot out this trip, from Island Beach State Park to RN..Yikes! We'll be at a cocktail reception the the Governor's from 3-7...if we felt the parkway was ok, we'd attempt it, but on a summer Saturday? And the roads I thought were shortcuts, as Helena predicted, were "longcuts". Guess we'll need to save this dining destination for the Fall...they were very nice when I cancelled.

call each person in my family to the stove, and have a conference as to whether the roux is the "dark peanut butter" color the recipe describes...debating with 4 others if we're talking dark SKIPPY or dark JIF, while it becomes darker and darker and darker and BURNS!

A 30 to 45 minute trip from Island Beach State Park to Middletown on a Saturday in the summer seems awfully optimistic, IMHO. You may wind up using that extra hour you think you may have just trying to get to the Garden State Parkinglot. There is no bar at Nicholas, just a foyer that may or may not have a nibble to two to tide you over until your table is ready. If you do find you have time to kill, you' best bet is to head for Red Bank; just a few minutes away. And yes, this place is VERY popular. Enjoy!

I will be at an event at Island Beach State Park on Saturday, and just made reservations at RN for Sat nite...at this date, they only had an 8:45, which is going to leave me hanging for an hour or so. I think it should take about 30-45 minutes to get there from the event I'm attending... So, two questions: 1. Do they have a nice sized bar to wait at, OR, is there a place you can reccommend for a drink beforehand? 2. They have a confirmation policy...is this place really hot, or do you think we'll be able to move the reservation up? Thanks, any help appreciated.

YIKES!!! It's not REALLY Caribbean...Katmandu is on the Delaware River waterfront, an afterwork bar with lots of potted palm trees, walls painted teal and pink and yellow, some Reggae playing between the Bruce songs ... the kind of place that would serve "Caribbean Spiced Chicken fingers", if you know what I mean. It's a twentysomething crowd, there for the happy hour, not the food. Kat does a decent lunch business, but more from its proximity to state offices than due to good food. They serve their burger wtih plaintains instead of fries...thats the Caribbean part of the menu!

I'd be remiss if I did not chime in every once in a while to congratualte and thank you for the time and efforts you put into the diary, it is really a great addition to e-gullet. Keep up the good work.