richl2214

I usually make my salad with the canned variety of conch(scungilli) but I would love to try and acquire some fresh conch. Problem is my local supermarkets don't carry it and there are no seafood markets that I know of around me. Any help in the Northern NJ area where I might find it?

Have to second that. I went the other day and I wasn't too impressed. I can make much better hummus at home in about 10 minutes. The bread was as above only a foccacio type. Felt kind of hurried even though the place was no where near full. If you go here order each course separately to avoid having everything put on the table at once. Chicken kebabs were good but nothing special. Falafels were a highlight but not comparable to a place like Ali Babas.

Rosie have you tried Sukeroku?

Cooking for Christmas eve and Christmas day. We do the "feast of the seven fishes" for the eve. Shrimp scampi, king crab legs, fried smelt, lobster fra diavlo, mussels in white wine/butter/garlic, fried calamari, cold scungilli salad. Plus some other stuff. :) Christmas day is going to be a honey ham, a huge home made cold antipasto dish to start, sauteed broccoli rabe, baked potato wedges in olive oil, etc etc. Now I am hungry. Anyone need a place to come for Christmas? I'm sure we'll be making enough to go around? :)

Dickie Dee's? It's in Newark though.

Can't say much about the rest but Pastis and Blue Ribbon certainly know how to serve a burger.

Cool discussion on Roadfood.com. May give some ideas: http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40

I heard there is a Hotdog place that sells "Peanut Butter and Jelly" dogs. I just can't rmember the name or the location. Maybe Teaneck?

Fennel pollen is in no way overpowering when used as a dusting. It has a sweeter anise flavor but much mellower than the fennel seeds. Enjoy!

I have no doubt you find the place and the chef worth the money. However, I think you are wrong in saying that the people that are sniping at their price point are just "pissed off" because they can't afford it. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford a dinner like that on a regular basis if I wanted to. I choose not to. $1000 on a dinner for two at a Japanese restaurant is foolish to me. Watch the place close it's doors within the next two years.

Good sushi and sashimi is not something that impresses me. Most "good" Japanese restaurants will have very high quality fish so that should be a given. It's what you do with fish and the other parts of the meal that makes a place that much better than the next. I haven't eaten at Masa but I doubt I'd drop that kind of dough on a meal that still seems like it's "on the fence." I'm going to throw my money at Keller before Masa when I hit the TWC. I'll stick with Blue Ribbon Sushi thank you.

Went for the first time tonight with my sushi buddy. My staple places in the area are Dai Kichi and Sukeroku. I'm not a fan of Noveau sushi because I do think they are WAY overpriced and seem to cater to the Montclair crowd that thinks that food is good only if it's expensive. Anyway, as for Okayama, I have to say I was pretty impressed with the quality of the fish. Everything was very fresh including the Yellowtail which tasted like it was just out of the ocean. The special was a scallop sashimi dish that tasted very sweet although not the best I have ever had. The Cruchy Spicy Tuna roll was very good albeit not very "crunchy." The Spider roll was enjoyable but I thought the soft shell crab wasn't crispy enough and lacked a bit of flavor I'm use to. However, each piece of sushi was very generous, but not too big, and tasted very fresh. I had Octopus(very very good), tuna and salmon. As I said the Yellowtail was way above par. Each piece was cut perfectly to maximize taste, texture and tenderness. For dessert we had the green tea ice cream tempura. Much better than average. The hot green tea was also a high grade, not that generic stuff they pass off at most places. It actually had a lot of depth. All was washed down with a medium grade dry sake. Service was excellent and very courteous. Verdict: a definite repeat and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any sushi lover.

I second the Goat Cheese Tortellini...heaven on a plate. I'd recommend starting with a glass of Prosecco. Appetizers: Grilled Octopus is fantastic as are the steamed cockles Pastas: As above the tortellinis are a can't miss. I also recommend the mint love letters or the beef cheek ravioli Entree: The grilled pork chop will rank with one of the best you will ever have. The branzino is also fantastic and quite simple. I also loved the Spicy Two Minute Calamari. Very light dish and perect compliment of flavors. For a side the roasted garlic rapini is perfect. Dessert: The sweet corn crema or any crostata. Make sure to get a glass of Brachetto for dessert

"We sell food"

I ate at the one in Edison a couple of months ago. Although the pastrami was good I felt it was easily a good notch below the famous places like Stage, Carnegie, Katz's. The knish was so huge I though it was ridiculous and definitely took away fromm the eating experience. Pretty poor representation of a knish if you ask me. I dumped it after a couple bites. All in all I wouldn't go back again. The portions are "disgustingly" big and I think that isa big detriment. Final analysis of Harold's in Edison: Pass

Try Harry Wils & Co. in Secaucus (food distributor). They carry a wide variety of pastry products and chocolates. They have a cash and carry policy for "small" purchases. ← Well I had no luck and ended up making it myself, and I must say it came out fantastic. 1/2 pound Hazelnuts skinned by boiling with baking soda and roasted until golden Put in food processor and pulse until mealy add 1 cup of powdered sugar 1 tablespoon of Frangelico liquer 2 large egg whites pulse until paste forms The result is heaven

Thanks Curlz, I will check them out tomorrow and LYK how I made out!

It's called for in a recipe for hazelnut cake, Italian style. 1/4 cup of hazelnut paste. The Italian specialty shops around me have only Nutella which will not do in this recipe. Neither will almond paste because I am allergic to almonds(but not hazelnuts).

Thanks but it's hazelnut paste or bust.

Looking for a specialty store in Northern NJ that carries hazelnut paste. Looking so far without any luck. Too late to mail order now. Any ideas?

They are adding 35 seats and ready for the extra business. Hopefully it will be easier to get reservations. ← I have heard that before. I am praying that service and food quality doesn't suffer because right now it's top notch for a Montclair establishment. Adding 35 seats is basically doubling your efforts. We shall see.

Ate there last night. We had: Mussels with white wine, garlic, parsley: Just fantastic. Reminded me of when I ate in Paris at the cafes of the Latin Quater. Pate': I heard it was very good but I do not like pate' so I can't comment Frisee salad: with bleau cheese dressing and a coddled egg. Definitely for the bleau cheese lovers! Smoked Pork Chop: The pork chop is double cut and VERY tender all the way through. Comes on a bed of cabbage and topped with some dried cherries. The one knock I have about this dish is that I think they cheated on the "smoke." To me the chop had the distinctive flavor of "Liquid Smoke in a Bottle" This detracted from the dish. Crsipy Skin Wild Salmon with choizo Ragout: Magnifique! Delicate salmon below a nice crispy skin. Tasted fantastic. I believe this is a new menu item.

I hear they are adding an additional 30 seats by expansion. Sometimes this is "the kiss of death" for a restaurant. Let's hope the food stays as spectacular as it is now.

I have eaten both and I can say that I will take either one any day of the week. Both fantastic! Regardless of any differences a meat sangwich lover wouldn't put either one of these down until they were bloated. :)

Lenny & John's Subs Address: 161 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 Phone: (973) 429-1736