jim07044

What is the best sauce for pumpkin ravioli, and can you provide a link to the recipe? The November issue of Food & Wine has a recipe for pumpkin pudding ...

Maria's in nearby Wayne sells pumpkin ravioli. I've made it on several occassions and it was very good.

Miele's in Verona. Neighborhood place. Family style. Full bar and BYO.

Try the cheese area at Whole Foods, either in Montclair or West Orange, though the West Orange store has a larger selection.

The Smart car test drive program on Saturday probably had something to do with that "European" feel. BTW: Took the family for a late lunch at Murphy Style Grill and everything was over-oily (soggy fries, saturated salad, oily-bread sandwich). Would not recommend going there for food. Walking around, Red caught my eye for a nice, upscale casual destination.

From a business perspective, I think it is inspiring that someone (Ray Kroc in 1955) could start a business and make billions franchising it around the globe. From a cultural perspective, we could be a healthier and less obese nation without Mickey Ds and all the other low-cost high-taste food options out there. Like the tobacco industry, places like McDonald's encourage the children of the next generation to start their bad habits early. Most families have to stretch their dollars farther, and the "dollar value meals" are more appealing than the $10-25 meals at other [healthier] places. If someone would just bankroll the idea of fresh food fast to achieve the same economy of scale as McDonald's but with all-natural fruits, vegetables, and meats (realizing the large amount of daily waste that will occur without using preservatives) at "dollar menu" prices, you could start to make a dent on America's eating habits. But of course its more complicated than that ... television advertising targeted at children ... package design and POP store display strategies ... family history and habits ... employment unions and lobby groups ... Back to the topic ...

Miele's in Verona (across the street from Amazing Hot Dog). Small casual italian, family owned. Best chicken parm around. Head chef Stephen will take care of you. I've been eating there since 1990 and it's always been consistently good.

I used to go to the 94th Bomb Group Restaurant for office happy hour gatherings (not food). Their website no longer exists ... does anyone know if they've closed? ... that is such a great location (aircraft takeoffs and landings!) in need of a hip venue.

Maybe they're trying to make reservations on Sunday ...

Maybe its the "southerner" in me, but I miss a good "Hot Now" fresh glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme store. Their raspberry-filled "bombs" are heavenly, too.

Limoncello recipe here. Make a batch today (June 12) and it'll be ready in time for Labor Day weekend!

According to the websites, there will be a Bonefish location in Pine Brook (Rt 46) and a Cheeseburger in Paradise in Wayne (Rt 46, Ramada Inn). Agreed ... looking at the menus, the drinks seem to be the draw (and where the profit lies) ... but, a good alternative to the usual TGI Fridays and Houlihan's we've had for decades ...

The Chart House in Weehawkin has a great outdoor area on its pier, but the last time I went there they required dinner service for seating (you couldn't just get drinks alone). Hopefully, that has since changed. Donovan's in Sea Bright has tiki bars on its beach. Wind-n-Sea in Highlands has a tiki bar on its marina pier.

The Ryland Inn's website says it is a temporary closing for repairs: http://www.rylandinn.com/statusmessage/ As to the Hilton's Dining Room, I never dined there but the stuffy Escoffier-style hotel dining model from years ago is off-putting to today's younger, hipper crowd. Today, hotels need a notable chef's name and a high-style transforming interior design to draw in diners. Maybe Chef Shelton and Hilton should get together?!

I've got first-time dinner reservations for two people next Thursday. What's the scene and food like these days?

I've got first-time dinner reservations for two people in the main room (the one with high ceilings, I'm guessing?) next Thursday. What's the scene and food like these days?

The government-regulated ban on smoking in restaurants and bars is no different than government-regulated ban of acts of public lewdness and noise levels after certain hours: you can do them in the privacy of the confines of your own home all you want, but in public spaces such acts affect the quality of life for others who also have a right to their preferences. These restrictions are more about protecting a quality of life rather than taking away personal freedoms: only fools would argue that tobacco has some redeeming health benefits to justify the cancer risk and second-hand inhalation consequence. The government also regulates the selection, production, and quality of food in this country. Are you also against such "intrusion" and suggest we go back to the days of "eat at your own risk"?

Well thats disappointing! You should tell that to Sharif Malnick so that he may consider opening a NYC branch! Just make sure the elevator doors are solid (re: BED-NY incident and closing).

To quote a famous New Yorker, "Not that there's anything wrong with that..." From where I live, I can walk to any of the good-to-great restaurants in Montclair, NJ for great food at reasonable prices ($20-40/person) for everyday meals. That is why for many of us B&T folk ( groan), NYC is reserved for more special occassions for when we want to see celebrity chefs, celebrity clientele, inventive cuisine, extraordinary interior design, over-the-top experiences. If the point is have a memorable experience, then good food is just one part of the successful equation. There has to be a special reward for the effort of driving through cross-town traffic, $40 parking garage fee, etc. So far, I've narrowed my selection to Buddakan and Perry Street.

The original post was "Looking for recommendations for great food and a great scene" ... I don't think the two criteria have to be mutually exclusive. The scene I am seeking is a place to party, to celebrate, with DJ music and good food. Think The Forge in NYC. And as to the B&T references, that is so old. NYC is a great city, no doubt, but the planet is full of great cities and towns with all kinds of unique and special dining experiences. Watch one of Tony Bourdain's shows and plan a long weekend getaway vacation someday.

Read the Baristanet article here.

I'm tempted to say MNO, but I went to Alain Ducasse last year (for someone else's birthday) and that was a little over the top for me. I've also been to Blue Hill at Stone Barns for a wonderful experience. The view from the Mandarin Hotel bar is impressive. At the other end of the spectrum, no Blue Smoke or casual joints either. I just read Alan Richman's review of the Spotted Pig (Oct ’06) and it sounds too cramped for space for my tastes. Still, who shows up there and when? I like eating dinner at 8:00 instead of midnight. Descriptions of Mr. Chow (W. 57th St location) indicate its high status in the ’80s ... what is it like today? I read that many migrated to Philippe? Buddakan looks and sounds good. How's the food? How's the scene these days? The menu at Buddha Bar doesn't excite me, looks more like a great place for drinks and apps. What about The Post House? Pastis? L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon? The Little Owl?

Looking for recommendations for great food and a great scene (beautiful people, live DJ or good vibe background music) to celebrate a memorable 38th birthday in NYC with the wife on a Thursday night in March. Extra points for skyline view/outdoor access, celebrity chef, and celebrity clientele.

Yup. Walnut Street Station (NJ Transit Rail) makes this place packed on Thursday and Friday nights for the after-work scene, but probably lighter on Saturday nights where most of those people go elsewhere. As for the customer service complaints, I think Egan's wanted to be an Irish-pub-in-Montclair first and offer food second. It has a very Tierney's feel (neighborhood drinking hole) but just a notch more upscale than Tierney's. Success is in the eye of the owner, I guess. Montclair has plenty of great restaurants for food, luckily, and Blu is one of the best seafood restaurants around. I'm not complaining ... you can slum it at Red Cheetah, Just Jakes, and South Park if you want to hang with the $1 draft/jello shot college kids ...

I only go there for the bar scene. The burger and fries are good on the occassions I've ordered something. I keep hearing rumors about Egan's owners opening a seafood restaurant next door, but I don't see any construction progress to back it up.