nhconner

Almadraba Park is a great place to stay for a night at El Bulli (see rest). The grounds are a pleasure, and the location is refreshingly remote from Roses. Your cab ride will take three quarters of an hour and will be waiting for you when you finish dinner. I dont care if your Richard Petty, take a cab! The drive is beautiful and relaxing if you are not driving. I love to drive, fast, but the route is unique and commands a driver who knows where he is going in the dark. Nuf said. One but. If you are looking for pure luxury you should consider staying an hour or more away, cab wise in a luxury hotel. The rooms Almadraba Park, as of Fall 2007, are stark and cotish. The view from our verandah was sublime. After my meal at El Bulli I smoked a cigar from 2 to 3 and loved every minute of it. Cotish is a strong bash, but our beds and room were modern ten years ago at best and were the worst beds on our trip. Back to smiles, the hotel is wonderful in all other aspects. Service and space are spot on. Nate

I have not speant much time there, but the hours I have were spent at Wilbers. Really darn good Eastern NC style Bbq. This is the most famous joint in town and deserves its reputation. Many say its the best Eastern Q in the state. Nate

That looks totaly tasty.

Been there. Use a candy thermometer to get a soft ball. and then add the nuts and toss and put on silpat to cool. Nate

Also, I've always had the understanding that simply getting a bit of cork in your wine will not make it "corked" - that's a whole different process going on? (isn't it? someone correct me if I'm wrong) I agree with Carolyn - I'd write a letter. And, if you do, let us know what happens. ← You are correct, a piece of cork in your wine will not make a wine corked. After all the wine is in contact with the cork the whole time anyway. A "corked" wine is contaminated with TCA. While there are other sources of TCA contamination, the cork is the most commen one. Heres a link for a little more info. http://www.winepros.org/wine101/vincyc-tca.htm Nate

I second Hisop. I think there is a tasting menu for around 45 euro, and we had wonderful food there. Abac is more elegant and refined, but also more expensive. Hisop is the kind of place I would eat at 3 times a month if it was in my city. Nate

The Paris three stars I have dined in over the last few years include Taillevent, L'Arpege, Ducasse, and Le Cinq. Our meal at Taillevent was very good and the service was top notch, but it placed last if I had to choose based on food. We actually had better food at Le Cinq, and found it more innovative and interesting, funny given he was the former chef of Taillevent. The food at Ducasse was as tasty as I have had and the food at L'Arpege was just about as good and more interesting. All were very expensive. I got the best wine values at Le Cinq and Taillevent, but the one three star experience that hit on all cylinders was Ducasse. With all that being said for reference, I had a wonderful meal at Taillevent and I will never forget their foie. It was the best I have had and nothing has come close. This upsets me because I keep eating it and is bad to great, but nothing touches those gelatin covered orbs of foie we had that day. My wife thinks foie is ok and mostly disappointing, but she said she would eat Taillevent's any day of the week. Based on my limited experience Taillevent is probably a three star many nights, but not enough, and two suits it well and will only improve the legend. I will be back for a bottle of sticky and some fois. Nate

My brother works as a head beekeeping cosultant for North Carolina and he sent me this email when I showed him this post. If you think it's OK, you can post the N.C. beekeepers web site to your list for those in North Carolina that may want assistance getting started. www.ncbeekeepers.org Nate

In not particular order El Cellar Can Roca, Girona Alenia, Chicago Fearrionton House, Pittsboro Abac, Barcelona El Bulli, Roses area Hisop, Barcleona Bin 54, Chapel Hill Lacroix, Philladelphia Rafas, Roses Undercurret, Greensboro (Local Favorite) If I do this well in 07 I will be lucky. I know El Bulli is out (denyed) and I hope to be at Alenia at least twice. I need some good Sushi and want to try Mini Bar. Nate

I got the bad news today. Its a shame because we got in last year and I feel were enjoying our meal as much as anyone we observed and I really wanted to go again. No hard feelings though. I imagine they got more requests than ever, and Luis told us the reason we got in before is because they wanted new diners and to get them in they had to deny 2000 previous repeat diners to make room. Later in our trip we ate next to a delightful couple at Hisop who had been dining there every year since El Bull's opening, and they were told no last year for that very reason personally by Luis. Glad I got one meal in, I feel lucky for that. Nate

I used Top Table to get a reservation at Hisop and Abac, for Saturday and Friday nights. It worked well for us and I saved a few bucks on my phone bill. Nate

Most know this, but I only learned this a few weeks ago. I brought back a few different paprikas, smoked and sweet from our trip to Northeast Spain. O my God! The first thing I did was make a little Patatas Bravas. What I made before was never quite right and I did not know why. Now I know, I have been using crappy paprika my whole life. I tasted the four I bought with the ones I had in my spice cabinet. Lets just say I threw out all I had in the cabinet. I had to. What I once thought was a useful spice has now become somthing I am cooking with every night now. I guess the lesson I am passing on to anyone reading this tread for the first time, is the differences in paprika are huge and are as differnet as a ten year old canned green bean and a fresh organic french bean broiled in olive oil with flur de sel. Nate

We were just there last week and had a wonderful meal. The tasting menu was 54 Euro and includes three courses, a starter, a fish and an a main. We ordered a la carte and we were also very pleased. Both ways inculde a couple tastes, and cheese and desert are extra. This meal was not cheap (180 Euro total with 2 glasses of cava, 1 cheese, 2 desert and wine), but was one of the best values of our trip that inculded Roca, Bulli, Raffas, Abac, etc. Highly recomended. The best squab I have had yet by the way. Nate

Jim, I picked up a bottle of that Stony Hill at Eric's near you and also really enjoyed it. Becky and I went there on our first trip to Napa and have fond memories. When we were there ten years ago they were using the same barrels they had for thirty years in some cases. Hope all is well with you and Diane. Nate

Russ this is a great no frills explination that answers the posts question. I find the same to be true. I love most red beets cooked steamed, boiled, pan fried, rosted, or baked in a salt crust, all the same. The others fare best as a salad couse or mixed together as a dish. Most of the time that is. Nate

I must ask one more favor or preference I should say before our eating trip in a few weeks. One night left undecided, Cinc, or Hisop? We are dining at Abac, Rafas, El Bulli, Can Roca, and have a few other days/nights packed with tapas and traditonal hopping(egullet recs), but one last night in Barcelona is left undecided. I am torn. What would be the great meal before we leave the next morning? Thanks, Nate

I love to eat them with roast pork. Quite often I simmer some prunes in chicken stock and congac to serve with my roasted pork. Nate

Glad to see Scott Carsberg of Lamperia got some props. This was one of the most under rated spots in Seattle when we lived there a five years ago. I can only imagine how good it must be now. Nate

This is my favorite way these days. Boil a gallon of water. Add a cup of kosher salt. Add smashed garlic, smashed shallots, and any fresh herbs you can get your hands on. Sage and thyme are a natural delightful choice. Throw in some whole peppercorns and a bay leaf or two. Take the brew off and let it cool to room temp. Throw in the pork and brine in the fridge for 24hrs. Roast and serve with prunes reconstituted in chicken stock with a splash of brandy. Works every time. Juicy flavorful and addictive. Nate

Any reccomendations on a great place to dine on a Sunday? I cant seem to find any recs that are open for dinner. Thanks, Nate

Jim, I was born in 1973 if that gives you any more perspective. 1973 is a pretty bad year for wine. The best 73 I have had was an Inglenook Cab. Most others have been bad to ok. I have two sons now. We go to Sugar often, so you will meet them. I like to take breaks too. Is good for your soul. Nate

Just had lunch at Taste of Vietnam. This is in the Staples shopping center (accros from Costco) at the Intersection of Wendover and I-40. This location is going to be tough, but my lunch was outstanding. I had Vermicelli with grilled shrimp and pork and springrolls. Now this is a dish I get often at Binh Minh, Pho Hien Vuong and Saigon, but this was the best version in all respects. Although it was the smallest portion of the three it was just right and the price was in line with the others, and slightly less than Saigons. The shrimp was fresh and not overcooked, the pork was seared crusty and was juicy and the spring rolls were both crisp on the outside and crunchy on the inside. There were many garnishes and the sauce was balanced. I was really impressed at the pureness and cant wait to try more. This could become a real favorite Asain for me if this quality is on par in other dishes. I will really know when I dive into there whole fish stuff, but next is the Pho. Cant wait to return. Glad to have another great SE Asian spot in an unlikely city. Nate

Madison Park burned inside, kitchen fire I think?, and it was simply renovated. They had a pretty big old school wine collection that I only took advantage of as a student on my parents bill. A 51 Croft and some stilton was an early eye opener. They auctioned it off when they closed, but it was in a 65 degree basement and there was a fire and they warned about heat damage. I always wondered who bought all that classic Petrus and how its holding up. There was a 61 in there I think. I was born a raised here, left for nine years and came back. The food scene has gotten much better. I agree on the benefit of the Asian restaurant and grocery presence, its a nice addition. I also don't think Lucky 32 is a destination. Not bad food, but not one of the top spots here. Green Valley Grill in the O'Henry Hotel is owned by the same folks and is much better IMHO. Zeto is my favorite wine shop in town, and is also the smallest. Great owners that are always there and a have wine selection they have tasted and approve of. Some unique Italian high end stuff too. Ask Sue. 1618 West Seafood Grill, is a popular newcomer and is quite good. The dishes try a little too hard sometimes, but everything is always very fresh, pretty good drinks at the bar, because you will wait without a rez. On par with Berts, but very different. Giacomo's on High Point road is 5 min from the coliseum. The other spot is 20. Go and get lunch. Its as good as many of the spots Ive been taken to in Philly and NYC. Well maybe a tick less considering the latitude ambiance factor. We have a Ruth Chris here if thats what your looking for. When they do it right it is hands down the best slab in town. Gate City Chop is doing a great job, but meat for meat on the rare side of medium-rare, the big chain reigns. The wine list is an abomination though. Typical wines are a %150 markup over retail. Corkage is the way at GSO Ruths. Natty Greens downtown does good bar food and has some pretty good suds brewing worth a few pints. A very popular evening destination. Downtown there is also Cafe Europa which is a good deal. Hey, I read in the paper today we are getting a Red Robin. Who will win the Applebees Ruby Tuesdays war with a west coast chain in town. Ill just have to take someones elses word on that one. Nate

On Dolly Madison next to BSophia, Cafe D Arte is a pretty darn good Italian place that is serving some of the only real non-roman melted cheese sudo american italian that you can get everywhere else. Their food is all fresh and each dish represents a different part of Italy. Its a nice place to dine too. Marios buy the way is hands down the best NY style zaa in town. Giacomos rules, a must for lunch and a staple for home cooked Italian meals. They make motz every day and is the bomb. They simmer meatballs and sausages in gravy all day every day, a good sandwich results. Nate

Madison Park, yes. Was a nice place it was. It burned and they never rebuilt. Undercurrent makes its own pate and it is always great. 221 S Elm has a by far the most innovative menu in town, and a young ambitious chef, but my dishes are hit and miss when I go, some are nice and others dont work or come out wrong. I have not given up though and hope to see them succedee. Liberty Oak is also a town favorite and delivers well prepared food at good prices. Its a lot like Southern Lights. Best Indian is Saffron. Nate