rozrapp

Nicholas, in Middletown, is an upscale restaurant whose website includes all their menus, which are always kept current (they change seasonally), and prices. Granted, providing prices is easy for them since they only have three categories: 2 courses, 3 courses or tasting menu. And the prices have not changed since they opened a year and a half ago. "...and it amazes me how often us food freaks misspell "dessert" as "desert"!!" BTW, Tommy, since you brought up the topic of grammar and usage, please note that the correct usage is "we food freaks." The way you determine whether it's "us" or "we" is to drop the words "food freaks," and test it out. Obviously, you wouldn't say "...us...misspell...." At least, I hope you wouldn't.

Keep in mind that if you want to avoid all the extra work of brining chickens and turkeys, buy kosher birds because the "brining" so to speak (that is the salting that is involved in the process of "kashering" them) has already been done for you. And that's why, when it comes to which chickens have good flavor, kosher chickens generally come out at or near the top of taste tests. And even though turkey is my least favorite fowl, the kosher turkey I buy once a year at Thanksgiving time always tastes great, no extra brining needed. I kept a kosher kitchen for 30 years and, although I no longer keep kosher, I continue to buy only kosher birds because of their superior (IMO) flavor. Now, when it comes to kosher beef, that's an entirely different matter and probably the subject for an entirely different thread.

Invision saw my post where I indicated a possible interest, and so they privately e-mailed me this additional info about their "Mystery Dining Program": "We train all of our reviewers in review methodology (a 2 hour class is required) and will conduct a class in the New Jersey Shore area we are recruiting in (Avon, Belmar,Spring Lake area). Evaluations cover all front-of-the-house areas--reception, reservations,bar and table service, food--full evaluation, and cleanliness. Focus is also on hospitality and staff selling skills. Reimbursements range from $75 to $225, and include bar and dining expenses. We review primarily mid tier boutique restaurants (not large chains) with an average total reimbursements of $50 to $100. For more, please email me personally at GLECODY@aol.com. Sorry our web site is under construction." To answer Rosie's question about what they are paying, it appears obvious that they are not paying anything above and beyond reimbursement for bar and food expenses. And there is nothing about payment for the 2-hr. training class. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this now sounds very much like what Rachel described in her post, as well as the program my friends occasionally participate in, except that they tend to go to chain restaurants while this firm deals with privately owned places. Obviously, the consulting company is working for the owners who want to find out how well their restaurants are operating and where improvements need to be made. Thus, it is not restaurant reviewing in the traditional sense, that is, reviews for the public. Since I was originally intrigued by the possibility of writing traditional reviews, and this is not what I had in mind, I remain undecided about contacting them. But if I do, I will post about it.

"Dinner and Bar Expenses (including tax and tip) are reimbursed in exchange for the dining evaluation write-up. Typical write ups require 1-2 hours of time." Rosie, They do answer most of your questions in their post. The write-ups could be typical restaurant reviews. Or, perhaps, there is a long form to fill out. (I know some people who do something similar to this for a company that works for restaurants like Red Lobster. They want to know how well things are going in these restaurants. Dinner is paid for, but not drinks. And there's a questionnaire to be filled out.) Since there is no mention made here of any additional fees paid, I would suppose there won't be. But then, again, you never know. My questions would be, who are they working for and what exactly are they going to do with these reviews? Will they be published somewhere, perhaps on a website? Since the NJ locations are not far from me, I may contact them and see what's what.

Thanks, Helena and Rail Paul, for your kind welcome. It's great to know that there are other NJ posters who are from my neck of the woods.

Hi, e-Gulleteers -- I have been reading these boards for a long time. Finally decided to take the plunge and register. This is my first post. I found this discussion about Herme and Wegmans interesting since I live in the immediate vicinity of the Manalapan store (in the next-door town of Marlboro) and go there often. For those of you who were wondering about getting from NYC to a Wegmans without a car, you can go to the Port Authority, get on a NJ Transit bus to Manalapan, and it will stop on Route 9 South, just a few steps from the store. No need for a cab. Non-rush hours, the trip will take about an hour, depending on how many stops the bus makes once it leaves the Garden State Pkwy. You can then shop your brains out (if you buy fresh fish or meat, they will even pack it in ice for you), check the bus schedule and pick up the bus going into NYC on the north side of 9. (Just make sure you cross at the light!) I have to admit that I have never tried any of the Herme treats because, for the most part, I don't use store-bought baked goods. But the pastry display does look lucious and, someday, I will probably break down and try something. I have bought Wegmans' fresh-baked breads and, while they are good, I think that they are nowhere as good as Amy's Bread which I buy about once a month when I am in the vicinity of her 9th Ave. store. One of the good things about the arrival of Wegmans in Manalapan was that the three other supermarkets in the immediate area -- Foodtown, ShopRite and Pathmark -- realized that they were going to be up against some stiff competition, so they all expanded and upgraded their offerings, thereby making what has been a good area for supermarket shopping even better. But the arrival of Wegmans has in no way diminished the crowds at Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck, the specialty food market, which continues to attract hoards of shoppers -- including yours truly -- from all the surrounding towns. Cheers!