waves2ya

I/we (family) did Hunan Cottage (Fairfield) last night. No dragon, no tiger - but great food. Packed, bit of a wait... Their Peking Duck is dreamy (always on menu) but as far as specials go, had a short ribs with bamboo dish served on bok choy. HC is my NJ chinese fav; consistant and high quality (thanks for tip Rose).

Just saw them - what a strange shape; the Mikasa line is so bizarre... Too bad.

Are these new Mikasa glasses kind of flat/square-ish as base of glasses retreats to stem... Open Up - Universal Or is that just a webpage/photo effect?

Greetings. I've received a gift of a selection of "Aperitifs De Provence"; they are "Orange Colombo", "Noix de la Saint Jean", "RinQuinQuin" & "Gentiane De Lure". Anyone know how best to offer these...? Straight - or with some other licquer (like gin) or perhaps a splash of soda & ice... Many thanks, in advance, for ideas.

Our is a Melick's family, too... http://www.pickyourown.org/NJnw.htm (middle of page) And the Oldwick General Store (on corner, before you turn into main orchard) has great grub - almost as fun as the picking! (Their thin rueben sandwiches - well grilled - are droolingly scrumptious)

Had a very good meal at Senoritas... 285 Glenwood Ave, Bloomfield, NJ (at intersection of Bloomfield Ave & Glenwood/Broad), 973.743.0099 Is a kind of sketchy area but restaurant is brand new. Very cheery 'vrai Mexican' feel (b-days are feted w/ the Mex b-day song) and staff quite friendly. Patron Marg's (w/ an extra shot) were good and was really a pleasure to eat this cuisine not BYOB... Menu is enormous - we had the Chicken Mole (complex sauce was right on; served on accompanying chicken breast but I mentioned to staff I'd rather next time on half a roasted chix - they said "no prob...!"). Also had a steak dish; pan sauted rib eye served w/ portabello mushrooms, chili's & chipolate - really tasty. Black beans out of this world... They been at this location for a year - will celebrate next week - and local eG's have every reason to celebrate, too. Great authentic fun grub & drinks and good prices; a rarity in N. NJ...

Greetings wine glassware eGulleteers... In December of '05 I ordered Spiegelau Authentis Collection Red Wine Glasses, Set of 6, from Amazon. Each and everyone have broken as of this date - I treated the glassware lightly, never used the dishwasher, etc. but... there you have it. Anyhow - I adore the the shape. Do guru's know of a heartier glass similarly designed? Or must I pony up for a new round of Spiegelau...? Thank you in advance for ideas.

Here, Rich...? 866-242-3139 x27184 (201) 939-3951 256 Ridge Rd Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 Is on my way home - will give a try, soon; Thks!

If you get a chance Ms. Mouze - do the drive by and get us the add'y; I go to the Home Depot in that nabe all the time and started a thread way back when on water ice... Rita's, Rita's, Rita's. Would gladly drive (shields up!) for some 'o the real deal.

Lou - your culinary sorcery obviously too powerful; must have made Z lose his mind! Congrat's to Italy - Germany was a great World Cup, one that will keep rivalries fresh for at least four years... Allez Fut!

Eat French and they'll woo ya over, Lou... Go France; Way To Go Amelie...! (Wimbledon)

Good waist high surf over the 4th of July - cold; but in each day of four. Eats... Lex Mex; 2x's (says how good they are); Yellowfin Burrito and Seafood Burito + the chipolte sauce (u provide the beer) heavenly; tasted the kids mex fare - rockin' too... Harvey Cedars Shellfish Co.; Lobsters (platter - kicked up to 1 1/2 pds, w/ clams, mussells & corn); simple, not a long wait (and I brought champagne & a reisling). Perfect. Moustache Bills (Barney Light) was right on - the local scallops were really a treat; same for fluke. Their salads are great too (vegies - so hard to come by at the shore). Blue; crowed, upscale and good. Solid as ever I had the sea bass and tasted the scallops, salmon & veal (veal - not memorable). They added 20% to tab for a table of 5; it's more & more like a NYC experience *wince*. Can't wait to return to other LBI spots (I love summer in Jersey!)... Btw - Wida's is now "Charlie O's" - the money they spent on that upgrade!!!

I'll second Blue (and Kobi's rec) but a personal fav (chk .sig!) is... Lex-Mex 8th St & Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom 361-5399 Run by local surfers (like Blue) - great prices & soulful vibe - the eats can't be beat. When you come across the bridge it's right in front of you next to 7/11 (ocean side).

Low & slow is the way to go (even here in New Jersey )... Try this site for loads of tips: Virtual Weber Bullet Here's to some good Q for you in Miami soon...!

So - on the Whole Foods local roaster angle... WF is now stocking Gorilla Coffee out of Bklyn (Park Slope) - great site explains most... Packages are marked with a 'roasted on' date; roasts are in small batches; beans are fair trade; lbs are 16 oz, not 12 or 14; roast is between full city and French (deep roast). Was a delicious cuppa this am - bodes well (bet other vendors get w/ it soon enuf)...

I love good coffee - and do not home roast (I've a rant about that, too, in coffee forum), so started this thread there: Master Roasters However - I think finding roasters in Northern New Jersey is the best way to go. Good roasting is a difficult, artisanal and expensive equipment precise venture. Local folks who do it will get my business even if it means driving.

That's a good thing... Not the Montclair WF's; coffee is Allegro, Peets, couple of others. Got 'em to bring in some Dean's Beans but was not as great as I'd hoped. Also spoke w/ them about date stamping roasting day but they were like "... it already has an expiry date on it..."; didn't go far...

The issue, with respect to coffee roasting, is when was the coffee roasted. None of the coffees at Whole Foods gives you an idea of what day roasting occurred (yet... provides an expiry!). Same for places like Bean's or Porto Rico. Coffee deteriorates quickly after roasting... For more on this subject - visit eG's coffee forum. As to N. NJ - I find the Bluestone Cafe (123 Watchung Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043) a capable roaster who's freshness you can taste. I send away and pay the shipping once in a while, too...

Wow. Some shots... You've been so forthright in sharing your restaurant experience Eric that the eGullet community can feel the pain. Keep your chin up, you'll be back...

The Half Spiced Chicken at... Afghan Kebab House (212) 307-1612; 764 9th Ave, New York, NY ... is unbelievable - a real treat. I've had other Afghan, Pamir's 'bolandee ghandanda' (sp?) is perfect but all things considered... That chicken is a work of art. Can ya imagine how many guys (a la Vietnam) will come back from the region with a hankering for lamb...?

There's an interesting thread going on at alt.coffee... Home Roast vs. Pro Roast ... and, given the rather passionate nature of the home roaster contingent, consensus seems to be that you can't really do better than the professional roasters we've explored here Master Roasters - esp. if you are using a hot air popper. I think this is one area (as opposed to, say, pulling an espresso or... rice!) where - as of date - the technology, trouble, electrical constraints & quality control conspire to make paying a pro the better way to go.

Had occasion to go back to Sesame the other night (w/ kids); not the first time I'd been there... Old Review Was pretty sublime. Soothing atmosphere, soft jazz in the background and attentive service sat us quickly and provided a seamless transition to eats. We shared a corn & chicken soup, scallion pancakes & spring rolls - all fresh, delicate and left us looking forward to the entrees. Interestingly, the tea is served in a most wonderful double hulled cup (maybe a little strong) - beautiful clayware. We shared Peking Shredded Pork (pork & cabbage), salt baked prawns w/ chili's and brown rice. All very good, maybe not Chinatown/C46 authentic - but somehow the sophisticated atmosphere, subdued decor, Montclair environs and quick trip home forgives. ~waves

I like Brookside; in fact, I live near Brookside Thai (ok, it's cheap & rather tasty)... But Bangkok Kitchen is a different experience. Here, you have a resturantur who has an interior design vision, his own art work (those are his photos) a capable menu & good cooking (better than good on some nights) - an altogether NYC type of dining treat - in the Cadwells. At a great price. I was pinching myself the first time I walked in. BK remains one of my fav's in Northern NJ. I wish, really wish, there were more like it in NJ (but the vast majority are overpriced, try too hard at the wrong things (unfocused) - and are expensive). ~waves

Salivating since this thread (!) for Afghan, finally got to... Silk Road, Village Square Mall, 41 Mountain Blvd. Warren NJ 07059, 908 561-8288 ...the other night. Very easy to blow right past this little mall (esp. at night) but once inside had all the markings a genuine Afghan experience (that poster of the girl w/ the green eyes; always haunting). Was quiet until friends of the owner arrived for a holiday get together; place exudes a kind of familial warmth... (disclaimer: pls forgive sp errors) Started w/ bolandi - ghandanda (scallion) and potato as well as steamed dumplings (the lentil ones). Bolandi was right on, delicate, thin, an understated taste treat. Dumpling (new for me) quite something and should be compared to C46's array of delicacies. Plat's principal were tandori chicken (about $16) and lamb chops ($22). This chix was fairly typical of Afghan style but not off the reservation enough for me - entirely proper, however. Our waiter emphasized that Silk Road's specialty was lamb and suggested the rack. Was absolutely delicious - moist, flavorful and plenty for tastes around. Finally, we had the brown piallow (rice) with carrots, raisins, honey and it, too, was busting with taste. Silk Road has more of a 'home' kind of quality (vs. Pamir) - not as dressed up but really cozy and peaceful, in a good full tummy sort of way. I'll/we'll be back (was w/ my kids, too: 9 & 12; ate and loved everything!) ~waves

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