njduchess

This week, our night out was Aozora in Montclair. They offered a special soft shell appetizer. It was tempura fried, cut in half, and sitting atop a wafer covered in mango chutney. There were a few sauces surrounding the wafer - I'm not sure what they were. The whole presentation was excellent. The rest of the food was well-prepared and beautifully plated as well. I had the seared tuna with roasted tomatoes sitting on sweet potato fries, and my husband had the duck breast served with a duck spring roll and pureed squash. The service was mostly good and we were happy with our choice for the night. Marie

Costco sells them in a 2 lb bag. I don't know their origin. They seem to have them all year long. I've purchased them in both Clifton and East Hanover. Marie

Thanks so much, Jeff. I might have spent hours figuring out what state would ship to Wisconsin. The order is placed and I didn't even have to lie. Marie

The current issue right now is that I am trying to ship a bottle of Luxardo Maraschino to a friend in Wisconsin. I live in New Jersey. The last few times I shipped a bottle of wine or liquor to them, I had problems either at UPS - flatly refusing to ship alcohol or the Post Office who had the same issue. I lied and said the sloshing they heard was a bottle of olive oil in a plastic bottle. I really hated to lie, so I thought I would try a different route this time. I called my local wine merchant to get him to ship it, and he told me that although he could ship wine, he was not permitted to ship the hard stuff. I tried an on-line supplier in California, and they could not ship to Wisconsin. Am I comitting a crime by shipping liquor or are there other shippers who would handle it without a problem - FedEx or DHL? Thanks for your help. Marie

Menton: The soft shell crab preparation that you're referring to: The best place I've had it is at Axelson's Blue Claw in Cape May. I'm sure they still do it. Any plans for a trip down South soon? Mark: I mis-spoke. Just what type of toasting devise would one use to toast a soft shell crab?

Just got home from a nice meal at Saigon House in East Hanover. They were serving soft shell crabs four different ways. We had them fried with a very light ginger and shallot sauce. It was our first visit there, and we totally enjoyed the food. The Rock and Roll Beef was definitely a winner, too. Only shortfall was the dessert - why oh why did I pick the sticky rice with taro? It was more pudding than rice with big chunks of taro floating in it - very much like a potato. I guess I was expecting the kind one gets in a Thai restaurant. By the way, one of the soft shell crab dishes said that the crab was "toasted." I can't imagine what cooking method that would be. Any guesses? Marie

Within the past week, I noticed a banner on the fence stating that they will be opening this fall. I didn't get close enough to see if they poured the floor yet. There is still no front on the building. Marie

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'm starting to prepare my folder of possibilities, and I will definitely report back. Can anyone tell me what particular types of fish are native to the area? Yes, HazardNC, we were definitely hoping for some barbeque. I went to Roadfood.com to see if they had suggestions. The only one they listed that was not too far out of the way was Allen & Son in Chapel Hill. The Sterns had been there is 2000, and someone else posted a review in 2003. I welcome your suggestion of Wilbur's. Where is it? Marie

My husband and I (from Northern New Jersey) are attending a wedding celebration mid-July in Wilmington. We are flying into Raleigh/Durham and then driving a rental car into Wilmington. We would like to sample some regional food during our trip. We would like to stop for lunch not too far from the airport, since we will be getting in at about 1:00 p.m. We would probably be stopping for a late breakfast or early lunch on the way back from Wilmington to the airport. While we will be in Wilmington, we might have one night when it will be just the two of us dining together. For the other two nights, we may be dining with a crowd. We are not necessarily looking for elegant and fancy restaurants but rather a few dining experiences that we just can't get at home. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for your help! Marie

Just for an update, I stopped in the Clifton Costco on my way back from my office this morning. They had Ranier cherries from California for $5 per pound in the 2 lb. package. I'm already into them and they are wonderful. The red cherries are also very large and very dark red and very good and still $4.66/lb in 3lb pkg. BTW, I took a quick glance at the cook books. They had a few paperback copies of Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything. I had always wanted to pick this up and never did. Well here it was at $12.99 and I grabbed it. Marie

We barbequed the Copper River Wild Sockeye Salmon from Costco tonight. It was quite good and flavorful. I think if I purchased it again, I actually might look for a thicker piece. It turned out to be somewhat thin, and the tail end was a little overdone when the other end was perfect. Perhaps this is the nature of sockeyes, in that they may simply be a smaller fish than other types. I would say that it was far superior to the farm-raised stuff.

Nicole: If you don't want to drive to Edison, a compromise might be a trip to East Hanover to Saffron. I always enjoyed a nice meal at Taj Palace in Montclair, favorite being Chicken Mahkni. The vegetarian Udupi Village also in Montclair is great if you are craving a "starch fix." This Italian can transfer the pasta crave to dosai very easily. Since I discovered Saffron, however, I haven't been back to Montclair. It is a white tablecloth place. The food is well-prepared and is plated for you at the table. My favorite dish is a salmon dish with a fenugreek sauce. If you like lamb, the tandor lamb chops are very flavorful. We usually skip Naan here and go for the paratha. The appetizers are all good. We've worked our way through them all. It's BYOB and on route 10 East. Make a U-Turn at the Applebees. There is a thread about them specifically, but I'm not sure how to direct you there. A search is probably in order. By the way, they do a buffet at lunch time - weekdays and weekends. It's a great value at $8.99 (I think). Enjoy! Marie

I have been eying up the cherries in Whole Foods for the past two weeks. We've been living on the frozen ones for so long! The first week they were $9.99/lb. This past week, they dropped down to $7.99/lb. I had a package in my hand, but didn't take it. Yesterday, in Costco, I found 3 lb. packages of sweet cherries from California for $13.99 or $4.66/lb. As the season goes on, they carry then from the Northwest in bigger packages, even cheaper, but I could not wait. An after-dinner treat of a nice bowl of cherries is almost as good as a piece of Scharffenberger 72% bittersweet...maybe it's even as good. By the way, I am on a mission to secure a cherry pitter this year. I would like a small hand held model that pits one at a time. I'm just going to use them in sauces or salads - not pie making. Does anyone have one that they can recommend? Where did you purchase it? Marie

I was in the East Hanover Costco yesterday. They had Copper River Wild Sockeye Salmon filet for $8.99/lb. Not only was it a great price, but there were several not-so-gigantic pieces in the case. I picked up one that was 1.4 pounds. I'm looking forward to grilling it tonight. Marie

I checked out my Whole Foods the other day (Montclair until - can't wait - the West Orange one opens). There were no soft shell crabs, but they did have live lobsters. They were in what I can only describe as "lobster condos". They were round rubber (or plastic) tubes and each lobster had his or her own tube. The heads and claws were coming out the front, but the tail were inside. I guess they feel that it is too cruel to let them pile up on the floor of the tank so they give them all their own space. Marie

There was one thing that I forgot to mention about the trip - food-wise. I found a stand at the Tusuque where a Middle-Eastern gentleman/chef was selling spices. Although I heard of Zatar, I never had it. His suggestion was to mix it with olive oil and salt, then drizzle it over tomatoes and feta. We have enjoyed this salad many nights with dinner. He also had his own "chef's blend" that I have been rubbing on all types of meat and poultry. Excellent! Someone local might have another suggestion for this, but we headed back to The Chile Shop in town to purchase chile powder. Fifteen years ago, they introduced us to Dixon. It was a staple in my kitchen for really great and flavorful chili, mail ordering it when we ran out. Any others worth trying?

On Friday afternoon, I decided to call Sesame in Montclair to see if they were serving soft shell crabs. I was told that they received 3 cases of them that very day. Off we went that very night. They offered them with 3 different sauces, and I chose black bean. The crabs were deep fried and the sauce was flavorful and definitely gave me my fix. Now my husband ordered the XO shrimp. At almost $30 it is one of the most expensive items on the menu, but if you like shrimp, the sauce and preperation is exceptional. They were having a private party on Friday night, but otherwise, the restaurant was not that busy.

Tommy: Having just returned to Northern New Jersey from a wonderful stay in Sante Fe, I would offer a few suggestions. We stayed at The Inn of the Five Graces in Sante Fe. It is billed as a meeting of the Orient and the Old West. The room was a bit quirky, but extremely charming. It included a nicely stocked refrigerator with a pitcher of margaritas upon arrival plus cheeses, pate, salty snacks, waters, ice tea, etc. In the morning they served a decent enough breakfast and wine and cheese at around 5:30pm. The only complaint was the roaring air conditioner in the bedroom. Perhaps it would be cool enough in October to skip it. http://www.fivegraces.com It's right around the corner from Pink Adobe, which has been suggested here and two blocks from the town square. I mentioned in an earlier topic that I was disappointed with the fine dining scene. The chefs took almost no inspiration from the local cuisine. We have access to exceptional fine dining at home, and there didn't seem to be any need to seek it out in New Mexico. I agree with Robin about Geronimo. We did not feel graciously welcomed and we dropped about $700 for four. My personal regret was not going to Ristra. Someone had recommended it - French with Southwestern influence. I also regretted missing Maria's. In addition to this most recent trip, we had been there about 15 years ago. For that visit, we ate a Coyote Cafe when it was fairly new. We also went to Pink Adobe and a few other places that I can't remember. It was all wonderful. Stick with the restaurants serving Southwestern fare and your dining experience will be memorable. Enjoy! Marie

Based on Tommy's recommendation of Oceanos, we tried it last night. It was a bit of a trek from West Orange, but we left feeling like it was worth it. My husband started with octopus which he really enjoyed. I had roasted beets with an almond spread that was outstanding. It was a very generous portion and could have served two of us easily. The soft shell crabs were nicely prepared with a side of ribboned vegetables. The fries were also good. My husband had the arctic char which was generous and very nice. I felt compelled to have a Greek wine. I can't recall the name, but it was similar to a savignon blanc and very nice. We finished with a Greek pastry - phyllo top and bottom with custard in between. I can't recall the name, but you should try it. Both the host (owner?) and server were gracious and charming. There didn't seem to be a lot of "fancy" cooking here - but the food is extremely well-prepared. Now about that idea that we will also hit an Asian restaurant for soft shells this week...I think we may delay it until next week. It's the morning after, and I'm still feeling as though I really overindulged last night.

I have to agree with Jeff about The Lobster House. I also second his suggestions. Here are two additional choices: Axelson's Blue Claw - on the road leading to Wildwood. Instead of going straight onto the Parkway, turn right following the signs for Wildwood and it's on the left side of the road. It's a much more elegant setting than The Lobster House and the seafood, although not tremendously innovative, is perfectly prepared. They have a liquor license. Copperfish - on the road leading into town. You'll pass it on your right on the way in. We dined there last year and enjoyed it. I can't remember what we ate, but the food was good and I think it is a BYOB. Louisa's can be tricky to get in. I think you need to show up on their doorstep when they open for business for the night. You put your name on a list, and they give you an approximate time to show up for that night. You can't make reservations in advance. Check with your front desk to see if it has changed. We try to make an annual pilgrimage to Cape May. It's my favorite spot in NJ.

Thanks for the suggestions. We usually go out for dinner once a week (all my waistline can afford). I think we should break the rule and do two times this week - once Asian and once non-Asian. I'll give you an update at the end of the week. Marie

I was walking down Church Street on Friday and noticed the sign in the Church Street Cafe that Soft Shell Crabs are in. Crabs are my favorite seafood and soft shells are the favorite of my favorite. I dragged my husband there on Friday night. We actually had some discussion about calling Sesame to see if they had them on their menu, because I was a bit leary about Church Street Cafe. We decided to go there anyway. The service was fair, I received my entree while two thirds of the way through my salad, and the crabs were okay - just that. The clock is ticking on the season. Has anyone had soft shell crabs anywhere that were great and memorable? I can't bring myself to clean them while they are alive. Sometimes I will have Whole Foods or Kings clean them and speed home to cook them, but a restaurant experience is preferred. Thanks. Marie

We just returned from a most enjoyable trip to New Mexico. We thank everyone for their suggestions and tips. We managed to squeeze a lot of good eating into six days. Just in general terms, I was hoping for a bit more Southwestern influence in the upscale restaurants. This was particularly true of Geronimo, Joseph’s Table, and The Compound. Although we had many wonderful dishes, we could have been dining in any city in the country. I was hoping for more sophisticated dining with a regional spin. That being said, we ate very well and enjoyed ourselves. Here are the highlights: Prairie Star: Their “regional” selection the night we were there was Southern. Obviously, we skipped that. The outstanding appetizers were Bison Meatloaf and 3 Cheese and Shrimp chile rellenos. Other choices were good. The winner entrée was Salmon that was cold smoked and grilled. The bison tenderloin was also good. Gold Street Café for Breakfast: The breakfast burrito was outstanding as was the chile glazed bacon. The chile and corn biscuit with eggs and mascarpone was good but the biscuit itself could have been more tender. It softened up as it sat. Geronimo: Although we had been warned, we were overwhelmed by the prices on the wine list. The food was all good and it would be difficult to say one thing was better than another. The regional touches were missed. The dishes that we rated very good or excellent were the Fois Gras, the duck salad, lobster poaches in a cream sauce, and the scallops. Leona’s: We took a drive up to Taos and stopped at Chamayo. Leona’s was open (it was Sunday and we thought she would be closed) so we stopped for a snack of tamales and burritos. They were outstanding. Later on, we stopped at Rancho de Chamayo and were underwhelmed. The prickly pear lemonade was good. Joseph’s Table: The steak tartare and risotto cake were voted the best. The lamb shank, quail, and buffalo ribeye were all quite good. We also enjoyed the lemon meringue tart and blackberry napoleon. On Monday, we tried to get a burger at the Bobcat Bite, but found it was only open Wednesday through Saturday. We stopped at Harry’s Roadhouse for some very good buffalo burgers instead. Café Pasqual: We all enjoyed our breakfast here. The house-made chorizo was outstanding over the polenta. The breakfast quesadilla with added chorizo was also delicious. The Compound: All 4 appetizers were outstanding: Fois Gras Terrine, Fresh Lacquered Bacon, Crab Louis and fresh English Pea Soup. Of the entrees, the lamb rack and veal cheeks were quite good. The other two: the halibut and roast chicken with Fois Gras pan gravy were good, but not great. The tiny burnt caramel chocolate tart on the cookie plate was memorable. Bakery: After walking around the center of town in the afternoon, we were continually disappointed that we could not find the bakery with the plithiviers. On our last day, we went out in the morning, and there they were. They must get sold out before noon. It is the bakery that is part of LaFonda . They were worth the hunt! Cantina at the Cayote Café: We stopped for lunch and enjoyed decent mojitos with Fundito – cheese and chorizo with fresh tortillas for dipping. The ribs got mixed reviews while the fresh tacos with pork and tacos with fish were very good as were the accompanying salsas. We were there on May 9th, so they do open prior to Memorial Day. Graze: After all of the great eating, we had a rather light meal on our last night at Graze. We ordered just 5 small plates – with two bottles of a very nice Spanish Red. All of the 5 dishes were just perfect: Polenta fries with 3 ketchups (we loved the onion one) Cheese plate with roasted tomatoes, micro greens and Tillamook Spanish Plate with Serrano, bright green olives and Manchego Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms – simple and delicious Mushroom Bread Pudding – my favorite being a carb-freak The boys had root beer floats and the girls enjoyed green tea ice cream to finish. It was a most enjoyable trip. The good company was made even more enjoyable by great food. Thanks so much for the input.

Last September, we had my parents' 60th Anniversary at Formia. The food and the service were very nice. They open for dinner on Sundays at 4:00, so we had the place from noon to 4:00. We had close to 50 people and we were really tightly packed. You have even more plus a DJ. My husband made a CD of songs from the 40's, and they played it on their CD player for our guests. It created a nice atmosphere without having a DJ. Are the other places willing to open for a private party when they are closed? Are they willing to close during their regular dining hours for a private party? The only other things that I would mention was that we were pretty insistant on a waiter-served dinner rather than a buffet. If you are having a lot of older folks, they usually like to stay seated and be served. Good luck!

Thanks so much for all the input. It is a lot to think about. I will let you know what we decide after considering all of your suggestions. And, of course, we will report back after the trip. Marie