Beth E.

DH and his friend ended up at Billy's. They had the AYCE and got their money's worth. DH said the stone crabs were excellent but the potatoes were nothing to rave about.

Are there any all you can eat stone crab places around? DH is in Florida and craving stone crabs. We used to go to Monty's but they are closed now. DH is in the Boca area, but is willing to drive for good stone crabs.

I think I was still full the next day. Serious meat overload! Excellent short ribs and I too loved the sirloin wrapped in bacon. The ocra dish on the buffet was yummy as was the flavored rice. <i>edited to say more</i> I was at work and had to stop egulleting. The company was wonderful too. It's not often that you meet a group of strangers and feel right at ease, but I always feel that way with egulleters.

I would have gone the letter route -- or a phone call -- myself.

This has been a very rough week for the Amazing Hot Dog gang. I thought that by now I might have good news to report, but it appears that the damage is more extensive than it originally appeared. Even though there wasn't a lot of fire damage there is extensive water, smoke and heat damage. It looks like they will have to start from scratch and rebuild. But rebuild they will. Eric says they are having to go down to the studs and everything will be brand new. Thank you so much for your continued support. I appreciate all of the well wishes and positive vibes you are sending this way.

hitmanoo -- sorry you had a bad experience at zen. It's my regular sushi spot. Out of perhaps 40 trips there I had 1 time when I thought something was not right about the fish. I had a couple pieces of tuna or perhaps yellowtail (can't remember which at this time ) that was tough. We told the waitress and she took it away with an apology.

OMG you people are making me hungry!

I was at the Belmont Tavern last night. My SIL asked one of the guys who is there -- I think the name was Jimmy -- what they are going to do when the smoking ban goes into effect. He said that they are going to comply because they can be reported if they don't.

Eric and I went to Fortunato on Sunday night for a belated Valentine's day dinner. It did not disappoint. We started with the Crispy Herb Crusted Eggplant Tower, wild mushrooms, tomato fondue. Yum -- Yum!! Eric had the Fried Italian Long Hot Peppers and potatoes. I only tasted the Potato portion of this dish since I am not a spicy food person like Eric. The potato was great though and Eric ooh'ed and ahh'ed the whole dish. Then we shared a pasta --Pappardelle with red wine braised beef and sausage. The pappardelle was light and tender but not over cooked. the sauce was wonderfully flavored but you were able to taste the beef and the sausage individually. For my main course I had -- Pan seared diver Sea Scallops, vanilla whipped sweet potatoes, celeriac, spinach, walnuts with a maple vinegar sauce. The scallops were perfectly cooked. I could have eaten the sweet potatoes all by themselves -- 3 meals a day they were so good. I don't recall seeing walnuts in the dish though --but I can't say I missed them. Eric had Orvieto braised veal Osso Buco, gratin of Sicilian cardoons and potato, fresh chives. The cardoons and potato gratin was like a big potato pancake on the bottom of the dish absorbing all the yummy sauce. the Osso Buco was falls off the bone tender. I had two bites of it before Eric scarfed it all down. For dessert we shared Mommy's ice box cake -- graham crackers and chocolate pudding -- what could be bad? Eric took pictures with my new camera. We are still working out the bugs so I'm not sure if they are share worthy.

Eric and I are going there soon to celebrate a belated Valentine's Day. It will be his first visit.

lunch today is from I love Bagels in Kenilworth. Anonymouze -- They do deliver. I'm getting the Bella Basil Chicken Sandwich -- fresh grilled chicken with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, basil pesto spread on a roll. served with pickle and chips. It's a lunch special so you get jello, rice pudding or chocolate pudding with it. It's $6.25.

Ahh -- the Belmont Tavern.

My husband -- who has been very, very busy lately -- with long days at a hot fryer -- brought home some yummy deliciousness to a very appreciative me last night. He came home, brown paper bag in hand. Inside, two containers of home made ice cream. One for him and one for me. In my container -- Caramel crunch ( I hope that's the name!) It's a sweet and creamy caramel ice cream with these hard but slightly melty caramel bits. I also had coffee chocolate chip. I don't know what the first flavor was in Eric's container (seems he forgot to share until he was over 1/2 way thought eating ) but the second flavor was chocolate chocolate chip. Yum! Mark and Julie's chocolate has a slightly malted flavor to it that I really love. Another favorite flavor is the chocolate with raspberry truffles -- they are these little chocolate with raspberry inside -- too yummy to share indeed! The people there (especially Mark and Julie) are very nice and friendly. I thought I would pass the info about them onto the rest of the New Jersey egulleters. They are located on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange NJ. They are in the same strip mall with the kosher butcher and Fortissimo.

Thanks for the information. I will pick up the tequila and kahlua and try to make it myself.

Oy vey! I had to research it -- I heart Bagels is on the Blvd in Kenilworth NJ. They deliver to my office. I've never been inside and quite frankly I'm afraid to check out the physical location.

So what's everyone eating today? For lunch I had 1/2 of a club sandwich -- turkey, roast beast and provolone. It was from a place called I "heart" bagels. Funny that bagels are such a small part of their menu. edited because my brain forgot which their/there was which. duh!

I believe they do have high chairs there. And they have some kid friendly stuff available. I'm not sure they are on the menu-- but I've seen chicken nuggets and french fries there. For the slightly more adventurous -- read this as my 7 year old -- they have cheese quesidillas and burritos they can fill with rice and beans or rice and cheese depending on the child's whim.

Sounds like a yummy way to spend your birthday. Are you a fan of the Banfi Rosa Regali? I was introduced to the sweet and bubbly stuff about a year ago and became an instant fan.

Sounds like a great meal. Going to have to head into the city one of these days to try it.

Sorry we had to miss this year's dinner. With Eric's busy schedule Sunday is the only day for family get togethers so we had obligations with family (who wouldn't eat that varied a menu.) The menu sounds yummy to me and it sounds like everyone had a great time. Glad to see the pictures. Hope to be there next year.

Has anyone tried this? I had some -- straight -- at a friend's house Christmas day. It's yummy -- but hard to find and most places don't know about it. It's not sweet like Kahlua -- but it still has that coffee flavor. http://www.patronspirits.com/en/content/spirits/patron_xo/ Wondering if anyone here has tried it.

Oh -- I would love to have a Wegman's somewhere around here. I've been to the one in the Princeton area -- but it is a schlep from my neck of the woods. Would it be wrong for me to say that my favorite take out place is Amazing Hot Dog?

So glad to hear that they are re-opening! Yum -- muffalettas!

I believe they are opened until 8pm tonight.

Very cool! I enjoyed the last radiocast that I heard. Unfortunately I will be stuck in the office during this one -- and my computer doesn't even have speakers!