Rail Paul

The available war chest is definitely an issue which has changed the landscape of the whole country. When millions of dollars flow into rural Alabama precincts for a primary election driven by the local House candidate who favors the Israeli position in the middle east versus the local elected official who has spoken favorably of the Palestinian position, you know we're in trouble. Same problem Cyndi McKinney had in Georgia. It took a while, but the powers that be realized a Senate seat in Maine or South Dakota is worth as many Senate votes (1) as a Senate seat from some big, expensive market state. George Bush should have realized that before he blew off Jim Jeffords....

I made a few calls on the subject: Carnival and Celebrity Cruises both limit the passenger to one bottle of wine per room. There are no facilities for personal storage of wine on the ship. That one bottle of wine may be served to you in the ship's dining without a corkage fee. Seabourn does not have a formal limit for the carry-aboard of wine. Each room is equipped with a fridge, where the wine may be stored. The ship's own wine lockers are not available for customer use due to inventory controls and other regulations. A corkage fee of $10 per bottle is applied to customer wines served at a meal. Still waiting to hear back from Residensea. I wrote them an e-mail describing my need to bring aboard six cases of (Mr Plotnicki's) best wines and my need for a stabilized, temperature controlled storage environment before we drink them. Charlie Palmer is the consulting chef for Residensea, which will be making a brief visit at the North River Cruise ship dock in NYC on Friday of this week.

I'm in, maybe one guest. Where do we sign up for Rosie's lap-dances? And, I'd be happy to defer comments on lreda's tasting suggestions to somebody who knows sushi. (I don't) Usually, I go to a sushi place, and somebody says "Eat this." And, I do. I prefer not to know exactly what I'm eating

With respect to this, and Steve Plotnicki's opposite argument, one of the spin-meisters last night mentioned the problem of previously known self-inflicted problem (like Torricelli's) compared to a serious heart attack, etc which would incapacitate the legislator. If any party could substitute a new candidate when the going got rough, what's the purpose of holding a primary election? The Democrats held one, selected Torricelli, and sent him forth, knowing he was damaged goods. Incidentally, the whole investigation, and Chang's conviction was done by the Clinton administration. It's been underway since 1997, Bush inherited it. (Hey! He may be damaged goods, but he's OUR damaged goods. My trade association just sent me a notice this morning that my $1,000 contribution to his campaign still qualifies me for their circle of honor credit)

The NJ Supreme Court is notorious for creating new law (Abbott districts, Mount Laurel obligations, death penalty stays, town budgets, pre-teen abortion rights, etc) based on thin substance in legislative actions. This Court is generally perceived as being both activist and generally liberal. Judges are appointed by the governor (as are all judges in NJ). That said, I think they'll rule in favor of the Democrats. The lead argument, as of this morning, is the Democratic voters will be deprived of a choice if they're confronted with a candidate who won't campaign, and declines to serve. Stupid argument, but they've bought far worse and imposed them on the taxpayers.

That really is the heart of the issue, isn't it? If you describe a product for sale that doesn't have a clear and unambiguous definition, accepted by both the buyer and the seller, then what do you have? Jumbo, economy, fresh, organic, diver, day boat all have widely different interpretations, it seems.

Most French wine in the US arrives by ship, I believe, and much of it is transferred in trailer sized containers to the bonded distributors, often by rail. (Visions of heavily insulated containers being humped at multiple rail yards across the country) With ResidenSea, the question is a bit more difficult as you are storing your own wine aboard your own ship, perhaps for several years as you cruise the world. I would hope, given the seven figure residence costs, the ship offers stabilized, secure, temperature controlled facilities. You could end up with a cargo of internationally acquired wines which might not be importable into the US without a permit. That could lead to some exciting wine trading on the high seas...

For a while, adverse publicity about the negative impact created by huge nets encouraged the use of "line caught" descriptors. Same as "Dolphin-safe" labelling on tuna cans. Ditto just "sea-bass" on menus in lieu of Chilean sea bass, which might (or might not) be endangered. Or "peeky-toe crab" followed by the specific island in Maine off which the crab was allegedly taken. It conveys a more selective approach than "looked good, smelled OK, price was right"

Yes. Directly on NJ 10, about ten minutes west of I-287. You could weave thru Dover and Mine Hill from I-80, but it wouldn't save you much time, if any

The restaurant 90 Grand took out a full page ad in the Sunday NJ section of the Times. Pix of the chef, relatives, etc. Has anybody had dinner there? I've been past it several times, but never stopped in...

Sounds like you might have an lodged an assault charge if you wanted to pursue it. Depending on the circumstances, you might have gone down in a heap and demanded an ambulance...

Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen (book for season 2 of Mexico One Plate) Constantine's Sword by James Carroll. Origins of anti-semitism in Christian relgious texts. A Nervous Splendour by Frederic Morton. Vienna 1888-1889. The intellectual ferment caused by the modernists (under Crown Prince Rudolph) and the traditionalists (under Franz Josef and Franz Ferdinand). Freud, Herzl, Brahms, Karl Lueger, and Mahler make appearances. Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Why societies have evolved in radically different ways and what that portends for the future

I don't believe the Florham Park location sells wine. Meat is pre-pack, also. I'll stop by over the weekend and verify.

The lunch-time burger is fine. Smallish, about a half pound, served on a fresh (potato?) roll, with a side of fries. The burger was $11 or so, $4 for the fries and $7 or so for a pint of beer. Thanks for the report, the BYO wine policy sounds very enlightened

Bux - that's been my experience as well. Do you have a sense of how the wholesale and retail prices relate in New York? For example, does that $30 bottle at Sherry-Lehman cost S-L $20, or $25 or $28? In NJ, the retail price for spirits may be as low as a penny over wholesale price. I'm assuming the endorser gets some royalty from the sale, probably paid to an offshore intellectual property or royalty trust to keep it outside US taxation. Thanks Paul

One of the subjects was a 31 year old woman who "almost every night either ate in a restaurant or orered takeout." She said "I grew up eating Yodels and pizza" and "I never learned to cook." Now that she's unemployed, she has time to cook, albeit with expensive tools. The article ends with the conclusion that many people need highly specialized tools and ingredients to precisely replicate a fancy recipe. Substitution of ingredients, a pantry of staples, buying ingredients fresh / on sale are as foreign to these folks as letting your kid arrange her own play date or join a pick-up softball game down the street. (Visions of the WSJ writer interviewing people as they buy $50 bottles of superb olive oil at Citarella or $60 pieces of beef at Lobels in NY)

Rosie - I'm pleased you enjoyed your stay at IALW. Am I correct in the belief that there are actually several residence buildings (homes, built to purpose inns, etc) offered as part of the Inn? One person mentioned their accomodation was more than a block from the main buildings, requiring a schlep (in the rain). Cabrales - The rooms are undoubtedly being held for prominent chefs, product sponsors, and others. Debauchery abetted by rare wines, exquisite foods, and superlative service. Perhaps it will be one of Mr Cheney's "undisclosed locations" since his Wyoming trout stream will probably be frozen by then...

Wegmans has just opened a new store in Nazareth PA, just north of Allentown. Big place, 111,000 square feet. Wood burning oven, etc. I'm assuming this is close to the prototype they'll use in the two DC area stores when they finally open. The Bridgewater store and the Princeton store have some differences, probably based on experience and a sense of the marketplace. I plan to get out there to check the place sometime in the next few weeks and report back on my findings...

Nice article, Liz. The new Peter X. Kelly project sounds like it could be interesting. Stanley Tucci seems to have multiple connections to restaurants. "Frankie & Johnnie" and "The Big Night" come immediately to mind. I wonder if he also takes a hand in kitchen from time to time?

Nagano is a BYO. also

Jason - I'm sorry I missed your question. We bought the tank model. Fortunoff tends to be somewhat flexible on pricing if you're speaking with a department manager during close outs. Dee plans to remodel our kitchen and dining room, then build out a new 15x40 room across the back, so I didn't want to install a gas line and then have to pull it out again. Paul

Wilfrid - thanks very much for a thoroughly delightful report Paul

Garlic soup. Made it for me and the pooch last night to celebrate the first autumn winds. 8 oz of bacon 8 oz of fresh garlic my own defrosted chicken stock basil from the garden NY cheddar brown bacon, reserve fat cook garlic until it begins to turn golden add stock, bring to a boil simmer for 40 minutes chop basil, bacon and add as topping shred and add cheese Dee will be back from Texas on Wednesday, by which time most of the smell will be gone. But she will know. Wives always know...

Ditto on what she said The BYO place across the street (Forte's) has better food at a lower price. Unfortunately it also has even more attitude. The Fresco place should be open in two weeks, I heard. On the avenue, just east of Central. Used to be Oggi.

I'll add the Priory on West Market Street in Newark, a bit more upscale. Smothered pork chops, ribs, soups, greens, etc. About two minutes off the First street exit of I-280. Jazz brunch on Sundays. Another Newark - Used to be a place around the corner from Rutgers, Palate Pleaser? where we got take out back in the 1980s. Agree on Neicey's in South Orange. There used to be a place on Bloomfield ave in Montclair, just east of Grove street, next to the tire place. Bulletproof partitions, superb chicken and ribs. Mississippi ribs or something like that. I don't think it's there any more. There's another place down the block from Indigo in Montclair, maybe Rocky's west indian soul food, or somthing like that? On my list