Rail Paul

I was very impressed with the quality of discussion on the Record's reviews. Several people chimed in with well reasoned criticism, and msp provided a great counterbalance. I suggest a SHADOW REVIEW team. If an eGulleteer spots a restaurant review with which she or he disagrees, a private e-mail is sent to the team leader. The leader convenes (privately) 3-4 people, who visit the restaurant twice and write 3-4 separate posts. The original complainer can respond or comment. Maybe the restaurant can even be notified, and respond as finker99 did on the smoked chicken issue, if they wish Whaddaya think?

Yes. and Yes. I was the only customer in the ten minutes or so I waited for them to prepare and finish the chow. The joint is set up with tables for 20-25 people, we have eaten there, but this was takeout. They do a land office business on nights when West Caldwell has its music at the gazebo event. I have the menu, I'll open a thread with it.

Last year, Melick's, Blew Family, Alstede, were regulars in Madison

Rachel & Jason - good luck on the project. I can't wait to hear how the twin 600 cfm fan ducts work. I've heard very good things about the EXPO in Union. HD tends to keep its contractors on tight leashes. Paul

This thread tempted me to get take-out at Wazam in West Caldwell last night. It's Kashmiri. Palaak Chaman ( low-fat cheese, spicy spinach, chick peas, basmati) $10 Wangan Subzee (Eggplant, tamarind, dal) $10 served it with a grilled piece of yellow fin tuna and fresh spinach. Enough Kashmiri for two more meals...

Eclectic cafe in Montclair is very nice, many different varieites of coffee and dessert. Nice place post movies. They had a problem with 12 years old coming in to smoke, but they've been banished and the place is quite delightful. I'd look in the windows just to make sure the kids haven't come back

P&O is a gem for wines. I've been tempted to order 4-5 bottles, and not open them, just take take them out in my doggie bag / duffle bag Thread police may hunt me down and send me to the wine thread.....

I'll claim "reigning deity of semicolons" and add it to my "reigning deity of raw chicken" status... Who wants "reigning deity of colons..."

I'd like to take the opportunity to welcome msp to the thread, and acknowledge her relatively gracious response to some very pointed questioning and speculation. However, we are back to the same point: the editor does suggest restaurants to be reviewed, and msp suggests others. Lots of reasons why a restaurant might be reviewed, and this thread has identified many of them. Msp added others. In the end, the Record says "We have several reviewers out there, this is what we go with." It would be difficult for me to assume that the advertiser's response isn't considered at some point on the chain. If msp says it isn't in her frame of reference, fine. I'll take her word for it. Work related question - of the restaurants you visit, what % make it to a formal review? of those that don't make it, what reasons influence that decision?

A friend is heading to Cape May for a few days, and she's looking for ideas of places to eat. I gave her a few ideas from previous trips (410, Ebbitt, etc), but didn't have anything in the fish shack, little place out of the way spectrum etc. Does anyone have suggestions they could offer? Fresh fish, simply prepared? Take out for a romantic evening on the beach? etc. Thanks

Several local newspapers have multiple pages of restaurant advertising. The reviewer has several restaurants on which she can write, each review will convey value to the reader. Choice 1 - slam the dump, get a torrent on nasty complaints piled on your editor (guy who signs your voucher) by the ad sales staff when the dump cancels its box ad. Choice 2 - write about that nice, interesting place down the road. Introduce the readers to a place they might enjoy. Maybe the ad guy can peddle a few inches of box display. Your editor OKs an occasional extra column, and you pick up another $150. I'm human, I'd take #2 in a heartbeat...and I don't think that's dishonest. But, it helps to understand the motivation and position of the reviewer.

Rosie - I-80 east, second exit east of NJ 17, then north about a mile

There's a place in Chatham called Lupe's Casita, or similar. It's in a old railroad diner on Main Street (was loma Linda, IIRC). Two doors down from Danielle's across from the Chatham library. On my list to check out.

Fat Guy - Thanks for your comments on lunch and dinner, which raise an interesting question: Does the same cookstaff usually cook both lunch and dinner in a fine restaurant? With many restaurants offering 11 pm seatings now, that could mean 14 hours of employment on a single shift. Or, is lunch delegated to a sous chef or line chef to prepare in some places? Thanks

Kansas City has a very significant Mexican population, and has since before the town became the jumping off point for American exploration of the west. On my occasional trips to Chicago, I've found myself out in a remote place called McCook (south of I-55) where the Santa Fe Railway crosses the Indiana Harbor Belt line. Many SF freight trains come to a complete stop, which allows boarding by Mexican folks travelling home. Sometimes there will be 10-20 people waiting to jump aboard. Next stop Galesburg, then Kansas City, Amarillo, El Paso, and on home...

LB used to have music on Wed / Th / Fr evenings, don't know if they still do. Zydeco, cajun, etc. Dixie and Voodoo in bottles.

Paul's guess - AHR?

I'll differ with you on this one, Dodge. If the reviewer doesn't like the joint, she should say so. In star systems, a half star (or no star) should convey the lack of enthusiasm discussed in the narrative. I don't think the restaurant should get a free pass (no review) if it really blows. Of course, that would irritate the advertising sales department, of which the reviewer is usually very aware (Then, there't the "hated this, found that to be charred, service was slow" but three stars anyway review. That's a different post.)

Dee was very interested in my description of the Bridgewater Wegman's store, and wants to visit it. She may want a refill on the (now gone) pound of herme chocolates, too. So, we may visit on Sunday afternoon, and I'll make more detailed notes. Kim WB refreshed my memory on one point. The extreme right end of the store is the "club" with supersized bulk products. Fifity rolls of toilet paper, 25 pounds of sugar, etc. Also, gas grills, TV sets, and so on.

If Nina becomes the reigning deity of Portuguese bars in newark (pause), I absolutely claim the reigning deity of raw chicken title...

OpenTable also allows the prospective diner to include a message to the house with the reservation. "It's our anniversary" or "I'm treating my friend Tommy, so make sure we get the good wine list" or "I'm allergic to tofu"

I'd talk to Visa and AmEx about how you can guarantee a seating. Turn it into a two way deal. We guarantee you a table within 10 minutes of the scheduled time, or you get a $20 credit. If you don't show, we charge you $20. And, you enter the credit card number when the reservation is made. Bad credit card, no reservation. Hotels do that all the time. We guarantee you a room. You guarantee us payment.

We've used OpenTable many times. As Jordyn mentioned, sometimes it's just easier to see what's available in the destination neighborhood. By seeing a wider range, you avoid the trap of always using the same 5-6 places.

I visited the Wegman's in Bridgewater this afternoon, and was very impressed. It's easily the size of a Wal-Mart, and would take an afternoon to visit every nook and cranny. The overriding principle is short aisles leading to a low wall, which maximizes end-caps and creates a sense of little clusters. As you enter the store, the immediate impression is of a small town. There's a street, with buildings to the left. A pizzeria, bakery, take-out foods, camera shop. A quick right puts you in front of Pierre Herme, with a 30 foot cake display opposite. Continuing along this aisle leads to the cheese world. Huge display of Canadian, French, English and US cheeses. A left turn brings you to the duck, quail, pheasant display from D'Artagnan. Up the aisle by service meat, fresh fish, sandwiches, and you're back to Herme and the bakery. This is the 25% to the left of the entrance. To the right of the Herme to cheese wall is the fresh teas and specialty coffee, cookbooks, specialty vinegars, etc. By this time, I was drifting, amazed as I turned each corner. Vivid, green basil and tomatoes, melons on a cart, seven different Hodgson Mill flour products, and six King Arthur. About 180 feet of Indian food products spread over six shelves. The spectacle goes on and on. I was very impressed. Bought Dee a pound of Herme and myself a scoop of pistachios. Bought two tomatoes and fresh basil for dinner, too. There's a thread on irradiated meat which I opened in "cooking", since I thought it had more general interest.

I visited the Wegman's food store in Bridgewater NJ today, and noticed they have a display of irradiated meat. Large sign announcing it, too. Ground beef, several chuck steaks, a roast etc. Sign says "Have your burger as rare as you'd like." There was an assortment of informational package about the beneficial aspects of the product (kills bacteria, salmonella, e-coli, glows in the dark, etc). The butcher said the meat has been very well received, causing them to increase their orders. Ground beef comes in a tube, or in a flat styro carton. This was my first exposure to irradiated meat, the "in your face" message intrigued me. Prices appeared consistent with the conventional, dirty, beacteria laden product alongside it. Has anyone actually tried this product yet? Any opinions?