Rail Paul

Aaah, yes. Remember them from the Tarragon Tree Thanks, Rosie

Thank you for such a detailed and flowing description of your meal! Your powers of observation and description are very impressive. May I ask if you draw from real time observations, or do you rely on memory?

Anybody have any recent experience with the Foy venture in Point Pleasant? thanks...

Bux - you may also be a victim of limited distribution. If the wine is offered thru few retailers, the retailers may be jacking up their margins. Few choices, higher prices. Perhaps the distributor could advise where else the wine could be found. Paul

Wine Spectator's June 15 issue ("San Francisco") has an update. North Carolina's ban on interstate importing has been overturned, based on the unfair advantage it offers local producers. The decision is under appeal, and a stay has been granted. WS reports that the NY case has been argued, and awaits a decision in Federal court. The state's argument rests on the belief that NY licensed wholesalers and retailers are an essential element of the police power required to protect against underage drinkers. A ruling is expected this Fall, and will undoubtedly propel the group of cases to the Supreme Court. FL and MI - no shipping into the state decision NC and VA - the out of state ban is illegal IN - ban held to be legal at the appeals level, because the same restrictions apply to local wineries I believe there's also a case on the Federal docket in NJ which is waiting arguments. A ruling would go to the NJ/PA Federal appeals court, adding another appellate jurisdiction.

The same article also discussed a curious inefficiency in the marketplace: single bottles of fine wine going for relatively low prices. Several of the bidders were agents for collectors or restaurants, so a one bottle lot wasn't of interest. Goldberg mentions a single bottle of a 1982 Chateau Talbot ($70) and six bottle lot of Domaine du Closel 1990 Cuvee Speciale ($180) as examples. The article says the Christie's sessions this Thursday and Friday will feature the 1907 Heidsieck Monopole Gout Americain 1907, which was recovered from the Baltic in 1998. Estimated $700 to $1,000, the cargo went to the bottom of the sea, and remained there for more than 80 years.

Next time you're up Narrowsburg way, check out the cute little place directly opposite the train station. It looks like an old time drugstore from the outside, but the inside is all wood, pressed tin ceilings, stained glass, etc. Had an ostrich burger, Dee had a beef filet (pretty good), and we did the whole deal for about $35 with a few beers and a tip... I'd betta scram, the out-of-state posting police are on the way

re: TV when we dined at Bid a few months ago, NY mag was shooting stills for the review. The staff asked guests at each of the five or six occupied tables if they objected. For each shot, four or five staff members were inserted to fill out the room and moved about as required.

re-reading my comments on "upscale bergen county" I need to clarify. That was part of a larger thought which didn't edit as well as I hoped. My original post focused on my guess that the Record and NYT may be focusing on higher end restaurants as a way to attract and retain higher income readers. Whether they're in the county, or nearby, if they're reasonably convenient to Bergen county, they're fair game. As I distilled my post, that comment was reshaped by a context which conveyed a unfortunate meaning that all of Bergen county was upscale, which isn't true. There are many communities reflecting the full strata of America and our hope to build strong families and shared values. The many community organizations (volunteer fire departments, first aid squads, interfaith groups, etc) are clear testimony to that!

Does NYT have a Rockland county edition in the Sunday paper? or do the readers there get the NJ edition, or the Westchester edition? A review of a Westchester / Putnam county restaurant is useless to me, although perhaps not for people living in upscale Bergen county.

The Times is very sensitive about the use of its name in advertising. I may give them a call on Tuesday and see if there is any such list. I don't recall a Times review of Donatello. I wonder if they did rate it acceptably, and tey only reviewed six, if that counts?

In some NJ markets, Zarega offers a pasta/pizza flour marked 0-0 (zero-zero). About $3 for two pounds, I believe. I tried it against a 75% regular unbleached plus 25% pastry flour mix, and didn't notice any difference in my pizza.

what's a picadillo? Thanks (I thought it was a small sin, but that doesn't seem to fit the context. Maybe it does if the wait is longer, though...)

Bergen Record seems to being having focus vs reach issues. They've reviewed places in Morristown (at the outer limits of their region) and Garrison NY (beyond?). A Bergen restaurant shows up only occasionally these days. They may coming to the point the Times reached a few years ago, needing a few competent regional reviewers plus a core area (Bergen/Passaic) reviewer. Which raises a question. Are the reviewers for the BR specifically restaurant reviewers, or are they freelancers (like the Ledger's reviewers) or employees who have other positions with the paper, but demonstrate competence (such as Mr Corcoran in the Jersey section of the Times)?

Mark - are you going to be on the radio? Are there any restaurants you would identify as MUST TASTE in this presentation? Thanks Paul

The eGullet Ninth Avenue group explored that Wondees on Ninth the other day. Following StefanyB's dictum that only booths would be visited, we didn't go in. Looked interesting, though...

Rosie - does Lance Knowling own both Dave's Famous and Indigo, or did I read your references too broadly? Thanks Paul

Well, if we can include Red's in Wiscasset, we can certainly include Fatso's (Fatboy's?), just outside of Brunswick. Deep fried clams, burgers, deep fried onions. It's directly opposite the side gate to the Naval Air station, and I've personally observed huge bags of takeout moving into the base, probably on their way to Turkey, Korea, or some other place beyond Fatso's usual marketing...

I'll put in a good word for Ravello's on Eagle Rock in East Hanover, the owners formerly ran Libretti's in Orange. Most entrees run $15-20 for dinner, fish is often very good. Noise level is high on the weekends. And, Luigi's on Ridgedale in East Hanover center. Nice place, unpretentious. Entrees in the $15 range. Good, solid, Italian cooking. I'm trying to put together a small group of friends to visit An American Place on NJ 10 west in Randolph. Several people have spoken very highly of it, and I'd like to try it. Sette Bello in Morristown (corner of Speedwell and High) is also very nice, but a significant notch upward in price from Ravello's. Figure $40 a head for dinner, plus wine and tip. Soprano tie-in: Italianissmo in West Caldwell. Tony had lunch there last season. This year, he buys a gift (bird cage) from the pet store adjacent to the restaurant. Maybe somebody's singing like a canary? Maybe he wants to send a message?

Robinson's in Boothbay Harbor was great in 2000, straight boiled lobster and corn...

...watch the trains go by... sounds good, and with a beer, to boot. Late June's a problem for me, mid-July is better.

Agree with Pitter on Well-Sweep, an amazing place. Incredible variety, and each year they expand another 100 feet out into the meadow. You can drop $100 on herbs in a blink. Most are in the $3 - $5 range. Their basil and rosemary assortments are extensive, a dozen different rosemary choices, lots of rosemary, and a very carefully constructed herb display garden which is easily 200 feet long and twenty feet wide Choices will continue to expand into May and June as local suppliers drop off new materials to supplement on-site growth.

Dee and I visited Bolero in Highlands with my parents on Saturday. Cuban themed BYO, with a wide range of cuban pork, tomal, ropa vieja, etc Overall, food was fine, service left something to be desired. I'll post a writeup on it after I finish the Santa Fe - Durango - Espanola - ColoSprings epic. We walked down a block to Orleans (thanks! Mark) which looked jammed, great, spicy smells drifting out onto the sidewalk. Nice area, will definitely be back to explore. Other restaurants in the area inlcude Inlet, Docksider (new place on the water?), and old reliables Moby's, Bahr's, Doris & Ed's, Off the Hook, and Carmine's.

Hank - re: tuna. Do you think they marinated or pressed spices into the tuna? I've found that tuna tends to be very bland if you don't do something to set off its sweetness. At home, I'll press chile powder and crushed pepper or lemon into the steak before grilling... Paul

...Girls....? Now you're really skating on thin ice. Not a good idea in late April.