Rail Paul

The coffee is from Meinl's in Vienna (visions of Viennese peasants in lederhosen harvesting coffee beans from coffee plants just past the Woods, bringing in bags of beans on their donkeys...)

Maybe we should consider having a NJ eGullet dinner in NYC some day. Whenever it is, it will probably be before they have an "official" dinner.

I'd like to hear something about restaurants which don't overbook, do honor their reservations, and use seasonal menu ideas effectively. You could also mention how some restaurants ask for credit card numbers to guarantee folks will show up. My current interest is restaurant menus which have specific wine recommends for each entree item. Second trend is the grouping of wines on the list as Light, fruity red; Medium, dry, red, etc and cuing the menu toward the general categories. Making wine more accessible and the restaurant tab higher. Alternately, we could see if Tommy will call in...

Do you know the topics yet?

I'm of the impression Congress DID delegate to the states the necessary powers to enforce their local liquor regulations as part of the amendment repealing prohibition in 1933. That led directly to state liquor stores (PA) and the crazy quilt of regulations we currently endure. Wine Spectator did a piece on the question in 1999? as part of their campaign against this law designed to protect wholesalers. Interestingly, I can ship cases of wine from France to NJ far more easily than I can from Oregon to NJ. Declare the cases, pay my $35 tax, and the porter moves it to car service.

I think the joint was rude. My wife has a group (3-4 women) who get together every two or three months in a different restaurant. As soon as they sit down, they call over the server, explain they're gonna be there for a while, and will hand him/her $10 cash as an advance on a tip. Ensures an attentive server, they've never had a problem, except once when they held a table from 1 pm until the restaurant threw them out at 4 as they wanted to vacuum prior to dinner service.

We've tried twice, and the wait has discouraged us. Very small place, perhaps 30-35 seats. It appears they may do take-out, so my next attempt may be takeout if I don't get there early in the week. Jeans and boots, not fancy.

Did anyone notice the (4/10) reference in William Grimes's review of Cafe Sabarsky to the "best coffee in the city: rich, robust, and deep"? I don't recall any recent references, positive or negative, to coffee in his reviews. Fully 60% of the review covers desserts, in loving, almost erotic detail. Five items make it to the "drop dead" category. Serge Decreuzat has been elevated to the pantheon of pastry with his yougurt cheesecake with a chiffonlike filling, his Klimt torte, and his Dobosche torte (yellow cake alternating with mocha buttercream). In general, he didn't think much of the entrees, with a dismissive wave of "ordinary", and excepting a goulash here, and the cod strudel (THAT sounds intriguing!).

The place across the street from Meson Madrid in Newark (Castillo's?) has pix of Joe Pesci, etc from the location filming of goodfellas. Did scenes there. Pix are on the wall to the left as you walk in. Michaelangelo's in Newark sometimes has the "look" with blue smoke, guys in black shirts /white ties, Dino on the sound system. If all else fails, take them to Satin Dolls on 46 in Lodi, aka Bada Bing Club. Bring $10 stuffers... Although Rosie is the resident Soprano's guru, I believe they shot the "golf club scene" on Park Place in Newark, a hundred yards from the bar where Dutch Schultz got whacked. Nice touch, and I'm sure David Chase knew it.

Savannah... Like a dream, emerging from the swamps. Magnolias, oak lined squares, Elizabeth on 37th, Mrs Wilkes, hush puppies hissing as they emerge from the deep fryer. The movie only caught a glimpse, and I only had a shred of that... But, as shreds go, it was pretty good. Ate well, saw some interesting railroads, and rolled my way onto the airplane to go home.

Thanks also to Rachel and Rosie, and the many others who made the evening a success. The range of food and the stimulating conversations were exceptional. I'd like to put in another good word for the pepper shrimp: butterfly, saute, lightly dusted with fine black pepper and kissed with lemon, then served with moist centers. A succession of tastes exploding in various parts of my mouth. Soup dumplings were divine, lightly browned on the bottom, and full of delicious broth. Easily four inches across and two high. The rule was "If you break the dumpling, you lose the soup!" And, of course, to Tommy, for being so generous with his selection of fine wines, and his nearly faultless handoff of the soup dumpling. Tommy thoughtfully made sure one was saved for me, and attempted to serve it with his chop sticks. The dumpling slipped, and began to fall toward the floor. With a quick move, I cupped my hands, and caught the treasure at chair seat height. I quickly scooped it, and popped it into my mouth, to gasps, and cheers...

Shubox Cafe is very nice for what is does, but it occupies a vague space in the trade between the white tablecloth joint and booths with laminated tables. Food and price usually say "tablecloth" but the atmosphere says "diner" I've never had a great meal there, but never had a bad one, either.

Roy Andries de Groot... we had that conversation here on eGullet a few months ago. he had been a regular writer for Playboy magazine back in the 1960s. Was eGullet credited as a source?

Dee and I encountered a woman travelling with two Golden Retrievers several years ago. They were hiking in the mountains above Hood River, Oregon. She writes books about travelling with dogs, had the two of them on the cover, and is able to write off much of her travel expense. She was developing a cable TV program at the time. Sounds like a good gig...

you went to China 46 every night this week?

I'm glad you enjoyed your dinner there. My two visits have been enjoyable. It's also one of the few places in Montclair which will take people after 9 pm during the week, 28 is another. I belive Tuesdays feature various cassoulet preparations, but I suspect they'll do something else once the weather warms up.

Krogh's - third time in a week somebody has spoken well of it. brew their own beer, great burgers, sounds like a win! In Sparta, on old 15, just south of town?

I'll take a look, but I think it was Karla Cook reviewing some place in Central NJ. Maybe it's just me, but if I don't have a WOW, I GOTTA TRY THIS PLACE reaction, most reviews disappear from memory quickly.

Hunan Cottage is on US 46 Eastbound in Fairfield, on the western outskirts of Fairfield. Ask for the "Chinese menu." BYO. I would suggest (from the east) exiting 46 onto Clinton Road, and proceeding to Oak Road (right bend) at the Coastal Gas station. Oak dumps you out at Bloomfield Avenue, right on Bloomfield, and right onto 46 East. HC is just past a large gas station, HC has a black and white panda on the front lawn. Or take 46 west, pass the place, make a U at Hook Mountain road, and return.

The new stuff is on the black market for $500 a bottle. I will keep drinking FX Matt "breakfast of champions", and contract brewer for Sam Adams. FXM goes for about $9 a case, on sale.

thanks, markstevens, sounds like it's located about where Bolero is or was. might be worth a drive to the shore before all those sun worshippers clog the highways. appears to be in the same price range as Indigo Moon in Atlantic Highlands

"Ale Street News" a publication for which Comrade Jackson occasionally writes, had a survey of favorite NYC beer purveyors last year. I'll see if I can locate my copy. It was very un-yuppy, with places in Queens and The Bronx rated highly. Prices under $3 a pint were preferred

maybe we could stop by for a post-dinner dinner after China 46, and rink what's left of the ripple, thunderbird, iron city beer, etc.

Thanks for sharing, markstevens. where is this place? Is it on the water?

If you encounter the academic precincts of Brunswick Maine, I'd suggest Fat Willie's, a chicken / burgers / lobster roll shack located on highway 123 about 2 miles east of Bowdoin college. It's directly across from the Naval Air station. Dinner for 2 (in your vehicle) and a plate o' ribs for the pooch will run about $10. Not directly food related, but there's a great lobster hatching laboratory just over the bridge to Mount Desert island (Bar Harbor). Life cycle all the way from eggs, to spawning, to the repatriation of fingerlings to the ocean. Open to the public.