emmapeel

When we were kids, and my mother made pancakes for breakfast, we each received our own stick of butter! I'm not kidding. We may not have used the entire stick, but believe me, it was liberally applied. Even if our refrigerator was empty, there was always plenty of fresh creamy butter. I like it French, Danish, salted, unsalted, clarified and flavored. The one I like best is Kate's Homemade Butter of Maine. It's questionable that it is organic, but it is super rich. So I agree with every previous post (except oreo's) because I have done it all. Of those, my favorites are: Irish Oatmeal and butter, baguette and butter, steak and (flavored) butter (I didn't discover that until my thirties), saltines and butter, and boiled eggs with a little butter.

What was your family food culture when you were growing up? Southern American Cuisine and Bermudian Cuisine Was meal time important? The kids ate together, our parents ate later. Was cooking important? Yes and nutrition. My mother cooked both cuisines for the same meal often but not always. What were the penalties for putting elbows on the table? No penalties, we had food fights. Who cooked in the family? My Mother only. Were restaurant meals common, or for special occassions? Never! I remember after watching TV one day and seeing people in a restaurant, I asked my mother, "Ma, how come the only restaurants we go to, they only say 'Four Franks' coming up"! (She laughed at that for years.) Did children have a "kiddy table" when guests were over? No, we all ate together on special occasions. When did you get that first sip of wine? 11 or 12 years old on New Year's Eve, it was Champagne. Was there a pre-meal prayer? Often, but not always. Was there a rotating menu (e.g., meatloaf every Thursday)? Always Roast Pork on Sundays, followed by a Layer Cake from Shelley's Bakery in Flushing, New York. (Long gone.) When we were a bit older it was steak almost every day. It must have been the ease of broiling it. As a result, I didn't eat steak for 2 decades. How much of your family culture is being replicated in your present-day family life? I still love bacon, and sometimes cook southern style breakfasts.

I love those also. I remember Bar Six, it was great. I also loved the Hollywood Bar, it was sort of like Milky Way Dark. My new favorite however, is the Butterfinger Crunch Wafer Bar. It's so light.

I'm glad you didn't make it Picnic, they are closed on Wednesdays and you're right, no burger! Which did you get? Melecon or Flor? What do you think of the two? ← Edited to add Picnic is now open 7 days a week. I just had the chicken and it was excellent. San spices, (except salt) it is a french style roast chicken. I asked for them to keep it in the Rotisserie a bit longer for me, and they were exceptionally accommodating. For those who care, it was $13.

Well, they are the Times!

Pan, I agree with you about El Malecon. The Pollo a la Brasa tastes better. Perhaps Moskin's team noticed that Flor de Mayo's chickens are larger and may have made a better presentation. IMO the El Malecon's chickens seem smaller to me. (But I prefer a smaller chicken.) Just a thought.

I'm glad you didn't make it Picnic, they are closed on Wednesdays and you're right, no burger! Which did you get? Melecon or Flor? What do you think of the two?

Yes, Flor de Mayo is really good (and cheap!) I agree it is very moist rotisserie chicken. I'll ask next time what the spice is. Another is El Malecon on Amsterdam and 97th. I'm sorry they didn't make the list. Their chicken is also a contender. I live around the corner from the one on Broadway between 100 and 101 and Picnic is on the next block. Their chicken is next on my agenda. Thanks for the list. By the way, if you liked Flor de Mayo, they have lots of interesting dishes. On the menu they are under the Peruvian section.

Wow, they have lawyers making coffee drinks now? Or did you mean barista? (Sorry, couldn't resist...) ← Oops, thanks

OK, somethings really do annoy me: Sammich! Edjumacating! Waiters asking to what degree I want chicken cooked? Ordering a cappucino and the barister makes a latte because they don't know the difference. I feel better now. I resolve to not say veggies. ( I hear you.) But I don't think it ever crept into my vocabulary anyway. I resolve not to question a vegetarian when they tell me they eat fish.

Cafe de Bruxelles on Greenwich Ave. has great fries. An Omelette or Mussels with frites, and a glass of wine is perfect.

I couldn't have said this better. I still vote for NYC, but I agree with Ben and you for the reason that Manhattan does not rule with the "best food." Yes, I think it is varied and because of the diversity, we enjoy many authentic types of cuisine (especially outside of Manhattan), but the quality of the food here is hit or miss. Not to go off topic too much, I feel that if the question were "what is the 'best' food city in the world, we would have a much different dialogue. Since we go to a different country to explore their cuisine, what do we explore in America? Southern? BBQ? The undefined issue of what cuisine this country hosts leads to NYC being the most interesting, and even the Diner on the corner menu is influenced by culture, i.e. italian and greek, but I have had far better meals in other cities. Often, I find myself wondering "why is the quality of food outside of NY so much better"?

With that it mind, I would have to vote for New York as the most interesting also. It is enchanting to be able to simply travel to another borough and experience different cultures and cuisines that are underepresented in Manhattan. I have travelled around and I've found great food everywhere, Canada, France, Italy (to me perhaps the best cuisine), Belgium, and Germany but the best of the cuisines are often limited to the culture of the host country. The Netherlands may be an exception to this, although I am only considering Amsterdam. It makes sense. I don't believe this to be the case in NYC. The Australians also have great varied cuisine and the Asian cuisines represented there are phenomenal. Sydney and Melbourne are exceptional places to dine. And I've never had fresher seafood anywhere, including the Caribbean and New York.

I absolutely agree. For me it was cafeteria lunchroom at school, which smelled so awful that I was the only child in my family that carried a lunch box. I have never eaten tomato soup in my life and that's saying something. Besides that, I will not eat fish head, tripe, chicken feet or pig's feet, tail or ears and especially not snout. I have such an aversion to the snout thing, that a photograph will make me lose my appitite, which is almost an impossiblity.

I have never had decent Chinese anywhere in Europe, including the Netherlands, France, UK, Italy or Germany. Off topic, I had ass-kicking Vietnamese in Paris, but that makes sense.

Chef Koo, Can you explain that process? Sounds great. Thanks.

I have not had decent Chinese on the UWS for 10 years except Shun Lee West. I also like Tse Yang, but it's in Midtown. One ordinary Chinese restaurant which I think is worthy of a meal and you won't throw it in the garbage is on Third Avenue and 82nd Street. I recommend Our Place. I know it is UES, but a walk across the park is good for you. As for why Chinese on the UWS is so bad I have an opinion. It may be because most people will eat anything and either don't know any better or care. I once ordered Prawns from Empire Schezwan at Broadway and 97th. When I got home, I discovered the prawns smelled and were not deveined. I called them and told them to come and pick them up and replace the meal. They did and this time, they brought only the prawns, cleaned, but not the vegetables, as if I were going to combine everything in my own wok. I called again and this time I told them "pick up the food and bring me the money". They brought me the most beautiful, nuclear sized prawns, (the others were puny) and they were so fresh, that I was amazed that they thought I would eat that other crap. This time the meal was carefully prepared and I must say it was exceptional. But I still don't order from them. I don't have time to argue and convince a restaurant to fulfill it's obligation.

Fifi, That's how I got hooked on cast iron as well...gratin! I love it. I didn't add it to my list, but I have one. Now the problem is, I have so much enameled cast iron (and of course one beautiful black old ancient pan for cornbread and such) that is is getting hard to store it all. I swear by my marmite/soup pan. I can do anything with it. And sitting in my foyer is the new Le Crueset Wok, unopened, and I can't wait to use it. It's a celebration each time a new pot comes thru the door.

My essential cookware is: 1. Le Crueset non stick 7in skillet 2. All Clad 1 qt pot stainless w/lid 3. All Clad 2 qt pot stainless w/ lid 4. All Clad 3 qt pot stainless w/lid and steamer insert 5. Le Crueset 2 5/8 marmite 6. Le Crueset 8 qt stockpot 7. Le Crueset 3 1/2 qt braiser Yes, I could go on forever, but these are the ones that are used frequently.

In Australia at the Red Ochre Grill, I ate Kangaroo, Emu and Crocodile. All were done in pates and tasted like any complex pate. So overall , it wasn't very exciting, just delicious.

Yes, alas, I am weeping. All of these photos are amazing, and the pork roast reminds me of what my mother would make...and to think we took it for granted.

Zeitoun, I don't know if you would consider eating them raw, but I found great eggs at Union Square Market. The seller is on the west side against the fence, not the street. He also sells herbs and lettuces, and you will not see the eggs displayed because they are in a cooler. I only discovered them because of another shopper. The eggs are blue and sell out very quickly. The yolk is a rich dark yellow and paints the sides of bowls upon whipping. I thought they were great. I usually see him on Wednesdays and on one occasion when I arrived about Noon, they were gone. The market is open Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat., opens at eight. I've never been there before 10.

Yes, the two Mexican places are quite good, and if you want to spend more you can go to Mama Mexico, but it's too expensive when the other two, especially Noche, is just around the corner. There aren't any spectacular restaurants, but you might try 107 West or Metisse if Mexican doesn't suit you today.

My father lives in a building adjacent to Shun Lee and I haven't noticed any increase in the number of vermin on the block. Shun Lee is pretty much the same as it ever was, and I have eaten their through out the renovations of the Mormon temple and the big construction project across the street. ← Thanks, You've restored my confidence. I can't wait to go because I simply love the place.

I would agree that Sal and Carmine's is NOT the best pizza in the city, and I'm sorry if my earlier post implied that, but is the best of the common pizzarias IMO. As I said earlier, it is an aquired taste, and at first, is not really interesting, however, after getting to know the pizza, the crust is chewy but not like a dough ball, and you can eat the edges without wanting to throw them in the garbage. And the sauce is simple. I prefer anything out of a brick or coal oven. My earlier advocation of Sal and Carmine's is based on Cru's initial list. If I were to pick my very favorite, it would have to be Patsy's.