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Jeff L

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Posts posted by Jeff L

  1. I don't know what a Paco jet is either but meatball sandwiches and STH menu items really aren't in the same league are they?

    Not speaking for Alcibiades but I think she means that meatball sandwiches by their very nature tend to be a bit pedestrian shall I say, or at the least, quite easily reproduced in ones own home.

    I suppose the argument could be made that cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches can also be made at home but somehow certain restaurant made ones tend to get elevated in these parts as "destination worthy" items.

  2. I've actually had it both ways, with and without tomatoes.  I prefer the tomato version, done by Freddy Carrabelli.  I think of this kinda pie in the context of hot wings actually, where a sharp vinegar flavor blends with a tomato/pepper base and works very well with beer.  You'll never know if you dont try.  We'll just have to grab one together, Jeff, and soon.

    I'm game, I think :sad:

  3. Princeton is such a cool town with an upscale image, yet it is depressing how few good BYO restaurants there are. Ferry House hasn't been worth going in years. La Mezaluna (sp?) was good at one time but I haven't been since they changed hands. Blue Point Grill would probably be my recommendation if I had to pick one. Pretty much seafood and they don't take reservations which makes it tough.

    You could really go further and lament the fact that there are too few good restaurants period.

    I like Conte's for tomato pies and I like Tortugas Mexican Village and finally, I think Masala Grill has passable Indian fare. Forget all the rest, but just outside of Princeton is Tre Pianni which is really the only decent Italian for miles.

    Only Tre Pianni is not byo.

  4. I DO NOT get the popularity of Papa's; mediocre pizza at best.  I've never had a tomato pie at the Ivy Tavern either, nor at Jo-Jo's in Mercerville.  Is Jo Jo's worth a visit?

    The Championship Tavern pie is quite a good pie, Jeff, and Championship is one of the very few places I've seen (and had) the old-fashioned MUSTARD pie.  Like hot wings, it's a great pie to eat with pitchers of beer and a football game. I've just seen the mustard tomato pie advertised at the new Peasants restaurant in Hamilton; they just hired the somewhat famous (in Trenton) Freddy Carrabelli to make tomato pies at this new restaurant.

    But, as of this date, NOTHING touches a Delorenzo's of Hudson Street tomato pie

    Rich, get to Jo-Jo's. It's worth the trip. What is the deal with mustard pies? Sounds awful to me.

  5. Everyone is familiar with the two Delorenzo’s in Trenton (Hudson & Hamilton Aves.). They both make excellent pies. However, there are a number of other places in the Trenton area that are arguably as good or better depending upon your taste. There’s Papa’s on Chambers St., Jo Jo’s at five points, Top Road on Brunswick Ave and the Ivy Tavern on S. Broad St. to name a few. A lot of locals think that Papa’s and/or the old Bartolini’s (now Champions) were better than Delorenzo’s.

    Agree that Jo-Jo's and Top Road pies are excellent but better than Delo Hudson Street? I like both of these pies a lot and also Conti's in Princeton, but none, imho are close to Delorenzo's. I haven't been to Ivy or Champions but didn't much care for the pie at Papa's.

  6. Our company is having a business meeting at the Westin in Princeton and the top execs are looking for a place to meet for dinner afterwards.

    They were thinking of Rats, but this will be on a Monday evening, and Rats is closed Mondays.  Someone suggested Tre Piani.    It looks lovely, and I am hoping someone who has been there can give us a brief review?

    I've enjoyed it each of the three times I've been. Good food, nice space and really professional waitstaff. I think your colleagues will like it.

    Fwiw, I really don't get what the fuss is about with Rats.

  7. Todd, I must say I am sad to hear of your decision to close Mandoline. Along with others on this board, I really enjoyed your food and personal touches very much. I am happy I got to host the DDC dinner there a while back and somehow thought that would go a long way to introduce people to your cuisine. I'm also glad I got to bring my wife in that one Saturday night without reservation!

    Looking forward to your rebirth at Deuce.

  8. There are a lot of decent restaurants in SNJ which are BYOB because liquor licenses are scarce and wildly expensive.

    One of the best Japanese restaurants in NJ is in Haddonfield, it is Fuji. Recently moved to this new location. It is actually in a little mall in downtown Haddonfield (Kings Hwy), but don't let that throw you.

    http://www.fujirestaurant.com/

    Another option, Mexican "inspired" is the Tortilla Press in Collingswood.

    http://www.thetortillapress.com/

    Stop off at Moore Brothers (in an industrial park in Pennsauken) and tell them where you are eating, they'll make suggestions. http://www.wineaccess.com/store/moorebrosnj

    Excellent suggestions all

  9. It is with deep sadness that I report on the passing of one of Trenton's finest pizza men, Chick Delorenzo. He started the venerable Delorenzo's tomato pie over 60 years ago and it still remains the best pie in the state today in many folks opinion(including mine)

    I had the pleasure of knowing him while he was still turning out those pies in the oven so many years ago. He will be missed but it is heartening to know that both his son-in-law and grandson keep the tradition moving forward.

  10. Bumping up this almost 4 year old thread, I just had lunch in Princeton yesterday at a relatively new place called Magma Pizza. Really bad choice of name but the deal here is that they bake your pizza (and some sandwiches) on a volcanic stone and lava rocks.

    The kitchen area looks like something from the set of Star Trek featuring a volcano like structure rising from the oven/rotisserie to the ceiling. Peculiar to be sure but the pie was amazingly good. I chatted with the owner, Gabe, who hails from Damascus (who knew Syrians knew about pizza?) and learned that he is looking to open in another similarly densely populated area. I tried to convince him to consider Newtown in Bucks County but he passed.

    We ordered a large pizza with fresh garlic and fresh basil. It came out in under 5 minutes. The crust was impossibly thin and light and airy but full of crunch and great flavor. They put whole leaf basil on every other piece and sprinkled whole garlic cloves. The pie was inhaled in about the time it took to cook it. Excellent in all respects and a close 2nd to Delorenzo's (Really)

    It is located a few doors down from the Sam's Club on Nassau Park Blvd just off Route 1 south of Princeton. Here is their website:

    http://www.magmapizza.com/

  11. why do they call it a tomato pie if it has cheese?  I always thought of tomato pie as the cheeseless sheet.

    You are referring to the Philly style tomato pie which indeed is cheeseless. Many bakeries carry this thing which isn't bad but is not a Trenton style tomato pie, it's not a pizza at all. Trenton, I believe, has coined the word tomato pie which is a thin crust pizza with just a little cheese and a sauce blend of chopped and ground tomato on top with the usual spices. The very best example of this pizza imo is Delorenzo's on Hudson. I am somewhat of a purist and always order a plain tomato pie with just garlic which has roasted garlic pieces embedded in the sauce, quite tasty indeed.

  12. That lady at the cash register has been there forever. And she remembers you even if you haven't been back for a while.

    Just some background, that lady is Eileen Amico whose dad, Chick was the founder of the original Delorenzo's along with his brother who now operates Delorenzo's on Hamilton Avenue. Their pie is really good but not as good as Hudson Street.

    In case you didn't know, the guy making your pizza is Eileen and Gary's son Sammy. He will be moving in to a brand new Delorenzo's slated to open later this year in Robbinsville. I think you better get back again soon cause it's anyone's guess how much longer Gary wants to keep the place going after Sammy's place is running.

    We should get some folks together and do a friday lunch as that's really the best day and time to go...no wait, pizza piping hot on the table when you arrive. I've been going for almost 40 years!

  13. Rockhopper, that Alfred's pie really looked like Delorenzo's pie down to the spacing of the cheese and tomato vs cheese balance. Next thing you'll tell me is that they cut it with a knife and not a pizza slicer.

    I would be interested in trying this pie but that thing from Venuto's looked just awful. Really, a bathroom for patrons at Alfreds, what's up with that :rolleyes:

  14.   It is the best I have tried since moving here almost 2 years ago from South Philadelphia; better than South Phila faves Celebre's and City Pizza.  It was smilar to Tacconelli's crust, but without the garlic dusting the bottom of the pie.

    That's because you apparently haven't tried Delorenzo's tomato pie in Trenton yet

    I live further from Trenton now than I did before. I may never try Delorenzo's.

    Trust me, it's worth the drive. Better than any pie I've tasted in PA or NJ hands down.

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