Meanderer

The historical perspective you bring to this debate is both impressive and convincing. I am persuaded. Make mine a Vienna Beef Sausage, though.

It is beyond clever. It is either brilliant or insane. Trying to figure out which is causing me to need a drink. Now, where's my bottle of root beer schnappes?

When I first began reading this thread, I assumed my leg was being pulled. As I read on, I saw my leg being stretched so badly I thought I was going to have to move to Switzerland or West Virginia just to get around. Now, as it is dawning on me that perhaps Wieniecello is not a hoax, I begin to fear for civilization as we know it. Surely Andrew, having spent a good part of your last year in Italy, you must know that Rome was sacked by the barbarians on a far smaller provocation.

If you find yourself around Puycelsi(near Cordes sur Ciel), I recommend L'Ancienne Auberge for a meal. Rooms are available as well, but we were staying elsewhere so we can't vouch for anything but the food.

Maybe it is just the present conditions outside that are influencing me, but I don't think you can go wrong if you can come up with good, house-made sorbets and ice cream, especially when you can use in-season fruit.

I dislike chains as a matter of principle, particularly the ones with apostrophes in their names(Ruby Tuesday's, T.G.I. Friday's--as if we are expected to think the proprietor's name is something like Thomas Geoffrey Isaac Friday or something). I dislike them because they are contributing to the homogeneity of the nation and because the creativity all occurs at corporate headquarters rather than in the individual kitchens. I liken it to motel room art--it is the same wherever you go. I dislike them because I think they do harm the independent restauranteurs who are trying to survive in their niches. That may not be of significant concern in a large urban community, but I do see the impact in the provinces. I dislike them because, when they are stand alone structures(as opposed to when they are in malls), they have huge footprints with their buildings, parking lots and access roads. I wonder whether some of the flooding impact we have seen in recent years would have been lessened if we didn't have all of the WalMarts, Home Depots and, yes, Applebee's sprouting everywhere. Finally, I particularly dislike the chains that have staff sing happy birthday to customers. I don't know whether that distasteful phenomenon has receded, but that alone has been enough to keep me out of Red Lobster since January of 1988.

Tragically, the chain restaurant cancer is metastasizing. Five years ago there were no national chain restaurants, other than fast food places, within 20 miles of us. Now, only 10 or 12 miles away we have Ruby Tuesday's, Red Robin and Chili's. I suppose it will only be a matter of time before Olive Garden and Red Lobster infiltrate the neighborhood. I've called an architect to begin designwork to reinforce the protective bunkers around our property.

Your photos of BB's were a bit of a surprise to me. I am able to go only on Saturdays when the place is so crowded it is difficult to move. Even before the store opens, there is a crowd waiting to go in.

For the Harrisburg leg of your trip, I'd suggest the ABC Brewery on Cameron Street. I've seen happy kids in there and the place makes pretty good beer. If the weather is good, you might want to go over to City Island. The kiosks on the east side of the island near the stadium serve, among other things, decent burgers and real fries. If the Senators are in town, you can take in a AA game while you are there.

Fresh LOCAL ingredients? Watermelon? Parsnips? In Pennsylvania in June?

The Casablanca Bistro at 6th and Penn isn't far and is a good choice for Middle Eastern food. Make sure you go after the pre-theater crowds have cleared out.

The Frick Art Museum is worth a visit and there is a pretty good restaurant on the grounds with nice outdoor dining.

Corinna--Oddly, much as I know I enjoyed it , I cannot recall what my entee was at the Tannery. In a week, I have forgotten so much. My starter was an interesting combination of pork belly and squid. I would never have thought of it. At Bassett's, I started with the charcuterie plate and then had a very nice piece of rare tuna with a pesto dollop. I skipped the desserts at both places because I had been so energetic sampling the food on the plates of the rest of the folks at the table. I think I managed to get more of the smoked salmon I mentioned earlier than did my wife, who ordered it.

Following the recommendation upthread, we had lunch on a recent Sunday at Hudson's in Thomastown and I think they had a bit of an off-day. My meal was terrific--particularly the entree--but it wasn't what I ordered. I ordered the lamb kidneys and I was served the lamb cutlets that were the special of the day. Because it was so good, I was happy to ignore the mistake. However, one member of the party ordered the salmon that was supposed to have some kind of citrus sauce but if there was any flavor beside salmon, nobody could detect it. Also the salmon was overdone and, hence, dry. The third member of the party had the steak and it was fine but we couldn't understand why they needed to add a 5 Euro surcharge for a steak that was about the size of the heel of my shoe. We also ate at the Tannery and Bassett's, recommended above, and both lived up to our expectations. While the menu and presentation at the Tannery was more interesting, Bassett's location, alone, was worth the trip. They also served the best smoked salmon I've ever eaten. It was described by the owner as having been caught by a friend and smoked down the road in New Ross. My compliments to the fisherman and the smoker. The food at the Lacken House was also quite good, but I could never quite shake the gloom of the dining room. Nor could I decipher why a huge bowl of steamed potatoes was brought to our table when our entees were served with about a half a kilogram of mashed potatoes on the plate. Finally, in Dublin, we all enjoyed lunch at Luna. The tomato soup, in particular, was the thickest and richest I have eaten anywhere.

One small update and one additional recommendation: Simoson's is now closed. Sophia on Walnut Street is a good BYOB option for seafood, Italian style.

The best place around is Sidney in East Berlin. Nothing in the area approaches it in terms of creativity and quality of ingredients. Few tourists find there way to the place either. Another choice is the Herr Tavern, a few miles west on Rte 30. I can't vouch for it but a friend speaks highly of the place. You are more likely to see the tourist crowd there, though.

Some of these are already in stores. In fact, I picked up some of the Taylor VP a couple of weeks ago to savor in my declining years. On another subject, the Omaka Springs Sauv. Blanc is abundant but nowhere in stores near me (Phila. area). It's available for purchase on the Web site but I have never tasted it. Is there anyone who may have an opinion before I stock up on SB for the summer? ← I haven't had the current vintage, but I've enjoyed it in the past. Just don't drink it immediately after drinking the Kim Crawford version. The Omaka Springs would seem diminished by a close comparison, I think.

And just a few more recommendations for Kilkenny and Waterford… In last weekend’s Irish Times - discussing the best fish pie in Waterford - Tom Doorley maintained that you won’t do better than McAlpin’s Suir Inn at Cheekpoint, and suggested that a wide berth be given to Waterford’s Wine Vault, which is a bit off the boil at the moment. I haven’t been to McAlpin’s, but my brother has been there many times, and totally agrees on the superior fish pie. In this month’s (Irish) Food & Wine, Leslie Williams (who has contributed to this board in the past) suggests the following: Waterford l’Atmosphere at 19 Henrietta St, due to open soon, offering well priced French bistro classics, from chef Arnaud Mary (owner of La Boulangerie bakery) Brasserie Orange, seeking a new tenant (?), but still open (I’m not sure that this sounds like a recommendation) The Tannery (as suggested upthread), with a particularly good lunch and early bird menu The Strand, or The Ship in Dunmore East for fish, as well as Coast in Tramore White Horses Restaurant in Ardmore, for something simpler Richmond House in Cappoquin, for dinner Local Cheeses: Knockalara and ]Knockanore Kilkenny Bassett’s, in Inistioge(mentioned upthread), gets a great review Hudson’s, in Thomatown Waterside, in Graiguenamanagh (a beautiful old village, which spills into Carlow on the other side of the River Barrow). There are some nice pubs there (avoid the trendy ones) The Marble City Bar, in Kilkenny City for pub food Zuni Restaurant, in Kilkenny City for a slightly quirkier take on cooking Shortis Wong on John St in Kilkenny, is worth a visit to buy Lavistown sausages (which are a personal favourite of mine… big flavour, gutsy, top notch pork, which is well capable of carrying the garlic and cumin, kebab type spices) Local cheeses: Lavistown, light and deliciously sour, like homemade butter; Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheeses which include “a goat camembert, a semi-hard goats’ cheese, and a washed rind cows’ milk cheese”. And on local crafts; visits to Jerpoint Glass, Nicholas Mosse, and Stoneware Jackson are recommended. More detail on these on the Edible and Portable Souvenirs thread. If I was to pick two, it would be The Tannery in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, and Bassett’s in Inistoige, Co Kilkenny. ← Thanks, Corinna. That should get us through the week.

I think you have to keep context in mind. Some forty years ago, my grandfather was a part-time bartender in one of three taverns in a small town in rural Illinois. Most of his customers were local farmers, blue collar workers and small business people. One day a stranger entered and ordered a Martini, to which my grandfather replied, "If you want a fancy New York drink, go to a fancy New York bar. Here, you can get a shot and a beer." In fact, at that time, the tavern likely had no gin, no vermouth, no olives and no onions because all of it would simply take up space and grow dusty for lack of demand. The absence of vermouth meant my grandfather couldn't even make a Manhattan, which was a little ironic because the tavern was in the town of Manhattan. Some bartenders should not be asked to make some drinks. Who would order a mojito in the local pub in Bettyhill, Scotland, for example? However, if a bar holds itself out as having any level of sophistication, any and every drink should be willingly and expertly prepared, no matter the individual preferences of the bartender.

Hudson's, mentioned a couple of posts above, sounds as if it is worth a visit. Is there anything else in the Kilkenny--Thomastown--Waterford--Carrick-on-Suir area of comparable interest? We'll be spending a week in the area in May.

A friend once showed me a small card he had "borrowed" from his father's restaurant. The text said, simply, "Please oblige the management by leaving quietly." He hoped one day to be in a situation such as the one that started this thread whereby he would give the card to his waiter and ask that it be delivered to the offending table. I don't know whether he ever employed this tactic, but it might be interesting to try it in the appropriate circumstances.

The sad story here is that when Michters was up and running, not enough people realized how good it was. Hence its demise.

I was there last summer. The hanger steak was superb.

I agree with your first paragraph wholeheartedly. My most vivid recollection from my mother's 75th birthday celebration dinner was the poor service we had from beginning to end. That is not what I would prefer to remember. I don't agree with your second paragraph. I don't want to be entertained by the waitstaff. I want to be informed by the waitstaff, but I otherwise want them to be competent and unobtrusive. I want to focus on the food and the company with whom I am dining.

I stopped in Wednesday afternoon and the bartender didn't look like a Katie to me.