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Randi

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Everything posted by Randi

  1. How about: Ooze and Ahhs? ok, never mind. or if you need to "downscale" a classy name like "Melts", what about "Ultimate Melts" or something like that? or "Grilled Cheese, Please"
  2. Actually, I have gotten that sensation when I drink - it's kind of an ache in what I thought were my glands (someone describe it above "as where the jaw meets the neck") so I have always assumed I am somewhat allergic to alcohol. It doesn't happen all the time, and I never paid attention to what might be causing it (i.e. red wine vs hard liquor). Randi
  3. If you decide not to use Melt, how about: JayCee's Grilled Cheese? or HotCheez or JayCee's HotCheez
  4. When I used to work in the Ironbound section of Newark I drove past Seabra's Supermarket every morning (on Wilson Avenue). There were usually trucks unloading specialty foods and I often saw whole pigs being unloaded and carried into the market. So I would guess they have them available. Randi
  5. What was the price of the entree?
  6. ok, a question for the folks who microwave the corn - I bought 2 ears, left the husks on and want to try the microwave method tonite - About how long do I nuke them for? And I am wondering if they are hard to husk once they are hot.
  7. Ooops! I forgot. I hate curry too! And ketchup (except as a base for cocktail sauce for shrimp)
  8. He was there. My friend and I wondered if the fact that we ended up using her credit card was the reason they didn't comp me (since it didn't look like I was paying). But why would they have presented me with a bill at all if they were intending to comp me?
  9. I *wish* I liked: Raw Oysters Raw Clams Sushi I want SO much to like them!!!! I've tried them but the "skeeve" factor is just too strong for me
  10. I had an experience that left me disillusioned with a restaurant I had really enjoyed previously. There was a new "fine dining" restaurant that opened nearby (for those of you in NJ who saw my posts of praise, it was Lana's in Clark). They had a pretty slow start, and I went there and really enjoyed it. Because it was so good, and they were so friendly and accommodating, I set up a business dinner for 12 people a few days later. (I would guess the tab for that was over $1000 with wine.) Then I convinced my company to hold an awards dinner there with about 60 people, complete with cocktail hour etc. Also - I told them about eGullet and I posted some positive things on the NJ Forum, which they saw. They were always so nice and so friendly, and appreciative for the business while they were establishing themselves. One of the partners helped me carry some things to my car, and he mentioned that I should return sometime with a friend and they would treat us to dinner, to show their appreciation for the business I'd brought them. I returned a few weeks later with a friend. We got appetizers, dinner, and dessert. They did offer us a glass of wine, but we don't drink so we declined. They brought over the bill, and...feeling awkward...we paid it. $120 with tax and tip... I didn't know if I should have said something. Would you? I now have a bad feeling about the place, and haven't returned....
  11. Jason - why the resounding no? Can you be more specific? Did you have a bad experience? Is it because of the salt, as Rich mentioned? (only asking because my roomie is eager to go there and I need something more concrete to tell her if I want to suggest someplace else.) Curlz, thanks for the tip re: making a reservation. Rachel mentioned that CV is smokey - is that just the bar? does it permeate the restaurant? Rachel, thanks for the tip. I am not so worried about ramps and such as none of our group will be in a wheelchair or on a motorized scooter. I am more concerned with ease of nearby parking. So, is it the salt that makes Spanish Tavern a NO-GO for all of you? Frankly, the saltiness of Portuguese food totally turns me off. I didn't know that Spanish food would be the same way
  12. I googled this and also did an eG search but couldn't find anything substantial on this restaurant. (I did see that Rachel said she'd never go back there, but didn't see a post saying why...) I see they have a Newark location as well as a Mountainside location. I am looking for info on the one in Newark (but I assume the food is the same at both?) I am attending a convention at the Newark Airport Marriott in a couple of weeks and people were talking about going out to dinner to a Spanish or Portuguese restaurant. Someone highly recommended Spanish Tavern so I thought I would turn to the eG "experts"...yea or nay? If nay, any others you'd recommend? It has to have parking, as we will be coming in 2 or 3 cars and one or two of the folks in the group have some mobility challenges. So a parking lot would be a great advantage. Thanks for any suggestions you can give! Randi
  13. I have 6 open in the fridge, 1 unopened in the fridge, and 2 still in the pantry. They are as follows: Open: Marie's Super Blue Cheese Moosewood Restaurant Organic Feta and Garlic Greek Style Dressing Annie's Naturals Goddess Dressing Marie's Honey Mustard Pfeiffer Roasted Garlic (with a 1/4/02 date - I think I'll toss that one!!) Pfeiffer Caesar Unopened: Wegman's Italian Blue Cheese Vinaigrette (in the fridge) Ellen Rose Oriental Dressing (pantry) Trader Joe's Vidalia Onion Vinargrette (pantry) Tanabutler - what's that bottle of TJ's worth to ya??
  14. Steakas. oh my! Are you sure you don't like the Barge? I detected indecision Well, I went there last night...after reading their online menu I decided to give them another try. I saw they had a special of twin lobsters and they also had the kind of steamers I love... I figured, how can they screw that up? Right? We got there early, to avoid the Saturday night crowd. The place was about 1/2 full at 4:45. And filled up soon thereafter. The noise level was high. For once, I didn't need to peruse a menu for ages, agonizing over my need to narrow it down to one thing. I was all set. I got the twin lobsters, steamed (22.95) and the steamers (9.95). My dining companion ordered the bluefish "earlybird special" which came with salad and soup (he chose cream of red snapper) for $9.95 They brought his snapper soup out right away. I tasted it - it was delicious, actually. He ordered onion soup to eat while I ate my clams. He said the soup was ok. The clams were medium sized, and so-so. I love them small and sweet. At least they weren't sandy. The salads were almost silly. A plate of torn iceberg lettuce a bit of shredded carrot with a single slice of cucumber on top. Oh, they added wee bits of purple cabbage which could have been mistaken for black pepper...they were so small and so few. I got the bleu cheese dressing, which they served on the side (I am glad of that). The dressing wasn't bad - big chunks of cheese. But couldn't they have put a cherry tomato or olive or two on that sad little salad? The lobsters looked great - 2 decently meaty critters - split and cleaned, with the claws already removed. The first one was so-so. Not bad tasting but kinda mushy. The second one had a funny taste - wasn't sure if it was iodine-y or what. Didn't taste spoiled - just metallic or something. I didn't eat all of it. The fries were big crispy (but dry) steak fries. I never eat sides when I am eating lobsters - unless there is something refreshing like a really good cole slaw. Dinner was about $50 before tip. Everyone around us seemed to be enjoying their dinners. Maybe they have lower seafood standards than some? I saw few lobsters being served (when I used to go to the Clam Hut in Highlands for my always-perfect twin lobsters, there were always plenty of people ordering lobster). Most people seemed to get some kind of stuffed fish. Maybe they excel at that? So, I am still not in love with The Barge. I really need to find a nearby place for my "simple" seafood needs. Or do I really just need to buy the lobsters myself and cook them at home? sigh...I hate killing them Randi
  15. Cornus. thanks for the suggestions! I have been to Loucas, it wasn't bad. The other places I've not even heard of and I have bookmarked the sites for future reference. Ye Cottage Inn sounds exactly like what I am looking for. And I live very close to Metuchen so I will be sure to check out Dick's Dock. Is Dick's Dock really crowded on weekends, do you know?
  16. I'm not sure that these 2 examples fall under "acquired tastes" but... When I was growing up, my Mom bought clams (the real steamer variety - ipswich) by the bushel, so I was raised with them and I LOVE them. I have always felt that people who didn't grow up eating them, might have some trouble the first time they try them as an adult. They can be pretty off-putting for the uninitiated. Pulling off that little sheath, coping with the half mushy-half chewy body often filled with that blackish goop. Yeah, I can see where it would require some bravery, first time. So would that mean I see it as an acquired taste? Or just something someone needs to be exposed to in a casual way as a child, so they don't think too much about it as an adult?? The other thing - I have tried and tried to like sushi. I WANT to like it. HONEST. But I think I need to give up. For me - it's unaquired (or would that be an unaquirable?) taste. Randi
  17. The other day I was opening a can of black olives and dumping them into a container. I couldn't resist eating a few right off the bat. And I did my usual...sipped the brine. Yummm...it's the exact taste of the black olives, in liquid form! I know it's probably unhealthy to drink that much salt - so I do limit it to a sip or two. And I also know that people would call me crazy for drinking...BRINE! I remember a thread where people mentioned that they eat the shells of cooked shrimp. And there are folks who enjoy gristle, for example. So what I'm wondering is..... Is there any thing you eat that other people usually throw away? I don't mean things that aren't food (like paper or paste). I mean things that are part of a food item, but not usually considered edible. Anyone?
  18. I've been to The Barge once, and was not particularly impressed, as I recall. I am wondering if anyone else has been there and has an opinion about this place. Maybe I was there on an off night? Also, if you have any other fresh seafood recommendations in the central NJ area (within 15 miles of the Edison area) I'd love to hear them. We're going out this weekend for seafood and we'd prefer not to head to the shore on a weekend in the summer - I know that limits us. But is it impossible close to home? Also, I asked before but didn't get a response - has anyone been to the Chowder Pot in Rahway since it's been under new ownership? It was horrible before...I am hoping maybe it's better now? Randi
  19. I do check out people's carts in Shop Rite and Wegman's - casually - I don't make it a spectator sport. But when I am in Trader Joe's I like getting ideas from other people - I check out what they pick. One time a woman bought like 4 boxes of this one kind of cracker. I thought - oh, must be good! So I bought a box. They were GREAT :)
  20. Well, as I said, it's been quite a while since I've been there. It was never crowded when I used to go. I need to try the place out again!! Thanks for the tip!
  21. Daniel, I am going to guess it wasn't Dragon Palace unless they have changed considerably over the years. I used to go there quite a bit, several years ago, and it was fine, but nothing special and never really crowded. I haven't been there since they moved (they used to be in a different spot in the same strip mall). It's been probably 10 years since I've been there. I do remember that one time they dropped my remaining dinner on the way to the kitchen (which I hadn't finished and I'd asked them to wrap it). And they didn't offer to replace it, and still charged me the full amount. Back then I wasn't as ballsy as now. Now I would have made an issue of it. Randi P.S. Also, it's not all that close to the college
  22. ...Pick it up and sniff it. Thats what I do! I adore rosemary, and the fragrance is divine. When it is used as a garnish, I love to smell it!
  23. Since I really dislike the taste of chocolate syrup (i.e. Hershey syrup) is there a better tasting alternative to use in a milkshake?
  24. My Mom drank that as well! Really! And we turned out just fine...imagine that! Actually I remember tasting it and it wasn't bad. Like a tangy, cold tomato soup. My Dad would be in his 80's now if he were still here. I wondered if that was a childhood thing they gave kids? I'd never heard anyone else doing that! Speak for yourself...not sure how "fine" I am After all, I am somewhat food obsessed now!! Maybe it's all because of that "thousand island dressing" drink? (When I was a kid, mixing ketchup and mayo to make the dressing reminded me of my mom's buttermilk and tomato juice beverage...)
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