Randi

This is my number one favorite "food" - crispy poultry skin! *swooning* and I thank goodness that not everyone loves it because that means less sharing at Thanksgiving, as well as the possibility of being given other people's discarded skin the rest of the year. (I don't mean THEIR personal skin - I mean the skin from their chicken, turkey or duck dinners)

I know it's a chain...but have you tried Panera's breads? I haven't bought them except as part of their sandwiches - which seemed better than average. The closest to Woodbridge is the one on Route 1 at Parsonage Road by the Menlo Park Mall. And about Vaccaro's - I have found their cakes to be so bad that I can't even eat them. You only mentioned their breads, muffins and donuts - which I haven't really tried (since my experience with their cake has been so negative). Do you feel they do a better job with those items? Randi

Well, I finally opened the box of Tomato Pretz and my first bite had me thinking "wow - much more flavorful than I expected!" But subsequent bites left me with the taste of boullion...and an aftertaste that hung around way too long. I also mentioned that I had bought a bag of Kasugai Roasted Mix Nuts and I was pleasantly surprised! The only nuts in the mix were peanuts but they were colorfully engulfed in various sweet and savory coatings. There was a spinkling of wasabi peas too. I know they aren't pocky-like but they were on the shelf next to the pocky! I was also so tempted to just buy some of the other nifty-looking snacks but was wondering if there is already (or should be) a topic reviewing international snack foods for the uninitiated (i.e. me). And I am sorry to come across "US-Centric" and assume international is non-U.S. One other note - the almond crush pocky I bought has a very strong coffee fragrance and flavor but there is no coffee on the ingredient list. Very curious!

Does anybody love over-cooked green peppers? I dunno - if not, why do they put them on pizza?? ewwwww me again - and what about stuffed peppers??? the peppers are soft and gross.

Does anybody love over-cooked green peppers? I dunno - if not, why do they put them on pizza?? ewwwww

EXACTLY!!! To me, the ongoing reward of the sweet crab or lobster bits makes the whole process a treat! Earning every mouthful...and yes, savoring every bite. It's kinda like sex - if you are enjoying it - why would you wanna rush it??? And do you really look at the whole process as work?? Pomegranates I like - once a year. Then I am over them till the next year. (and unrelated to this topic - I am positively unable to drink bottled pomegranate juice - made my mouth pucker too much!) Ignoring my comparison to sex now, I will say that all-you-can-eat hardshell crabs are the best way to go, as you don't have to be quite so detail oriented to reap the rewards. Also, it's not much fun alone (as Wayne said) - I love the social aspect of a crab or lobster fest! p.s. I do the same thing with grapefruit as browniebaker - I strip'em naked down to the fleshy pulp - I find the membraines too bitter.

OK, reading this thread I thought of more 1. Sun-dried tomatoes - I don't get it - me no like! 2. Chicken legs - ick!! (once I eat the crispy skin off it - in the trash it goes! 3. Over cooked green peppers - olive-colored slimey goo. blehhh

Raw fish - everyone gets so excited about this stuff so I have tried to appreciate clams on the halfshell; raw oysters and sushi, but I think I need to surrender and accept that I just don't like any of it. And yet shellfish (cooked) is one of my absolute faves.

I love Jelly Bellies. My faves are juicy pear (my top fave), cappuccino, peach, buttered popcorn, coconut, tangerine and pink grapefruit I would love to try (but havent yet): strawberry cheesecake, honey graham cracker, roasted garlic(!!!), french vanilla, cafe latte and cataloupe.

After whining for weeks that "I want Pocky!" I found Pocky at Wegman's (thanks =Mark!) and I bought the Mousse Pocky (very American packaging) - not a Japanese character to be found on the box! Also bought Almond Crush and box of Tomato Pretz. I cracked open the Mousse Pocky and yummmm! Even better than I expected. I've yet to try the others. Also bought an unusual looking bag of Japanese "mixed nuts" which really only seemed to have peanuts but included ingredients like cuttlefish, seaweed, wasabi and shrimp. I bought it 'cause I liked the picture on the pouch. We'll see how THAT tastes. Might be a mistake, but for about 3 bucks I was willing to experiment.

Me toooooooooooooo! and I hate blue

babyluck mentioned Tarentella's (an Italian restaurant) and I want to put in my 2 cents - I happen to think they are quite good! Everything I have gotten there is above average, and the prices are good. I had lunch there today, and last Saturday also. Last week I had an appetizer of clams in a basil, garlic tomato sauce that was delicious. I am not usually a red sauce fan, but theirs is always fresh and delicious so I make an exception! Randi p.s. babyluck also said there aren't any expensive restaurants in Clark - but there is one - Lana's at the Hyatt Hill Golf Complex.

I recommend this thread, and most notably the info on "Crabby's Suds and Seafood" - it is west of Atlantic City just south of Mays Landing. (1413 Highway 50, Belcoville, NJ - 609-625-CRAB) I loved it!! Great crab shack kind of place.

Food Analogies. Whenever I need an analogy, inevitably it will be a food analogy. Example - my latest was: When told there are so many men vying for my attention, (but truth be told they are all a bunch of losers), my response was: "Yeah, but it's like going to a buffet catered by Chef Boyardee" (in other words, lots and lots of really crappy choices)

Tommy - IMHO - Just posting on food websites might not get back to Republic, hence would not directly impact their actions. Menton1 - Yes, emailing them directly from their site sounds like a winner. Randi

When I read this thread I immediately reached out to a friend of mine in NYC who is an intellectual property attorney. I saved our chat, and he said it was ok to share with you: him: reading it now me: ok him: very interesting.. him: but.. I agree that it's not much of a case me: if they take them to court it will cost them money, right? even if there is no case? him: the nature of a case is such that the defendant, even if its a relatively simple case will need to spend a substantial amount on discovery and motion practice, particularly if the plaintiff attempts to get a preliminary injunction me: is there anything they can do besides that? do they HAVE to defend themselves? if they think it's a nuisance case? him: Generally, the court of public opinion is the only way to shame the plaintiff from taking a legal posture that is semi frivolous. him: It's easy, they change their name him: If they change their name the case is over me: ugh. i mean..short of that him: practically, not a whole lot, if they don't defend themselves they'll get run over me: that sucks him: it does.. me: damn lawyers LOL Anyhow, not sure how much help it is...except the part about shaming the plaintiff...which maybe we can all do! What about a letter writing campaign?

A pickled eggplant concoction my grandmother would make. I couldn't imagine how anyone could eat that. My mother's brisket. Tasteless with watery juice (I can't call it gravy). (I was shocked to find out later in life that I didn't hate brisket! Just my MOM's brisket!) Also, my grandmother made a black walnut fudge that I couldn't understand either. I haven't tried black walnuts since but the memory is so negative I am not feeling an urge to do so :) And under the category of "I didn't know any better" I would have to put canned asparagus. At the time I liked it, but now...keep that away from me!! I know...that's the opposite of what this thread asks... Maybe we need a thread "what did you eat and like as a kid cos you didn't know better and now wouldn't touch!" Randi

Last week I bought the dry scallops on special at Wegmans for $6.99/lb (with the tendon removed.) The scoop on dry vs wet and tendon-on and -off can be found here I cooked them using their pan-searing flour finishing them off with a scampi sauce, also bought at Wegmans. Hmmm...this "ad" for Wegmans has now concluded

The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in Saugerties, NY It's not Gilroy, but it's a blast! I've been there several times. In fact, I have a mini clove of garlic (no, not a real one) hanging from my rearview mirror in my car. (I bought it there.)

Hmmm...this was an eye-opener. I have been buying only ground angus beef for the past year when making burgers and I *thought* I noticed a distinct improvement in the flavor compared to the beef I used to buy. Could it be the power of suggestion??

I have gotten really terrific ribs at a place called Pat's Barbecue in Rahway. We would get lunch delivered at work. They came with sides of homemade collard greens and cornbread. But lately they haven't had ribs when we called...I asked about it and they said if we want them, give them a day or two notice and they will make them....! Pat's Barbecue...and you have to special order ribs??? That being said...I will say they are worth planning for, and ordering them in advance. YUM. Pat's 228 West Scott Avenue Rahway, NJ 07065 (732) 388-3250

I just got back from Dinner at Lana's again. I am happy to report the place was packed on a Saturday night! We got there at about 5:30 and we were the first ones there, but people flowed in steadily...and by 7 they were basically full. Maybe it had something to do with this?? Cody Kendall's Review of Lana's in the Star Ledger Cody gave them 3 stars - and called them a treasure! Dinner was fine tonite, altho my friend and I both had to send our steaks back...I ordered medium rare and she ordered medium and hers came out well done and mine was medium well. They did redo them, and were gracious about it. I loved my oysters rockefeller - this time in addition to the spinach, chorizo, and ouzo, there was frizzled lemongrass on top. Very yummy. My friend loved her salad - she got the boston bib salad with honey roasted nuts, pears, fresh lemon and herbs (it comes with feta cheese but she got it without it.) They were very accommodating when I asked if I could get something in place of the fries that came with my pan roasted ribeye steak. I chose sauted brussel sprouts. It also came with delicious sauted spinach, which I think might have been sauted in the steak's pan as it had the flavor of the steak (or maybe just from the juices on the plate?). My friend's filet mignon came with broccoli rabe and sliced fingerling potatoes. For dessert we got the molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream (incredible) and the dulce de leche pancakes (which I had gotten before and adored - but it was different this time, and I was disappointed.) I was surprised they were reviewed so soon after opening (the review was in the Feb. 15th paper - they were open less than 2 months at that point). But I am SO happy to see the place filled with people. Dinner was $120 with tax and tip (we didn't have drinks). Oh - we did have our company's awards dinner there last month and they did a great job. I really like this place. Randi

I remember all of those! And the johnny-come-lately "stuff yer face" (which I think opened just as I was graduating in '78). I also remember a hot dog cart right outside Scott Hall - the guy's name was Adam and my roomie and I loved his hot dogs and the amazingly soft, fresh rolls.

The Chowder Pot on Rt. 27 in Rahway (on the Colonia border) has always been really bad, in my opinion. It made me sad, since it was so close to where I live... However - I see they are under new management and I am kind of tempted to give them another chance. Has anyone been there recently? Or....ever?

BINGO!! I often say crispy skin in my favorite food. Is there a thread devoted to skin/cracklins/gribbenes? If not...I would love to start one. I am truly addicted!