Randi

OMG Daniel. Fabulous fabulous pictures. What an eyeful just before I head up to bed. I know what I'll be dreaming about tonight!! (If I can even fall asleep now!)

I think Rachel's suggestion of The Phoenix is brilliant. Subtle...and yet...not.

Lori, Just wondering if there is a spring menu in the works? Is the website menu up to date - or are there some new delights that haven't been added to the site? I am ready to go back for more! Randi

Had a wonderful meal at AAG this afternoon. What a lovely place - and terrific food (as you all seem to know already!) Here are some pictures: Complimentary focaccia with chunks of delicious parmigiano Vegetable strudel Amazing Thai coconut shrimp. The sauce with Malibu Rum was incredible!! Stuffed pork (with sausage and cornbread stuffing, adorned with granny smith apples) Veal chop - again, the sauce was incredible. Sadly, we forgot the leftovers on the table! wah! The sides of beans and potato wedges Creme brulee Awesome chocolate mousse. Yum! As our server cleared the table he told us the desserts were on Lou! Thanks so much, Lou!! We were hoping you would be there, but we'll be back, and I'm sure we'll get to thank you in person soon Thanks to Curlz and Casey for terrific directions that got us there without a hitch. And thanks to AAG for a truly memorable meal. Randi

Thanks, Casey - is that 24 West and then the exit says "287/10W"? or is that an exit for 287 and I take that to 10W? How long would you say it would take once on the Parkway (at 131)?

Thanks Curlz and David. 287 is the long way around but an easy and pleasant ride. Sold! Mapquest had me taking 78 and 24 and such. Anything you'd suggest that's "not to be missed" at AAG? Besides Lou, of course

Let's see...male strippers dressed like police officers? oh, wait..you meant food-wise?? From what I've read, she is in for a treat. Just do what you folks do best! ← Male strippers dressed like police? I'm getting this Village People thing running through my brain. You're right, I'll just cook. ← Lou, do we need reservations if we come early Sunday afternoon? You open at 1, right? eta: Can someone give me directions from the edison area? mapquest doesn't recognize the address!

Since it said "Meals OUT" I assumed it was anything purchased from a restaurant (and either eaten there or taken home) and not cooked at home. ETA: oops - the first thread referred only to takeout, so yep, menton, you're right!

Daniel, that looks like a galão to me. I'd forgotten all about them! I LOVE them! I spent a few years working in the Ironbound and we treated ourselves to those quite often. Just want to mention when I see new posts by you in this thread, I get excited and quickly open the thread for another dose of your irresistable "food porn" photos!

Let's see...male strippers dressed like police officers? oh, wait..you meant food-wise?? From what I've read, she is in for a treat. Just do what you folks do best!

After much consideration, and reading her menus from several contenders, it's official: my roommate has chosen "An American Grill" for her birthday dinner destination in a few weeks. (I confess I did encourage her, but the menu clinched the decision!) I'll report back after, of course. Lou, we'll be sure to say hello (hoping you'll be there.)

Lori, while researching afternoon teas in this area, I came across this: American Jubilee Desserts Café and Tea Sanctuary [Tea room and merchant] 89 East Cherry Street (at Irving), Rahway. Isn't that just around the corner from your restaurant? ← That is right around the corner!! I have never heard of that place but I will look into it! Don't know anyone who has been there either. Do you? Thanks Randi for the info! ← Nope, never been. If I was that close to your restaurant, I would just go there and forego the tea!

Thanks everyone for the great replies (and a good chuckle!) I can make the cookies with confidence. Randi

Lori, while researching afternoon teas in this area, I came across this: American Jubilee Desserts Café and Tea Sanctuary [Tea room and merchant] 89 East Cherry Street (at Irving), Rahway. Isn't that just around the corner from your restaurant?

Over a week ago I cooked up some bacon and saved the fat to make ginger cookies with bacon. I haven't made the cookies yet, and I find myself wondering how long the bacon fat will stay fresh enough to use. Anyone have an idea?

Saturday my roomie and I picked up some stuff at Boston Market - roast chicken and the a la carte turkey, which is usually good. We get several meals from it. But this time it was pretty bad. Sunday night a friend and I went to Qing Feng in Linden for the buffet - it's under 10 bucks and there are some good items including peanut butter chicken, chinese buns (donuts), ginger scallion crab and steamed snow crab legs. I only eat about 5 or 6 of the items from the buffet (the ones I know I like a lot) and then I get plate after plate of the crab legs. (They only have the crab legs after 5 pm)

Never went to the White Rose System, but I am eager to. Stuff Yer Face had just opened, I think, when I was in school. We also went to Greasy Tony's. And no, I never tipped the sub maker - never even knew it was a debate

I haven't gone to Tastee Subs since I was in college (Rutgers) in the 70s! eek! Maybe I should give them a try again. And I grew up with Whitehouse Subs since I was grew up in Margate, just a hop and a skip from AC. And by Italian sub - do you mean their "Regular"? I loved "Regulars" and of course Cheese Steaks as well. I can't offer much advice when it comes to Monmouth Country, I've been in Middlesex County since the 70s (up near the Union County border since '85).

OK that is so damn cool. Now our rainbow molds seem so...so...pedestrian!

It's the Lobster House and Tastee Sub Shop!

Yep, room temp as I found out the hard way. My very first layer - the clear purple, was warm, but of course that didn't matter. Then the creamy purple jello had cooled before I added it. Then, silly me, I made the clear blue layer and poured it right on the cooled creamy purple layer. Oopsie! You'll notice in my jigglers pic there really is not much of a discernable creamy purple layer - it blended in with the blue! After that, I learned!

ooh what a cool idea, the martini glass. I like! My mold was grape, berry, lime, lemon and strawberry. Only had room for 5 In this pic (without the flash) the creamy layers don't look quite so white. But I actually like how they look (and taste!) I used sour cream.

Hi Darcie, Coincidentally, I cooked bacon today to get the bacon fat to make these cookies (and hadn't yet peeked at your blog!) So when I began to read and saw you made the same recipe I was planning to make, I was pretty excited to see the photos and read about your experience with these cookies. I love your idea of adding pepper. I also had someone suggest brown sugar instead of white. Do you think it would make a difference, since there is already molasses in the recipe? Also, I was considering adding candied ginger bits. Do you think that would be a good addition? I am really enjoying your blog! Randi

Actually many people in my office asked me if my rainbow jigglers were, indeed, jello shots. I was sorry to disappoint them! To address Rachel's point that the cups might be too small to get the full color spectrum, perhaps if you make them as I did in a full pan, and cut them into individual jigglers, they might work as "shots".

Lori, thanks for the info. I have passed this on to the powers that be at our company, and it is in their hands now!