vloglady

Ya gotta have hot chocolate and gingerbread! Maybe make Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate.

We're going there next week for a nice dinner. anyone been there? what to order, what not to order? The reviews are mixed, but basically good. thanks. susan

Does it HAVE to be in Manhattan? Astoria is THE Greek place to to, near Long Island city. I forget the subway, but there is one that's on Broadway and Steinway street. Maybe the N or R train. That's Broadway in Astoria, not in Manhattan. Go to Titain, on 31st street is the BEST place for all things Greek http://www.yelp.com/biz/titan-foods-inc-astoria And if you walk along 31st street, there are loads of restaurants. Susan

Just a quick FYI here. It was reported last week that rats were found at the Brooklyn Junior's. I think there is a Junior's at Penn Station. Susan

If I have M&Ms, I must eat them one at a time and never the same color twice in a row.

What about Chinatown, lots of options there. See the Peking ducks hanging in the window. And do go to the Chinatown Ice Cream factory.

I asked my friend who's from Maine and LOVES steamers. He said to go to the Oyster Bar in Grand Central as well as Chelsea Market. any other places, folks? thanks. susan

I LOVE that cold sesame noodle dish. Made with peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. I have to be careful how much I make, I could eat it all. And of course, vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Golden Unicorn, 3rd floor.

Any new neuroses since last August?

How about the Museum of Burnt Food? http://www.burntfoodmuseum.com/ And we went to the Ganong Chocolate Museum in New Brunswick, Canada. Wow, chocolate sampling at every display. And mighty good stuff. http://www.ganong.com/ Would you believe the lady at the desk had NEVER seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Susan

FoodNetwork's Robert Irvine, Dinner Impossible guy, had to cater a meal for the National Spelling Bee Championship people. I think 5 courses. And he had to work by the alphabet. Use an ingredient beginning with each letter of the alphabet. Haven't seen it yet, it's on tape. But I saw the beginning, looked interesting.

Oh, I LOVE that Laurie Colwin book. Love the books that have not only recipes but stories. I should go back and read it again. susan

I'm SURE you mean whisky and not whiskey. (shudder......) susan

St. Andrews on 44th street serves haggis, but it's not terribly authentic. You'd probably do better to go to Kerney in Jersey. They have a bunch of places. Pipers' Cove has a restaurant attached, I forget the name. And Myers of Cheswick probably has a canned haggis. I brought some home from Scotland on my last trip, it's not bad. Susan

Scotch eggs are so easy to make. Hard cook 3 eggs. Slightly undercook is fine, since you'll be putting them iin the oven and don't want that greenish tinge. Peel eggs. Take a one pound tube of sausage. Cut in 3 pieces. I like to make my Scotch eggs big, but I guess you can use less. Flatten sausage on your cutting board, remove with a spatula and wrap around the egg. So it's sort of like a big meatball with a hard cooked egg in the center. Make sure you cover the whole egg, none of the whites show. Beat one raw egg in a bowl. Put some breadcrumbs in another bowl. When you've wrapped all your eggs, dip the sausage egg in the raw beaten egg, then in the breadcrumbs. Place in a pan, repeat for all your eggs. Now this next part is totally optional. "Bless" each Scotch egg with....what else, SCOTCH! I put about 1/2 teaspoon scotch over each egg, Macallans 12 year, if you've got it. Cook in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, then flip eggs and cook another 10-12 minutes. Serve with Branson pickles ( you can get them at Stop and Shop or Myers of Cheswick). I cut in 4 pieces like and orange, but you can cut in smaller pieces. Enjoy. Now for restaurants, you've got St. Andrews on 44th street, around 5th avenue. And the same owner has Maggies, I forget where. Myers of Cheswick in the village has good food and you can get it to take home. Or make a short trip to Kearny in Jersey. Susan

There's a rather famous one on Pell street in Chinatown. It's all veg. We HATED it. started off with the "ribs". They were sweet potatoes, I think. Terrible. I had the General Tso's, by friend had some kind of orange beef. Can I say we HATED this stuff? Don't know why Zagats gave it a couple of stars. Now my other friend lives on Bleecker, right near the Magnolia bakery. There is one restaurant diagnolly across the street. A regular Chinese restaurant, but they have general tso's chicken and I think duck, all veg. That stuff was good, and only about $10. the waiter said it was fried gluten. I've been googling stuff, trying to find the place. It's a corner restaurant, diagnolly across from Bleecker. Really wish I could remember the name, but all I remember is that is is diagnolly across from Bleecker street and the Magnolia bakery. Next time I'm driving past, I'll check and post. Good luck. Susan PS, I live in Flushing, where is that restaurant that has the wheat gluten? I'd love to get some decent stuff here.

Caravello bar. It was white chocolate with some kind of nuts. I LOVE white chocolate. Susan

My friend and I had dinner last week at Gandhi in Manhattan. we've eaten there many times in the past, food is very good. The bowl of rice given to us, two adults, was about 2/3 cup for both of us. I know about the rationing of rice, but that was ridiculous! We asked for some more, don't know if we got charged for it. Susan

So give us the recipe already!

Anyone know of a place in Flushing that does Dragon's Beard?

Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey. Haagen Dazs Pineapple Coconut. I LOVE coconut. and banana ice cream too, if I can find it. Banana Split ice cream just isn't the same. The ice cream at the Chinatown Ice Cream factory is awesome! Susan

When I have waffles, I MUST put a tiny bit of syrup in each little square. Can't eat it without it. susan

I take a bag and turn it inside out, then grab a bagel. So only the inside of the bag touches the bread.

AND, for the OP, you better get a nice Valentine's day present to accompany all the "goodies". A bracelet or earrings would be nice. Pack it in a Walmart bag. LOL.