Shmily

The Star Ledger had a full page ad the other day announcing that Wh ole Foods is opening on November 1st...Dont know if anything special is planned. Has anyone heard?? Think I might skip opening day....but I am looking forward to visiting the new store...

Hi..Please explain what Varityper is...I have not heard of it...Sorry to sound negative, but I haven't loved Wegman's...I guess I would pass it on the way to Costco and probably stop there on the return trip...So sadly, since I live in West Orange, ShopRite which used to be a nice store has SO DETERIORATED in my opinion..and become more expensive and has horrid check-out clerks, and is dirty, etc, etc, maybe it would be a GOOD thing to have some competition...and since I go to Costco for milk, etc every week..I would be really willing to try Wegmans again

We went to Matarazzo's on Sunday morning after calling to be certain they had winesaps.. (Hacklebarney said they never heard of that variety) and bought for $1.49 a pound teeny, tiny apples ...tasted them at home...just not ripe...so we will try our favorite place in New Paltz this weekend..again after calling (they has not begun to pick Winesaps last weekend)...so happily next week I will have a happier story to share...I just love Winesaps so much...

CONGRATS on the breaking news....looking forward to it...

Hi...The owner of Nettie Ochs in Livingston died over a year ago so I suspect that they may not be reopening at all. We often go up to the New Paltz area to buy our WInesaps..I can supply the name of a wonderful orchard if anyone is interested... (I have it at home and I am not at home right now)...The Winesaps are my personal favorites... I also called Hacklebarney Farm today and they say they do not have WInesaps..

Hi..Yesterday I asked one of the managers in the Millburn store and was told the new West Orange store is due to open in November...I think all the other stores will remain open...this new Whole Foods will be the largest in the area and have wonderful parking..

To Bob and everyone else who added their experiences to this Forum...We just returned from a glorious vacation in Maine and here is my food report: 1.Lobster...Thrustons has indeed been sold...to the lady who managed it for many years and I am delighted to say that the lobsters are as wonderful as always...the fish business was also sold to someone else, but that deal fell through and it was returned to the previous owner...I also learned that Thurstons gets their clams and mussels from Beals!!! 2.Red Sky...a lovely meal...I had several appetizers since I was not that hungry and that was just fine. 3.XYZ...very interesting..sadly, the tongue was not on the menu that night, nor was the avocado soup but we had corn soup that was very good and one of us had the short ribs which were nothing short of amazing and the other had shrimp and a chile relenos (sp??) and we shared the XYZ pie which we loved..coffee was only so so...we might think of retuning next year but making sure about the tongue this time... 4.Little Notch Cafe...bread always wonderful but they always make some sort of mistake on the order and we also tried the chocolate chili cookies which were only ok... All in all ..a wonderful treat. We took a boat ride led by a naturalist to Little Cranberry Island and up Somes Sound which was wonderful (for someone who becomes ill in boats, this was super) and did some walking and already can't wait till next year...thanks again to all...

Have a great trip! Look forward to hearing all about it, and especially if Thurston's is holding up. Can't imagine it won't -- it's a great view and it's hard to ruin steamed lobster and clams. PS: There was an interesting article in the Boston Globe about XYZ a couple of weeks ago. I've posted a link elsewhere in the New England forum, but just in case, here it is again. ← the review was fun reading..thanks...will report back...

It's not difficult to eat the way you wish on MDI. For breakfast and lunch there's a pita/lunch restaurant on SWH's main drag, Cafe 2 / Eat-a-Pita, that probably will fit the bill. Although I'm not a fan, I suspect you might enjoy The Burning Tree in Otter Creek which emphasizes non-fried seafood and vegetarian fare. Lots of places offer salads of various sorts. I won't pretend that XYZ has "healthy" food if you consider cheese and pork unhealthy. (I don't.) But it is among the most flavorful food you will find on MDI. the Queso fundida is basically Mexican fondue: melted cheese, frequently mixed with Mexican chorizo, which you scoop up with tortillas or chips, etc. They have a lengua (tongue) appetizer that is to die for. Simple it is not. Delicious, yes. As far as I've been able to determine, they haven't put up a new website yet that I can link to. But expect some adventurous menu items (like the lengua) along with very well-executed standards, like chicken mole, roast pork, chile rellenos (XYZ's is baked, not fried), etc. This is not a cookie-cutter Mexican restaurant; more like Chicago's Frontera Grill or Scottsdale's Los Sombreros than your local Chi Chi's or Baja Fresh. Any of the basic fish house restaurants should be able to prepare a simple broiled fish. Just ask them to go easy on the butter/oil and avoid sauce in its entirety. Although they certainly have a fair amount of red meat and fried seafood, you should be able to find healthier fare at Rupununi. George's has a cafe menu that is considerably less expensive and I think comes closer to your desire for simple cooking. I've generally just struck with pizza at Little Notch. Too bad about that chicken. You can always do picnic lunches and/or dinners. There's an organic farm on Beech Hill Road which is a project of the College of the Atlantic: Beech Hill Farm. It's farmstand is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Rather lengthy discussions about Bar Harbor/Mount Desert Island restaurants can be found here, here, here and, most recently, here. ← Hi again..We leave later this week for Maine and today I spoke to the owner of XYZ and we are eating there a week from next Saturday...only full weekend we are there and there are booked on Fri for a private party...Also learned today that Thurstons leased out both the restaurant and the fishing business...fishing business lease didnt work so it is back to him...hope the lobsters are still as good..will report when I return...and thank you again for the suggestions...

Dear Ada, Please tell me about Beso...and any other great suggestions about super food in New Paltz...for a numbereer of years we really loved driving up and eating in Gadeletos..fish was really fresh and prepared in healthy but imaginative ways...then, sadly, the chef left and it just isnt so good..specials are "eh" often and prices have risen...and we would love some other choices...thanks in advance...(p.s. I was born and grew up in Beacon many years ago)

please tell me more about Twist, Haymaker and Crew...what kind of food...any special dishes, what sort of prices, atmosphere...I would love to hear details and I thank you in advance...

I changed my reservation last month from 4 to 3, so you really only need one (this was our second trip with a friend and the fourth had to cancel). I guess they are fine to make this change but not from 4 to 2. You could always post for the extra on this board. I recall as long as the downsize is made 72 hours in advance you do not have to pay the $150 per person. ← Thanks for the idea. ← I would think that 4 people to 3 is still the same size table whereas 4 to 2 requires a smaller table...Here's hoping you can still get there...

We love to drive up to the Hudson Valley for an afternoon and dinner before driving back to NJ...We ate for a number of years at Gadaletos (??Spelling??) in New Paltz but that one has deteriorated...we love great fish (not fried)....they used to have great preparations...alas...but we are looking for super food...doesn't have to be fancy decor...on either side of the Hudson....Help appreciated...thanks...

Thanks Shmily. I am really looking forward to it. My wife and I have eaten at both the French Laundry and Bouchon (LV) and enjoyed the meals tremendously. We even got a chance to meet Chef Keller and get a personal tour of the French Laundry kitchen. I am interested in comparing the two dining experiences. I will definitely report back. ← You might be interested in seeing the interactive screen with The French Laundry that is in Per Se's Kitchen...if you ask, they will show it to you...We got to meet Chef Keller the first time we ate there but he was not there the 2nd...when you confirm, let them know that you have eaten at the other 2..they were extra nice to us knowing we were repeaters...we were told by our waiter that the food is isentical in the 2 restaurants, but the surroundings make the experiences different...enjoy...

would love to read about really good food in Northeast Harbor or elsewhere outside of Bar Harbor, now that we have several lovely suggestions in Southwest Harbor...andf suggestions, anyone?? Thanks in advance...

PLEASE give us some specific Indian places to try on Oak Tree Road...I, too, live in West Orange and would love som advice...Thanks in advance...

since they only opened on Northfield very recently, I would guess that all these comments are from very recent visits...I heard again yesterday of someone else who went and was quite turned off by the food and would not return...I have heard nothing good from anyone I know who knows food and isn't looking for the "scene" whatever that may be here!! Sorry...

anything good and interesting in Essex County??

Dear bgut1...Congrats on your upcoming birthday...we went there for my boy friend's 60th birthday instead of a big party...it was our 2nd trip...and all I can say is WOW...do tell them that it is your birthday when you confirm the reservation...I am a foodie and can really say that I think they were the best two meals we have ever had..and the service was amazing..we, too, watch our weight and what we eat very carefully...put it away for one night..we did ask to have the courses come slowly and we asked at the end of the meal to take home the chocolates and cookies which they gladly packed up so we could really enjoy them when we were not so full...it is simply an amazing evening..enjoy and please share with eGullet afterwards...

Which paper? Star-Ledger? The Record? Edited to say: Never mind. Found it, AP story in last Sunday's Asbury Park Press. As for Burning Tree, I haven't been there in years because I didn't think it was anything special; good, but not anything better than that. Others have a higher opinion of it than me. I think I was at Cleonice a few years ago when it first opened, but I don't remember it well enough to comment. Hmmm. ← Thanks for the comments...that says it perfectly....actually, the little article was in the Sunday Star Ledger Travel section..and it did have a number of errors...Portland and its area is not Down East...and the several places mentioned that I have eaten at are fine...but not sure I would go out of my way for them...on Sundays we read a number of NY papers also...I guess I am addicted...we are going toward the end of September into October...at this point we may be there for 9 nights...that gives us time for several trips to Thurstons, to XYZ and to Red Sky...and the hostess where we stay has been making a lobster spread for us at her home the last few years..we have been going there for so many years...and have become personal friends...and I thank you again for all your help..it has really been very valuable to us and much appreciated...

Hi..Just found an article in my local Sunday paper and they mention Burning tree in Otter Creek as well as Cleonice in Ellsworth...anyone eaten in either?? Would be interested in reviews..thanks in advance...

If anyone has any new information, it will be welcomed...thanks in advance..

has anyone had any dining experiences there this year?? would love to hear..

Your absolutely right, Tommy. Each was at least "a two napkin" slice. Jeff L, I totally agree. Pies only steam in those take out boxes, so I rarely do take out pies. And then, it's almost always sicilian "with very little cheese", please. (or I take the slices with the least cheese.) I sadly have to agree with everything you have said about Star...at the risk of making lots of fans angry and having been there and always eaten the pies there...all sorts from plain to those with everything...I find the crust always thin and soggy, lots of oil which I do not like in a pizza, the quality of the ingredients on top not very high...canned mushrooms and anchovies...I just do not understand the appeal of this place...why have I returned a number of times?...because my partner loves the place...don't think I will be returning any more... Why smother it in so much cheese or toppings that you can't taste what true pizza is all about..the crust and the sauce. ←

really sorry top add this...but we have had several REALLY disappointing meals at Due Amici and will not be returning...