newsgal

Hi everyone, Heading to Vegas this Christmas and looking for suggestions for dining. I'm looking Strip primarily (we won't have a car... but we're right near the monorail). Specifically looking for dinner Christmas Eve and dinner Christmas Day - we can wing the rest (we're outta there on Tues the 27th before it gets too insane with NYE folks, I would think). I'm very anti-buffet, so anything with that is out. To note - I'm a pescatarian; husband is definitely a carnivore but does love well-prepared fish as well. Any suggestions? Anyone doing a "Feast of the 7 Fishes" special or anything?

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Keep 'em coming!

Hey everyone, Hoping someone might be able to help me out. I'm looking to do a luncheon for artsy and media types (say for 20-25 people) to promote my client (a group of arts venues outside NYC) and am looking for a spot with some kind of arts/performance connection in the space and/or food to tie everything together. Preferably a private room area; the luncheon itself is really casual - more about mingling with my clients... but I'm having trouble coming up with that perfect locale. I can't do top-of-the-line pricing, but middle of the road lunch prices are fine. I'm thinking midtown just for convenience for the invitees (most of their offices are in the midtown area), but I'm definitely open to heading to a different neighborhood. A lot of these types of receptions are done at the hot, new culinary hotspots; I tend more towards the foodie-pick, more subdued, just really good food with a relevant twist to the products I'm promoting. (For instance - we did an event once at a small bistro where the chef was originally from the area I was promoting... was a HUGE success) Would love any arts-themed suggestions you might have! thanks

Try Habitat at the Fairmont, 6Penn (at Sixth and Penn Sts) or Sonoma in the Courtyard by Marriott downtown. All quite good.

Actually - it's for an event we're hosting that is promoting a different region. They want to bring in one of "their" favorite chefs to showcase, if you will - hence the wanting your own.

I'm looking for a luncheon event space for about 30 people somewhere in the general Center City vicinity that would also allow my group to bring in its own chef - does anyone have suggestions?

Wish I could at the moment - I had to sent in a mini DV tape since I couldn't find the cord to connect the camcorder to the computer to upload. But - if I can find the cord, I still have the original tape - so I'll post then!

I'll 'fess up. I sent in an application and tape. We'll see.

In the Hershey area - Al Mediterraneo in Hummelstown (just down the road- depending on where you're staying) has decent Italian. I wasn't blown away the last time I ate there, but it was pleasant enough and reasonably priced. For good "bar food," head over to Elizabethtown and try TJ Rockwells. They don't take reservations - so on a Fri or Sat night be prepared to wait. In Hershey proper, the Chocolate Grill that's essentially across the street from the Hershey Press Club (along Route 422) is quite good for lunch. Nice selection of sandwiches, salads, etc. Tokyo Diner lacks a bit in atmosphere, but not-bad moderately priced sushi. And for true diner-mode, the Country Table is quite tasty. Has that 'Penn Dutch" feel. Or - if you have time - take a 15 minute drive into downtown Harrisburg for fantastic eats. Second street in downtown has been transformed in recent years into "Restaurant Row" - dozens of restaurants - among my favorites - Bricco (Mediterranean cuisine), Mangia Qui (Northern Italian) and its upstairs tapas bar Suba, and for Indian, Passage to India. As the previous poster indicated, Niko's in downtown Lebanon is also quite tasty.

I can only concur with Mike's wonderful suggestions - Checkers is my new favorite downtown - not necessarily locally grown (Carr's is my favorite there, seconded by JJ Jeffries), but a lovely menu nonetheless (Try the duck tacos - to DIE for). You can't go wrong with Carr's - and owner Tim Carr is top notch - for the focus on the whole buy fresh, buy local angle. Sean at JJ Jeffries is the same - everything (except seafood, obviously) is said to be obtained from local farmers. I haven't been to JJ Jeffries in longer than I'd care to admit (a change in jobs doesn't bring me to downtown Lancaster as frequently in the evenings), but his bison short ribs are a definite highlight. Also fun for a drink or lighter meal is Fenz - just around the corner from JJ Jeffries and the Lancaster Arts Hotel. Funky bar/restaurant - takes comfort food and gives it a gourmet twist. I didn't love dinner there quite as much as I do at some of the other places, but I have to admit, the pickle fries (I know - sounds gross - but they're delicious) are hard to beat.

Try the Hotel Fauchere in Milford. There's Delmonico for fine dining or Bar Louis for more casual. Bit pricey - but definitely worth it.

From OpenTable's page on the restaurant - The General's Daughter is currently closed and will be reopening mid-Sept under new ownership as ESTATE. More information coming soon. I'm in tears. I really am. This was my husband's and my favorite place in Sonoma.

If they wouldn't mind a short drive (15 minutes or so) into Harrisburg for that dinner, there are TONS of choices - my favorites being Bricco (www.briccopa.com) or Mangia Qui (www.mangiaqui.com) - both excellent choices here in the capital city! Right in Hershey, I'd second the previous poster's What If? Cafe recommendation. I'd always heard about Al Med in Hummelstown for years and how good it was, but when I finally went, it was just fine, in my opinion. Tasty, but not overly *special,* if you know what I mean. But others rave, so who knows. Maybe I just went on an off night.

Tracey - Glad you enjoyed Carr's! Since the original thread started with promoting local ingredients, as you now know, owner chef Tim Carr's great with that (as is Sean at John J Jeffries). In fact, on Market days you can also find Tim behind the counter at his own market stand - where he works with local farmers to provide (when available) things like artisan raw milk cheeses (from an Amish guy's cheese cave) - yum! So many people coming into Lancaster think *all* we have is the big PA Dutch smorgasbords - and those are fine if that's what you're looking for, but we locals know of all the great fine dining spots! In addition to Carr's and John J Jeffries, also check out Checkers Bistro on Mulberry and James, the Meritage in Mount Joy, or Annie Bailey's (fun Irish pub)!

Some interesting notes in today's Harrisburg Patriot News about the CS and some new related programs. Here's the link (second blurb - below the stuff about tonight's "Dinner Impossible" show): http://www.pennlive.com/columns/patriotnew...ll=1&thispage=1

Mike, I couldn't agree more - those of us in the Lancaster County area were beforehand stuck with primarily teeny tiny state stores that often had little more than the Sutter Home/Beringer/etc. mass-produced varieties, and often only a handful of non-US bottles. I'm also more than an hour from DE or MD and even further from NJ, so that "run for the border" wasn't as simple. Chairman's Selection has allowed me to try wines I may have never heard of nor had the opportunity to experience before, and I for one will miss the program immensely. Did I think I was always getting uber premiums? No, but it allowed me to try varieties of wines that just weren't available here before (My local store still looks at me blankly if I ask even for a Barolo - seriously). So it was an excellent program, and one I know I for one will miss tremendously.

Dennis, Add me to the cheerleaders for General's Daughter - WOW - what an experience. I've seriously considered flying to SFO when I see cheapo fares for the specific purpose of dinner there. Three, four, or five course meal - each paired with wine. As for wineries - don't miss Eric Ross (Glen Ellen) for big Zins - and check out the Locals tasting room in Windsor (just north of Healdsburg) - some very nice stuff. We brought back a case of a fine Petite Sirah from St. Francis, and Loxton's wines aren't bad - and he's a ton of fun to talk to!

Couldn't agree more. I almost fell out of my chair when he beat Morimoto. I didn't see one of Cantu's dishes that was about the food more than the show. Maybe his stuff tastes great - I've never eaten at Moto - but I was just thinking he was all about being the culinary Mr. Wizard.

I heard a rumor that an episode of Dinner: Impossible" was shot in Harrisburg, PA for the Governor's Inaugural Ball - which was held at the Farm Show Complex just three days after the conclusion of the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Should be interesting... since the morning of the Inaugural, I heard the farm show folks were still trying to get the farm show odors out of the building...

Jennifer - Ceolta's is right on Second Street in Harrisburg - if you take the Second Street exit off I-83, go under the bridge, past the Hilton and the City Government building, and Ceolta's is about three or four blocks down on the left. There's a parking garage on the left about a block before the restaurant.

Hey Chris - is this at Ceolta's or Molly Brannigan's? I'll see you Sat, but as I'm planning the weekend... Cara (newsgal)

Apparently just sent his resignation letter to the media. A sad day for those who loved Mr. Newman's "Chairman's Selections!"

If you haven't been in Harrisburg for a few years, you will genuinely be amazed at the selection. Downtown has evolved into a true "Restaurant Row" with literally dozens of choices. I wholly recommend Bricco - it's at 3rd and Chestnut (briccopa.com) - it's actually run by HACC's culinary school, and it is absolutely INCREDIBLE! An added bonus, they price all of their bottles of wine at only $10 over retail (the idea being that people will order better bottles of wine to pair with the dishes, therefore teaching the students about various wines and foods). Mediterranean in nature... bits of Italian, Spanish, little Greek, influences. Try the braised short ribs - YUM! If you're looking Italian, there's an adorable bistro on 3rd and North called Mangia Qui - it's very unassuming from the outside, but Qui Qui, the chef, is incredible. No "red sauce Italian," but lots of Northern Italian influences. Cute little Spanish tapas bar upstairs called Subo. Or...for something totally different, Bayou is a Cajun/Creole place on Second Street (can't remember the cross street - but it's up in midtown -near the Gov's residence). It's BYOB and definitely good stuff... in fact, I have some leftovers from this weekend's jaunt there to heat up for lunch today. Enjoy!

Okay - need some advice. Because I'm a crazy person, I agreed to co-host my husband's company's holiday party (well, sort of company...all of his employees... we're talking 50-60 in the house), and I need to find a red and a while to serve that's affordable yet not reminiscent of paint thinner. I'm thinking around $10 a bottle max (we'll probably get a case and a half between the red and white - already have 5 cases of beer and he always makes several martini options - these people can DRINK)... any suggestions??

LOL - definitely. We keep a big ol' jug of those Utz pretzel nuggets (you know, those mongo-sized jugs from Costco) around for all of us saltaholics in the office... it's dangerous. Sigh. Now I'm hungry. Pretzel run...here I come...