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Naftal

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Posts posted by Naftal

  1. Well this is certainly expanding my color vocabulary.  I've had a few chardonnays that aspire to Ralph Lauren 'surfboard yellow.'  Pedigreed, with a sense of fun.

    The Laura Ashley 'plastered pink' describes some rose's I've had.  But I think Sherwin Williams stole our thunder with 'Fine Wine', 'Burgundy' and 'Fabulous Grape.'  I might steal 'Bravado Red' however.    :cool:

    Not to mention Pratt and Lambert's vintage claret :hmmm: But I am looking forward to discribing my next cabernet as gypsy love :rolleyes:

  2. That's it for now. Any comments?

    ::sigh::

    I'm kind of down on Novi ever since Ny's Thai Cafe changed ownership, and I miss Ni...*badly*. It's hard to get my gumption up to drive all the way out there from Ferndale for much less. I agree about Steve & Rocky's, though. That place basically does the impossible in my eyes: it has made redemptive the location that formerly was a (::shudder::) Fuddruckers.

    Thank heaven they redeemed the location itself.

    China Cafe is in the same strip-mall that was home to Ny's. It might be worth the drive from Ferndale to check them out.

  3. :cool: O.K-It is a tough job, but someone must do it: spread the word about the wonderful places here. First, my favorite place for Chinese-American food is China Cafe. The chef really knows his stuff and the staff is very friendly. They have weekly specials which are wonderful. Usually,in fact, there are two specials and one is often a fish dish. The one I had was very good. Other personal favorites are the lo mein dishes and their Empress Chicken (made witha thick garlic sauce). They also do mapo tofu, which is what I would recommend for anyone who thinks they don't like tofu.Also, they have an extensive list of wines that can be had by the glass and a wide selection of oriental alcohols.

    My second spot is Steve and Rocky's. Some of you may be familiar with Chef Rocky's magic.Let me rave about Chef Steve Allen. He worked under Milos Cihelka and helped run The Golden Mushroom when Chef Cihelka retired. Steve and Rock's makes the mushroom soup perfected by Milos. They also have excellant duck, and a raw oyster appetizer that offers an interesting variety of these tiny treasures.

    That's it for now. Any comments?

  4. I guess I must be strange :blink: but I like any rice labeled "sweet". My only requirment for a good rice is a high gluten/starch content.Not only is it easier to eat, it also contributes to some wonderful :biggrin: sauces.

  5. :laugh:

    Hi Naftal

    Zaatar is 1 part Thyme, 1 part sesame and a 1/4 part Sumac and salt to taste.

    Sumac is used instead of lemon juice in Fattoush.

    I have always wnted to know the rilght way tomake zaattar, thanks!

    Zaatar is a plant (Majorana syriaca) - traditionally the leaves are used as a seasoning. There are countless blends of spices that people use for a similar taste, but the right way to make zaatar is to use zaatar leaves.

    There is a reason every recipe on the net for "zaatar", calls for "Thyme" (also a plant). Zaatar is an Arabic word, and translates to "Thyme" in most Arabic/English dictionaries.

    I've been making my Zaatar from a bush I planted 15 years ago. It was labeled "Oregano" when I bought it. Its fuzzy leaves, smell, and resemble the wild Thyme found all over southern Lebanon and Palestine.

    As for you not being able to find decent Zaatar around here, I say that crappy Zaatar can be had anywhere. You can start out with the best "Zaatar" plant, but if it's not dried and pounded properly, and mixed with the freshest sumac and toasted sesame seeds in the right ratios with just enough salt, and if it's not fresh, it's going to taste like saw dust.

    So what is English for "Majorana syriaca"?

    :laugh: I googled some terms- zaater, thyme and oregano are all used interchangably. Consider the following:majoranum syriaca(whose other scientific names are: origanum cyriacum and origanum maru and origanum syriacum) is known in English as bible hyssop, or as syrian oregano. Thymus capitatus, thymbra spicata, coridothymus capitatus and satureia capitata are all refered to as different varieties of either zaatar,or hyssop, or thyme. For example: thymbra spicata is called zatar hommar or donkey hyssop,whereas thymus capitatus is known as zaatar farsi,conehead thyme, maritime thyme and persian hyssop:cool:

  6. How about if you only have dried ground sumac?  I've never heard of sumac lemonade, but I love sumac and would like to try it.  No berries here, though.

    I am wondering about this too, all the trees in my area are by roadsides. Does anyone know if/how dried ground sumac is used in this? Could I use it the way I use any loose tea :wacko:

  7. ok gang! here is an indepth discription of my problem: The cake topping is made with pecans, brown sugar, butter and whipped cream. The cake is cooked up-side-down so everything cooks to a praline-type coat. The cake is wonderful, at least it would be if anyone could cut it. I hope this info helps :unsure:

  8. I should probably add that "san dao cha" roughly translates to "three tea set". Is that any help? Does anyone know what I am talking about?

    Sorry Naftal, I'm not that familiar with the formal Chinese tea practices, but perhaps the drinks forum would be a better place to find someone who does?

    I know this is a tea ritual from the Dali area of the Bai minzu but that's all I can say as when we drank tea there I didn't (shamefully) take especial notice

    Thanks All-I'll try the coffee and tea forum.

  9. I first tried asking this question of people in the China forum. No luck. So, does anyone here know anything about how to conduct a three tea set? In Mandarin it is refered to as San Dao Cha.

  10. I am a student of chinese tea traditions. I am familiar with gong fu cha. I have often heard of the term " san dao cha" . I am even familiar with the fact that there is a Dali and a Bai version of the san dao cha. But, what these are and how they differ, I have no idea. Does anyone know anything about these traditions, or any similar ones?

  11. A topic near and dear to my heart.

    Frozen lox, thin sliced corned beef, tasteless bagels and plastic cream cheese has taken over the Deli world. Every Deli wannabe says that thier Deli is authentic but in reality the majority of Deli owners have no idea what true authentic Deli is like.

    Just got a shipment from Russ & Daughters today. One of the best Deli's around today.-Dick

    Frozen, plastic, preserved and packaged are the enemies of true deli lovers. Unite and fight for the hand cut, barrel cured, and freshly smoked!

    And while we're at it: remember to stand up for pickles made without vinegar

  12. A bit of a self-serving post, but I'm the curator of a website called Save the Deli which exists because the true taste of Pastrami, Corned Beef, Knishes, and other treats of the Jewish delicatessen are quickly fading from the landscape.

    What I'd love is your thoughts, opinions, and memories on deli experiences throughout your lifetime.  I invite you to visit the site, check out the videos, photos, and stories from delicatessens the world over, and join me in saving a cuisine that has pickled so many hearts.

    Ess Gezunt

    I agree with you. My favorite Deli foods are smoked sable and a good rye bread(not together :biggrin: ). A good Deli is the only place one can usually get these wonderous items.

  13. After a rather quick but enthusiastic search, I have found that no one has meantioned my favorite wine store. In the Applegate Shopping Center, ie stripmall, on Northwestern north of 12 Mile is Cloverleaf(Market or Fine Wine or Liquor, I am not really sure) :biggrin: All I know is that this is one of only three places I know that just sells really, really good alcoholic beverages. Actually, thereare four places, but I am a little suspicious of the last one :hmmm:

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