TheMan,TheMyth

You gotta have ketchup. What else would you put on your egg noodles. Its the heart of fine Italian cooking. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

Actually it was in the beginning of June. It was one of the rare times this summer where the temperature was unseasonably cool. It was down right frigid out there.

The Cheesecake Factory serves up much more than cheesecake. In fact, their menu contains over 200 items. You can choose from a large number of meat, pasta, and seafood dishes. We will soon see if any of them are worth the trip. Cheesecake Factory restaurants traditionally are connected to upscale shopping malls. This is convenient because you will need somewhere to kill time while dealing with the agonizing wait, which is guaranteed on a weekend night. The bar area is far too small to accommodate such a large crowd and the drinks do not come cheap. So, after I affixed the restaurants stylish beeper to my belt I set out to do some shopping. I picked up the usual things from Movado and Tiffany's and treated the wife to Banana Republic and Sak's Fifth Avenue. Of course, as I was finalizing a $500 purchase on those chic Prada shoes my pager blew up and I rushed to get the skinny on my table. "Hurry honey, the pager is going off. It just won't stop going off!! Move out of the way people can't you see my pager has been activated!!" There I was along with 20 other hungry fools anxiously jumping up and down violently waving this little black box. "Hey pick me, my pager is going crazy. It is blinking and vibrating more than the guy next me." Alas, when we were recognized the host informed us we would be dining on the patio this evening - a patio where the mercury plummeted to a level that no man had ever braved before. "I don't think so, we will wait for the next available, I mean, tolerable table inside." We were forced to settle for a table in the noisy and smoky bar area that I told you earlier could not accommodate such a large crowd. As if that wasn't enough it was as cold here as it was outside. We were beginning to question whether the Cheesecake Factory was really worth the wait and discomfort. The menu offers many different types of cuisines but they all seem to have an underlying spicy theme. For an appetizer, we ordered the Tex Mex Egg Rolls, a golden fried shell filled with spicy chicken, corn, black beans, peppers, onions and melted cheese served with avocado cream and salsa. The presentation was great and the avocado cream dipping sauce was excellent. I was surprised how spicy it was. Usually a restaurant advertises an item as being spicy and patrons are usually disappointed when greeted with a very tame dish. It was a biting spice that heated up as time went by. We were happy to have something hot in the bone chilling conditions. There was a long gap between the time we completed our appetizer and the time our entrees were served. We passed the time counting the goose bumps on my wife's frost bitten arms. For the main course my wife had the Shrimp with Angel Hair, a generous portion of juicy sautéed shrimp tossed with fresh tomato and fresh basil atop a bed of angel hair pasta ($15.95). The dish was very good and was priced accordingly considering the huge amount of food that was provided. I tried the Cheesecake Factory's most popular dish the Cajun Jambalaya Pasta ($15.95). Sautéed chicken accompanied the sautéed shrimp this time along with onions, tomatoes, and peppers all covered in a spicy Cajun sauce and served upon fresh Linguini. It wasn't your traditional Jambalaya but never the less it tasted very good. Rice may be substituted for the Linguini upon request. I really enjoyed the sauce especially when I dipped the warm bread our waitress provided us. I switched between the warm soft pumpernickel and the hot crusty French. Of course, we couldn't leave the Cheesecake Factory without having a piece of cheesecake. From the 36 varieties that are offered we narrowed the very difficult process selection process down to 18 then 9 then 4 then 2 finally opting for the Brownie Sundae Cheesecake ($6.25). "I think we made the right decision and to all the other contestants you all should be proud. You are all worthy candidates of entering my stomach at some point and time." A little on the pricey side but the combination of cheesecake and brownie topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, crushed nuts, and cherry easily can be shared by two people. Overall, the food scored reasonably high marks especially when portion is factored against price. I wasn't totally satisfied with the service. Our waitress didn't really give us the service we deserved. She didn't come by the table often and she left our appetizer plates on the table our entire meal. I was extremely unhappy with the poor seating arrangement considering the amount of time we waited for a table. I would suggest you only come to this place if you can make a reservation in advance. I would definitely suggest you come by just for the take-out cheesecakes. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

Napa Valley Grille 1146 Garden State Plaza Paramus, NJ The Napa Valley Grille located in the Garden State Plaza Mall isn't anything like your typical mall restaurant. Ruby Tuesday's and Chili's have nothing on this place. No food court food here. Don't be disappointed when perusing the menu if you don't see cheese steaks, Cajun chicken sandwiches, or Nathan's Franks. The restaurant's warm décor and knowledgeable staff made us feel comfortable from the very start. Feeling at ease allowed us to concentrate on the task at hand, enjoying scrumptious drink and even more scrumptious food. When ordering drinks please don't request an Orange Julius. Try accompanying this Northern California cuisine with one of 300 wines featured on the wine list. When you have so many wines to choose from it sometimes isn't worth the time and effort involved when navigating a lengthy wine list. We sought out a wine that would befit our dining experience at the Napa Valley Grille. We thought the most logical choice was to go with the Napa Valley's own Merlot ($20.00). It was a great selection. We enjoyed a great wine at a very inexpensive price. I am not a wine connoisseur by any means, but I thought this wine was served at an ideal temperature. A tad below room temperature this fine red wine slid down with the slightest of after tastes. For an appetizer, we ordered the Chesapeake Crab Cakes, two plump crab cakes surrounded by a spicy cucumber relish and rhubarb culis ($12.50). We enjoyed it very much. The crab cakes were stacked on top of each other and the garnish was delicately drizzled perfectly around the fine piece of China. The appetizer's presentation was superb. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the plates we ate it from. The Napa Valley's recessed lighting lit the room wonderfully. The bright light above our table glistened upon appetizer plates that were a forensic expert's dream. No one in the legal field could ask for more fingerprints in one area. If I could offer a little advice for our waitress "Maybe you shouldn't manhandle dishes so much in the future. Your fingers probed every square inch of the plate's surface". In addition, I was unhappy with the dishes because they came semi-chilled, which didn't seem appropriate for the warm crab cakes. We moved on to the Caesar Salad ($7.95), which was served on a cleaner and appropriately chilled plate. This Caesar featured focaccia croutons, shaved Parmesan Cheese, and a great house dressing. I thought it was a nice touch to go with the shaved cheese as opposed to the shredded variety. A large portion of greens at a nominal price pushes this Caesar way up on our satisfaction meter. For entrees we chose dishes that featured a fresh and fruity theme. My wife ordered the Nova Scotia Halibut, a medium-sized piece of fish encrusted in a light breading served with a great combination of lemon, parsley, citrus marinated vegetables, white wine, garlic and basil ($24.95). This dish had a great citrus flavoring and the meat was extremely light and fluffy. I had the Cast Iron Seared Lamb Sirloin with roasted peaches, English peas, orzo pasta, pearl onions, and peach balsamic vinagrette ($23.95). I thought it was very good. The peas were fresh and firm. The peaches were sweet and the sauce was even sweeter. I requested the meat be cooked to a medium tenderness so I was slightly disappointed when some pieces came with a pink hue in the center. Overall, I think the dinner was a very positive experience. Great service and appropriate portions made the Napa Valley Grille well worth the trip. So, if you don't mind competing with mall rats for a parking space or paying a fairly hefty bill then I would recommend the Napa Valley Grille for your next night out. 4 fingerprints out of 5 Reviewed: 7/12/02 The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

Rutt's Hut is probably one of the best hot dogs in New Jersey(remember their onion rings being very good also). Max's on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch, NJ is also very good. Goffle Grill on Goffle Rd. in Hawthorne NJ is very good. The Windmill chain down at the Jersey Shore is also great. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

I am not 100% certain but I think there is a Big Ed's in Belmar at the old Lobster Shanty location (and old Amici's and the old Evelyn's location) on main street. Maybe the owners are the same. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

Is it Big Ed's in Belmar on Main Street? The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

I had a decent 1/2 lb burger at the Allendale Bar and Grill last evening. I didn't care too much for the Cheddar Ale topping though. I should have went with the Vermont Cheddar instead. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

I think Advil just before you go to bed is a huge help. Of course, lots of water too. Vitamin C in the morning is very helpful. I heard somewhere caffiene helps to combat the narrowing blood vessels that cause the agonizing headaches. (flat soda probably aids an upset stomach) Dry toast to absorb some of the poison in your stomach. I usually can't handle pork roll, egg, and cheese until well after 12. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

Las Vegas is all about cheap food. "All You Can Eat" Buffets are a Las Vegas staple. It allows people to put more funds toward gambling and shows. I never had discussions with people who visit Vegas where food was the trip's main focus. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

For the Oreo lovers out there: I have found at some recent fairs and festivals that they have Oreo Puffs. Oreo Puffs are Oreo cookies inside of fried funnel cake batter. It is pretty good. The Oreo is warm and slightly melted and who doesn't like funnel cake. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

There is way too much Emeril. You get tired of it after awhile. Emeril live, Emeril in Hawaii, Emeril in the forest, Emeril in the kitchen by himself, Emeril at every sporting event in the world. Also, I really can't stand Alton Brown. He gives some useful tips but he gets annoying very quick. Bam, The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

There are a bunch of restaurants in Ridgewood to choose from. It is only 10 miles from Hackensack. Most establishments are BYO. Zarole, corner of Broad St/East Ridgewood Avenue Village Green Cafe Prospect Street Marra's Broad Street Marcello's 8Wilsey Square 28 Oak Street (You guessed Oak Street) There are a number of others on or in the area of East Ridgewood Avenue The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

I don't know if this topic has been covered before because I am fairly new to this site. If it has been covered I apologize in advance. Does anyone out there have a favorite chef that didn't have any formal training? No matter how many classes you attend, I know there is no replacement for on-the-job training. I feel the amount of education that is gained in the trenches is priceless. While working in restaurants I was surprised by how many inexperienced cooks were coming out of culinary school. Many chefs who started in the industry at a young age without school ended up working circles around the highly educated chef who was new to the kitchen. I was floored one time when I worked with an intern from Johnson and Wales who had just completed his first year. The guy couldn't find the broiler. He didn't know the difference between the broiler and the oven!! He may be the exception, but I have seen many people just like him. TheMan,TheMyth TapItorScrapIt.com

Believe it is La Casita 96 St/Broadway, Cuban restaurant with great staff. The Arroz con Pollo with a side of black beans like most meals is a simple, tasty and very cheap dish. (Don't know exact price but I am sure it is under $10) Chinese in Chinatown, Not sure of the name but the address is 69 Baird Street. I along with my cohorts have simply called it "69 Baird Street" since we learned of it. Dishes are very fresh and portions are huge. Again, amnesia has struck me when someone raises the concept of cheap food. Greek place 7th Avenue near the corner of 34th Street. Great Gyro platter with Greek salad. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

I like to beat the eggs with milk, butter, and then add a little water (I feel water actually makes it less watery). Add to pan and like previous poster said as egg solidifies work it into the center and transfer liquid to outside. I love to add the beaten eggs to diced sausage, potatoes, peppers, and a decent amount of hot sauce. Once the egg is almost fully cooked transfer pan to oven topped with Cheddar and Jack Cheese. Melt cheese then fill tortilla. That's one of my simple favorites. TheMan,TheMyth TapItorScrapIt.com

I don't think one is better than the other (fine dining vs. cheap eats). I agree with a previous poster that one can be more analytical when discussing fine dining, but a number of times I have been engaged in spirited debates about burger and pizza joints which were just as philosophical and animated as debates dealing with a 5-star gourmet restaurant. I do find that people who talk about a chain or cheaper establishment are chastised for not possessing a certain degree of class. I disagree with these people. Food should be fun and some people need to lighten up and not take the topic so serious. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com

I think Fudd Rucker's isn't bad when you're talking chain burger. I think they have probably the best fixin's bar of any fast food restaurant out there. Shredded, diced, leaf, sliced they have it all and as far as I have seen it is always looks fresh and well stocked. Some good places for burgers: Kelly's Tavern Neptune City, NJ (like the Dublin Burger) Beacon Street Grill Neptune, NJ Smith Brother's Ridgewood, NJ (large juicy burger, can't say much for the rest of the place) The Porch Spring Lake Heights, NJ TheMan,TheMyth TapItorScrapIt.com

I really like La Strada Deli on Godwin Ave in Midland Park. I think bread is a huge factor when judging sub quality. The brand of meat being used is also very important. I think when you talk deli meat you have to go with Boar's Head. The Man, The Myth TapItorScrapIt.com