Carlo A. Balistrieri

On a recent visit to North Carolina I had a great cocktail called a "Hot Date." It was made with jujube preserves (Chinese red dates?) and I've been looking for them ever since--and on line--to no avail. Can someone help with a NYC or mail order source?

My newest (not even here yet) is "Second Helpings from Union Square Cafe..." which I bought for ONE recipe: Carmen Quagliata's ricotta gnocchi--one of the most heavenly dishes I've had the pleasure of ingesting. I've tried several recipes since that fateful meal, but failed miserably in recreating the texture and taste of Carmen's version. My fond hope is that the book's recipe is HIS. AND just so my restaurant friends don't get their tocques in a twist, I still regularly eat out...I'm not searching out favorite recipes to cut back on my entertainment budget. I'll see Carmen and the gang--and eat his gnocchi--again soon.

I'm trying a small scale shiitake growing experiment and am wondering whether there is an ideal time (size) to harvest the mushrooms. I've harvested one a little earlier than I thought ideal and one after spores were shed--a bit later than I guessed. Both had outstanding flavor, so unless someone has more information for me, I'm concluding that it doesn't make a whole lot of difference (as long as you don't wait TOO long...).

and that includes options for breakfast and lunch! Let it rip...

Hi Gulleteers, I'm lecturing in Portland this weekend and am interested in restaurant recommendations in the downtown (I'm staying near the Lloyd Center) area. I've never been to the city, so if there are any can't miss situations, please weigh in.... ...and thanks in advance.... Carlo

I found Tante Marie outside of eGullet...and that's where she'll go. Looks good to me and the staff person I spoke to was very helpful on the phone. I've signed her up for a "Cooking from the Pantry" class and ordered their cookbook for her as well. I'm really excited about this (wish I was there...they have lots of interesting looking offerings), I hope she will be too... Thanks to all.

Long way to go for dinner.... I wish him the best--and hope the new place in Peapack is at least as good.

It would be a pity if it closed for good...I had my first (and a very lovely) branzini there.

I'm looking for a cooking class in San Francisco (preferably near the Mission District) to give my daughter for Christmas. Any ideas? Suggestions?

Yes...please follow up and let us know. Is anyone messing with musk in the states?

Eje, Have you figured out what it cost you to accumulate the ingredients to make all the drinks in the book? That's got to be some rack of bottles (some more esoteric than others--I imagine a fair number weren't that easy to find)!

I don't believe false morels are poisonous...but neither are they particularly tasty. There's only one real deal...

Thanks! Got it and will give it a go...

Soba, Tell me about that Monkfish Congee. Recipe? (Sorry if it's posted elsewhere). Looks great, love seafood, nice to have it in the freezer for ...later.

A friend from other worlds (who is apparently a lurker here...) contributes the following: "The easiest way to quickly grow good-size lemon grass is to buy a bunch at the grocery store. Place in a glass of water. Those stalks with a smidgen of the ?what to call it, not bulbous so not a basal plate but you know what I mean - anyhow, those will start to root. Pot up, and away be grow. More rapidly in hot weather, of course. Very easy, good success rate." This is another way to go...but be aware that not all the lemongrass available in the stores has the "bits" at the base that will lead to roots. Take a close look. If the base looks cut through, you're probably out of luck. If it looks fully rounded at the base (see where I'm going?), you've got a chance of getting the bunch to root....