kimwb1

Yup, it's just like people who think they're smart but actually aren't. They just prefer to ignore all of the clues.

that is so nice! WE are currently adjusting to a younger set of foster children, so while the teens and husband go off, I am at home w/ the little ones! I'll be up at eh Vermont house during the Spring, though!

jason, you just dont' havekids. I spend $400 per week for a family of 5, plus one infant on formula. ( 60-80$ per) (6 ppl on weekends.) (1-2 extra household ppl each day, 8-3pm) And I cook a lot, and don't skimp on much, but it adds up fast. PLUS, i do Sam's club for paper, foil, basic mac and cheese goods, once a month, about $200. I go throught 2 gals of milk a day, 1 gal of OJ, 1 gal of Cherry Powerade, and a six pack of Sprite. So. its 15-20 bucks per day on liquids!that's over $100 per week on basic liquids, plus bottled water, sports water, powerade in small bottles for sports, juice boxes for snacks..OY!!!! this, needless to say, is not the wine and beer budget! thankfully

I agree with the Plainsboro store..for anyone keeping track. Great produce, nice packaged goods. cellophane noodles, rice, great diverse korean chinese viet selection..great kimchee prepared food, too.

Right, this is what I meant. Paul said it better...but heh, the fencing digression was interesting..I don't know, I miss the good old cycle my older son was on..b-ball, baseball and f-ball, maybe a season of soccer or track...this kid, he's either acting in plays, or fencing or gymnastics...thinking outside the box, I say.

Hi, this is a link to a thread on the NJ board, hope it helps. I live about 1 mile from this market, so PM me for more specific directions. Worth a trip. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=ST...hl=amish+market

Liverwurst and raw onion on rye, with yellow mustard. Bacon, Lettuce and tomato with extra mayo on lightly toasted white bread. Onion Rings. These were the cravings I gave in to. Mostly, though, I wanted Corona with lime...I didn't give in to that craving until the 8th month, when my doctor gave his blessings for my 25th birthday to be mexican food and a corona. 15 years later, I can still remember that beer. On Atlantic Avenue, In Brooklyn Heights...that was a good beer.

Hi Chop, I think when you, and most of your social circle, are involved int he rest. biz, its easy to not understand the structure of a 9-5 , M-F work week. And when your market might be the kind of suburban couple with children that I suspect make up a large part of your customer base, that impacts it too. Most work nights are either filled with business entertaining, or kid related stuff. I might be home throughout the day, becasue of my sales job and my current situation with young kids, but am rarely "home" for good until after 7pm..picking up one kid from the gym, at the mall with anothe, or perhaps picking up from fencing ( my 12 year olds new passion, don't ask! ), etc. Then, there is dinner to be made for the kids, and childcare to be set up. Plus, my husband is rarely home before 9pm, and on the night or two a week he is home, I like to cook and have a family meal. Fridays are the conclusion of that kind of hectic schedule, and while there is the freedom from business affairs or kid stuff (usually) on Fridays, like Tommy said its just chill out time. PLUS, Saturday mornings are filled with chores and kid stuff...soccer games, getting the dog bathed,yada yada...so being out the night before makes it rough to get it all done. In my experience, its even harder to get sitters on a Friday, casue they don't want to stay out late becaseu of their packed cheerleading, soccer, etc Saturday morning schedules. So, all these things add up to Saturday night...and in the land of SUV's, a little bad weather is not going to stop you if the sitter is lined up, the outfit picked out, etc..I guess what I am tryiong to say is that Nicholas gets more people who PLAN the dinner and night out,( like a strategic army general sometimes!) as opposed to those who are spontaneous.

I've heard good things about Irene's, too...but after a day at Jazz fest, we prefer an upscale, more elegant place. After all, I've already had crawfish and poboys and oysters for lunch! And Tommy, I liked Emeril's too, and NOLA as well. Not the best meals ever, but a good rest. experience, a little loud and yes. touristy, but good. You can't get much more touristy than Commander's, and I think that's one of the best! Anyway, wish I could remember who was the Peristyle fan!

Hi..I recall there were some foodbytes folks last year who went to NO...looking for reviews on Peristyle, going to Jazz fest and need to decide if that's going to be my non-cajun/creole choice. Been to Bayonna 2x...adored it, but looking for a new one.

Hi, I'm from the NJ boards, and some of our regulars have visited NO in the last few months, and in addition to Bayona, which I've been to, I heard a lot about this place. Coming to visit for Jazz Fest in April, and I need to get serious about making reservations. What's your opinion of Peristyle. What other not creole, not cajun, upscale rest. would you suggest? Thanks in advance for your help.

OK, just adding a little lightness here... the only way my kids eat fish is if I make a smashed Lays potato chip crust on the flounder filet..and yes, we DO call if fish and chips! LOL ps... smashing the chips is also one of the only times they volunteer to help in the kitchen.

For those that acknowledge that there is indeed life south of New Brunswick, ( ok, a little end of the year sarcasm!) Conte's in Princeton is the best, still serving thin crust tomato pies from the same worn tables and red leatherette chairs as when I was a kid, it's a 40 year old institution.

Yes, I've heard good things about Arthurs Downtown...by the way, did Maize close?

Rats tops the list, other great meals of 2001 were had at: Harvest Moon Inn, Ringoes Soho on George, NBrunswick Hamilton Grill, Lambertville Verve, Somerville Amandsa's, Hoboken We were way off on dining in 2001...my broken ankle from Feb to April, and then the 9/11 attack...so we didn't go to as many "out of the loop" places as we would in a "normal" year. Worst dinner was at the place in the Robert Treat Hotel, across for NJPAC, I have blocked out the name of that horrible place, LOL!

However, be forewarned: It's the chef's way. or the highway! WE were unable to substitute, request a dish from the tasting menu, etc. WE were there a year ago, party of six, 8 pm on a Saturday night, and they were out of the premium tasting menu, only had the regular one, a la carte, or veg. And it was the "premium" ( I forget the menu's choice of words to distinguish it from t he regular) tasting that sounded the best. Went for Valentine's day this year, and had a sublime dinner, even on a night like that...other than a dense chocolate dessert,w ith no option or other choice ( fruit, sorbet, etc) we had a great meal. Wonderful wine list, wonderful service, it's surrounded by beautiful grounds, and worth a "day in the country" ...it can be a real dining destination.

Rosie...you are bieing so LITERAL today, LOL! I guess I mean that I have heard on this board, the old board, and other forums, RAVES about the place...and I don't get why. I think Soho on George is better. Also, it has been in NJ Monthly a few times, has gotten good review s in the NYT and Star Ledger in the past..and "foodie" types tend to consider it an above average meal.

It's not that there was anything WRONG...it was fine, But the question I has was why all the fuss...I just don't think this place belongs on anyone's top ten list, yet it consistently is.

I have to say, I am wondering why this place always makes the Top Ten lists... It's pretty but not wonderfully designed. The service WAS much better than in other places, but I was with a Senator that the owner knew... I loved the concept of the chef's twists on old favorites...Lobster Thermidor, Duck Wellington, Bananas Foster..if fact, I chose the above because of curiosity of just how he tweaked them... The lobster Thermidor was Lobster Raviolis..overcooked meat in undercooked pasta. Thd Duck Wellington was partially great., with a confit that was fantastic, but a breast wrapped in pastry dough that had little flavor. The Bananas Foster was inedible, soaked in a syruppy HEAVY alcohol sauce...this dessert needed a much lighter touch. you would need to know me to understand how bab a dessert needs to be for me to leave it uneaten..LOL. I was with a party of 6, and to be honest, no one was raving about the food. Bob's tuna was nothing special, and while on the rare side, not " as rare as possible" as he requested..there was some pink in the meat. There were some salads that sounded great, and two of the folks did mention how good they were. We had three bottles of a great Seavey Cab, but I wonder what the objective is, presenting a wine list as thick as the bible...it certainly excludes the person selecting the wine from any conversation for a 1/2 hour while he reads the thing....I prefer a rest. that pars down the selections...quantity is not a replacement for quality...but Bob said it was the most comprehensive list he has ever seen..but agreed it was too overwhelming. Maybe a reserve list is in order? All in all, I did not think that this restaurant was any more special than many NY bistros, and while the wine list and service was special, the food does not, in my opinion, merrit the accolades it routinely receives.