menton1

With over 400 cheeses available in France, you will just have to "suffer" I suppose. They don't have clotted cream in France, either, but, c'est la vie!!

Yes, I've seen those decals in the windows of many restos in Nice; however, it's probably just a paid membership, pay the fees and get the listing. No quality control. Le Safari isn't much more than a tourist trap with a nice ambience at the end of the Cours with forgettable food; I did love Simon, however, a beautiful place with terrific food in the hills of Rimiez-- I believe you can find it on the "Rendez-vous des Amis" thread in the compendium that John T has assembled. Link Not easy to find, but worth looking for!

Sea Shack is a place embedded in the 70s, don't know how they stick around. Does McCormick & Schmicks have steamers?

In Nice, usually you need to begin dining between 8-9:30, some places a bit later. The TT's on the Cours Saleya might go until 11. YOu can probably miss the crowds after 10, but they are pretty ordinary, IMHO. As far as being crowded because of the NYTmes, do not worry, the business generated from such an article is slow and spread out. A write up in Nice Matin or a listing in the Gantié would pull in many more customers. Bon séjour!!

Don't know why it gets so little mention here, but Saigon R in Englewood forges on after 4 years as a wonderful dining experience. Food is creative and infused with complex and interesting flavors and spices. Staff is terrific, the place is very cozy. Always full, even on weekdays, so reserve in advance! (Closed Mon & Tues). Menu is a bit more eclectic than pure Vietnamese, but the Pho is fabulous and authentic, as well as several other dishes, and all of the food is wonderful.

Actually, I think panini is the process rather than a specific bread. I've even seen wonderful Panini made with a good seedless rye bread. Focaccia is probably the most common. In Italy, panino refers to any kind of sandwich, grilled, cold, any kind of bread. In France, it's called a Croque monsieur; Just be daring!

Yes, but hard shell crab is a totally different taste and texture than the soft shell. Some people (my wife, e.g.) actually enjoys all the work that goes into eating hardshells and lobsters. And, really, those Maryland Hard shells are awesome, but I've never seen anything resembling a good one in NJ. Had hardshells in MD a couple years back, unvbelievably sweet and fabulous!!

Sorry, wrong thread.

I haven't seen the article, as I don't get that section until Sunday morning... The problem with these Nice restaurant lists is that they are rarely fresh nor interesting. La Merenda is probably on the list, it is a nice place, but probably doesn't deserve the major kudos it usually receives; and the touristy cafes along the Cours Saleya are usually among the other "usual suspects" on these lists. My favorites in Nice are the rarely mentioned L'Univers, Christian Plumail's wonderful Provencal restaurant, Les Viviers, with the absolute best seafood in the Nice metro area, and La Petite Maison, a former local secret but is lately slowly getting some mention on these lists. I'll have to read the article tomorrow, though...

Fresh Squeezed Cafe, 211 Morris Avenue, Springfield. Wonderful place. All organic and vegetarian menu.

I think folks here are mixing up gelato with italian water ice. 2 completely different animals... Corona Lemon Ice is on the tour bus track; If you are ever in Queens don't miss the place! http://www.thirteen.org/queens/sites7.html

I don't know about Capogiro, but the supposed originator of the product is Lemon Ice King in Corona, Queens. It's been there almost 100 years, and is listed in the tourist books as a Queens "landmark".

A/ I've heard from several folks that this place is absolutely AWFUL. It's just really a Greek Diner with a little more seafood on the menu. And much too big a menu to be a good restaurant. Of course, that's their humble opinion. B/ Yes, "Steamers" to most folks, I believe, means the ones with the tails hanging out and the shells slightly open. "Steamed Clams" is a totally different animal, that is NOT what I was looking for. C/ Since Legal got some kudos here, speaking of chains, what is the word on McCormick and Schmicks? Do they have any steamers?

The soft shell crab topic reminded me of a favorite, but I can't remember ever seeing these on a menu in Northern NJ. Anyone aware of where one can find steamers in Northern NJ? I'm sure there are dozens of places down on the shore, but I am interested in Northern NJ, since I am in Bergen and would like to know of something fairly local. Thanks in advance.

A couple of years ago Rita's opened up in Teaneck on Teaneck Road, but closed mysteriously about 8 months later. Not sure if it is reopened there with a new Italian Ice incarnation...

About 15 minutes from Vernon just outside of Warwick is the Iron Forge Inn, a food oasis in an area mostly devoid of good dining. New American creative cuisine, every dish is done with care. Web Site

Not on the website menu; I assume it's a seasonal/special. Do they have steamers, by any chance?

YOu mean the place in Boston? Might as well mention some great places on Cape Cod, too, but that's a long ride from NJ...

Nut butters, very good, VERY low prices; Cheese, a small selection albeit, but pricing almost half of what you pay at the Supermarket; Vitamins, amazingly low prices. lastly, bulk packages of nuts, excellent quality for bargain pricing. Example: Giant, beautiful pistachios, $3.99/lb.

Nicolas in Middletown is only a 20 minute ride from PP, or are you looking for burgers and beer? Nicolas is wonderful.

Or maybe anchovies... love em or hate em.

I mean, look, it's a FUN place. Not a "gourmand" stop. Not on a level of a Zabars, or the like. But it's just a fun place if you don't expect the world. And some very unique items. Just chill out and have some fun there. They also take great pains to hide the fact that it is owned by ALDI, a grocery chain out of Germany. But they are a wild success in the US, several hundred stores. I love the phrase they use, "fearless flyer" on their brochure with their "non-sale" items. (They say they have no need for a sale )

Well, as they say in France, "chacun a son gout" . However, you are definitely in the minority. Check out the 15-pager in the New York forum about TJs, may give you some ideas about what to look for. One of my faves is the Beef Jerky, an all-natural one that absolutely blows away anything available anywhere else. I'm not big on the frozen section, either, but I do like many things at TJs.

They don't have 2 buck chuck in Westfield. They have a "4 buck chuck" which are actually, very good values. Also some select buys on other wines. But definitely NOT worth an excursion from Bergen County to Westfield. As far as Trader Joes vs Whole Foods, these are apples and oranges IMHO. TJs has some great unique stuff, some unusual stuff, and some bargains on some regular items. WF is great produce, good cheese, baked goods, a nice variety of organic groceries, and definitely NO bargain prices. Nice meat and fish service depts too. Neither one of these stores is an alternative to the other, they are both excellent in their own ways.

In New Jersey today, bagels are everywhere. Usually at least a dozen within a 3 mile radius of anywhere. With so many bagel choices, everyone has their favorite, with the differences in the style each place makes their bagels in. There's really no clear winner, IMHO. Certainly enough good ones within a short distance that it would be ridiculous to go a long way for bagels. Now the further you get from the NY Metro, the scarcer bagel shops become. Maybe that's an idea for starting up a business somewhere...