menton1

This is really a Manhattan Forum, coquus; but there were rumblings several months ago about a new forum for a separate food discussion forum OUTSIDE of Manhattan-- hopefully that will come to fruition. Until then, non-Manhattan topics will pretty much get short shrift.

From Egullet May 9 post:

So Katie, where does one find this soup?

I'm of the feeling that Farmer's Markets should only have vendors who sell things that grow in the ground, that they grew themselves. Jams are a very questionable item for a Farm Market, IMHO. As far as Picklelicious, she is open every day at her retail location at River Road in Teaneck. No need to wait for the Ridgewood market for those, Teaneck is less than 15 mins from Ridgewood. Was there any good produce at this market? N.B. And if jams were to be included in Farmer's Markets, isn't the Jam season late fall? Are these jams from last year?

Wow, too bad about Jocelyne's. I know just a couple of months ago Rosie had posted a rave review here. It also had won top 10 best in NJ many times. Anybody have any details about the new stewardship at Jocelyne's? Will they be keeping the name?

Wow, too bad about Jocelyne's. I know just a couple of months ago Rosie had posted a rave review here. It also had won top 10 best in NJ many times. Anybody have any details about the new stewardship at Jocelyne's? Will they be keeping the name?

Sure, I'll go to Wilmington for Md. Crab-- I'll bring a big cooler!!

Are there any retail seafood stores in the area that sell Maryland Crabs? I believe they are in season now through September.

The only problem is, that the fireworks have been on the EAST RIVER for the last 8 years. No fireworks on the Hudson...

A lot of Outdoor Dining in Ridgewood; please update the list, including the previous Bergen County additions... Malee Marcello's at the Station Trattoria Fratelli A & B Bakery & Cafe Just 2 little tables outside, but I guess they do qualify also: Pasta e Pollo Gazelle All these restos in Ridgewood.

Solaia. Pretty mediocre and VERY expensive.

Hardly my favorite, but I do think it is a pleasant place for a salad, sandwich, and/or coffee and a sweet. (My favorite is a place that was hardly given recognition on Egullet, Relish of Sparkill, NY. Some Bergen County "En plein air" additions: Blue Moon, Englewood Andiamo, Haworth Latour, Ridgewood Zarole, Ridgewood Village Green, Ridgewood Ho-Ho-Kus Inn, Ho-Ho-Kus It's Greek to Me, Englewood and Ridgewood Amarone, Teaneck There's probably several more, but perhaps some fellow Bergenites can help out!

We would up at Astral Plane last weekend, our second visit, and it is so good I did a search, and, to my amazement, has never been mentioned on the Pa Egullet! This is really a Philly institution, it has lasted for 32 years! In the restaurant business you are considered doing well if you get past your first year, so AP has done that 32 times over, and there are good reasons! Reed, the friendly proprietor, is active in local causes, very involved in his neighborhood, and runs a terrific ship. The decor is whimsical, but very pleasant. Very little matches, but it all works together. The candle holders are different on every table, the vases are different, the parachute-type material draped on the ceiling is just terrific. Little statues abound here. The room is small and cozy. The food, while not 3 star, is very good and very reasonably priced. The stuffed pork chop that I had was really terrific, with a bacon-garlic potato stuffing. Mussels appetizer was large and delicious. Field greens salad was fresh, crisp, with a terrific tangy vinaigrette. There are even lighter choices, burgers, and quesidillas. But the menu is thoughtful and creative, as is the preparation. I wanted to take the time to salute Reed for 32 years, and wish him 32 more. And to any who haven't been here, this place is definitely worth the trip, it is a really nice dining experience. The neighborhood is gentrifying around him as well, it seems when Reed started the place, 17th and Lombard was "no-mans land". Today the street is pretty spiffy. Astral Plane 1708 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19146 Tel: (215) 546-6230 Web site: http://www.theastralplane.com/

On the list on the previous page, the only restaurant in Bergen County listed with outdoor tables is Wild Ginger in Englewood. This has 2 little uncomfortable tables on the street, something of an afterthought. Out of the 500+ restaurants in Bergen, surely there is a big selection of places that can be on the list with outdoor dining!!

Fort Lee has a new Sunday market in the municipal parking lot. Went to River Vale last Thursday, nothing there. Has it been disbanded, or is it just a very late start?

Seems to me that greenhouse tomatoes are a staple in the supermarket these days, they are called "tomatoes on the vine", and have a very unremarkable taste and texture. Nothing like the outdoor-grown tomatoes that arrive in August. Still think that these market vendors need to be held to a standard of "you didn't grow it, you can't sell it" but that seems like a pipe dream nowadays, with the rush of these vendors to make a buck and put one over on the public. Too bad the town coordinators are not more zealous in enforcing this logical rule.

Wow, tomatoes? I thought tomatoes were not ripe in the Northeast until late July at the earliest... but some of these markets are not policed by the towns and they bring in produce from out of the area, or, worse, stuff they buy at the commercial produce markets and re-sell. I think we have had this debate, that it's only right that these vendors should only sell what they grow themselves, or else it's just like going into ShopRite!

Sorry, I respectfully disagree. About 99% of the coffee in the US sold outside is absolutely AWFUL. But that's what Americans like. Dunkin Donuts (UGH) coffee is actually thought of as high quality! Yes, there is good coffee to be had, especially in New York City, Pan, but in general the deli, cafe and restaurant variety coffee here is brutal. Now in France, while not everywhere is great, the general level of coffee quality is about 50 times better than in the US IMHO. I guess it also boils down to how fussy one is, but since I live in the US, Parisian coffee is a welcome change for me.

Please be aware that the ShopRites are not a homogeneous operation. They are a Cooperative, with many different companies operating their own group of ShopRites. And there are huge differences among them. Up in Bergen, we have Glass Group and an Inserra Group. They are very very different stores. I prefer Glass. I've heard that the Singer stores in Hudson county are mediocre, but the best ShopRites are down in Monmouth area and the name of the group escapes me now.

John, I believe the similarity with the IHT and the NY Times is due to the fact that the Times owns and publishes the IHT...

For the best fresh fish in the county, Maywood Seafood gourmet is worth a special trip. The very freshest fish ever, with some beautiful wild salmon (no coloring) really fresh clams, mussels, and lobsters and a variety of other market offerings. Don't be fooled by its hole-in-the-wall appearance. Maywood Seafood Gourmet 103 West Pleasant Avenue Maywood, NJ 07607 201-843-8558

"Beloved"? Hmmm... I give Napa Valley Grille about a "C". The only good thing about it is that it is the best the Mall can offer. Lunch isn't bad, sometimes some decent specials, and the ambience is quite nice, large tables with REAL tablecloths. But nothing I would ever go on a special trip to. On the other hand, Maywood Seafood Gourmet is another hole-in-the- wall nearby with above-average fresh fish, very good prepared to order dishes, and terrific chowders. Now that's worth a detour!

That's a tough building to air condition properly, old stone with very high ceilings, cut them a little slack-- Go back on a cooler day and sit outside... Also, their pricing is not that high, IMHO, unless you compare to a diner-- but a place such as Cafe Victoria in Teaneck is striving for the same thing, but is not as nice, food isn't as good, and the prices are about the same as Cafe Angelique.

Wow, thanks-- I pass this place often, but it seemed like such a hole in the wall I would never dream of going in-- maybe it's good for a lunch or take-out. Anything other than the usual Pad Thai and the coconut creams? I also passed Pimaan in Emerson recently and it was pretty busy. Nicer environment than Siam Ruby. Also the usual Thai offerings there as well?

OK, I read all of it; I don't see anything forbidding discussion of a festival on an Eg Forum; What differentiates the Belmar Seafood Festival from the lengthy Crawfish Festival thread still here on Page 1, and the Greek Festival in Tenafly that was recently discussed? Why was the Belmar discussion ignominiously deleted in its entirety and dozens of other festival discussions allowed to happen on the Forums? Please clarify!