menton1

I disagree with this. Local municipalities can only adjust the rules within the State guidelines; they can ban liquor sales altogether, but by no means can a town of 5,000 people issue more than 2 liquor licenses. (The licenses come from Trenton).

Speaking of diners, I am not too familiar with the South Jersey ilk. I often pass Olga's in Marlton, and it looks very large. Any reports on Olga's and/or other diners in this area? There is also a brand new one opposite the Cherry Hill Mall on Rte 38.

Actually, the approximate figures are 1 license per 2, 500 in population. There are many types of municipalities as well, borough, township, and city. In Bergen County there are 70 municipalities-- the most of any county in the USA! The only exception is Hoboken, where there are about 100 liquor licenses, because of a strange law enacted after WWII. But most of feel that a BYOB is a plus, you save a lot of money, and can pick any wine or beer in the liquor store, so you have a much larger selection to choose from for every meal! Welcome to the Garden State!!

Before you eat, just stop at a liquor store or package goods store and buy the beer or wine that you like and take it in with you to the restaurant. This New Jersey bureaucratic quirk saves us restaurant goers hundreds of dollars a year!!

Hmmm... MBNA makes the same claim-- I wonder if that is also subterfuge.... By the way, did you ever challenge Chase on the matter?

According to Joe at Saigon Republic, the 2 Thai restaurants soon to open in Englewood are owned by the same family! They apparently came in to Saigon and tried to recruit KT to cook for them!!!

Shelley's and Fleigel's on Cedar Lane in Teaneck have very good Felafel. Shelley's also has some terrific kosher vegetarian dishes. (Don't go on Friday night or Saturday) Note: Neither of these restaurants have falafel, see below. R. Perlow

Back to my original question: How can Crema Lita say that they have ZERO cholesterol when 3 of the top 4 ingredients are dairy?

Yes, De Hillerin is awesome-- Last year, we got some Silpat-type cooking sheets, and Peugeot pepper mill at about 75% less than in the States-- plus the atmosphere of the place is so much fun!!

If you want a great Jewish deli, do not despair-- head to Riverdale, less than 15 minutes from you to: Liebman's Deli 552 West 235 Street Riverdale (Bronx). Great Pastrami, Corned Beef, pickles, etc.!!!

Pretty close to Bronxville is Mount Kisco, a great restaurant town. Over 20 restaurants here, from a non-Starbucks coffee bar to top flight. My favorite is Lexington Square, great, hip food and a beautiful outdoor terrace. By the way, best of luck on your new house ownership!!

Aren't you a biased observer, a principal of Smoochies? You have already misled us!!

I anxiously await those taste-test results-- But do we agree that a smaller, denser bagel is more desirable? Most of the bagel shops around make these giant "Pillow" bagels, probably close to 6 oz. each! Size does not matter with bagels!! I would like to try Lenny's in the near future. P.S. Do not agree about NJ Bagels-- they have the same proliferation of giant, soft, airy bagels, lacking in flavor; same as in NYC.

Was with some people on the UWS last night and they stopped at a tiny place on Broadway and 77th Street called Crema Lita. The hook was Ice Cream without guilt; that is, a low-fat, low-everything ice cream. The place was quite crowded. My issue with the place is that they have large signs with the ingredients and nutritional information. Ingredients #2, 3, 4 (listed in order of largest percentage) were skim milk, cream, and nonfat dry milk, followed by the usual unpronounceables in this type of product. Then they proceed to say that the product has ZERO cholesterol. All dairy products have cholesterol. If in the top 4 ingredients 3 of them are dairy, how could this product possibly have NO cholesterol? Where are the nutritional information police?

Well, I've never had bagels in Montreal, but I agree that most NY Bagels have gone downhill. The best bagels, as I remember them 30 years ago in NYC, were much denser and a lot smaller. And there were much fewer places to buy them. Now, there is a Bagel Shop on every block and they are too large and have too much air. I suppose many people think a larger bagel is a better bagel. Some are so big you could use them as pillows. I don't have specifics, but I'm sure there are a small number of bagel shops in NYC making the smaller, denser bagel that is closer to the original.

I will have to agree that in the 1970s most French hotels did not have A/C, except for the super-luxe. Then in the 1980s there was more of it, but most hotels shut it off at 1 or 2AM!!! Nowadays A/C is quite ubiquitous and caters to the foreign tourist. I must say, though, it is still a rarity in French restaurants; they rarely eat inside in the summer, anyway, so the a/c is "en plein air" instead. I understand that this has been the hottest summer in 50 years in France. Maybe they will get a few more fans! I also agree with Bux about the TV; it is great fun to watch some of the programs right before bed-- a nice window on a different culture. Bux, do you watch, like I do, the France 2 news every night on NY television, Channel 25? How different it is from the American news!!

This restaurant has been covered in greater detail Here

Yes, I chuckled at this... last year we were in Paris in June, and, on a relatively warm day, we went into a long narrow store with the proprietor sitting in the back where I felt I was stifling from the lack of air. We struck up a conversation, and when we asked him, why, if they don't have a/c, at least don't they use a fan for circulation? He thought about it a little, and then said, "well, we just don't think about a fan"(!!) I guess it's all what you are accustomed to, a cultural difference. One can find several "ventilateurs" in the Hypermarchés, but by no means a big selection like we would be accustomed to in the US!!

How ridiculous; maybe the next idea will be to use snuff saliva as a base for gravy!

So are these "glaces" better than the famed Berthillon?

The all time winner for nostalgia (Old railroad car) and GREAT diner food (eggs, pancakes, BLTs, and Burgers) is The Egg Platter, Crooks Avenue, Clifton/Paterson. The only consideration is their crazy hours, they are Closed from 3PM and reopen at 10PM and stay open all night and day until the next afternoon. THE BEST DINER EVER!!!

Awwww.....

Rosie-- please read back 2 messages before yours; are you trying to plagiarize me?

Well, the Germans get 6 weeks per year, the French and Italians get 5 weeks. Were we all born in the wrong place? (Not to mention the 2-3 hour lunch break)

Rosie, didn't you just take a vacation in late spring? Are you trying to emulate the Europeans?