menton1

For a real treat, and to spoil yourself forever, try yellowfin tuna from Italy in Olive oil. This tuna is soooo much more flavorful than the Albacore variety, you might not need to add mayo, pickles, or anything-- just eat it straight!! (I like it with a little celery & vinaigrette) I have seen it in some supermarkets, but mostly available in Italian Specialty Stores.

About 5-7 years ago, I discovered a seafood place in Manayunk/Roxborough called BLT's Cobblefish. It was in a converted warehouse building, very nautical inside, and had great seafood. Since I haven't heard a word about this place in years, is it now defunct, or does it carry on?

I'm surprised to hear that they drink this in Liguria. When we have been in Venice, this was served to us as a typical Venetian drink, and they called it a "Spritz". One year we actually carried a bottle of Aperol back to the US from Venice, it is so good!! (That bottle was heavy-- and delicate!!)

When you are 20 feet away from a 4-piece rock band, even UN-amplified sound would be too loud. We would have had to wait 90 minutes for the band to stop. How can you postulate that others would have complained also? I have seen people act like sheep in many situations that seemed to call for raising objections; And I don't think it's unreasonable to dislike sitting 20 feet from a 4 piece band on a Sunday at 5PM while eating dinner facing a serene lakeside scene. How often do YOU eat dinner at a restaurant with a live, loud rock band?

I saw the sign also, on a recent trip to the movies there. I immediately became skeptical, because Abyssinia is the ancient name for Ethiopia. Are they just trying to use a more exotic word for Ethiopian cuisine, or will they be foregoing all modern conveniences such as electricity and gas cooking and using primitive cooking implements to duplicate the recipes of the ancient Abyssinians?

In Bergen County, that just isn't true. There are 70 municipalities, each with their own health inspectors. This allows them a full awareness of all the food establishments in the community. A friend who has a coffee shop told me that their inpections are irregular, but continual and not due to a complaint. This localization allows all establishments to be inspected regularly. It would be a lot better for the Record to publish the nature of the violation-- so we could decide how minor we think it is. Someone mentioned a puddle due to a leak; I guess they are expected to provide a bucket to fill up rather than have it go all over the floor. As with most things, I'm sure politics plays a part in these inspections; however, a food establishment appearing on the list should at the least provide further details-- the vision of rodents and insects pervading a kitchen passes through the mind....

Was out enjoying NW New Jersey one weekend ago, a beautiful, unspoiled part of the state. After a day of Stokes State Forest, Kitatinny ridge, and the Delaware Water Gap, we got hungry early. A previous web search for quiet outdoor dining led to the discovery of this restaurant on a lake, The Lodge. Mountain Lake is between Hope and Belvidere, not to be mixed up with Mountain Lakes with an "S" A beautiful, peaceful lake, surrounded by homes, no motorboats, and we drove up to the Lodge at 5PM anticipating a lovely setting-- food was secondary. They took us out to the patio, and the setting was fantastic-- a gorgeous, pastoral scene, very serene, just what we were looking for. Alas, playing on the patio, to an audience of 40ish looking folks, was a soft rock/jazz live band with the sound system so loud the floor vibrated and communication would be impossible. I screamed to the waitress when she came over asking how late they would be playing until, and she came back and screamed back that they would be there until 7!! We left, of course, the dichotomy of such a peaceful setting being shattered by cacophonous music. The owner/manager tried to say he would turn the sound down, but we were out of there. What a shame, such a beautiful setting, ruined by a rock band at 5PM on a Sunday afternoon. Wouldn't it be better to start the music, if you are going to have it, at 8:30-9PM, instead of on a summer Sunday afternoon? Is there actually a market for live bands at this early hour?

Wow, Balthazar Bakery made the list too; It's amazing that some popular NJ restaurants open for years have NEVER been on this list, yet others are cited. What happened to pride and discipline in running a restaurant? Why should these places need the stick of the health department to run a kitchen that's sanitary and safe for consumption? I think making this list is unforgivable!

This could be true of any type of restaurant, NJ only wins when it comes to grass, trees and parking!!

Polls such as this one are suspect and, in my opinion, a waste of time; They have a very low number of respondents, about 2,000-- if, say, 500 are from South Jersey, and they vote for 100 different restaurants, then a restaurant can "win" a category with 6 votes!! Another useless poll is the "World's Best" that they do every year in Conde Nast Traveler-- If you read these polls with a grain of salt, they can be slightly amusing and interesting, but never reliable. Best Steak at Outback-- that is hysterical; maybe the best burger is McDonalds!!

Any restaurateur will tell you, WORD OF MOUTH and REPEAT CUSTOMERS are 1000X more important than any advertising. You must make the customer happy, and you have to get him/her back often. For reasons unknown, many restaurants fail to do this. One easy example is Saigon Republic in Englewood, they opened a little over a year ago, and they are full 6 nights a week-- no advertising. Are you opening a restaurant?

My favorites in the Indre-et-Loire department, are L'Espérance, in Montrichard, and the Georges Sand, in Loches, with a great patio overlooking the river. The Loire Valley encompasses 6 departements, though, so I don't know exactly where you will be.

Thanks for all the suggestions-- Heard a lot of good things about Bridge Cafe-- does it rate with the others on your list? Has anyone else been there?

St Tropez is the absolute stereotype of Tourist Trap. Very poor value in any of the restaurants around there. If you have a car, escape and head for the Haut Var, lots of charming little villages there, or, go to Hyeres, a city full of character where they first brought the Palm trees to the Riviera in the early 1800s-- take a short ferry to Porquerolles, a breathtaking gorgeous island with few cars, and some great restaurants and natural beauty. P.S. Mougins is an awfully long trip from St Tropez, about 2 hours--

I assume, on a layover, that you would have no way of getting around the local area; best thing, as someone previously mentioned, is to take the 30 minute bus or taxi to Manhattan, that will open up an endless number of choices for you to partake in.

You'll find an emormous amount of information and discussion about Chef Central here

I agree about the Fermes Auberges, but I've never found any really good ones in Provence. Most of the good ones are in the Southwest, in the Dordogne and the Lot. The best advice is to try to stay away from the tourist haunts and go to places where the locals go. I have found many a very good restaurant that way. It's hard to remember the names, one that sticks in my mind is Le Recré in Lourmarin, even remember the pottery the food is served on there. A nice town off the tourist track is Riez, about 6 miles from Moustiers. It will probably be hard to have a bad meal anywhere-- all the menus are posted prominently in the restaurant windows, to help you decide. Bon voyage!

The Dordogne is one of our favorite departments in France. The rolling hills, the ubiquitous castles, the Bastide towns, and the less-touristy atmosphere make for a wonderful experience. Sarlat is a dreamy town with a breathtaking centre-ville full of medieval architecture and closed off to traffic. Do not miss the caves with the 20,000 year old cave drawings near there, these will probably be closed in a couple of years because the drawings are being deteriorated by the visitors CO2 that is being exhaled. The Grotte de Font de Gaume and the Grotte des Combarelles are about 25 mins from Sarlat, in Les Eyzies. You must make an appointment as well, only 200 people per day are allowed in. An experience you will remember forever. As far as food, I recommend the wonderful "Fermes Auberges" that proliferate throughout this area. These are working farms where the food served is all grown or raised on the premises. The one we ate at was on the D46 leaving Sarlat toward La Roque-Gageac, on the right side, about 4 miles out of Sarlat. A fabulous, unique experience. Please report back on your Dordogne activities so that we can vicariously enjoy them through your descriptions!! Bon voyage!

No, I don't think so; this place was traditional American food, Steaks and Chicken & Fish, and you cooked them all by yourself, with someone standing on the side to offer aid and assistance if you start burning everything. I think the place is still there. All on one floor also.

A couple of years back I had one of the most fun times ever at a restaurant in Corning, NY called The Upstate Tuna Company-- You pick out your meat or fish entree from a refrigerated showcase, and then you go and grill it YOURSELF on a giant grill in a special area. They help you so you don't really mess up, and you decide what sauces to bast it with. One of the most fun meals I ever had--Very unique!!

Is it time to give up on Andrea ever showing up? Do they feel that coming on Egullet would just open up a can of worms?

I believe that the Farmer's Market coordinator is supposed to make sure that the farmer grows his own stuff. However, I have been to many a stand where they have produce from other farms; Sunday a stand in Ridgewood had Blueberries in supermarket-type containers, and I asked about them, he said "they're from my neighbor". So I guess we really can never be sure. It would probably be best if these people could only sell the stuff they grew themselves. I've seen stickers on peaches as well, and I stay away from those. I try to find the smaller farmers, with less variety, but better quality. Nyack on Thursdays has a guy like that. No "neighbors" products!!

Funny, I just started a thread asking about Natalie's earlier Monday. It looks like a deli, but they get big big prices-- I've never been, but what makes this deli with tables worth $40 Per Person for a meal? Natalie's Thread

Little Fish, 600 Catherine Street in South Philly is open-- never been but heard good things about it..... Web Site

I also found La Colombe to be way below expectations. Its reputation around Philly makes you think that you will meet El Exigente at one of the tables there. I have regularly found Metropolitan Bakery to have better coffee and a better ambience than La Colombe.....(Great bread and pastry too).