smilingal

I did a ton of research before buying our new French door, bottom freezer Samsung. So much more room than our side-by-side in the same footprint. A great suggestion is to invest in the extra one or two freezer subdivisions - I love it - my chicken is in one, meats in another, nuts and stuff in a very narrow nother, and misc. in the widest one. This also has the slide out drawer on top of the subdivisions. My only complaint, and for us it is certainly liveable,is that we buy bags of ice for our big parties as the icemaker thru the door is on top in the fridge and apparently can't store enough. But not an issue for day-to-day living. To me, my new fridge is my BMW in my kitchen! LOL

daisy - It is just two of us - do you think degustation would be a fun experience at the bar for a birthday? They don't take reservations - so I guess we can call when we get out of theater if there isn't anything else that falls more definitively into place. I called Gramercy - on a waitlist there.

I had heard some great stuff about DEGUSTATION but not sure of that bar atmosphere for a birthday dinner - altho it could be a fun time - but don't know about it. Would really appreciate your input and suggestions - and as soon as you can - this dinner is this Sunday - which of course also means that a reservation might be a tough get. TIA Just reading about Valbella - any feedback?

I have been to Blue Hill as well - and loved it - and it is more in my neck of the woods - but we are going to theater for a matinee - so the city is the place for us.

thanks for the suggestions - I hadn't realized how many restaurants are closed on Sundays!

I would love to hear a list of those that wish to share of your top 5 restaurants in NYC. I have been thinking of trying Babbo but have read recent reviews by unhappy people. Would love to try Per Se but think that I probably shouldn't be spending that budget! I had heard some great stuff about degustation but not sure of that bar atmosphere for a birthday dinner - altho it could be a fun time - but don't know about it. Would really appreciate your input and suggestions - and as soon as you can - this dinner is this Sunday - which of course also means that a reservation might be a tough get. TIA Just reading about Valbella - any feedback?

Cafe Matisse is an exceptional experience. 3,4 or 5 course prix-fixe menu that IMHO is worth every penny. Service is extremely attentive --- and it is BYOB - so champagnes and wines to your liking with no corkage fees. I have been there twice and look forward to a special occassion to return.

Skinless boneless chicken breasts are not my favorite for grilling, but easy to feed a large crowd - along with the hamburgers and franks. Last week I marinated them overnight in (sheepish apologies in advance) Lawry's Sesame ginger and although I oiled the grill they stuck miserably and of course no cross-hatching. I am also wondering, as I am making them this weekend again about butterflying them and cutting into pieces.

This is wonderful!! Thanks for sharing. I am brand new to this site - and am loving this great community!!

What a clever idea to make the bread as the vessel. I have done that in the past with soups and dips. I don't think I could be creative enough to form one in the shape of an apple - the play is about a teacher.

I also should note that I will need to provide these tastings to a crowd of 120.

I am responsible for providing tastings after a show in our local theater which will be a comic tour-de-force about a teacher demanding proper manners from her students. I would like to provide different "tastings" which might reflect the subject matter. Apart from little cucumber sandwiches on crustless white bread I would greatly appreciate any suggestions and recipes. TIA!