Blondie

I will definitely make my own but perhaps I'll pick up a jar for emergencies. I know what you mean about the Hampton cilantro chutney. It's quite good, but it tastes more like coconut than cilantro. How far in advance can your green chutney be made? Once I get stocked up, what else can I make with the Bhel Mix and Thin Sev?

If it's half as good as Diwan's I'll be ecstatic. I used your garam masala recipe as well since I had none. Normally I would have bought a commercial blend, but I was glad to have made it myself. Very simple and smells so great. I'll stock up on the rest this weekend

Me too, but I'm at least 50 miles away from bhel mix until Friday I just made the tamarind chutney and it is outstanding For now I'm just having it with some pappadums (nuked for 30 seconds) and cilantro chutney from Hampton. How long will it keep in the fridge?

I did the same thing last Monday with the same outcome, but my standards are very low Aside to Jinmyo: In the interest of research I had the Mint Love Letters and IMHO they could certainly be considered pie

I'd love some pie, Jinny. Do they serve pie at Babbo? (Just to be on topic )

I was just reminded that I hadn’t posted about my trip. I used suggestions from everyone who posted, and considering I had only 2 days notice, I think I did very well Thank you all. La Taverna degli amici (via Margana) and Cul de Sac (Piazza Pasquino) were as advertised and very enjoyable. Gelateria San Crispino (near the Fontana di Trevi) was a revelation. My favorite was the meringue with chocolate chips. The Villa Borghese (which I reserved online as per mogsob) was tremendous -- Caravaggio, Titian and especially Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne. I didn’t get to the Doria Pamphilj, but I have to leave something for next time I also took the advice to get to the Sistine Chapel first and go back for the rest of the Vatican museums. It was more impressive than I had imagined. elizabethnathan was right on with the suggestion of shopping near the via Governo Vecchio. I wasn’t really in a shopping mood, but I did pick up a very cute bag at Toko, between there and the Piazza Navona. Wantedinrome.com was where I found out that Chumbawamba would be playing, which made for a very interesting evening at Villaggio Globale in Testaccio. They are better than you’d expect from their only US hit, especially if you like politically-charged funky dance music like me I didn’t get to try Robert’s suggestion of La Pergola this trip, but I did enjoy the modern art museum, especially the works by Fontana. I would have liked to try Enoteca Ferrarra in Trastevere (recommended by Charles Smith) but my timing was off, so I settled for very good pizza from Forno la Renella (via del Moro) very close to Santa Maria in Trastevere (beautiful medieval mosaics). My hotel, which was booked online, was endorsed by Gambero Rosso as a good value, so although I was never able to find a copy of the guide in English, I did take note of it. I stayed at Hotel Parlamento, right off the via del Corso, midway between the Piazza di Spagna, Trevi fountain and Pantheon. It was very clean, the staff were extremely helpful (all English-speaking) and I thought it was a bargain, considering the location, at just over 100 euros a night . I had the best meal of my trip at Papa Giovanni near the Piazza Navona. I’ll remember the tagliolini with its massive shavings of white truffles for a very long time. The room was cozy and warm and the service was outstanding. Other brief impressions: I felt very safe walking around Rome late at night by myself or with a female friend, moreso than in New York. The view from the top of the cupola at St. Peter’s is worth the hike up the very long narrow staircase, but isn’t for claustrophobes. If you like to take photos, bring twice as much film as you think you’ll need or you’ll be paying the nuns $8 a roll in the gift shop (!) on the roof of St.Peter’s. I was astounded by the number of jewel box churches with world class art and design, in particular the frescoes and use of trompe l’oeil. Thanks again for the recommendations

Hot Whiskey was the winter warmer of choice in Ireland. Dissolve a teaspoon or so of sugar in a shot of whiskey, add hot water and a slice of lemon (with or without a few cloves stuck in it). Irish Coffee can hit the spot on a cold night too.

Larb

I've reserved for the Galleria Borghese (online as per mogsob). Thanks to everyone for taking the time to provide such detailed and useful information--it will be put to good use

Neither of the Bookhamptons, Canio's, Paradise or the Montauk Book Shoppe have it, but I'll be in the city tomorrow anyway. Isn't there a bookstore that specializes in travel and guidebooks? Thanks for the recs, mogsob. Are there any Italian wine guides (in a small format) that you (or SteveP) could recommend?

Forum Host's note: please use this thread to ask for recommandations regarding Rome's Restaurants and Hotels, unless you have a question on a specific establishment, or occasion (Christmas, Easter and so on). It is most usefull for everyone to have all this information in one place. New threads that replicate this one will be merged here. Thank you for your understanding I’m leaving on Wednesday for a few days and could use recommendations for dining, sightseeing (interested in classical and modern architecture, art), live music, shopping. Thanks

I just wanted to add my belated thanks to Suvir, SuzanneF, Yvonne and everyone else who made this dinner such a great event. The food was a revelation and the company outstanding. I will be going back to Diwan at the first available opportunity. So when’s the next one?

I've been in a stock-making frenzy lately. Chicken, beef and lobster in the past few weeks. Some is reduced then frozen into cubes, some frozen in ziplocs in identifiable measures. I made a remouillage from the bones, etc. when I made pho a few weeks back, but I was winging it. Any tips for next time?

Jamaican ox tail stew based on Nina’s recipe from the ox tail thread. I didn’t have lima beans so I used gandules. So simple, so good. Served with white rice and a green salad.

I should have tasted it in the raw state. Roasted it does taste like it could be a cross. I'll certainly buy it again if I see it. Veggie-resistant kids might even try it. Each point has its own stalk, so it looks like tiny trees I bought some Sottocenare al Tartufo today (Italian cows milk cheese with truffles). Any ideas on what to drink/eat with it?

Braised short ribs (St. Mario's Babbo recipe, added an anchovy or two) Fresh papardelle. Roasted broccoli romanesco. I love the shape. It looks like a fractal

Mushroom ravioli with sage brown butter and truffle oil. Grilled treviso, mushrooms and shallots. Majorero and Garotxa with guava paste and apples (Jonah Gold).

And Stephen Rea

No, I think that's entirely fair - but the accuracy of the observation is astonishing. I think he developed some real heart for his characters in 'High Hopes' and 'Truth and Lies'. Sorry, carry on... I think Mike Leigh is brilliant. The way he works (actors develop their characters through months of rehearsal and virtually nothing is scripted) is highly unusual and the resulting films are among my favorites because they are so challenging. Obligatory food reference: Leigh's film "Life is Sweet" is worth renting for the scenes where Aubrey (played by the wonderful Timothy Spall) opens his dream resaturant with disastrous consequences. The misguided menu includes such delicacies as Chilled Brain Mousse, King Prawn in Jam Sauce, and Pork Cyst.

Lobster risotto with black truffle oil. Braised kale. Cheese (Majorero, Manchego Madara and Prince de Claverolle) with Forelle pears and guava paste.

I've had good luck with wonton skins as well, but I prefer gyoza skins for the shape (round).

I’ve made larb twice in the last week or so since the crab salad thread appeared. I use ground pork and a variation on both of the linked recipes. Along with the lime juice and fish sauce I used kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, fresh and dried chiles, red and green onions, cilantro and mint. I wouldn’t even think about leaving out the ground roasted rice. It's easy to do and really enhances the dish. Both times I sauteed the pork, adding chopped garlic and ginger the second time. I'll try the "poaching" method next. Inspired by the other thread, I served the larb in endive leaves after forgetting to pick up lettuce. Coincidentally the fisherman just brought me home a huge pile of Jonah crab claws so I’ll try the crab salad as well.

I'm in.

FWIW I ate at Gallagher's Peacock Alley in the first location on South William Street in Dublin. It was far and away the best meal I had in 3+ years living in Ireland. I have only heard sporadic stories of his problems, but as I recall he was only about 21 when he opened the first Peacock Alley. Maybe a case of too much, too soon. It's a shame.