weinoo

These lists are so ridiculous. FWIW, I've been going to 151 lately (that's the newest from the D&C crew). I like it a lot. And we can't overlook some of Brooklyn's finest - Clover Club, Tooker Alley, etc.

I don't know if I understand this? In my mind, "high-end finger food and canapes" means using luxe ingredients for finger food and canapes. Caviar, smoked salmon, pristine fish, aged beef, etc. That said, I own two books which will serve you well... Martha Rose Shulman's The Classic Party Fare Cookbook and The Book of Hors d'Oeuvres and Canapes.

Brilliant synopsis. And really, there's nothing wrong with a great gin and tonic, or gin rickey, or Tom Collins or...

Unless I know that where we're dining has a competent bar program, I shy away from cocktails if we're sitting at a table. If we're sitting at the bar to eat (which we often do), and I can watch the bartender(s) make a drink, and they seem suitably competent, I'll order a classic that's hard to fuck up. But I will tell them exactly how I want it made, like a 3:1 Beefeater Martini, with a twist. Tonight we're most likely going to Alder; will sit at the bar, which in addition to having a great cocktail "program," has bartenders who know exactly what they're doing.

I think it's most likely just a "flatter" cider than many of the US ciders. I often drink Spanish ciders which are flat. Last night we sampled two ciders with our appetizers. One was a Slyboro (NY State) sparkling, and the other was a Bad Seed (NY State) Belgian Abbey Cider...both were quite good.

One of my favorite salads is puntarelle, served as they do in Rome, raw, with an assertive, anchovy-garlic-lemon dressing. I believe it can also served cooked (to death, as they do in Rome). I picked up a bunch of this at the greenmarket this past week: And after thoroughly cleaning it, cooked it, by sautéing in olive oil, garlic and red chili flakes. Man, it was really, really, bitter - and I love bitter greens, but this was literally too much. I think blanching them first would have been the way to go. Do you use puntarelle? And - how do you prepare it?

I think what Adam is saying is that they're experts at cocktails, not food. At restaurants, we expect them to be experts at food, not cocktails. Rare to find both. But EMP and Nomad both qualify.

I think locavore is a good concept. But I also think sometimes people proselytize about eating local as if it's the only way to go. I think there's a multi-page argument on eG about Alice Waters, who some claim was one of the first proselytizers. In any event, like I said - it's a good concept, sure. And then sometimes...well, let's just say... Locavore, Schmocavore

I have been using a small pizza peel to take the roasting pan out of the Steam Girl; works better for me than trying to grab it with an oven towel.

Me too - always have a roll handy.

I think I'll be there, those these things are usually shit shows. I saw Alex a few weeks ago at their new 151 Bar, which is pretty awesome in its own right.

Nice job.

Not having a microwave, I've always popped corn on the stove top. And I've been able to purchase some nice heirloom popping corn at the green markets as well. I do want to try some of this corn mentioned in the article, and will be on the lookout for it my next trip to Whole Foods.

Big ice cubes. Round ice cubes. Clear ice cubes.

Do you use this one, Paul? Monterey

Agree with this. And are we talking about shots, milk-based coffee drinks, pour overs, etc.?

Is it possible you've been buying bay leaves from California?

Since I know absolutely nada about spleen (other than why we have one in our bodies), I googled it up. Yum... Pig Spleen on Toast.

The Cuisi steam oven reheats pizza very nicely.

Why don't you clean them daily?

Interestingly enough, the NY Times' Travel Section today has an article on the growth and wonder of ciders produced in New York. DiggingDogFarm lives right in the middle of the action...

You drinking with the 'smores again?

By the way, a glass of a nice, dry cider on the rocks with an ounce of Campari in it. Just sayin'.

That's a good one - I pay $5 a bottle for it. I also like the Crisipin in the tall cans. (There's a Crispin produced in California that I don't like as much).

I'd get 4 bottles of Rittenhouse.