sammy

Just got back from Saratoga Springs (of course we won at the track. Hit the Pick Six Thursday with a bunch of friends for $9100!) and had a few wonderful dining experiences. Springwater Bistro- This place is simply wonderful. We asked the restaurant to prepare a 5 course tasting menu and they came through with flying colors. Starter- Cold Pea Soup with house smoked salmon-Like velvet on the tongue, the taste of peas came through loud and clear and the salmon added just the right amount of saltiness. 2nd course- They sent out 2 each of seven different appetizers which included lobster macaroni & cheese (everyone's consensus favorite), oyster pizza, grilled foie gras with duck pate and some sort of incredible fruit chutney, wild mushroom risotto with summer truffles, tuna tartare and thai quail with crispy rice. The service staff did an admirable job of seeing to it that everyone got a taste of just about everything. 3rd course- Grilled Hawaiian Ebbe with brown butter sauce and sweet potato chips. David Britton, the chef, used to be the head chef at the Manele Bay Hotel and still has conncections for impeccable seafood. He told us that he had the fish FedExed to the restaurant just for us. 4th course- Roasted Suckling Pig on a bed of spinach with a wonderful au jus. This was easily the best pork dish I have ever had. First, our waiter presented the whole pig in all its glory on a huge silver platter. It was then returned to the kitchen where it was beautifully sliced for presentation. A few of the people in our party (we were 14) are not to enamored with pork but couldn't believe how wonderful it tasted. The meat was beyond tender. Dessert- A dessert sampler which included creme brulee, bread pudding, strawberry tart, chocolate bombe, etc. Next night we decided to eat lighter and had a wonderful selection of appetizers on the patio at Sargo's, the restaurant at the Saratoga National Golf Club. Great atmosphere overlooking the 18th hole with a waterall. Everything was terrific but the standout dish was Shrimp Sargo. Now we're in detox after three hard days of eating and drinking and luckily cashing a few tickets.

Work's just about over. I'm going home to barbecue a steak. Just kidding!

Why didn't I think of that? Meigas is truly a wonderful restaurant and is quite a bit better than anything you'll find in Westport.

The tomato sandwich thread got me going. Tomato, prosciutto, mozzarella with olive oil and basil on 2 great pieces of semolina bread. A glass of sangiovese on the lighter side. Sorbet with berries and mint for dessert.

Searing fish and finishing it in the oven. Comes out perfect just about every time.

Oysters, a poboy and beer at Acme Oyster House. I also second Mother's for either breakfast or lunch. Brennans will run over $30 for breakfast.

Another downside to eating (and spending money) at chains is that it will lead to having no choice but to eat at chains. Same reason not to by fish at the supermarket, the local fishmonger will be a thing of the past. Not good.

I think that what this whole chain vs non-chain discussion gets down to is available choices. Many of us just can't comprehend how anyone chooses cheescake factory, olive garden, ruby tuesday over a locally owned establishment that in our opinion offers better food, better service (i'm personally sick and tired of Hello, I'm nicky and I'll be your server today) and an overall better dining experience. I was meeting a client for dinner during a recent trip to Cedar Rapids and he suggested we meet at a steakhouse called The Roadhouse, a country music themed take-off of the Autralian themed Outback. Thirty minute wait on a Tuesday night with loud country music and young servers upselling everything in sight. I ordered a ribeye and my guest ordered the filet. Unbelievably, both steaks showed up in about 12 minutes. My steak was well charred on top but had a funny consistency on the bottom. I looked at the bottom and there was no char at all. My guess is it was cooked similar to the White Castle method. I asked the server about it on the way out and was simply told that was the way we do it. The next evening, I had dinner with another client at a local tavern/pub (Irish Democrat). We were greeted by the manager who knew my client as he frequested the restaurant often. There were maybe ten tables taken on a wednesday evening although the bar was pretty crowded. We had a leisurely dinner with a professional waitress and wonderful food at approximately the same cost as the unenjoyable experience the night before at The Roadhouse. I think this experience is representative of many egulleteers view of chains. Why go to The Roadhouse (or CF, Outback, OG) when a better alternative usually exists?

I was in Milwaukee a few years ago and was placing a large brat order at Usingers. I must of looked like the clueles easterner I was when it came to cooking brats because the nice lady behind the counter (Usingers is filled with nice ladies behind the counter) asked me how I planned to cook them. I told her that the brats were for a tailgate party and I was going to grill them at the stadium and serve them with mustard and onions cooked in beer. She suggested that I wake up a little early and cook the brats on the grill first then put them in a beer bath with the onions. That way, as the brats cook, all of the brat juices go into the sauce with the onions. I usually add some additional pork fat to the beer bath as well. The mustard Usingers sells, Kallas Honey Mustard, is the bomb with brats.

I've been to the KC location a few times and have been pleased. Menu is similar to the Becco model but I believe it offers more dishes other than the all you can eat pasta deal. I can't remember if the pasta deal was offered at dinner in addition to lunch. I also remember the salad served with the pasta at lunch to be superior in KC but the bread was severely lacking. Many wines offered at very reasonable prices including an entire list with no wine coster more than $18. Also, I believe the space in KC is far superior to the NY location. They renovated an old building near the train station in the center of town and it is quite nice, especially in the evening. The only thing I didn't like is the service staff was big on "Hi my name is ___ and I'll be your server today."

It may not look appetizing but all it needs is rosemary vapor.

I enjoy all of those that you mentioned except I tend to consider them to be more "pan asian" than chinese. Chings Table is fairly close to where I live in Stamford so I go there regularly and always enjoy the food. I've noticed a slight drop off in quality though as they've expanded by taking over other restaurants including Hunan Taste, also in New Canaan.

Peter Luger's slammed in the NY Observer here.

Last year, someone actually brought over a six pack of Shaefer in cans. I am making sure inventory is always high enough that I'll NEVER have to dig in to the Shaefer.

I've lived in Stamford for 20 years and I'm still looking for a good Chinese Restaurant.

My favorite brand is Palacios which can be found near the deli counter at Fairway. It is sold in a "loop" tied with a distinctive red piece of string.

I had a glass of 1999 Termes at Artisanal with some cheese and was blown away by the quality at such a reasonable price. It was unfamiliar to me but was recommended by our waitress for the cheese we ordered for dessert. The waitress said it was from Toro, a relatively unknown wine region that is starting to make a reputation for itself. The vines are supposedly very old with reduced yields. I've just secured a case at a per bottle cost of only $14.99. Termes is the second label of a wine known as Numanchia (spelling?) which goes for close to $50. By the way, the cheeses were a Baby Epoisse, Savarin and I forget the 3rd.

Fallback position in a strange city with no fine dining in site: spend enough time at the bar that the peanuts are all you need. Go to back to the hotel early, preferrably not with a local. Fly home the next morning at get dinner there, pleased that you actually lost weight on a business trip. Too rational, not enough fun. OK, spend enough time at the bar that the penuts are all you need. Go back to the hotel WITH a local. Go to breakfast at 3AM, have fried eggs and hash browns and try to remember the other person's name in time to get a ride back to the hotel. Fly home the next day, lie to your spouse, brag to your buddies. Not that I'd ever do anything like that.... What was your name, anyway? As another qualifier, how about a good looking service staff that does not have name tags on their shirts?

Fallback position in a strange city with no fine dining in site: spend enough time at the bar that the peanuts are all you need. Go to back to the hotel early, preferrably not with a local. Fly home the next morning at get dinner there, pleased that you actually lost weight on a business trip. Too rational, not enough fun.

My guess is that Meritage gets at least an additional $10 a bottle over Red Table Wine.

I usually look for people drinking AND eating at the bar. Maybe its just me but I think the food tends to be pretty good at restaurants where people are actually eating things other than nuts at the bar.

Get a basket. They're really inexpensive at TJ Maxx's & Marshall's. Never owned a basket and never had a problem with fish. Make sure the fish is oiled and the grill is really hot. Another trick someone told me which works well plus adds a bit of flavor is to place several scallion on the grill and put the fish on the scallion.

Chilean Sea Bass is great on the grill because it is virtually impossible to overcook. Sounds crazy but the establishment I buy my fish from turned me on to putting good quality barbecue sauce on it. It actually works.

I think I'll be planning a business trip to Seattle.

Flay rubs me the wrong way too but if the food's good, who cares where the chef is. If Flay can't cook, maybe Bolo and Mesa are better off with him at Knick games, the racetrack and out on dates.