jogoode

So, anyone else been?

More Katz's talk in the NY forum, here.

damn college kids!

Most of us on the site, it seems, suscribe to the author's philosophy when it comes to food and wine. Even if we aren't eating and drinking at the highest price, most of us gladly pay more everyday for superior taste experiences, even if the difference in the price of bad French place in town and the good one isn't as much as the dollars that separate the 1998 Cheval Blanc and the 1998 Larose-Trintaudon. Of course, he doesn't deal with the factors that influence the taste experience -- finding a French bistro that equals the best in town in quality but costs a lot less is exciting, and probably contributes to your enjoyment of that bistro. Same goes for oenophiles looking for bargains (as opposed to people who are just cheap). My father collects Netsuke, tiny Japanese carvings of wood, nut, ivory, and bone that ornament pipe cases. Quality Netsuke from well-known artists are beautiful, and many cost well over $10,000. He owns nothing that cost him over $400, and most of his cost under $150. He has big, glossy-paged books showing expensive Netsukes, and I'm sure he'd buy them if he had the money. For the money he has paid for the cheapies, he could own five big-time Netsuke. But he's far happier with the hundreds of bargains, some with cracks, many by little-known artists, that he's collected over the last 40 years.

But then, how do you read it? It's not written in Chinese; it lists dishes that they assume would not appeal to Americans. If you go late and see customers with interesting dishes on their table, it might be a good strategy to try the old "I'll have what she's having". That's why my party ordered the braised and roasted duck I loved. Another solid strategy is to eat there with Eddie, which I was lucky enough to do, and let him do the ordering.

If you're going to Katz's, stop into Russ and Daughter's for smoked fish instead of Zabar's. More convenient, and a bit better. And ditto on Payard. Great tarts. City Bakery, E. 18th St. (and close enough to Lexington), is not as French but very good for a tart.

I have a reservation for four this Tuesday. This will be the first time I'll be going with enough people to try a variety of dishes, and I'm excited to get a wider sense of the menu. I went to Amma alone for dinner before it opened officially with Suvir and Hemant as chefs -- they were still tweaking the menu -- and I loved it. I went for the second time for lunch a few weeks ago another positive experience, although not as positive as my first. I ordered the stuffed chicken breast for an appetizer, which I tried and loved on my first visit -- almost as good I remembered it. My lamb chops, which I couldn't stop talking about after I first had them, were the most tender I've tasted if a bit too fatty. The pear chutney and the chops' bed of spiced potatoes, invented, or at least added to the menu, after my first trip, were fantastic. My friend had the lunch special of Bhel Puri, Shrimp Balchao, and Tandoori Halibut, all very good, though the halibut was drier than I would have liked. Even though it's been said a thousand times on this long thread, I'd like to say that I'm amazed at the subtly of the restaurant's spicing. I've always loved Indian food for the multi-dimensional flavors dishes bring, but Amma is an incomparable experience, in my opinion. I was, however, unimpressed by the service. For my first trip, Suvir knew I was coming and I was effectively waited on by him and one other waiter. I was so impressed by his generosity and my overall experience that I didn't blink at the compliments I've read about the service on this thread. During my second visit, though, I thought the service was awkward, almost brusque. Has anyone found the service more casual or less gracious during lunch? How have you all felt you were treated by staff when you were not announced as a member of eGullet? I'll report on my third visit soon after Tuesday.

Thanks Rich! Good to know, especially if my girlfriend decides to go to grad school around there. Are there Indian communities in these cities/towns? (I could be wrong but I don't think there is a substantial one in Haverford or Ardmore.)

I was there a couple of months ago and was served a wonderful duck dish -- braised, then roasted crisp and shredded tableside. We were given chewy little buns, to stuff the meat in, and some seasoned salt. I could have eaten this dish all night. Scallops with pea shoots, I believe, were also excellent. A braised pork in sweet sauce, similar to the Ruby Pork at China 46, was good, too. Remember to ask for the Chinese menu. Oh and the pickled cucumbers on the cold appetizer plate.

Thanks! I've never heard of your spot; I'm not from the area, but spend a good deal of time there. Where in Ardmore? Why are there two good Indian spots in the middle of the Burbs. My NJ burbs has no good Indian food whatsoever.

Can anything beat the biryani and raita from Khajuraho, in Haverford? Or the pan-chan and great, and inexpensive, Korean BBQ at Kim's Restaurant, 5955 N. 5th St., Philly? (There are some interesting-looking ethnic spots in this area, has anyone been?

Thanks albie. I have to try the place again and request the good stuff. It is hard, though, after such a bad sandwich.

I'll try it. I'm surprised there's no well known story behind this place.

That's hard to believe. Who makes the stuff, what are his qualifications, and why does he allow his shop to make such poor sandwiches?

aha! Still, I will not be back.

I think I was at the right place

I was stuck in Chelsea for a time today and thought I might as well check out Salumeria Biellese, reported maker of fine salumi, some of the city's best. Ed Levine, I believe, called the owner a genius of salumi in his Times article on heroes. I expected salumi hanging from the ceiling -- an Aurthur Ave/Mike's Deli kind of experience. This place was a run down little shop with some raw sausages, some prepared pasta and eggplant, and some salumi peaking out of a fridge behind the counter. I'll spare you the long description of my awful hero: bland salumi and flavorless roasteds. When I got home I reread Ed's article and found this . The one I tried was on the corner of 8th Ave at 29th Street.Are there two places with the same name, one designed to fool impatient readers like me? I was obviously in the wrong place, right? ... right?

I was dying for good Indian while I was in Poughkeepsie. Always meant to check out Jaipore Royal Indian in Brewster. Menu looks pretty interesting, with some Keralan dishes...(And they have a cauliflower dish that sounds a little like the one at Amma.) Anyone ever go?

Good point. The articles are informative, relative to other magazines, but if you are interested in more detailed information, you can then find a book. The internship was great -- I was treated very well and learned a lot about the functioning of a magazine, about which I was totally clueless when I started. I hope to write about it soon for The Daily Gullet. What was the article's focus?

Looks small next to the pomme frites here. And pretty. But here's a more realistic picture (scroll down slowly; it's the twelfth picture, right after a big picture of Angelina Jolie (sp?) in silver). I just read somewhere that he was promoting the extra truffle option a while ago on the Good Morning/Good Day shows, Regis, etc...

I mentioned the burger because I think it's absurd -- which doesn't mean I wouldn't eat it. As long as you understand that what you are eating is, as FG said, "a burger in name only", it can't hurt. And I do not like tomatoes on my burger if they are not in ketchup form.

Because of a change in publisher, Saveur unfortunately is a lot thinner now than it was several years ago. But, docsconz, if any magazine out there is going to publish a substantial article about coffee in Ethiopia, it's Saveur. (I should also say that I was an intern at Saveur from July-Sept of this year and did some research on Ethiopian coffee for them. I have to read this article.)

Even for black truffles?

I'll have to make it a long stop; I hope it's open tomorrow. I'd kill for some good Mexican right now.

Thanks for the report! Please keep them coming. And update us on your "Dehli Belly" status!