rhubarbz

menton1 - you may not have seen my earlier post about the store across from South Park Grill. It's called Hahne's and the good news is, finally, it was purchased by two developers who are turning it into retail stores and apartments. And across the street - in the parking lot next to South Park - they're planning a hotel. You're right; it's a horrible eyesore and has been a matter of major concern especially to those of us who live a couple blocks away. But i hear they're planning to begin construction within the next few months ...

... This is what i heard, but the info could be wrong. Anyone know for sure? Glenn, you're the JC expert! What's up?

Yay lamb! Where do you live? - let's go shopping!!

The place in Montclair is called Soda Pop Shop & it's on Bloomfield Avenue near the Screening Zone movie theatre. While i've been there several times (hey - it's within walking distance!), it's not much to write home about. The place is decorated with hundreds of kitschy '50s & '60s items - album covers, games - even the furniture is pop. Kinda cute. Sometimes they have mini-concerts - like Peter Tork from the Monkees has performed there. But the ice cream is no big thing (IMHO). I've never sampled any of their other dishes.

I was having a birthday lunch at Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia several years ago. Beautiful meal, wonderful wines. Headed downstairs to the bathroom before leaving. As i came out, Georges Perrier emerged from what was (i guess) a lower-level kitchen - maybe a dishwashing area? He was fuming, screaming, cursing at the top of his lungs - "the f'ing dishwasher is broken again; what the f is going on around here; why am i the only f'ing person who can get anything done" and on and on and on. He couldn't have been oblivious to the fact that there were at least 8-10 customers in the bathrooms, using the phones, hearing him carry on in the most infantile, abusive way. I know he has a rotten temperament & all - but this was a MAJOR buzz kill. But kinda funny, too.

Holsten's Brookdale Confectionary is a 1950's-era homemade candy & ice cream store on Broad Street in Bloomfield. I can't say enough good things about it. They make around 15 flavors of ice cream - nothing wacky; just the basics (mint chip, vanilla chip, coffee, cherry vanilla, etc.) - and hand pack, like, a quart of ice cream into every pint! Prices are more than fair. It's also a luncheonette with stools at the counter and around 20 tables in the back. They sell things like egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches for $2.95. Kids love the place, as you might imagine. It's a total time warp. I've even had book group meetings there where we all sit around discussing literature over hot fudge sundaes! Really well-mannered high school kids work there. You gotta check this place out, Rosie; it's a treat. And they're open seven days a week ...

Haven't been to Herban Kitchen in lower Manhattan for a good two years - but i used to really enjoy it. The chef/owner trained at the Natural Gourmet Cookery School (i don't recall what the new name is) and did great stuff with veggie & non-veggie dishes - even vegan fare. Her ingredients are organic (even the wine list); portions were plentiful; and the staff was very friendly.

Aw Rail Paul, you're killing me, man!! It was in The NY Times, Star-Ledger, CBS Newsradio 88, in Crain's, on Bloomberg , etc. etc...

Went for dinner on the second night they were open without realizing it was so early in the game ... Rocco and his sommelier from UP knew several of us well, so they spent a good deal of time at the table; sent over some favorite dishes. And his mother was there, cooking away! It's a massive space; hard to imagine they'll be able to fill it on a regular basis. In fairness, i don't like to judge restaurants at this stage - it takes a while for things to come together. Some of the antipasti were quite good; others still needed work. Entree portions were huge.

The new Strip House at the Hotel Westminster in Livingston is doing a nice Easter brunch. Full disclosure - my agency is working with them - but Chef David Walzog (Michael Jordan's, Strip House NYC, Monkey Bar) is quite accomplished.

I am so glad someone brought this up - it's always intrigued me. The overwhelming majority of chefs i've worked with smoke. Male, female, it didn't matter - i'd say 80% of them are heavy smokers. Never made sense to me, for the same reasons pixelchef mentioned.