Pan

Miguel, we're indeed talking about food, until you bring in comments about other things. Then, I felt the need to take some issue with them. Sure, I'd like to visit Portugal some day.

Thanks, Katie and Suzanne.

I'm going to Molyvos tonight with my parents (it's their 52nd anniversary, and they were kind enough to invite me to join them for dinner). Does anyone have any ordering advice based on a relatively recent visit? (Thanks for yours, Kara. What's Saganaki?) My father and I eat fish and things like octopus and squid, but my mother doesn't. She does eat shrimp and the like, though.

Miguel, I don't want to get this off track, but the humility of the Portuguese colonizers was quite limited. We all have to remember that there was an Inquisition going on at the time. For example, when the Portuguese arrived in Malacca in 1511, they announced their intention to wipe out the Infidels (i.e., Muslims), and their rule was so heavy-handed that Malay (Muslim) refugees from Malacca were instrumental in assisting the Dutch in defeating the Portuguese there a few decades later. Similarly, in Goa, the Portuguese planned on wiping out the local Jewish community until local Hindu Rajas assured their protection of that community and got the Portuguese to back down for security reasons. I write these things not out of any animus toward Portugal or Portuguese people today, of course, but only so that we don't skew history too much.

Why isn't typical sugar decor edible?

Probably what Robyn would have meant is that Florida is the 4th most populous state in the Union, not 4th largest in area. Without checking, I figure the most populous states in order are California, Texas, New York, Florida, and then Illinois. Was I right?

I was thinking only Manhattan, actually (Flushing is just too damn far for me to go to dinner under normal circumstances). Perhaps my expectations are a bit skewed, but with all the Chinese restaurants in Chinatown (not to mention the rest of Manhattan), I don't find four to be exactly a superfluity. I said there are others. Those four are in my rotation, and I can't testify to the quality of Shanghai Tang, etc., etc. I don't remember Say Eng Look well enough to have anything to say about it.

If we're including rural areas or regions, Vermont has to be associated with maple candy (and, of course, syrup).

I think New York has a fair number of Shanghainese restaurants now. Counting only Manhattan, I'll mention Yeah Shanghai, Moon House, New Green Bo, and Joe's Shanghai off the top of my head, but there are others. I agree that Shanghainese cuisine is pretty radically different from Sichuan cuisine.

The other Korean place I'd propose for this list is Kang Suh, which is great for parties, but also nice to go to in smaller numbers for barbecue. As much noted, if you're upstairs, the regular tables have charcoal burners (not in the party rooms, though). The menu is long and quite good, and I've enjoyed service there. Make sure to confirm your reservation, though: Sometimes, SNAFUs happen. Expect to pay about $30-35/person for dinner.

I recently posted about my bad experience at New Malaysia: New Malaysia Restaurant, Not the answer I used to like Malaysia/Indonesia until, one evening, I got a cup of tea with a little roach boiled in the tea. Erin, I agree with Cho Dang Gol. It's slightly fancy, though, I think. Dinner would run around $30 or so. I love their artisanal tofu dishes. Yep, they make their own tofu, in several varieties. And if we include Cho Dang Gol, Woo Chon, which is also slightly fancy, also belongs. You can read about a dinner 8 of us (well, 5 eGulleteers and 3 non-eGulleteers) had there last night if you click here. There are two branches of Woo Chon. I've been to their Kissena Blvd. branch (across from the Flushing branch of the Queens Public Library) several times and love it. Based on the one meal I've had so far at their W. 36 St. location (between 5th and 6th), it would seem that the two locations are of comparable and very possibly equal quality, and they're the best I've been to in New York. Long, varied menu, with enough different types of things to please anyone who likes Korean food, prepared deliciously.

I'm enjoying reading this and looking at the pictures. I do agree that octopus is not shellfish, though scallops are. But I wonder how many people would eat octopus but not scallops.

Yes.

What's Skyline Chili?

zaatar

My one meal there was basically bad except for the desserts, which were fantastic. Nope, I don't feel any nostalgia.

What is isomalt? Decomalt?

I wouldn't say the taste has nothing to do with the smell.

What are half smokes?

Very interesting, Adam. So they didn't revise their measures of hot and cold to encompass pepper as not as hot as previously thought or something?

Ned, try Yeah Shanghai Deluxe on Bayard St. in Chinatown and see what you think of it. Here's a thread about the place.

New York - I nominate Pastrami on Rye.

As a Lower East Sider myself, I don't make special trips to Grand Sichuan, but I do go there when I have any reason to be in the area.

Marriage seems to have done you some good.

I was thinking the same thing. She got cold food (that was supposed to be hot) more than once, yet she gives the place 2 stars??? I'm beginning to agree with others who just can't take her star ratings seriously. I've never been to UP but after her descriptions - not her star rating - I expect it'll be a cold day in Hell before I plunk down $68 + tax and tip (i.e., closer to $90) to get their prix fixe.