Pan

That is cool!

Do you remember a name and location for the place in Queens?

I don't think any of us are surprised. Thanks for answering my questions. You're a good teacher, too.

I can only echo on all counts the well-deserved high praise you are getting from everyone! You mean, you did all that with sugar?! Good luck on your interview in Las Vegas, but I wish you'd come to New York instead - except that I figure someone with your skill will without question be employed at a place I can't afford, anyway, and justly so! A few questions, though: What exactly is Dacquoise? Is sherbet different from sorbet? (I thought they were the same thing in different languages.) What's in "Monkey Bread"? And what is Pate a Choux? (A more-or-less literal translation would be "Paste of Cabbages," which doesn't make sense.) I'm also not completely sure I know what Ganache and Nougatine are.

Directions sent by PM. I look forward to meeting you and dumpling and seeing Suzanne again.

I upped the reservation at Amma to 6 people, and my parents will be coming.

Robyn, I don't rule out places that are in Midtown. I love Grand Sichuan on 9th Av. between 50th and 51st, for example. You made valid points, but we're coming at this from different angles. If I were within walking distance of Shun Lee West, I'd also be able to walk down to 9 Av. and the 50s and eat something I liked better. In addition to which, several eGulleteers have recommended some places a little further uptown on Columbus for brunch or lunch, for example @SQC, so I'd consider those. [Edit: If I'm eating out, I'd rather have something good that's in a neighborhood than have food in a Chinese restaurant just because it's there, if you get my drift.]

jschyun, if you want to go to a Shanhainese place, I once again recommend Yeah Shanghai Deluxe over New Green Bo. Best juicy buns I've had in New York so far. It's not a dim sum specialist, but neither is New Green Bo: They're both full-service Shanghainese restaurants. I agree that dim sum generally is not great in New York. I like it anyway, but after spending a month in Malaysia last summer and having great dim sum at Xin in the Concorde Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, I can't say any dim sum specialist place I've been to in New York is more than merely middlingly good at best, by comparison.

Good God, what a dud! If that's how you feel, just don't cook or eat Thai food!

How was it?

Some Anglo-Indian dishes are good, if you accept them for what they are. What is dhania? Cilantro?

Alright, I'll post some more sort of mini-reviews. Congee Village: Chinatown's favorite banquet restaurant is just south of Delancey St. Its large size is still insufficient to hold all the people who want to dine on weekends in its beautiful big eating hall, smaller party rooms downstairs, and the smaller room in the original part of the restaurant. So don't show up on a weekend night without reservations, and be prepared to wait a few minutes, even so. Once you're seated, ask for the menu with the lamb chops on it, pick some dishes from it, and ask for some recommendations from the larger menu. The congee is excellent, of course, but there are so many good dishes at this place, and the atmosphere is celebratory. Service can be slow at times from the crush of people, but the servers are friendly and helpful when you've shown them that you appreciate their style of Hong Kong banquet food. And for the quality of food you're liable to have, their prices are really economical. You probably won't like everything on the menu, but there's enough to please even a longtime regular like me every time. Madras Cafe: In the East Village, a neighborhood chock full of stomach-turning restaurants calling themselves "Indian," the legendary common conveyor belt on 6th St. never made it to Madras Cafe, on 2nd Av. between 4th and 5th Sts. The South Indian vegetarian cuisine in this restaurant is good enough to please confirmed carnivores. Everyone I've taken there has liked it, except for one child who couldn't stand any degree of spiciness whatsoever. Avoid the mango pickles, but otherwise, you can't go wrong. I usually focus on South Indian specialties like utthapams or masala dosas. If you still have room for dessert, have it: It's a treat. The restaurant is chef-owned and, therefore, is a good bet never to deteriorate.

Good point, dumpling. On a weekend, if you get there at 10:30, you can walk in, but if you get there at 11:30 or later, expect to wait. At peak times, you may have to wait 20 minutes or longer.

Hmmmm...If there are "other activities" going on, that might explain how a place that seemingly has almost no clientele could continue to exist!

Alright, I guess I'll start. Katz's: Really one of the quintessential New York places. A non-fancy restaurant that every famous person seems to have gone to, and for good reason: The pastrami. Sure, you can get a great turkey sandwich, too, but the pastrami is the reason most people come here. Go up to the counter, taste the sample, and ask for a new one if you're not satisfied. Don't forget to tip the counterman, and don't lose your ticket! If you're not hungry enough to eat a horse - um, I mean a whole sandwich - order half a sandwich, with or without a bowl of matzo ball or split pea soup. Great cole slaw, too! Grand Sichuan: The one I'm most familiar with is the Chelsea branch, but the Hell's Kitchen branch is better. This restaurant makes fiery dishes but will also make a terrific non-spicy dish if so requested. The list of great dishes at the place is too long to mention here, though if you want to mention some, go to the Grand Sichuan or Your favorite Chinese restaurant dishes in NY threads. Your best bet is to stick to specialties from Sichuan and Hunan. Don't come here for breathtaking decor or fancy wines, but bring your appetite and joie de vivre. Shall I go on? Is that the kind of tone you want?

According to Yahoo! Weather, it's currently -10 C. in Whitehorse, Yukon, as of 10:01 pm PST. As of 1:38 am EST, it's -12 C. in Toronto. So the answer to your question appears to be no.

What are arbi leaves?

Mistinguett, that's just because this is New Year's week. I've probably been to YSD at least 50-odd times and have yet to be turned away. I think they're open until 11 P.M.; is that incorrect? Is it 10 on weekdays?

I'll wait. And I hope your knee improves quickly.

glenn, you've got a good point, but how about if you lead by example with the descriptions? I'll write some later.

I also like chicken feet; the spare ribs with black beans are tasty but I find them overly fatty. If you've decided on a particular place, let us know. I have some particular recommendations of things to get at Jing Fong, for example. dumpling, does your memory go back to the early 70s? Nam Wah was considered the place to go for dim sum in those days. Also, how recently did you go and have bad food?

I hope 27 Sunrise isn't the place where people were smoking and didn't stop when I complained to management.

jat, I'm waiting for something in your chronology that takes place in the last 10 years or so.

Service often sucks there, but the low quality of the food you had surprises me. Be that as it may, try Yeah Shanghai Deluxe across the street next time. You'll have better service and better food. And even better decor, as a bonus.

"`Satisfactory' is what two stars tend to mean"? I beg to differ! How many restaurants did Grimes give highly positive reviews to along with a two-star rating?