funcook
-
Posts
67 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Store
Help Articles
Posts posted by funcook
-
-
Just got back from a week-long visit to New York and CT and wanted to put in my 2 cents on Thali. It was easily the best meal we had on our trip and perhap the best Indian meal I've ever eaten.
The atmosphere is relaxing and comtemporary. Lighting is subdued, colors are earthtones and the background noise is trickling water which flows across the high ceiling and drapes down into a waterfall inside the restaurant. Soaking in the ambience at Thali reminded me how important it is for restaurant's to stimulate not only tastebuds, but all other senses.
Raju was on hand to help us with the wine, and he really did seem to have a passion for pairing. He steered us toward an excellent Shiraz which complemented the food and also spent some time sharing his thoughts on Austrian wines and pairing. It was nice talking with a sommelier who really seemed to love his job.
The food was incredible. While it's hard to go wrong with a samosa, these particular samosa's were better than most. They were not the least bit greasy, and the potatoes were fluffy and well-seasoned.
For entrees, we had an expertly prepared chicken vindaloo, Andrha Curry, Malai kabab and Chicken Saag. Everthing tasted balanced and extremely fresh. My only complaint is that Thali sets the bar very high for Indian food and finding anything comparable here in Texas (Clay Pit is the closest I've come) will be difficult.
Me too just got back from India and one of my first visits was Thali and of course after the last posting what I had seen on the gullet made me go back right away. I was very very pleased to be back and an evening full of surprises of specials at Thali.
One thing I always thought desserts Indian restaurants are a drag and I liked the efforts the chef at Thali does on specials. Their bread pudding is probably the best I have ever tasted, not to forget they are doing some wonderful choclate desserts and gelatos and sorbets.
What really impressed me were their specials, atleast to read thru and I especially thought Goan style mussels, a bread stuffed with mushroom and raisins as an appetizer and for entrees I tried their Halibut with ginger crab was outstanding (pardon me for not remembering the name).
Over all a very good experience after coming back and we shall return many many more times to Thali.
-
Acqua - 203-222-8899 - Mediterranean
Conte's Market and Grill - 203-226-3474 - Lots of Seafood
Chez Stephane Bistro Francais - 203-226-8356 - French
Splash - 203-454-7798 - Lots of Seafood, cross cultural / Pacific Rim
Tavern On Main - 203-221-7222 - American cuisine
I have enjoyed every establishment except the Chez Stepane Bistro which I have never been but heard good comments.
Enjoy your play and have fun.
Fun
-
Will give Hunan Gourmet a try, may be tonight !!
Fun
Great! Let me know what you think.
No no no !! I wouldn't return to hunan gourmet even if they paid me to go back. Right from the moment we entered it was pretty negative. Pushy and poor service. Seems like they want to get you out as fast as possible. Food was very ordinary to poor. Atmosphere was dull. Dinners were brought to the table before you could even finish your soup or apps. As we were eating the waiter asked if we needed anything and we said no, the next we know is the check lands on the table with cookies. Terrible way to please a customer. I usually enjoy most places even if they were ordinary but not this one !!
Oh no!
Funcook, I have to apologize. I have never even heard of Hunan Gourmet. Having just recommended Hunan Harmony over on the Best Chinese Food thread, I had Hunan Harmony on my mind. When I read your post, I responded to it as if you were referring to Hunan Harmony.
I need to slow down.
Anyway. If you get to Norwalk, you should try Hunan Harmony.
Claire
Please do not apologize. We will give a full try on Hunan Harmony. Please don't slow down. Next week will be Norwalk if not sooner.
-
Are we talking about the same Hunan Gourmet (on Putnam Ave. in Greenwich)? I heard they recently have brought in a new chef from Beijing and some new wait staff as well.
I guess we are talking about the same and correct me if there are two, this one is at 68 Putnam Ave. I hope for better for Hunan Gourmet at least the waiters from Beijing have purchased round trip airfare!!
Yes it seemed to me it was unadultrated praise for this Chinese and as per Rickster's quote above my suspicion stands strong and it seems there is a high level of suspicion that it's a shill, plant, troll, or whatever.
I honestly felt the food was OK to poor. Spring rolls dripping of oil with tasteless filling, a fillet mignon with onions in brown sauce was tasteless, chewy and muddy flavored. What claimed to be Prawns were actually shrimp.
I think my evening could have been better somewhere else and if the NEW HOMEOWNER was infact at Hunan last night he must have been one among three other tables. I am not here to criticize if someone enjoyed their dinner, I am here to give my opinion, I certainly did not and I shall not return or reccomend.
On the other hand other neighborhood Asian/Chinese restaurants were busy. We ended up at Wish in Stamford for a after dinner drink.
-
In retrospect, the post from New Homeowner looked a little suspicious since it showed up in 3 different threads with the same wording at almost exactly the same time.
Yes it seemed to me it was unadultrated praise for this Chinese and as per Rickster's quote above my suspicion stands strong and it seems there is a high level of suspicion that it's a shill, plant, troll, or whatever.
I honestly felt the food was OK to poor. Spring rolls dripping of oil with tasteless filling, a fillet mignon with onions in brown sauce was tasteless, chewy and muddy flavored. What claimed to be Prawns were actually shrimp.
I think my evening could have been better somewhere else and if the NEW HOMEOWNER was infact at Hunan last night he must have been one among three other tables. I am not here to criticize if someone enjoyed their dinner, I am here to give my opinion, I certainly did not and I shall not return or reccomend.
On the other hand other neighborhood Asian/Chinese restaurants were busy. We ended up at Wish in Stamford for a after dinner drink.
-
Having lived abroad, including stays in Beijing, I can honestly say that Greenwich is home to a great and authentic Chinese restaurant, Hunan Gourmet on Putnam Ave.
I am sorry I have to contradict here a BIG way but the following is my response on the visit to Hunan Gourmet and probably my last one too........
No no no !! I wouldn't return to hunan gourmet even if they paid me to go back. Right from the moment we entered it was pretty negative. Pushy and poor service. Seems like they want to get you out as fast as possible. Food was very ordinary to poor. Atmosphere was dull. Dinners were brought to the table before you could even finish your soup or apps. As we were eating the waiter asked if we needed anything and we said no, the next we know is the check lands on the table with cookies. Terrible way to please a customer. I usually enjoy most places even if they were ordinary but not this one !!
This one I did not have FUN at allll.
-
Will give Hunan Gourmet a try, may be tonight !!
Fun
Great! Let me know what you think.
No no no !! I wouldn't return to hunan gourmet even if they paid me to go back. Right from the moment we entered it was pretty negative. Pushy and poor service. Seems like they want to get you out as fast as possible. Food was very ordinary to poor. Atmosphere was dull. Dinners were brought to the table before you could even finish your soup or apps. As we were eating the waiter asked if we needed anything and we said no, the next we know is the check lands on the table with cookies. Terrible way to please a customer. I usually enjoy most places even if they were ordinary but not this one !!
-
I enjoy all of those that you mentioned except I tend to consider them to be more "pan asian" than chinese.
Could you please mention few dishes in Chinese which are your favorites or likes and dislikes, may be we can find some good Chinese in these Pan Asian Restaurants.
In my opinion people are just tired of plain old Chinese restaurants and I guess it's hard for just Chinese to stay in biz other than mom amd pop to go's !!
Will give a full try on Hunan Gourmet again may be tonight, was not impressed on my last visit and or there was nothing memorable to return back.
Fun
-
Will give Hunan Gourmet a try, may be tonight !!
Fun
-
I've lived in Stamford for 20 years and I'm still looking for a good Chinese Restaurant.
You are right, I cannot think of a good Chinese in Stamford.
How about the following:
Little Kitchen or Taipan in Westport ( I guess same owners). Also Tengda in Westport, fairly a new one is good to very good.
Asiana or Penang Grill in Greenwich.
Chings in New Canaan. Talking about New Canaan I like Thali (For some great Indian food and decor)
I have eaten in all of the above restaurants and I enjoyed thoroughly.
-
I checked the Zagat guide to see what they said about it and it was not listed. This seems odd,
Zagat in general is not accurate and usually it sucks.
-
Always loved wasabi with sushi. One sushi chef mentioned to me it's not the real thing to have wasabi with sushi. Honestly I loveed it, but the sushi chef said no way ????
Everytime I have sushi I always have it with wasabi.
-
Try the Copper Beech Inn in Ivoryton, 20 minutes south of Wesleyan on Route 9. Formal American/French - perfect for a celebration.
I am sorry to report back that the Copper Beech Inn was a great disappointment.
Thanks for sharing your experience, guess what ? I am not going to Copper Beech.
-
Thanks for you post CHASTE on Fortune cookies. Yes if you think about it their last course which I presume it's Fruit, it is definetely healthier than most of the once fried and once sauteed food.
Fun
-
If anyone wants to know about real honest to God authentic Chinese food as it is made in China ASK ME. I will tell you and if I don't know the answer I will find it for you as some of my close friends here (guanxi baby!!) are traditionally trained chefs born and bred in the PRC. I am not the expert but I will translate for you what they say and give you this westerners take on the culinary landscape.
So let 'er rip people...
Fortune cookies
I believe fortune cookies are invented by Americans / Westerners.
Is it true? Do you find them in Chinese restaurants in China or is it only in the USA.
Fun
-
20-25 garlic cloves
I have just started making it, I know it's Saturday morning you are probably not on line. Believe me I love garlic, thought garlic was a bit too much.... it,s very very spicy hot
My breakfast menu for the day is as follows.
Rasam with medhu wada (An other recipe from a S.Indian Book)
Thanks Fun
-
Try Bantara for good Malaysian / Asian 203-562-2511
Try Roomba for Cuban / Carrebean (Hard to get in) 203-562-7666
Try Union League Cafe (French) 203-562-4299
Try Zinc American / Bar 203-624-0507
-
I have also seen good reivews of a new restaurant called L'escale. Appreantly very expensive in the Rebecca's range. I hope to get there sometime over the summer as well as try some of your recommendations.
Has any one been to Lescale? What is the menu like. Was planning to make a weekend reservation if any one is suggesting the restaurant. How is the pricing, per person $ 25 to 30 ??
Fun
-
The folks at Thali just sent me the address of the restaurant's new Web site, which contains menus and photographs:
Very interesting - I cannot believe it that I actually spent time scrolling through their menu and found some things I'd not find in any restaurant (that I know of) in NYC.
Gotta do a junket to yale.edu
Thanks for the link fat Guy and Anil. Had a little bit of trouble getting the menu without down loading it. But finally able to open it.
Fun
-
I have had some dynamite soft shelled crabs, but have never prepared them.
I have never bought them, for that matter. Anyone have comments on reliable sources and or methods of preparation?
Sources? It depends where you are. How about a major grocery store who carries good seafood or a commercial seafood supplier.
Fun
-
Any recommendations for restaurants in the Greenwich area, especially anything relatively new?
How about
Barcelona - Stylish, comfortable and quite sophesticated.
Polpo - The good old 100 year mansion for fine Italian.
Dome - From contemporary Spanish and slight mix of Asian and for a after dinner drink with some music.
Baang - One of the top restaurants in the area, features modern Asian with a hint of French.
Asiana - Simple Chinese / Pan Asian.
Relatively new is Ginger man a New York Style Bar & Restaurant
I have tried them all and was not disappoined.
Fun
-
Chola, on the other hand, is something I think we should give a try. I haven't yet been there, only had takeout from there. Their lemon rice gives Diwan's a run for its money, and that's saying a lot.
Cheers,
Soba
PS.
Was there the other night at Chola and please do not give importance to the lemon rice, all the other food was not at all apreciated by my company at all. At chola I felt like I was doing them a favor.
Love - Fun
-
On the Kinkead's thread (DC board), Steve Klc points out that restaurants are generally rated on the basis of dinner -- that's the service given more scrutiny -- sometimes the ONLY scrutiny, and often the only one mentioned in write-ups.
If a restaurant serves other dayparts -- whether breakfast, lunch, late-night, or something in between -- do you think those other meals should be included in the consideration, and mentioned in reviews?
Well the restaurants ratings are just an introduction by the reviewer to a an ordinary diner or to an expert diner. Basically he is the eyes of the audience.
Now if the ratings are based on dinner/lunch/breakfast/bar scene/happy hour it's his opinion and now it is upto the diner to discover the rest of the events and make their own judgements and ratings in their personal dairy.
In most cases(restaurants) I usually find that restaurants opened by known operator/chef or a new operator.owner with the best firm in public relations get an automatic full review and an indepth review and pick the good things and often forget the negatives.
So overall whether it is dinner/lunch or what ever , sometimes it is unfair.
As I have said earlier, it is an introduction to a restaurant by the reviewer to a prospective client and it is copletely up the client to judge from their on.
I personally think and am strong about a noted news paper or Magazine such as Times or Gourmet should be a team of people with different ethnic background and knowledge of food will be a review of much more credibilty for the readers than the present situation. (This topic was on FG'S posting on understanding the unknown food)
If budgets are constraint, too bad for the small news papers or mags.
Given the talent of the EGulleter's will make an excellent team of reviewers.
Fun
-
Is it possible to buy Duck Fat.
better idea - buy a duck.
trim the carcass of all the fat, grind and render. from one duck you'll have enough fat for a months supply of roasted potatoes
Last night I had friends over. One of the menu items I had chosen was Duck. I had the whole duck and collected enough fat for a months supply as have mentioned earlier. I used the duck fat in two ways. I had roasted thyme tomatoes done pan seared from Beef Steak tomatoes and I burnt generous portion of garlic and sauteed some spinach. Turned out very good.
Fun
Great Chinese Food in CT
in New England: Dining
Posted
Must be kidding !! Chinese waiters in traditional old Chinese restaurants? They just seem to shake their heads and never take requests or listen to you. At least, I have never been lucky with them.