alacarte

will Burger King buy ad space in the magazine?

I'd recommend going. The service definitely has declined from a year ago, but it's still better than many other places. Don't go for brunch, it gets overcrowded. Best bet is to go early or late in the evening for wine and cheese, and go somewhere else for dinner, as entrees are fair to middling. But oh, the cheese menu!!!

I have one foot in both camps. I'm a Fresh Direct fan but I won't be giving up the supermarkets or Greenmarket either. I order from Fresh Direct semi-frequently (maybe once every 2 months) and I find it enormously convenient. I can place an order when things are slow at work and then it arrives a couple of days later. I concur with what's was said above about the prices being competitive (not outstandingly cheap, but decent) and the quality of the food, esp. the produce, being quite nice. And I love that the delivery guys don't hover waiting for tips, though I usually tip them anyway. Since I order kosher meat from FD (yes, blovie, it's quite good, especially the lamb) they will not deliver that on late Friday or Saturdays, in accordance with kosher law. I even used them to do a good bulk of my Passover shopping, which was very convenient and saved me taxi fare back from the Upper West Side kosher emporiums as well as the worry that my perishables were about to perish every time we hit a traffic snarl. Another thumbs-up for FD: they educate consumers about produce, including blurbs noting which items are out of season, how to store produce, and describing more unusual items. For example, I ordered a Charentais melon in my last order, which apparently is in its peak season and which I'd never even heard of before. I was happy to pass up my honeydew for something new. Can't wait to try it -- it smells lovely. I think FD took the NY Times article to heart. The NYT article noted that boxes frequently arrive half-empty to help preserve the quality of the food inside and (I assume) to help save the delivery guy's back. But that means FD uses a small forest's worth of trees for each delivery order. However, last night's Passover delivery came very tightly packed, using about half the number of boxes I'd usually expect. My main complaint with FD is that they often have a limited variety of certain items, and don't always have the brands I prefer. Kosher chicken is an excellent example. Empire is far and away the best kosher chicken around outside of a great local butcher shop. However, FD doesn't carry it. They sell poultry from "Aaron's Best," which I find small, flabby, yellow, and gamy. Instead, I'll go out of my way to the Food Emporium for Empire chicken....and of course, I'll pick up other items while I'm there. I do enjoy the process of looking at produce and new foods in person, and I enjoy seeing what other people are buying. Can't do that online. But I hate shopping in general because I hate crowds (why do I live in NYC then? good question) and I hate lugging home purchases (which delivery can alleviate if I choose). So I'm not inclined to give up FD either.

I saw CM for the first time this past weekend, and I have to say that it's impressive, really gives Whole Foods a run for their money. Papa Roja, any chance you can convince the powers that be at CM to open a branch in NYC?

Scott, I see this is only your second post on eG. Welcome!!!

I've had success growing dill, basil, cilantro, and parsley on my windowsill (eastern exposure). I had bought the plants from the Greenmarket, but ultimately had to toss them out when aphids from one plant took over all four pots. Yeechhh. I've also grown cilantro from seeds. It took a couple of weeks of watering and coddling to get the seeds to germinate, but no aphids! Dill seems to be particularly hardy and grows...like a weed.

I've heard good things about Wasabi as well.

My vote for fish tacos goes to B Bar or the Dos Caminos chain.

I've always wondered -- what do you call the free extras you sometimes receive at restaurants that are not necessarily as formal as amuse-bouches? For example, a gratis tray of olives or hummus. (I do know that one professional chef on this board calls them "free food for free-loaders" but I highly doubt that's the technical term.) I'm also kind of fuzzy on what exactly qualifies a dish to be an amuse-bouche, other than that it's something light that you are offered to "amuse your mouth" before the appetizers and entrees commence. For example, does it need to be free? Does it need to be plated for one vs. a bowl of something for the table? Does it need to be fancy?

I liken it to a secret club that changes its location ... I never know where the Passover store will be until bloviatrix tells us (though it's always the Upper West Side, I think?)

We Are Not Amused -- Steve Cuozzo on the rise and steep decline of the "amuse-bouche." ouch. I'm a fan of the freebie amuse-bouche, myself. whatever your camp, this is a funny article.

Did anyone else know that Duncan Hines offers a red velvet cake mix? Yikes.

Kalustyan's Cafe has closed. It will re-open as Rice (read: Thai), a "Pan-Asian" restaurant which already has an outpost on Mott St.

When I was there, they had only one option, a set lunch menu featuring all kinds of tofu handmade on the premises. Since I don't speak Japanese, and our waitress spoke little English it made it easy to order lunch. I never thought I would enjoy a meal centered around tofu, but I really did. The first dishes we were brought were: a small dish of pickled daikon radish; round, dough-like tofu balls, skewered and grilled; a block of soft tofu coated with a sweet peanut sauce, resembling a flan (and difficult to convey from plate to mouth with chopsticks); and light vegetable tempura. Next: the waitress brings a communal hot-pot to the table, which is set atop a gas flame. The tofu cooks at the table, and then each diner ladles the boiled tofu, miso soup, and diced scallions into their individual bowls. There was no dessert, but it's possible that it was offered on the menu and I was unable to read it or ask for it. Seating is on the floor, on tatami mats, and visitors are expected to check their shoes at the door. I think there's another room with Western-style tables and chairs. I hope you enjoy your trip!

YES!!!! THAT'S IT!!! Kristin, you are the best. Thank you so much for your help. If anyone reading this thread is looking for a great vegetarian meal while in Kyoto, I hightly recommend Junsei (now that I know the name).

I'm kicking myself for not taking better notes during my trip to Kyoto. Can anyone help me find the name of a restaurant located nearby the Kiyomizu temple? It's a tofu restaurant (nothing but tofu) located in a Victorian-style building designed by Takeda Goichi. There's a wrought-iron dragon out front with a sign suspended from its claws -- the sign says "Tofu Restaurant" in English. Seating is upstairs on tatami mats, both indoors and outside on a terrace. Can anyone please help me with the name of this restaurant so I can send a friend there? Thanks in advance for any help, I appreciate it.

Huh? ← click here for Sunday brunch menu

I've been to Turkish Kitchen many times for dinner, and can confirm that it's excellent. In particular, their levrek sis (grilled fish kebab), tarama, and cigar boureki are standouts. I've never been for their brunch, but I don't doubt that it's very good too. Turkish coffee seems like a great way to start the day. But I always thought it odd that they would stray from their core competency to include herring, bagels, and hot dogs & french fries on their menu.

Brunch seems to be a perennial request around here. Here are some links to previous threads: Midtown brunch Downtown brunch Upper East Side brunch Brunch with the kiddies Brunch with the baby boomers

I second Pan's suggestion to try Sunrise. While you're in the neighborhood, M2 market (Third Ave and 12th St) also specializes in Japanese groceries and might have what you're looking for...or might know where to go to get it. What is Okinawa salt used for?

I had dinner at Geisha last night. Boy, I wish I had read this thread first. I booked a table on whim -- we wanted sushi but was looking for someplace we hadn't been before. I concur with most of what has already been said on this thread: the sushi is very good, but in order to get to it, you need to weave through a cocktail lounge that makes you want to bolt for the exit. Every table was filled, but apparently that's because the Regency Hotel down the block sends all their patrons there. When we sat down, I had the oddest feeling that we were the only natives in the joint. On a Friday evening, most New Yorkers dining out in Midtown have come straight from the office, and are dressed accordingly. Instead, the women at each table were dressed extra-fancy, like they were going a wedding (velvet shawls, sparkly jewelry, and in the case of the table next to us, copious amounts of perfume) while the men wore khakis. My suspicions were confirmed at the end of the meal when the waitress brought us two flutes of champagne, "from your concierge." Although mr. alacarte replied, "we live here, this must be for another table," the waitress insisted we keep the champagne on the house, a classy move. And it was very nice champagne. I'll just add that whoever manages the downstairs lounge should be shot. The maitre'd couldn't find one patron's reservation, and refused to acknowledge the five parties piling up behind him until they settled the situation. The hostesses couldn't figure out where any of the tables were to seat anyone. They charge for the coat check, which is their prerogative but still is mildly insulting. There's only one bartender on a Friday night, when the bar is packed three people deep with a "hey-baby" crowd. (UGH.) Luckily, the upstairs space is indeed quiet and serene, so it's shame that you have to brave the downstairs nuisance to arrive at your table frazzled. The sushi is good quality and artfully served, but you shouldn't arrive at your table thinking "is this worth it?" I ordered the Ume Momo Martini (peach brandy & plum wine -- a surprisingly weak drink) and the yellowtail appetizer, which featured four kinds of yellowtail. The fish is very fresh and served in small, squarish pieces, just as they do in Japan. I ordered the chirashi (chef's choice), which is served in an unusual configuration. Typically, chirashi is served in a deep bowl: A layer of sushi rice is topped with nori, sliced fish, and sometimes pickled or fresh vegetables, egg, or other extras. At Geisha, the chirashi is deconstructed and served on a shallow platter: a scoop of rice covered with salmon roe, sliced fish served on the side, and a portion of mesculun salad on the plate. Mr. alacarte ordered the $50 chef's omakase, and they were accommodating about his no-shellfish request. The fish was again very fresh, and a wide variety of fish was given on both plates, including perhaps the tenderest white tuna I've ever had. The final bill came to about $175, includng drinks and tip. We didn't order dessert, but it does appear to be one of the more creative dessert menus I've seen in some time. My final assessment: The sushi was excellent, though I've had as good or better elsewhere in NY. I'm unlikely to go back because the unpleasant experience downstairs and high price tag (not Masa-high, but still an investment to me) almost outweighs the pleasant experience of a good meal.

Zaitstaff @ Nassau & John Street, if you dare to come all the way downtown. Get the BLT with avocado.

We were treated to bacon-chip cookies at a recent NJ pig-pickin event. The cookies were peanut-butter based and studded with bits of crisp bacon. It was not terribly salty, and was actually rather a nice combination.

L'Express -- Park Ave South & 19th Street. They have rillettes, croque monsieur et madame, quiche, etc. at reasonable prices. However, they never seem to have croissants in stock. Go figure.

I like the Bouley Bakery muffins that are available at so many coffee shops across NYC. The Gramercy Cafe on 17th & 3rd makes its own gargantuan corn muffins, which they will split and toast on the grill for you, and serve with butter. Mmmmm.