MetsFan5

A few weeks ago, my parents and I celebrated my father’s 75th birthday at Il Cappricio. The interior and the service were very reminiscent of The Manor’s ala carte dining room (rip). Hand painted ceiling, live piano player, tableside service. I started with the tableside Caesar salad— I miss this old tradition of having a Caesar salad made tableside. It was perfect. I had a few bits of my father’s beef carpaccio, which was a special and also very good. My mom had a special salad which she enjoyed. The bread service comes with butter but also pickled vegetables such as peppers and cauliflower and olives and mushrooms. Had a kick to it, but was a nice touch. I had the Dover Sole special in brown butter. It was amazing and also deboned tableside. My parents both had the “Scringo di Mare” which was semi shelled lobster, jumbo scallops, wild shrimp and seasonal mushrooms in a brandy cream sauce with Salsa Americain. They both finished it— I sampled the sauce and it was delicious. We concluded the meal with coffee (Irish for me), cannoli which was delicious and unique as the shell was a lacy deep fried crispy and sugary shell. Despite the dress code that prefers gentlemen in jackets, they permit neat jeans and while we were a bit dressed up, others were not. I didn’t pay the bill (I tried) so I can only say this is a fairly costly restaurant. They offered valet services, the bathrooms were clean and the service was excellent. Some of the best in a long time. They also have an incredible wine list, but as I was the only one drinking wine I passed on looking at it. I was pleasantly surprised at how great the meal was. Highly recommend. Website: https://www.ilcapriccio.com

what brand of meatballs do you use?

Wow @Shelby that galette is gorgeous! I’m in a funk taste wise. Nothing appeals to me much right now. Not sure why. But your meals looks delicious as always. I’d be happy with a fork, some fresh whipped cream and that galette!!!

A popular small chain of ramen restaurants in my area serves broth less ramen. Sometimes they refer to it as ramen, other times as mazeman. https://www.aniramen.com/menus/#summer Momofuku markets then as noodles, not ramen. I can’t seem to find the cooking instructions; only that they claim to cook in 4 minutes which is pretty “instant” to me.

Charlie is very fortunate! You’re a great dad!

@SLB Thanks for the info. Which flavor(s) did you try. I’m curious how spicy the “spicy” ones are.

I agree their Orange chicken is not great. I think it’s two servings? It’s been a while but a lot of the chicken is full of gristle which was disappointing. It was a two tries and done for me.

I’ve wavered off and on for years about trying Spam. I bought some during the pandemic and it was via an Instacart delivered and hit its expiration within like 6 months. Which I noticed a year later. While I want to try it, I’ve decided not to. If it’s on a menu while dining or ordering out, I will definitely get it. But I already love breakfast sausage, bacon, ham and Taylor ham. I don’t need another salty meat in my life!

As a kid I loved liverwurst. I had odd tastes as a child, loved raw clams, lobster, I’d drink soy sauce! and love olives —yet wouldn’t eat any pasta dish that had a sprinkle of parsley. I tried boarshead livetwurst a few days ago. It wasn’t great. Any recommendations?

@Kim Shook I actually have that same George Foreman grill, still in the box. I got it recently so I can “grill” at my apartment this summer. Good to know you found it to be efficient.

It’s my understanding that they can also be heated in the oven.

As a single person I can see the benefits of Factor. Very little effort or thought, the meals are easy. I’m doubtful if they are rewarding for the price, if the taste is there.

I’ve only made “drunk quesadillas” in college aka putting cheese and whatever protein we had between two tortillas and cooking them on a panini press. Dry fried mushrooms sound excellent in a quesadilla or even a taco! I had an excellent burger dining out at a pub that was almost 100 years old today— perfectly dry fried mushrooms blanketed with a thick and well melted slice of Munster.

My mom wants to sleep in and not leave the house. it will be doordash or UberEats on me. My parents dine out so often that they love when I order something from the local diner via delivery. They can get anything and it’s always good. NJ has a ton of fantastic diners.

Kings maybe?

I’ll loo k to that. I want a creamy, easy to make Mac and cheese without having to make a roux, and without buying 6 different kinds of cheeses. I also don’t grow up eating it so my taste for it finds Kraft acceptable for what it is (aka something you’d happily eat after midnight). Any other recommendations?

Thank you for this explanation. I do like anchovies and most with foods with a burst of Unami or salt, so I will try this at my local restaurant first before cooking with Chinese black beans.

I have a feeling this is a very ignorant question, but I have to ask. I really dislike most legumes. I can at best, take or leave chickpeas. So what is the flavor of Chinese black beans? Is it a soy flavor? I’ve always shied from anything with a black bean sauce, thinking it would be a typical legume taste.

Can you explain more about the sea bass collars? Is all of it edible? I had very poorly shucked oysters last week and was seriously bummed out. Your choices look a lot better! Does the percentage for the staff bother you on bills? I didn’t know Maine did that— I’ve rarely traveled since Covid but expected and accepted it in San Francisco.

Yes thank you! I also dry fry mushrooms. They release a lot of water!

I’m a heathen so when I get those “cocktail” knives as gifts, I just always thought they were sloppy cheese knives. No one has ever said anything but then again I don’t love to socialize 🫣🤣

Can you tell me more about how you think the sherry mushrooms were done? I love that combination. I live about 20 miles from Manhattan and haven’t been since November 2019 for my anniversary (ugh not anymore). That said Manhatta was good then, they’ve made a lot of changes since and my ass isn’t getting on a NJ Transit train any time soon!

I bet. White Castle really being a “thing” in NJ is mostly urban legend. I’ve had White Castle once. i hope you were able to enjoy some of our better offerings!

My gut reaction was “because it tastes like shit”. But I learned a lot reading the responses!

I remember those ducks! My previous comment wasn’t fully truthful; I have asked to take home steak bones (I know!) for my dog. But I still don’t think I said doggy bag. 🤣