Rosie

I spoke with New Jersey Monthly and they said the following: "While personally we may disagree with some of the results, they are our readers' choices and all ballots have been vetted for fraud. Frankly, there are some choices we don't understand or agree with, such as River Palm as an inexpensive restaurant, but can't invalidate choices we don't agree with because that defeats the purpose of the Poll. We included critics' and chefs' picks this year. How do e-gulleteers feel about those choices?"

I can make a health salad.

Had kangaroo in Australia. It tastes like beef but not fatty and without the rich taste of beef. I don't need to ever have it again.

There must be alot of rich people in Bergen County who think that $75 plus per person for dinner is inexpensive.

Chef Reda has informed me that the show actually aired last Fri. 7/11 and will be on the next 3 Friday evenings.

I agree.

Seven Hills was reveiwed in August issue of NJ Monthly.

Lowell and I recently dined at Fascino, 331 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair. This is a lovely restaurant with wood floors, airy see through drapes across the windows and some roomy booths against one wall. The restaurant has a chic look. When seated we were brought an amuse of chopped olive spread on a slice of lightly toasted bread and a basket of crunchy bread and olive oil. We started with cornmeal crusted calamari with tomato-fennel compote; organic garden salad tossed with house vinaigrette; scungilli salad marinated in lemon and extra virgin olive oil and heirloom tomato and mozzarella di bufala salad. All were good but I thought the tomato/mozzarella salad was particularly worth ordering especially since tomatoes are in season. Entrees were very good. Lowell's fennel dusted pork tenderloin with broccolini and sour cherry sauce was a winner. I had a juicy sage and garlic roasted chicken with potato puree and summer squash. This was actually a large chicken breast off the bone and not a 1/2 roasted chicken that I expected. Friends devoured their pasta dishes which can be ordered as an appetizer or main course: hand made spaghettini with Manila clams and a parsley emulsion; and orrechiette with shrimp, artichokes, and roasted zucchini. We will go back here and am anxious to try the pasta and fish dishes. We ooohed and ahhhed over dessert. Don't miss it. Everything we tasted was worth the calories. We had an outstanding cappuccino brulee that I didn't want to share with anyone! Also, the beautifully presented panna cotta came in three shot glasses with three different flavors (apricot almond, pomegranate, and white chocolate) and pistachio dusted tuiles on the side. Loved the crust and filling on the sweet crostata (a free form tart) that was filled with sour cherries and of course we also fought over the rich cannoli flavored cheesecake made with ricotta and mascarpone and studded with chopped bittersweet Perugina chocolate and flavored with a hint of orange and cinnamon. Coffee and cappuccino, both very good, finished the meal. The restaurant is BYO and we were given new glasses when we started on our second bottle. Service was attentive. For reservations call 973-233-0350.

There is a review of Makeda in the August issue of New Jersey Monthly magazine.

Metuchen--Mr Pi's for sushi New Brunswick--Nova Terra or Soho on George. I like Seven Hills of Istanbul in Highland Park also.

Haven't been to Makeda in a long time. There is an Ethopian restaurant opening in Montclair soon.

Yes, there is a list but it's too long for me to type. It's in the magazine. What do you want to know?

There are some very good restaurants in Cape May if you want to drive there. 410 Bank Street and Ebbitt Room just won the Best of the Best for South Jersey in the 2003 Readers' Choice Awards in NJ Monthly.The Lobster House won for Best Seafood, South.

2003 New Jersey Monthly Readers' Choice Awards Best of the Best North Stage House Restaurant and Winebar The Manor Andre's Central Restaurant Nicholas The Ryland Inn Stage Left South 410 Bank Street Ebbitt Room Rivoli's CONGRATULATIONS to all of the winners and to our very own LOU REDA from An American Grill who won Best New American, North.

He's not going to have time to play golf as this is OUR vacation together. Also it will be too hot. He just wants to see the golf courses. We will dine out though! Thanks for the info.

"Rosie, it's interesting to read that restaurants in Australia and New Zealand offer bread as an a la carte option. In Spain, many restaurants charge for bread, but I feel it's a cover charge rather than a charge for what you eat in most cases. Two generations ago, it was common in France to charge for bread and tablecloth -- literally bread and cover, which is the origin of cover charge, I believe. " The funny thing was that if you order soup it came with a thick slice of hearty bread and was cheaper and much better than the bread brought in a basket. We weren't impressed with the bread in Australia/New Zealand except for toast that we would order for breakfast in local coffee shops. We were tempted to order the soup with bread and tell them to hold the soup!

" If people ask for bread, give them bread. You don't want to force the FOH to be lecturing guests on why they can't have bread. So make some bread every day and if people specifically ask for it, give it to them." Without knowing that bread is served when requested problems will arise because some customers will start complaining that Table A received bread and Table B didn't. When visiting Australia and New Zealand we quickly learned that bread is only part of the meal if you pay for it. It is an a la carte item. We found this to be disconcerting as we are used to having bread served at a restaurant even if we choose not to eat it. Like your idea of snacks between meals but think it would could cause problems with getting them to all the tables at the right time.

Basilico in Millburn. BYO

I have dinner plans on the 18th and the 25th and could not eat a lunch like Lou serves and then go out to dinner. Could possibly stop by to say hello on the 18th. Can't on the 25th. After that I am away for a bit. Make your plans and I will try to get there.

Health Checks from 7/13 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...UVFeXk2NDAyMDc2

Going right after Labor Day. Should I stay at Lake Arrowhead rather than Big Bear Lake? Found a very nice B&B but haven't booked it yet.

Carolyn--I like the way you think! Sounds like a good idea.

Thank you so much. Don't think we will make lunch. Plane gets in at 11:30. We'll go someplace for dinner and the rest of the weekend will be with family.

If possible please send addresses for Tsukiji, Shin Sen Gumi and Sen Nari in Gardena. Arriving the end of August and staying at the Marriot in Torrance. Plan on leaving Sunday of Labor Day weekend for Palm Springs. Husband wants to see golf courses and we would like to take a drive through Joshua Tree. I understand it is very hot and we will be unable to hike. Upscale on the edge restaurants serving cuisine that I may not find in NJ/NY would be great. Then going to Bear Lake. Never been and it sounded like a nice place to spend a few days. We like all types of cuisine and are open to anything interesting.

Japanese is fine--Thank you. How about Depot in Torrance? It's a James Beard restaurant. We are going to Big Bear lake for the hiking and scenery but would like to dine places that are a few steps --make that alot of steps above a Denny's etc. Will go to Palm Springs because we have never been there and know that it will be very hot. The last time I was in CA we had dinner at The French Laundry. Made the reservation and then got the plane tickets. Hope this info helps you with dinner suggestions. Thank you again. Rosie