Rosie

I'm one step ahead of you GO BLUE. We were at Park Pastries last week and shared a delicious piece of carrot cake and coffee. We were at the Hoboken museum, a small space, but very interesting. Then we shopped at Sparrow Wine and picked up some interesting bottles.

We recently returned to Origins on a Sunday at 5 and they were packed by 6 PM. What did you have?

Augustino's, 1104 Washington Street, Hoboken is a quirky little restaurant with seven tables, cash only policy and a waitress who insists on knowing the names of everyone who dines there. When I called for a reservation I was asked my name. I started to respond with my last name and was told "no, your first name." I gave my name, and was then asked what the name of the person was who was dining with me. I gave that also and thought this will be interesting. I was never asked this before. On the day of our reservation I received a phone call confirming the reservation. " Rosalie, you and Lowell have a reservation tonight. I am calling to confirm." This sounded even more interesting-- a restaurant that personalizes service. We arrived at Augustino's 15 minutes early as we had no difficulty getting parking in Hoboken. Usually we allow an extra 30 minutes just to find parking. Dining there in the summer certainly has its advantages. When we walked in our table wasn't ready and we were asked to go to the small bar at the rear of the restaurant. BTW-smoking is allowed at the bar. Lowell ordered a beer and I looked at the very reasonable wine list. We ordered a bottle. Bruschetta was brought out for us to nibble on which was excellent with juicy tomatoes and some shaved cheese. We also looked at the menu and a written list of the specials without the prices that was on a small pad. At 7:15 our table was ready, we were called by our names and the wine was brought to our table. The bar bill was added to our check making payment easier as it is a "cash only" restaurant. Dinner was very good and we look forward to returning to this restaurant. There was one dish we weren't crazy about--a chicken on the bone with peppers, mushrooms and sausage which had a very vinegary sauce. Pickled red peppers were also used and although the chicken was good, we just didn't care for the abundance of vinegar. Fabulous warm bread was brought to the table along with butter. Olive oil as well as a pepper mill were on the table. We started off with a tender, light calamari salad with onions and celery in a lemon dressing. Next we shared orecchiette with broccoli rabe with hot sausage that was fabulous. The dish was split in the kitchen for us. Portions are very generous and at this point I was a happy camper! Next Lowell had the chicken and I had a special of rack of lamb with a side of don't miss potatoes, onions and tomatoes. Dinner comes with pasta or a vegetable. The lamb came with 8 ribs and were perfectly cooked. Dessert and coffee were disappointing. We shared a white chocolate/chocolate cheesecake that was not worth the calories and was not made in house. If you go here be sure to make a reservation. They will be open on Monday's after September 9. Phone: 201-420-0104.

I've never met a fois gras I didn't like.

This is what I wrote on eGullet a few weeks ago about the desserts at Nicholas. Next was a dessert tasting and the presentation was very impressive. Each plate had a semi circle cookie banner on the rim; one read happy anniversary and one read happy birthday. Each had a candle sitting in a plump raspberry. This is what I remember--an outrageously delicious apricot tart with almond ice cream and white pepper that I dreamed about all night; a warm Valrhona chocolate cake with a pineapple chip and vanilla ice cream; a crème brulee trio (ginger, pistachio and vanilla); and a mille-feuille with fresh berries and cream.

Sounds wonderful. Thanks for the report. Did you have wine? How much did this meal cost?

Are you going out this weekend? Where? Summer is almost over. Is there a restaurant that you have been wanting to go to before the summer is over? Been anyplace exciting that we must try?

Rosie -- If the price is $45 for the prix fixe lunch, the price reflects a $10 increase over the $35 I paid as recently as 2 months ago. There are two tasting menus. A $35 and a $45. We splurged~

Three glasses of wine---by the glass. Pinot Noir and Sancerre. Would have done more but the 100 degree temp and the restaurant was cool but not cold. I'm much more comfortable drinking when I am not driving.

A recent lunch at Bouley was sublime-- a perfect dining experience. The food and service were flawless. I don't know when the water glasses were refilled but they were always full. A glass of ice we requested was replaced throughout our three hour lunch without our ever having to ask for more ice. Every need was anticipated. I have also never seen so many different breads offered throughout our meal; saffron, sour dough, raisin, walnut, pistachio, and apple are a few that I remember. Before you enter the restaurant the mood is set. The entrance hall has "ladders" on which apples are stacked. The fragrance and visual effect is stunning. We had the following summer tasting menu priced at $45. Amuse Bouche: A glass about 6 inches tall was layered with crabmeat, gazpacho and guacamole. First course: Phyllo crusted Florida shrimp, delicate Cape Cod squid, a sea scallop and crabmeat were surrounded by an ocean herbal broth. Superb. Second course: Maine salmon with a fricassee of sweet corn, sugar snap peas and sorrel accompanied with a frothy buttery sauce and Atlantic halibut surrounded by finely diced local Ruby beets and a beet/horseradish sauce. Of the two dishes I liked the halibut the best. Next the chef sent over a demitasse cup layered with sea urchins, kaffir lime mousse, and caviar. This course was half eaten and I didn't hate it but I wouldn't order it! Third course: Pennsylvania all natural chicken roasted with Roma beans, green asparagus and Canadian chanterelles with a fresh chamomile sauce and a roasted organic tenderloin of veal with a pinot wine sauce and confiture of scallions. The chicken was moist and tender as was the veal. The accompanying mashed potatoes were rich and very smooth. We opted next for an a la carte cheese plate. Fourth Course: a wonderful fresh local strawberry soup with black mint sorbet. I enjoyed the soup but not the sorbet. Dessert: A hot Valrhona chocolate soufflé, with scoops of chocolate sorbet, vanilla ice cream, maple ice cream and prune Armagnac ice cream. This was the best version of this dessert that I have ever eaten. We also had a white chocolate mousse served in a martini glass. Berries were on the bottom, then the mousse, a layer of strawberry sauce and a topping of an ten exotic fresh fruit sorbet that tasted like mango to me. Coffee was outstanding. After we paid our bill, $102 per person with tax and tip, a lovely assortment petit fours were brought to our table. I remember tasting tuilles, a nut coated truffle with a pistachio cream center, sesame brittle, a chocolate ganache in a shell, and a custard cream tart topped with berries.

I'm not familiar with Gristedes. What NJ supermarket would you compare it to?

Lou--I have always said that a restaurant should have good bread because it sets the mood for the rest of the meal and "good coffee leaves a good memory of a great meal." Didn't know that Trattoria Toscana was open for lunch.

After living in the area for six years we finally got to try Trattoria Toscana, 554 Rt 10 West, Whippany (BYO) and were very pleased with the food. When seated bruschetta topped with tomatoes, onions and beans were brought to the table along with warm Italian bread. Herbed olive oil was on the table. There were specials listed on a blackboard without the prices and the waiter also verbally explained them without the prices. We shared mussels in a delicious hot sauce for an appetizer. Entrees were a grilled salmon with escarole and beans and two pork chops with crunchy roasted potatoes and broccoli. Both were very good and the portions were quite large. The only dessert made in house was the cannoli so we opted for chocolate gelato. What we found to be "interesting" is that the list of specials changed twice during the night within a fifteen minute period. As it was the same waiter reciting them we couldn't figure out if the list changed with the customer or if the waiter didn't remember all of the specials. Also, the owner told a table near us about another special that the waiter didn't recite to anyone. In any case, we liked this place and will try it again. The restaurant is small and gets busy even on weekdays. Phone: 973-386-0303.

I've had it cooked at a restaurant in Mendocino, CA. It was very rich and buttery/oily. It was listed as escolar on the menu.

Food Arts, a trade magazine has an article a few times each year called "what do they know." In it chefs from all over the country describe elegant, exotic dishes and some not so unusual dishes that they put on their menu and no one ordered them. So, I think the problem you are speaking about is universal except in large cities. While it is true that the restaurateur is in business to make money and should therefore offer what the customer wants--I also feel that the chef should also raise the food awareness of his customers. If you look at the abundance of wine dinners, tasting events and the innovative menus of some NJ restaurants you would see that some NJ foodies do "get it" and want the type of food that is found at Nicholas, Ryland Inn, Bernards Inn, Epernay etc.

Once perhaps over 5 years ago. Traditional Italian. Decor needed sprucing up at that time. It had a very good reputation at one time but I haven't heard any buzz on this place in years.

Yes, that's the place. They have a bar and about 7 tables. Cash only.

Anyone been? We passed this interesting "cash only" restaurant recently and were wondering if it was worth the trip to Hoboken.

Hey Nick--It's not fair that you post that tempting menu and we can't taste any of it!

Lou--I stopped ordering Chilean sea bass long before the boycott because I was tired of eating it. Every restaurant had it on their menu and it was becoming boring to me. In any case, I would support the boycott.

Did you ever get the phone #? Do you know the exact address and what was there before they opened? Thanks for the info.

Our latest dinner at Epernay consisted of onion soup; octopus, calamari and chick pea salad; frisee salad with bacon, blue cheese and a poached egg; roasted beet, mache and leek salad; and French fries with three dipping sauces. Entrees were bouillabaisse which is only served on Wednesday; whole roast trout with roasted artichokes and potatoes with a lemon caper vinaigrette; "Niman Ranch" pork chop with asparagus, baby turnips and fingerling potatoes; and hanger steak with bone marrow surrounded by a red wine sauce. Everything was first-rate but we thought the pork chop and steak were the "winning" entrees of the evening. After a cheese plate we managed to find room for a lemon tart, crème brulee, profiteroles filled with ice cream accompanied by a pitcher of warm chocolate sauce and chocolate mousse. So far we have only tried two of Chef Mark Papera's "plat du jour" (bouillabaisse on Wednesday and cote de boeuf on Thursday) so we will be back to try game on Monday, tuna nicoise on Tuesday, ris de veau on Friday and navarin of lamb on Saturday. Call in advance for reservations. This place gets busy even during the week. Phone: 973-783-0447.

Updated 8/7 28 Oak in Ridgewood 973 Restaurant--Florham Park Al Dente - Piscataway Amanda's Hoboken An American Grill -Randolph Andiamo's--Haworth Arthur's Downtown - Newark Attilio's Kitchen , Denville, Bangkok Garden -- Hackensack Bayou Cafe - Manesquan Bernards Inn--Bernardsville Beyti Kebab--Union City Brix 67 - Summit Buona Sera - Red Bank Casa Comida - Long Branch Cheesecake Factory-Hackensack China 46 -- Ridgefield. Ciao Bella-Cresskill Cifelli's--Harrison Civile - Kenilworth CK's Steakhouse--Rutherford Cubby's BBQ - Hackensack Dai Kichi - Montclair Deja Vu - Montclair Dining Room-Short Hills Hilton El Cid--Paramus El Gran Mexicano - Bogota El Meson - Freehold Epernay--Montclair Ferrari's Ristorante, 3475 Route 9 North, Freehold Fink's Funky Chicken & Ribs - River Edge Fiorino's--Summit Frog & the Peach--New Brunswick Fromagerie - Rumson Giovanna's - Plainfield Harlequin--Wharton Highlawn Pavillion--West Orange Il Capriccio - Whippany Il Villaggio--Morris Plains Il Villino, Waldwick Juanito's - Red Bank Julios-West Orange Kervan--Cliffside Park Kinara--Edgewater Koreana--Fort Lee Krogh's - Sparta La Chalupa - Red Bank La Fonda--Highland Park La Fontana--New Brunswick La Tartuferia--Hoboken Legal Seafoods--Paramus Lime-Westfield LouCas - Edison Maize--Newark Maketa - New Brunswick Marcello's-- Ridgewood Mei Thai--Woodbridge Metropolitan Cafe - Freehold Mexicali Rose-Montclair Minado - Little Ferry Mojave Grill - Westfield Namaskaar -Paramus Navesink Cafe - Red Bank (Seasonal, May - October) Nero's--Livingston Nusantara Asian Cuisine--Morris Plains Panico's New Brunswick Portuguese Manor-Perth Amboy Primavera - West Orange Rays Seafood - Little Silver River Palm Terrace--Edgewater, Fair Lawn, Mahwah Sea Shack in Hackensack Seabra's Armory - Perth Amboy Sirin--Morristown Solaris -Hackensack Sonoma Grill - East Rutherford South City Grill--Mountain Lakes and Rochelle Park Spanish Pavillion-Harrison Spanish Sangria-Newark Spanish Tavern-Newark Sri Thai--Hoboken Stage House Inn--Scotch Plains Sylvester's--Hasbrouck Heights T Thai-Hoboken Tapas de Espana Taro - Montclair Thai Chef - Montclair The Blue Marlin - Bradley Beach The Fulton Crabhouse--Cliffside Park The Iron Monkey--Jersey City The Potrero Grill - Hackensack The Station at Mountain Lakes--Mountain Lakes Theresa's - Westfield Thirsty Moose - Jefferson Township (Lake Hopatcong) Tony Brothers--Oakland Trap Rock Brewery - Berkeley Heights Tre Vigne--Basking Ridge Umeya--Cresskill Vila Nova Do-Sol-Mar-Newark Whispers - Spring Lake

Update 8/7/02 28 Oak in Ridgewood 973 Restaurant--Florham Park Al Dente - Piscataway Amanda's Hoboken An American Grill -Randolph Arthur's Downtown - Newark Attilio's Kitchen , Denville, Bangkok Garden -- Hackensack Bayou Cafe - Manesquan Bernards Inn--Bernardsville Brix 67 - Summit Buona Sera - Red Bank Casa Comida - Long Branch Cheesecake Factory-Hackensack China 46 -- Ridgefield. Ciao Bella-Cresskill Cifelli's--Harrison Civile - Kenilworth Cubby's BBQ - Hackensack Dai Kichi - Montclair Deja Vu - Montclair Dining Room-Short Hills Hilton El Gran Mexicano - Bogota El Meson - Freehold Epernay--Montclair Ferrari's Ristorante, 3475 Route 9 North, Freehold Fink's Funky Chicken & Ribs - River Edge Fiorino's--Summit Frog & the Peach--New Brunswick Fromagerie - Rumson Giovanna's - Plainfield Harlequin--Wharton Highlawn Pavillion--West Orange Il Capriccio - Whippany Il Villaggio--Morris Plains Il Villino, Waldwick Juanito's - Red Bank Julios-West Orange Koreana--Fort Lee Krogh's - Sparta La Chalupa - Red Bank La Fonda--Highland Park La Fontana--New Brunswick Legal Seafoods--Paramus Lime-Westfield LouCas - Edison Maketa - New Brunswick Marcello's-- Ridgewood Mei Thai--Woodbridge Metropolitan Cafe - Freehold Mexicali Rose-Montclair Minado - Little Ferry Mojave Grill - Westfield Namaskaar -Paramus Navesink Cafe - Red Bank (Seasonal, May - October) Nero's--Livingston Nusantara Asian Cuisine--Morris Plains Panico's New Brunswick Portuguese Manor-Perth Amboy Primavera - West Orange Rays Seafood - Little Silver Seabra's Armory - Perth Amboy Sirin--Morristown Solaris -Hackensack Sonoma Grill - East Rutherford Spanish Pavillion-Harrison Spanish Sangria-Newark Spanish Tavern-Newark Sri Thai--Hoboken Stage House Inn--Scotch Plains Sylvester's--Hasbrouck Heights T Thai-Hoboken Tapas de Espana Taro - Montclair Thai Chef - Montclair The Blue Marlin - Bradley Beach The Iron Monkey--Jersey City The Potrero Grill - Hackensack The Station at Mountain Lakes--Mountain Lakes Theresa's - Westfield Thirsty Moose - Jefferson Township (Lake Hopatcong) Tony Brothers--Oakland Trap Rock Brewery - Berkeley Heights Tre Vigne--Basking Ridge Umeya--Cresskill Vila Nova Do-Sol-Mar-Newark Whispers - Spring Lake

I will. Thanks.