Rosie

Mark --How are you handling the money? Are we prepaying or dividing the bill? I still like the idea of ordering 3 of 6 or 7 dishes or 4 servings of 8 dishes! If you figure that one dish will give 4 to 6 people a taste then this would work. We can order 3 of the same dish--one mild, one medium and one hot.

We have been to Wine Library and were very happy with the service and recommendations. I am at the point now where I initial each bottle with where I bought it so if I want to get more I know where to go!

Always enjoyed Patria. The chef will be at a charity event I am attending in a few weeks. Last year he made mojito's by squeezing the juices out of sugar cane with a special machine. It was wonderful.

We concluded tonight after a disappointing dinner at Muse, Morristown that if we want Greek food we should go to a diner. We shared a Greek salad with iceberg lettuce, a few tomatoes, diced cucumbers and scallions tossed in a "Greek" dressing and topped with feta cheese. I had mousaka as an entrée which was not horrible but certainly not as good as the frozen mousaka I buy at the Greek store in Kenilworth. Lowell's entrée was described on the menu as rice baked with shrimp, tomatoes, feta cheese and raisins in a casserole. The shrimp were tough, the rice was red (maybe that's where the tomatoes went), there weren't any raisins and the top was dusted with feta. We decided to bypass dessert but it wouldn't have made a difference because when the waiter cleared our plates he asked, "do you want the check?" Dinner was $68 with two glasses of wine, tax and tip. Ouch! Anyone have any good recommendations for Greek food?

Gary's gives 20% discount on a case.

Sorry =Mark I can have the food mild, medium or spicy so I will not be leaving any or the food alone! Two long tables. You might want to consider pre-ordering the entrees as there will be 18 people. What does everyone think about that. If one person orders one dish and everyone wants to taste it then there won't be enough for me!

Looking forward to meeting you Nina.

Isn't there a bookstore in A2 that specializes in cookbooks?

Thanks for the report. I haven't been there in years. However, I like lamb on the bone and for an $8 surcharge I want the bone!

Are they open for lunch or dinner?

hehe. mark, et al, for the record, i can't go, as i've been told we'll be having people over that day. however, if it rains, that will be called off, and we'll attempt to make our way down there. Oh Good. Tommy isn't coming and I can have the Turley all to myself!

Thanks, I'll check them out.

Any recommendations for a Kosher restaurant within 30 miles of Newark. Private room preferred for a party of 20-30 people including children????

I think Kim said she was coming and so is John L. Also, Peter B said he would be coming.

I can't find a posting here either. I'll have Lowell check the restaurant recipts tonight or tomorrow for a date to see if the posting is buried in another topic. But the bottom line is that we liked the food.

There is a soul food restaurant in Montclair--I think Maple St--called Mr. Jefferson's. Fried chicken is great. haven't tried the fried chicken at Indigo Smoke yet. Niecy's in South Orange also makes a great fried chicken.

A chef that I know who works at Wegman's told me that the rents are too high in North Jersey and that the company didn't have any plans to locate there.

Whose Sangria do you like? Do you like Sangria with brandy in it? I prefer Sangria without the brandy and usually ask for it without sugar. We recently had Sangria at Jai Lai in Dover and it was quite good. So good I couldn't get off of the chair!

We haven't gotten there for dim sum yet but recently had an outstanding dinner at Ocean King. We ordered off of the Chinese menu. Cold noodles were the best I have had in a long time, followed by stuffed tofu, eggplant and peppers and then a seafood noodle dish where the strands of noodles were twisted together to look like shrimp.

Sammy's Ye Old Cider Mill, 353 Mendham Road West (Route 24), Mendham hasn't changed in the 20 plus years I have been dining there. If you want a great steak this is the place to go. And if you do go here don't expect a sign our front letting you know that it is a restaurant. There is no sign and usually a long wait. Things are done differently here. When you enter Sammy's don't wait to be seated. Go to the hostess station or get in line because there will most likely be a line. Look at the menu nailed to the wall and tell the hostess your name and give her your order. Most people come for the outstanding dry-aged Black Angus T-bone steaks, lobsters, and enormous cuts of lamb, veal and pork chops. Dinner includes salad dressed with house made wine vinegar, a fresh vegetable, the best French fries in New Jersey, dessert and coffee. We skip an appetizer. We had steak for two and lobster. Once you have ordered go to the basement where there is a handmade wooden bar which dates back to the 1920's prohibition era when Sammy's was a speakeasy, video games and a bumper pool table to help you bide your time. Order a drink from John (he makes a mean martini) and tell him your name. Don't pay him, but certainly tip him, as the bar bill will be added to your food check (a nice touch). A few minutes before your food is ready the phone will ring, John will call your name and you may now go to the dining room where you will have a scrumptious dinner. Dinner served Mon. through Thurs. 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM; Fri. and Sat. 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM; Sun. 4:30 to 9:00. Phone 973-543-7675 for directions. Reservations are not taken.

I like them medium. WHO likes them medium?????? Tommy????

Thanks for the report. I will get there eventually. So many restaurants............

RAIL PAUL--More important--are you coming and would you like to drive there with us? =Mark--Are we sharing? I want to share.

Rosie and Lowell are coming. And if Tommy comes I'll bring a bottle of wine for him so I can taste and steal his wine. =Mark what happens if everyone orders the same main?

Do you have a menu worked out?