Rosie

Thanks Pitter. I'm going to No 9 in a few weeks. Have you been there?

Oceana is outstanding. I just saw a pocketsize peppermill in a wine magazine. I love the concept because I don't like to put pepper on my food until I taste it and by that time the busboy has disappeared.

FYI--An American Grill has a new lunch and dinner menu. Anyone been lately?

Kim--You never disappoint us! Waiting your report.

Scott--We didn't specify that it had to be gourmet. Thanks for sharing! Tommy-sprinkle some hot pepper flakes into your stir fry.

They press the pepper into the tuna at Bella Rosa. The restaurant can get very noisy and it is best to go there on a weekday night.

I don't like beer so if I was attending I would want wine. It's BYO so why don't you tell everyone to bring a bottle of wine per person or a six pack and share.

Be sure to give us a report.

We have a baby naming on June 2nd but will be there in spirit. If the date doesn't work out let me know ASAP. Would love to come if we don't have any other obligations. Rosie and Lowell

Gee Rail Paul, I don't know where my mind is today but the place I was thinking about was Tastings not Temptations and it is in Caldwell not Verona.

This is what we had. 1) An assortment of Five Cold Appetizers, including Spicy Capsicum Cellophane Noodles. 2) Two kinds of hot dumplings: Soup Dumplings (or as they call them, Steamed Little Juicy Pork Buns) and Pan Fried Shanghai Buns (which have the texture of steamed buns, but are fried on the bottom, I haven't had these anywere else). 3) Soup: Shanghai Casserole 4) Steam Dungeness Crab over Chow-Fun Noodle w. Minced Garlic 5) Superior Ruby Pork- A giant pork shoulder with mixed herbs simmered for hours. 6) Fish Maw & Mixed Seafood Simmered in White Sauce 7) Steamed Whole Fish 8) Pepper & Salt Shrimp in Shell 9) House Special Sauté, Accompanied w. Baked Sesame Bun - Sauté chopped firmed tofu, ground pork and chives, that you stuff into the crispy pockets, 10) Shanghai Treasure - A unique vegetarian dish- Edamame, tofu sheets cut as noodles, seaweed 11) Stir-fried Rice Cake 12) Dessert: Sweet Rice Balls, coated with Black Sesame and Peanut, stuffed with Red Bean Paste. And, of course, sliced oranges.

Yes! There is another dessert place on Bloomfield Ave. in Verona called Temptations. Haven't been.

Thanks for the report Glenn. I think his homemade biscuits are to die for. I suspect though that what makes them so good is lard or solid shortening.

My tastes have certainly changed. I was at Thai Elephant in Short Hills last year and really thought the food was good. But that was before I ever went to Wondees or Mei Thai! We unexpected ended up there tonight after eating someplace else. Don't ask! :confused: So--we only had entrees which were Pad kee mow (stir fried rice noodles with garlic, egg, bell peppers, basil and chicken in a chili sauce ordered medium spicy but was bland) and veggie and tofu in a hot pot that tasted only of ginger. So--I thought it would be fun to get a master list together of all of the Thai restaurants that we have been to. Let us know if you recommend these restaurants or if they are Americanized versions of Thai food. Keep posting and I'll get a master list together.

Helena--Did you mean Thai Chef or Thai Kitchen? Isn't Thai Chef on Main St. in Somerville?

Our waitress was Hungarian and had a heavy accent. I didn't find the food salty and that was what I was worried about when I ordered the skate.

TCD--Try Epernay in Montclair. BYO

When we were at Xavier's John Mariani was the guest of honor and that may have made a difference in how much non stop food we had. Also, they incuded wine at that time.

More info. We stayed one night at Sharp Rock Farm B&B in Sperryville. They have a website at: http://www.sharprockbnb.com/sharprockbnb/

Manon is very popular. Make reservations for a Sat. night a few weeks in advance.

We stayed one night at a local B&B that was also a winery. If I find the name I'll post it. But you can do a search on the internet for local places. I think we paid $150 for the night and I would highly recommend the place if I can remember where I was! The next night we stayed at the Inn and it was MUCH more expensive----but worth every penny.

Rachel--When you plan these dinners pick a date and whoever can come will come and whoever can't come won't. We have tickets for a play on the 19th so don't change anything because of us. Go with the majority and of course Tommy counts as ten people!! Not everyone will be able to make every dinner although those of us who have been there know they are missing a good time.

Let us know how dinner was. Mayfair Farms is on Eagle Rock Ave. near Pal's Cabin and The Manor. Have fun.

I had whale meat in Norway. It tasted like fishy liver.

What are you doing this weekend? Tonight we are going to Sofia's in North Caldwell, tomorrow Filipo's in Somerville and I am still waiting for a phone call telling me where we are meeting friends on Sunday. And you??? Next week we are going to some charity events. Check my Food Events page. Also, next Fri. we are going to a wine dinner at Christine's in the Somerset Hills hotel. Anyone want to join us?