Rosie

Tommy-Consider keeping a bottle of wine in the trunk of your car just in case. We do this and it has sometimes been a blessing! ;)

Marker 88 is at marker 88 near Islomorada. In Key West go to the Cuban area for breakfast.

Il Mondo Vecchio can get very noisy and crowded. The food is great though. Scalini is a very special place and I wouldn't hesitate to go there. As Jason said, Cinque Figlie in Morris Plains is very good but they have a liquor license. Basilico in Millburn is very good. In Montclair check out Corso 98 and Blue Sky Cafe. Both BYO. Also in Peapack the Limestone Cafe is lovely.

Thanks Walter. Have you heard anything about a new place called Mezza Mezza?

Lowell and I had dinner at Becco, 46th St, NYC last night. Lidia Bastianich and her son Joseph have created a charming restaurant that transports you to a country house in Italy. Our host asked executive chef Billy Gallagher to serve us a tasting menu with wines; everything we ate was delightful and delicious. Four hours after our arrival we rolled out of the restaurant. Becco is always crowded because they are near the theatres and offer a prix fixe menu which includes an antipasto or Caesar salad and unlimited servings of three daily pastas for $21.95. The pasta choices change daily and are based on seasonally fresh ingredients. They also have an extensive wine list where each bottle is $18, a real bargain. Be sure to make a reservation and expect crowded tables and noise. When seated addictive breadsticks, focaccia and Italian bread with a creamy bean dip were brought to the table. We started out with a hot antipasto containing baked stuffed clams, stuffed mushroom caps, eggplant rollatini and crispy baked shrimp. Then we had a cold antipasto with riccota cheese drizzled with honey, salmon tartare, potato salad, bean salad, grilled vegetables, fresh artichoke hearts, and a marinated fish. Our next course was pasta: rigatoni in a tomato basil sauce; risotto with rock shrimp; and a peppery linguini with string beans and mushrooms were wonderful. I especially liked the peppery flavors in the linguini. From here we moved onto our main course which was a grilled double cut loin pork chop with a stew of sweet peppers and grilled shrimp over arugula. A plate was brought to our table containing slices of different desserts. I thought this was a dessert plate for us to choose our dessert from. It turned out to be a sampler! We had warm apple tart; chocolate zabaglione cake, panna cotta to die for; home made ice cream; and a bread pudding. I was too full for coffee but Lowell said his espresso was delicious. I learned that the name Becco comes from the Italian word beccare, which means to peck, nibble or even to savor something in a discriminating way. We did all of that and more!

Been to Quiet Man and liked it. However, you are the second person who told me that there was an excellent Spanish restaurant down a side street in Dover but they didn't know the name. I am depending on YOU to find out! ;)

"i think i'm going to the Trackside in Ramsey tonite. report to follow (if it's notable). " Tommy--let us know even if it isn't notable.

You need to keep antibacterial soap on your hand for 3 minutes in order for it to be effective.

The only ones that I would return to are Champps and Outback.

Can anyone recommend an ethnic restaurant in the Dover area?

We liked Budakan (sp) and Tangerine when we were there last year.

I go to Costco and buy a dozen sponges and throw them out when I think I need a new one. Steven--how often do you get sick? I mean--do you get sick from old sponges? What about bathroom glasses? How often do you wash them?

Terrazza's is next door to Petit Cafe which serves dinner on Fri. and Sat. nights. We were there once and liked it. BYO

Paisano's is also in Rutherford. BYO

Petit Cafe serves dinner on Fri. and Sat. nights. BYO In Montclair--which is very close to Nutley we like Corso 98 and Blue Sky Cafe.

We are at 55 now. Please vote for me also. I'm at #11.

There are two James Beard restaurants listed: The Century Room Renaissance and R Bistro I remember that we ate in a railroad car but it was quite a few years ago and I don't remember the name. Food was very good though.

My favorites for 2001 in alphabetical order! Amanda's--Hoboken Andre's--Newton Basilico--Millburn Bernard's Inn--Bernardsville Blue Sky Cafe--Montclair Cafe Matisse--Rutherford Corso 98--Montclair Jocelyne's--Maplewood Limestone Cafe--Peapack Nicholas--Middletown Origin--Somerville Rat's--Hamilton Scalini Fedeli--Chatham Soho on George--New Brunswick I am sure that I left some out! Give us your list.

It would be a good place to have an eGullet dinner in the future.

Lou is a very good chef and runs a top notch restaurant. If you haven't tried An American Grill in Randolph be sure to put this establishment on your list for 2002. They have a full bar and a very reasonable wine list. The place is very pretty also.

How is Wasabi?

I wanted to remind everyone to e-mail Rachel your name and phone # if you are coming. =Mark--You can drive to our house and go with us if you'd like.

Gee--we must all be on the same page as I am halfway through the book also. I find the food he talks about interesting but I would have found it easier to read the book if there was a food dictionary in the back. He does eat some strange things though. If you liked KC you will like this book. It's a no brainer, laugh out loud, easy read except for the exotic names of the foods.

I was at a brunch at The Molly Pitcher Inn and it was just typical hotel food. Never been for dinner.

Frog and the Peach or Soho are both lovely restaurants. Another one in that area is Panico's. Amanda's in Hoboken is lovely also as is Jocelyne's (BYO) in Maplewood.