Rosie

Thanks John. I know we can always count on you to find the best of the best! Keep the hot dog reports coming.

THANKS FOR THE LINK!

Are you cooking? Going out to eat? I'm cooking. Let us know what you are doing and/or where you are going. And a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

LOL--the maple syrup. Reminds me of when I asked a waitress if the salmon was farm raised and she told me no it was fresh. Had dinner once at Suzanne Foo's and don't know what the fuss is all about. Tasted like Chinese food for Americans.

Health Checks 11/23 CLICK HERE: http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...UVFeXk2NDU1MDQ0

Thanks for the report. When did they open and do you have a phone #. Sorry I did not reply or thank you for the 3 Forty Grill post but be assured I and most everyone here reads all the posts. Especially Tommy.

Had a delightful meal at Madame Claude, 364 4th St, Jersey City (BYO). This is a very tiny restaurant with perhaps 28 seats so be sure to make a reservation. Also, expect to be seated close to others and service can be as funky as the place. For example when we asked for water at a table for four we got one glass of water. At 7 PM on a Saturday evening they were out of the plat du jour. We had to ask for a spoon to serve ourselves the mussels. But we liked this restaurant, had fun and a good meal and therefore would return. We started off with a plate of French fries to nibble on while we read the menu. Appetizers were tomato soup served in a deep bowl; large order of mussels in a mustard sauce; and a large assortment of imported pates with mesclun salad. A plate of French Fries came with one of the above so we ended up eating those also! The bread was ok but was lip smacking dipped into the mustard sauce that came with the mussels. No one was surprised that Lowell ordered the pork chops with honey mustard sauce, roasted potatoes and broccoli rabe. I had the filet of sole with a red pepper sauce, spinach and yellow rice. The other entrée was a baked salmon served with tomatoes, fennel and haricot vert. I loved the salmon and the pork chops but thought the sole was overcooked. There was nothing not to like about dessert! One dessert was an assortment of imported French cheeses, apples and greens which of course we liked although there weren’t any exotic cheeses on the plate. Also had a very good chocolate crepe and a fabulous tarte tatin with crème fraiche. Dinner was $75 a couple with tax and tip. AND—BE FOREWARNED—THEY DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS. We did not see anything on the menu or the front door to indicate this. Bring cash. Phone: 201-876-8800

Try the osso bucco at Corso 98 in Montclair. Excellent.

I had a very nice seafood salad for lunch at Legal Seafood. If you are at the mall it's a good place to have a meal. I wouldn't necessarily drive there for dinner though.

Thanks. Sounds like it is worth a trip.

Thanks for info. Do you have the phone #?

Haven't been. Heard it's upscale. Will try to find out more info.

Please post address and phone #. Thanks.

They make an excellent pasta and bean soup at Bella Rosa, East Hanover.

Cynthia DePersio, pastry chef at Fascino (and Chef Ryan's mom) has a recipe for Pecan Raspberry stars in the December issue of New Jersey Monthly magazine. p 25.

If there are foods that you don't like you need to tell the waitstaff when you order. If you know that you are going to a tasting dinner you need to tell the hostess what you can't eat when you make the reservation. Be sure to get the name of the person you speak to in case there is a problem that evening. I have had tasting dinners that were 5 courses and at The French Laundry and Tetsuya's in Sydney, Australis I had 14 plus courses. You learn to pace yourself!

I have had tasting dinners where I have been asked before hand if I am allergic to anything or is there anything that I don't eat.

Can you list the restaurants that are on eBay or provide a link?

Dinner tonight was at Origin, 25 Division St., Somerville (BYO) and the food was just as delicious as it was on previous visits. We started off with marinated seared tuna with a sesame soy mustard dressing; Peking duck salad with containing roasted duck, apples, pineapple, cashew nuts, and Thai dressing; and steamed egg noodles with mushrooms, soy sauce, garlic oil, baby bok choy, and fresh crabmeat. Entrees were a seafood combination platter with steamed sticky rice, grilled vegetables and a trio of dipping sauces; duck tamarind which was a half boneless crisp duck served with Asian eggplant, kiwi and tamarind sauce; crispy fried whole fish seasoned with tamarind, chile and garlic; and a special of ostrich. The sauces here make the dish and everything was perfectly cooked. Don't be upset if you are too full to have dessert as the chocolate mousse cake and bananas with a sauce were just ok. Phone: 908-685-1344. Where did you dine this weekend?

A group of ten gathered at Corso 98 on Saturday night. We started off with bruschetta topped with a diced cooked eggplant, onion, zucchini and tomato mixture and warm crusty bread. Because the group was so big I preordered the appetizers which were served family style. We had fried calamari with two dipping sauces; pan roasted Prince Edward Island mussels with a Pinot Grigio butter sauce, roasted garlic and tomatoes; fried polenta sticks with a garlic laden dipping sauce; a field green salad with grilled figs, honeyed walnuts, and goat cheese; and chitarra with bolognese sauce. All were fabulous. Entrees, which were also delicious and loved by all included Chef Dino's not to be missed roast suckling pig with broccolini and roasted potatoes; veal osso buco with creamy polenta,.Chilean sea bass; rack of lamb topped with frizzled onions; a wild boar stew studded with onions, potatoes and mushrooms served in a scooped out loaf of bread; and braised short ribs with a butternut squash polenta. A few people managed to order desserts. I bypassed tastes of the hazelnut ice cream; bittersweet mousse cake and the chestnut and chocolate pie. BYO. Phone: 973-746-0789.

Health Checks 11/16 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...UVFeXk2NDUyMzMx

Fascino, I think what you are doing is a great idea. Be sure to let us know when you are going to have the winter tasting.

Someone just told me about a place called River Edge in Red Bank. Know anything about it?

=Mark This place is sounding good. How much was dinner?

Will do. Il Repasso is good but if I am going out for Italian I'll go to Corso 98, Montclair, Stretches in Livingston or Il Forno in Montclair. Have you been to Lulu's? Was there once also and didn't care for the food. However, they received a great review in the paper.