Schrohe

Yasuda : Dinner Saka Gura : Dessert After every Yasuda-fest, I find myself consuming large quantities of sake at the bar at Saka Gura. Great place! Good Call!

I haven't been back in a while (primarily because I didn't love all of the OTHER food) but I seem to remember loving the version of this salas at The Village. I might be wrong, but I think they used other lettuces (as well as Frisee). It was great. My favorite version of this salad in the United States is at a place called the Globe in San Francisco...they add some great roasted garlic cloves to the mix.

As a native Northern Californian, I don't know my geography too well...is the Woodstock area considered Hudson Valley?? If so, I would give the Bear Cafe a try. I also have had great meals at the Emerson Inn, but I'm not sure if you have to actually stay there. I'd be anxious to hear where you go...

The highest proof alcohol that I actually enjoy is Stroh Rum. It packs a whopping 160 proof and yet still manages to offer a smooth (and slightly butterscotchy) rum flavor. Sip it neat!

I have to put in a word for Los Dos Molinos. The restaurant is bordering on hideously-cheesy. The service blows. Sometimes the dishes are too salty (the carnitias, sadly!). But, if you get that dish that is light on the salt, you are in store for a great Mexican treat. The burros are generally awesome. Authenticity? Not bad. A family living in Phoenix (with a successful Los Dos in business) packed everyone into the Humvee and headed to NYC. They found a place that had just gone under (Spencers) and moved right in. Spice factor: One of the few places in NYC that's not afraid to light it up a bit. My scalp typically perspires 30 minutes into a meal. Margaritas: I'm not a frozen drinker, but the generous frozen (machine made) margs are pretty tasting and do pack a punch. I give it a 7. Any other feedback?

Wow! I have no idea... If so, it would explain why I liked F&B so much. Also just tried Usingers mortadella: not as good as imported Italian, but pretty close for domestic stuff....

Katz's, Gray's, F&B...all awesome dogs. I had a dog last week that surpassed my wildest expectations. The only problem is that it is mail order and you have to cook it yourself. The meat was most flavorful, butm best of all, the casing was perfect! Just the right about of resiliency. I got them from a place called Usingers, a Wisconsin-based German meat maker. I have purchased Braunschweiger liver sausage there for years and then I tried the "Wieners". Unreal. If you go to the web site, don't get confused with all the offerings. Make sure you try the wieners with natural casing. I'm sure the frankfurters are good too, but I can only attest to the wieners (not the beef wieners, not the veal wieners, simple the wieners!). The web site is www.usingers.com. P.S. They also have great brats!

Morimoto has opened a restaurant in Philadelphia called Moromoto. I spoke with him at a James Beard event this summer and he told me he was going to open one in NYC in 2002...I think in the Lincoln Center area...