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cat lancaster

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Everything posted by cat lancaster

  1. I travelled 2400 miles to meet these people... Oh wait, I've already been IN the Fresser mobile Cat
  2. Is there still room for one more on the Saturday night event, or is it full? Thanks, Cat
  3. I'm 100% there and very much looking forward to it Cat EDIT - I responded before reading the whole thread, my bad I'm in for everything as I'm going to fly in Thursday afternoon and leave Sunday night. I have multiple free places to stay, so that won't be a problem. Also whatever the price of different events is fine too. Thanks *SO* much for organizing this!
  4. I'm going to be NYC April 10th and would like to stop in for 1) a Pegu Cup, 2) a Sidecar, 3) a Corpse Reviver and 4) a cab to take my drunk butt back to my hotel. How easy/hard is it to get in and what time should I try? TIA, Cat Portland, OR
  5. I haven't been to an e-Gullet Chicago event since I moved away from Chi-town to Portland, OR three years ago. I *will* however be flying back for this one so count me in. I'm very much looking forward to it! Cat in Portland
  6. I called today to try and make a Thanksgiving dinner reservation at Craft. They didn't have any open spots but said they could take us at Craftsteak instead. I mentioned this on another foodboard, and was told that Craftsteak wasn't nearly as good as Craft and that I should try for some place else. There are five of us having dinner, but traditional Thanksgiving food is not important. I'm looking more for upscale, but also good quality. I'm the only one in the group for whom food is a major importance, so this is the one meal on the trip that my friends are going to allow me to run free with. Technically price isn't an issue, but if they have a wine list that has some bargins on it, that would help tremendously. Suggestions are greatly appreciated, as I probably need to make a new reservation in the next day or so. Thanks! Cat
  7. I too strongly recommend Teardrop. It's at NW 10th & Everett in the Pearl district and probably one of the best places for cocktails in Portland. I've been there three times now, and have been very happy with the drinks each time. The first time I was there was their first 'official' opening day so there weren't very many customers. Daniel the owner {I think there are two owners, but Daniel is the only one I've interacted with} served my friend and I and asked what we wanted. I didn't even look at the drink list, just said, "I like bitter, little to no sweet and complicated." He then made me three drinks in a row that were each different, interesting and delicious. Although I did like drinks two and three better then drink one, they were all wonderful. I've since been in there two more times and he has recoginized me and remembered what I liked. I don't think he has ever made me the same drink twice, as they are always creating new bitters, tonics, mixers, etc. When you sit down they give you a little food amuse, which I've liked. I've never ordered off the food menu though and only know one friend who has. She wasn't wild about the food, but I've only been there for drinks and can't rate the menu. You know those people that you meet in the service industry that truly seem to love what they do and try to do everything first rate? That's how I think of Daniel and Teardrop. I live on the east side of the river, and Teardrop is on the west. But if they were closer to me, I'd be the drunken barfly they had to pour into a cab every night Cat
  8. Thank you everyone one, it was very nice to hear the different opinions and that aided in me making my choice. This dinner is the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, so unless the restaurant isn't open, we're going to go with Casa. {And in one of those strange flutes of life/it's a small world - my friend that lived in Brazil now lives in Germany and is flying in to NYC for the weekend. She's the one that especially wanted Brazilian food that week, so I sent her the link to this restaurant. She has only been to NYC twice, and one of those times ate here and loved it. Go figure...} Thanks for your time, Cat
  9. Thanks for the replies everyone - it's appreciated. I also posted this request on the Portland, OR food board, as a lot of our posters are ex-east coasters (like myself) and someone recommended, Casa http://www.casarestaurant.com/ Is anyone familiar with this restaurant? Looking at the website it appears to have the quality that I'm looking for. Thanks, Cat
  10. Three of my friends and I are spending Thanksgiving week in NYC. One of them used to live in Brazil for 5 years, and one of the other ones has visited there often. They would like to eat at a Brazilian restaurant while we are on our trip and I'm looking for some opinions. I searched Chowhound and found: Via Brazil Delicia Zebu Grill How do people feel about these three? I used to eat at a restaurant in DC called The Grill From Ipanema, so if any of you know that place, something of that quality level would be great. Thanks, Cat
  11. Thanks to those who responded - this is a big help! Cat
  12. I'm shocked to hear that Fenouil serves Paella! I've got to check out their menu again as I thought they focused on French/NW dishes, not Spanish. I *really* must be out of the loop! Cat
  13. Has anyone been on a culinary tour of Thailand? And I don't mean in a bus with the polyester set, I mean a small group traveling with a Thai food expert? If yes, what were your thoughts about the quality of the food and the knowledge of the guide? Thanks, Cat
  14. You souldn't be disapointed, both dark, er... I mean clarklewis and Andina are good. The first time I ate at Andina I did not have a very good main course, but we were there for a co-worker's going away party and there were 20+ of us for lunch. I have since be back twice and had excellent meals both times. At clarklewis I wasn't crazy about how the lamb was prepared, although it had very good flavor, I wouldn't order it again. Everything else I've had there was very good and I find the space to be romantic in a *non* cutesy-pie way. Cat
  15. I have been there for both lunch and dinner but never the Sunday brunch. Has anyone been lately and have an opinion? Thanks, Cat
  16. I've only been to Bewon once and it was last summer for lunch. After looking at the pictures here, I've decided that it's time I go back. It's also nice to see that this thread was started two years ago and there was worry about the demise of Bewon. I'm glad to know that the food community here in Portland is supporting them. Abra - this makes post number 75! And thanks for sharing your anniversary weekend with us in Portland - it was lovely to meet you and Shell. Cat
  17. Thank you so much for the invite, Maggie. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend as I have a wedding shower that night. I hope everyone has a lovely time though! Have a tom collins for me... Cat in Chicago
  18. Growing up in Miami, if we caught a Skipjack it either got thrown back or turned into chum. I don't know anyone that actually ate it. So it surprised me when I saw that it was served to you - and at of all places CT. Think of all the good meals I missed out on! How was it? Tell me what dumb bunnies we were for throwing it back! Cat in Chicago
  19. Yep, =Mark talked me into it. I'm a go. Since MaggietheCat, and maybe Aurora seem to be coming from Chitown as well, we can represent the Heartland contingent. Hold on to your hats, keep a drink in our hands, and don't ask us for forgiveness in the morning... Cat in Chicago
  20. I grew up in Miami, and back then there were drive thru liquor stores every where. Granted I left there in 1987 so things might have changed since then, but back then, that was where we would go to buy alcohol because they never carded you. Also, if you bought a bottle of wine, they would open it for you and hand it in through the window. Back then I loved it! Today it scares the pajamas off of me Cat in Chicago
  21. Went on a date with a friend's brother a few months ago. I asked him where he wanted to eat, and he said that The Rain Forest Cafe was his favorite restaurant in the city. I refuse to eat there, so I steared him to Cafe 28 instead. We shared a first course and each had our own main courses. He tried one bite of each and said that the food at The Rain Forest Cafe was much better. We're still on friendly terms (he's a good friend's brother mind you), but I never went out with him again. The Rain Forest Cafe his favorite restaurant???? Cat in Chicago
  22. As long as you enjoyed it, that's all that really matters. We all bring our personal experiences/histories with us when we go out to eat, so someone can love a place that I hate. And of course vis versa. And I don't hate Mia Francesca, I just think that there are better places around. But if you had a good dinning experience, that is what going out is all about. Next time you're here, maybe I can nudge you over to Tuscany. That's one of my favorites. I look forward to meeting you when you move to town. And since I only live about 5 blocks from Wrigley Field, I'm always up for getting people to meet for a Cubs game! After spending hours in the hot sun watching a game, joking with friends, drinking too much beer and eating hotdogs - it's soooo nice to be able to just walk home Cat in Chicago
  23. Humm, I see a new thread starting! Or maybe Mia Francesca has been discussed at lengh before. I don't think I'd call it a killer Italian restaurant. I think it's decent, but the wait on the weekends (b/c this is a hot bed for tourist and people coming in town from the suburbs) is usually 2 to 2 1/2 hours long. Not worth it to me, when there are other better places around. I do hope however that YOU had a wonderful meal there. We can only judge based on our own experiences, so I hope you enjoyed it. Let us know the next time you're in town, and we'll arange a get together. Cat in Chicago
  24. If given a choice, I will only go to Lettuce restaurants when that is demanded by my dining companions. I generally prefer restaurants where there is a chef/owner who cares more about the food then the numbers. That being said - even chef/owners have to care about the numbers too. They want to survive just like everyone else. But in my eyes, Lettuce is a chain that focuses on numbers & marketing, not good/interesting/quality food. Small example - a friend of mine who used to be the executive chef at Fox & Obel was up for a senior position with Lettuce. He did a total of 4 cooking tryouts for them with audiences from Rich to some of his VP's. On the last cooking interview he was to focus on seafood. He did four different dishes that were original and interesting. They didn't give him the job. Their reason - the food was too interesting and what they were looking for was more of a Red Lobster type quality. They wanted to focus on the 20somethings who didn't care about food and wanted a trendy atmosphire. His food was more geared toward foodies and not the average young dining couple. Cat in Chicago
  25. I also had a very good meal foodwise, at MK back in August, but the service was horrible. The server *really* tried to upsell us, and seemed disapointed that we weren't both interested in having appitizers, soup, salad, etc. each, but were sharing one appitizer. When I was deciding on the half bottle of wine for the first course, I asked for his preference between the two bottles that I was thinking about. Both were in the $30 range. He said that neigher were that great, but the one at $158 (for a half bottle!) would be a much better selection. I said no to his choice, and just picked one of the two that I was thinking about. A couple of minutes later, 2 glasses of wine were put down on the table in front of us. I remarked to the person putting the wine down, that that was the first time I had ever ordered a bottle and it wasn't opened in front of me. The woman was surprised, and said that she was told that I had ordered two glasses of the house white. I told her which bottle I had ordered, and immediately it was brought out and served. The half bottle that I order to go with our main course was a 1999. When the waiter brought it to the table, I noticed that it was a 2000. I said that I ordered the 1999, and he said that they were out of it, but would give me the younger wine for the same price. I just let that go. Then as he was pouring the wine for me to try, he took away the half a glass that I still had from the earlier wine! I told him to let it stay, as I would be finishing that as well. At this point my guest said that we should say something to the manager. I told him that I'd say something on the way out, but I wasn't going to make a big fuss while we were still eating. Lastly, we were deciding on dessert. We were only going to split one, but couldn't decide between two different choices. This time instead of the male waiter (who had been making the mistakes) taking our order, it was the female waiter who had fixed the first wine gaffe. We told her we couldn't decide between the two, and what was her perference. She named one, and we went with her preference. When she brought the desserts out, it was *both* of the two that we couldn't decide from. When I explained to her that we had decided on just the one, she said that the staff had been aware of the service problems we had recieved that evening - even though I hadn't said anything to anyone yet - and that the second dessert was on the house. No. 1) We shouldn't have had that many problems with service at such a nice restaurant. No. 2) The fact that they realized it before we said anything, and tried to fix it, spoke volumes to me. Cat in Chicago
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