marge201

Jason, [[ for future reference, its against the eGullet User Agreement to post copyrighted material on the site. I deleted the original post. I will email you the original if you'd like to repost a review in your own words. ]] Newspapers are considered to be copywrighted, whatever that means? I read the review in the paper and then went to the website to copy and paste into my own file for future reference. That can't be shared here? Would it be better to post the link so that anyone could go read it on the web? Marge

The last time I did Thanksgiving was in 1998!! Yes, 1998, 5 years ago, but I took notes and who better to share my notes with but this great forum. We were 5 adults, all thin and not huge eaters but definitely eaters, and one 7-year-old girl. I went to 2 places: Fairway and Food Factory (201) 836-7040, 740 Chestnut Ave, Teaneck I used Food Factory because someone raved about it. Fairway is fabulous, too, of course. THANKSGIVING 1998 Appetizers: Fairway Market,1214 Anderson Avenue, Fort Lee 201-224-7900 Roasted Yukon gold potatoes: NO!!!! (I forget why no. Maybe they weren't great) pecan cranberry sauce, 4.95/pound. NO!!!! (also forget. maybe no one touched it) Use Ocean Spray!!!!!, 2 cans MAX!!! Mozzarella & Tomato platter, small tray, 10 people, $18.95 YES One box of thin breadsticks YES 2 small focaccias, heat up and cut up. YES (I got 3 but 2 is plenty) apple pie, 5.99 NO NO didn't even cut open pecan pie, 5.99, had a few slices but next year NAH chocolate chip cookies that the 7-year-old made: great. NEXT YEAR: assorted cookies: chocolate chip and that's it!!! FT CATERING, Francy 836-7040 12-pound turkey: $3.25/lb = $39 uncarved. GET UNCARVED: CARVING IS TOO EASY! 1 quart gravy $5 1/2 tray stuffing = 16.50 1/4 corn pudding 16.50 1/4 sweet potato casserole = 8.95 GET ALL THIS AGAIN ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!! 1/2 roast veg. medley = 16.50 DO NOT GET NEXT YEAR get string bean platter and that's enough - one veggie enough. Fairway: sesame string beans, 12 people, 4 pounds, 19.95, that would be fine or just get it from Francy. Hope this helps. I think this is the way to go: order everything, cook nothing, eat at home with your shoes off if you feel like it. It is certainly the way to go if there are little kids in the group. Marge

I posted a review of Moon Street by Marge Perry printed in The Record on 6-21-02. It's not me! It's Marge Perry's glowing review, not me, Marge Teilhaber. I have no affiliation with Moon Street other than having gone there 3 times! Good addition to the Englewood, Cassie's. I've been there. It's great. Marge Teilhaber (not Marge Perry!)

Rosie, Most enjoyable appearance on Arthur! You were terrific and interesting! I think Arthur really likes and admires you. I didn't get the impression he lost interest at all. Looking foward to more of your appearances. Marge

Oh, I hope I'm home or in my car on Wednesday so I can hear you on one of my favorite radio shows!! Oh, that Arthur, is he the greatest or WHAT?l

[[ Stay away from the always mysteriously crowded "Big Red Tomato" on Anderson Ave., by the way. It's just NOT worth it. ]] I love Big Red Tomato. Cute atmosphere and great food. And they give unlimited garlic knots! Very reasonable $$. I've enjoyed every meal I've eaten there and would go back in a second. OK, maybe I'm a bit of a low-brow but I've never seen a turnip truck! Hey, but I'm the one who mentioned Ciao Bella! I see others find it totally mediocre. I've been there twice only but enjoyed it immensely both times. Great discussion here of places in my neighborhood. What a great board this is! [[ Don Quijote is okay, I've had a few good meals there. But I've also had some fairly crappy ones. Tapas de España, in nearby North Bergen, is far far better--"Newark" quality, in fact. ]] I've gone to Don Quijote just on the early bird (till 7 p.m. Monday - Friday, $11 per person) and enjoyed it a lot but how can you not at 11 bucks? Thanks for the Tapas Espana recommendation! Will try it for sure. One place that I have NOT been to but I hear it's nice is this. I will paste in here a review which was published in my building's newsletter: WHAT'S COOKIN'? Looking for a wonderful sumptuous breakfast, tantalizing lunch or a delicious dinner? Located in New Milford you‘ll find What’s Cookin’, a homey, quaint restaurant. The owners, Hugo and William Escobar, are gracious and talented. Hugo, who is the main cook and has worked at this profession for many years, and his brother William, a chef at a well-known restaurant in upstate New York, have joined together to make this luncheonette/restaurant a great find. These two guys have even gone a step further. They branched out to private catering which can be delivered to your door. This busy restaurant (especially the breakfast crowd) seem to be filled with regulars, which certainly says repeat customers are the norm, not the oddity. Eggs, omelets, homemade muffins and all other breakfast items are fresh and done according to your wishes. Lunches range from grilled chicken caesar salads, vegetable salads, sandwiches, wraps, all at very reasonable prices. Dinners are served Tuesday through Saturdays and of course there are specials offered, i.e. in March corned beef and cabbage to pasta dishes. What’s Cookin’? is located at 201 Main Street, New Milford, New Jersey (201-265-1900). (Directions: Rte 4 to Kinderkamack Road. Make a right at the sixth traffic light, which is New Milford Avenue. New Milford Avenue changes name to Main Street in New Milford. The restaurant is on the left side of the street when you enter the town.) Has anyone been here? Marge

Cafe Lada opened sometime in 2003. Well, truth is I don't know. They started advertising in my building's newsletter in Spring 03. The food was fabulous. 12 of us went and it was all served family style: LADA 520 ANDERSON AVE, CLIFFSIDE PARK NJ 201-840-8088 SALADS Garden salad Vinagrette (sweet beets, carrots, potatoes in oil) O’livie salad (chicken potatoes pickles in mayonnaise) Eggplant sotte HOT APPETIZERS Assorted pirogies Vareniki (potato or cheese) Peleni “sibirsky” (Russian style meat dumplings) ENTREES Salmon Kulebiaka (salmon, sautéed mushrooms/onions baked in puff pastry) Chicken arabat (chicken filet stuffed with prunes) Beef a la stroganoff (beef with mushrooms and onions in white sauce) A wonderful lattice-work berry and apple pie served warm and sprinkled with powdered sugar with coffee or tea was the dessert and it was fabulous. Yes, I recommend it. However, tell them you expect it will be smoke-free and make sure they comply! Marge

Jerry's Gourmet & More (the store) 410 S. Dean Street Englewood, NJ 07631 (201) 871-8305 has tons of nonfood items at great prices! I went there specifically to find Gardenia perfume and it was there! They have makeup, soaps, housewares, great gift items, plus all the fabulous food. Great bakery items. Just a great store. NEVER leave empty-handed!

I've tried to try Cafe Archetypus the wait for a seat in the no-smoking section (evidentally much smaller than the smoking section) was way too long, and we left. Another great place in Cliffside Park: Cafe LADA 520 ANDERSON AVE, CLIFFSIDE PARK NJ 201-840-8088 Russian food. ALLEGEDLY a no-smoking restaurant, but the night we were there (the food is FABULOUS), there was a smoker in this one-room restaurant and the wait staff declined to ask the smoker to put the cigarette out. So if you go, INSIST that they respect their no-smoking policy! Another great place: AMARONE, 63 Cedar Lane, Teaneck 07666 201-833-1897 www.amaroneristorante.net Another great place with a GREAT early bird: Don Quijote Restaurant, 344 Bergen Blvd. Fairview, NJ 07022 201-943-3133 / 34 http://www.donquijoterestaurant.net Get their lamb chops!! YUMMY! Another great place (not that close to Cliffside but. . ) Ciao Bella, 172 Piermont Rd, Cresskill 201-894-1444 Another great place: BIG RED TOMATO 201 224 6500, Fort Lee, Anderson Avenue at Route 5 Marge

[[ Jingle Inn's "Happy Hour" is Monday-Friday 5-7 PM, 30% off Sushi a la carte & rolls only. Yamaguchi is half price for sushi only on Fridays & Saturdays from 5:30-7:30, I'm 90% sure. ]] Good info. Thanks a lot! Marge

Great leads! Thank you! Marge

Hi Rosie, {{ Peter’s Grill & Restaurant, 613 Anderson Ave, Cliffside Park What kind of food? Is it BYO? }} Yes, it's BYO. The food is a little of everything, I guess. I'm not a steak eater but it looked so good, that the next time I was there and I had it. It was fabulous. I've had fish there. You order what he's got up on his little blackboard. Great salad I remember. I've enjoyed everything there. It's cute in there and very reasonable, and if it's convenient, ya gotta try it. Marge

Hi Tommy, [[ can i ask if this is a "financial" issue, or more of a "where can we eat at 4.30 or 5 o'clock" issue. that would help with recs. ]] We're cheap!! Most early-birds end at 6:30 which is a problem sometimes getting there on time. Got more ideas for us? Marge

I just took a look at the China 46 early-bird offering. http://www.china46.com/ Looks just fine to me. Thanks for the tip!! Marge

Rosie, Thanks for the Amanda early-bird reminder! I was there only once, for brunch, and it was FANTASTIC. Let me throw one in here: Peter’s Grill & Restaurant, 613 Anderson Ave, Cliffside Park 941-6623 and 941-6668 Owner: Chef George (he's from Egypt) great food, great steak! I've been there many times. The place is great. Chef George cooks and serves, and does a great job. Marge

Looking for good Early-Bird Dinners in north Jersey. 3 of us have a rule for taking each other out for birthdays: has to be an early-bird! Any ideas in Fort Lee, Englewood, etc?