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From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Behind the Scenes at Counter Culture

Milk Bar in Prospect Heights is also brewing them. Very good stuff, I must say.

From Talk

Where can I buy Stumptown or Blue Bottle beans?

Get Fresh Market and Trois Pommes Bakery in Park Slope both sell Stumptown beans. Should be pretty easy. When you figure out Blue Bottle, you let us know. :)

From Slice

What's the Longest Wait You've Had at Di Fara?

My lone wait was in the 2 1/2 hour territory, last summer, the night the tropical storm hit the area on a Saturday night.

As for being "overrated......" I mean, it's a very good pizza, but it just can't possibly ever match the praise that's thrown at it. You'll never have a pizza with more love put into it, but you'll have better pizza.....in New Haven, and even in a few places that get little love in NYC.

From Talk

Where to buy Abita in NY (preferably Brooklyn)?

surprising question.....you'd think people would just know to go to Bierkraft. I've bought several varieties, including the seasonal varieties, of Abita there.

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Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Behind the Scenes at Counter Culture

Milk Bar in Prospect Heights is also brewing them. Very good stuff, I must say.

From Talk

Where can I buy Stumptown or Blue Bottle beans?

Get Fresh Market and Trois Pommes Bakery in Park Slope both sell Stumptown beans. Should be pretty easy. When you figure out Blue Bottle, you let us know. :)

From Slice

What's the Longest Wait You've Had at Di Fara?

My lone wait was in the 2 1/2 hour territory, last summer, the night the tropical storm hit the area on a Saturday night.

As for being "overrated......" I mean, it's a very good pizza, but it just can't possibly ever match the praise that's thrown at it. You'll never have a pizza with more love put into it, but you'll have better pizza.....in New Haven, and even in a few places that get little love in NYC.

From Talk

Where to buy Abita in NY (preferably Brooklyn)?

surprising question.....you'd think people would just know to go to Bierkraft. I've bought several varieties, including the seasonal varieties, of Abita there.

From Serious Eats: New York

Blue Hill at Stone Barns: The Most Important Restaurant in America

I just read the 9/3/08 comment.

I've been to Stone Barns five times. I've been sat next to my wife, facing out to the restaurant, about half those times. I actually enjoyed the intimacy of it. I've also seen all matters of dress there, from suit and tie to sleeves rolled up. Same with women. Just not an issue unless you're choosing to make it one.

I actually recognize the "James Carville doppleganger" you mentioned. The wait staff has never been anything but stellar. I'm probably a youngish guy compared to the kind of diner who regularly can afford a high-end meal, yet this place makes me feel like a million dollars every time. We even recieved a kitchen tour last time. One too many phone calls? Really....let it go.

I agree with the main review and consider this the best restaurant I've ever stepped foot it. I can't go there enough time in my life. Never go again? Great.....one more open reservation slot for me!

From Serious Eats: New York

Best of New York Empanadas

You missed Bogota Bistro in Park Slope, which has a terrific and very yummy selection of empanadas.

....that Manchego one at Luz does sound appetizing, however. Going to have to try that out...

From Slice

Dear Slice: Here's the Skinny on Bussaco's Manila Clam Pizza

Frank Pepe's makes a better clam pie that Sally's, though.

Maybe I can hit Bussaco before it gets the ridiculous crowds Franny's gets.

From Serious Eats: New York

El Sitio Makes One Serious Cubano and Some Great Garlic Bread

El Sitio's the real deal. An old school Cuban dive that has those authentic touches only a true Cuban can identify. Not too many of those places around New York City.

From A Hamburger Today

The Burgers at Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday is my favorite casual chain, other than the Cheesecake Factory. Not only are their burgers great, but they actually serve bison (!!), have an excellent salad bar at most locations, and will make you a killer grape margarita.

I'm not surprised by the review. Whenever I find myself at a mall outside NYC, I know I'll do just fine foodwise at Ruby Tuesday.

From Talk

Catching a Cyclones Game Tonight

They got it all around.

TONY did a great feature on the mexican spots by the boardwalk, and they were absolutely right. As good as the Red Hook Ballfields.

From Serious Eats: New York

The $9 Lobster Roll at Fairway

Not a fan of the Fairway lobster roll. It's OK, but I'd much rather wait until I'm outside NYC for a good, cheap lobster roll.

It's also pretty hard to pat $30 for one here after paying a third of that up north.

From Serious Eats: New York

More Restaurant Week Food Porn

We went to Mai House last night for RW in hopes of doing some "Top Chef" sightseeing. We wound up with one of the extra tables they put in right next to the windows facing into the kitchen and got to watch Lisa Fernandes do her thing for an hour. It was pretty fun. Food was excellent as well. I'm definitely going back on a non-RW night.

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Cuban Sandwich

You all just made a Cuban in Brooklyn, not only very hungry, but very wanting to visit home.

From Talk

Do you like the Cheesecake Factory as much as NBA players?

I fricking love the Cheesecake Factory. Grew up on it while living in Miami. Miss it like crazy in NYC. Best cheesy chain restaurant ever. We make it a point every few months to have a day of mall shopping and CF eating in Jersey, just to not get our heads too big living in NYC. :)

Lettuce wraps and Sweet Corn Cakes, btw....

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

Miami has various "Cuban pizza" chains such as Ray's (no relation to the NYC chain" and Montes de Oca. Only had it once....very chewy, with an extremely sweet sauce that recalls, ugh, Domino's. You can get it topped with plantains, potatoes, etc. Not my thing, but my dad's been known to order it down there.

From Serious Eats: New York

The Best Bagel in New York City

sorry, but "La Bagel Delight" isn't even the best bagel in the Park Slope vicinity. that honor, and what i think would be the best little-known bagel in NYC, goes to Bergen Bagel on Dean St. and Flatbush Ave.

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Behind the Scenes at Counter Culture

@hondo3777 - I second the reco on Coffee By Design. They are based in Portland, ME and were one of the highlights of my trip there earlier this year.

I don't have any relation to them either, but am just very enthusiastic about coffee!

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Behind the Scenes at Counter Culture

These guys are great and they roast some great tasting coffee. Next time you are in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area you have to stop in and see the folks at Larry's Beans too. http://www.larrysbeans.com

You can enjoy good cups here when you are out and about.
http://www.caffedriade.com/
http://cupajoe.com/

From Talk

Where can I buy Stumptown or Blue Bottle beans?

FYI - in manhattan City Girl Cafe at 63 Thompson has beans.

From Talk

Where can I buy Stumptown or Blue Bottle beans?

thanks! i'm surprised no one carries them in manhattan. looks like i'm going to be making a little trip to bk.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

This is an awesome page. My comment though is related to the DC jumbo slice. I can confirm that this is the appropriate style for this region as I have spent much time over the years in DC. Their slices at many pizzerias are the size of two average slices. They make a killing off of selling them to the college students. If a 16 inch pie normally has 8 slices, a DC pizza has 4.

Blog Pizza

From Serious Eats: New York

Best of New York Empanadas

I used to run into the Empanada Man of Williamsburg at a bar called The Abbey. Usually during the week, around 1.30 am. Just go down there and ask the bartender Joe when the Empanada Man comes, he'll let you know.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

I grew up outside of East Liverpool Ohio, I never realized that pizza was made any other way until I moved to college. Bruno's pizza was a friday staple growing up, so much that now when I go home to visit my parents, my mother always picks up a tray. The best part if Ohio River Valley Pizza, is that it tastes just as good the next day out of the fridge! Home pizza in St. Clairsville is VERY good as well. I live in Columbus now, and the pizza just doesn't get to that level, but there is a DiCarlo's off of 256 in Pickerington, although I have not had it.

If anybody passes through Athens Ohio, Goodfella's pizza is a must. They sell by the slice, and it is close to Ohio Valley style, but they use a much thicker sauce. It was perfect after a night uptown at the bars.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

I just read comment above...(tomdobb)I didn't eat pizza when i came to Columbus but in Canton, Ohio u will get authentic Italian pizza made by the best owned italian family restaurants.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

Ohio pizza is the best....They actually have some really good pizza places there...The problem that i have is....i'm not there anymore =(....I'm in San antonio,Tx and there is one good pizza place [[Pizzabella]].They have the jumbo thin crust pizza...Its good but nothing like Canton Ohio's Papa Bears Pizza Oven , Wacos Pizza, East of Chicago,Napolians,So many different styles of pizza. And they don't have it in the south =(....

From Slice

What's the Longest Wait You've Had at Di Fara?

Me and a friend waited for 3 hours for a square pie once, but it was prime-time on a very nice spring day on a Saturday (ordered at 3, got it around 6)

From Slice

What's the Longest Wait You've Had at Di Fara?

@adam -- i was actually referring to the link right above my comment. you guys clearly don't need to rely on difara posts for traffic.

From Talk

Where to buy Abita in NY (preferably Brooklyn)?

I buy it at Fairway all the time. I go to the uptown one, but I'm sure they stock it in Brooklyn too.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

There's a mouthwatering style of white pizza which seems to be peculiar to McKees Rocks, PA, just outside Pittsburgh -- I know I've never seen it prepared this way anywhere else and I eat a lot of pie, dude. I believe it originated at Mama Lena's (now Mama Mia's) and has been cloned by former employees at another shop down the street called Doughboys (which is cheaper & maybe even better, IMHO). I've never seen one prepared from start to finish, but here's my best guess as to the general idea: a medium-thickness pizza crust is brushed with olive oil & perhaps garlic or other spices and partially baked, then removed to add a light layer of some kind of white shredded cheese (don't think it's mozz), then baked again until done. The hot pie is then topped with a room-temperature prepared mixture of diced tomatoes, minced garlic, finely chopped onion & basil and olive oil and sprinkled with more shredded cheese. The pie partially melts the additional cheese and warms the topping mixture up to the perfect temperature while preserving the flavor & freshness of the ingredients. On every other white pizza I've had the tomatoes & other ingredients are baked along with the crust which dries them out. This stuff is almost like a big round bruschetta. I'm no longer in the 'burgh, but I might have just talked myself into driving 3 hours each way to get one right now -- it's that good.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

I came to Columbus Ohio from central NJ, and have long taken issue with the Pizza here. It seems to be the product of gluttony over good sense. Round pies are cut into square pieces.because you can not lard a pizza with all the cheep ingredients, low grade cheese, greasy pepperoni, fatty sausage, and rivers of sugary sauce, that are considered necessary here, and serve it any other way than two inch square bites. When I want good pizza in central Ohio, I make it myself. In summer, I use a pizza stone on a charcoal grill, in winter I use my 550 degree oven, and follow the directions for Neapolitan, above.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

I have no idea what cloyd42 is talking about. Vince the Pizza Prince is neither long gone nor do they make Old Forge style pizza. Vince's signature pizza is round and covered with almost-burned cheese. They are still open in Scranton in the same location they've always been.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

andy stoops - I think Vincents is gone. You're talking about the place on Penn Ave, right? Yeah, that's Spak Bros. now. It's relatively new, and I haven't been there, but I've heard good things (they do all local/organic stuff, and have vegetarian and vegan offerings).

I never realized that Pittsburgh had sweeter sauce than other parts of the country. I would like to add that it's not just sweet, but usually well seasoned (at least the good ones are), sometimes a little kick to them. There are soooo many pizza places in town, and they're all different, but I haven't encountered any that aren't good. You can always find one that's right for you - the right taste to the sauce, texture to the dough, quantity of toppings. My personal favorite is Rialto's over in Greenfield (although I haven't been there in a few years).

Mineo's seems to be our most famous, but yeah, a bit overrated. Adam, if you make it to Pittsburgh, just order a slice from Mineos, NOT the whole pie. The slices are actually twice baked, which makes them way better.

I also think this is probably fairly local - the pierogie pizza. I refuse to try it, but a lot of local places have some variance of a pierogie pizza, because Pittsburgers seem to think that they invented the pierogie. A pierogie pizza will have mashed potatoes, onions and cheese.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

I wanted to chime in on the ongoing New England pizza discussion.

Papa Ginos is somewhat similar to the mom-and-pop stuff, but it's different in a few key ways: 'Ginos has a thinner crust than most local places, and it's less (!) greasy.

Thinking back to the local non-chain pizza of my northeast Connecticut youth, the distinguishing characteristics are a firm-but-not-crisp, doughy bottom, sometimes tending towards rubbery, and the use of cheap manufactured mozz, typically very oily. It tended to be the sort of pizza that, if you were eating a slice and folded it, you could pretty much squeeze several tablespoons of orange grease out of it. The crust tends to be crisp on the outside and soft inside, sometimes a little bready.

And the pizza places, almost always "[town name] Pizza" or [town name] House of Pizza", were uniformly owned by Greek families. (I never quite worked out why...but it was always faux-Italian food, pizza, and good Greek stuff on the menu.) I'm not sure if that's still as much the case now as it was 20 years ago, though.

Some places in New England seem to do the square-cut thing, which I think is truly blasphemous, while others pie cut. I've never been able to figure out a regional variation to this. It's just a weird individual preference of the restaurant owner, I think.

Why nobody in New England, at least north of New Haven, seems to be able to produce a decent NY-style thin-crust, I've no idea. Maybe it's the water.

My personal recommendation, if you wanted to "experience" a representative sample of New England-style pizza, would be to try Willington House of Pizza in Willington, CT. Although they have a menu that's more diverse than average, it covers pretty much everything I remember from all the local places I went as a kid.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

There are 3 kinds of pizza: Good, Better and Best. You be your own judge.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

One more vote for Buffalo style. I've yet to find anything like it in DC, Virginia, California or Washington state. I have some shipped to me every year from Imperial. Carbones on South Park was also a favorite.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

i still have a soft spot for papa gino's, it's the only chain pizza i like. the only problem i've ever had with it is that they never used to peel the tomatoes so i would always end up with some in my teeth. not sure if that's changed since i haven't been there in a few years.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

For those in New England, what about Papa Gino's? Yeh it's a chain, but it's essentially the blueprint for east coast pizza - thin crust, thin layer of cheese that melds perfectly with the somewhat sweet sauce. And on a "side note", two friends and I created http://www.slicefinder.com for just these debates. Pardon the plug, but seems relevant here.


From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

Ohio Valley Style. This native NY-er and sister of a Bronx Pizza Guy went to school in Steubenville, OH for a couple of years and tried Iggy's (the photo in the Mine Road Blog) exactly ONCE. I couldn't get my taste buds around it. I ordered from Domino's from then on in. There was a good midwestern style place in the Steubenville Mall that I've forgotten the name of (this was the early 90's.) I'm open to regional pizza variations (unlike my aforementioned Pizza Time Bro), but this did not work for me.

The calzones I had in Steubenville on the other hand, were a revelation. They were very, very good. Sauce inside? Sauce outside? Yum.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

I gotta add a vote for Upstate NY Style - I grew up in Buffalo, went to school near Rochester. I now live in Florida.

Buffalo style pizza as pointed out is a thicker crust, not greasy, often a little doughy but crisp on the bottom. TONS of cheese... and almost always the peperroni is loaded on, smaller in diameter than most, but always with crisp edges on the pepperoni. Bocce is a great example of this.. but almost any roadside pizzeria in Buffalo has this formula.

Living in Florida, I am sick and tired of every kind of pizza place offering only "NY Style" pizza. Big thin floppy slices that taste like cardboard... I never understood the appeal of that. They taste especially crappy the next day cold... and cold pizza should be one of the BEST ways to eat pizza ;)

The more I think about it, I need to open a Bocce-style pizzeria in Orlando...

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