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Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
If he applies it with a light hand, Angel smells great on guys. This scent has been knocked off hundreds of times, and is the signature scent of good time girls, but they're right to choose it and there's no better chocolate based scent out there. Thierry Mugler did an "Angel Men" flanker, sometimes called A*Men and maybe it's good, but I haven't smelled it. Also check out:
- Habit Rouge (Guerlain) -citrus, butter, light spice. Don't get the "legere" version.
- Borneo 1834 (Serge Lutens) - Bitter chocolate, smoke and camphor. Wonderful stuff. If your beau sometimes reminds you of a Joseph Conrad character, maybe this is what you should get him.
Dinner Tonight: Chicken and Rice Soup with Ginger Dipping Sauce
I think, so Meiguzi, yet I can only find Hainanese Chicken in the menus of Malaysian and Singaporean restarants. It's a puzzle.
Sunday Brunch: Baked Eggs with Spinach
I wasn't aware of your blogpost, but with one egg and some leftover steamed spinach I tried MB's recipe this morning, and as you say the 15 minute cooking time results in a hard baked egg.
Wwaxwork's idea of a bain marie will also result in a more suave baked eggs, and if my memory's correct, that is what Simon Hopkinson reccomends for eggs Florentine too, and his recipe also requires a bechamel sauce.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Birthday (mostly solo) Dining Suggestions in NYC
Get yourself a slice of cake and fancy coffee drink (or tea) at Lady M, Cafe Sabarsky or Demel.
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
If he applies it with a light hand, Angel smells great on guys. This scent has been knocked off hundreds of times, and is the signature scent of good time girls, but they're right to choose it and there's no better chocolate based scent out there. Thierry Mugler did an "Angel Men" flanker, sometimes called A*Men and maybe it's good, but I haven't smelled it. Also check out:
- Habit Rouge (Guerlain) -citrus, butter, light spice. Don't get the "legere" version.
- Borneo 1834 (Serge Lutens) - Bitter chocolate, smoke and camphor. Wonderful stuff. If your beau sometimes reminds you of a Joseph Conrad character, maybe this is what you should get him.
Dinner Tonight: Chicken and Rice Soup with Ginger Dipping Sauce
I think, so Meiguzi, yet I can only find Hainanese Chicken in the menus of Malaysian and Singaporean restarants. It's a puzzle.
Sunday Brunch: Baked Eggs with Spinach
I wasn't aware of your blogpost, but with one egg and some leftover steamed spinach I tried MB's recipe this morning, and as you say the 15 minute cooking time results in a hard baked egg.
Wwaxwork's idea of a bain marie will also result in a more suave baked eggs, and if my memory's correct, that is what Simon Hopkinson reccomends for eggs Florentine too, and his recipe also requires a bechamel sauce.
Welcoming Treat
I'm sorry but it looks kind of desparate to me. Isn't saying "hello" and introducing yourself enough these days? If you happen to move into a New York condo, I especially wouldn't reccomend giving out baked goods. Also, building staff prefer cash tips during the holidays.
If you wanted to get to know your neighbors, maybe hold a coffee/tea session one afternoon where you can show off your baking skills, and invite them all. But be aware that it's the holiday season, so people might be busy, out shopping, or at other parties.
Dinner party tonight - help with wine
The Cristalino cava is a good sparkling wine that retails for $12 or so. Bring two bottles.
Best Coffee in Manhattan
The best tasting coffee, espresso and cappuccino I've had is at Caffe Follow Me on 62nd between Lexington and 3rd Ave. At #2 is Zibetto and at #3 is Cafe Sabarsky.
Lunch for One: La Crepe Parisienne
I went to La Crepe Parisienne last week and ordered an $8.50 ham and cheese crepe out of hunger and desparation (it was 10pm and I hadn't had dinner yet). Maybe that price would have been OK if it came with a green salad, and the crepe batter was made with buckwheat, but yeah, not worth the detour.
What's your favorite grocery store goat cheese?
Selles sur Cher - which is usually available at Citarella, Fairway, Whole Foods, Murrays, etc...
Original and inspiring restaurantconcepts in New York?
I think a reason for the cupcake's popularity is that you have a generation of girls, women, what have you who haven't grown up with really great cake or pastry, so the cupcake is new and interesting to them. There's also the Betty Crocker retrochic factor that came into play when Magnolia first opened. It's also easier to lie to yourself about the portion size of a cupcake.
I remember NY in the early-mid 80s being all about chocolate chip cookies, or is this just from my distorted childhood view.
Trendy doesn't always equal "weird" to me. What you describe: eating on a bed, in the dark, etc... just seems like gimmicks, not widespread trends.
There's trendy as in "fashionable". There are trendy restaurants that have been in business for years, like Sette Mezzo, Indochine or Spotted Pig
One of the most interesting restaurant trends that I see in New York nowadays are places trying to deliver an interesting restaurant experience that's a good value in a bad economic climate.
Original and inspiring restaurantconcepts in New York?
New York has two good "cafeteria' style restaurants which might seem exotic to you: the MOMA 2nd floor cafeteria, run by Danny Meyer's group, and Hill Country, a barbecue restaurant.
You might also consider the gourmet food trucks and Middle Eastern snack carts that serve the commercial areas: the various lamb/rice and falafel carts, Bistro Truck, Schnitzel, Waffel and Dinges, some taco trucks. Go on the NY Eats section here and www.midtownlunch.com for tips.
As far as desserts go, New York is still in the age of the cupcake.
NYC Bakeries field trip
La Bergamote - croissants
La Maison du Chocolat - macarons, chocolate
Demel - Esterhazy torte, milchraum strudel
Cafe Sabarsky - Dobostorte, apple strudel, coffees
Andre's Hungarian Cafe - apple strudel, palacinsta
Lady M Cake Boutique - Milles crepes cakes, and the St. Honore.
Dinner near The Met
October 3 is a Saturday so assuming you're not rushing from work, I would dine on the earlyish side, wherever you want, get out by 7:30 or 7:45 and have a leisurely walk or cab ride to the Met, because Barber of Seville that night doesn't begin until 8:30.
I go to the opera on weeknights, and usually my friend and I eat at a Thai restaurant called Chili Thai on 9th ave. and 49th. It's inexpensive, good, the wine selection is excellent, because it's BYOB, and the service is fast. It's a brisk 20 minute walk to the Met from there.
However, it's low on athmosphere and may not be your cup of tea, so you could try
Whym (9th ave. and 58th) http://www.whymnyc.com/Whym.aspx
Bouchon Bakery at the Time Warner Center
Barcibo Enoteca on Broadway and 69th
La Quercia Prosciutto - Where to buy?
Like Carioca says, I've seen it at Fairway (Broadway, 74th St. branch).
Recipes from England?
In Nigella Lawson's "How To Eat" you will find clear and extensive instructions for Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and vegetable sides which is as British as a Thankgiving turkey dinner is American.
For dessert, the greatest is probably Treacle Pudding with custard sauce.
I would advise against an appetizer if you'll make roast beef with the works, but if you really need one, perhaps potted shrimp on toast.
What's the best cheap mexican restaurant in Manhattan?
The amount of offal in Tehuitzingo's menu makes me optimisitic about it, SecondsPlease. I usually refrain from Mexican food until I visit California.
Thanks for the tip!
New York Restaurant Cookbooks
One of the best is Molly O'Neill's New York Cookbook, which is anthology of recipes from private citizens, churches, and restaurants. Published by Workman, I think.
You might also try to get the Momofuku cookbook while you're here.
For out of print NY cookbooks and rarities, visit the shops, Kitchen Arts and Letters on the Upper East Side and Bonnie Slotnick in the West Village.
Places to eat in Vienna?
The Demel in New York City is wonderful, btw. It's only flaws are (1) they don't serve savory food -- the Vienna branch has a small savory menu of sandwiches, salads and plats du jour if I remember correctly, and (2) it closes by 6 or 7 most days.
I haven't been in a few months, but for me, it's the most pleasant cafe in midtown. At both the NY and Vienna branches, don't bother with the overpriced chocolate bars, jam or cookies in the gift section which have great packaging but aren't must-haves, just go for the cakes.
KDJmom, if you want to bring back food souvenirs, the place to go is Julius Meinl, a gourmet grocery store, on Graben, inside the ring. It's fun to browse in there. They also have a good section of Austrian wines.
Dove recipes?
We order dove all the time in our favorite Cantonese restaurants, but we've never made it at home. My guess on how they're prepared:
1. poached in a mixture of water, soy sauce and rice wine, ginger and scallions for 20 minutes.
2. Roasted at 400 degrees or grilled for 10 minutes until the meat is medium.
3. Hacked into six pieces - split down the back then each half divided into three.
4. Eat with worcestershire sauce and salt and lemon on the side.
Google "Chinese Roast squab" and also recipes for partridges. Good luck and yum!
Places to eat in Vienna?
1. Restaurant Sirk at the Hotel Bristol on the Kartner Ring a block away from the opera house has a lovely lunch buffet for 33 Euros on Sunday. I remember their roast goose with cabbage and a great cheese strudel.
2. Demel
3. Hotel Sacher
4. Schnitzelwirt on Neubagasse - a cheerful restaurant that's very much into schnitzels. Delicious and affordable.
5. Cantinetta Antinori near St. Stephen's cathedral - if you feel a craving for Italian food during your trip.
NYC gems on restaurant.com??
For the promo, I chose Seppi's, Dardanel, Hill Country, Salt, Essex Restaurant, Chat Noir and Sel et Poivre.
They had Bao Noodles too, but I was too late.
None of the Manhattan Indian ones looked good to me, but if I worked closer to midtown, I would have perhaps given one of them a try.
Best Party Dessert on a Budget?
Any nine inch cake will easily feed 10-12 people. Just don't skimp on the ingredients. Usually, the raw materials cost (eg unsweetened chocolate, nuts), is around $10-12 for the whole cake.
Go borrow some baking books and get inspired.
Favorite Food fiction
I also 2nd Bethbites' reccomendation of Anthony Cappella's "The Food of Love."
Favorite Food fiction
These don't have recipes but the protagonists love to eat, and/or cook:
Any of the Andrea Cammilleri novels (great mystery/suspense series set in Sicily. Not in the cozy category, though.)
Reinhart's Women by Thomas Berger
Some short stories by Laurie Colwin (her non-fiction essays about food are the best).
any novel by Barbara Pym
The Debut by Anita Brookner
Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton Paterson
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Birthday (mostly solo) Dining Suggestions in NYC
If I was in NYC on my birthday (which oddly enough is Monday), I think I'd have some matzo ball soup at 2nd Ave Deli, a knish from the stand in front of the Met Museum (best one I ever had), and maybe afternoon dessert and tea at Becco or Buttercup Bake Shop.
Birthday (mostly solo) Dining Suggestions in NYC
I hear the hot cocoa at Serendipity (i believe there are various locations in Manhattan) is particularly good. I would go for that... and Happy Birthday my fellow Sagitarian...
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
You may want to saunter over to Basenotes and enter the fray on the Community Discussion boards. What you're after is called a "gourmand" scent - you can also search by individual fragrance notes in the Fragrance Finder.
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
As usual; serious-eaters are full of great ideas.
@all who responded: thank you for making my decision easier; I hope to get something that smells like I wanna eat him so I'm well-equipped with info now--you guys rock my world....again!
:D
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
Oh my God, yes, there's this company called I Hate Perfume that makes the most amazing scents ever. I have a bunch of their products and also give them as gifts. The scents are for men or women. It's not cheap, but it's not really expensive either. My personal favorites, especially for men, are In The Library, which smells like leather and chocolate and old parchment paper, and Burning Leaves, which pretty much smells just as advertised, like burning maple leaves. Also, Summer 1966, which smells just like the beach, all Coppertony and salty. Wild Hunt is pretty great too. If you life in the NY area, they have a shop in Brooklyn, by the Brooklyn Brewery. I'm gushing, I know, but honestly, I really do hate most perfumes/colognes, but this stuff? It's just amazing.
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
Its NOT Old Spice, even though they have some pretty cool commercials on TV.
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
If you like bay rum, Burt's Bees makes a nice one. Not too spendy, and pretty natural. I don't care for it myself, but my dad wears it. I think it's got some caramel-ness to it, and it's definitely masculine.
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
Polo black = Best cologne ever.
I don't think it smells like food though, it just smells like awesomeness.
Nom nom 'Tasty' Man-Cologne Suggestions
I'm partial to bay rum... not really chocolate-y but still "tasty" nonetheless.
Sunday Brunch: Baked Eggs with Spinach
i love using leftover chorizo and kale saute as the 'bed' for baked eggs. a touch of cream too. it is so delicious and hearty!
Welcoming Treat
What about just having a regular housewarming, invite your friends, and include your neighbors? Put together a nice invitation to slip under their door, or whatever, and if they come they come. If they don't, then you have a cozy night with friends. No issues for allergies, food going to waste, weird conversation in the hall, etc.
Put together some deelish cocktails/wine/snacks and yer golden.
Good luck!
Welcoming Treat
Sorry all you New Yorkers, but Twin Cities is home to Minnesota Nice -- people will eat anything.
But I'm with others on the idea of maybe inviting folks into your place! You could try to put on a "minnesota" meal -- bars, hot dish, state fair food on sticks -- they'll get a kick out of it! :-)
Welcoming Treat
hm, since there is a concern about your food getting thrown away, how about a small pot of herb that you can keep by a kitchen window?
I got a pot of mums from my next door neighbor when I moved to a new neighborhood (I was touched!), and THEN I baked them madeleines for a thank-you gift.
Welcoming Treat
How about some mini-loaves of pumpkin, zucchini or banana bread?
Welcoming Treat
it's sad to say, but i wouldn't bother...just let introductions play themselves out organically. (i don't trust 'stranger' food either, Cassaendra-it goes in the garbage as soon as they're out of view)
Welcoming Treat
Sorry, Traveller, but you've got it backwards. Your new neighbors should be welcoming you to the neighborhood (which is an acceptably polite way of being nosy about the new people) by stopping by with plates of goodies.
I'd bring a small platter of assorted homemade cookies, candies and quick-bread slices to a condo association board meeting instead. Trust me--your name will spread like wildfire through the building and your neighbors will go out of their way to say "hello" and stop by. Unless, of course, you're curious about how what your neighbors are like and how they've decorated their condos.
Welcoming Treat
Truffles are easy, and almost everyone loves them. You only have to make some ganache, chill it, and scoop out your truffles (about teaspoon sized). You can roll them in different toppings (cocoa powder, chopped coconut, holiday sprinkles, whatever will stick).
Welcoming Treat
Well, it's a small complex in the Midwest (Twin Cities) and when I first moved in, one of the HOA reps came by and introduced himself and basically was telling me how much of a community it all is. Everyone is about my age, give or take, and apparently they have parties and gatherings all the time. I would like to start off on a good note and meet them all...if even just know who I live near now.
I love the idea of gingersnaps, too! But, the krispie treats might also work....hmm....
Welcoming Treat
It's a great thought. How about gingerbread cookies?
Personally, if a neighbor (stranger) made food for me and made it so I could not refuse, it would go into the rubbish can. Yes, it's a trust issue.
Dinner party tonight - help with wine
Bubbles will always get you far - get a bottle or two of a nice Cremant and you're golden. For a dessert wine, especially if there is chocolate involved, I like Banyus - Domaine de la Casa Blanca. It's kind of unusual and pretty cool - you will get awesome points if there are any Winos there. Pour small glasses as it's 16%!
Dinner party tonight - help with wine
Thank you guys so much! There were only 3 of us, so I just got a bottle of my favorite Zinfandel (which thankfully, they loved).
Best Coffee in Manhattan
Sorry, this isn't a "best" but...
I really like Kaffe 1668 - it's been consistent when I go there before work. In the interests of economy, I bought a coffeemaker for my office, and have been using Gorilla's Poco Fundo (sp?) beans to make drip coffee.
It's been good enough that I don't need to add milk or sugar. Also, Abraco and Cafe Grumpy lived up to their reputations.
Agreed that the Mudtruck is not very good. Also, 9th Street didn't stand out to me, but I ordered something involving milk, which didn't really allow for evaluating the espresso alone.
Dinner party tonight - help with wine
Or maybe a dessert wine.
Cristalino was a good suggestion.
Best Coffee in Manhattan
I have a roundup of the best coffee in Manhattan in the works. Be on the lookout in the next couple weeks.
By the way, am I the only one who doesn't think Abraco is god-like?
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Nutritional Wants and Needs Fail to Overlap
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About Ortolan
Location: New York City
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Favorite foods: blanquette de veau, lemon tarts, ossobucco, calf's liver, sweetbreads, roast chicken, soft boiled eggs, suckling pig, crabs, bufalo mozzarella, chaource, pizza, gelato, montblancs, kare-kare, fried chicken, sardines.
Last bite on earth: a little pata negra ham, some foie, gorgonzola cheese, fried artichockes, cheesecake. Chateau beychevelle and Chateau d'yquem. Double espresso.
Get yourself a slice of cake and fancy coffee drink (or tea) at Lady M, Cafe Sabarsky or Demel.