Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Calling any gelatinous mass that happens to suspend morsels of one type or another a "salad" is laughable to me. Call it what it is. Stuff Held In Suspended Animation Within A Blob Of Jell-O.

A friend of mine used to bring this thing to my BBQs and everyone seemed to like it. When I told her my friends enjoyed her "Green Jell-O Thing" she said it was called "Summer Salad." To quote the real men of genius ad for Giant Taco Salad Inventor - I don't see no lettuce.

Okay, does no one do Jello shots???? I got sick on "old" jello in the first grade and threw up at school. I haven't touched plain jello since then. However, jello is nothing more than flavoring, color and sugar to be used in nostalgic dishes, which if you will notice in this economy are looking more comforting every day. The Green salad so reviled in the other thread is pistachio jello pudding mix, whipped cream, cherries, pecans, bananas, and pineapple mixed together. Jello was one of the first convenience foods that our post war Mommas could use to prepare varied dishes for us with less than 4 hours in the kitchen.

@veggieout - We occasionnally make that same strawberry-pretzel jello salad in my family as well, and it is delicious. Something about the saltiness of the pretzels mixed with the sweetness of the fruit and savory-ness of the cream cheese. I would recommend that to anyone without reservation. Other than that, I almost never eat jello, but I don't hate it the way so many other serious eaters do.

My mom makes a "congeal salad" every year for Thanksgiving, and sometimes Christmas, since my family basically eats the same thing for every major holiday.

It's cranberry and raspberry jello, crushed pineapple, orange zest and juice, fresh cranberries (chopped), chopped pecans...everyone in my family seems to like it, but I won't go near it.

Jell-o published many recipe booklets,etc. to give people ideas on how to use Jell-o. They created a desire for people to try these concoctions and thus buy Jell-o. One of Tupper-wares most popular items was the Jell-o ring mold that jmfors mentions above. It was a cheap desert that anyone could make and people thought they were pretty "cool". It's kinda like the famous green bean dish so many people serve at Thanksgiving. They were just advertised and caught on, and the rest as they say is history.

when i lived downtown, i often ate at the bar or at the communal table at lupa. they were very welcoming and didn't mind that i didn't drink.

all the time! a meal alone can be so luxurious and peaceful. i love eating at bars--the little owl is great if i can walk in, sushi bars, or today i had a lovely late lunch at cafe cluny which was empty around three o'clock. they gave me the window seat and i had the most amazing skate with chanterelles, leeks, and arugula. i agree with sneakeater on that there is absolutely NO stigma to eating dinner alone in this city. be bold!

Go to Chinatown! Visit my favorite, Shanghai Cafe at 100 Mott St. Get the pork dumplings, scallion pancake, steamed buns, sauteed water spinach, and sesame rice ball in wine soup (don't leave NYC without trying those sesame balls!). Then walk down Mott until you get to Bayard, and go to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. Order durian ice cream if they still have it, if not, try taro or pandan. Then wander around, buy a dragonfruit and a few longans from a street vendor, and stop at one of the 5 dumplings for $1 places. Get a bubble tea. Visit the grocery stores for any fresh or dried fruit, vegetable, mushroom, sea creature, or meat your heart desires. Then make your way to Elizabeth St. for a dim sum feast at Jing Fong.

better yet, mich23, city bakery - for brunch. DAMN, that's some good french toast.

Charliew9 - if you love desserts, definitely go to Chikalicious! It's a 3-course, all-dessert place (but not huge portions, so you don't feel gross). It's $12, and they'll pair a wine for you for an additional $8.
http://www.chikalicious.com/

Great place, very NY.

For dinner, I also love Daniel. Inoteca is really good (far less fancy, but great food and fun place) and, if you have access to a car, don't miss Blue Hill at Stone Barns. It's outside NYC, but really fantastic and completely worth the trip.

Enjoy!

I'm not too sure where-abouts were going to be staying just yet, but i dont mind travelling a bit to find somewhere good. I just want a few names and locations and we'll go to the ones we find. Dont really have a budget, dont mind paying if the foods good if you know what i mean.

As for the foods i eat/dont eat i'll try and round it up.. i don't think the internet is big enough to list what i dont like!

i dont eat anything raw-sushi etc, not very big on vegetables, or things that i cant tell whats in them. I wont eat unusual meat- cats, dogs, rats ets.

I like to eat in places that make you feel special, i hate cafes and diners ets, i like the "posh" places that go the extra mile to please. And a good wine list never goes a-miss.