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Katz's Pastrami
Odd, I don't think Katz's pastrami is remotely hot doggy. Did you not get it fatty? Oh my, oh my -- all fatty and piping hot with the black edges... it tastes more like brisket than hot dogs to me.
Or maybe you just have some really good hot dogs?
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
I think many restaurants would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did this -- I know I wouldn't be going to that restaurant, and neither would most of the posters above me here. You can't possibly think that they could fill the place just on parents like you (and to another persons point, would you even still want to go there if they did?). I know you love your child, but get a sitter and stimulate the economy just that little bit more.
Who Should Be on Reality TV: White, Steingarten, or Ramsay?
I love Jeffrey on Iron Chef too -- he is usually the only critic with half a brain (like the asian woman who thinks everything is greasy -- ugh someone slap her), and I definitely appreciate his love of food. I would LOVE to have an all-Jeffrey show. Yay!
Plus, unlike the other two meanies, he's not just mean for mean's sake. He usually does have constructive criticism and knows how to call a spade a spade -- without resorting to foul language or violence.
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Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
I agree with absentminded: biscuits are not only easy but fast as well, and really ought to only be enjoyed fresh at home. You just have to have the right recipe and (more importantly IMHO) the right flour. For me only White Lily Self Rising (which is probably what queenbleu's MIL used too) will do -- then all I add is butter and buttermilk. I pour melted butter over after baking.
Katz's Pastrami
Odd, I don't think Katz's pastrami is remotely hot doggy. Did you not get it fatty? Oh my, oh my -- all fatty and piping hot with the black edges... it tastes more like brisket than hot dogs to me.
Or maybe you just have some really good hot dogs?
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
I think many restaurants would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did this -- I know I wouldn't be going to that restaurant, and neither would most of the posters above me here. You can't possibly think that they could fill the place just on parents like you (and to another persons point, would you even still want to go there if they did?). I know you love your child, but get a sitter and stimulate the economy just that little bit more.
Who Should Be on Reality TV: White, Steingarten, or Ramsay?
I love Jeffrey on Iron Chef too -- he is usually the only critic with half a brain (like the asian woman who thinks everything is greasy -- ugh someone slap her), and I definitely appreciate his love of food. I would LOVE to have an all-Jeffrey show. Yay!
Plus, unlike the other two meanies, he's not just mean for mean's sake. He usually does have constructive criticism and knows how to call a spade a spade -- without resorting to foul language or violence.
Top Movies Starring Chinese Food
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (the opening scene). Though I'm not sure how much food you actually see.
New Jersey Dispatch: Celebrating Burns Night with Haggis in Kearny
@ toad: Thinking of trying Stewarts, but I'm wary after your liver comment. I hear that "american" versions of haggis can indeed be too liver heavy. When I've had it in Scotland, it was not overly liver tasting at all. Not that liver is bad, just not what I'm pining after.
New Jersey Dispatch: Celebrating Burns Night with Haggis in Kearny
Anyone know where to find good haggis in Manhattan? I'm with you Brian -- it's a delicacy!
Old New York: Bygone Restaurants
Tab Tos on East 5th. So cheap, so delicious, so weird... my long lost sushi nazi. RIP, Tab Tos.
Mellow Mushroom: An Unlikely Southern Tradition
Oh my god, you made me miss Mellow Mushroom so much!! I grew up in Atlanta, and while the pizza here in NYC doesn't usually leave me with any reason to pine for home, I do still have my Mellow Mushroom fridge magnet with pride of place upon my fridge. Their white pie is sublime. Chewy garlicy crust... ugh, I want it NOW!! I love them, and I love the kids who work there. Always a friendly place.
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 47: Praise the Thursday Pears!
My family have been giving each other the Harry & David pears for at least 30 years now, if not longer. They are indeed delicious once they ripen (try them with a sprinkling of cheese on top!), and the boxes make excellent storage for christmas ornaments. We must have 20 H&D boxes up in our attic full of christmas history.
Cook the Book: Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter
My boyfriend just made this a couple of weeks ago. It is amazing. I think I ate 90% of it myself and was distraught when we finally polished the whole thing off. I could eat three bowls of it right now. Well done Jaime!
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Southside Market Sausage
This one won't top any lists, but I love The Old Hickory House in Atlanta. I'm so homesick for their Brunswick stew.
Cheese-Filled Bacon Roll, Too Much of a Good Thing?
I guess I'm the only one here who thinks this is amazing? I am so making this with eggs in it this weekend. Ooo or a pickle!! Or eggs AND a pickle! And cheese.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Zingerman's Praise the Lard Gift Box
It's a tie -- between (1) the day I realized that all of the flavor in a pork chop is right next to the bone (I know, I know, DUH), because that changed my life, and (2) eating suckling pig in Spain, with that super crisp thin skin and melt-in-your mouth soft, fatty baby piggie meat inside.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: D'Artagnan Boneless Heritage Ham
For an everyday ham sandwich, good mustard -- any kind, really... dijon, whole grain, even honey (sometimes) -- is really all that ham needs, on any bread other than basic pre-sliced supermarket white (it gets too gooey and smushed when you bite into it once it's loaded with that mustard -- ew). Although I do LOVE the hammy breakfast sandwich at 'WichCraft with the butter AND the avocado on a crusty french baguette. You wouldn't think anything needs both butter and avocado, but once you have it, you can never go back.
The Ultimate Cleanse?
I tried the Master Cleanse back in the fall, not really to lose weight, but to flush out all the bad stuff in my body. The "lemonade" wasn't actually that bad -- I had plenty of energy and was never hungry or grumpy. However, it did make me realize how much my life revolves around food because I was BORED CRAZY. No going out to dinner or drinks with friends, no cooking at home, no lazy brunch on the weekends -- not even my favorite cup of tea at night. I broke down 5 days into it, not out of hunger, but because I just missed eating so much. I really can't see a foodie getting into a cleanse like this. That, and the lemonade really hurts your teeth enamel. Oh and the benefits? There weren't really any. I wouldn't recommend it for much more than a test of personal will.
Ticket Giveaway: Japanese Food and Drink Demo and Tasting
Slow poached, massaged octopus. So tender. Wow.
Silly Things People Believe About Food
I had a friend in college who swore she was deathly allergic to shrimp... but NOT fried shrimp. Somehow fried shrimp was okay. A miracle of science?
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Southside Market Sausage
Since I'm in NY and can't *quite* justify the airfare back south for the good stuff, I'm going to give it to Hill Country. So fatty, so good. And the sausage isn't too shabby either ;)
Seriously Delicious Giveaway: Zingerman's Gift Certificate
Goat cheese brie. Mmmmmm.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
Both! When it's crisp on the edges, but still has some toothsome chewy bits in between the crispy waves... mmmmmmm. When it's too crispy, it shatters immediately and the life of all that beautiful bacony flavor gets cut short, but take it out of the pan a tad underdone, and the slight chewiness makes the bacon experience last that much longer. It's all about the flavor with bacon.
Cook the Book: Asian Flavors of Jean-Georges
malaysian curry soup with udon noodles, tons of veggies and whatever protein is in the house. yum. love that coconut milk + hot pepper oil combination.
Pimento Cheese Burgers
Believe it or not, pimento cheese burgers are popular all over the south, as are plain old pimento cheese sandwiches. My mother always gets pimento cheese dogs at The Varsity in Atlanta, and I know they've got burgers too. I can't say I'm as crazy about pimento cheese as she is. Here's an article from January that references a couple of Atlanta pimento cheeseburger spots: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6877304
Does Anyone Still Eat Chicken-Fried Steak?
Hog Pit and Ninth Street Market both have excellent CFS. Yum.
Win Two Passes to the Big Apple Barbecue Party
It doesn't get much attention from the nyc bbq community, and it hasn't been particularly great lately, but I'm still going to have to go with the Hog Pit. They've got pretty solid pulled pork (with the little smokey burnt edges) and delicious cheese grits that you just can't find outside of the south. Yum!
Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
I cannot wait to try these, Tressa and Trey! The next time I have people over for brunch, these babies will definitely be on the table. Thanks for sharing the much cherished recipe with all of us! Hope the South is treating you well on your roadtrip!
Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
My MIL a true southern bell took my biscuit cutter and twisted. When I asked her what she was doing she claimed NOT to know that. So I stamped some and showed her the difference. I mean WTF how can she not know that and me from NJ I KNOW THIS!!!
Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
Holy crap, these are good. Partway through cooking, I heard an odd sizzling sound coming from the oven. I opened to find the biscuits frying in their own butter and I knew I was in for a treat.
Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
@rockandroller - You should share the biscuits with friends, they'll love you for it! 1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons
Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
sh*t, I could easily eat 9 biscuits but knowing I'm downing 1.5 sticks of butter would be bad. That being said, it's really tempting. My butter comes in big round logs that we cut up and freeze - how much butter is in a stick? I haven't used stick butter since I found a good local dairy.
Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
Oh, wow. I can't wait to try these.
Memaw's Buttermilk Biscuits
Shout out from Starkville (just up the road from Maben)! Tell 'em how we do it!
Old New York: Bygone Restaurants
The Pink Tea Cup still there, the last time I looked. Side of fried chicken with your pancakes?
Old New York: Bygone Restaurants
I recall '60s-era Village soul food: Pink Teacup (everything with bacon, I seem to remember) on West Side; Princess Pamela's (briefly) pretty far east, perhaps on 10th Street..
And then there was: The Paradox, for your brown-rice-and-seaweed fix.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
future foodies is a group that arranges restaurant seatings for families with young children. their focus is a bit different - to encourage adventurous palates in the youngsters - but it sounds like it would be quite compatible with your idea
http://futurefoodies.ning.com/
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
I think Baby Seating is a good business idea, and it could be a good way to fill up an otherwise empty restaurant. On the other hand, I really do think if parents want a real "escape" it is less stressful for parents to get a babysitter and have a real "date night." I lived in NYC when my daughter was an infant, and once in awhile we'd take her out to a semi-fancy restaurant for dinner. It was always hit or miss. Sometimes I'd get the "I want a snack now!" cry just as the main entree was coming out, and I'd have to shuffle to the restroom to nurse her, leaving my husband to eat alone. Other times, she'd sleep through the entire meal and not bother a soul. After a while, we just stuck with diner-type restaurants when we had the desire to eat out.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
My brother and I grew up going to "fancy" restaurants. We both started going when we were infants. Being 12 years older than my bro, I remember that if he got fussy (which was in all honesty, not very often), he'd be whisked off by our dad. They did not want to ruin anyone's dinner, so my mom and I would finish our meal in peace and get my dad's meal to go. By the time we were five, we knew to behave and be pleasant or we would not get to go. And who would want to miss out on a fantastic dinner?!
My parents were smart. We'd go around 5ish and leave early. Another tip from them is that if we weren't behaving or feeling well, we didn't get to go at all and our nanny would stay with us. Parents should definitely take note on this! I can't stand going ANY WHERE and you have a whiny kid in the nearby vicinity. Parents nowadays seem to think that either their kid is an angel or "cute" and DISCIPLINE is not in their vocabulary.
Also, do your server a favor and clean up after your mess maker or if you won't do that, at least leave a big tip!
After all that I've said, I do agree with the original post - restaurants should think about having a "family night". Children can begin learning "restaurant manners" without the rest of us sacrificing our night out.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
to zack and izzy's mama,
it's the mommy and me movie concept that people don't understand until you have a baby. also to add, when our little guy was 3 months old he was very picky and would only allow my sister to babysit. once we tried a regular babysitter we ended up coming home b/c he was crying the whole time. now that he's 6 months old he's worse when left with others b/c he is so much more aware. of course this dining out experience depends on the child and how much s/he can handle. but as a person who values food and the experience of dining i would like to share this my little guy. we're not talking prefix meals @french laundry but the neighborhood restaurants where we can push the stroller to.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
Remember when you take a young child out that you should tip a higher precentage than normal because the server has to do much, much, much more work for a parent and one child than they do for two adults. At the same time the total cost of the bill goes down so the server makes less money. Also, anything you bring in for the child (toys, snacks, etc.) should leave with you. Cleaning up after your child's mess is not now nor has ever it been part of the price of a meal. A happy, well-behaved child is a treasure in a restaurant.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
It is not surprising that most of the naysayers do not have babies or have grown children and have since forgotten the challenges of having young children and a life. Just because one has children does not mean one is destined to only eating at home. Adding a babysitter to an evening out can add a good $50 or $60 to a meal, thereby making it cost prohibitive. And who are you to tell parents what there priorities should be.
I am most astonished by those with young children who don't believe they should be dining out. It does depend on the child and it is up to the parent to determine if and when their child can handle a restaurant-going experience. Yes. Manners do begin at home but a restaurant experience is different and children behave differently in public venues. It is only through repeated exposure can children learn how to behave appropriately. There is a method to getting this to work.
http://www.izzyeats.com/2007/10/out-to-eat-lessons-and-advice.html
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
@joc1234 - To be honest, I didn't write this post to start a "should babies be allowed in fancy restaurants" argument. I actually don't think they should. And that's why we've avoided nice dinners, at fancy restaurants, with our newborn. Even for 5 p.m. seatings... which a lot of restaurants would probably be ok with. I just feel bad. I don't think people should bring babies to restaurants.
That being said, so many restaurants are struggling in this economy to attract customers, that I suggested this idea more for restaurants than parents. The idea being that rather than introducing recession specials to lure in your normal customer base, looking for a bargain- why not do something that would attract a whole new set of customers. Customers who would be more than happy to pay full price, for the privilege of not feeling guilty bring their child someplace where he or she wasn't welcome.
I figured if you did it a) at a time when the restaurant is already having trouble luring people in (first seating on a weekday perhaps?) and b) let customers without children know when they try to make reservations during this once a week or once a month time slot that it has been set aside for families with children, and they are more than welcome to dine during that time but there will be a lot of families there.
That's it! I actually don't think babies should be welcomed at fancy restaurants... but if those restaurants are empty anyway at 5pm on a Weds, I'd be more than glad to eat there if they wanted to welcome me with open arms!
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
I'm not sure what I'm missing here, Zach! What is preventing you from going out to eat early? Unless I'm missing something, none of the restaurants mentioned (and presumably none on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at all) bar children! Restaurants already tend to open around 5:00 for dinner service, so I'm not sure what your point is! It doesn't sound like you're asking for anything special: early-bird menu, toys, crayons!?! So, please, explain to me, in further detail, your idea!
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
The impolitic answer is that it depends on the baby. I don't have children, but a clean, quiet child with parents who don't shove the kid in your face is no big deal. A whining, screaming child with parents who change the child within sight and smell, who grabs at you and then gets you admonished because you ignore the kid rather than 'make friends' is a nightmare. Probably the best solution is for the restaurant to reserve the right to ask the parent to step out with the child if it is proving to be a distraction.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
My wife and I just had our first baby almost two months ago. We too used to go out to nice restaurants a lot (almost every weekend). In all honesty I think there are places where babies simply do not belong, and fancy (only fancy) restaurants are one of those places.
Even if he behaves, which he is certainly to do because all they do is sleep at that age, the whole experience of dining out does not involve making sure little baby is not drooling or making sure he is properly seated in his infant seat. Those are not things I want to be focusing on when I am out with my wife at a nice place. The whole idea is to focus only on us and be about us for the few hours we are going to be eating out.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
I dunno, I guess I'm of the school of thought that having children isn't mandatory -- it's a person or a couple's choice. And, with all choices come compromises and consequences, one of them being that you may not get to do the things you were used to doing before you had kids. Or, that you have to have a more detailed budget/money discussion even before having kids; because factoring in the cost of a babysitter one night a week (or month) is something parents should do not just for the sake of others around them on a night out, but for themselves to have their own time alone without the kid in tow. It's allowed, you know...
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
This is such a good idea and I was just mentioning this idea to another mom. Those against this idea don't get it because they don't have babies. The family night would start early and it's not meant to be for single people or couples without babies. I say babies b/c until they become full fledged toddlers or kids it's whole different ball game.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
Just as I would never dream of going to a Mommy TIme Movie, I would take the same approach if I knew a restaurant was setting aside Tot Time. I just wouldn't go.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
I think it's a great idea too. But I disagree with some of the commenters - I don't think the waiters have a problem with the kids is the issue - I think most parents are uncomfortable bringing their babies so as not to disturb fellow diners.
Hillary
Chew on That
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
You can't have it all. Fine dining and bars are for grown ups and are not to be considered make shift daycare centers/ personal cantines. Some of the posters on this board sound a little selfish and it doesn't seem like they have adjusted to the idea that life changes when you have children. There are certain luxuries you have to give up when kids arrive and dining out at high end restaurants is one of them. From a business stand point "baby seating' is a bad idea. Double the people, double the work with only half the pay out makes no sense. Babies don't eat full portions but take up the space of someone who does.
I love kids but I'm with the other posters who say get a sitter and if you can't afford one than you need to prioritize.
Fancy Restaurants Should Implement an Early 'Baby Seating'
Funny, really... the arguments seem so similar to the ones you get between off-leash/on-leash dog people. It seems like there's very little middle ground here - and while I understand the frustration, I can't see why so many people seem unable to concede a little.
Yes, children learn by example, and actually taking them out in public is an excellent education for them. Yes, letting them run around loose is unacceptable and "free rein" isn't the lesson they need to be getting. I am seeing some consensus that if you go earlier regardless of whether it's a set children time, you'll get a bit more leeway to be free of the dirty looks.
Oh, and for the no-children-in-restaurants people... it's in your best interests for parents to teach their children proper going-out manners. Cut them a bit of slack, and try not to terrify the poor kids.
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I agree with absentminded: biscuits are not only easy but fast as well, and really ought to only be enjoyed fresh at home. You just have to have the right recipe and (more importantly IMHO) the right flour. For me only White Lily Self Rising (which is probably what queenbleu's MIL used too) will do -- then all I add is butter and buttermilk. I pour melted butter over after baking.