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harlem_panadera's Profile

Website: http://breadandbooks.vox.com

Location: New York City

About: associate editor at a university press, cookbook reviewer, obsessed bread baker who no longer actually resides in West Harlem.

Favorite foods: all breads, most cheeses, fresh summer tomatoes

Last bite on earth: slice of homemade ciabatta drizzled with olive oil and topped with a small bit of burrata mozzarella lightly dusted with truffle salt.

The Ten Most Recent Comments By harlem_panadera

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

I second Bar Room at the Modern -- had a terrific dinner last year. And Lupa for lunch; if I remember correctly, we got not three but four courses, all delicious. Worst was lunch at Asia de Cuba a couple RWs ago: it's a good thing the friend I went with and I like the same food, because get this, for the RW menu we could only order one dish from each course, to share! We couldn't believe it. The portions were decent, but it was just so bizarre. Don't know if that's still the case, but I would be wary...

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Spinach Strawberry Salad

Granted, the Whole Foods recipe is pretty lame, but surely you didn't buy just 5 strawberries at the market? Had I been making this I would have modified and put in a whole basket, most likely, especially after seeing the slices disappear into the mound of spinach as I worked...just got back from the greenmarket with a quart of strawberries all warm from sitting in the sun out there, and some spinach, most of which is destined for a fish en papillote, but seeing this is making me plot a small impromptu spinach-strawberrry salad on the side...

From Serious Eats: New York

Win Tickets to the 'Village Voice' Choice Eats Event in NYC

A couple years ago, on Sietsema's recommendaton I'm sure, I went to Taam Tov in the Diamond District...outstanding kosher Uzbeki place, I go all the time now

From Recipes

Kale: The Leafy Green Monster

I have a couple bunches of kale in the fridge and intend to make "kale chips" tonight -- came across them in another blog (link below) and thought it sounded fantastic...might be an option for your leftovers.
http://28cooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/kale-chips-ive-been-seeing-recipes-for.html

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: Win a Copy of 'Cook with Jamie'

My mom in part, for baking especially, and then lots and lots of cookbook reading and magazine reading and TV watching followed by practice -- and, increasingly, great meals at restaurants.

From Required Eating

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Southside Market Sausage

mmm, Dinosaur BBQ in NYC! just down the street...

From Required Eating

Seriously Delicious Giveaway: Zingerman's Gift Certificate

burrata -- just typing it makes my mouth water!

From Required Eating

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club

pretty crispy but not too much blackened

From Required Eating

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Southside Market Sausage

Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem -- the one good restaurant in my nabe, and it's out-of-this-world-forget-you're-sitting-under-the-Westside-Highway-good.

From Required Eating

Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us, Part 3

I saw this book pre-publication and tried the Velveeta fudge recipe -- my coworkers devoured it in 10 minutes flat and no one had any idea there was Velveeta in it. Nor did I tell them -- I cut the slices way bigger than the serving size, I'm sure! The Velveeta just gives it a super creamy texture. If you're a purist, obvs. avoid, but as people have said above, come on, this is fudge we're talking about, who wants it to be healthy anyway?

Responses to Comments by harlem_panadera

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

Collegekid19 asked for an Italian restaurant. Del Posto is nice. I don't know exactly why, but, while there and even later, I kept thinking "nice!".

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

Inspite of the pitfalls, I love RW. I find that, if I arrive early (even without a reservation) for lunch and look well put together, I almost always get seated. On the one or two occasions when this strategy failed, I did get seated at my second choice restaurant.

I agree with the praise for Danny Meyer's restaurants. I go to Gramercy Tavern during restaurant week and during the rest of the year. I always feel welcome.

Besides Gramercy Tavern, I love Aquavit and Oceana. The salmon at Aquavit is transcendent. The food overall at Oceana is subtle, beautifully presented, and memorable.

One place to avoid is Grayz. This is a midtown restaurant owned by Gray Kunz, a celebrity chef. It is located in a former Rockefeller townhouse. Aside from the historical interest, I have little good to say about the restaurant.

The staff at Grayz resented serving an inexpensive meal. For each of three courses, there were only two selections. There was loud Hispanic music. The food was bad.

What can I say? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

My favorite was Mesa Grill, Aureole was fine but they run a summer special throughout the summer, they may not even officially participate. Trying to get into Gramercy Tavern and Eleven Madison Park is just an exercise in frustration for me. I would've called a month in advance but just forgot about it and now both places are booked solid. This year I am going to Tabla with my sister, not my original choice but like others I feel Danny Meyer does the most honorable job with RW. We'll see how it goes.

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Spinach Strawberry Salad

I won a cookoff contest at the California Strawberry Festival in May with my recipe "Strawberry Gazpacho Salad with Tangy Lime Vinigrette" I would be happy to share it with anyone if they like...

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

I highly recommend River Cafe for lunchtime restaurant week. Great view, amazing food with several different options ( not just two ). And afterward you can walk over the bridge or lay on the grass under the bridge and enjoy a lovely day.

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

Restaurant Week is indeed a great *idea* but you need to be aware of the pitfalls:
- huge crowds and rushed service
- restaurants that cut corners (i.e., chicken and fish, none of the signature dishes, etc.)
- getting shut out of reservations since you didn't call 28, 30, or 31 days in advance
- the *really* high quality and popular restaurants usually do not participate
- restaurants that already have a prix fixe deal that is in that price range (Devi, Tocqueville, etc.)

I've always had a good experience at any Danny Meyer restaurant. As well as restaurants that typically don't have a large lunch crowd but are popular for dinner.

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

I highly recommend lunch during restaurant week because it is more affordable than dinner. But I did have a great time at Nougatine during restaurant week in February. The service was great and the food was generally the stuff you'd find on the regular menu.

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

@collegekid19--don't know if Ino does RW, but it's pretty inexpensive for a regular night out, and SO worth it!. We love love LOVE going there for the truffled egg toast and panini. Ino is one of my favorite spots in the city.

Restaurant Week is taking a beating here, and I think it's a great idea. My boyfriend and I are on a budget and don't get to eat at all of the fantastic places in NYC as often as we'd like. RW is a chance for us to try something that's normally out of reach. Once August hits, it's back to checking things off on the "Best Cheap Eats" issue of NY Mag! We love Restaurant Week! (almost as much as truffled egg toast...)

From Talk

NYC Summer Restaurant Week Recommendations (or warnings)

From Required Eating

Photo of the Day: Meatloaf Cupcake

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