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Torrisi!

Excepting a few things (and we order pretty much weekly - the options around us, like a sucky Gristedes), our Fresh Direct orders, even produce, have been great!!

I don't order prepared foods, but I like being able to order heavy staples like flour, canned tomatoes, kosher salt, etc. and have them delivered to my home. We often order proteins - there are often good deals on grass fed beef, organic chicken, local duck, etc. I enjoy their peanut butter which I describe as "really real" peanut butter, and get all my standard cheeses (hunks of cheddar, wedges of parm) from them, though they have much prettier, fancier cheeses a few blocks away at Zabar's. Oh! I am not a sandwich person, but I really enjoy the Fresh Direct brand turkey for sandwiches. Large bags of organic onions (and carrots, now that I think about it!) are almost always on sale. I also enjoy family packs of lemons. They carry a couple of decent dried pasta brands. Craft beers by the case are more than competitively priced (6-pack of Stone IPA at Gristedes...$16.49 or so, 24-pack from Fresh Direct - $46.00 or so!).

And they have the fancy NYMilk and NYEggs featured on this blog recently. I have ordered both, and am currently annoyed because I did not sample them mindfully (the eggs went into pasta, the milk, homemade ricotta).

If you go to Palena, get the burger. It's amazing. You will be tempted by the other, fancier, more fabulous sounding dishes, but get the burger. Have the vegetarian get the gnocchi or something.

If you're down for pizza (a great vegetarian option says the former vegetarian), check out 2Amy's. The pizza and small plates (particular if you can snag seats at the wine bar at the back) are lovely, affordable and inspired. Get the little meatballs, get whatever the special pizza is, get the suppli, and drink inexpensive gragnano (neapolitan pizza wine I think of as "red wine soda"), which is wine I would unironically describe as "yummy".

If your vegetarian is really a pescatarian, check out Black Salt in Georgetown, and be sure to get the sandwich that has some kind of shellfish fried in cornmeal. Mmm.

Oyamel is yummy, but mainly for tacos. Just get tacos. They're teeny so you can get a whole bunch and then share.

@ dbcurrie: Hi! After reading the earlier comment I went and looked up the thread. We are actually going to do BOTH! We'll be saving some of our starter and feed it flour/water, and also do a new one, following your method. It was our first time and we were doing it just for fun, but we're definitely hooked. Thanks so much.

This is an interesting question. I've definitely moved past my mother's repertoire of herbs and spices. If she were to look into my cabinet, she would definitely be confused about how I use certain things (pimenton?!?! What's that for?). I don't have children (yet?), but I'm a terribly adventurous eater, and I plan to raise my possible future kiddos that way. I'd be happy if one day I pop into my son or daughter's kitchen and say ________ ?!?!? What's that for?

That's funny, I went to Farm Burger with friends and family less than two weeks ago and ordered my boyfriend's burger rare. His was rare for sure, and delicious. I had mine medium rare and it looked about like the burger pictured. We had a great experience - not the best ever, but yummy. I would give the burgers an A- probably - agreed on the salt! Although, that bacon is yummy enough to make up for it.

Got 100. While drinking beer! Yay, beer!

While I use either silicone baking mats or parchment paper depending on the situation, I have to admit I loathe silicone baking pans. Flexible pans do not make sense, and worse, I find they really stink for cakes, quick breads, etc. because they change the texture of the outer crust (in my experience).

A decent selection of teas and herbal tisanes for non-coffee drinkers (a nice hot cocoa would be lovely too).

Individual seating (like comfy chairs) as well as small tables for couples or small groups of friends.

I agree, sockets, sockets, sockets, and free wifi (or free wifi with purchase--maybe you could print the password on receipts or something).

Pastries and treats made with "whole" ingredients--no HFCS, maybe a few whole wheat options. I also agree with the person above who requested regular-sized pastries, a 200 calorie cookie for a buck, say, rather than a 500 calorie one the size of my head for two bucks.

Ultra thin slices of wonderful cheese!

Since I'm a college student/semi vegetarian who eats a lot of pasta (probably pasta a couple of times a week, but in small portions!), it's whole wheat all the way. I will indulge in regular in a restaurant, or if I'm cooking something special for my family or boyfriend.

My really perfect chocolate brownies with a glass of red. It just works.

Definitely in the water for boxed stock crowd. Saves money, tastes better.