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Yesterday I went to White Rose in Roselle for a double cheesburger. I don't know if it's because of the change in owners or if they just had a bad night, but my burger wasn't good at all. Dried out and lacking it's usual great flavor. If I went for the first time I would be greatly disapointed and wonder what the fuss was about.

I grew up in nearby East Brunswick and ate here in high school (usually late night). The first time I went I asked for my burger without onions and the guy at the register called it back "one sissy burger!" Still remember that over 15 years later. Pretty funny and embarrassing.

Not that impressed with the burgers here. Much prefer White Diamond.

it is ALL about the fries at white rose system!!!

http://beavercitywillrockyou.blogspot.com/2008/12/hamburger-will-rock-you-and-sock-you.html

Holy cow! I was obsessed with these in Singapore. Where I was staying there was a Meidi-ya supermarket downstairs and there was a little mom 'n' pop stand inside where you could get them made fresh any time of day. I could not resist them. I went in on new year's eve and the line snaked around the whole store and that's the only day I didn't have some. Thanks for the tip-off!

Hi Michele, sorry if this is a bit late. A taiyaki is fish-shaped as described in this entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiyaki), while a dorayaki is round, basically two pancakes sandwiching the filling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorayaki). The filling for a taiyaki and dorayaki are similar, usually red bean. Hope the Wiki links help too.

roboppy, is it a long walk from TJ's? TJ's must be north of Mitsuwa because there isn't much south of it, or at least there wasn't last time I was there last summer. Are there ever any un-crowded hours? ;-)
Thanks for the tip!

I love going to Mitsuwa, but I wish I didn't have to drive to get there. If you are going on a weekend you will want to find a bus from NY...the parking is someplace beyond awful. Way worse than the Harlem Fairway before they built the new lot. I have given up more than once.

That being said, if you can get a spot...it is a wonderful place indeed. Does the market have any other flavor of taiyaki? I'm getting hungry looking at the picture.

does anyone have a recipe for making the batter? i'm tempted to do a hybrid version in my aebelskiver pan. thanks!

Hi Michele, just wanna let you know that Doraemon is obsessed with dorayaki ... that's where its name comes from.

I love both of these Japanese treats too, as well as imagawayaki/obanyaki. Actually in Hong Kong they have ones with a green tea exterior and a red bean or sweet potato filling, in addition to custard, chocolate, black sesame and savory fillings like potato and cheese.

Robyn, do you know about Doraemon, the blue cartoon cat who's obsessed with taiyaki? I grew up watching his show in Cantonese (the Chinese call him Ding-Dong.) He's awesome.

Check this out.

my parents always buy at minimum 6 @ mitsuwa, cuz there is some sort of deal that way. the leftovers we pop in the toaster oven and they come out hot and crunchy. sometimes better than when we got them.

ROBYN! You ate LECHON! :D

Had some a couple of months ago. Huge roast pig laid out on a table, with people slicing bits straight off it. Here's a picture:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/luisk/lechon.jpg

(The guy with glasses is my former teacher, genius poet Jimmy Abad.)

For someone who grew up with it, I never really acquired a taste for lechon though. But I do like "the loud potato chip-like crunch of the skin on the first bite." :)