Profile

vickyb

Where to eat in South Beach?

Again, many thanks!

Where to eat in South Beach?

Thank you so much!

Need a restaurant in Cleveland

Went to Greenhouse Tavern for lunch. A great meal. Amazing soup of the day and then krispy kale salad with an egg on top.

Need a restaurant in Cleveland

Dear all--thanks so much. I am going to Greenhouse Tavern for lunch today, but it's closed for a private party tonight. Any other ideas in that neighborhood, or in the neighborhood around West Saint Clair Avenue, for dinner?

Alpine Mint Brownies

I made these this afternoon for a new year's party tonight. Used half Ghirardelli's Extra Bittersweet and half Ghirardelli's Semi-Sweet chocolate in the brownies. Used Ghirardelli's Bittersweet Chocolate chips for the glaze. Would love to know if the recipe creator has a suggestion about bittersweet vs semi-sweet vs unsweetened.

Any recommendations for coffee makers?

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I have just bought a 12-cup Bodum coffee press. I was really persuaded by the arguments above: takes up less space, looks good at the table, cheaper. Also, much easier to clean than the Krups, which had so many parts that needed to be washed.

The Serious Eats Book: On Sale November 1!

To vagabondblogger: yes, there will be a digital version. I believe it will be published simultaneously.

Need a caterer for a party of 50 in NYC for $1000

My friend, for that budget, is looking just for someone to provide food, not service and clean-up. She loves the idea of Dinosaur BBQ. She is looking for informal food, not an elegant repast!

need a good restaurant in St. Louis

Dear all, I can't thank you enough for your help. I ended up going to Tony's for dinner Saturday. Perhaps the best halibut I've ever had. A very elegant and blissfully quiet restaurant. Expensive, but we felt we had a great meal. The criterion for choosing all the restaurants was proximity to our hotel downtown. I also had lunch at Bridge, which was good, and breakfast at Rooster, also a success.

need a good restaurant in St. Louis

Thank you all so much. I will report on my return!

how to find Spanish olive oil in the States

Many thanks to those who suggested Arbequina olive oil and La Tienda. I ordered the Arbequina from La Tienda, and it was exactly what my friends were looking for. They describe it as thick, buttery-tasting oil, smooth and flavorful.

Where to eat in Venice and Florence?

This is SO helpful. Many thanks to all of you.

Where to eat in Venice and Florence?

Thanks so much!

breakfast on upper west side

Many thanks to all of you. Adam--I really appreciate your help on Twitter!

Buche de Noel

Thanks. I knew the Payard restaurant on Lexington closed and didn't realize one could buy their baked goods directly.

In Season: Pomegranate

Any suggestions on where to get farro for the Farro Pomegranate salad? Fairway on the upper west side of Manhattan doesn't carry it--not even in its organic section.

Author Margaret Maron's Fig Preserves

For NC Gourment: I passed your question to Margaret Maron, who says the pickling spice gives it "oomph" -- otherwise it's just another fruit jam of no particular distinction.

Cape Cod Calamari

I think these are wonderful. Good food photography is hard to do.

Upper West Side drinks on Valentine's

Thanks so much. We were thinking of cocktails. Someone else suggested the new West Branch on Broadway and 77th.

Dobos torte

Thank you so much. I have just ordered one. They need two days notice and sell the Dobos Torte in three different sizes, starting at 7 inches.

Rehearsal dinner restaurant, UWS, NYC

I can now answer my own question. Tom Valenti is opening The West Branch on Broadway and 77th Street, and there is a beautiful private room there that will do perfectly.

sticky meringues

Do you think rice would work as a desiccant? Some people put rice in salt shakers in humid climates.

Photo of the Day: Brass the Beagle Digs Through Serious Eats Trash

Fleet Eater--yes, you did meet Brass at the San Domenico truffle hunt in Central Park. In fact, his appearance there was written up in the NY Times account of the event. Brass has also appeared on Good Morning, America, in a segment on dogs watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. He has definitely had more media exposure than the average beagle.

The Cartoon Kitchen: Shrimp Salad

does anyone have a good recipe for a lemony dressing that would go with this dish?

The Cartoon Kitchen: Prunes and Sausage

I make this last Sunday, and it's not only incredibly good but also incredibly easy. One of the easiest dishes I've ever made. I used Italian sweet sausage and cooked it with the prunes until it was cooked through.

we need hot dogs for a book party

I'm trying to help an author with a book party in July. He's a very city guy
and was thinking about (dirty) dogs, which his character eats regularly.

I just found this online:
http://newyork.backpage.com/GeneralCommunity/rent-a-hot-dog-cart-nassau-suff
olk-party-rentals-johns-hot-dog-carts-long-island-li-ny/27172589

But . . . any other ideas? I was actually thinking about the dog equivalent
of sliders, i.e., cocktail-sized. Would or could anyone --- a creative
caterer you might recommend --- do this?

Any recommendations for coffee makers?

I have had a Krups 12-cup for many years (perhaps thirty?). The plastic filter cone cracked, and the model (#164) was described as "obsolete" when I called Krups. I need a new coffee maker. We are not fanatical about coffee--the machine would mostly be for making coffee for guests. Any suggestions?

We need a NYC restaurant for Thanksgiving

Any suggestions for a restaurant at which a party of nine or ten could comfortably eat Thanksgiving dinner in New York City. We would prefer some place that's not wildly expensive. We are hoping to have Thanksgiving sorts of food.

how to find Spanish olive oil in the States

After another meal in which clear light yellow olive oil was poured into a saucer and set next to the bread basket, I am moved to ask if there's any brand of olive oil available on the east coast that's the equivalent of what we found in Spain? The Spanish oil was a rich cloudy olive green -- not clear -- and really did taste like olives.

Buche de Noel in Manhattan

Where can I find a Buche de Noel in Manhattan, preferably on the upper west side or upper east side, although I am willing to travel if Payard on W. Houston is the best place to get one.

mail order food gifts

a niece on the other side of the country (she's in Berkeley) just had a baby. I would like to send a basket of food rather than flowers. Any suggestions?

breakfast on upper west side

Can someone recommend a place to meet at 8:30 on a weekday morning between 76th and Broadway and 56th and Broadway? I know about the Fairway Cafe and Cognac. Any other suggestions?

Bouillabaisse in NYC?

What is the very best restaurant in Manhattan for
bouillabaisse (not the most expensive--the best tasting) . I have a friend coming in from Nice, and he thinks we don't have good
bouillabaisse here.

Dobos torte

Where can I find a dobos torte in Manhattan? This is a Hungarian cake of many thin layers covered with a hard caramelized sugar top.

Rehearsal dinner restaurant, UWS, NYC

Friends are hosting a rehearsal dinner in May for their daughter. They are looking for a charming restaurant on the Upper West Side that would have private rooms for this sort of event. They expect 40-50 guests. Any suggestions?

sticky meringues

I have baked meringues (Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook recipe) to take to someone's house tomorrow. However, it is very humid, and the meringues are quite sticky. Any suggestions for how to dry them out and how to pack them so they don't stick together?

Photo of the Day: The Peep Liberation Front

Photo of the Day: The Peep Liberation Front

Photograph by Comrade Bo After being microwaved, decapitated, and stored in drawers for stale-ification, the Peeps have had it. Seriously. They are pulling out the toothpick-et signs and taking it to the streets. This photo was submitted by the anonymous Peep Liberation Front (PLF), who feels especially connected to the movement. Look, the squishy brigade recognizes that being eaten is their destiny, but can they at least die with some respect?... More