mame11

How hard is Prime Rib to make? I want to use Lawry's Restaurant's recipe for a birthday dinner later this week. Also, should I preorder the meat from WF or other butcher?

(note: I have never made Prime Rib, never made a brisket and never made a pot roast... I am a complete novice... is Prime Rib Mt. Everst?)

Thanks in advance...

At the market now. Anna has asked me to post the market should be open until about 2 or even later if people show up. Flowers veggies meat fish apples crab cakes and butternut squash soup from the jockey club

Tree and Leaf, too! And Buster's!!!

Do check FRESHFARM Market's web site for updates. Oysters by the fire! Christmas ham, ribs, collards, apples, organic cabbage and lilies--not a bad haul from country to city during a blizzard!!!

PS There's a call to willing arms: bring shovels along with your market baskets.

You know... I have to ask why businesses stay open in situations like this. While I appreciate that everybody needs to make money and people appreciate places to go, the roads are nothing short of treacherous. Even if your customers are primarily within walking distance, what about your staff? Does the kitchen staff live nearby? How do the workers get home at 11 p.m. or later? Does the restaurant/store etc. cover the expenses of any accidents? I am not being snide, just genuinely concerned for people who may feel like they have to show up in order to keep their jobs.

I probably missed my calling as a union organizer.

I'm experimenting with tempering chocolate and making a concoction of crushed graham crackers that have been toasted and marshmallows mixed with tempered chocolate. I'm thinking of calling it s'mores. :-)

I highly recommend Café Sabarsky in the Neue Gallerie (Fifth Ave. @ 88th). It's like being in a Viennese café. I usually go for coffee and dessert or breakfast, but have gone for lunch as well. It's an elegant, relaxing (when not crowded) spot with good food and service.

http://www.cafesabarsky.com/

http://www.wallse.com/

We ended up not making it to the Guggenheim after all that day. Instead we went from the UES to Chelsea Market and had a nice and reasonably priced lunch at Freedman's Deli. We had loads of fun exploring the Chelsea Market, with great hot chocolate from the new Jacques Torres outpost.

We ate two dinners at La Bonne Soupe (seriously good food that is reasonably priced) and had brunch at Sara Beths at the Whitney. Our big dinner was at Bar Americain which I thought good but not worth the price.

As Waitman did, I can recommend a good, reasonably priced hotel too... The Hotel at Times Square. Its a good basic hotel in the theater district (or pretty close thereto). Its not a fancy hotel but if you aren't on an expense account who needs fancy.

I'd plan a trip to Ardeo/Bardeo in Cleveland Park for good, solid food from an up and coming chef. I'd also go to Himalayan in Adams Morgan for amazing Nepali and Indian food (yes, I said amazing... it's really that good). I bet Himalayan will be open on the 1st. (I'm going tomorrow night and will check for you.) I would do a lunch at the American Indian Museum because it really is good, and very unique. I'd walk up 14th St. to Mid City Cafe for a relaxing morning of pastries and coffee, and then get a yummy sandwich at the new Cork Market.

Those are things I would do. But I'd also review all the postings on Don Rockwell to see what others think.

As are signs of the company's anti-semitic sentiments. You have to wonder...

http://www.cstone.net/~landovel/israel.htm I'm all for Freedom of Speech but I don't have to buy his sorbets.

It's fairly normal for the paper to stick to buns, particularly the breadier ones. I don't recall ever getting a barbecued pork steamed bun without it. And removing the paper does tend to tear the bottom of the bun open. Placing an additional layer of paper between each bun's paper base and the steamer is something I've never seen, though.

There are alternatives to the sticking paper. A better restaurant might use perforated parchment these days, which will perfectly release even sticky Cantonese delicacies like the one shown below. Also see my photos of xiaolongbao in the Toronto thread.

You know, that is what is interesting... the issue might have been that the wax paper caused the buns to tear open, and the dim sum to break open, when removing the paper. That's why it seemed they weren't prepared appropriately. Also, the paper at the bottom of the steamer may well have been the perforated parchment.

I thought Ping Pong was supposed to be a "better restaurant." The quality of meat in the pork bun and the sticky rice makes me think otherwise. But it sure is a pretty restaurant and the drink menu is nice.

What about Ardeo? I would suspect you could eat for less than $50 per person, and they are a wine restaurant. Dino should work as well. Both restaurants are open on Monday.

(ETA: Missed the Christmasy feel... thought it said non-Christmasy feel. Would the Tabard Inn work?)

Many of the tables around us commented about the wax paper sticking to dim sum. It was odd because each basket had a circle of wax paper at the base which was in addition to the pieces that were stuck on the dim sum. I may not have eaten as much dim sum as others in my lifetime but I really do not recall the wax paper. To me, and I think the others with whom I was with, it indicated that the pieces had been overly steamed or poorly prepared in some manner so that the paper merged with the dim sum.

However, my main comment is that I think Ping Pong will be a great place to get a drink and have a light snack. The veggie dim sum were all really good, the meats I would not order again.

I went this weekend as well and would describe Ping Pong as a bar that serves dim sum. It seems to be intended as a see and be seen place. Food really seemed less important than drink. The drink menu is equally as long as the food menu.

The food did not meet my expectations, even for a first weekend run. The buns all had wax paper at the bottom that was difficult to remove. The vegetable options were all better than those with meat. In fact the veggie sticky rice was so good we ordered the special rice with meat and shrimp, which was crass.

I'd not go back unless it was for drinks.

Newest breakfast obsessions in Atlanta:

1) Rosemary olive oil bagel from Belly General Store. Slightly crisp on the outside, and warm and soft on the inside.

2) Buttermilk pancakes from Ria's Bluebird (directly across from Oakland Cemetery, where Bobby Jones and Margaret Mitchell are buried). Fluffy, warm, decadent, and frickin' INSANELY good with caramelized bananas on top.

Good thing we just moved out of city center, or my waistline would surely suffer...

Glad you like the bagels at Belly! I'll have to try Ria's next time I'm in Atlanta... those pancakes sound amazing.

No trip to the theater district is complete for me without a no nonsense meal at La Bonne Soupe. I haven't been since they had to remodel due to a fire, or flood, but look forward to my upcoming visit.

I didn't have a great experience at The Modern but it was shortly after they opened and had much to do with the server's 'tude.

I'm looking for a recommendation as well:

Does anyone have an idea for a lunch by the Guggenheim?

Wow. I'm glad I decided to revisit Mid City Caffe last week. I had not been back since my earlier post but decided to revisit because I did really like the airiness of the space. I resolved to pay a lot for my coffee and not complain.

Well, times have changed at the Mid City Caffe. The prices seem to have been brought in line with other indie shops. They offer a great range of pastries and a variety of bagels, all sourced from great local vendors. In fact the pastries are from Cacao and include yummy looking macaroons.

They added electric outlets so now there is no shortage. The music is really pleasant and so is the staff. It's a great place to spend a few hours, even on a rainy day.

OK, it looks like 4th and Swift and Abattoir are my best bets for something interesting based on their distance, and I've spotted both of them on the map. How much further away would JCT be? (And for that matter, how expensive of a cab ride would it be to either of the first two places?)

And, what's the reservation situation like? Any chance of getting in same day? I sadly won't be able to get to Grindhouse, close as it is, because I'll really be a prisoner in the hotel until about 5 or 6 each day.

Cheers.

Go to JCT. It's in the same complex as Abbatoir. It's better, far better, than SCK and contrary to what BettyJoan's friends have told her it still gets good reviews and the last meal I had there in July blew my expectations. I liked it much more than the 2 meals I had at 4th & Swift. The food was comparable but the atmosphere at JCT was much better... lighter literally and figuratively.

Most people I know who have eaten at Abbatoir haven't liked it enough to go back or at all. I have chosen not to go based on their reviews.

Cabs in Atlanta are expensive because its a sellers market.

The Doctor: In terms of upscale dining, SCK does not compare with any of the places I suggested. SCK is reliable, but the other places are standouts. As for how far/long the cab ride would be, it all depends on time of day and traffic. Atlanta has some of the worst traffic in the country, and each day is an oh-so-happy surprise in terms of commute times. ;-) From downtown, Abattoir and 4th and Swift are your closest options (of the ones I mentioned).

booklovingbabe: Sorry your Vortex burger was just average! We've had a couple of off days there (mostly in terms of burger doneness), but by and large they're kick-ass. I always go for the buffalo patty, cooked medium rare, and it has rarely let me down. Glad you liked the tots--they are always good and crunchy!

BettyJoan have you tried JCT Kitchen yet? It's received better reviews than Abbatoir and is fabulous. It's in the same complex as Bacchanalia.

I'm not surprised the Vortex is engh. They opted to be treated as a bar to allow smoking. The choice speaks volumes about where they make their money.

I haven't been a fan of SCK since, well, Watershed opened.

4th & Swift is good, have been a few times BUT I would opt for Woodfire Grill, JCT or Abattoir. Each is unique compared to what we have in DC. I love, love Dynamic Dish and wish there was something similar here (totally not the same as Vegetate).

I love the Vortex. Wonder how they stack up to the DC options.

Clydes in Gallery Place sounds like the perfect place.

Cabs are not inexpensive in Atlanta. I assume you mean $5 per person, not entire trip, Smokey. If you have a big group you might want to prearrange transportation.

As to places to eat, there are some really good places closer to downtown that you might consider.

My favorite restaurant in Atlanta these days is Dynamic Dish. Its veggie heaven and can't be beat. Saturday night is pizza night.

As for an option like Bacchanalia I can offer you a couple of restaurants:

1) Star Provisions is Bacchanalia's general store and casual dining option for lunch. I heart it.

2) JCT Kitchen is not like Bacchanalia at all but is fabulous in its own right and in the same 'hood as Bacchanalia.

Your price restrictions are a little unrealistic for anything that is not a chain however here are some casual options you might consider:

Everybody I know in Atlanta loves Taqueria Del Sol. You might also try Manuel's Tavern which is the Atlanta political hangout, has lots of space and is reasonably priced for really good food.

Not sure but could they be lace cookies? lace cookies via google

I'm planning on attending and will be coming from NW. I'm unclear at what time the festivities start. Also, I'll be bringing homemade hummus and baba ganouj with the usual fixings.

If someone could let me know what time it starts, that would be great. Thanks!

ha... ha... got easy and approachable too! At first I thought.. hey i'm not easy then realized when it comes to food I pretty much am! :-)

Jane,

Thank you for the clarification. Based on it it sounds like a great project and I see the value. Congratulations and good luck.

Ncpindc

Monavano,

Copyright does not treat recipes fairly as they are considered instructions. HOWEVER, there are some elements of copyright that do apply, like the manner in which the recipes are organized and the actual instructions if they are written in a unique manner. The wholesale copying of cookbooks is probably not okay. The site seems to violate other IP rights as well.

ncpindc

I am the co-founder of a new website, www.eatyourbooks.com, which is a search engine for recipes in your cookbooks. We are looking for more data inputters - that is entering into a database the recipe name and then selecting from pre-entered lists the main ingredients, ethnicity, recipe type, etc. Culinary knowledge is a definite plus but accuracy is as important. This is work you can do from home in your own time. You will get the cookbooks from your local library (or you may own them). If you are interested apply to jane@eatyourbooks.com.

Wow. Recipes might not be protected by copyright in the United States but the way that recipes are arranged in cookbooks are. Your site breaks my heart as it seems to strip any economic value the cookbooks have for their authors while providing a stream of income to the founders of the website (subscription fees). Did I miss something? Do you compensate the authors out of the subscription fees?