brettashley01

The menu is so extensive I would love to have a $20 Tuesday at Pete's to work through the menu. It would take a bit of organizing (the manager said we could do it if we set it up in advance), but I think it would be fun to have a pizza tasting.

A quick search on the net will bring you lots of recipes such as:

http://kidsfoodallergiesblog.com/2008/06/0...y-free-challah/

Also, Ener-G foods has lots of specialty products. I don't see Challah there now but you may want to give them a call, as they tend to produce some seasonal goods: http://www.ener-g.com/default.aspx

Here is an Egg-free challah, note that it does contain other allergens: http://www.3brothersbakery.com/products.php?cat=21

I can do a more comprehensive search.. you might want to try searching for "gluten free" and see what you come up with, since there are many more food market sites devoted to celiac allergy.

what do you nibble on or sip when under the weather and feeling like you can't remain vertical?

Chicken soup or broth. Chamomile tea.

Jesus no. Try PS7?

I have had (and made) some damn good pumpkin cocktails. Officially virgin of course. If you feel like being official.

And whipped cream frosting piped between ladyfingers? This guy better be worth it...

Haha, I think that's the exact bakery he ordered it from. In any case they have very responsive customer service:

Hello,

Our Queen Elizabeth cake is a 3 layer yellow cake filled alternately with strawberries, bavarian cream and sliced bananas. Lady fingers and piped whip cream surround the sides of the cake along with whip cream and a strawberry on top. Thank you for your interest!

Now I've got to find a perfect recipe for barvarian cream. Labor intensive...

A friend of mine described his favorite cake in the world. And I am on a mission to bake it.

He called it Queen Elizabeth cake- he had it every year on his birthday growing up- and said it consisted of layers of white cake with bananas, strawberries, frosting. But when I googled Queen Elizabeth cake, all I found were recipes for a date/walnut cake. ??!!

I really want to make this cake! But do we (he) have the name wrong? Or is this just what it's called in Chicago? Any insight would be much appreciated!

s'mores s'mores s'mores... and I would check out Whole Foods for GF graham crackers.

Had a wonderful evening last night at Dino. The food came out at the perfect pace- absolutely no rush, we were able to linger over appetizers for at least 20 minutes. An absolute gem of a waiter (I wish I remembered his name!) who was neither intrusive nor absent, and made us feel very welcome. And what a great Restaurant Week/Month special! It was so hard to decide what to order...

We started with the vegetable antipasto, which was a HUGE plate of grilled marinated vegetables, plus mozzarella and pecorino, and a bean salad. I love those grilled onions. He ordered the half portion of the wild boar pappardelle, which didn't have enough sauce to my liking, not that that stopped me from tasting one, two, three times.

For mains we had the zuppa di pesce and the mahi mahi. Good news first: the zuppa was delicious. I got the last scallop. (Unfortunately all the clam shells were empty. Huh?) Bad news: the mahi. I actually giggled when both dishes arrived at the same time. What a contrast: the zuppa was colorful and abundant, while the mahi was... not so much. It was a small piece of fish wrapped in parchment. We were expecting vegetables to spill out when the pouch was opened. But under the fish sat one lonely slice of squash, and one small fingerling potato. Hmm.. we ordered mizuna greens to round out the meal. Maybe my eyes are bigger than my stomach but both mains seemed smaller than the appetizers. Anyway, the fish was well-cooked, which is what matters most I suppose.

Dessert was the stewed rhubarb with black peppercorn vanilla gelato, and two cheeses which I can't recall- but I did get adventurous and order the one which came with a warning "BEWARE OF THIS CHEESE." It was funky but good. One kink though, there were candied walnuts on my cheese plate, even though I had warned my waiter of my allergy. Not cool, but at least I had someone to pass them off to. As my date does not imbibe, I had both the grappa and the muscato. This was my first time with grappa. We don't go well together- as our waiter put it, it was like "moonshine." I think that was my first and last sip.

Ok so I know there are some complaints in there, but on the whole I really love Dino and will definitely return. It's just comfortable, never rushed, and good quality food. Maybe next time I'll stick with a bunch of appetizers as it seems this is where the restaurant currently excels.

I'd be in if I could arrive post 5...

I don't know how you feel about this, but Trader Joe's has some great options for this, ie frozen cooked shrimp that de-thaw under running water, and salmon burgers that are a cinch to heat up in the microwave. They also carry Indian and Spanish meals (in boxes) that are surprisingly good and taste very fresh. There's usually enough extra sauce that I add some steamed vegetables to round out the meal. They also carry pre-marinated chicken- I'm a big fan of the Tandoori, actually very spicy- and fish.

I second the breakfast for dinner idea. Omelettes are easy and require virtually no prep work.

Salad of:

Raddichio, romaine mix

Jicama

Steamed brussel sprouts

Roasted red pepper

Tomato

Red onion

Cauliflower

Nova smeared with low fat cream cheese

Trader Joe's Pear/Gorgonzola dressing

Big cup of Good Earth tea

Exactly what I wanted.

Speaking of, is anyone else weirded out by the McDonald's crispy breakfast chicken thing commercials with Olympic athletes?

Would it be possible to do a "half veggie" menu? I don't do red meat (don't skewer me now) or foie gras. Also any subs for food allergies? I was asked to be someone's date and am seriously considering

I'd love to hear something about the food here. I used to work for an int'l Baltic non-profit, many of our nights ending up there drinking (bad) cheap Lithuanian "champange."

The downstairs area has the same prices as upstairs for lunch; I'd say expect $15-18. There is also a $35 prix fixe menu at lunch.

David, could you please share some of your more savory recipes? I don't know why, but I'd like to see how it goes with Ginger Beer... How is it with spiced rum? Thanks!

and more importantly, where can I pick some up?

Well then what about a PB&J using Castries, raspberry vodka, a touch of peach bitters, and then drizzled with a little Chambord?

This is something I'd love to participate in, but with food allergies, I have obvious dietary restrictions. I'd be hesitant to take a desirable spot unless I knew it was a menu I could enjoy... Looking forward to the menu.

Still full.

Was in food coma mode the rest of the day. Did. Not. Move.

Even ate pork. And yes, it was delicious!

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful dishes- that was me hanging out at the dessert table, polishing off the pb fudge- and a bit of rosemary gin fizz This board brings together such a diverse group and it was great to see everyone out!

I think Oya has a lunch prix-fixe

Am I the only one who can't figure out what time the picnic is taking place??

Poste is comfortable. I don't know what the rush is like with Bistro D'oc but what if you have to sit upstairs? (Absolutely not trying to be flip either). PS7, too.

I am hoping to appeal to the supportive nature and solidarity of other DR.com members.

I recently resigned from my job as manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations at a health care organization. I am thus seeking employment, and was wondering if anyone on the board might know of an opening. I have a background in fundraising (mostly in the non profit arena), relationship management, and event planning, production and promotion, as well as a strong interest in food, wine, and the culinary industry. I am also interested in nutritional counseling and fitness. I have no objections to working in a restaurant- that said I have almost no culinary training, but I'm a people person and can sell sell sell.

If you happen to know of any openings, please PM me and I will send you my resume; or you can email me at brett.a.gerson@gmail.com. I will also be at the picnic on Sunday. I have seen how supportive this network of people can be and I'd really appreciate any help or guidance you may have.

With humble heart and much gratitude,

Brett