I used to be a short order cook at a small “sports bar” in a strip mall that did the black-pants-white-shirt-bow-tie thing with the bartenders and it always felt a little fake. Like they were trying too hard to be...

into a rocking one bedroom apartment (is symphony of italian classic and federalism; a truly wonderful space that makes excellent use of salvaged materials). I picked it because I remain peeved at ex boyfriend and this was the...

your own glass container, plastic makes it change texture. It was fabulous as both ice cream and whipped cream, as well as cooking. Also picked up some of their prize-winning munster, made for some tasty enchiladas. Lena also...

au Rhum which was too sweet (the rum should speak for itself). Tuesday lunch Swann et Vincent – a pretty Italian restaurant near the Viaduct in the 12th, on rue Saint-Nicolas – with its tile floors and high ceilings, is...

to the copious amounts of nam pla (fermented fish sauce) used in Thai cooking.

either, because it’s just too stinking fashionable. [Note to Joseph Epstein: you might want to substitute Bucktown the next time you give this stock answer, you’re dating yourself.] A reverse snob’s idea of a...

El Sarape, very good. La Paloma, very bad. In fact awful, just plain bad. La Paloma is to Mexican food what Chef Boyardee is to Italian food

.25” In a box labeled “COLD PLATE SUGGESTION” a menu of “Tuna Fish Salad on Crisp Lettuce, Quartered Hard-Cooked Egg, Tomato Wedges, Coleslaw, Potato Chips, Assorted Relishes 1.50” Desserts: “Angel Food...

something Italian or from the south of France. Fourth, while most waiters don’t know about wine, don’t be afraid to ask for help from the head wine guy (i.e. sommelier) at any restuarant that has one, and then be...

In a word, “yes”..it’s definitely worthwhile to have a good relationship with these people. Just today, I stopped in my fish market in the North End (Italian neighborhood) of Boston. I’ve been shopping...

Bye the bye, is Strega just the most hideous Italian you’ve ever been to or does that limit it’s hideousness too much?

If they kept it at, say, 75-80F or thereabouts for quite a long time, it’ll be "cooked", gone. Probably not vinegary to the point you can ostensibly return it, but dead, no flavors, no fruit. Icing will lower the...

for dessert. 2 – could you tone down the price point of the restos you go to. if the avg entree is mid 20’s this person probably feels worse than if the entrees were mid-teens. 3 – Family style. Every now and...

- fer instance, if you don’t like you’re ahi rare and request that it be cooked more, he’ll kick you out, or so I"m told.

and Italian American foods which included marinara sauce on virtually everything. It was the only time I was ever served enchiladas with a side of spaghetti. More recently, we decided to try La Rondala on Valencia because...