Male Martha

See some of my reviews on Yelp

2010-10-02T18:55:00.001-04:00

Recent reviews by Ira B.&lt;br&gt;What's this?It's actually pretty easy to to it this way and I have been. Check it out!

Margot Restaurant: A Reason to Head Uptown

2010-02-21T17:19:00.003-05:00

Its been a while, but this place is worth mentioning. We took the 1 train up to 157th Street yesterday, and headed two block north to Margot Restaurant at 159th St and Broadway (3822 Broadway, New York, NY 10032-1547, 212- 781-8494). Its a pretty quick trip from the Upper West Side. The place is a tiny hole, but the food was quite good, and some of it was a clear step up over places south of

Salinger's Orchard and Farm Stand in Brewster

2009-12-25T09:17:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays from Male Martha! One of the reasons I've been writing less this year is youth hockey: spending every weekend going to a rink somewhere or other is is not the best way to find interesting food items. If I was writing a blog on rink food that would be another story, but a short, miserable one.Having said that, as boy 1 and boy 2 get older, we can often drop them at the rink to

Craft Steak NYC: Don't

2009-12-21T22:55:00.003-05:00

I usually don't write negative reviews. Its not my speed: I'd rather just ignore the place. That's why my London posts were so few! But, after my meal tonight at Craft Steak, I feel that I really can't ignore this...the service and food were unacceptable for such a venture. I remember Tom Colicchio telling a contestant on "Top Chef" that people came to top flight restaurants for a special

Moti Mahal in London: Excellent Indian Food!

2009-11-30T20:13:00.004-05:00

This occasional blog continues! We are just back from London, where we and a large group of others visited the famous friends in London for an auspicious family event. Surprisingly, it didn't rain till our last night there! While London, despite its residents claims, will never be known for its excess of quality food, there is some stuff out there if you try (really try). Our best meal while

I Like 5 Guys Burger!

2009-10-18T21:46:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I know the President of the United States went out and got his staff lunch there. But that's not how I ended up there the first time. We were actually in Connecticut, buying a national debt's worth of hockey equipment for the children and I was tired and hungry. We saw a sign for "5 Guys" and I actually thought it was going to be a diner. Because, in NY, everything with "Guys" in it

Burgers at the Le-Parker Meridien: Pretty Good!

2009-10-10T12:18:00.003-04:00

Last night, the lovely wife, boy #2 and I went to the Shake Shack on Columbus and 78th Street. I had been to the one in Madison Square Park some years ago and been rather underwhelmed but decided to give it another go. No change. Although the hot dog (the Shack-ago. Get it. ha ha) was rather good, the burgers were small and a bit greasy. The fries were terrible, as in, for 1/2 the price you

Hockey Season Begins Anew...and Cheetos Brand Korean Barbecue Snacks

2009-10-04T15:44:00.004-04:00

Yes, hockey started again last night. The Rangers are back, and so are we, although no longer in section 314. Thanks to the recession, we have moved "up" to section 227, which, although it is much easier to see and somewhat more centered, seems a little soulless in comparison. We shall see, and of course the Rangers won their home opener. So all is good in the world.After the game, we walked

Pat's Pizza in Maine

2009-07-25T07:25:00.003-04:00

There are a lot of Pat's Pizza restaurants throughoutMaine. Usually, the lovely wife and I try to avoid chains, but 1) weweren't that hungry 2) it was late and 3) we make an exception formini-chains, which this clearly is.We went to the patsy's in Windham on Route 302 (844 Roosevet Trl(207) 892-1700). The service was fast and friendly and if you like tv you will not be dissapointed. We evenhas

Danielle's Diner in route 302 near Sebago Lake, Maine

2009-07-24T08:07:00.001-04:00

I'm back, trying to post as I eat here in Maine, where we are visiting boy 1 and boy 2 at camp. We have just stopped at the classic diner Danielle's near Raymond on route 302 (207-655-2900). It's a classic diner serving breakfast a d lunch (they close by 2 pm). They have tasty eggs, attractive looking pancakes and tasty potatoes. Pretty good coffee, too. So if u need breakfast in the lake

Rangers Lose Series 4-3...Out of Playoffs

2009-04-28T21:30:00.001-04:00

This just stinks. No offense.

Rangers Beat Capitals and go up 3-1

2009-04-22T23:40:00.002-04:00

It was a different Madison Square Garden tonight. Although it started the same, with John Amaranti singing the Nations Anthem while the balloons came down and the Rolling Stone's "Gimmee Shelter" the opening music, it was clear from the get go that things were going to be different throughout the game. The Rangers themselves were clearly more aggressive. The two back to back goals by Paul

Rangers Lose At Home: Oh Well

2009-04-20T23:20:00.002-04:00

I was not initially excited for the playoffs. The Rangers didn't look great, Washington looked good and that was that. But then the Rangers won two on the road, and things looked promising. Oh well.The first tipoff that things were different came as you went into Madison Square Garden. Rather than playoff towels, we got these silly phallus shaped "Ranger" balloons with little blue lights at

Adventures in Queens: Hahn Ji Bach Korean Restaurant

2009-04-11T22:30:00.003-04:00

I will finish blogging about Israel at some point. But first, back to New York. More specifically Queens, where the family and I headed off with friends to discover a new Korean Restaurant. I researched a bit using Yelp and Chowhound, and then, after driving to Murray Hill, pretty much semi-randomly found Hahn Ji Bach (spelled Ham Ji Bak on Yelp) right near the LIRR Murray Hill Train Station

Fatty Crab:Glitz on the Upper West Side

2009-03-29T21:35:00.003-04:00

The lovely wife stopped by the new Fatty Crab at 2170 Broadway (Tel: 212.496.CRAB) before we went away and made a dinner reservation for 8! people for when we came back. Which meant that we ate there last night. Actually 9 of us ate there. I have to admit to admiring the lovely wife's forethought: I wanted to go and the idea of having many people at such a restaurant seemed like a great idea.

Chololetta, Shokoletta,Chocolata or, of course,שוקולטה

2009-03-23T01:52:00.003-04:00

Greetings from Rosh Pina, where the lovely wife's extended family held an amazing reunion of cousins. Rosh Pina is in the heart of the Galilee, where we were staying in a beautiful resort called Mizpe-Hayamin. This hotel is not overly child friendly, however, and we needed to find somewhere else to have our large reunion. Our Israeli relatives made reservations at שּוֹקולטה and we were glad

Sammy's(Sami) Restaurant in Jerusalem: "That Place is Good"

2009-03-21T12:06:00.005-04:00

Aha. Back. I have some catching up to do. Its been a bit crazy the past few days, and then I went to Jordan sans computer. Thankfully I am back, sunning in the beach at Eilat, and trying to write about some of the things that I ate.We seem to have spent most of this trip eating Schwarma or falafel, and I thought I would write about the place that I enjoyed the most of this list (although I

Chakra: Another Winner in Jerusalem

2009-03-15T11:42:00.003-04:00

Another good meal in Jerusalem! After a horrific meal on Friday night (the King David's Shabbat meal was clearly created by anti-semites), we were all looking forward to Saturday's dinner. And, more than not dissapointing, the meal at Chakra (41 King George Street, Jerusalem, IL (02-6252733) was excellent and worth a trip back.Before we even made it to the restaurant, the lovely mother-in-law

Greetings From Israel: Cavalier Restaurant, Jerusalem

2009-03-13T01:01:00.003-04:00

Greetings! Its Friday morning here as I type away, reasonably not jet lagged for my first full day here. Last night we took a walk from our hotel to the Cavalier Restaurant, which is located at 1 Ben-Sira Street, Jerusalem (02/624-2945). I admit to being a little worried at first, as it was billed as a "French" restaurant and the last thing that I wanted after a 10 hour flight was fancy French

Avery is Back and So Am I!

2009-03-08T17:10:00.003-04:00

OK, hiatus is over. The winter is over, and no matter what hits us economically in the next year or so, its time to be positive and to think about the things that matter most: food and hockey (yeah family, too, but that's someone elses blog). So Male Martha will Reboot and restart. Anyway, I have a big trip planned and I may as well blog about the food! But back to hockey.The Rangers, as

Rangers Finally Win (and beat the Penguins, too)

2009-01-06T00:01:00.003-05:00

Its been a while since I've made it to a game: what with going to Quebec and the usual stuff of life that tends to get in the way of pure hockey enjoyment. But tonight I made it (Wednesday may be another story). And the Rangers, who have stunk recently, were terrific. Lundqvist had a shutout in their 4-0 victory over Pittsburgh, and the fact that the Rangers scored three good goals and an

Where to Eat in Quebec City: Oh! Pino

2009-01-01T12:28:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year. Although firmly back in NYC, thanks to a delayed, joyless flight on Continental (the sir-Charge airline), I still have more restaurants in Quebec to write about: Oh! Pino (1019, avenue Cartier, Quebec, QC, G1R 2S3: 418-525-3535). The restaurant is near the intersection of avenue Rene Levesque, which, from our point of view, seems to be the best area to eat and hang out in

Where to eat (breakfast) in Quebec City: Le Cochon Dingue

2008-12-29T18:42:00.003-05:00

Eating at the Chateau Frontenac isn't great: expensive and tortured (and with long lines during the holidays!). So, with the weather being pretty good, we set out down the "Breakneck Stairs" to Le Cochon Dingue, which our friend Lisa recommended to us (46 blvd Champlain, QC). We left our names, came back about a half hour later (we later found out that you can make reservations (418-692-2013),

Where to Eat in Quebec City: La Girolle

2008-12-29T09:51:00.003-05:00

Greetings from the Great White North. One of the things we have noted in our brief time here is that the food, while good, reminds us more of eating in a French restaurant in New York circa the 1970s. This seems particularly true in the walled old city area, where our hotel and many others are. We were looking for a restaurant that 1) you could bring boy 1 and boy 2, 2) had good food that was

Greetings From Quebec! Bistro Sous le Fort

2008-12-27T19:10:00.002-05:00

Greetings from Quebec, where its cold and its French. Its hard to get worried about the recession when you are worried about your toes having adequate circulation, and Quebec is extremely close, and exotic, in a I see McDonald's but don't have to deal with existence kind of way. We are staying at the Chateau Frontenac, where we have a commanding view of the St. Lawrence River. There is also

Roppongi Closes

2008-12-11T21:54:00.002-05:00

Closed! Yes, boy #1 is shocked too, as he loved Roppongi. But, in these times, and with two other sushi restaurants on the same block, its not a huge surprise. And anyway, we have Matsu, which is a whole two blocks away.

Rangers Get Crushed by Florida: Another Small Crowd

2008-11-30T20:43:00.002-05:00

Reviewing the game today is twitter length: the Rangers looked bad and they lost 4-0 to the Florida Panthers. What made me wonder a bit was that, even though it was a 1 PM game on the Sunday after Thanksgiving (Kid's Day!), there were clearly many empty seats seen throughout the building, particularly in the purple seats. Lots of scalpers before the game as well. Last week, scalpers were

JB's Barbeque in Brewster: The Best Barbeque I Have Eaten in NY State

2008-11-29T22:15:00.003-05:00

Do not be fooled by the ugly picture of JBs Bar-B-Q above. JBs is located at 3867 Danbury Road in Brewster, NY 10509 (845-278-3600), about 5o miles from New York City. Its worth the journey. I am not saying this lightly: this place has great barbecue. Although the usual yenta's at Chowhound seemed to like some other places in the area, and I will be sure to try them when I get back to

The Omega Diner in North Brunswick NJ: On the Way to Princeton!

2008-11-16T14:50:00.003-05:00

Actually, the Omega Diner, at 1337 Route 1 South, North Brunswick, NJ, 08902 (732- 745-2628) is on the way from Princeton, NJ, where boy # 2 had a hockey game at 7 AM (!) this morning. After surviving the game, we headed back to NY. Last year, after a non-game in Princeton (a long, ugly story), we stopped at the Omega Diner. It may have been the dissapointment of not having a game after a long

Greetings From Miami Beach: Nemos

2008-11-15T08:34:00.003-05:00

The lovely wife and I had a brief, child free trip to Miami Beach... Thank you Lovely Mother and Father in Law!!! And I love Miami! So much so that I was having too good a time to write about it while we were there.. so here goes.We ate at a variety of places. One of my favorites was Nemo's, which is located at 100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305-532-4559). We went on a Wednesday,

Salumeria Rosi Opens On the Upper West Side: Lovely Wife Buys Out Store

2008-11-08T06:48:00.004-05:00

Salumeria Rosi has finally opened! While an expensive charcuterie and restaurant many not be the smartest thing to have opened right near the sex shop on Amsterdam Avenue (283 Amsterdam Avenue to be exact: 212-877-4800) it was fine by me: even in bad times I have a desperate need for cured pig products. And I was not dissapointed. The lovely wife waited in line, paid cash (this is temporary,

Rangers Look Amazing Against Tampa Bay

2008-11-06T22:55:00.003-05:00

A quick hockey note: Chris Drury got a hat trick, the Rangers beat Tampa Bay 5-2, and there was a goalie fight. A great game...that was enjoyed by few people.I stopped for a quick slice of pizza before heading into the garden (a nameless, joyless place on 7th Avenue not worthy of mention) and as I walked North to the Garden I saw scalpers desperately trying to unload tickets at half price. The

Giant Slices of Pizza in Morningside Heights

2008-11-01T11:44:00.003-04:00

At this time of year, my life revolves around hockey: both professional and children's. Today was no exception, as I had to go to Lasker Rink for practice. Fortunately, the weather has been great and after practice boy 1, boy 2 and I walked from Malcolm X Blvd all the way to Broadway. We originally thought of getting actual brunch, but decided to go for the extra large slices at Koronet Pizza

Rangers Win Yet Again: Seats Not Filled

2008-10-30T23:45:00.003-04:00

There was another thrilling game tonight in Madison Square Garden. The Rangers beat the Atlanta Thrashers 3-2 in an exciting, hard fought game. Larry danced with about 4:18 left in the game; the crowds have reverted to giving him his usual cheer, which is not for family consumption. Potvin still sucks. But something felt much different from last year, when the Rangers had a terrible

Thai Food in the East Village

2008-10-27T20:10:00.004-04:00

Monday's can be rather relaxing for me. Well, that's a total lie, but I sometimes finish an extremely stress filled day early. I was done by 2:30 PM today, and decided to head down to the East Village on the Vespa for something to eat. It was a beautiful day, and the ride down the FDR cleared my head from the stresses of the radio and procedures. As if drawn by some primal memory of my youth,

In Larchmont? Eat at the Globe Bar and Grill

2008-10-21T19:32:00.004-04:00

There is a lot of travel hockey this year, and its clearly placing a bit of crimp in my time. I am actually writing this at Chelsea Piers, where it is my turn to car pool the future stars of tomorrow to and from practice. The lovely wife are trying to make the best of it, and we certainly did a successful job on Saturday night, when, after a game in Mamoroneck, we had dinner at the Globe Bar

Rangers Go To 6 and 1: I find a new Felafel Place!

2008-10-17T23:38:00.004-04:00

So I've gone to a lot of Ranger games recently. Some readers have told me that they don't love reading about the Rangers: they just want to hear about the food. Tonight, I have decided to combine my two passions into one evening.First, the hockey. The game was great! The Rangers couldn't score, but certainly tried. Their power play needs work. But Steve Valiquette, the back-up goalie made

There's a New Pig Coming to Town

2008-10-16T23:29:00.003-04:00

Just when you feel the world is going to collapse, things start to turn the corner. No, I'm not talking about the stock market. I'm talking about ham! Anyway, the lovely wife passed by the very soon to open Salumeria Rosi at 283 Amsterdam Avenue, New York NY 10023 tonight on our way home from a lovely anniversary dinner at Bar Bouloud, and saw that they were pretty close to opening. Workmen

Ranger's Go to 5 and 0 in win against Devils

2008-10-13T22:55:00.004-04:00

First the weird news: 19 year old New York Rangers draft pick Alexei Cherepanov died Monday shortly after collapsing on the bench during a Continental Hockey League game in Russia. There was no precipitating incident and according to news sources had no other medical problems. The lovely wife said "oh, he must have had IHSS," which is a cardiomyopathy relatively common in young athletes.

Willie B's Has Closed :(

2008-10-12T20:13:00.003-04:00

A brief note. We all went out to Fire Island this weekend to close the house down and enjoy the great weather. We tried calling Willie Bs, the BBQ place in Bayshore, NY and discovered their phone was disconnected. A visual inspection as we passed the storefront on 5th Avenue confirmed this: Willie B's is no more. I will miss their second cut brisket. Having said that, I tried the Thai Place

A New Season For The Rangers: Finally Back in NY

2008-10-10T22:51:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow the Rangers face off in Philadelphia, where Sarah Palin will drop the puck. I will say that that the lovely wife and her fellow hockey moms are not excited about this woman being one of them in anyway, and I am not to happy that the NHL is allowing a hockey game to be turned into a political arena. Lets keep the fighting where it belongs! Tonight, however, the Rangers came home and

First Ranger Pre-Season Game!

2008-09-25T22:35:00.003-04:00

OK, its not the first preseason game. Its actually the fifth (of six) and the second of three at home. But it was the first game that I went too. It was the usual preseason crowd, which is to say a random collection of season ticket holders without much else to do, the few people who would take their tickets for free, and a lot of empty seats. The music was weak, there were plenty of

Alexander's Cafe in the South Bronx

2008-09-21T22:55:00.004-04:00

I was in the South Bronx for two days last week for my motorcycle safety course, which I highly recommend for scooter riders as well. Even though you practice on a regular motorcycle, the techniques you learn are extremely helpful and clearly not taught during "riding lessons" in preparation for the NYS DMV license. The course was located in the Bronx on the Harlem River between the Willis

Boar's Head Bacon Is Actually Good!

2008-09-13T10:08:00.004-04:00

I wasn't expecting much from Boar's Head Bacon. It was thin, it was inexpensive, and it looked a lot like some of the big national brands: most of which i have found inedible. However, I do like their cold cuts, which really are a "cut above :)" the rest. I also like their hot dogs with the red label: I can't even eat a Hebrew National after them. So, I gave it a shot.There is a lot of fat on

Spore Rocks

2008-09-08T10:54:00.003-04:00

Ok. Usually I keep the electronic side of my life out of Male Martha. The glazed over look the lovely wife gives me as I talk about the latest Onkyo receiver is a clue. The angry glares I get from the "other" mothers (and some fathers, too) as I talk about Grand Theft Auto IV as a beautifully crafted piece of fiction and commercial art: well you get the idea. My fortysomething inner geek

Yukon Gold Hash Brown Potatoes!

2008-09-07T07:49:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was rainy and gross. What was supposed to be a weekend at the beach became steak night. Not much to say about steak: other than its a lot harder to do in an apartment in Manhattan than a grill on Fire Island. Maybe next time I'll talk about oven grilling steaks in an apartment without the need to call the Fire Department. But for now, for my faux Luger's evening, I wanted to talk

Grilled Bacon

2008-08-26T10:27:00.002-04:00

Ok. Not really grilled, but a new concept in bacon cooking. The lovely wife recently gave me a Weber Summit Grill, which is sort of the Land Rover of Grills. I've been using it pretty religiously, although mostly to cook the same things that I usually do. Its been a summer of comfort cooking, with little new thoughts. But today I did have one. And the idea was bacon. I am out here on Fire

Eating Breakfast in Lowell, MA: The Owl Diner

2008-08-17T17:18:00.004-04:00

Boy 2 and I drove up to Maine to see Boy 1 Thursday night. Taking the advice of the AAA, I decided to "take a break for safety's sake" and we decided to spend the night at the somewhat worn Double Tree Inn in Lowell, MA. After eating our room service burgers and falling asleep watching the Olympics, we were ready to continue on with our journey to the Lake Country of Maine. But not before

400th Post!!!!

2008-08-17T17:16:00.002-04:00

I was about to post about my experience eating breakfast in Lowell, MA at the Owl Diner when I realized that this was Male Martha's 400th Post! So congratulations to me for keeping this going since October, 2006!

The Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck

2008-08-13T22:02:00.004-04:00

I've noticed more trucks selling food here on the Upper West Side. First there were the "Halal" trucks, such as the one on 86th and Broadway near the Citibank. Then there was the "Treat Truck," which, like a ghostrider, makes an occasional, unexpected stop near Barnes and Noble on 83rd Street. And now, in front of Zabar's, comes The Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck, which sells, well, you

Park Avenue Tunnel Now One Way

2008-08-11T20:47:00.003-04:00

This is pretty random, but for those of us who drive or ride in Manhattan, sort of important. The Park Avenue Tunnel, which goes from 33rd Street to Grand Central Station, is now a one way street going North. You can still take Park Avenue South, but you can't "bypass" the traffic by taking the tunnel. The good news is that going north was a breeze on the Vespa. The bad news is that getting

Grilled Clams: You Can Make These, Too

2008-08-10T19:58:00.004-04:00

The lovely wife and our friend from London, staying at the beach with us for the weekend, wanted to make grilled clams. Who am I to say no. Now that I've done it, it is perhaps easier than steaming them. Because the natural saltiness of the clams is not diluted by the water they are steamed in, grilled clams have a very distinctive, briny taste. Its worth trying once to see if its for you.

Greetings from Kittery Point Maine: Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier

2008-08-02T14:54:00.004-04:00

If you start the drive from New York City to Maine somewhat early in the morning, you can pass over the Piscataqua Bridge on I95 between New Hampshire and Maine by about lunch. And, that being the case, you should make a bee line for a nearby lobster place. Luckily for you, the Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier is to be found in Kittery Point, a short drive from exit 2 on I95 once you get into Maine

Greetings From Naples, Maine: The Lakeside Dairy Bar

2008-07-28T12:48:00.003-04:00

Ice cream in Maine. Two great things that go great together. And if you're in the Lake District, along route 302, its defintely worth your while to stop at The Lakeside Dairy Bar (on route 302 in Naples, telephone (207) 693-3090. Its on your right side past the Marina as you drive from Portland). The Lakeside Dairy Bar has all of the usual "Dairy Barn" style ice cream treats, only better.

Greetings From Maine: Cindy's

2008-07-27T20:07:00.005-04:00

I am back from visiting day, our annual pilgrimage to Maine to visit Boy#1 at camp. Last time we flew, which wasn't so great. This time we drove, which wasn't much better, but at least we were able to stop at many places along the way. Although I am still deciding, I think I will also drive when I go to pick him up at "Father's Weekend (sexists!) with boy #2. After all, a multitude of

Treat Truck Lands on Broadway and 83rd Street in NY

2008-07-25T06:52:00.005-04:00

I was passing by the Barnes and Nobles at 83rd and Broadway when I noticed "The Treat Truck," which labels itself as "Not Too Fancy, Always Delicious." They have a website as well, which features their menu as well as where they are going to be on any given day. The menu consists of cookies and brownies. Gotta like that! I have to admit being a bit sad that the Treat Truck was not going to be

Is it Legal? I Don't Know. But Salame Di Felino is Good

2008-07-19T11:32:00.006-04:00

Our friends from London are in. And when they come, sausage from Italy follows. Now, I can't explain why they bring good Italian sausages, and not, say, bangers from Ireland, but I do have some ideas. One of the better types of Italian sausages, which is not easy to get in the US because it may be considered raw meat by the FDA, is salame di Felino, a pure pork sausage from Italy. The one

Smoked Leg of Lamb (easy)

2008-07-07T11:25:00.003-04:00

I hope everybody had an excelllent July 4th weekend: I know I did. As the summer progresses, I am always looking for new ways to use my smoker. Although we've gotten pork and brisket down, and are not doing badly with chicken, I have never made a whole leg of lamb. Granted, I have butterflied them and grilled them plenty, but I have never tried to cook a bone in one. So when I saw half a leg

Really Good Mexican Style Corn Condiment

2008-07-06T12:10:00.002-04:00

I know I stole this recipe from somebody, but I can't remember who. Anyway, its really easy to make and you can now steal it from me! The general idea is to grill corn (although steamed or boiled works fine as well), and, prior to serving, slather this stuff on top of it. Three ingredients! You can do it. INGREDIENTSRoth Kase Cojita Cheese (what is it about those folks in Wisconsin? I am

The Striphouse: OK (expensive, too)

2008-06-28T07:44:00.003-04:00

Normally, I would be at the beach now, but boy 1 is headed off to camp tomorrow and we are in the City this weekend. Last night, we took boy 1 and boy 2 out to a steak place in honor of the boy 1's impending 7 week trip to institutional food. One of boy 1's friends had eaten at the "Strip House," located at 13 E. 12th Street, NY, NY, 10003 (212-328-0000) and liked it, so we went. I vaguely

Diet Chery Chocolate Dr. Pepper: What Were They Thinking?

2008-06-25T17:42:00.002-04:00

Sometime around Thanksgiving, the folks at Dr. Pepper introduced limited edition "Diet Cherry Chocolate Dr. Pepper." And sometime in June, on a particuarly hot day, I found it at the market on 83rd and Amsterdam. Well, I've been on a diet recently, and despite the 6 pound weight loss (yea, 6!) I have been cranky, and decided to buy some. I have a thing for regular Diet Dr. Pepper, and figured

Sole Gran Queso: More Great Cheese From Wisconsin!

2008-06-23T12:51:00.003-04:00

As stated time and time again, the summer is a peak cheese eating time in the MM household. The lovely wife is an excellent entertainer and party planner, and we are routinely serving 20 people at our house on a Saturday night. We have been able to experiment with the cheese's we have been buying for some time now, and I am always happy to report on the favorites.Roth Kase, as noted previously,

Summer Grilling Cookbook Worth Buying: "Grill It!" by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby

2008-06-22T12:44:00.005-04:00

One of the interesting things about documenting most of the things that you cook is that you start to realize when you are repeating yourself. Like last night, when I made leg of lamb for 20, just like I did around this time last year. Its a good recipe, but variety is the spice of cooking, if not life itself. So I was especially happy that the mother-in-law bought me Grill It!, the latest

NY Yankees: Minor League Food

2008-06-19T07:50:00.007-04:00

I had tickets to the Yankees game yesterday. Woo-woo. Unfortunately, work ran late, and the boys and I had to book out of the house to make the game, or so we thought. Actually, there ended up being a one hour rain delay, so we could have easily grabbed something to eat on the way. But who knew?But, no matter. A short ride on the B train, and we were in the Bronx. Did I ever tell everyone

Grand Sichuan International is Good!!

2008-06-15T11:25:00.003-04:00

Hockey makes you hungry, and after a rare Thursday evening game, I, the lovely wife and boys were famished. So were our Chelsea friends and their kids. So the eight of us made the walk to 24th Street and 9th Avenue to Grand Sichuan International (229 9th Ave, NYC, 10001: 212-620-5200). The place, which looks like a throwback to a 1950's style Chinatown Restaurant, was crowded, and we waited

Kung Foo Panda Rocks: Harry's Burrito's Not So Much

2008-06-12T07:37:00.002-04:00

I write this post empowered by Frank Bruni, who wrote a scathing review of Ago yesterday. This had particular relevance as boy 2 and I had a night out on the town, where we ate at Harry's Burritos on Columbus Avenue and then headed off to see Kung Foo Panda, in IMAX. Kung Foo Panda was great, and you should see it (you now see why I don't as a rule review movies). Harry's on the other hand....

Leonora Cheese From Spain: a Tasty Semi-Aged Goat

2008-06-09T17:38:00.004-04:00

Well its summer. Time to cook a little bit and time to eat some cheese. Not in the bad sounding, mob rat kind of way, but in the tasty, cheese is a real nice thing in the summer kind of way. I am always looking for something new, and the lovely wife and I have an affinity for goat cheese. Boucheron is good, but I feel like I've been eating it week after week...I think I've had more Boucheron

More Cool Packaging From Target

2008-06-07T15:32:00.003-04:00

On the way to Fire Island, we stopped at the Target in Bayshore last night. No big deal in that; we do that several times during the season to stock up on those necessities of life, like flashlights, toilet paper and cheap DVDs. We always look in the food section too, because you never know when 3 pound bags of trail mix will come in handy. We also look for new ideas in the world of mass

Gruyere Grand Cru Surchoix (From Wisconsin!)

2008-06-03T21:54:00.003-04:00

I happen to like Gruyere cheese. Its an old standby, nutty, flavorful, and pretty easy to find. Although it tastes great when aged, its a good cooking cheese when fresh. And how can you forget fondue (I can, but I appear to be in the minority). Authentic Gruyere cheese is produced in the AOC region of Switzerland. They have a French only website describing the cheese, the regions in

I ate this Striped Bass: Would You?

2008-05-30T07:50:00.005-04:00

This is me. And that was a very big striped bass. Thirty Eight inches to be exact. Caught, as you can see, near 23rd Street on the East River in the great City of New York aboard Tony Dilernia's Rocket Charters. Would I, a physician, gastroenterologist, and a bit of a chicken, eat this fish? I did (see recipe below), and it was tasty. But don't believe me on safety, believe (for once), the

Mexican Style Flank Steak Marinade

2008-05-28T08:14:00.003-04:00

Flank steak is another inexpensive grillable meat that, when seasoned properly, can be a tasty part of any summer get together. Marinating it adds flavor, and also helps tenderize it. It also helps to slice it real thin. Although I claim no authenticity at all in this recipe, the meat tasted great on tortillas served with some salsa and my not for vegetarians black beans (below). The marinade

Black Beans from Scratch are Easy!

2008-05-26T08:35:00.002-04:00

Ah, black beans. Good, and, perhaps good for you. But not necessarily for those near you. Also, easy to make from scratch...so do it. It takes a few hours, but you won't be doing anything much, so what are you worried about? Also, not for vegetarians, at least the way I make it. But why should they enjoy vegetables? Make them look as you enjoy these tasty black morsels of

Gas Grill Cleaning 101

2008-05-18T23:30:00.005-04:00

As Memorial Day approaches, its time to start getting ready for the summer. First step: clean the grill. Rather than sit there with a wire brush and a sweaty hand, why not let your gas grill clean itself? Simply clean out any obvious gunk within a gas grill, cover the grates with tinfoil, cover and place on "high" until the smoke stops. Then rub the grates with Crisco to season it. And you

Skirt Steak Marinade is Good!

2008-05-13T21:39:00.003-04:00

Unless you've been on Mars, or live on the rarified parts of the Upper East Side and don't care, you've noticed that food prices have been shooting up recently. As they say, the cheapest thing for a dollar is a dollar. With salt. But I digress. I have always enjoyed braising or smoking less expensive cuts of meat, but the summer is coming and its getting a little warm in the MM kitchen to

Sad News: Florent is Closing

2008-05-11T15:50:00.003-04:00

The boys and I took the lovely wife to Florent today for Mother's Day. We went, for the second time this year, by bicycle. But this time there was a difference. Florent has lost its lease, and will be closing on Gay Pride Day, June 29th. Brunch was tasty, but bittersweet. The LW and I have been going to Florent since we met, and have recently started taking the kids as well. The waiter

Rafetto's Fresh Linguine: Is Good!

2008-05-10T11:40:00.002-04:00

Those of you who are regular readers of this site know that I am a fan of Rafetto's products. Their pesto is one of best packaged products I have had, and I am a fan of their ravioli. While suffering on Grand Jury duty last year, I would occasionally trudge up to the store at 144 W. Houston Street, NY NY 10012, and buy stuff.Having said all of that, I had never had their pasta. I bought their

Linguine with White Clam Sauce: Actually Easy

2008-05-07T21:00:00.003-04:00

I've always been a red sauce kind of guy...me and tomatoes go way back. The Lovely Wife, however, really likes white clam sauce, and marriage is sometimes founded on compromise. So after watching our children play baseball, we Vespa'd up to Morningside Heights, where we purchased clams and some other stuff. I have made white clam sauce a few times in my life, but, after forgetting to buy clam

Oh Well....

2008-05-04T17:05:00.002-04:00

The Rangers, after a valiant effort, succumbed to the Pittsburgh Penguins this year. As they say, see you in the fall (at least for hockey....food continues).

Nueske's Smoked Bacon: ehhhhhhh

2008-05-04T08:42:00.003-04:00

Bacon seems to becoming more of an 0bsession than usual in the MM household. Don't tell the Rabbi! Anyway, we tried yet another brand of bacon: Nueski's Smoked Bacon. At first, the bacon looked like it was going to be great. As you can see from the photo [its fuzzy, I know, but my camera is failing :( ] the bacon is cut thick for a commercial brand, and the meat to fat ratio (the MF!) is

Old Homestead Spicy Ketchup: Not Bad

2008-05-02T08:09:00.001-04:00

While I was buying steak for dinner two days ago, I picked up some Peter Luger's sauce, which is a family favorite. Next to it, I saw Old Homestead Brand Spicy Ketchup, from the venerable steakhouse on 9th Avenue and 14th Street. I've never actually been there, but figured if they sell spicy ketchup, then I should try it. So I did. And, while I really like Luger's sauce, this one is really

Rangers Beat Pittsburgh: Keeps Hope Alive

2008-05-01T22:51:00.005-04:00

The Rangers won tonight, avoiding elimination in a series that they are losing 1 to 3. The victory, unto itself, is a reason for joy and happiness in the MM household. Although I, and it seems, everyone in Madison Square Garden, came resigned to whatever the Rangers did, when victory approached, we were ready. The game is well recapped here, and I will highlight some of the interesting goings

And There Was Yet More Sadness

2008-04-29T22:32:00.003-04:00

Its bad when you know you're team looks whipped. And tonight, in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden, the Rangers looked weak. Lundqvist let in 5 goals, some the result of poor defense and some just "cheap." The Rangers offense had 37 shots on goal, but Fleury, the Penguins goaltender, made save after save. Even good shots, and there were good shots, were turned aside or frozen. The

Whipped Parsnips

2008-04-28T10:56:00.002-04:00

Ah. Parnips. This tasty tuberous wonder, related to the carrot, is a bit of a pain to clean but relatively simple to cook. This recipe is another in a long line of ways to make a really starchy, sort of unhealthy vegetable, even tastier and less nutritious. We did this at the seder instead of mashed potatoes and it was a great success. This is one of those "taste" recipes; as much as I can

I am Just Sad

2008-04-27T16:47:00.003-04:00

Rangers are now behind Pittsburgh 0-2 in the Semi's. Although the guy on NBC is droning on about how the Rangers didn't show up, and how this may be true, it is also true that the Rangers were totally screwed by the refs when they blew the whistle too early as the puck crossed the line and would have tied up the game. It was horrible.

Rangers Invite David Letterman's Chris Elliot to Play With Them

2008-04-23T07:03:00.003-04:00

Yes, the mandarins of MSG alowed Chris Elliot of David Letterman's Late Night into a practice. Since I was asleep, I missed it, but thanks to the magic of the small, embedded screen, I caught it eventually, and now you can, too. The team will be ready for the Penguins!

Charosset: Yet Another Recipe

2008-04-21T11:21:00.002-04:00

Happy Passover! We have just finished the seders in our family: the first night the traditional extended family event hosted by my wife's uncle (17th year of this tradition, I should add) and last night at our house for the immediate family (and a few friends as well). Although tradition rules the roost at these events, there is always some room for experimentation. One area where you can

Rangers Beat Devils in Quarterfinals!!! Advance to Semis

2008-04-18T22:12:00.002-04:00

I can't tell you how happy I am to spread this news. Although most of all for the Rangers, it is also true that game 6 of this series was scheduled to be played during the night of the second Seder. Even I know that meant there was no way I was going.On another note, the television angles, even in high-def were terrible in the Prudential Center. They need to get that better for next year.Lets

Momofuku: I Wouldn't Wait For This!

2008-04-17T08:00:00.004-04:00

We on the Upper West Side have been hearing about Momofuku Noodle Bar for some time. Located at 171 1st Ave, NYC, 10003, it is difficult to get to and they don't take reservations. So, after an excellent afternoon hanging out with the lovely wife on my Vespa, we parked in front and headed in at the early bird special hour of about 6 PM. No problem getting a seat then!Momofuku is a small space

Rangers Win: Series Now 3-1

2008-04-16T22:33:00.003-04:00

The Rangers Win At Home! Dancing Larry Dances! The Fans Mostly Avoid Screaming "Ho-mo Larry!" All is well at MSG tonight.It was a raucous night at the Garden. The crowd was loud, adult and often profane. Few Devils fans bothered (or had the nerve) to show up. More than any playoff game since the strike, we spent the majority of time on our feet. And although Marty Brodeur, the Devils

Rangers Lose to Devils in OT (Bad) But Dancing Larry is Back (OK to Good)

2008-04-13T22:48:00.003-04:00

The playoffs opened up at MSG and I was there, along with most of the regulars in Section 314. It was a raucous crowd, and everyone was quite pumped. Red, white and blue balloons appeared from the 400's above us during the National Anthem. This happens every year, and only in our little corner. The Rangers came on strong, but were hampered by penalties (the chant "These Refs Suck!!" was a

D'artagnan Bacon

2008-04-13T11:00:00.005-04:00

Ah, Sunday Bacon. Clearly a theme in the Male Martha Household. We have been going through a variety of premium bacon every Sunday; premium being defined as:more money (natch)No added nitrates or nitritesNo antibioticsLast week, we had (on Saturday, I admit) Applegate Farms Sunday Bacon which all four of us thought was exceptionally good. It is also readily available. This Sunday, the lovely

Choosing a Beef Roast

2008-04-12T11:17:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking about roasts recently; actually I've been thinking about them since this morning, when our friend from London emailed me a question about them. Gotta love the roast; as long as you have a thermometer and a big enough pan you can feed as many people as you want. The question is this; which roast is best?? There are many different types at many different price points; how do

Rangers 1-0 in Series Against Devils

2008-04-09T21:58:00.002-04:00

The game was in New Jersey, I watched it on TV. So I don't have too much to say. But I will point out that THE RANGERS WON!!! This may be the only wife's only notification of this fact as she is in Pittsburgh as we speak. Its the playoffs! We will be there for game 3 Sunday!

Applegate Farms Sunday Bacon Is Excellent

2008-04-05T23:55:00.005-04:00

Sometimes, its just about the pig. And good pig is hard to find. Bacon, in particular. I have always found many large national brands to be sliced to thin, fatty and therefore difficult to cook properly (see below for my favorite method). An exception to this is the nitrate free, antibiotic free, uncured, hardwood smoked "Sunday Bacon" from Applegate Farms, which is available at Zabar's and

Ranger's Look Sloppy Against Islanders

2008-04-04T23:14:00.002-04:00

If the Rangers beat the Devils in regulation this Sunday, they will have home ice advantage, and I may have 4 days worth of playoffs to go to. After tonights performance, I'm not so sure. First of all Lundqvist fell apart in the shootout, after having a pretty good (but not great) game. It probably would have been smart to rest him and play Valiquette, but who am I to say anything. Having

Ranger's Clinch Playoff Spot

2008-04-03T22:03:00.003-04:00

I usually only write about games I see live, but I caught Lundqvist's commanding 3-0 shutout against the Islanders tonight and felt compelled to be happy about it! I may even have to go out to Long Island to catch a game: there seemed to be an almost even mix of Rangers and Islanders fans there. Jagr scored two goals, the Rangers are going to the Playoffs, and so am I.Whoo. Hooo.

Rangers Beat Penguins in OT: Lundqvist Looks Great

2008-03-31T22:28:00.003-04:00

After Chris Drury scored the wining goal in OT, the Rangers moved into 5th place in the Eastern Conference with three games left to play. The Division is so tight that despite this, the Rangers still need to win or tie one more game to ensure themselves a playoff spot at all. The three remaining games promise to be quite exciting, and I am especially excited about Friday's closer at the

Conch Scoops: A little out of the way in Key West

2008-03-30T19:16:00.003-04:00

Greetings from New York! I have just returned from a trip down in Key West. Key West has gotten much more crowded over the years, but there are still some places to eat that seem to be unknown to most. One of those places is the ice cream and sandwich store "Conch Scoops." This is likely because its in a strip mall at 3214 N Roosevelt Blvd(tel 305-295-3080)and not in historic old town. But,

Mr. Beef!!!!

2008-03-21T15:41:00.007-04:00

I'm still in Chicago, where the first day of spring brings with it snow, ice, hail and wind. I would perhaps worry what God was thinking if I were the mother of the bar mitzvah boy. The people here seems to be ready for this terrible weather, however, and the roads were quite passable. After touring around with the bar mitzvah mom's mom, we headed off to one of the greatest heart disease

W Hotel Chicago, Lakeshore: Nice Hotel, OK Burger

2008-03-20T23:38:00.005-04:00

Greetings from Chicago! The whole family arrived today, and are staying at the W Hotel, Lakeshore. I have developed a soft spot for W hotels even as I feel I am twice the age of the average guest. The lobbies are nice, the rooms small but pleasant, and there is usually a decent gym. This hotel seems to be no exception. I am also always pleased at how nice everyone who works at the W hotels