Help needed from foodies (or non-foodies)

[geordy]

Then again..believe it or not..some folks don't fancy garlic!!! But I'd go with the snapper!

Let me know about that 5th Ave stroll!

[Shoesy]

Thanks for your vote, geordy,and I'm already dreaming about strolling along 5th Avenue, though I wish it were going to be the Champs Elysees.

[Shoesy]

Thanks, Annette. As a non-fish lover, you could choose the lamb dish then.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

So Shoesy -- are you checking out the NY forum to see what to do while there, or is your dance card already full with family events? (If you're doing things while there, what interests you?)

[Truffaut]

Like Phread, I love the "zing" of Champagne. But, I just can't imagine it with snapper. I do a sauteed chicken breast with musrhooms in a champagne vinegar reduction, but I can't envision with any but the most delicate of fish (which does not include snapper, in my book)

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Hey Truffaut -- in this household chicken is a staple (due to fish/seafood allergies), and that sounds delish! I assume you feel there is a notable difference between white wine and champagne for this dish, but can you pinpoint how it makes it different (and would you please, pretty please share the recipe)? I must admit, while I would drink champagne any time (especially the "good stuff") I've never used it for cooking, and it never even occurred to me.

[GitteK]

If you read the book "French women don't get fat" by the Veuve Cliquot manager in USA Mireille Guiliano, you will - of course - find a lot of recipes with champagne in her book.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Hi Gitte -- worth a look, and I will check it out. On the other hand, she's flogging the stuff, so an unbiased source is perhaps a better bet! ;D

[Shoesy]

O.K. Truffaut. You've just been hired to do the cooking. You can get a ride to N.Y. with my D.C. relatives. ;D

Becky, I hope to see a Broadway show or two or three when I'm in N.Y.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Good plan, Shoesy - I've never forgotten my first (many years ago, I was in NY for the first time, on business for several days), and Lily Tomlin was standing in the willcall line for "Cats," a few places ahead of me -- boy, was I impressed! There are lots of web sites that will allow you to get good tickets well in advance (strongly advised!).

[Shoesy]

Becky - Sometimes I buy tickets at TKTS (is that what it's called?) where you can buy discounted tickets the same day as the show. The discount can be as high as 50%, so it's a good way to save money. The only thing is that you can't buy tickets for every single show there. Another disadvantage is that it means standing on a long line unless you get there very early, but that means standing on line for a while until they start selling the tickets.

[goldenmama]

I agree with Ray-- pan-seared sounds so much better than steamed!

[Shoesy]

Thanks for your reply, goldenmama.

[sistereurope]

I'll be in NY this weekend - I'm taking luckymama and little sistereurope to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway (little sistereurope was in her middle school version). I'm going to MOMA while they're at the theater, then we're all going to a French bistro called Jubilee for dinner - they specialize in mussels, Lil SE's fav!! I'm working to keep luckymama psyched for our trip to Paris...luckily it's not a hard job ;D

[Happygoin]

Oh sistereurope! I saw B & the B on Broadway and it was spectacular! I just hate musicals but this was GREAT! I wish you were going so you could enjoy it too. It truly isn't just for kids. Oh tell them they'll love it!

btw, you do know there's a Maison du Chocolat in NYC??? (talk about getting luckymama primed for Paris!) Or pop into Balducci's. Foodie heaven.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Shoesy, the problem with the discount same-day places is that you only get what's left (i.e., what they couldn't sell at regular prices). If it's a great show at the end of its run, that would be fine because you might get a good seat -- but I did that once in London and ended up in a seat so high it (literally!) gave me vertigo if I looked down, and I could see over the tops of some of the sets (could see actors approaching to make an entrance, etc.). I decided at that point that there is such a thing as "too cheap"! Just a thought . . . .

[geordy]

Shoesy,

Have you tried the TKTS at South Street Seaport? They start selling at 11:00Am and since it is not right in the Theatre district and not as well known the lines tend to be shorter.

And Becky you are right about the seats sometimes...but more often than not I've gotten great seats. For instance they were able to sell the balcony to groups, tours, and such but those more pricey up front seats are just sitting there waiting for you!!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Welll, there you go -- "local knowledge" prevails every time! I was, of course, just a typical tourist at a half-off booth in Leicester Square!

[sistereurope]

happygoin, I forgot to mention that I took little sistereurope to Broadway (just the 2 of us) in February to see B & B. Even this avowed disliker of all things Disney (shhh) loved it! Lil' SE just HAD to see it again before it closes (and saved her paltry allowance for months to pay for her play ticket AND bus ticket, bless her little heart!) I decided to take luckymama along to get her out of the house...she needs things like this!
I just didn't feel like spending all that cash to see it again with them...I'm gonna wait until we go to see Wicked...
HEY! Maybe some of you could join us there sometime - wouldn't that be great!?
Oh, and thanx for the chocolate tip!!! mmmmmm!

[Shoesy]

Yes, geordy. We've bought tickets there too. They even sell tickets for shows that will be the following day. The thing is that I'm never in Manhattan 2 days in a row. Aside from that, the location down there isn't as convenient as mid-town Manhattan.