Sylvia's Soul Food Uptown NYC: 2 Stars!

Nostalgia can be overrated. Sylvia's Uptown NYC. Don't Go 2 Stars!

Food was not good. The pork chops were tough. The fried shrimp, though fresh and properly battered, were super salty. The ribs were all fat no meat. The side salads were tasty, but that is because it's salad and they are not even listed on the menu. The fried chicken livers were also an exception, lightly battered and tender.

The service was good. All of the staff were smiling, courteous, and polite. We had small children at the table and our server was very conscious of placing things away from their reach.

I appreciate the people, but not the dining experience and will not return.

Neonu
www.neonujewell.com

Sarabeth's NYC. 4 Stars!

In Manhattan and looking for a nice, moderately priced brunch. Try Sarabeth's at Central Park next to The Plaza Hotel (Sarabeth's has multiple locations in the city). I ate there today (As l always do when in the city) and enjoyed watching the horse drawn carriages as I sipped Mimosas.

My table had French toast, pancakes, omelets, cheese blintzes, and eggs benedict. All plates were clear. The applewood smoked bacon is a must side order. Expect a short wait for a table, but who cares just focus on the great view and NYC people watching.
Best regards,

Neonu
www.neonujewell.com

Radio City Christmas Spectacular. 4 Stars!

At the Rockette's Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. Quietly it's hot! The Rockette's were formed in 1932 by Roxy Rockefeller as precision dancers called the Roxyette's. They are literally still kicking today! Parents take your kids next Christmas. 4 Stars!
Best regards,

Neonu
www.neonujewell.com

Live Video From Obama Election Night Rally in Grant Park

By Neonu Jewell

I was there for this momentous night. God blessed us with 70 degree weather (Chicago? November?); the stage was set. You have heard the stories, commentary, and seen footage. Now Click Here for my video experience of the night Illinois Senator Barack Obama became the 44th President (elect) of the United States of America. Sounds good every time, doesn't it?!

PLAY IT AS IT LIES

BLACK BEAR GOLF COURSE: 3.75 STARS

By Jeff Louis

Hmmmph. What’s up? Well, I played some mountain golf a few weeks ago and it was so good, I need to think about where I can possibly go for the good vibrations to continue. Mountain golf is very hilly and has acute angles that you can use to place your ball properly. Definitively speaking, course management skills are a must. What am I talking about? Well read on...

I decided to accept an invitation from a good friend to head North to Franklin, NJ and go bear hunting. No, it’s not the type of hunting where you need either a license or a self defense excuse, just a tee time. Black Bear Golf Course ("BBGC") is part of the Crystal Springs Resort community. When you pull into Franklin, look out for the Weis Shopping Center. The course entrance is a little hard to find but there are signs directing you accordingly (which prevent you from going shopping instead).

BBGC, in a word or two, would be described as ‘ruggedly brawny’. Forget the fact that on rare occasions you may actually spot a black bear strolling about, this course has it all. You’ll find hills, water, deep rough, undulating greens and scenery. There are certain points on the course where you feel like you are on top of the world looking across vastness. You may even want to make sure the parking brake on your cart is secure, so you don't have to chase it back down the hill!

BBGC has enough challenges to make things very interesting for even the most skilled golfer. There is no way any player can possibly sleepwalk through its layout. Pictured is the 210 yard par 3. As you can see, the green is fronted by a long pond and rocks with very little bail out area to the right. The golf axiom: "it’s better to be long, than short", applies here to your tee shot.

This is a severely contentious course. If you like to play golf, you come to courses like BBGC and challenge your game to its limits; and when you’re done, proclaim your intentions to come back and try it again. It’s worth the trip. Have I steered you wrong yet? So, I plan to come back again and again...to “feed” the bears. Not food, just my greens fees. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Remember, Play It As it Lies.

Recommendation: 3.75 Stars
Current Price: Week $59, Weekend $89
Par 72, Slope 130, Rating 72.2, Yardage 6673
Address: 138 State Rte 23, Franklin, NJ 07416
Website: http://www.%20CrystalGolfResort.com

Photo courtesy of Crystal Springs Golf Resort

PLAY IT AS IT LIES

BETHPAGE STATE PARK:
5 STARS

By Jeff

“I think I’m ready to play Bethpage Black. I’ve been playing Tiger Woods on Playstation”. Famous last words uttered by a friend of mine before heading East to Farmingdale, NY and the site of the 2002 US Open won by Tiger himself. Bethpage will be host of the 2009 US Open after an impressive initial showing 6 years ago. If you watched on TV or were at the course, you experienced all that a New York venue can do to you. The home crowd serenaded Phil Mickelson for his birthday as well as laughed at Sergio Garcia (golf’s bad boy) for crying about the Black Courses’ unfair difficulty level.

In many ways, The Black Course is as unforgiving as the state in which it resides. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t do this but I have to warn you. This is not an easy course by any means. As a matter of fact, there is a sign right on the wrought iron fence of the 1st tee to tell you just that. There are golf demons on this course. Bethpage Black is as rigorous a golf test as it is a mental and physical torture. If your golf skills aren’t up to par, the ranger patrolling the course will kindly ask you to leave. You will be given a rain check or ….an opportunity to play one of the other 4 easier courses on the premises.

That being said: Test 1, acquiring a tee time. Most of the prime slots are given to those dedicated golf warriors who choose to spend the night in their car in an orderly line. When the starter arrives, you will exit the holding parking lot in the same order in which you entered. The purpose is to get a “baker’s ticket” . This is a numbered ticket that tells where you were in the line. When you get into the clubhouse, you’ll line up for the available slots on a first come (or slept) first served basis. Test 2, once you get a coveted tee time, you will have a color coded band attached to your arm showing you’re about to be a victim/guest on the Black course. Test 3, the driving range. I know you are all asking, why this is a test? Well, because other players tend to gather behind a banded player to gauge the state of their game. Some even say they’re taking bets as to how long you will last before getting asked to exit the course. Once you arrive at the 1st tee, you get the experience of any tour pro on TV. You actually get to hit your 1st shot in front of a gallery of waiting or curious players and people who packed a lunch just to see if you have control of your nerves. Isn’t this fun already?

Test 4, the course. Designer A.W. Tillinghast is an absolute master at creating visual challenges. He leaves no stone unturned. This particular design is a vehicle for bringing out your accuracy game. You do not want to miss the fairway anywhere on this course. It is penal. Even the primary cut of rough adjacent to the fairway is thick enough to swallow your ball into oblivion. Let’s see - almost 90 degree turning holes to 50 foot high elevated greens, diagonally crossed sand bunkers that make the hole appear to be shorter than it actually is, fairways squeezed harder than Florida orange juice, and tall as well as swirling ground fescue grass ready to make you cry with a missed shot. But, above all, AW makes you walk this epic course. There are no carts allowed. The only one you’ll see is that of the aforementioned ranger. So, you have a choice, either carry your bag, rent a pull cart or, at a nominal fee, hire a caddy for the day.

If you look at the picture above, that is the fairway of the 18th hole with it’s green in the foreground. Call it “three tiers of pain”. Good luck. If you need anything, the pro shop is one of the very best in the U.S.. Enjoy the U.S. Open experience, and as always, play it as it lies. Oh, by the way, my friend quit after the sixth hole from the psychological pain and embarrassment of a mediocre skill set. But at least he wasn’t asked to leave - he quit first

Photo courtesy of Bethpage State Park (web address below)

Recommendation: 5 Stars
Current Price: Week $60 Weekend $120
Par 71 Slope 140 Rating 73.1 Yardage 6673
Address: 99 Quaker Meeting House Rd
Farmingdale, NY 11735-1847
Website: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/golf/info.asp?golfID=12

PLAY IT AS IT LIES

RIVER WINDS GOLF CLUB:
5 STARS

By Jeff Louis

At what point does one declare themselves a certifiable golf junkie? Is it when you’ve spent designated bill money on that new “distance advertised” driver? How about the golf vacation you took with your buddies during your wife’s pregnancy? Well, for me, it was debating whether or not to play in a rain and lightening storm. Before you say I must be off my meds, let me explain. I wouldn’t be doing my job effectively if I didn’t risk it all for you …. the readers (LOL).

River Winds Golf Club (RWGC), located in West Deptford Township, in southern New Jersey, is an absolute winner! Although RWGC has only been in existence since 2002, this course has matured to a celestial level. Course designer Ed Shearon, along with one of the famed “US Open” doctors, Tom Fazio, has brought British Open ,“links style” golf to New Jersey …. with a fury. In a word, this course is a beast, and I mean that in the most affectionate way. There is no shortage to the amount of emotional peaks and valleys RWGC places on your psyche. Offering native swirling love grass to frame the fairways and sand bunkers would have been enough to get your attention. But it doesn’t stop there. You will be challenged on every shot you take to think about the ramifications of an error. This course has eventual “PGA Tour venue” written all over it.

The 2003 PGA championship brought about a famous comment from designer Pete Dye that his creation was like “popcorn. Sometimes, people choke on popcorn.” Well, if that was popcorn, RWGC has caramel on it. Framed by the Delaware River (which separates New Jersey from Pennsylvania), RWGC offers panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline. But don’t get caught up in that. If you take your mind off of this course too long you’ll suffer agricultural purgatory. There’s more drama here, from shot to shot, than watching your only daughter have her first date. For example, the signature hole is the par 3, 17th hole (above). Oh yes, that’s an island green that you fire at from an elevated tee box located 150 feet up on an adjacent bluff. Indeed, RWGC is the intravenous excitement factor golf needed in the Northeast...

Okay, let’s recap. Not only do we have all of the ingredients of your new championship level course; just think, you can grab a world famous Philly cheese steak sandwich afterwards and wax poetic about how many balls you’ve lost in a single round. You may not be a pro golfer, but on this course, you can feel like one. That is, until you hit that 1st tee shot. Remember, play it as it lies!

Recommendation: 5 Stars
Current Price: Week $50 Weekend $60
Par 70 Slope 70 Rating 69.3 Yardage 7072
Address: 1251 River Winds Drive, West Deptford New Jersey 08086
Website: http://www.riverwindsgolf.com

Photo courtesy: http//www.riverwindsgolf.com

PLAY IT AS IT LIES

SPRAIN LAKE GOLF COURSE: 3 stars

By Jeff Louis

Let me ask you a question, if by Disney’s standards, you whistle while you work, what do you do while playing golf? My answer, it doesn’t matter, you’re playing golf! You’re supposed to enjoy just being out amongst nature, "fellowshipping." This game is your own personal psychotherapist. That being said, this week I move the analyst’s couch up to Sprain Lake in Westchester, NY...

This is one of the most non-pretentious and fun tracks in Westchester N. It may not carry the prestige of Winged Foot (a famous private golf course that hosted the 2006 US Open), but to the players here you wouldn’t know any different. At only 6110 yards from the back tees and with a rating under its given par 70, it seems like an easy day is waiting. Be aware there are no givens on this course. Off the tee, on most holes, you can see where you should plot your shot placement. And here’s that siren, calling you to be a hero. Don’t listen to her. There are some severe downhill angles and side hill lies that will have you asking yourself “why did I do that?”

Sprain Lake plays tighter than a drummer in James Browns’ band. There are a few holes where an errant tee shot can still be played. Still not convinced? How about some of the most quietly undulated greens designed to test your patience, especially with some select pin placement. You can easily see the break go one way; yet the ball may roll the opposite way. What Sprain Lake doesn’t have in length is definitely made up by its challenges. If you like to walk the course, be prepared to warm up rigorously. The back 9 holes will definitely challenge your calves.

Sprain Lake has a very small pro shop that gets right to the point. It has shirts, gloves, balls, hats, and equipment that can be purchased at excellent prices. Here’s a big plus, a new driving range is now open at the far end of the parking lot. In addition, the halfway house behind the 9th green has very good chili dogs and reasonable prices as far as golf courses go. Done playing? Head in to the bar/restaurant behind the clubhouse to chill out with your favorite beverage in a relaxed atmosphere. Westchester County, NY golf keeps you coming back. Until next week, play it as it lies.

Recommendation: 3 Stars

Current Price: Week $42, Weekend $56

Par 70, Slope 70, Rating 69.3, Yardage 6110

Address: 290 East Grassy Sprain Rd Yonkers, NY

Website: http://www.westchestergov.com/parks/golf/SprainLake.htm

PLAY IT AS IT LIES

PATRIOT HILLS GOLF CLUB: 4.5 stars
19 Clubhouse Lane
Stony Point, New York 10980
Website: http://patriothillsgolfclub.com/
845-947-7085

By Jeff Louis

Morning just comes way too fast these days! My 4a.m. alarm reminded me, “it’s time for golf.” So, why does it feel like I’m travelling when I’m only going 69 minutes from home?

Today, I played a course I had no knowledge of until a company outing opened my eyes to it- Patriot Hills Golf Course ("PHGC"). It is located a mere 10 minutes south of Bear Mountain State Park and the West Point Military Academy in Stony Point, NY. I immediately noticed the tranquility and Civil War stone buildings as I drove through this Stony Point community.

Patriot Hills is a mountain style course, meaning it was literally designed to route through some severe hilly terrain. PHGC plays downhill as well as uphill. Here is an example: on the 11th hole, the gold (championship) tee box has a 225 foot drop in elevation to the fairway. And, once you leave the 12th green heading to the 13th tee box, it’s a ¼ mile uphill winding ride. Nevertheless, Rick Jacobsen Design (course architect), took safety into consideration. The cart paths wind down to its lowest points in a serpentine fashion. This is reminiscent of Lombard St. in San Francisco, CA - "The worlds’ most Crookedest Street (that’s how it’s marketed)." From the courses’ highest points, the vistas are dramatic. You can look across the Hudson River and see the majesty of Bear Mountain from several holes.

This is definitely a challenging layout to play. The course has four -to- seven tee boxes available on every hole to make sure everyone has a good time and a chance at a fair examination of their golf game. And, despite its relatively short-listed 6502 yardage, PHGC plays a lot longer than that. Most of the greens’ approach shots from 150 yards in and are of an uphill variety. Plan on hitting 1-2 more clubs longer than you think you’ll need. Once you arrive on the greens, you’ll have a lot of fun reading the breaks and undulations. Don’t get me wrong, this course may take a bite out of you, at least the first time you play it.

One almost feels the actual presence of George Washington while playing this course. I swear I smelled cannon powder. Seriously though, there is an arsenal further up the road. So when traveling in New York State, stop by and visit Patriot Hills. When you’re done, you’ll probably salute the course. And, if you happen to find a cannon ball in the fairway, remember, play it as it lies.


Additional Info:
Current Price: Week $90 Weekend $120
Par 72, Slope 70.7, Rating 131, Yardage 6502

This Week in South Florida

Friday, July 25
Jazz at MOCA
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art
Time: 8pm

The Jazz at MOCA series presents FREE outdoor concerts on the last Friday of every month. This Friday features Michael Orta.
CLICK HERE for more info.


Saturday, July 26
Open Casting for The Stylist
The producers of The Real World, The Simple Life and Keeping up with the Kardashians are casting for a new TV show, The Stylist. They are looking for the Hottest aspiring fashion stylists in the country. Those selected will complete for a contract with one of the top agencies.

MIAMI, FL
WHEN: SATURDAY July 26th
TIME: 10am-4pm
WHERE: Fresh on Fifth, 458 Ocean Drive (5th and Ocean), Miami Beach, FL 33139

NEW YORK, NY
WHEN: SATURDAY JULY 26th
TIME: 10am-4pm
WHERE: Fashion Institute of Technology –Reeves Great Hall at F.I.T’s Conference Center *entrance on 28th Street at 7th Avenue. It is the glassed in entrance on 28th Street near 7th Avenue.

If you can't make it to one of our open calls, hometape submissions are currently being accepted. Click Here for more info.



Saturday, August 2
Rock the Bells Concert Series
Location: Bicentennial Park, 1075 Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami

This is a must do event. I attended in Chicago and it was fantastic. I mean what's not to love about a line up of Rakim, De La Soul, Nas, Tribe Called Quest, Method Man & Redman, and more.
Click Here for more info and tickets

CIPRIANI DOWNTOWN: 3. 5 STARS

Soho, New York
376 W. Broadway (bet. Broome & Spring St.)
Phone: 212-343-0999
Website: http://www.cipriani.com/

By Angela Skeete Davis


OK, so you live in New York and you want to impress your boss. He or she wants a place to sit outside and people watch while he or she dines. Try Cipriani Downtown. Cipriani is an ultra chic Italian restaurant. It is incredibly overpriced, but the service is decent, the drinks delicious, the food is good, and you can people watch (or so I have been told). Just make sure you have enough money. I am not kidding. I have been to many expensive restaurants, but here the lunch prices were more than expected. While I found my portions to be ample, I have heard others complain that the portions are only sufficient if you are a small eater; that if you have a hearty appetite, you will not be satisfied.

We were very lucky on the day we went, the place was not crowded and we did not have to wait for a table. I understand that normally you either need a reservation or should expect to wait upwards of thirty minutes for a table. We were seated immediately, but we were seated inside. Outside tables were full or (indeed) reserved.

You don���t go to Cipriani���s downtown for the decor. While I do like white linen table cloths and lots of sparkling glass, I did not enjoy the very masculine art (however famous the artist might be). Also, the tables are soooooooo close together, a waiter actually had to push tables aside to let one woman out of her seat to go to the bathroom and then back to her seat when she was finished ���. just ridiculous! Not great if you want to impress a female with an intimate setting or ambiance. The waiters were nicely clothed in black and white, and were polite and helpful. But I understand, from others, service can be a bit dicey - more along the lines of the luck of the draw.

A selling point for me was the bread basket. It was filled with warm from the oven (not the microwave) bread and slightly salted bread sticks. Also, my drink, the Sweet Mary, made with with mint and a Bellini base was very good. It was citrusy and refreshing. My meal consisted of a beet, asparagus and goat cheese salad and a lobster salad with green beans and tomatoes. Both were very good. While there was not enough goat cheese, the beets and asparagus were nice and crisp and the lobster salad was actually full of lobster. But it should have been for the price I paid.

My friend had a mixed garden salad and spinach and ricotta ravioli. She found the salad filling and said the ravioli was delicate and delicious. She said that though the serving looked small, it was just enough for her. Meaning there was room enough for her favorite dessert.

For dessert, we ordered and shared their homemade chocolate cake. It was creamy, rich, smooth and chocolaty. I liked it. My girlfriend said, and I quote, ���isn���t it like a little bit of heaven. Isn���t it orgasmic���. Clearly, she really liked it.

So, take your boss to Cipriani. You will spend a lot of money, but the food will be good, the service decent, and maybe you will see people worth watching.

Things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
3.5 stars; $$$$

They open everyday from noon until midnight
There is indoor and outdoor seating
Reservations are not required, but recommended
There is an exclusive, members-only area upstairs

PLAY IT AS IT LIES

CRAB MEADOW GOLF COURSE: 4 stars
220 Waterside Road
Northport, NY 11768
631-757-8800

By Jeff

I really need to stay at home right now. And I guess, at times, I suffer from a healthy sense of "homeland curiosity." Do you know what I mean? Do you ever feel the need to know what���s on the other side of the fence? What other courses can you travel to close to home? Well, I recently found out, I can stay right at home and satisfy my voracious golf appetite. Out in Long Island, NY, in the town of Huntington, is a real gem of a golf course called Crab Meadow. It may not be the longest course available, at only 6574 yards from the back tees, but please, don���t be fooled. This course will make you play the game. And, if you like to try to pull off shots you see on television, you will definitely want to come to Crab Meadow.

This course is loaded with several elevation changes and doglegs, both left and right turning. The signature hole, is the 8th, which is a par 5. It���s the only hole on the course with a water hazard in play. Let���s put it this way, Crab Meadow is the essence of classic shot maker���s golf. Have you ever heard a player say ���this course doesn���t fit my eye?��� Well, Crab Meadow fits every eye. The one adjective you could never attribute to this course is, boring. And, aside from the serpentine layout, every hole, except one, treats you with a view of the north shore of the Long Island Sound. On a clear day, you can see all the way across the sound to Connecticut.

In case you like to arrive early to warm up, there is a driving range, and a practice putting green. Also, the snack shop and The View Restaurant, on the premises, offer extremely tasty treats. You know, with escalating gas prices these days, it may not be a bad thing to explore your home. Rest assured, the Crab Meadow staff works extremely hard to make sure your visit is enjoyable from start, to finish. It sort of feels like you���ve sat down at your mother���s for Sunday dinner .... you know it���s going to be good! Come home to Long Island, NY and Crab Meadow Golf Course. It feels like a family reunion. Remember as always, play it as it lies.


Recommendation: 4 Stars
Current Price: Week $65, Weekend Same
Par 72, Slope 71.6, Rating 125, Yardage 6574
Address: 220 Waterside Road - Northport, NY 11768
Website: http://www.crabmeadow.com

Pearl East: 5 stars

1191 Northern Blvd. (Community Dr.)
Manhasset, NY 11030
Phone:516-365-9898
Fax: 516-365-8813

By Angela

Looking for an elegant place to dine, want to impress your boss or your date, Pearl East is the place of choice. It is located on a hill, on the busy strip of Northern Blvd, not too far from Macy���s. From a distance it is nothing special. In fact, if you did not know any better, you would never see this place and if you did, you would never think to eat here. It is very non-descript. But, as I say, that is from a distance. But, when when you reach the doors you immediately realize what a colossal mistake you have made. The classy but understated elegance is obvious. You have just entered a world of beauty, ambiance, grace and fine dining.

The restaurant is beautiful. It is a serene setting of glass and marble. The wall lamps are frosted glass filled with ginko leaves,. There is a huge mosaic column in the center of the warmly inviting back room, along with gold-leafed mirrors, strikingly, patterned walls and a display of Asian kimonos, urns, gongs, statutes and other artifacts. The food is a blend of Cantonese and Japanese cuisine. The tuxedoed waiters provide efficient yet helpful service in this luxurious setting and the tables are comfortable and adequately spaced The wine list ,while not extensive, is filled with delicious cocktails. The lychee martini was incredible.

While the menu was quite impressive, so were the specials. Our appetizers included the special dim sum sampler for two and the dragon and phoenix soup. The soup was served in a beautiful gold and glass double bowl. It was delicious; filled with lobster, beef, egg and asparagus tips. The sampler was also beautiful to behold. It consisted of two lobster dumplings, two chicken dumplings, two vegetable dumplings and two crab dumplings. Not only were they delicious - filled with meat and no filler and wrapped in pastry that was light but not sticky, they were eye catching - presented in the shape of swans, rabbits, goldfish and a purse.

Although the restaurant is known for its Chinese food, the Japanese offerings were also worthy of acclaim. We tried the angry lobster roll, the green lobster roll, the crazy roll and some eel sushi. We should have known our palates would dance for joy. The rolls were innovative but delectable and the eel was so fresh, it had to be from the premium part of the fish (if there is such a spot).

For our main course, we shared the house noodles and the tamarind glazed crispy beef with sesame. In the past, I have had the barbecue shrimp and the fried rice with chicken, raisins, pineapple and cashew nuts. The house noodles were good but the tamarind beef was delicious. The dish was not too spicy and the special sauce did not overpower the meat. The beef was crispy and without a trace of fat. The barbecue shrimp was served with a melange of vegetables and a light soy-based sauce that subtly enhances the flavor of the shrimp. The fried rice was surprisingly good. The cashews did not detract from the other ingredients as I expected. Almost everything I have tried at Pearl East, I have enjoyed.

To top it off, the manager, Joanne, is a gracious hostess, as is the owner, Kathy. They were both polite, helpful, and knowledgeable. To summarize, in case you missed it, the presentation of food was visually stunning, the food fabulous, the cocktail unexpectedly yummy and the ambiance classy, but still warm and inviting. Whatever the occasion, you will not be sorry. To put it in their own words, "Pearl East is a gem not too far east."

Things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
$$$

Sunday -Thursday they are open from noon until 10pm., Friday and Saturday from noon until 11 p.m.
After six p.m. reservations are a necessity
They have a take out menu and delivery for weekday dinner only

Sarabeth's (New York): 3.5 Stars

By Angela

Are you doing lunch with the girls? Are you taking a client out for breakfast? Are you new in town and in the mood for good, simple, breakfast food? Do not miss a chance to try Sarabeth’s. This place has been receiving well-deserved accolades for years. I have been coming to this location for years. I have eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner here and I have never been disappointed.

The restaurant has a very warm, homey feel with bentwood chairs, brass touches and pictures on the wall. The windows are French doors that seem to welcome you to come and eat. They are also picturesque and allow for great people watching. The restaurant is split level, but both the upstairs and downstairs are a tight fit.

I have eaten and enjoyed dinner at Sarabeth’s; but they are known for their breakfast, lunch, and brunch. I have to agree that they really know how to do those meals. For lunch, their tomato soup is terrific, the mushroom soup and corn and shrimp soup are also very good, and their salads are delightful. But I am going to focus on my last meal there…breakfast, which is what they do best.

Some of the breakfast selections come with Sarabeth’s specialty items, a pastry (usually a scone) and jam. The tea is served in a pot, direct to the table (no tea bag will do). Their omelets are fresh, large and tasty and their specialty fruit juice is a “flower juice” consisting of pomegranate, orange, pineapple and banana juice. It is good; not too sweet, not too tart. But on this occasion, we had eggs, porridge, bacon and sausage.

While not everything was incredible, we all enjoyed our meal and agreed we would come again. One of us had the porridge. The porridge comes with blueberries, strawberries, or wheat berries. She had the wheat berries which have a rather nutty flavor, and while she was not a fan of the wheat berries, she said the porridge was very good - creamy and smooth. Another of us had the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and cream cheese. She said she liked her selection but, after all she had heard that she had expected an amazing dish. It was just good. I had the salmon Eggs Benedict. I really enjoy eggs Benedict and thought they did a good job with them. I shared a bite with everyone and all agreed the eggs Benedict were the best. The eggs were not too hard or too runny and the sauce was not overpowering. Even the salmon was tasty. The bacon was N. C. country bacon, thick and crispy with no fat and the sausages were pork sausages served with apricot jam. They were delicious.

The service was slow but friendly. Not surprising. As I mentioned, I have been to Sarabeth’s several times and have found the service usually friendly, helpful, and courteous if not always prompt. Sarabeth’s also has a counter where you can purchase cookies, cakes, jams, gifts and interesting flavored ice cream. I have tried several of their jams and recommend them all.

So, if you are looking for a place to try for breakfast, stop by. The atmosphere is inviting, the waiters are helpful, and the food is good. And though some may say they are a little pricey, I disagree, especially considering the area. I thought the food was worth the price of admission. Oh, there are several things you should know. They do not take reservations for breakfast or lunch. This is not much of a problem during the week. But on the weekend the wait can be quite long. I hear the waits can be up to an hour. During the week, I have never waited more than 20 minutes. For those who care, the bathroom is communal and the towels they leave out are thick, soft, and luxurious.

If you just want to try their famous jams, you can go to their website. They sell a full line of cakes, cookies, jams, and party cakes. They even share their recipes online. Check out http://www.sarabeths.com/

Price:$$$

Locations include:

Sarabeth's (West), 423 Amsterdam Avenue (80th Street), Phone: 212-496-628, Mon. - Sat. 8:00AM - 11:00PM, Sun. 8:00AM - 9:30PM

Sarabeth's (East), 1295 Madison Avenue (92nd Street), Tel: 212.410.7335, Mon. - Sat. 8:00AM - 11:00 PM, Sun. 8:00AM - 9:30PM

Sarabeth‘s (at the Whitney), 945 Madison Avenue (75th Street), Tel: 212.570.3670, Closed Mondays, Tues. - Thurs. 11:00AM - 4:30PM, Fri. 11:00AM - 3:45PM, Sat.-Sun. 10:00AM - 4:30PM

Sarabeth's Central Park South (CPS), 40 Central Park South (between 5th and 6th Aves), Tel: 212-826-5959, 7 days per week Breakfast: 8:00AM - 3:30PM, Lunch: 11:30AM - 3:30PM, Afternoon Tea: Mon - Fri, 3:30 - 5:30PM, Dinner: Mon - Sat, 5:30 -11:00PM, Sunday, 5:30 - 10:00PM, Weekend Brunch: 8:00AM - 4:00PM

Riesling Week 2008

June 16th-22nd, 2008

This week find Rieslings from Germany, Austria and Alsace at the top restaurants in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Las Vegas. Restaurants will feature European Rieslings by the glass, European Riesling flights, or special Riesling pairing menus.

New York Restaurants:
154 South Gate, Jumeriah Essex House

Alto

Aquavit
Aureole

Blue Fin

Blue Water Grill

Bobo
Café Boulud

Craft

DB Bistro

Fat Cat Pie
Harry's Café & Steak

HearthL'Ecole Restaurant

Metro Café and Wine Bar

The Monday Room

Raoul's

Saul

Terroir

Thalassa

Tocqueville

Wakiya at the Gramercy Park Hotel

New York Retail Tastings:
67 Wines & Spirits, Saturday, June 21 from 4-7pm
Bottlerocket, Thursday, June 19th from 5-8pm
Crush Wines & Spirits, Monday, June 16th 5-7pm
Fountain Head Wines, Saturday, June 21st during regular store hours
Union Square Wine & Spirits, Thursday, June 19th from 6-8pm

Chicago Restaurants:
Blackbird

Blu Coral

Blue Water Grill

Café Bernard

Carlos' Restaurant

Le Colonial

D.O.C. Wine Bar

The Freehling Room

May Street Market

Mirabell Restaurant
Powerhouse

The Pump Room

Republic Restaurant & Lounge

Roy's Chicago

Salpicon

Shaw's Crab House

SpringTRU

Webster Wine Bar

Chicago Retail Tastings:
Printer's Row Wine Store, Thursday, June 19th from 5-8pm
Gentile's Wine Shop, Friday, June 20th from 6-9pm
Galleria Market, Friday, June 20th from 4-8pm
Provenance Food & Wine-Lincoln Square, Thursday, June 19th from 6-8pm
Provenance Food & Wine-Logan Square, Saturday, June 21st from 3-6pm
Holiday Wine & Spirits
Gourmet Pantry, Friday, June 20th from 4:30-7:30pm
Lush Wine & Spirits-Roscoe Village, Thursday, June 19th from 5:30-8pm

Lush Wine & Spirits- University Village, Friday, June 20th from 6-8pm
Artisan Cellar, Wednesday, June 18th from 3:30-6pm

Click here for Las Vegas & San Francisco participating Restaurants.

For more information, email info@germanwineusa.com.

Mardi Gras 3.5 Stars

7020 Austin Street

Forest Hills, New York 11375
718-261-8555

By Angela

For all you Queens folk who feel like a little fun, jazz, and easy dining try Mardi Gras. It is a combination of Latin, Cuban Creole and Southern cuisines. The restaurant has two levels with a large bar area in the back of the restaurant on the main floor, which fills quickly. The entrance is filled with mardi gras signs and tiffany-style lights hang over the tables. The tables downstairs are nicely spaced, but upstairs is very cramped.

At Mardi Gras, the food is appealing but the service is spotty. The waiters are usually friendly, but I have experienced a rude waiter in the past. Also, the service is frequently slow. Sometimes you wonder if your waiter has forgotten you ( fine if you’re hanging out, not if you wanna get out).

The bar is full-service. They have a decent cocktail menu including a wide variety of martinis. Though they will make a drink according to your specifications, they are not always generous with the alcohol. Every Thursday they have a live jazz band and once a month they have belly dancing. They can’t tell you when, instead they suggest you call or check their website. Not very organized, but maybe they are still testing belly dancing.

I have been to Mardi Gras many times and while I find the service unpredictable, I do enjoy the food. The portions are healthy without being ridiculous. The food is better than the average fare available at most hang-out spots. Some of their dishes are actually delicious. One caution, most of their dishes are spicy.

Their appetizers include alligator pops, fritters, spicy jambalaya, crawfish popcorn, coconut chicken, andouille sausage, Cajun crab cakes, gumbo, spicy chicken wings and artichoke with crawfish in a garlic butter cream sauce. The gumbo is sometimes salty, but the jambalaya and the coconut chicken are a good bet. The alligator pops and crawfish popcorn are among my favorites. My daughter swears by them. The artichoke is not bad either.

The po-boys (made with huge pieces of chicken, catfish or large shrimp) are pretty good as is the cebiche (an old world dish from South America also called ceviche). The cebiche is made with calamari, jumbo shrimp and either catfish, tilapia, or corvine. The sauces are also different and range from mild to very spicy.

The sides are decent. The sweet potato fries are good and the curly fires nicely seasoned. But the best side is the jalapeno-cheddar mashed potatoes. They are delicious. The side I would not recommend is the onion rings; they are disappointingly greasy. As for entrees, the most popular ones are the voodoo pasta, the blackened salmon, the jambalaya, the stuffed shrimp and the filet mignon.

Their dessert list includes after dinner coffees and hot chocolates, and bananas foster and bread pudding. Those two desserts are, in a word, yummy. My recommendation is to get lots of appetizers and sides, one or two entrees and then share everything. Oh, and save room for dessert.

Things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
Thursday nights feature a live jazz band
Friday and Saturday nights are packed and the wait can be up to an hour
$$
Monday to Thursday, 4pm until midnight
Friday and Saturday, noon until 1am
Sunday, noon until midnight

WILD GINGER : 3 ½ STARS

WILD GINGER

48 Great Neck Road

Great Neck, New York 11021

516-487-8288

By Angela

For all you Queens folk on your way home from a day of shopping or work and hungry but not up to cooking, or for those meeting friends for fun and easy dining, try Wild Ginger. It is tasty Asian fusion in a beautiful setting. This Asian oasis has a waterfall at the entrance, huge faux palm trees beneath a skylight, Chinese characters painted on the seats, 30X15 ft. Asian-style murals on one of the walls, and an open kitchen. The tables are spaced comfortably and the bar, while in front of the restaurant, has plenty of seats.

At Wild Ginger, the food is a fusion of Thai, Chinese, Malaysian and Vietnamese, the waiters are usually friendly, and the bar is full-service. Their specialty cocktail list is extensive, including a wide variety of sakes and martinis.

I have been back to Wild Ginger many times and while not every dish is delicious, I have found the overall experience to be well worth the trip. The sushi is fresh and the rolls include traditional favorites and a few innovations. The scorpion king (an inside out roll of spicy tuna, cucumber, lettuce) is delicious. The seaweed salad with mango is a refreshing combination of sweet and spicy. The spring roll has good texture, both crunchy and flavorful. The crab cakes are tasty and actually full of crab. The Vietnamese summer roll is a lively combination of fruit and vegetables in cooked rice paper. The sesame chicken is crunchy on the outside yet moist and tender on the inside. The udon noodles - smoky, aromatic and chewy, without being overcooked, are so delicious they are almost addictive. The wok-glazed ginger duck is amazing and the seared rare tuna with soba noodles is terrific. However, the fried rice, shrimp pad Thai, and Singapore rice noodles are average at best. Moreover, the desserts, while plated beautifully, are inconsistent in quality. The sorbets are cool, flavorful and refreshing, but the cheesecake inedible.

As you can tell I have visited often enough to have tried many of the menu items. So go, enjoy the food, love the ambiance and have good food in a beautiful setting.

Things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:

$$$

Lunch: daily, noon until 3:30pm;

Dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 5pm until 10:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 5pm until 11:30pm.

Mother's Day Brunch Guides

D.C. Guide

Chicago Guide

New York Guide

Miami Guide

Los Angeles Guide

Other Cities

Two Delightful NY Bakeries

MARTHA���S COUNTRY BAKERY: 4 Stars
Forest Hills
70-30 Austin Street
Tel: (718) 544-0088

THREE LITTLE RED HENS: 4.5 Stars
Manhattan
1652 Second Avenue (86thStreet)
212-452-0476

By Angela

Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy shop. These two bakeries are a true sweet toother���s delight. When I am in the city and have a sweet tooth craving, I always stop into Three Little Red Hens (TLRH) and when I am in Queens and get an urge to satisfy my sweet cravings, I head to Martha���s. They are each so divine, they deserve their own write-up but they are so similar in quality I will kill two birds with one hen���If you will.

Martha���s is a country-styled bakery with a full service section in the back. The walls are filled with quaint sayings about dieting and dessert and the tables, though small, are always full. The front of the bakery houses an extra-long glass counter displaying their confections. I have been to Martha���s at all hours and they are always crowded. TLRH���s is a smaller, though longer established bakery. They have two tables set up for those willing to sit amidst the noise, crowd and confusion. Their counters also display their sweets and they too are always busy.
Both bakeries are well stocked with a variety of coffees, teas, frozen drinks, sodas and other assorted drinks. Both cater and take orders. Martha���s has traditional American classics like pound cakes, pastries, pies and tarts. TLRH���s has a huge variety of cupcakes, cakes and cookies as well as pies. They also do special menus for major holidays and occasions.

TLRH���s cookies include M&M, ginger spice, double chocolate crinkle, oatmeal raisin and chocolate chunk with pecans and walnuts. Their tarts include French apple, almond cherry, PB&J passion, chocolate silk and coconut lime; and, their cakes include lemon, red velvet, sour lemon, carrot, yellow, and Brooklyn blackout. I have tried most of their cakes and like all of them. While I have found the cheesecake to be nothing special, I do like the tarts I have tried. Also, the cakes are absolutely beautiful. The designs are so pretty, the cakes look almost too good to eat. My only complaint is the cost. The mini cupcakes alone, which are no more than a bite or two, cost $1.75 and the smallest of cakes are over $10. Trust me, you don���t go there for the value, you go for the quality.

Martha���s has a huge variety of pound cakes -chocolate, cranberry crumb, and lemon poppy to name a few. Their cupcakes include red velvet, carrot, vanilla, chocolate, Oreo crunch, and black forest. Their pies and tarts include apple, cherry, blueberry, lemon meringue and mixed fruit. The list of cookies and other kinds of cakes is endless. They include black forest, black and white and chocolate mousse. I would love to be able to tell you more about the wide variety of things I have tried at Martha���s, but cannot. This is because after I tried a few items, I fell in love with them and now refuse to try anything new. My favorites are the caramel cake, the Oreo crunch cupcake, and the Baba Rhum cake. My mother always gets the bread pudding with gelato and my daughter likes their cream cheese danish. While not everything is mouth watering, and the service is not always up to par, this is a delightful place to come and indulge your sweet tooth while spending time with friends, perhaps after taking in a movie together.

So, if you are hungry, in the mood for sweets or throwing a party and need a cake, check out one of these bakeries. I am sure you will be glad you did.

Things you should know if you plan to go:

MARTHA'S
$
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Astoria Location:
36-21 Ditmars Blvd.
Tel. (212) 545-9737
Hours: 6am to 11am, Mon ���Th, 6am to midnight, Fri-Sat (til 1am in Astoria), 6am to 11am, Sun


THREE LITTLE RED HENS
$$$$
Hours: M-F 7am to 8pm, Sat. 8am to 8pm, Sun. 8am to 6pm

Other Locations: Upper East Side Manhattan
1652 Second Avenue (86thStreet)
212-452-0476

Park Slope in Brooklyn
1112 Eighth Avenue
718-499-8108

Play It As It Lies

By Jeff

This column will give a player���s insight in to some recommended courses around the U.S. and may include some comedy along the way. At the end of each column will be all of the information needed to contact the course and plan a day of fun on the links.

Did you ever have one of those "now is a good time for a mental health day'��� day? Well, one such day came down on me last Friday. Of course when it happens, you usually find an accomplice, partner, or overall Louise to your Thelma, so to speak, to join you. Well, I placed that call to a friend of mine (���M���) late Friday morning to see if he would join me for a relaxing day of golf. He emphatically agreed and asked if his brother (���D���) could join us. "Sure" I replied. "The more the merrier".

We settled on a course in Long Island, NY. Eisenhower Park's fabled 'Red' course. This "parkland/links" course was designed by Devereux Emmet, a member of a well-to-do New York family and a resident of Garden City, NY. This course is known as the home of the Commerce Bank Championship June 27-29 on the Champions tour of the PGA. The course figured to play pretty well, don't you think?

The three amigos decide we're really feeling our oats and want to tackle every bit of real estate on this course by playing the exact tees in play at the CBC. This is a daunting proposition if you're not particularly stout in distance, nor accurate in directional control. The Red course played long in the fairways and exceptionally fast on the greens despite "nearly healed" aeration holes, a process delayed by the extra long winter here in NYC. We had a great time on the front 9 holes - playing well, talking trash and baiting each other into "Tiger-like" shots we had no business attempting. M and I had finished tied, with D 8 shots back, before the real adventure began.

Since I've played the course previously (approximately 3 years ago), I noticed the added length on the now 420 yard par 4 14th hole and the addition of a second sand bunker on the left side of the fairway. M stepped up first and fired his tee shot over the right bunker and landed in the rough approximately 270 yards away. I, however, flew a path to the inside of the left bunker and came to rest in the fairway, 110 yards from the green. D's tee shot came up a little short in the new left bunker. He played a shot to get out of it, leaving himself on the left side of the fairway in the rough, about 10 feet right of some sparse fescue.

I was retrieving something from my bag when I heard the commotion. I looked up to find D's ball being guarded by a determined Canadian male goose. Believing D's ball was an egg, with the female probably laying more eggs in the fescue, it was not about to let Duane play his next shot. Well, the next is why African-American men don't go wildlife hunting too often. Duane had, shall we say, been "punked" into not being able to get to his ball. The gander (male goose), apparently realizing his success, then took a low stance and started hissing. Usually, geese walk away from humans so I offered my ignorant services. As I walked towards it, however, the gander craned its neck and spread it's wings. I wasn't going to be added to the "punked" list, so I spread my arms and got into a "Karate Kid" stance ala' Ralph Macchio. Somehow, I guess, the gander had decided it was ���on��� and charged me.

It was then I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Duane had started to run backwards and Marcus had tip-toed up to the green -both apparently wanting no part of this. I retreated into the cart and made a command decision to play a game of chicken, or goose if you will, and tried to run this large fowl off the ball. I implored Duane to go to the other side of the gander while I had it engaged. He adamantly refused. I knew I was in it for self at that point so I mounted up on the cart on the passenger side, got my pitching wedge in my right hand, drove right at it, and tried to get to the ball with a polo-style trick.

The gander looked at me with that look, you know the one, the "I wish you would" or the more popular, "go ahead and try me" look. As I got closer, it craned its neck again and I swear it looked like a demon this time. It side-stepped the cart and tried to wrestle the wedge out of my hand - almost like it wanted to make it a fair fight. I was able to maintain my composure and drive off with my wedge and the knowledge that a goose stared me down from a fight over a $1.75 golf ball.

I told Duane he was on his own and he "dropped" a ball 30 yards away from the goose and came up to the green from there��� well away from the original ball. We got a good laugh out of it until Duane hit his next tee shot from the returning parallel hole to the left, That's right back towards the same goose. Marcus drove him quickly to that area and Duane hopped out of the cart looking like he was auditioning for "Starsky and Hutch, The Movie", running back towards me through the fescue to the correct fairway. No way was he going over there again.

My turn next. But, as luck would have it, my ball was being guarded by yet another goose. I'm thinking, did the first one call for his friends to torment us for the rest of the round? I honestly felt like my "manhood" was being questioned by water fowls. So, I stopped the golf cart 20 yards behind my ball, in the fairway, grabbed my 7 iron, and walked with a determined gait - a sort of cross between "Superfly", "Shaft", and "Dirty Harry" - to my ball. I played my next shot under duress, (yes I admit it) and walked back to the cart looking around for more fowl reinforcements that may have been silently signaled. But all was calm. I guess the walk did it.

Lesson - the next time you feel overwhelmed, inundated and under appreciated, take a mental health day on your favorite golf course. You just may come back with a story to tell, and a lifetime of memories and jokes. Until next time. Play it as it lies.

Recommendation: 4 Stars

Eisenhower Red Golf Course
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, Stewart Avenue and Merrick Avenue
General Telephone Number: 516-572-0327 or 0328

Ratings
Front Tees: Course Rating, 71.9; front nine, 39; back nine, 35.9; slope rating, 111
Mid Tees: Course Rating, 69.8; front nine, 34.9; back nine, 35; slope rating, 121
Back Tees: Course Rating, 71.8; front nine, 35.8; back nine, 36; slope rating, 124
Playing Season: March (weather permitting) through beginning of winter.
In-season fees:
18 holes: Weekdays: $36 for residents; $22 for senior citizens; $45 for nonresidents.
Weekends and Holidays: $41 for residents; $39 for senior citizens; $49 for nonresidents
Motor Cart Rentals: $31 for residents; $20 for senior citizens; $31 for nonresidents