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Fresh Direct Has It All

online, shopping, supermarket, virtual Comments Off

Aug 102011

Yummy Cupcakes

Fresh Direct, a “virtual” online supermarket may not be perfect. But at this point in space and time, Fresh Direct is as good as it gets. Produce, as the name implies is superlatively fresh, healthy, trendy and delicious. And prices are competitive. Favored products include sparkling seafood, antibiotic free meats and poultry, house-made soups like a restaurant-quality corn chowder and gazpacho, non-jarred pasta sauces, and a beautiful selection of gourmet cheeses.

There are lovely wines from Union Square Wines and Spirits, farm fresh fruit and vegetables and chocolate-peanut-butter cupcakes (preservative free) that will make you swoon. The idea of offering recipes, then giving a list of ingredients to check off and add to your shopping cart is ingenious, as is the superbly created website that is intuitive, user-friendly and fun to navigate. Fresh Direct at www.freshdirect.com offers terrific customer service. There has never been a problem with getting an immediate refund for any problems (which occur rarely).

Website: Click Here

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Stupendous Florida Stone Crab at The Oyster Bar

Restaurants, shopping No Responses »

Dec 062009

Technorati Tags: seafood,restaurant,stone,crab,oysters,raw bar,historic,New York,Grand Central Station

Grand Central Oyster Bar/Restaurant

December 09, 2009 |

Oyster Bar Interior 3

Grand Central Oyster Bar Grand Central Terminal
89 E. 42nd St. At Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Phone: (212) 490-6650
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday: 11:30am – 9:30pm
Saturday: 12:00pm – 9:30pm
Payment Options:
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Executive Chef: Sandy Ingber
General Manager Jonathan Young

Dress Code: Casual Dress

A New York landmark with Guastivino tiled vaulted ceilings, two dining rooms, an oyster bar and counter seating. The Oyster Bar has 450 seats for you to choose from.
Dining Style: Casual Dining
Cuisine: Seafood
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Cross Street: Vanderbilt and Lexington
Menu: View menu on restaurant’s website & After This Review
Website: http://www.oysterbarny.com

Make a Reservation On Open Table
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CLASSIC FLORIDA STONE CRABS ON THE MENU AT THE GRAND CENTRAL OYSTER BAR

Review By Nancy Walman

Award-winning website, Punchin-dot-com, features the Walman Report and reviews of restaurants, travel, wine and theater.

An “American classic” is now on the menu at the Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York City – Florida Stone Crab claws, the first catch of the season, shipped directly to the historic eatery “Below Sea Level” at Grand Central Terminal.

“Stone Crabs are one of the most succulent and delicious creatures of the sea,” says executive chef Sandy Ingber. “They are very sustainable. We buy them directly from the fishermen and receive many shipments weekly. They are prepared daily here chilled with mustard mayonnaise.”

The Florida Stone Crab entrée for lunch or dinner was priced at $37.95 (on our visit) for a 20-ounce main course. They were medium size, sweet as sugar and totally delicious. Florida Stone Crabs will be on the menu at the Grand Central Oyster Bar through May 15 and are available as appetizers as well.

The Grand Central Oyster bar recently celebrated its 95th Anniversary. It Serves over 1,300 patrons daily, eating about 1.8 million shellfish a year. 240 gallons of Manhattan and New England clam chowder prepared daily. The restaurant has rented the 27,00 sq. foot space from the MTA since 1913. The Old World interior with its “Guastavino” tile, lining the vaulted ceiling, retains some stained glass windows.

Oyster Bar Interior 2

There’s a formidable wine list by General Manager Jonathan Young. It changes weekly and is conveniently printed on the back of the menu. There are many choices by the glass and full bottles for $36 and under.

While chicken, steak and vegetables are available, seafood shines. There are always wonderful seasonal specials like herring, bay scallops and the freshest fish anywhere. A teaser of sautéed shrimp in a white butter sauce was terrific. And oh those oysters: Ask your waiter to recommend a selection of varieties (29 choices on our visit). The vast menu offers an array of creative and traditional great starters and the signature pan roast is still a minor miracle. Look for specials. Chef Sandy Ingber has a deft hand and all cooking techniques: grilling, steaming, poaching or frying are executed skillfully. The French fries may be the best in town. Bay Scallops were succulent and a better Black Cod would be difficult to find. It is simply pan fried and simply delicious.

Service is friendly and accommodating and don’t skip the rich, cold and gooey desserts (fabulous rice pudding), a masterful cheesecake and Key Lime pie that is to die for. The Grand Central Oyster is one of New York’s great restaurants and a Manhattan Must on The Walman Report.

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OYSTER BAR VINTAGE PHOTO

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DeBragga.com Features the Holiday Rib - Roast and Chop - for this Year’s Table

Food, Food shopping, gourmet products, Holidays, mail order, shopping No Responses »

Nov 292009

DeBragga.com offers a fine selection of beef rib roasts and chops, as perfect for gift-giving as keeping for one’s own holiday table. To complement the cooking, DeBragga offers excellent pantry items such as sea salt and veal stock. All DeBragga orders are delivered next day, and all the meats are shipped fresh, so orders may be frozen without consequence to the meat. Gift orders may include gift messages to make each one personal. Shipping within 100 miles of New York City is only $9.99 per box. Limited quantities are available.

The selection of beef available as rib roasts or chops includes hand select Angus beef, aged both wet and dry, prime beef and naturally raised beef, also aged both wet and dry-aged. DeBragga’s American Wagyu beef ribs are dry-aged for 30 days and then sold as roasts and/or chops. Any of DeBragga’s beef rib roasts may be left whole, with seven ribs, or custom cut into a four-rib roast and three rib chops. All beef chops are frenched for a beautiful presentation.

STRUT YOUR SAXSY STUFF

accessories, Food, shopping No Responses »

Nov 212009

Saxsy Stuff Reinvents the Reusable Shopping Bag with a Beautiful,
Collapsible Alternative that Goes Beyond the Grocery Store~

Not all reusable cloth shopping bags are the same!

Today, Saxsy Stuff proves it by introducing the first full-sized, reusable alternative to plastic and paper bags that is also fashionable. Saxsy

Stuff’s hip and stylish cloth shopping bags go everywhere. Originally designed to go to the grocery store, Saxsy Stuff bags are beach bags, book bags, overnight bags and much more.
Besides the gorgeous patterns, what differentiates Saxsy Stuff most from others on the market is its ‘wide bottom’ collapsible gusset design that allows the bags to expand bigger and hold more, when filled, than a traditional paper grocery bag or other reusable bags. The lightweight, yet sturdy Saxsy Stuff bags can also be rolled up or stuffed into a pocket, purse, diaper bag, glove compartment, suitcase or backpack when not being used.