(07-21-2015 10:54 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 08:22 AM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 07:07 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 02:29 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  People like Mellow Mushroom? Awful pizza.

I love it when Southerners talk about Pizza and Northerners talk about spicy / fried food!

Pizza in the south SUCKS ........ Anything that resembles Italian is a no go in the south. Olive Garden is garbage!

Restaurants in the north can't cook spicy / fried food for $***. Yankees think Popeye's and KFC is good eats. lol

I've eaten at some highly touted pizza place in New York once (don't even remember the name of the place honestly) and wasn't impressed. Honest to goodness my favorite pizza is the frozen pizza that Wal-Mart sells.

Then again, I'm immune to the placebo effect of fine dining and non-chain restaurants so I'm probably biased.

Spent a half decade in Manhattan. Couldn't tell you a pizza place that I was particularly impressed with other than Patsy's. Before that, I lived in San Diego. Every time I go back, I must make a special trip to get a slice from Bronx Pizza there.

You should have crossed the Hudson River. There's a reason why 1.5 million Italians call NJ home. Manhattan is for night life and business

(07-21-2015 10:59 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:52 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:44 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:41 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 08:18 AM)APPrising Wrote:  What about when Northerners or Italians open up pizza joints in the south? They all of a sudden suck because they are in the south? That's redonk.

It's all in the water and produce. South Jersey pizza stinks compared to North Jersey because of the water.

Yankee country grows the best Tomatoes, Peppers, Garlic.

Fresh ingredients and the water.

This is also a major reason why bagels are great in NYC/North Jersey area as well.

Man, that's the most rediculous thing Ive ever heard. I'll feed you a tomato down here that will make you slap Ya mama. I eat them like apples.

I'm not trying to slam the south. Their produce is excellent on numerous items. There's nothing like a sweet Vidalia onion!!!

I've had tomatoes in the south (lived there for 10 years and worked on a farm as well) and they don't compare to New Jersey. There's a reason why such a small state (also the MOST populated per sq mile) is one of the top 10 leading producers in the country of certain vegetables and fruit.

I'll also take a shrimp/oyster from Gulf or Carolina's/Georgia. Hands down

We have blue claws and clams along our 120 mile coastline

http://jerseyfresh.nj.gov/facts/

Creole tomatoes are damn good...I'm not talking the crap you buy in the grocery store, I'm talking side of the road and farmers markets. I promise you they taste just as good as any tomato you have ever eaten. We have extremely nutrient rich soil, especially the closer to the atchafalaya and mississippi rivers. There is a reason we supply half the country's sugar and almost all its rice.

I don't doubt your sugar cane and rice. It's excellent climate for both of those products. We could never produce either item for a profit by us. I've ventured through Mississippi and Louisiana and stopped by fellas selling watermelons / corn out of a early 80's Ford pick-up on a clay road.

As for Tomatoes, please try NJ in late July/early August. There's a reason why all our new southerners crave them when they visit relatives in the summer.

We also have excellent Cranberries, Blueberries and dynamite Honey Crisp Apples. Spinach and other leafy greens flourish in our climate as well.

(07-21-2015 07:07 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 02:29 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  People like Mellow Mushroom? Awful pizza.

I love it when Southerners talk about Pizza and Northerners talk about spicy / fried food!

Pizza in the south SUCKS ........ Anything that resembles Italian is a no go in the south. Olive Garden is garbage!

Restaurants in the north can't cook spicy / fried food for $***. Yankees think Popeye's and KFC is good eats. lol

I beg to differ. Although he passed away a couple of years back and his resturant has been closed for years, Solliceto's in Boone had some of the best pizza and Italian food to be found. Mike was a NJ Native born to immigrants from Sicily. Bobby Cremins, and several of his staff were New Yorkers as were others in Boone. Most nights it was like Little Italy in there. Sinatra, Martin, Darin and Bennett tunes playing constantly. It was awesome in so many ways.

(07-21-2015 11:18 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:59 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:52 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:44 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:41 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  It's all in the water and produce. South Jersey pizza stinks compared to North Jersey because of the water.

Yankee country grows the best Tomatoes, Peppers, Garlic.

Fresh ingredients and the water.

This is also a major reason why bagels are great in NYC/North Jersey area as well.

Man, that's the most rediculous thing Ive ever heard. I'll feed you a tomato down here that will make you slap Ya mama. I eat them like apples.

I'm not trying to slam the south. Their produce is excellent on numerous items. There's nothing like a sweet Vidalia onion!!!

I've had tomatoes in the south (lived there for 10 years and worked on a farm as well) and they don't compare to New Jersey. There's a reason why such a small state (also the MOST populated per sq mile) is one of the top 10 leading producers in the country of certain vegetables and fruit.

I'll also take a shrimp/oyster from Gulf or Carolina's/Georgia. Hands down

We have blue claws and clams along our 120 mile coastline

http://jerseyfresh.nj.gov/facts/

Creole tomatoes are damn good...I'm not talking the crap you buy in the grocery store, I'm talking side of the road and farmers markets. I promise you they taste just as good as any tomato you have ever eaten. We have extremely nutrient rich soil, especially the closer to the atchafalaya and mississippi rivers. There is a reason we supply half the country's sugar and almost all its rice.

I don't doubt your sugar cane and rice. It's excellent climate for both of those products. We could never produce either item for a profit by us. I've ventured through Mississippi and Louisiana and stopped by fellas selling watermelons / corn out of a early 80's Ford pick-up on a clay road.

As for Tomatoes, please try NJ in late July/early August. There's a reason why all our new southerners crave them when they visit relatives in the summer.

We also have excellent Cranberries, Blueberries and dynamite Honey Crisp Apples. Spinach and other leafy greens flourish in our climate as well.

If you buy your tomato in a grocery store, it's terrible here. If you ever come this way again... Trust me, buy a homegrown tomato.

(07-21-2015 11:18 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:59 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:52 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:44 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 10:41 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  It's all in the water and produce. South Jersey pizza stinks compared to North Jersey because of the water.

Yankee country grows the best Tomatoes, Peppers, Garlic.

Fresh ingredients and the water.

This is also a major reason why bagels are great in NYC/North Jersey area as well.

Man, that's the most rediculous thing Ive ever heard. I'll feed you a tomato down here that will make you slap Ya mama. I eat them like apples.

I'm not trying to slam the south. Their produce is excellent on numerous items. There's nothing like a sweet Vidalia onion!!!

I've had tomatoes in the south (lived there for 10 years and worked on a farm as well) and they don't compare to New Jersey. There's a reason why such a small state (also the MOST populated per sq mile) is one of the top 10 leading producers in the country of certain vegetables and fruit.

I'll also take a shrimp/oyster from Gulf or Carolina's/Georgia. Hands down

We have blue claws and clams along our 120 mile coastline

http://jerseyfresh.nj.gov/facts/

Creole tomatoes are damn good...I'm not talking the crap you buy in the grocery store, I'm talking side of the road and farmers markets. I promise you they taste just as good as any tomato you have ever eaten. We have extremely nutrient rich soil, especially the closer to the atchafalaya and mississippi rivers. There is a reason we supply half the country's sugar and almost all its rice.

I don't doubt your sugar cane and rice. It's excellent climate for both of those products. We could never produce either item for a profit by us. I've ventured through Mississippi and Louisiana and stopped by fellas selling watermelons / corn out of a early 80's Ford pick-up on a clay road.

As for Tomatoes, please try NJ in late July/early August. There's a reason why all our new southerners crave them when they visit relatives in the summer.

We also have excellent Cranberries, Blueberries and dynamite Honey Crisp Apples. Spinach and other leafy greens flourish in our climate as well.

Louisiana does most veggie's very well including a number of winter types but not all. We have very little luck with apples, but other fruits do pretty well including blueberries. I agree with others who buy from local farmers markets as all I avoid all but the staples at most of the major grocery stores.

(07-20-2015 11:30 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  

(07-20-2015 08:08 PM)DrGonzo Wrote:  

(07-20-2015 07:36 PM)AppfanInCAAland Wrote:  

(07-20-2015 06:59 PM)DrGonzo Wrote:  Seriously, in Boone, avoid franchise restaurants.

Didn't you recommend Mellow Mushroom and Macados in the best places to eat thread? I like those places but they are franchise/chain restaurants.

Mellow is one of a handful of franchises that are worth a trip, and the Boone location is really cool. I thought Macados was one of a kind.

Macado's is a college-town chain I believe. The original is in Blacksburg, VA.

There was one in Concord Mills NC and downtown Greensboro NC at one point, but they may have closed. They closed the one in Fredericksburg VA near Mary Washington Uni, but I think there is still one in Farmville VA near Longwood Uni.

(07-21-2015 11:25 AM)AppManDG Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 07:07 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 02:29 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  People like Mellow Mushroom? Awful pizza.

I love it when Southerners talk about Pizza and Northerners talk about spicy / fried food!

Pizza in the south SUCKS ........ Anything that resembles Italian is a no go in the south. Olive Garden is garbage!

Restaurants in the north can't cook spicy / fried food for $***. Yankees think Popeye's and KFC is good eats. lol

I beg to differ. Although he passed away a couple of years back and his resturant has been closed for years, Solliceto's in Boone had some of the best pizza and Italian food to be found. Mike was a NJ Native born to immigrants from Sicily. Bobby Cremins, and several of his staff were New Yorkers as were others in Boone. Most nights it was like Little Italy in there. Sinatra, Martin, Darin and Bennett tunes playing constantly. It was awesome in so many ways.

Italian food in general can be made anywhere. I can make a killer eggplant parm. My Grams also came over from Northern Italy as a child.

The bread is another story. There's a few joints in South Florida who transport the water in a water buffalo from my area.

Trying to find a good bagel in the south is tough. Just trying to find some fresh prosciutto can be a challenge.

(07-21-2015 11:39 AM)AppfanInCAAland Wrote:  

(07-20-2015 11:30 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  

(07-20-2015 08:08 PM)DrGonzo Wrote:  

(07-20-2015 07:36 PM)AppfanInCAAland Wrote:  

(07-20-2015 06:59 PM)DrGonzo Wrote:  Seriously, in Boone, avoid franchise restaurants.

Didn't you recommend Mellow Mushroom and Macados in the best places to eat thread? I like those places but they are franchise/chain restaurants.

Mellow is one of a handful of franchises that are worth a trip, and the Boone location is really cool. I thought Macados was one of a kind.

Macado's is a college-town chain I believe. The original is in Blacksburg, VA.

There was one in Concord Mills NC and downtown Greensboro NC at one point, but they may have closed. They closed the one in Fredericksburg VA near Mary Washington Uni, but I think there is still one in Farmville VA near Longwood Uni.

The one in Farmville is still open, and doing quite well. I ate there Friday night.

(07-21-2015 08:22 AM)EigenEagle Wrote:  Then again, I'm immune to the placebo effect of fine dining and non-chain restaurants so I'm probably biased.

I'm with you on the non-chain restaurants. I get a kick out of watching that diners, drive-ins, and dives show where all of the guests rave about how unique the restaurants are, but if you watch a couple episodes you see pretty quickly how all of those places are a dime-a-dozen and not very unique at all. Having experience working in restaurants, it's also pretty easy to spot that many of those places aren't as "everything is home-made" as they would have you believe.

Good and bad places exist within corporate chains, franchises, and independent places.

(07-21-2015 11:39 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 11:25 AM)AppManDG Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 07:07 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 02:29 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  People like Mellow Mushroom? Awful pizza.

I love it when Southerners talk about Pizza and Northerners talk about spicy / fried food!

Pizza in the south SUCKS ........ Anything that resembles Italian is a no go in the south. Olive Garden is garbage!

Restaurants in the north can't cook spicy / fried food for $***. Yankees think Popeye's and KFC is good eats. lol

I beg to differ. Although he passed away a couple of years back and his resturant has been closed for years, Solliceto's in Boone had some of the best pizza and Italian food to be found. Mike was a NJ Native born to immigrants from Sicily. Bobby Cremins, and several of his staff were New Yorkers as were others in Boone. Most nights it was like Little Italy in there. Sinatra, Martin, Darin and Bennett tunes playing constantly. It was awesome in so many ways.

Italian food in general can be made anywhere. I can make a killer eggplant parm. My Grams also came over from Northern Italy as a child.

The bread is another story. There's a few joints in South Florida who transport the water in a water buffalo from my area.

Trying to find a good bagel in the south is tough. Just trying to find some fresh prosciutto can be a challenge.

I never knew that New Jersey water is considered a delicacy.

(07-21-2015 02:29 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  People like Mellow Mushroom? Awful pizza.

I love their meatball subs though.

(07-21-2015 11:53 AM)AppinVA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 11:39 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 11:25 AM)AppManDG Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 07:07 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 02:29 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  People like Mellow Mushroom? Awful pizza.

I love it when Southerners talk about Pizza and Northerners talk about spicy / fried food!

Pizza in the south SUCKS ........ Anything that resembles Italian is a no go in the south. Olive Garden is garbage!

Restaurants in the north can't cook spicy / fried food for $***. Yankees think Popeye's and KFC is good eats. lol

I beg to differ. Although he passed away a couple of years back and his resturant has been closed for years, Solliceto's in Boone had some of the best pizza and Italian food to be found. Mike was a NJ Native born to immigrants from Sicily. Bobby Cremins, and several of his staff were New Yorkers as were others in Boone. Most nights it was like Little Italy in there. Sinatra, Martin, Darin and Bennett tunes playing constantly. It was awesome in so many ways.

Italian food in general can be made anywhere. I can make a killer eggplant parm. My Grams also came over from Northern Italy as a child.

The bread is another story. There's a few joints in South Florida who transport the water in a water buffalo from my area.

Trying to find a good bagel in the south is tough. Just trying to find some fresh prosciutto can be a challenge.

I never knew that New Jersey water is considered a delicacy.

Yea it's not all trash dumps that everyone portrays it as once you arrive at Newark Airport.

The meadowlands smells with the marsh (Similar to driving on I-95 in Brunswick GA).

We have a lot of different neighborhoods full of Immigrants (past and present) all in the NE part of the state.

The state is quite similar to North Carolina on a small scale. Lots of coastal land full of recreation, nature, fishing towards the East and South. Philadelphia borders us in the SW. Delaware River separates NJ and PA. Lots of recreation on river and Delaware Bay. South Jersey is full of farms and Pinelands State Forest. The North East is insanely populated bordering NYC. NW is Appalachian and Ramapo Mountains.

They made a movie recently called "Into the Furnace"

Lawsuit[edit]

Town officials from Mahwah, New Jersey urged a boycott of the film due to negative depictions of the Ramapough Mountain Indians, an indigenous people living around the Ramapo Mountains[26] characterizing the film as a hate crime.[27] Relativity Media responded that the film "is not based on any one person or group" and is "entirely fictional".[28] Nine members of the group, eight of whom have the surname of the movie's lead character, DeGroat, filed suit against the makers and other involved parties, claiming that Out of the Furnace portrays a gang of "inbreds" living in the Ramapo Mountains who are "lawless, drug-addicted, impoverished and violent."[29] The lawsuit asserts that "The Defendants, and each of them, knew or should have known that their actions would place Plaintiffs, and/or any person so situated in a false light." The suit continues that "The connection between the ethnic slur of 'Jackson Whites', with the location of the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey', with a Bergen County Police patrol car, with the surnames 'DeGroat' and 'Van Dunk', is too specific to the Ramapough plaintiffs to be chance, coincidence or happenstance, and implies an element of knowledge on the part of the Defendants, or some of them."[30]

On May 16, 2014, U.S. District Court Judge William Walls, sitting in Newark, New Jersey dismissed the lawsuit, saying that the film did not refer directly to any of the plaintiffs.[

(07-21-2015 12:20 PM)airtroop Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 02:29 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  People like Mellow Mushroom? Awful pizza.

I love their meatball subs though.

The Shroom is the best choice if you must select the chain restaurants.

Although I highly doubt they hand make those meat balls!

One place I can't eat anymore is Subway or any other chain sub shop. If the meat isn't BOARS HEAD or THUMANN'S, I'll pass.

One chain restaurant I loved as a college student was Huddle House. Spent many late nights with a Patty Melt smothered with onions/shrooms/ketchup and onion rings

Mellow Mushroom took over the site of a couple of failed restaurants in Lafayette about six months or so ago. I haven't been yet or heard anything about it. I do know Deano's and Pizza Village are pretty damn hard to top.

Get the red skin potatoe pie or mighty meaty at Mellow.

(07-21-2015 02:26 PM)DrGonzo Wrote:  Get the red skin potatoe pie or mighty meaty at Mellow.

Mighty meat is good.

Whoever above said Popeyes and KFC in the same sentence is crazy.

Question for you Cajun and ULM fans. In 1998 we drove to Natchitoches for App's playoff game against Northwestern State. Somewhere along State Highway 9, headed south from Ruston, in the middle of nowhere we stopped at a place appropriately called "The Store". I swear that was the sign on front of the building. While looking around for some snacks for our journey we came across two home cooked (deep fried) delicacies the young lady at the counter told us were the speciality of the house. The Crayfish Pie was pretty self explanatory, but other called a "Meat Pie" made us a little uneasy. When neither the afore mentioned young lady or anyone else in the establishment could actually tell us what kind of meat was in the pie, we graciously refused. This mystery meat has puzzled me for some time and I was wondering if any of you locals could provide some insight into what may have been inside that deep fried pastry shell.

Mellow Mushrooms pizza crust is entirely too thick. Sauce has no taste.

Popeyes is good eating. KFC is trash

I've yet to go to a good Italian of Mexican restaurant in the south.

I know the next time I'm in Las Cruses I'm heading over to Danny Gamboa's Casa de Autos!!!

As the great philosopher Samwise once said, "Bo-jang-les!"