204152 Fri Oct 03 07:14:33 -0700 2003 6 18 Manhattan 0 1088881 I'll be in NYC for just a day or so this weekend. On Sunday morning, I'd like to have brunch and do some shopping in a "chow circle" for delicacies on the Lower East Side that I can't find here in DC. The constraints are that I have to be on the road by 12:30, and anything I purchase has to be able to withstand four hours in the car on the way home. I was thinking perhaps Prune for brunch at 10 (Five Points doesn't open until later; anyone think Balthazar's a better choice? Katz's?); with the Laboratorio for dessert (don't think I can resist). (How can I fit in the Dumpling House?!) I know that I should pick up bialys at Kossar's, right? And Russ & Daughters is a must -- but what must I purchase there? Does it make sense to get anything to go at Katz's? Schimmel's Knishes? DiPaolo's? Rice to Riches? It does sound as if I should probably pack a cooler with some dry ice, no? Thanks in advance Fri Oct 03 07:14:33 -0700 2003 0 Marty L. 1 1088892 I don't think you need dry ice. Regular ice packs, if you can keep them frozen until you start shopping, will do. I regularly travel from NYC to Cape Cod, a longer drive, with just a cold bag and ice packs. Everything is fine. When you are Kossar's, make sure you get garlic bialys as well as the regular onion ones. We have found that bialys freeze well, so if you have freezer space, stock up. Many people think their bagels are excellent too. I have never bought them, but I do like their onion boards. All of Russ and Daughters fish are excellent, but their herring is special. Buy whatever meets your fancy; if you are uncertain, invest in smaller amounts of a medley. On Essex almost across the street from Grand St. and Kossar's are the Pickle Guys. I like to buy full sours, half sours (they gradually turn sour), and green tomatoes. But they have lots of stuff and happily give samples. Interestingly, they have posting from Chowhound outside! Remember to bring lots of quarters to feed the meters. Fri Oct 03 09:15:43 -0700 2003 1088881 0 Pat Goldberg 1 1088900 Not sure how this will factor in, if at all, but Monday evening is break the fast for Yom Kippur and my hunch is Russ & Daughters will be packed on Sunday. Some appetizing stores only do advance orders pre-holiday - they are that busy. Someone who has more experience with Russ & Daughters may be able to chime in on this. Fri Oct 03 09:38:30 -0700 2003 1088881 0 shortstop 1 1088903 And I think you should get some doughtnuts at Donut Plant, a couple doors to the left of Kossar's. Fri Oct 03 10:04:25 -0700 2003 1088881 0 Wisco 2 1088921 I was just going to add that. At Di Palo's I recently had a cheese called vento d'estate that's aged wrapped in herbs and hay. It was amazing. But just about everything there is good. Fri Oct 03 11:12:51 -0700 2003 1088903 0 scrittrice 1 1088917 i recently purchased an insulated shopping bag (just at a supermarket, not even a specialty store). it keeps food frozen, cold, or warm for up to 3 hours. i've attached a link, not to the one that i have, because i don't remember the brand, but you'll get the idea. http://www.coolbag.com/home.htm Link: http://www.coolbag.com/home.htm Fri Oct 03 10:55:18 -0700 2003 1088881 0 pebbles 2 1088927 A word of caution based upon my experience with a similar bag: I have a bag called the Kold-To-Go Insulated Bag that looks almost exactly like the one in the link above (except that the hard plastic handle part was inside of the top of the bag rather than outside.) The bag says that it "Hold up to 30 lbs." I must have had considerably less than 30 lbs. in it, I suspect below 15 lbs. and probably around 10 lbs. (it's hard to imagine stuffing 30 lbs. in this bag, approx 18" x 19".) The plastic handle ripped away from the rest of the bag. It might have ripped because I didn't have the snaps on the handle fully closed and the bag wasn't structurally sound (although if that's the case they should say so on the bag) or it might have been a defective bag, or it might be that the 30 lb. claim is wildly optimistic. Anyway, I'd suggest making sure the handle is fully closed for structural integrity (obviously also important for heat/cold retention ) and also putting this bag inside another bag and not carrying it by the handles on this bag if it's at all heavy with contents. (It's pretty uncomfortable handle to hold anyway, you wouldn't want to hold it for any length of time but I was just carrying it a short distance from when it broke.) Fri Oct 03 11:27:51 -0700 2003 1088917 0 hilldweller