13 Amazing Ways To Make Food Last Longer & Save You Money

1. Make Onions Last 8 Months -Take a  nylon stocking put an onion in it, then tie a knot. Repeat until the stocking is full. By doing so, the onions will last up to 8 months because they're in fresh air and not being squashed by each other.

2. Make Berries Last Longer When you buy fresh berries, put them in a bowl of 10 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Let them sit for 5 minutes then drain in sieve and dry. This process kills off the micro-organisms  and makes them last longer.

3. Freeze Eggs by cracking them into an ice cube container, add a pinch or salt or sugar to each cube so it keeps them from getting grainy, and use as needed.

4. Freeze Tomato Sauce by putting in a freezer bag. After one hour, take out of freezer, used the back of a knife and make indentations to make separate portions of sauce. Then just cut one off when needed.

5. Make Herbs Last For Ages by coating them with olive oil before you freeze them

6. Make Bananas Brown Slowly by wrapping their stems in cling wrap.

7. Celery & Broccoli last longer and stay crunchy if wrapped in aluminum foil

8. Lettuce Lasts Longer when wrapped in a paper towel since the towel absorbs moisture.

9. Carrots Last Forever if stored in the dark in sand

10. Cottage And Other Cheeses last twice as long if the plastic container is stored upside down.

11. Food Stored In A Glass Jar lasts a lot longer than food stored in a plastic container

12. Store Cheese in wax paper then place in a plastic bag. It won't sweat, it will last longer and never taste like plastic

13. Keep Cake From Drying Out after it's been sliced  by placing slices of bread on each side of opening cut with tooth picks.      

Thanksgiving 911

Anyone who has cooked a Thanskgiving meal know that it is fraught with potential kitchen disasters.So here are some tips to fix them:

Dry Or Undercooked Turkey - Slice breast and then make a gravy or just put it in stock or canned chicken stock and let it slowly simmer. Let it steam so the stock goes into the meat. The same advice works for turkey that is not cooked enough.

Separated Or Lumpy Gravy - Put a few bread crumbs in the gravy -bring to a boil- then strain.

Overcooked Green Beans -  Add fresh herbs and toasted nuts, some lemon zest and olive oil to add crunch.

Too Tart Cranberry Sauce - Just add some apple or orange juice.

Cement Like Mashed Potatoes - Just add scalded milk and stir.

Cold Turkey & Stuffing -After you cook the turkey, let it rest for an hour. Then have hot chicken stock on the stove and ladle it over the turkey so it brings back the moisture and the heat. To heat up stuffing, make slits in the dressing with a knife so the stock goes into the stuffing.

Ugly Turkey Skin - Brush balsamic vinegar on the turkey the last 20 minutes.

Pie Or Cake That Stick To The Pan - Take pumkin or sweet potato puree , mash up the pie or cake,
add pumpkin spice add whipped cream, mix  and turn it into a trifle.

Gooey Stuffing - If your stuffing is too loose or needs more structure, stir in some toasted croutons to give it more body.

Underseasoned Turkey Just add seasoning to the stock and put it the cavity even if your half way through cooking. Or you can do this when you slice and serve. 

Five Remarkable Ways To Winter Proof Your Car

1. Stop Icy Buildup on wiper blades by placing a sock on each blade and secure it with a rubberband

overnight

.2. Prevent Car Window Ice Buildup by  spraying a mix of  3 parts white vinegar and 1 part water on  on  windows before freezing rain or snoew starts. You still might have to brush off snow but you

won't have to scrape of any ice. 

3. Cover Your Windshield with an old area rug and tuck the edges under the wipers.

4. Unfreeze Door Locks by squirting hand sanitizer on the lock and insert the key. If it doesn't

open wiggle the key a bit. Or dip your key in petroleum jelly, put it in the lock, and turn the key

back and forth a few times. Also, try coating the rubber strip around your car doors with cooking

spray to stop ice from forming and making doors easier to open.

.5.  Keep Windshields Fog Free filling a sock with kity liter and tying of the end. Then just leave it on the dashboard overnight. It will help asorb moisture and prevent fog from clouding windows.

 

 

57 Best Online Resources For Home Decorating

Bedding:  abchome.com    thecompansytore.com  kerrycassill.com   serenaandlilly.com 
                

Bedroom Furniture:  ballarddesigns.com   overstock.com    westelm.com


Blankets, Quilts & Throws:  brahmsmount.com   robertarollerrabbit.com


Bookshelves & Storeage Units:    cb2.com     ikea.com    potterybarn.com   


Consoles, Coffee Tables,  allmodern.com  candelabra.com  ethenallen.com   zincdoor.com 
Desks, And Side Tables: 

Curtains & Drapes:  loomdecor.com    restorationhardware.com     theshadestore.com 

Decorative Accents:  furbishstudio.com  johnderian.com  jonathanadler.com  kellywearstler.com

Dining Tables & Chairs: worldmarket.com  dwr.com  wayfair.com 

Hardware, Knobs & Pulls:  houseofantiquehardware.com   lahardware.com  rejuvenation.com

Kitchen Essentials: broadwaypanhandler.com   brookfarmgeneralstore.com

Lighting: cedarandmoss.com   circalighting.com  schoolhouseelectric.com   ylighting.com

Ottomans, Poufs & Benches: onekingslane.com    williams-sonomahome.com   

Pillows: johnrobshaw.com  judyrosstextiles.com  luluandgeorgia.com  urbanoutfitters.com

Rugs: aelfie.com    dashandalbert.com   madelineweinrib.com    safaviehhome.com   

Sofas & Accent Chairs:  jaysonhome.com   mgbwhome.com   monarchsofas.com 

Tabletop Accessories: canvashome.com   fisheddy.com    globaltable.com   

Towels:  garnethill.com   scentandfeel.com     target.com  

Wallpaper: hyggeanwest.com   iloverwallpaper.co.uk   spoonflower.com  walnutwallpaper.com 




 


                                                                                        

      

Sensational Simple Salad Dressings

It's brain dead simple to make sensational salad dressings that are cheaper and tastier than store bought dressings. Here is the recipe:

BASE VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 round teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon each of salt & pepper

6 Tablespoons of canola or olive oil

Whisk the vinegar and mustard together until well blended and creamy. Add the salt and pepper. Add half the oil, whisking briskly until well-blended. Add the remaining oil and continue to whisk until the dressing is thick.

Variations.....

ROQUEFORT DRESSING

After mixing in the oil, add 1/2 cup crumbled Roquefort cheese. This is best done in a food processor or blender for a smooth dressing.

CREAMY ONION DRESSING  

Make the basic dressing, and add 2 tablespoons of chopped onions and 1 tablespoon of cream. Mix.

MIXED HERB DRESSING 

Add  1/4 cup of chopped mixed herbs such as parsley, basil, tarragon or chives to the basic dressing.  

      

No You're Not Crazy - Food Doesn't Taste As Good As It Used To

Most meats and vegetables and some fruits has way less flavor than they did decades ago. That's because large scale industrial  farms strive to produce as much food as possible on the cheap. For instance, animals are feed bland feed that produces bland meat. Then animals are butchered very young which results in less flavorful meat from mature ones.

Also, today's chicken are bred to be plump not tasty. Actually, they don't even look like chickens chickens of the past and their breasts are much larger. The story is similar with other animals and crops. Pigs are 25% younger but 25% larger when slaughtered as they were in 1948. Beef cows are 50% younger but produce 60% more meat. Hens lay twice as many eggs. So all the food from these animals are bland.

If you go to Europe, you'll  noticed that everything tastes better. Even the milk. That's because all GMO crops and some pesticides and antibiotics used in the US are banned in Europe. Also, European slaughter houses  have more stringent  sanitation, inspection and humane handling standards than US slaughter houses. Also, there are more small family owned farms that produce quality crops and livestock.   

Meanwhile, one acre of American farmland produces three times as much rice, four times as much corn, two and one half times as much wheat, and five and one half times as much strawberries.

Eating bland food isn't just less enjoyable, it's less healthy. A study published by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that an assortment of 43 garden crops contained  20% less vitamin A and C as the same crops grown in the 1950's.

So if you want to buy food with flavor, buy meat from mature animals that ate natural diets. Seek out grass-fed beef from cattle that lived at least 22 months of age. Ask any small farmer and they'll tell you that it is unnatural for a cow to eat anything but grass. Cows that are raised on small dairy farms that graze only on grass  live and average of 14 years. Cows that are force fed grain and antibiotics on industrial dairy farms live an average of 14 months. So buy pork, ham and bacon from pasture raised pigs at least six to seven months old. And buy chicken from pasture raised birds at least 9 to 18 months old.



Unlike the premium prices charged by supermarkets like Whole Foods, these types of meats are usually available at a reasonable prices  from www.FreshDirect.Com ,  farmer's markets and Amish food stands.  Just keep in mind that they may not be 100% organic, but the livestock was raised and fed in a natural small farm environment and butchered humanely.

When buying seafood, you'll find that wild-caught fish tastes as good as it ever did. Just try to avoid buying farm raised seafood if you want great flavor. 


 Also, when shopping for produce, keep in mind that organic produce will sometimes not be more flavorful. That's because it has to be trucked in from long distances to reach supermarkets like Whole Foods. So you're paying a premium for organic produce that may be a month old or more.

The produce you buy from farmers markets may not be organic, yet it's a lot fresher and more flavorful  than what you would find a supermarket. Plus farmers who sell at these markets often prioritize flavor over crop yields. But sample the goods before you buy since something sold at a farmers market does not mean it will taste great..   

The absolute best way to obtain just picked organic produce is grow your own  or  join a CSA ( community supported agriculture) To find a CSA or organic farm stands near you visit http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

How To Make Organic Homemade Weed Killer That Won't Kill Your Lawn Budget

Like to use Roundup?  We'll, you can save a bundle on weed killer by making your own simple  safe  and effective hebicide.  Just mix one gallon of white vinegar, 2 cups of Epson salts, and  1/4 cup Dawn dish soap. Then pour the mix into a sprayer, spray on weeds, and its a done deal.  Here's another hot summer  tip: To check the level of propane for your grill when you don't have a gas gauge, just boil a cup of water,  and pour it over the side of the tank. Feel the metal with your hand. Any area where  the water has warmed the tank is empty. Areas that remain cool to the touch have propane. We'll folks, that it for now.

Seven Snags To Avoid When Buying A Mattress

Mattresses might be soft to sleep on, but they are notoriously hard to buy. Various stores sell very similar mattresses under different names, thwarting attempts to compare prices. Salespeople often steer shoppers toward ultra-expensive products. And manufacturers highlight features that consumers can’t easily evaluate. As a result, many shoppers pay hundreds of dollars more than necessary—or end up sleeping for years on mattresses that they hate.

SNAG: It’s very difficult to compare mattress prices from store to store. With the exception of certain specialty mattresses, each retailer typically uses product names and numbers that you won’t find anywhere else. This is true even when the mattresses are virtually identical, aside from cosmetic changes involving fabric colors and quilting patterns.

What to do: When you find a mattress that feels comfortable, jot down every available piece of information about what’s inside the mattress. Include the coil count and coil wire gauge…dimensions including the height…firmness (based on your judgment of where it falls on a one-to-10 firmness scale with one the firmest)…materials used…how the sleep surface is described…and what position the list price occupies compared with other mattresses at the store from the same manufacturer. When you visit other mattress retailers, examine mattresses that fall in the same general position in the manufacturer’s price scale until you find one that matches up very closely. Start there and compare coil counts, firmness and other characteristics of various models until you find one that seems to match. Lie on this mattress, if possible, to confirm that it feels about the same as the one you tried earlier.

Tell the salesperson that you found the corresponding mattress at the other store, and ask if he/she can beat the other store’s price. If the second store has the lower price, you could return to the earlier store and try the same tactic. Most mattress stores and many furniture stores will negotiate. Their list prices tend to be double their cost, so it’s perfectly reasonable to try to negotiate a price 20% to 40% off list price (which could mean a savings of $400 off a $1,000 mattress). Department stores often won’t negotiate, but they sometimes will honor their price-match guarantee if the customer shows that a mattress at another store is essentially identical despite different names. And the department store might offer a better deal on shipping and better return options if you’re not satisfied, both important considerations. Reasonable price: You should be able to find a good queen-size mattress for $700 to $1,000—for guest rooms, $500 to $800.

SNAG: “Pillow top” softness may not last. So-called pillow-top mattresses feel great when you lie on them at the store. They have thick, soft layers of fiber and/or foam above the mattress springs. Trouble is, these thick layers soon will develop deep, annoying body indentations. The heavier you and/or your partner, the faster this will happen. If you love the soft pillow-top feel, opt for a “plush top” instead. These have perhaps two to three inches of foam and fiber, rather than the four to six inches of a pillow top—and they will be less likely to develop deep body indentations. Plush tops also tend to be $100 to $300 less expensive than pillow tops. Helpful: If there are two separate “tape edges”—ropelike lines—running around the mattress above and below the foam layers, it is called a pillow top.

SNAG: Warranties and satisfaction guarantees are less impressive than they seem. If you voice concern about whether a mattress is right for you, the salesperson might assure you that there’s no need to worry because the store offers a satisfaction guarantee.

Quiz the salesperson about this guarantee. Can you get cash back or only exchange the mattress for a different one—and how much time do you have to return it? Is there a restocking fee for returns? What about a pick-up charge or additional shipping charge for the replacement mattress? And if you purchase a mattress during a sale, will you be able to exchange it for one of similar list price or only for a lesser one with a list price similar to the sale price you initially paid? Caution: Manufacturers’ mattress warranties cover only major defects. They won’t permit you to return the mattress because you don’t find it comfortable. Mattresses generally should be replaced every eight to 10 years.

SNAG: New foundations often are unnecessary. If you buy a mattress, expect the salesperson to push you to buy the matching foundation (what used to be called a box spring) as well. You might be told that this foundation will extend the life of your mattress or make it more comfortable or that not buying it will void the mattress warranty. None of this is likely to be true.

Unlike old-fashioned mattresses, many modern mattresses do not require you to flip them over from time to time, and these no-flip mattresses don’t require springs beneath them at all. Today’s “box springs” really are just simple wood-and-wire frames covered in fabric. These foundations cost retailers very little, yet they’re often sold for hundreds of dollars.

If your old foundation has no obvious problems such as sagging or cracking and is the same size as the new mattress, you can continue to use it. If you have an old spring-type box that flexes when you push down on it, you don’t want to use it with a new “no-flip” single-sided mattress.

If you have a platform bed or a bed with slats that are spaced no more than two inches apart, you can skip the box spring entirely—assuming that the resulting mattress height is not too low. If you do need a new foundation, purchase the one that’s matched (brand-wise) to your new mattress. Don’t feel that you need to match the fabrics. A lower-priced foundation of the correct size should be fine if you’re buying a single-sided mattress.

SNAG: A higher coil count doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality. For spring mattresses, mattress salespeople often stress high coil count—more springs per square inch—as they steer shoppers toward high-end models. It’s true that having more coils is better than having fewer coils, all else being equal, but all else is not equal when it comes to coils. Coils might be made from different materials or in different ways.
Example: A mattress with independent coils—coils each made from a separate piece of wire—is likely to do a better job of conforming to the contours of your spine than a mattress with coils made from continuous strands of wire, even if the coil count isn’t as high. Independent coils also do a much better job of isolating movement, a big plus for those who share a bed.

SNAG: Delivery and removal charges. Ask about delivery charges before you agree to buy a mattress. Some retailers provide free delivery, but others see it as a way to slip one last sneaky fee into the deal.
Also ask whether removal of the old mattress is included in delivery—there’s sometimes an additional charge for this. Include any delivery and pick-up fees when you compare prices at different stores.

SNAG: An expensive specialty mattress might have drawbacks. Solid foam and dual-zone, air-filled mattresses look great in ads and can feel great when you lie on them—but there might be issues that the salesperson won’t mention. For instance…

Memory foam mattresses such as those made by Tempur-Pedic do a wonderful job of conforming to the contours of the body and providing support—but they also make some sleepers feel too hot.
If you want foam but are a warm sleeper, consider a natural latex foam mattress, which sleeps cooler. Some synthetic foam mattresses have gel embedded in them to keep sleepers cooler, but these mattresses are extremely heavy and difficult to move.

Dual-zone, air-filled mattresses such as Sleep Number by Select Comfort provide separate firmness controls for each side of the bed. But humidity and perspiration tend to build up around the internal air bladders of even the best-made air-filled mattresses. Mildew and mold can spread if the bladders are not cleaned frequently using liquid detergent.These mattresses can be opened up for cleaning and for ventilation—but make sure that the mattress is completely dry before closing it up.

HOW TO TEST A MATTRESS

Lie on a mattress for at least 10 to 15 minutes in the showroom to make sure that it feels comfortable—and that it properly supports your spine.

Doctors used to recommend firm mattresses for back health, but they’ve since concluded that firm mattresses actually provide poor spine support. Backs do best in beds that allow the spine to be straight and supported as you sleep. When you lie on your side on a too firm mattress, your shoulders and hips don’t sink in far enough for your spine to stay straight…and when you lie on your back, your hips don’t sink in far enough for the mattress to support your lower back. A medium-firm mattress is the best choice for the vast majority of sleepers.

The mattress industry uses terms like “firm,” “medium-firm,” “plush,” and “pillow-soft.” It may be more helpful to use a one-to-10 firmness scale with one as the firmest and four- to-six as medium. Ask the salesperson where each mattress falls on this firmness scale so that you can learn what firmness number you like best. Then you can specify this number when comparing other mattresses.Exception to the medium-firmness rule: Side-sleepers prone to hip or shoulder discomfort might do better on a soft mattress.

Helpful: Bring someone along on your shopping trip to make sure that your spine is straight as you lie on your side…and to confirm that there’s no gap between your lower back and the mattress when you lie on your back.

One Minute Quiche

Crack an egg into a microwavable cup or mug, add one tablespoon of  milk,  one teaspoon of  melted butter, a teaspoon of minced fresh herbs ( basil, onions, parsley etc )  and a pinch of salt and pepper.Whisk. On top, toss 4 grape tomatoes halved, one eighth cup of torn bread, and one tablespoon of grated cheese. Microwave for 60 seconds or until quiche is slightly puffed and the eggs are set.

An Easy Way To Make Perfect Crepes

Few people know it, but crepes are easier to make than pancakes. Just don’t feel bad if you have to throw away the first crêpes of the batch. That’s standard practice. Sometimes it takes a few fails before you get the pan up to optimal heat. The ingredients are as follows:

• 1¼ cups sifted flour
• 1 whole egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 1¼ cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon cognac
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• pinch of salt
• 5 scant tablespoons very fine sugar
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Put all ingredients except melted butter in a blender and blend on high until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Add melted butter and blend 15 seconds more. Batter should be slightly thicker than heavy cream. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 3 days before cooking.

2. Brush a heavy 8- to 10-inch skillet or crêpe pan lightly with oil. Set over moderately high heat until pan is just beginning to smoke. Remove from heat and pour a scant ¼ cup batter into middle of pan. Quickly tilt pan in all directions to cover. Pour any batter that does not adhere back into bowl.

3. Return pan to heat. Cook until crepe sets, about 30 seconds. Use your fingers or a straight 14 inch spatula to carefully flip crepe and cook until done, about 30 seconds. Repeat with remaining batter.

Sweet crepes also provide worthy wrappers for Nutella,  fresh berries; caramelized apples, pears, peaches or plums; custards; and jam. .Also,  dollops of whipped cream and just plain maple syrup always enhance the experience.. 

Five New Ways To Get More Money When You Sell Your Home

1. Price your home as close to fair market value -Homes that required a 10%  price cut spent an average of 220 days on the market and sold for 2% less than the estimated value.

2. Make sure the last non-zero digit in your original asking price is a nine -For instance, the average US home that was listed for $449,000 wound up selling for about $4,000 more than a home listed for $450,000. What's more, comparable homes priced $1,000 lower than their counterparts sold four days faster on average. Why this works: Consumers are conditioned to see prices ending in nine as an attractive discount.

3.Make only modest upgrades to your home that restore the basic functions -Upgrading a bathroom from poor to decent completely changes the livability of the property and appeals to just about everyone. But if you add high end elements, you may actually turn off many prospective buyers. Also keep in mind that kitchen renovations have a lower return on investment than other home improvements. That's because buyers are very particular about what constitutes a dream kitchen.

4.List your house for sale in late March or later - Data indicates that listing very early has become so popular that you're better off  waiting until after the first few weeks of March or even the second week in April in some markets.

5. Write a carefully worded listing -Data shows that home with written descriptions longer than the median length of 50 to 70 words routinely sell for more than their asking price. That's because prospective buyers want details, and those extra words give added info that makes the home worth seeing in person.
Avoid words in listings that connote "small", "nothing special" or"needs work". These words include cute, charming, potential, quaint, needs TLC, and unique. Such words turn buyers off and can reduce the selling price by more than 2% to 7% of the asking price. With lower price homes, listings described as
luxurious beat the original asking price by 8%. Using the word impeccable beat the original asking price by 6%. In more expensive homes, listings with the word captivating boosted the sale price by 6.5%. And the word gentle referring to property description as in gentle rolling hills jumped sale prices by 2.3%. Words such as remodeled pushed up prices of homes in every price range by 1.7% to 2.9% and landacaped by 1.5% to 4.2%.

Bonus Tip: If you're buying a home, look for a Starbucks about a one quarter mile from a house. Between 1997 and 2014, US homes appreciated 65% on average. But near s Starbucks, that increased to 96%.  

The Seven Germiest Spots In Public Places

About 80% of all infections are caused by touch. That's why colds, flu and contagious disease go viral.  The biggest offenders are:

1. Coffee Cup Lids The University Of Arizona found that about 17% of disposable coffee lids placed on cups by coffee shop workers were contaminated with fecal bacteria. So skip the lid and pour the coffee into your own thermos cup or use self-serve coffee bars at convenience stores.

2. ATM Machines   A British study found that ATM machines were contaminated with the same level of bacteria as public toilets. So bring a disposable wipe to wipe the key pads or touch screen or clean your hands with a disposable wipe after using the machine.

3. Supermarket Checkout Conveyor Belts  A study by Michigan State found that most super market belts have mold, yeast and staph bacteria. So when you get home, wash your hands before opening cabinets and the refrigerator. Also, wash your hands again when you're done unpacking groceries. And don't forget to wash off the tops of cans before you open them.

4. Hotels  60% of all hotel bathtubs are contaminated with staph. Rinsing the tub doesn't help so you need mechanical action to remove the bio film. If you think you want to take a bath in a hotel room, then carry a small scrub brush and a few ounces of bleach with you.A solution of one part bleach and nine parts water plus a few drops of soap with kill most microbes in a few seconds.

Hotel pillows are rarely laundered. So when you travel, always bring anti allergy  protective covers that you can wash when you come home.

As soon as you check in, remove the bedspread and toss it to the side.To stay warm, request extra blankets which are laundered more often then bedspreads.

5. Tables If a serve wipes your table in a restaurant with a damp cloth, there's a 70% chance that the wipes table is contaminated with E. coli and other fecal bacteria. So when you go to a restaurant, wipe the table yourself with a disposable wipe.

6. Toilets The tops of the toilet seat might be clean, but your finger tips will become contaminated when you lift the seat. So use a disposable wipe or a thick layer of toilet paper to lift the seat. Also, if its an old style toilet that has a lid, close it before you flush. Flushing an old style toilet can spray bacteria droplets up to 20 feet. The new low flush toilets spray no more than one foot.

7. Carpets The carpets in public places can harbor some 200,000 bacteria per square inch.  That's
thousands of times more than the average public toilet seat. Since hotels don't clean their carpets very often, then always wear socks,  request a pair of disposable scuffs, flip-flops or bring your own slippers.

If you work in any office in either Bucks County or Mercer County, and the carpets smell stale and are stained, and you can't recall the last time management cleaned the carpet, then the carpets are loaded with bacteria. Have your office manager or supervisor give us a call for a free no-obligation commercial carpet cleaning consultation. We'll green clean and restore the carpets like new and your boss must be happy or its free.  Have then call 609-586-5833 or visit www.AllstateCleaning.Com   today. 

       

Top Secret New York City Restaurants

New York City has many secret restaurants—many of which have turned that secrecy into a virtue. Some have no signage, phone number, email address or website, so you'll have to take your chances. In other parts of the world, such obstacles might be a detriment. Here, it's catnip. That's one way to account for the longtime success  of Freeman's.  http://www.freemansrestaurant.com/ down a hidden alleyway, or Sakagura, a Japanese izakaya tucked inside a Midtown office building. A mysterious green door is the only clue giving away the entrance to the West Village's Hudson Clearwater. And unless you were already hip to Brad Farmerie's fabulous restaurant, Public, in NoLIta, it would be hard to know about his clandestine lounge inside it, The Daily. Same goes for David Bouley's Brushstroke, in TriBeCa, where a phenomenal sushi bar, Ichimura, is attached. In Brooklyn, the high-end Blanca is camouflaged within the funky Roberta's complex.