The HAMPTON Report

Reporters from the Dining section asked chefs, cooks and recovering trick-or-treaters about their favorite Halloween treats from the past and the present.

A new biography brings to life Jerry Thomas, the first bartender to publish a drink book in the United States.

Smith’s, Bacaro, Bun and Community Food & Juice open this week; Zen Palate in Union Square closes.

Wegmans has announced that it will become the first supermarket chain to adopt strict environmental and health standards for the farmed shrimp it will sell in its stores.

A new biography brings to life Jerry Thomas, the first bartender to publish a drink book in the United States.

Fergus Henderson, best known as the leader of the modern cult of offal, makes a roasted beef-marrow dish, which is a delicious no-brainer to make.

In a panel tasting of Douro reds from Portugal, the conversation kept coming back to how much these dry wines resembled port, without the sweetness, of course.

Reporters from the Dining section asked chefs, cooks and recovering trick-or-treaters about their favorite Halloween treats from the past and the present.

Look, Then Eat.

Reports out of New Jersey are that officials at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey are considering raising tolls at the Hudson River crossings by $2 — and are discussing whether or not to eliminate the $1 E-ZPass discount.

All of which means that future trips across the George Washington Bridge — or through the Lincoln or Holland tunnels — could cost $8, instead of $6.

The goal is to raise about $300 million a year for construction projects.

Now, we don’t have a problem with officials raising tolls in order to raise construction funds in order to improve infrastructure in order to improve our commutes. That all seems fair. However, it seems unreasonable to institute toll hikes when delays at the bridge and tunnels are often more than a half-hour — and, sometimes, more than an hour — and when there is no relief in sight.

The proposal would have to be approved by Gov. Jon Corzine and New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. We think that, before that happens, officials need to mandate that the fund is dedicated for construction and maintenance of the bridges and tunnels and ensure that the E-ZPass discounts remain in place. The future of our infrastructure in at stake. And, without these guarantees, that future remains in jeopardy.