tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69063844430645169172024-03-14T10:14:42.716-07:00Garden State GrubberGarden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-90292843509548306862014-08-07T17:54:00.005-07:002014-08-07T17:57:59.973-07:00Amanda Celebrates Her Birthday at Amanda's<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda's</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amandasrestaurant.com/">http://amandasrestaurant.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">908 Washington Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoboken, NJ 07030</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2201-798-0101</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The better half of Garden State Grubber's name is Amanda, and ever since our very first time in Hoboken, when we saw that a restaurant was named "Amanda's", she has wanted to go. Aside from it's fantastic name, the food was highly regarded by people who's opinion about food we respect. It happens to be a little pricey, so we were waiting for a special occasion to go. She loves brunch and her birthday was on a Saturday this year, so that obviously made sense; reservation made! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did not want to intrude on our family too much, so we only took a few pictures. To start we both ordered the Smoked Salmon with Capers & Diced Onions. The Appetizers for brunch at Amanda's had a minimal approach, but they were delicious nonetheless. The smoked salmon was light, but with rich flavor and it paired perfectly with everything it came with. It was everything you want on a Sunday morning, and did not leave you too full for the next course. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEokK7ZwLBUPmVbOSjcgvh6ATJu48R4wY4_4UuCyid-yCEnmvcCPPCdcjSTHzC4pJeconOUh4Iig9MmpNJPzGgCypTMu32-NvgwmlgFPjF_N0DFn60HqdgtxTLNY9gHYXTTn5YjfwW_hA/s1600/IMG_2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEokK7ZwLBUPmVbOSjcgvh6ATJu48R4wY4_4UuCyid-yCEnmvcCPPCdcjSTHzC4pJeconOUh4Iig9MmpNJPzGgCypTMu32-NvgwmlgFPjF_N0DFn60HqdgtxTLNY9gHYXTTn5YjfwW_hA/s1600/IMG_2023.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Eggs Benedict with Crab Hash was a special that day, and two key words when it comes to brunch for us are "Hash" and "Benedict", so the marriage of both made this a natural selection. The hollandaise sauce was lackluster, and slightly solidified on top of he egg. The egg itself was cooked very well. Overall the dish was good, but missing depth and thoughtful execution.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILsc6KlsPU1xtt2FVB128s65ppO4vtF1HbvUODaCzBsmVS2w0_QmHI8bgVjwzzpIfM5PQSbdIAAut8-XNYJokMSI7dTrfECxT55uIa-H18XeJbpDptkyqEx1ZrSfxRQoAeS5XYnPfBL0/s1600/IMG_2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILsc6KlsPU1xtt2FVB128s65ppO4vtF1HbvUODaCzBsmVS2w0_QmHI8bgVjwzzpIfM5PQSbdIAAut8-XNYJokMSI7dTrfECxT55uIa-H18XeJbpDptkyqEx1ZrSfxRQoAeS5XYnPfBL0/s1600/IMG_2024.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also ordered the Frittata with </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mozzarella, Tomatoes</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> & Eggplant. The frittata was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Home fries can make or break a breakfast or brunch in my opinion, and unfortunately par boiled potatoes finished on the flat top just did not cut it. Home fries deserve onions and peppers, not to just be thrown on, alone as an afterthought. The frittata was light and fluffy, but I would have much preferred the cheese to be incorporated in the frittata instead of melted on top. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ne8o5hYj86JnlwekHADrDmkUVyEGbcU7VYGnCzyT2B0axf3qoG3KwT3QZ6yRZBIQZHtKqTbNcZvSBYhr4NUIjWMRDDLruQc6WVeZqQWG_Grfb4hRnfkknfHjZtkNKXgUM3qosiRSMhE/s1600/IMG_2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ne8o5hYj86JnlwekHADrDmkUVyEGbcU7VYGnCzyT2B0axf3qoG3KwT3QZ6yRZBIQZHtKqTbNcZvSBYhr4NUIjWMRDDLruQc6WVeZqQWG_Grfb4hRnfkknfHjZtkNKXgUM3qosiRSMhE/s1600/IMG_2025.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will be going back to try a few of the other dishes that we were debating between (the croissant french toast is one of them). The service at Amanda's was impeccable. The decor and atmosphere are so quaint. We definitely will be going back to try their dinner menu, we want to see if the creativity comes out a little more through that menu. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and we would not hesitate to recommend it, but just do not prepare yourself to be blown away. </span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-41795824138505462652014-07-31T19:40:00.000-07:002014-07-31T20:18:42.182-07:00Garden State Grubber Does Smorgasburg...Brooklyn Bridge Park Edition<h2>
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<a href="http://www.brooklynflea.com/markets/smorgasburg-dumbo/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.brooklynflea.com/markets/smorgasburg-dumbo/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 18px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brooklyn, NY 11201</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sundays 11am - 6pm</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*This post is particularly about the Dumbo event.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We liked this event location better. The view of lower manhattan is incredible, it is spread out well, and there are so many things going on at the piers for you to walk around and explore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The infamous RAMEN BURGER! We got to Smorgasburg relatively early and had heard rumors about the ramen burger and the giant line you have to wait on to get this culinary masterpiece in your hands, so we went there first. We waited a few minutes, but nothing crazy. Cheese or no </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cheese? We chose none, maybe this was an amateur mistake. Besides being an utterly weird texture, the burger itself, we're sorry to report, was just okay. Definitely try it for the sheer novelty of trying it, but don't expect to be blown away. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv1ixXovgHq-t_MZDBeISv9jYnda5LSlZXWZc3drYPnQg_mbSUHfB1dzu2r-RqfoiHwesW48FN-sVv-rijhPpAeBjHxNVk5fxmr0pxa6xc5VrpNEwHGPHuTSVaJvVM5PYmGZhZM2JVJQ/s1600/IMG_0991.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv1ixXovgHq-t_MZDBeISv9jYnda5LSlZXWZc3drYPnQg_mbSUHfB1dzu2r-RqfoiHwesW48FN-sVv-rijhPpAeBjHxNVk5fxmr0pxa6xc5VrpNEwHGPHuTSVaJvVM5PYmGZhZM2JVJQ/s1600/IMG_0991.jpeg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although one of us is allergic to coconuts, the other always insists on having coconut water in our apartment. Fresh coconut? Even better. You run the risk of looking like a hipster by walking around with this, but don't worry, you're in Brooklyn, you'll fit in just fine.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIopEmMhf30G6Az7Fb5YduldVt-utpeKnw0ebX7PyqgcPXbAmNTUC4Eg6HWXhZsaHNrKZ6emY9nJC0RwPrE37nUD7HG2exTdYlIKWCLpqdaZLM9w-2NMgC1BnbaXr-tBsVHj7oOIFJHs/s1600/IMG_3963.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIopEmMhf30G6Az7Fb5YduldVt-utpeKnw0ebX7PyqgcPXbAmNTUC4Eg6HWXhZsaHNrKZ6emY9nJC0RwPrE37nUD7HG2exTdYlIKWCLpqdaZLM9w-2NMgC1BnbaXr-tBsVHj7oOIFJHs/s1600/IMG_3963.jpeg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peking duck spring rolls...need we say more? These spring rolls from Lumpia Shack were so delicious. They were covered in a spicy hoisin and ginger sauce. If there's anything better than duck, its duck and hoisin. Although maybe steaming hot fried spring rolls were not the best choice for a hot summer day, we would order them again in a heart beat. Also, while some offerings are a bit overpriced, the amount of spring rolls you get is totally worth it in this case. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3E2WJMIMdMe3WtMGUudi8T6OnaeQ9QdGBVs026CCKsxAN5bRkI9yRZnPJbYO_UHOXGZBeZdaM66cLctQEme_NOJg6kx79vmfqo1ePrX1vkfryTfBCtuK2VEPQYTsCgxbb8TYn9Voy2I/s1600/IMG_7138.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3E2WJMIMdMe3WtMGUudi8T6OnaeQ9QdGBVs026CCKsxAN5bRkI9yRZnPJbYO_UHOXGZBeZdaM66cLctQEme_NOJg6kx79vmfqo1ePrX1vkfryTfBCtuK2VEPQYTsCgxbb8TYn9Voy2I/s1600/IMG_7138.jpeg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shout out to Iron Chef Mario Batali and Cronut creator Dominique Ansel who were there for a RED event judging a food offering from each vendor that day. We did not stick around to see who won, but what a great way to earn money for an important charity.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNr3PSUi2cmE0opMuPdW2GQjIORerLF6jjGqxitqeprNGlmDByg-4k5JHgGtd2sl178YtoeqPErnoZ_J3p6oTz3nRkNKdNivCRwPUTXm5LHvDv14OzE-FqTTH8BbDMjXczgPmRS12n6Y/s1600/IMG_9566.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNr3PSUi2cmE0opMuPdW2GQjIORerLF6jjGqxitqeprNGlmDByg-4k5JHgGtd2sl178YtoeqPErnoZ_J3p6oTz3nRkNKdNivCRwPUTXm5LHvDv14OzE-FqTTH8BbDMjXczgPmRS12n6Y/s1600/IMG_9566.jpeg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the finale... the Goodwich from The Good Batch. The salty combined with sweet creamy ice cream and the chocolate in the cookie, it is just the perfect combination making it a completely fulfilling dessert. Go there early before they run out of a flavor you may want. There is always a line, but it seems to move quickly because they are pre-made. We unfortunately were only able to try this particular "wich" because one of us has a nut allergy and the other two choices contained almonds and pecans, but it was not disappointing in any way!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did not take that many pictures this day, we're sorry, the heat had us out of our groove. We do suggest trying the drinks that each booth offers, all were refreshing and tasty. Because of the layout, we would recommend this location over Williamsburg.</span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-6871703559982497052014-07-31T19:39:00.004-07:002014-08-01T04:59:58.735-07:00Garden State Grubber Does Smorgasburg...Williamsburg Edition<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smorgasburg: Williamsburg Edition</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.brooklynflea.com/markets/smorgasburg/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.brooklynflea.com/markets/smorgasburg/</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">East River State Park (90 Kent Ave at N. 7 St.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brooklyn, NY 11201</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturdays 11am - 6pm</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*This post is particularly about the Williamsburg event.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know this is a New Jersey blog, but with New York being a hop, skip, and a bus, train, or ferry ride away, we had to check out Smorgasburg. We heard so much about it, and honestly, is there anything better on a beautiful weekend during the summer than a fair that includes delicious food vendors? To us, there is not. Besides the vast array of food options, the best thing about Smorgasburg is that because it is there every weekend it does not have the extreme crowd and novelty effect that festivals that occur only once have. Do not get us wrong, it does get crowded, but never to the point where you are overwhelmed or have to wait on hour long lines. Our recommendation is go early, enjoy the food and the view of Manhattan, and then, by the time it starts to get crowded, you'll be stuffed and ready to leave anyway.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We began with Dan and John's buffalo wings. Deep-fried and sauced right in front of you. You have the choice of different sauces, from mild to BBQ to extreme heat levels. Buffalo wings have to follow three rules to be a success, NO jumbo wings, NO breading, and a sauce that blends heat and flavor together. These wings delivered on all three levels. We would like to have these wings on a Sunday, watching an NFL game with beer to give them a fair judgement, but in the Brooklyn heat on a Saturday afternoon, they passed the test. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKA0xiBZ52sNN7lLUFsfKjSVmX0GO_uIbBUq0-NI8Pie5JTS2J_c8YO_uWK88BsW3OBamjQKb76_JEBjrLU-1YMF-dqPPnaA41Omm8m_u431hdX1LxPViUGHBC_cW6KJCwsgZBTGIIS6o/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKA0xiBZ52sNN7lLUFsfKjSVmX0GO_uIbBUq0-NI8Pie5JTS2J_c8YO_uWK88BsW3OBamjQKb76_JEBjrLU-1YMF-dqPPnaA41Omm8m_u431hdX1LxPViUGHBC_cW6KJCwsgZBTGIIS6o/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of us, is usually not a huge fan of sausages, but when we read the options that TXORIZERIA had to offer, the one convinced the other and we headed to the booth. The buns were homemade, they were extremely flavorful, and the casing was not tough. The bread was perfect, not too soft or too dense. The sausage was full of flavor and of course it had the perfect snap to it. The chimichurri sauce was a great artisan touch that elevated the sausage immensely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love a good scallion pancake, but wrap it around well-seasoned meat and crispy vegetables, and we love it even more. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a bit of a wait for t</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he beef roll from Outer Borough. They</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> told us to come back in 15-20 minutes, but to us this was not a big deal. The pancakes were freshly made right there, and the toppings added immediately after. Fresh, delicious, flavorful, and easy to eat while walking around. Perfection!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cemita Mexican Sandwiches & Taco stand was probably the worst stand we visited all day at either of the two Smorgasburg events we attended. We do not even know where to start. We saw someone walking around with one and fell for the novelty of the item. Sometimes you can have too much stuff and completely ruin a good thing, this is the story here. The dry meat, wilted lettuce, and flavorless cheese united to make this monstrosity of an offering. It is this simple, when you are one of a handful of specialty booths that are out to make the best of one particular item, make it the best!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember when we said you could ruin a good thing with too much, apparently there was no good thing to begin with. The taco from the Cemita both sounded simple enough in the description, it was not. Too much cheese, too much sauce, too much lettuce, and way too much meat. Tacos should be simple and you should be able to fold them without falling apart. The meat was under seasoned and left the taco without a good base.Taco's are about two things, a quality corn tortilla and flavorful meat, those two things should not be disguised with nonsense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the finale, last but most certainly not the least, the lemon poppy seed doughnut from Dough. One of us was skeptical, a doughnut on a hot summer day? That can't be a good choice. This one of us was wrong. The doughnut was extremely light and doughy on the inside, while being perfectly fried and dense. The lemon glaze was heavenly. If we did not have an hour commute back to New Jersey on subways and buses, we would have bought a box of doughnuts and ate them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner until we were able to go back to Brooklyn and get more. Did we make our point about these doughnuts? A-maz-ing! Once in a while you take a bite of something and it just makes you stop and realize how amazing life is, how great the day is, and how truly important food is to all of us, this was one of those bites. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know Brooklyn is not the easiest place to get to from New Jersey, but it is worth the trek. Try something new or an old favorite, but you will not be disappointed! Try as many things as possible.</span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-54225492267050467672014-05-17T17:14:00.002-07:002014-05-17T17:14:26.653-07:00From Food Truck to Creperie, Kraverie Satiates All Kravings<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kraverie</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kraveriejc.com/">http://www.kraveriejc.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24 Mercer Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jersey City, NJ 07302</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="tel:201-737-5877" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">201-737-5877</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are big fans of Korean BBQ and have tried the new fusion idea of Korean BBQ and Mexican food at a NYC food truck. It is fantastic! Although we have never tried the Krave food trucks in NJ, we read about the Kraverie and knew it was worth a trip to Jersey City. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ordered a lot of food to share and asked our waiter for it to all come as it was ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Korean Tacos are served with a kimchi puree, onion-cilantro relish, and sour cream sauce. They come in orders of three so we picked one Galbi Short Rib, one Spicy Pork, and one Bulgogi Ribeye. The toppings were extremely fresh and tasty, but did not overpower the meat. All of the meats were tender and seasoned perfectly. We could have made a meal of just these tacos and left extremely happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Burrito is filled with choice of meat, we got spicy pork, sticky rice, shredded romaine, monterrey jack cheese, caramelized kimchi, and sour cream sauce. It also comes with a house salad on the side. The caramelized kimchi and sticky rice made the burrito, it added a flavor profile to the burrito that was superb. Although the burrito was exceptional, the tacos were probably a better option for someone who wanted to taste all of the meat options that Kraverie offers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yoyp-7PRV2WZMAogT3HpqOjau2Ox11bJZUSMyVppC14GBMD0R2bB3AX_wZYm2YRUf0p_mlbyu_phqpNublqAIbWeFgDoQ9_2B-RQeDhkS5BfX3JFCFXal2RuQGnAi6Lgh9MF73R8Dzs/s1600/IMG_3020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yoyp-7PRV2WZMAogT3HpqOjau2Ox11bJZUSMyVppC14GBMD0R2bB3AX_wZYm2YRUf0p_mlbyu_phqpNublqAIbWeFgDoQ9_2B-RQeDhkS5BfX3JFCFXal2RuQGnAi6Lgh9MF73R8Dzs/s1600/IMG_3020.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bibimbap is a K</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">orean rice bowl served with sauteed vegetables, such as zucchini, carrots, bean sprouts, spinach, shredded romaine, covered in a Korean sweet chili sauce, and a fried egg. We added sesame chicken because it was the one meat we hadn't tried. We have had hot stone bibimbap many times at different restaurants, and this was not exactly what we were expecting. The hot stone allows the egg to cook and the rice to get crispy. This was a very fresh twist on that. The sesame chicken was our least favorite of the meats, but if you won't eat pork or beef it is still good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last, but most certainly not least, the Korean Wings</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> coated in a sweet and spicy </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gochujang sauce. The hot pepper glaze was absolutely mouth-wateringly good. The fried chicken wing is cooked to perfection. The meat is juicy, the skin extra crispy, and the sauce the perfect consistency and amount not to overwhelm the wing. We will be dreaming about these wings for all the days to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our bill was very reasonable in our opinion, especially considering how much food we ordered, and the fact that we had leftovers for later (which were not as good as first served, but still delicious none the less). Try this place and be adventurous! Everything we tried was great and we are sure anything you order here will not disappoint.</span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-42233318281579517502014-05-17T17:05:00.001-07:002014-05-17T17:05:43.142-07:00Crowded Local Italian Joint: Great Pizza, Lackluster Entrees<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trattoria La Sorrentina</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sorrentinanb.com/">http://www.sorrentinanb.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7831 Bergenline Avenue</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">North Bergen, NJ 07047</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="tel:(201)%20869-8100" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">(201) 869-8100</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have ever driven down Bergenline Avenue in North Bergen on a Friday or Saturday night, you will see people waiting outside of Trattoria La Sorrentina. We had ordered pizza as take out from here before and it was very good! Thin crust and great toppings. Seeing the line outside, how could we resist?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We gave our names and were told about a 20 minute wait. We noticed returning customers seemed to get special treatment, which we think is a very nice way to treat returning customers, however we could see other patrons becoming irritated. When we were eventually seated we were quickly given menus, bread, and water. A waiter soon came over to ask what we would like to drink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To start, we ordered the La Caprese salad, which consisted of homemade mozzarella with tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and a little basil. The mozzarella was extremely creamy. The tomatoes and basil were fresh and sweet. Simple and divine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For another appetizer we ordered Agiolata E Gamberi, a white bean salad with grilled shrimp and olive oil. This appetizer was very oily, but the flavor in the shrimp was good and together the white bean and shrimp were a great pairing. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKPiPBrrTuEtajKMWWtD8pBK4nhaGLK90aRCuyZWPt2QWDh-XPFV_XL_3RhN3fZWeeYirKb9Qt4uyH9y0N7Wm6rB5vYRRC6HkY2imgojzrTAFHVyNksirlX0XkBNqmckhRUVYDZBin-U/s1600/IMG_2962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKPiPBrrTuEtajKMWWtD8pBK4nhaGLK90aRCuyZWPt2QWDh-XPFV_XL_3RhN3fZWeeYirKb9Qt4uyH9y0N7Wm6rB5vYRRC6HkY2imgojzrTAFHVyNksirlX0XkBNqmckhRUVYDZBin-U/s1600/IMG_2962.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-center;">For our main courses we ordered Penne Belvedere, penne with proscuitto and onion in a vodka sauce. The pasta was cooked well, but the sauce was a bit too much on the tomato side and not enough creamy vodka goodness. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VI-dh7Sb5s7v18LsfCu-O3ef_JzQ-rh3g5izrtWa0VdqyMPaKgcNPoD-h1NvEplp_ZcYZLOJ_Nr7tm3ZQNdwrJozrRrRTpkygaUHCa-QRwquy1jOoC-Elh-Z_Zs9ggjmRKrytbpkQIQ/s1600/IMG_2964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VI-dh7Sb5s7v18LsfCu-O3ef_JzQ-rh3g5izrtWa0VdqyMPaKgcNPoD-h1NvEplp_ZcYZLOJ_Nr7tm3ZQNdwrJozrRrRTpkygaUHCa-QRwquy1jOoC-Elh-Z_Zs9ggjmRKrytbpkQIQ/s1600/IMG_2964.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our other main course we ordered Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina, a homemade gnocchi with fresh tomato and mozzarella. The gnocchi were big and fluffy and the sauce was well seasoned, but there was a little too much of it.The gnocchi was much better then the sauce that came with it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will definitely order pizza from here again, however we will not wait for a table again here. The appetizers and entree's were not on the same level as the pizza and there are simply too many other extraordinary Italian restaurants in northern New Jersey to revisit here again. </span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-72377617546078761742014-03-31T18:36:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:09:35.323-07:00I do so like them, Sam-A.M.<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam A.M. </span></h2>
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<a href="http://sam-am.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://sam-am.com</span></a><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">112 Morris Street</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jersey City, NJ 07302</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="tel:201-432-2233" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2">201-432-2233</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had originally planned on going to Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory in Jersey City. Driving up to the diner, we noticed the large line and decided it would probably be worth it. We parked and gave them our name for a wait that the hostess said would be about 30-40 minutes. We stood around staring at each other, hunger growing by the minute, and finally said what we had both been thinking; we've been in this position before and it was all too familiar. Standing at the Country Pancake House in Ridgewood, NJ, we waited and waited and when we were finally served our food, to our surprise, it was mediocre, simply huge portions. (Go there if you want over sized pancakes and omelets that fall off of your plate, but may we recommend Raymond's or Daily Treat as better options). Learning from past experience we decided to leave. We headed to our second choice, Sam A.M. As soon as we walked up, we were elated with our decision!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam A.M. is a small cafe style restaurant in a really quaint area of Jersey City. You can walk up and order coffee to go, fresh baked donuts and pastries, or sit down and enjoy some delicious farm-to-table style options from their menu. The menu is small, but from what we saw, everything was executed perfectly. They definitely have the right idea! We started with two cappuccinos. They had Stumptown coffee bags for sale, so we assumed they use this brand. They have great coffee and espresso! We also ordered an orange juice and a grapefruit juice. They were fresh squeezed right behind the bar, absolutely delicious!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our meals we ordered the Omelet du Jour, which that day was cream of spinach, and the Veggie Scramble. They were both accompanied by toast and the omelet came with home fries as well. Both dishes were fantastic! Extremely flavorful and the perfect sized portions. The vegetables were fresh and the eggs cooked to perfection. The toast was thin and crispy, just how we like it! </span><br>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb81KgUWhfcEN69X8E73qF7h0Xq7WVQjGk1N7wtylPozjkKlFDK6JiilZrv6cbwyU_g5ZH3Kq8v62aYlshZu-ig-abNRlZLW7ZVxppV4aiZ7E0NmJNXrUsq-AYG6td3EVv24XWpNU4S0/s1600/IMG_7784.jpeg" height="240" width="320"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbS5pPTzLJeHwZ0skDSQmAN_RSoqDzh4XzlIrYDknNwZQsLZQCiCaFKfu_rGFXTlzgdT-ndu9BYq_q_o7QZm_b8KpqSb-LX4hlE9HOpdGauJKoQu4pGB1S9U2B6RwDofot5zB5pcsz-mw/s1600/IMG_8969.jpeg" height="240" width="320"></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We originally ordered a biscuit, but they unfortunately ran out of them because this day they were serving biscuits and gravy. Instead we asked for a donut to share, they had mascarpone and dulce de leche that day, we asked for </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mascarpone.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Unfortunately for us, they also ran out of those, but our waiter gave us the last dulce de leche donut on the house. This was very generous, and the donut was exceptional. </span><br>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVOOStCxp0Jcqi7GqyUQA0V-xK5PPmeJG8QGtAym3vwm-Y7AT33yCKCprNgKHdtKcy54DxX72loMk3RTIVM9sueiwqRPgtcq_g-lj_SByP8Arx5HFYaVMjWXqzwygiPmQyx02D5eXe18/s1600/IMG_6937.jpg" height="320" style="text-align: center;" width="240"></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are interested in great food made by people who appreciate the ingredients for what they are, we recommend you try Sam A.M. They take the time to create a menu that lets the ingredients speak for themselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tutto A Modo Mio </span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.tuttoamodomio.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.tuttoamodomio.com</span></a><br>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">482 Bergen Boulevard</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridgefield, NJ 07657</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="tel:201-313-9690" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2">201-313-9690</a></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone in New Jersey has an Italian gem that is their favorite place to go when they are craving this comforting, family-like meal. For the most part, people go to the same restaurant, know the owner and waiters/waitresses, know the other patrons, bring the same bottle of wine, even may have a specific table they sit at. We are not any different. So we know suggesting that you venture outside of your box to try a place that we recently found and like a lot is a little crazy, but we can't help it.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As appetizers, we ordered two of our favorites; a stuffed artichoke and eggplant rollatini. The artichoke is steamed and stuffed with herbs, bread crumbs, and cheese. It is perfectly tender, the stuffing and brother is extremely flavorful. It is not necessarily a "first date" dish, it's a little messy, but definitely worth it. The eggplant is sliced thin and rolled with a task mixture of cheese and herbs. The marinara sauce is tangy yet sweet, a great sauce (or gravy as some say)! </span><br>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEi_K5gOWppaRdliKebUOSZxU2LvkpLhnvAFMEguOoyTfjxevbfijNasLniKXSHPrLLDaV2rcrwP4zn1S-wNKT9SOeBcJCYSzRdFu768XFBoakNGBKyvQgK37xJRVtZ6QIwLbHiRpygQ/s1600/IMG_1636.jpg" height="320" width="240"></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our main courses we ordered two of the specials of the evening: fettucini with shrimp, langoustines, and lobster in a pink sauce; and pappardella with braised short ribs. The short rib meat was extremely tender, the sauce was seasoned perfectly, and the homemade pasta was cooked flawlessly. A comforting dish that makes you feel warm on the inside. The homemade fettucini was al dente and the pink sauce complimented the seafood perfectly. Although they may not have these dishes when you try this place out, we are positive anything you order you will not be disappointed. </span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzABCabcAryaBo8Jh3cVjv6W89_uFjkBB-xOmWG-_2cMqhuRYYwyBoVKEQStQ1uT-8477FerVaO2kZTJ3urUiF0uucG79-oLpN5P2FW96CL5cZb116ywr9IhUaEcRTZRu_NXTH9VfL4UA/s1600/IMG_3662.jpg" height="320" width="240"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ehXBJPNOJ1H4vtu-6UsZVjsSpVSntbR3wBZCL2A7EMxx1saXreHm9uy7wNxJ6KWuWI3fWb5QiIkuWHVt4eZ6siy0K11K3jhFynDCN600tJx9k4_ZCBgpSkhNUfNeW-sIAaC9W3nd50k/s1600/IMG_1637.jpg" height="320" width="240"></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For dessert, we ordered a cannoli and limoncello cake. Cannoli's are never the same wherever you order them. The shell and cream are always different and sometimes not in a good way. Tutto A Modo Mio makes a great cannoli! The shell is crispy and not bland. The filling is creamy and sweet. The limoncello cake is a great option for patrons looking for the nontraditional dessert, and who crave more tang than sweet. The cake was light and the lemon flavor was robust throughout. Both desserts were perfect endings to a superb meal. </span><br>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiultM-qrHxsby1DCIkAy5IqYPSVO3b5FDCPaATbGeWCQ-6qQk61njCQyrjGDyrS6gLsa_ilc9vsHsejZog87dxMuuvco0WVtX5La-R9MHrzrgnmd2u4vhzg9hXCKfPe4yWcsmyoYERzk/s1600/IMG_1640.jpg" height="320" width="240"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuv3ZiXCY7SyviUuVOK-vKiusRTjjQIRDFCXSa_-8VN-GsyRbX_Jchb8DBe82mA39zxIOWAC86a5gIC_q-Vks6EnqJbARyUcUDKOKsA-l2dc4M1X-VxjiCNQz2H1aXrOSDe_giZMQR_M/s1600/IMG_1639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuv3ZiXCY7SyviUuVOK-vKiusRTjjQIRDFCXSa_-8VN-GsyRbX_Jchb8DBe82mA39zxIOWAC86a5gIC_q-Vks6EnqJbARyUcUDKOKsA-l2dc4M1X-VxjiCNQz2H1aXrOSDe_giZMQR_M/s1600/IMG_1639.jpg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you do not already have your own neighborhood Italian restaurant, are looking for a new one, or want to venture out and try a different one, we highly recommend Tutto A Modo Mio. We have eaten here a few times now, tried different dishes each time, and have never been disappointed. The staff is amazing and they make you feel as though you are a part of their family. Pick up your favorite bottle of wine and drive over to Ridgefield. We do recommend that you make a reservation, as there has been a wait almost every time we have gone. There are a few spots in the lot, otherwise park on the street. Buon appetite!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pilsener Haus & Biergarten</span></h2>
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<a href="http://pilsenerhaus.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://pilsenerhaus.com</span></a><br>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1422 Grand Street</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoboken, NJ 07030</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know a lot of people tend to stay on Washington Street when they are in Hoboken, however, if you find yourself wandering past 14th street and towards Weehawaken, there is a fantastic gem called Hoboken’s Pilsener Haus & Biergarten. It is an authentic Austro-Hungarian beer garden in a huge open setting that is somehow also very warm and inviting. They have tons of imported beers on tap and craft beers by the bottle. If you are not a fan of beer, go for the food! A deliciously traditional biergarten menu is accompanied by the grill options (sausages, burgers, and more). Bring all of your friends and fill one of the big family style tables for an evening that is guaranteed to be fun!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We began with beers. We ordered an Oktoberfest and a Schneider Aventinus. The diversity in the draft selection is staggering; you will be sure to find something that you enjoy. If you would rather have a more familiar beer they also have a formidable list of craft bottled beers. If you want to make a statement order a liter, there is nothing like drinking beer from a medieval sized glass. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We accompanied our beers with a bavarian soft pretzel. It is served with liptauer cheese and their house-made mustard. The pretzel is massive, soft, crispy, salty, and airy. Simply a perfect soft pretzel! The cheese is creamy, and tastes similar to pimento. The house-made mustard is fantastic! It is also great on their sausages, bratwurst, weisswurst, kielbasa, and frankfurters from the grill. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To start we shared the steamed bier mussels. They are served in a smoky vegetable and weissbier broth. We all agreed, some of the best mussels we have ever had! If you like mussels, you have to order these; if you don't like mussels, you have to try these because they are very likely to change your mind. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hEMcnEuNo_Zc_o-Y04NNUDzTz4wwuy5YiOs9BcGJp8x0erATur1b94w2EfLv6C0Eo8VyhSS3TC9OlGrsKlSIbTe9bAxFOLRQtedz0zu96huEgDg1V0VnFxdLjtZFrIUWACcYONgT3W0/s1600/IMG_6181.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hEMcnEuNo_Zc_o-Y04NNUDzTz4wwuy5YiOs9BcGJp8x0erATur1b94w2EfLv6C0Eo8VyhSS3TC9OlGrsKlSIbTe9bAxFOLRQtedz0zu96huEgDg1V0VnFxdLjtZFrIUWACcYONgT3W0/s1600/IMG_6181.jpeg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As our meals, we ordered wiener schnitzel and braised pork cheeks. The wiener schnitzel dish consists of two pork cutlets served with parsley potatoes, cucumber salad and a lingonberries sauce. The pork cutlets are extremely juicy and tender. The cucumber salad is tangy and cold, it is a nice contrast to the warm cutlets. As a person who is not a huge fan of potato salad, the parsley potatoes were delicious, closer to a German style potato than a traditional American potato salad; very tasty side. The lingonberry sauce completes the dish by adding a sweet element. Pair your cutlets with a bite of any of the sides and you will have a different experience; all of which are scrumptious. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The braised pork cheeks are braised in caraway seeds, marjoram, and Haus Pilsner. They are accompanied with sauerkraut and pretzel dumplings. The pork cheeks were tender with an almost sweet flavor to counterbalance the savory and dense pretzel dumplings. The sauerkraut offered sour notes that tied together the entire dish. If you do not like sour flavors you would be better off with another dish, but for someone looking for a bold dish to pair with a great beer, look no further. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past, we have had almost everything from the grill, it's all delicious! We have also tried the Hungarian beef goulash and the sauerbraten. We have never been disappointed here. We cannot say enough about the food. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether you love beer or traditional beer garden food, we insist that you venture off of Washington Street and experience more of the smaller less known restaurants in Hoboken, NJ. A short walk, drive, or cab ride away, you may find yourself in a gem as well. Prost!</span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-47707052826734581002014-01-12T15:48:00.001-08:002014-05-16T10:07:19.934-07:00Hidden Turkish Treasure Becomes a Favorite<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dayi'nin Yeri</span></h2><div><a href="http://dayininyerinj.com/turkish_food/Dayininyeri.html"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://dayininyerinj.com/turkish_food/Dayininyeri.html</span></a><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">333 Palisade Avenue</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cliffside Park, NJ 07010</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The better half of Garden State Grubber cannot get enough Mediterranean food. Since moving, we have had trouble finding a place to curve this constant craving. At the last second last night we looked up a few places, picked one, called in our order, and headed out to pick it up. To our surprise, this highly rated restaurant was less than 10 minutes away. The parking situation was difficult because there is no parking lot and street parking is hard to come by, so we double parked and one of us ran in. Sitting in the car with the window open, you can smell the delicious aromas radiating from the restaurant. We cannot imagine driving past everyday and being able to resist stopping. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside of the restaurant was packed! Everyone was smiling and enjoying themselves, eating what we could only imagine was their delicious meals. We ordered a large Shepherd Salad, an order of Humus, two Lahmacun (we really like it, so we did not want to share), Cop Sis, and Tavuk-Doner combination platter. To our surprise we were also given a huge piece of Turkish bread for dipping and whatnot. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car immediately filled with that pleasant aroma that we smelled outside the restaurant. We wanted to rip open our bags and just start eating right there. However, we have some self-control, and decided we would enjoy it more if we waited until we got home and ate like civilized people. It was the longest drive of our lives. As soon as we walked through our door, w</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e laid out our array of fare and dug in!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lahmacun is g</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">round meat blended with peppers, onions, tomatoes, parsley, and herbs </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on a thin, crusted dough. The crust was perfectly thin and crispy, while the meat topping was extremely moist and flavorful. We were very happy we ordered two. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hummus was smooth, creamy, and a bit tangy. The Sheppard Salad had the perfect amount of acidity and was extremely refreshing. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Tavuk, or chicken, was succulent and by far our favorite of all of the meats we ordered. The Doner was well seasoned and very flavorful. The Cop Sis, or cubed lamb, was extremely savory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are always impressed when a Mediterranean restaurant can elevate the flavors that seem so common from restaurant to restaurant, and Dayi'nin delivers. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are as big a fan of Turkish food as we are, we highly recommend you check our Dayi'nin Yeri. It was well priced and extremely delicious. We will definitely be going back and will bring our friends and family. Hopefully next time we will be able to eat at the restaurant and add on to this experience. Yemek ve zevk!</span></div>
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Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-37489287014528256542014-01-12T14:49:00.002-08:002014-05-16T10:06:37.654-07:00Authentic Korean BBQ Steps from the GWB<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dong Bang Grill</span></h2>
<a href="http://dongbanggrill.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://dongbanggrill.com</span></a><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1616 Palisade Ave</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fort Lee, NJ 07024</span><br><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While my brother attended Rutgers University, we found a Korean BBQ gem called Kimchihana in South Plainfield, NJ (it's just off of Route 287). It was a new cuisine to us at the time, but we were hooked. Fresh, delicious, and filling family style Asian food; could it get any better? Since he graduated, we have no longer had an excuse to drive down there, so we had to find one closer to where we live in north Jersey. There are quite a few Korean restaurants in Fort Lee, so it can be quite difficult to decide which one you want to go to. We heard great things about Dong Bang Grill from friends, so the choice was made easy for us.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a cold January evening, we decided to venture into the Tundra to <i>finally</i> try Dong Bang Grill. We had called ahead of time to make a reservation, but when we said four people, we were told to just come in. We assume they only take reservations for larger groups, but this is good to know. There is valet parking at the restaurant, which we took advantage of on the 10 degree evening. We walked upstairs and were seated right away. The dining room was relatively empty; one large group and a handful tables with two to four people at each. We were immediately worried that after over a year of wanting to try Dong Bang, we had hyped it up too much in our heads. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The menu is large. Appetizers, BBQ, vegetarian, vegetarian BBQ, à la carte dishes, Japanese food, sushi (I forgot to mention they also serve Japanese food), and more. If you have never been to a Korean restaurant it may seem quite daunting, but if it sounds good it probably is, and we say, try it! Along with your food you are given banchan, which are small side dishes. This restaurant in particular seemed to give you a lot of them, which is definitely a good thing because they were all fantastic. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For appetizers, we ordered Haemool Pajun, Korean style pancakes with scallions and assortments of seafood, and Goon Mandoo, homemade fried dumplings. We like to order BBQ, it is cooked at your table on a grill in the middle, so it is semi-interactive, and its delicious. For BBQ we ordered Galbi, marinated short ribs, Bul Go Gi, marinated rib eye steak sliced extremely thin, and Jae Yook Gui, marinated pork loin. We also ordered a Gopdol Bibimbap, vegetables, ground beef, over rice in a hot stone, and Al Jigae, spicy codfish caviar stew.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The banchan came almost immediately after we ordered our food, and the appetizers came shortly after. While we enjoyed the banchan and our appetizers, our waitress placed the first meat on the grill in front of us. She kept coming back to flip it and make sure it was okay, once it was cooked she told us we could start taking from the grill. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the food we ordered was great! Two of us favored the Galbi the best, because it was extremely flavorful and juicy, while the two others favored the Jae Yook Gui, because it was spicier. We all agreed the Bul Go Gi was very good also, extremely thin, but the others had a bit more flavor from their marinades. The Bibimbap, pictured above, was a tasty side to share with the rest of our food. The rice gets crispy from the stone, and the sauce they give you to put over it is great. The Al Jigae was extremely flavorful and full of fish and vegetables. If you are a little more of an adventurous eater, order it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We highly recommend checking out Dong Bang Grill if you are in looking to try Korean food or if you already love Korean food and are in the Fort Lee area. It was not what we would call a budget meal, but it was extremely filling and because this meal was shared amongst four people, we feel it was worth it. We also ordered a little more food than necessary. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On another note, if you are in the central New Jersey area we also highly recommend trying </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kimchihana in South Plainfield, NJ</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> .</span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-32444954861387852782013-06-20T18:26:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:06:28.146-07:00Hidden Cuban Gem on River Road<h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rebecca's</span></h2><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://rebeccascubanrestaurant.com/">http://rebeccascubanrestaurant.com</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">236 Old River Rd</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edgewater, NJ 07020</span><br><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River Road passes through many small cities along the Hudson River and contains a lot of great restaurants. When in the area, it can be difficult to pick one. We love Cuban food and had heard from a few people to check out Rebecca's. Having driven in the area quite a few times, it did not ring a bell. Nonetheless, when we hear from more than one person that we need to eat at a restaurant, we usually make a point to go. When we made our reservation, the woman reminded us that they are BYO, which was nice because there is no liquor store walking distance of the restaurant if you forget. It is a bit difficult to find parking on Old River Road, but if you are patient, leave enough time, and are capable of parallel parking, it is a nonissue. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we arrived we were promptly welcomed, asked our names, and seated. The dining area is quant, while being very chic as well. The lighting is dim and romantic, making it a very date appropriate restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised by the ambience. Soon after being seated, our waiter greeted us, opened our wine, and brought us waters and bread. As we perused the menu, we found ourselves having a difficult time choosing. We tried to remember the recommendations on those who suggested the restaurant, and pictures we had seen online. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to start with one of our favorite staple items, guacamole with crispy plantains. There is nothing better than a good guacamole, and plantain chips are a delicious vehicle for enjoying it. The guacamole was cool and immensely flavorful, while the chips were a sweet and salty addition. We also ordered Jamaican jerk chicken skewers. They were tender, a bit spicy, and accompanied by a creamy sauce to dip. </span><br>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first entree that caught our eye was the ropa vieja, shredded flank steak, peppers, and onions in a red wine sauce. The sauce was immensely flavorful; tangy, perfectly seasoned, and the peppers and onions made it a bit sweet. The shredded steak was succulent and melted in our mouths. We have absolutely no complaints about this dish and highly recommend ordering it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are scrolling through the pictures on Yelp, the grilled double cut pork chop with roasted corn salsa is probably going to come up a lot, and for good reason. It seems to be a staple on the menu, and we would be lying if our mind was not already set on ordering it prior to even stepping foot in Rebecca's. The Flintstone-sized pork chop was seasoned masterfully, and, for the size of the chop, it was moist and perfectly cooked throughout. The corn salsa provided the necessary sweet and spicy elements to cut of pork, and the fried plantains were a delicious garnish to the dish. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The warm bread pudding with bourbon sauce jumped of the page to both of us, and we quickly placed our order with our waiter. We unfortunately consumed the entire dessert before remembering to grab a photo of it, always a sign that we enjoyed something. It was moist, flavorful, and the bourbon sauce did not overpower the dish. It was one of, if not the best, bread pudding we have had. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rebecca's is a quaint restaurant hiding among the river front town of Edgewater. Once you step inside, it makes you feel comfortable and ready for a great meal. We enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere. We both agree that we will back to further explore the menu and we want to urge everyone to take the time to enjoy everything Rebecca's has to offer. We will be heading back soon, especially to check out the terrace in the back that looked lovely. Buen apetito!</span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-36251106528966632582013-05-12T18:20:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:06:18.599-07:00Mekong Grill is Pho-Tastic!<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mekong Grill</span></h2>
<a href="http://www.mekonggrillrestaurant.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.mekonggrillrestaurant.com</span></a><br>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24 Chestnut Street</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridgewood, NJ 07450</span><br><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday evening, after a long week at work, like most people, the last thing we want to do is cook dinner. On our way home, our job is too decide what kind of food we want, how far we want to drive, and if we want to try something new or stick to somewhere we know is great. On a good day, we will both be thinking the same thing and it will take seconds to decide; but on a bad day, this process could take upwards of an hour. Recently it has been easy because we both have wanted the same thing; Mekong Grill in Ridgewood, NJ. When this spot first opened, we walked in unsure of what to expect, and since then it has been our favorite place to satisfy our Asian food cravings.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have three appetizers that we like a lot; one being the Lemon Grass Beef Roll, another the Beef Satay, and of course the Chicken Vegetable Dumplings. Dumplings are a life source in our relationship, we crave them, judge them harshly, and utterly enjoy them when they are as perfect as they are at Mekong. The sauce is light, but bold and layered with multiple flavors that go beyond the traditional dumpling sauce. The dumpling dough is almost see through, and steamed to perfection. They are filled to capacity with the fresh vegetable and chicken mixture. These are, in a word, heavenly, and we urge you all to go and indulge in these delicious dumplings. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pho was something that we both had not tried until last year. The pho at Mekong is a staple of the menu that delivers in flavor and is a dish that simply makes you feel good after eating it. The pho pictured below is a Hue Style Pho with spicy lemongrass beef broth. It is filled with huge portions of eye round beef, beef flank, Vietnamese pork roll, and shrimp dumplings. <span style="font-size: 15px;">It may sound like an over cluttered dish in need of some refinement, but every flavor comes together and enhances the next. The accouterments of been sprout add texture, while the mint and lime add an overall freshness to the dish. If your a pho-newbie or a pho-niciado, you will love this dish!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love Asian style noodle dishes and never shy away from trying a new one especially from a new style of cuisine. We tend to order the stir fried vegetarian thick rice noodles with tofu and mixed vegetables. This dish is delicious. The noodles were thick, so they pick up the sauce well. Also, there a lot of vegetables and they all keep their texture to give the dish depth. The tofu is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, while it takes on the delicate flavor of the sauce. We are not vegetarians, but do like tofu on occasion when its cooked well. But for those of you who do not, there is a non-vegetarian stir fried noodle dish as well, which is just as fantastic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For dessert we ordered banana crepes. The crepes are filled with banana, apple, and fried to a perfect crispiness. It is accompanied by vanilla ice ream. It is not too overpoweringly sweet for a dessert, it is perfect. We were told by the waiter if we are adventurous next time we should try the mochi. Since he was so helpful throughout the all of our visits, we will be taking his advice and trying it next time. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4VakWCiJ7tJjVrGKigqB6xjXmhJ7nHbUekVTRkGEWtTXsKE2kjLFSNfoB5-4Iyqh701IjMf4c2sYOENjUkP6CL04ZlwG08RvK0mnLTQgWThZtzUGAvq6tTnZJ8ocZFh7iHsPvbvuLLU/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4VakWCiJ7tJjVrGKigqB6xjXmhJ7nHbUekVTRkGEWtTXsKE2kjLFSNfoB5-4Iyqh701IjMf4c2sYOENjUkP6CL04ZlwG08RvK0mnLTQgWThZtzUGAvq6tTnZJ8ocZFh7iHsPvbvuLLU/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridgewood has an array of restaurants to choose from, some good and some not-so-good, but Mekong Grill happens to be a great one. The food and service are both fabulous, plus the price is great. I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">f you want to try a Vietnamese drink, there are quite a few options on the menu. If you want an alcoholic beverage with your meal, it is </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BYOB, but there is a liquor store conveniently right next door. We highly </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">recommend checking out Mekong Grill. </span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-37916293070045852412013-05-06T18:49:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:06:06.160-07:00Fantastisch Deutsch Bäckerei<h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heidi's Finest</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.heidisfinestbakery.com/">http://www.heidisfinestbakery.com</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">47 E Ridgewood Ave</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridgewood, NJ 07450</span><br><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridgewood is a quaint town, both unassuming and welcoming. It has an all-American, small-town </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">feel to it, and makes all of its visitors feel at home. One thing Ridgewood continues </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to deliver on is its culinary offerings. We have eaten a multiple spots in the past, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and we are constantly looking for more to try in the town. The last few time’s while </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">driving through we had noticed a small German Bakery called Heidi’s Finest. We </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">decided last Sunday after a late breakfast to stop in a see what this small food gem </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">had to offer.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially walking into Heidi’s Finest you are visually pleased by how all of the effort that </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was put into it. The tables are modern, while the stonewalls are a perfect contrast </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to the changing lights above. We decided that since we had just had breakfast that </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we would get some dessert to go. The server behind the bakery counter was very </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">knowledgeable about each pastry, and told us that every item was made with the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">finest imported ingredients. He explained that their desserts were light and made </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with significantly less sugar and preservatives than other bakeries. We opted to </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">choose a Cherry Cheesecake Bar, Apple Cheesecake Bar, Chocolate Pistachio Tart, and a </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">slice of Marble Cheesecake. He packed them nicely for us and even gave us a 10% </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">discount for no reason whatsoever. We felt that everything was priced well, but it was very nice of him to give us a discount, especially after we asked questions about everything. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most difficult part would be waiting until after dinner to try these tantalizing treats.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What seemed like days later, post dinner, we started out with the Cherry Cheesecake Bar; the cherries were tart and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">worked well with the light, airy cheesecake. The bottom layer of crust held up well, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and we were both overly excited about our choice. It was light and did not leave us </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">feeling full, which was good because we still had three more to try.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Apple Cheesecake Bar was one of our favorites. It was an apple pie like topping </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that tasted homemade and delicious. It contrasted perfectly with the cheesecake </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bottom, just as the cherry one did. It was a gracious union between two of our favorite desserts.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoR93H7qPqKd4IHg_-SbuBOKnpFsVtJDAwOw2LyFDTQ5z4oawmXcbIF2qVIYg7zRYvId35lYTDczy5Xv7Z3-2doBC16mot6T-9nQbHT37ESsLY982fRygx4H_msyNFb4T-JH7t1U24Y8k/s1600/IMG_6136.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoR93H7qPqKd4IHg_-SbuBOKnpFsVtJDAwOw2LyFDTQ5z4oawmXcbIF2qVIYg7zRYvId35lYTDczy5Xv7Z3-2doBC16mot6T-9nQbHT37ESsLY982fRygx4H_msyNFb4T-JH7t1U24Y8k/s1600/IMG_6136.jpeg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Marble Cheesecake was our least favorite. Not that it was bad by any means, but it was not </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rich like most cheesecakes. We both understood that he had told us that these</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">desserts were light and not made with an abundance of sugar, so maybe were both</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">just too stubborn in our ways when it comes to classic cheesecake. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chocolate </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pistachio</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Tart </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was a crowd favorite, and when we tried it we both had an </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">understanding of the difference between Heidi’s Finest and other bakeries. The </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chocolate layers were light and airy, and never overbearing, while the pistachio </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">layer on the top was an amazing compliment to the already complex dessert. Also, it was not overly sweet or rich, as some chocolate mousse desserts are. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnwv42TcRQbVMMM7q0scx6kuTLknM1-_tDjqUbSOFT2gD3ygD4eM6mL2em3wuPth1KiKXQrvJbGXFl9rPwjmQTVBbKpwrilC7gqmTPIVYhV-umPsJnKc5Tasb76UJyM4lW15ry5dtKYE/s1600/IMG_7520.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnwv42TcRQbVMMM7q0scx6kuTLknM1-_tDjqUbSOFT2gD3ygD4eM6mL2em3wuPth1KiKXQrvJbGXFl9rPwjmQTVBbKpwrilC7gqmTPIVYhV-umPsJnKc5Tasb76UJyM4lW15ry5dtKYE/s1600/IMG_7520.jpeg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will most definitely be returning to Heidi’s Finest in the near future. They also have soups, waffles, breads, pretzels, coffee, and more. Next time </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you feel the need to get out and do some work at your local Starbucks, maybe you </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">should opt to make your way to Heidi’s Finest for a delectable treat and cup of </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">coffee.</span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-8351323576545014952013-04-10T18:24:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:05:55.947-07:00Colicchio Delivers at NYC Hotspot<h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CraftBar</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/craftbar-new-york/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/craftbar-new-york/</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">900 Broadway</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New York, NY 10003</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In preparation of our day of fun-filled craft beer festivities, we decided to have brunch at CraftBar in NYC. We often wait with baited breathe for our culinary guilty pleasure; Top Chef. The most recognizable person and mainstay on the show is Tom Colicchio. Tom always seems extremely well balanced and insightful when judging the contestants, and we have both always wanted to try one of his restaurants. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made a reservation and were seated right away. After ordering drinks, we began to browse the menu. There a lot of great options to choose from, but we eventually made our decisions. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to begin with the Charcuterie assortment to share. The assortment came with Mortadella, Speck Biellese, Chicken Liver Pate, Smoked Pig Head Terrine, and Pastrami Wagyu Beef Tongue. The standout of the sampler was the Pastrami Wagyu Beef Tongue, it was lean and delicious. The Mortadella and Speck Biellese were also very enticing, especially when paired with the olive tapenade and house made sweet pickles. The Pate was buttery and luscious, and was balanced well with the mustard seeds on top. Even non-adventurous foodies should try it!. The only one we did not particularly care for was the Smoked Pigs Head Terrine, it was gelatinous and the flavor was not enough to get past the texture. Overall, we recommend trying this!</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reading multiple reviews on different food websites, we knew we wanted to order the Rissotto Balls. The Pecorino risotto was creamy and the perfect consistency. The flavors were strong, and definitely had an extra layer of depth that most rice balls don't have. The tomato sauce had an inherent spiciness to it, that was not overpowering, but rather a perfect compliment to the risotto balls. It was immediately clear why people raved about these.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pictures of swine that take up most of the back wall enticed us to order a side of Bacon. Not much to over analyze about this side dish. It was smoked, thick, delicious, and we all had no complaints.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of us ordered the Craftbar “Double Stack” Burger with</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> p</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">awlet, bacon jam, pickled onions, oven roasted tomato, and bibb lettuce. This was honestly the best burger we've ever had. Juicy and cooked perfectly. The bacon jam was an ingenious addition. We added a piece of our side of bacon to the burger, not because it wasn't already amazing, but because this made it even more amazing. Highly recommend ordering it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Veal Ricotta Meatball Hero was served with both provolone and parmigiana. The meatballs were moist and flavorful. The marinara sauce again had a hint of spiciness, but complimented the sweet element of the Ricotta. The only negative was the Hero bread itself. The bread was slightly soft and did not really support the bold flavors of the meatball and sauce.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Eggplant & Goat Cheese Panino contained marinated eggplant, eggplant chutney, goat cheese, and mixed greens. It was a good panini, but nothing special. The salty goat cheese was well-balanced with the sweet eggplant. It was a tasty sandwich that we would be unable to make on our own, but nothing special. We would try something knew over this next time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of us decided to be different and order breakfast, and we're glad they did! The Eggs Benedict was made with the normal poached egg, English muffin, and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hollandaise</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but also smoked salmon, a side of potatoes, and mixed greens. The eggs were cooked flawlessly, the hollandaise perfectly seasoned, and the salmon was a smokey and savory addition. Overall one of the best Eggs Benedict we've ever had. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall we're really glad we chose to eat brunch at CraftBar. The restaurant itself was cool and resembled an industrial farmhouse. This chic hotspot of Tom Colicchio did not disappoint us and cemented, in our minds, his role as seasoned chef and head judge on Top Chef. We hope to try some of his other restaurants in the future. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Market at RoCCA</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">203 Rock Road</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glen Rock, NJ 07452</span><br><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the small town of Glen Rock, NJ, there lies a main street full of food gems, and a few not-so food gems, but we digress. RoCCA has two storefront locations on Rock Road; the market and the main restaurant. We had honestly not heard much about either, but decided to stop into the market on one Sunday morning. It was exactly what we were looking for that morning. We did not want to sit down at a restaurant and be waited on, but we wanted a fresh, delicious meal, and we didn't want to make it ourselves. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you walk up to the counter, there are large menus on the back wall that include everything from omelets, to pancakes, to breakfast sandwiches. We stood thinking for a moment, and then we ordered: one breakfast burrito; one taylor ham, egg, and cheese on focaccia; and one side of hash browns. We also each got a large coffee and a bottle of water. The sixteen dollar price tag that accompanied the meal made it an even more joyful experience. Feeling like we got a great deal and famished, we sat down and waited for our name to be called. The food is freshly prepared, so there was a little bit of a wait, but not much longer than you would wait at a local bagel store, and not nearly as long as if you sat at a diner.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The breakfast burrito contained scrambled eggs, Italian sausage, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fontina, and roasted peppers. The thing that defined this wrap was the Italian sausage, it has us salivating just from typing this, simply from the memory of its powerful flavor. It is was slightly greasy, but most people who crave sausage don't mind a touch of grease. All in all it was a delicious blend of Italian ingredients, that combined together to make the perfect breakfast wrap.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The breakfast sandwich was composed of scrambled eggs, taylor ham, and cheese, placed in between focaccia. The eggs were fluffy and perfect, the taylor ham added saltiness, and the cheese was creamy. We have never had a breakfast sandwich on focaccia, and now we never want them any other way. It was crispy, buttery, and had a hint of rosemary. Overall, a well-rounded and scrumptious breakfast sandwich.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The breakfast potatoes were seasoned well and contained basil, which added a nice italian flare, and onions that added sweetness. They were also cooked perfectly, crispy and tender.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having loved breakfast and enticed by the lunch menu, we decided to go back another day to try some lunch. Admittedly, we accidentally ordered the same sandwich. A grilled chicken sandwich with roasted peppers, house-made mozzarella, mixed greens, and balsamic; one on italian bread and one on focaccia. One of us substituted the balsamic for pesto sauce. Just as with breakfast, the sandwiches were made fresh so we waited a few minutes. When we began eating, it was, as with breakfast, well worth the wait. The mozzarella was thick-cut and the chicken juicy. The pesto was a great addition, it was clearly homemade and we want their recipe (email: gardenstategrubber@gmail.com). The menu had a multitude of creative sandwiches and lunch side options, and we will </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">absolutely</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> be going back to try more in the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Market at RoCCA is our new go-to breakfast and lunch spot when in the area. You absolutely cannot beat the price or the delicious fresh food. They also cater! We saw a few of the platters being picked up, and they looked great! Although we cannot speak for the main restaurant a few doors down, if the market is any indication, we expect it to be fantastic and are looking forward to trying it as well.</span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-74453079520288729272013-04-09T16:48:00.002-07:002014-05-16T10:05:28.863-07:00NYC Craft Beer Festival - Spring Seasonals<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New York City Craft Beer Festival - Spring Seasonals</span></h2>
<a href="http://nyccraftbeerfest.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://nyccraftbeerfest.com</span></a><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although we would not call ourselves craft beer connoisseurs, we have been known to enjoy a great tasting beer, and when we heard about the New York City festival, we could not pass it up. It was a gorgeous day to indulge in the long standing tradition of day drinking, after some breakfast, we grabbed some fellow beer lovers, and got on the first train to NY Penn Station. We arrived at the Lexington Armory about 30 minutes early, and there was already a line forming. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When they began letting people in, they checked our ID's and we were handed a 2 oz glass for tasting. Upon arriving you noticed the size of the room, and that the long line that had formed outside, was not crowded inside space. The festival was spread out in a way that made for short waiting times in between beers, and for a good flow trough out the day. The venders were all set up at tables with signs that said the name and the types of beer they were offering. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first critique was that we wish they had listed the city and/or state that the beer is from. We began our walk through the crowds and through the venders, tasting beers that we were curious about, styles we liked, and logos/names we found intriguing. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking up to the venders and asking for samples we discovered our next, and more important, criticism. We like to ask questions about the beer and the brewery, but about 90% of the time, the person dispensing samples of beer was a volunteer who had no affiliation with the brewery, was not knowledgable, and left us with many unanswered questions. We felt having a sales or marketing representative from each brewery, or even an intern at that, would help provide us with a little more knowledge and information about each brewery. The one brewery we remember, whether it be because the beer was great or because there was a member present to tell us about it, was Empire. We fully understand that this is not the fault of the festival itself, but rather the breweries involved. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, the festival was a lot of fun! Even though it was clearly very busy, we never felt claustrophobic or as though it was super crowded. We did not try the food, but there seemed to be a relatively large selection of food to accompany your beer if you so pleased. We will keep our eyes open for the next local craft beer festival, and if you like beer, we encourage you to do so as well!</span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-67155586170343559192013-03-24T17:14:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:05:09.093-07:00New York Style Cafe in Hoboken<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elysian Cafe</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://elysiancafe.com/">http://elysiancafe.com</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1001 Washington St. (10th St.)</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoboken, NJ 07030</span><br><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have been told multiple times that we absolutely have to check out Amanda's in Hoboken, NJ. Although we have yet to find an excuse to check it out, last Sunday morning we were craving brunch. It was too late to make a reservation at Amanda's, so we decided to walk down the street to it's sister restaurant, Elysian Cafe. We were able to walk in and wait less than 10 minutes for a table. It is</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> reminiscent of a trendy NYC cafe, the ceilings were beautiful, and the whole ambience was very welcoming and upscale.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of us ordered the salmon eggs benedict, while the other ordered the croque madame, both with an order of pomme frites. We also ordered some afternoon cocktails to get into the full brunch mode; a mimosa and a Bloody Mary. When our entrees arrived the </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">initial reaction were that they were extremely small; usually with breakfast/brunch you are given a reasonably sized portion. However, after tasting them, the problem was no longer that they were too small. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon was underwhelming. The english muffin tasted store bought, and was not thick enough to hold up to the flavors it was supporting. The smoked salmon was fine, and the egg was cooked perfectly, but the hollandaise sauce lacked seasoning and didn't harmoniously bond the dish together like most others. The pommes frites were the star of the dish, perfectly fried and seasoned well, but when the side is the star, the dish usually falls flat. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Croque Madame came out and looked pretty charred. Between the two pieces of bread were ham, gruyere, and a fried egg. We were excited for this upscale version of a ham, egg, and cheese, but this dish fell flat. The ham was sparse and the cheese, although delicious, was barely melted, which was surprising considering the bread was burnt. The flavor was, again, underwhelming. In the end with both dishes, our tastebuds were screaming for some seasoning, so we grabbed some pommes frites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had decided on Elysian Cafe through word of mouth and the fact that it's parent restaurant is Amanda's. Unfortunately, the food did not match the exquisite ambiance of this Hoboken brunch spot. We tend to judge breakfast and brunch a little harsher because there are truly so many great spots within a 15 mile radius to get both. In an ultra competitive area, where option are the least of your problems and you can throw a stone and hit a good restaurant, we simply cannot support Elysian Cafe being your first choice. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-33816865672420665792013-03-24T17:14:00.000-07:002014-05-16T10:05:17.384-07:00Mexican Gem Hidden in Bogota<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Riviera Maya</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">252 East Fort Lee Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bogota, NJ 07603</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Craving Mexican food and unable to go to our new favorite spot in Hoboken, we searched desperately for another authentic Mexican food gem that's a bit more local for us. Riviera Maya is a quaint restaurant on a side street in Bogota. Their website describes take-out and delivery, so we were a little worried, but you don't find food gems by running scared!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We walked in and were seated right away. There's seating on one side of the restaurant and a chef in an open style kitchen on the other, so the space was filled with an aroma that makes your mouth water. We were immediately given chips and salsa, glasses of water, and offered table-side guacamole; we are not ones to say no to that! A few moments later, the waiter came over with a cart full of fresh ingredients and asked how spicy we wanted our guacamole. The chips, salsa, and guacamole were all delicious! There is a big difference when these simple items are made fresh, compared to when they come from a bag or a jar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started with two orders of tacos. Each order comes with three tacos; we picked one c</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hicken, two barbacoa, and three of the special tacos that night, which were red snapper. Each order came with green sauce, lime, radishes, and grilled green onions. They were made with traditional corn tortillas and g</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">arnished with cilantro, onions, salsa. Simple, flavorful, and perfect. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLxx_bFaC4MQIBMhY0M0tPS_qEoTBx9C8978bZ3s2HlofqObOyjbyT1esRDQOlqlB5iOuMAYvcYbL5D8F_5_ibBiSBQNlHXpUMNjuHSsTTQdQkEThBe1Fg9xpALYDSxrMGu0iVy9L_VQ/s1600/IMG_1617.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLxx_bFaC4MQIBMhY0M0tPS_qEoTBx9C8978bZ3s2HlofqObOyjbyT1esRDQOlqlB5iOuMAYvcYbL5D8F_5_ibBiSBQNlHXpUMNjuHSsTTQdQkEThBe1Fg9xpALYDSxrMGu0iVy9L_VQ/s1600/IMG_1617.jpeg" height="240" width="320"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfAH9NIbvFweZOQ739gNl5zuYctiltE4qv4zPUZU_Ku1QmaA5QTBgVYH08pmSWFbgPp8zRLTYKmVzmgBdxICgTr75gCI42SYxXGC02o-ekjPFNT5LUVl1-ZvLHpqrjySZfSy-S1kFmU0/s1600/IMG_7332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfAH9NIbvFweZOQ739gNl5zuYctiltE4qv4zPUZU_Ku1QmaA5QTBgVYH08pmSWFbgPp8zRLTYKmVzmgBdxICgTr75gCI42SYxXGC02o-ekjPFNT5LUVl1-ZvLHpqrjySZfSy-S1kFmU0/s1600/IMG_7332.jpg" height="320" width="240"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfAH9NIbvFweZOQ739gNl5zuYctiltE4qv4zPUZU_Ku1QmaA5QTBgVYH08pmSWFbgPp8zRLTYKmVzmgBdxICgTr75gCI42SYxXGC02o-ekjPFNT5LUVl1-ZvLHpqrjySZfSy-S1kFmU0/s1600/IMG_7332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our first main course we ordered chicken enchiladas. The two corn tortillas were filled with cheese, chicken, peppers, and onions and topped with melted cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream. The dish was served with rice, black beans, lettuce, and guacamole. The enchiladas were not mushy and soaked in sauce and cheese as they sometimes are; the corn tortilla retained its texture and all of the components added to the overall flavor of the dish. Even the rice and beans were perfectly seasoned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our second main course we ordered chicken chimichangas. We don't usually order these because at most Mexican restaurant's they are extremely large, almost food challenge worthy dishes, with no flavor or substance. These two flour tortillas were filled with chicken, peppers and onions, and served with rice, and served with pinto beans, guacamole, and sour cream. The size of them were perfect and reminiscent of Chimichangas you would receive if ordering in Mexico. They were light and crispy on the outside, while the chicken was moist inside. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oUQQDYguebdpwfgquPFeni4TTYqyBAasZzCFPaRpjt0fDk4rEXFtMXaVZ9RPcW2u7MO3uT55SfVhg-iWvUYPqE7xE6kjmx6ye8vi7u4A8_lJ0oc87R9hC0taCqscDLwVOLveTqyR7uc/s1600/IMG_7669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oUQQDYguebdpwfgquPFeni4TTYqyBAasZzCFPaRpjt0fDk4rEXFtMXaVZ9RPcW2u7MO3uT55SfVhg-iWvUYPqE7xE6kjmx6ye8vi7u4A8_lJ0oc87R9hC0taCqscDLwVOLveTqyR7uc/s1600/IMG_7669.jpg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall this place is the definition of a food gem. They serve authentic Mexican cuisine, the portions are perfectly sized, it is not overpriced, and it is not crowded with trendy people who are looking for mediocre Tex-Mex. The waiters are extremely attentive and knowledgable about the food. The restaurant is colorful, clean, and welcoming. We highly recommend taking a trip to Bogota to try this restaurant. </span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-20224641798387462012013-03-10T19:59:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:04:56.121-07:00Persian Twists<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marjan Persian Grill</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.marjanpersiangrill.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.marjanpersiangrill.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">84 Speedwell Avenue</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morristown, NJ 07960</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br>After some necessary retail therapy at the Short Hills Mall, we headed to Marjan Persian Grill for a late lunch. The restaurant was about fifteen minutes away from the popular shopping mall. As a couple, we have developed a love and desire for Mediterranean food that fuels many of our foodie adventures. One of us may yearn for Thai, while the other of us is begging for Mexican, but we can always find common ground on one particular cuisine: Mediterranean. Whether you prefer a Greek restaurant or your favorite Turkish spot, one can always relish in the staples of Mediterranean cuisine, while respecting the subtle changes in each particular style. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started our lunch in typical fashion for us; a Shirazi salad and an order of Hummus. The salad was the usual chopped variety containing tomato, cucumber, and red onion. The feta cheese was creamy, and the acidity from the lemon in the dressing gave the salad the necessary tang to marry all of the ingredients. They were slightly heavy handed with the Sumac, if we were to have a critique that would probably be the only one, but we do understand that many people like that strong flavor. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOEWnTAvWuFXs5eOA9sQLOpA2oV-Y6AKJk_5iz2D_tHtWVdIdIVln-xDOCbJXYiUrIDEe4gl7SCfZB26lVHcyd9hPH5X8f1KgNkRRxVvAvQ5Jzg7aK1LYvL-QjCdMv8gg2IBKenPgwzc/s1600/IMG_0357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOEWnTAvWuFXs5eOA9sQLOpA2oV-Y6AKJk_5iz2D_tHtWVdIdIVln-xDOCbJXYiUrIDEe4gl7SCfZB26lVHcyd9hPH5X8f1KgNkRRxVvAvQ5Jzg7aK1LYvL-QjCdMv8gg2IBKenPgwzc/s1600/IMG_0357.jpg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hummus had a great nutty flavor, and the consistency was smooth and creamy throughout. We love turkish bread and hummus, but the Naan bread that accompanied the hummus was light, airy and a great companion. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Since it was lunch, we decided to share an entree. We decided on the combination kebob platter, which included a Chicken Kebob,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Kebob-e-Barg (Filet Mignon), Kabob-e-Kubideh (ground sirloin mixed beef and lamb). The Chicken Kebob was our favorite, it was tender and juicy, while the special seasoning had penetrated all the way through so the flavor was present throughout. The Kebob-e-Barg was extremely thin, it was slightly tough, but the taste of the marinade made up for it. The Kabob-e-Kubideh was moist, which is sometimes not the case with many ground kebobs. The ground lamb and sirloin had the perfect amount of fattiness to leave the meat succulent. We both got separate plates of basmati rice, which is always the perfect starchy element to tie together all the elements. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Marjan was a perfect end to a relaxing sunday afternoon. We don't usually find ourselves in the area and are always excited to find food gems that are not directly in our backyard. Our waitress was attentive, and the restaurant was clean and very intimate. We can't wait to return and try more of what Marjan has to offer. It was an extremely satisfying culinary adventure to satisfy one of our most favorite and frequent food urges. </span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-22128719789991957742013-03-10T18:25:00.002-07:002014-05-16T10:04:50.591-07:00Great Pizza, Just Across the Border<h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mountain House</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">333 Rt 340</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparkill, NY 10976</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although we are mainly a New Jersey food blogging couple, we sometimes like to venture across the border into our neighboring states to check out what they have to offer. Sparkill, New York is just 5 minutes out of Bergen County. We had heard from friends that if we like thin crust pizza, we absolutely had to check out Mountain House. They actually used to have a second location in Westwood, NJ, so we do not consider this straying too far from our home state. Driving up, the Mountain House is just that, a large, white house with an entrance from the parking lot into the dining room, and a front street entrance into the bar. We went on a weeknight so it was not too crowded and we were seated in a booth right away. The decor is very family friendly, and along with the amicable wait staff, made us feel very welcome.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The front of the menu is just pizza; from plain cheese to a garbage pie and everything in between, the options for pizza toppings are endless. Being just the two of us, we felt like we should not be too gluttonous and picked two medium pies. The inside of the menu contains salads, appetizers, entrees, sandwiches, and more. We were told the fried ravioli were fantastic, but we came here for the pizza, so we decided not to fill up on too many appetizers. To start, we ordered a house salad with house vinaigrette to share. The salad had an abundance of ingredients including tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, croutons, olives, and cheese. It was fresh and the perfect start to our meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crust on both of the pizzas we ordered were perfectly crisp, the sauce deliciously sweet, and just the right amount of cheese to compliment the entire thing. </span>The first of the two pizzas we ordered is the fresh tomato, garlic, and basil pie. This pie was amazing; the simplicity of the ingredients were justified by how perfectly they all worked together. The second pizza was a chicken fajita pie, the chicken was very well seasoned and had a tantalizing zing at then end. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjAlo5tGVlYMYIv6mf1Ofses4Gi0-7DrAx_V3HiAC8zBD10yGAmKa5W4Wh3BDFgGp8gc-LC1X9ZoIt14mB9-9uJbkDGlqsR1SYgTj3cODUE-MjuR-MFxlZ47dxXZJLnRBdxI2xwmkhQY/s1600/IMG_5627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjAlo5tGVlYMYIv6mf1Ofses4Gi0-7DrAx_V3HiAC8zBD10yGAmKa5W4Wh3BDFgGp8gc-LC1X9ZoIt14mB9-9uJbkDGlqsR1SYgTj3cODUE-MjuR-MFxlZ47dxXZJLnRBdxI2xwmkhQY/s1600/IMG_5627.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year we are trying to find the "Best Pizza in New Jersey" and although the Mountain house is definitely worth the trip across state lines, for logistical reasons we will have to keep it out of contention. Mountain House was a great pizza experience, and for any thin crust aficionados a must stop for premium bar pies. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Taco Truck & McSwiggans Pub</span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thetacotruck.com/">http://www.thetacotruck.com</a></span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">62 Newark Street</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoboken, NJ 07030</span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://mcswigganshoboken.com/">http://mcswigganshoboken.com</a></span></span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">110 1st Street</span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Hoboken, NJ 07030</span><br><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Even though Hoboken no longer holds an annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, the festivities of drunk twenty somethings bar hopping on a Saturday in early March have not been stifled. This year the event occurred on an especially nice day. It was a pleasant, sunny walk from the Hoboken train station to the first bar we could find with the shortest line at 11:00 AM. Our group of friends ended up picking a bar just off Washington Avenue called McSwiggans Pub. It was not too crowded, but it had enough people around to have a great time! The bartenders were attentive and the drink specials were good.</span></span><br>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Deciding to change scenery a few hours later, we strayed from our group of friends for some nourishment that did not include green beer and smoking shots. We had passed The Taco Truck store front on our walk over, and our walk back we found the actual truck. We ordered two kinds of tacos, Barbacoa de Costilla and Pollo Asado, both with guacamole, which yes, we know is extra. We found a nice bench to start eating our tacos. They were double wrapped in corn tortillas, just as they should be, and the salsa and guacamole on both were fresh and delicious. The shredded beef and chicken were well-seasoned, and the lime-pickled onions on the chicken taco were a nice tangy addition. The cheese was a bit too salty and not as creamy as the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">queso fresco that</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"> we are accustomed to on tacos, but they were delicious none-the-less, and were a perfect food compliment to the drunken entertainment that surrounded us. Definitely check them out!</span></span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-77310636914394138262013-02-21T14:52:00.005-08:002014-05-16T10:04:34.315-07:00Searching for New Jersey's Best Pizza: First Stop<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Star Tavern</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://startavern.net/">http://startavern.net</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">400 High Street</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orange, NJ 07050</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Best Pizza in New Jersey"...this claim is an extremely bold one that cannot be ignored. We live in New Jersey, we love pizza, and we know the difference between good pizza and bad pizza. Pizza is not the same when you leave the New Jersey/New York area, it just isn't. It is a difficult task to find the pizza joint in the area that does it best, but we are up for the challenge! We began our search in Orange, NJ at the Star Tavern. We had found them on Twitter and browsed their website. They had won numerous awards for their pizza, so naturally we could not resist.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entering the restaurant, you walk into a large open room with booths lining two of the walls, a big bar, and a tables throughout the center. It is loud to the point that you know people are enjoying each other's company and the food, but not to the point of annoying. We didn't know where to go after we walked in, but a nice person who noticed we looked confused told us the line is at the back of the restaurant. We waited behind a couple of other groups and a waitress kept coming by to walk a new group to a table. Once seated, our waitress gave us menus and asked what we'd like to drink. Reading through reviews prior, we noticed people complaining about the beer selection. We will admit it isn't vast, but they had Sierra Nevada, which we love, so that was enough to satisfy us. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We immediately ordered wings as an appetizer because we were starving. Also, we had seen them at another table and they looked amazing. To our immense pleasure, they were naked, but fried perfectly so that the skin was crispy. The sauce was clearly homemade, with the perfect amount of spice and flavor. If we had come to this restaurant simply for wings, we would have left satisfied right after our appetizer.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was no way we could only order one pizza. We decided a good test would be the regular cheese pizza, extra crispy. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The simple and perfect bar pie. The</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> pie came out piping hot. We grabbed slices and dug in. The pizza was nicely charred on the bottom with sweet tomato sauce and creamy, melty cheese. It was a little greasier than we would have liked, but otherwise we happily devoured every bite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unable to agree on one topping for our second pie, we order half pepperoni and half meatball, also extra crispy (we like our thin crust pizza crispy). The pepperoni slices were thickly cut. The meatball was sliced so thin that it almost melted into the cheese on the pizza. We have absolutely no complaints about this pie. It also was a little greasy, but we figured that was to be expected with this one's toppings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, being this early on in our foodie adventures and this being our first stop on the search for "New Jersey's Best Pizza", we're not sure we can give away the title yet. However, the wings are delicious, the pizza is great, and the atmosphere is welcoming. If you like thin crust and great topping options we suggest checking it out. </span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-28380392343004460712013-02-17T16:14:00.000-08:002014-05-16T10:04:25.053-07:00Grubber Spotlight #3<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grubber Spotlight #3:</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Down to the Bone BBQ Sauce</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://down-to-the-bone.com/">http://down-to-the-bone.com/</a></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found ourselves meandering around Market Basket in Franklin Lakes, NJ, searching for dinner inspiration. Market Basket is a great place with freshly made prepared foods, as well as fresh produce, a delicious bakery, and much more. We wanted to find something local to either try or cook with so that we could write about it. It wasn't until we passed the check out lane and saw a bottle of Down to the Bone BBQ Sauce.There were two options in terms of flavor: Mild Madness and Sweet Heat. We settled on Sweet Heat and proceeded to check out and head home for dinner. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We marinated chicken breast in the sauce for a couple of hours and simply grilled it after. Serving alongside the chicken we made potatoes au gratin and zucchini corn fritters. The sauce was initially sweet, but not overly, and the heat came gently towards the end. Dark molasses, brown sugar, and honey hit our palettes first, while the distinct heat at the end was from the chili powder. The consistency of the sauce was not overly thick like most store bought sauces. The sauce elevated the chicken and was a crowd pleaser. We will not only be purchasing Down to the Bone again, but will have to make time to go to their restaurant in Stanhope, NJ.</span>Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-90758887301956169902013-02-11T18:45:00.003-08:002014-05-16T10:04:19.041-07:00Hipster Breakfast Spot<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Eye Cafe</span></h2>
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<a href="http://drinkredeyes.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://drinkredeyes.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">94 Walnut Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Montclair NJ 07042</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entering the Red Eye Cafe one is greeted by a counter of baked goods and the noise of a cappuccino machine, but not hostess. Looking around for a minute at the coffee shop style counter, your eye eventually notices the cash register and four staff members standing on the other end. We walked over to see what the deal was, gave them our name, and walked back towards the door to wait. While waiting, at least handful of people walked in, stood for a few seconds, and then asked us if we knew where to put their name down to wait. I'm sure this system has worked for them, but there were a couple of people who walked in, saw people waiting, and walked back out. With other great breakfast restaurants in the area, this seems like an easy fix to make sure your customers feel welcomed the minute they walk in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were seated about 15 minutes later. Our waiter left us with menus and waters. He promptly returned to ask what we would like to drink. We both ordered medium red eye coffees. Our freshly brewed coffee came back in large mugs, which was a nice homey touch. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are coffee lovers, but not latte enthusiasts, so we can only comment on the regular coffee, which </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tasted very good! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our waiter came back a little later to take our orders. Once again, we couldn't help ourselves, and had to order something sweet to share. We had read that the Buttermilk Pancakes were absolutely amazing, so we ordered them with Blueberries. They were perfectly cooked; fluffy on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside. To our pleasant surprise, they were completely filled with blueberries! The blueberries were the centerpiece of the pancakes, unlike many places that just add them sparingly. There is nothing negative to say about these pancakes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the two savory dishes we ordered was the Red Eye Hash. It comes with two </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fried eggs over parsnip, potato, roast beef hash with red eye gravy on top. The eggs were a little over done, but the red eye gravy was superb and worked well with the hearty elements of the dish. The parsnip was an unusual addition to a traditional hash that added a level of sweetness that was not overbearing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Green Eggs & Ham? Yes please! </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scrambled eggs with kale, shallots, gruyere and ham with multigrain toast and fruit salad. We were immediately drawn.The scrambled eggs were a little cold but otherwise delightful. The kale was cooked perfectly so that it still had a bite to it, the shallots were sliced thin, the ham was a nice contrast, and there was the right amount of salty gruyere. The fruit was fresh and a nice side to the rich eggs. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaczV8nHUt2fW24BCkDKr40paPvOIWvGXN4n_kdCXPLQIy56LIcBaRs4t1UcXJS5kiKt5onQBx_JCvWMYXBfQrZdvFzlWQuZ31ZjetHk1OD2lwlSq6UtfIurE32UkTBG6068Uen3SpY1M/s1600/IMG_1106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaczV8nHUt2fW24BCkDKr40paPvOIWvGXN4n_kdCXPLQIy56LIcBaRs4t1UcXJS5kiKt5onQBx_JCvWMYXBfQrZdvFzlWQuZ31ZjetHk1OD2lwlSq6UtfIurE32UkTBG6068Uen3SpY1M/s1600/IMG_1106.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall the atmosphere is like a trendy NYC cafe. The chalkboard walls, subway tiles, and bookshelves make it cute and inviting. We do wish the staff had been more attentive and inviting, but this is more of a coffee shop style cafe than a restaurant, so if you go in with that mindset you won't be disappointed. We finished our brunch full and satisfied. We will not be returning for the service, but we may return for the food. </span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906384443064516917.post-46394269481442598472013-02-10T18:46:00.001-08:002014-05-16T10:04:11.951-07:00Grubber Spotlight #2<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grubber Spotlight #2:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fatboy's Cookie Dough</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.fatboyscookiedough.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.fatboyscookiedough.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to cookies, we are usually snobs. We enjoy taking the time to bake our own, but like most people, we have also tried the name brand "break and bake" cookie dough. One of our loyal followers had caught our eye in the past with their product, Fatboy's Cookie Dough. Fatboy's Cookie Dough is an all natural, made in New Jersey, break and bake cookie dough. With football season in our rear view mirror, we finally had time to find and try this local product. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We purchased the cookie dough at Whole Foods in Ridgewood. They were located conveniently in the frozen food aisle near the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ice cream</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. They had a few flavor choices, but we settled on peanut butter chocolate chunk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After dinner we anxiously began the baking and eventual eating process of Fatboy's Cookie Dough. We preheated the oven to 325° and opened the box. The sealed package contained thick cookie dough, unlike other break and bakes that are usually a very thin sheet, and were cut</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> just enough to easily break apart.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spread them out on an ungreased cookie sheet and placed them in the oven. Since one of us couldn't wait and ate a square of raw cookie dough, we already knew we were in store for a delicious treat. We set the timer for 14 minutes, and waited...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_cTI0wwN7ukz5cwxeHtolydrGGPK65uvOXDmLhSdsAdmPy0Pnh8jgmt35IGnkx09Af2ST0jds7oWsEUFh-hhBhVP3yAlV-GPNB6By96uDYjEWlxC8sB3AxMDbSyhKCwK77h8AHf4YmM/s1600/IMG_1911.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_cTI0wwN7ukz5cwxeHtolydrGGPK65uvOXDmLhSdsAdmPy0Pnh8jgmt35IGnkx09Af2ST0jds7oWsEUFh-hhBhVP3yAlV-GPNB6By96uDYjEWlxC8sB3AxMDbSyhKCwK77h8AHf4YmM/s1600/IMG_1911.jpeg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We weren't sure they were done because a few of them retained the square shape, but upon removing them from the oven, we noticed the golden brown tinge that showed they were most definitely baked enough. We let them sit for 2 minutes, as the package said, and as soon as the timer went off we each grabbed one to try. They were warm and gooey in the center, the melted chocolate chunks added needed texture, and there was copious amount of crunchy peanut butter and peanut butter chips. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These cookies were a revelation in a food product niche that many believe to only consist of one or two major brand names. Whenever we want something sweet, delicious, and easy to make, these will now be our new go to. We will be trying another flavor in the near future and highly recommend trying them if you too have a sweet tooth.</span></div>
Garden State Grubberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15446875539169102030noreply@blogger.com0