One Jersey Tomato's Journey

It's been two years OMG

2011-09-23T13:03:00.001-07:00

Chilling in the Coffee House

2009-10-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

I've been sitting here trying to catch up on the endless stream of food that I'd been blowing through. I've gone back to Weight Watchers since and the Dentist. The dentist made it painful to eat most things again. And weight watchers limits your ability to each. Period. It's also bumming out my vacation - can't enjoy a good meal out if you can't chew it.

The blurry mess on the top is the yummy eggs homefries and toast that went down well. Below that a Parisian from the day before that I had to deconstruct to eat. Ruining the combo until it because a distant memory I could not attain.

Pastrami on Rye

2009-10-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

This is the pastrami sandwich that I decided i wanted Saturday night when I succumbed to a pile of food court food out of hunger. It was not as spicy as I had hoped but the mustard helped.

Again I had a brunch partner

Why Don't Certain Meals Prompt Pictures

2009-10-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

I am suddenly reminded while catching up on food adventures that I had the Royal Crown Buffet after Mday. Shrimp and Crab leg, a little sushi and veggies. Funny I didn't remember to take pictures. I also didn't remember to take pictures of my pointed breakfast at the Red Oak. Oh but there is a pix of a beautiful sausage sandwich on the other camera. Funny I am only taking pictures of things that are unique illegal or potentially indulgent. I'm sure that means something but I don't feel like figuring it out right now.

A Buffet Alternative

2009-10-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

This was accidently buffetesque but fit the bill. This is a mall food plate. The mall was closing. I had a movie to watch can't remember which one now. I was hungry I paced about the food court stalls. The Cajun Cafe offers me a taste a bourbon chicken. It tastes good, undoubtedly better because I am hungry. The costs was less than $6. It came with a pile of chicken, low mein and plaintains. All sufficiently oily without being sickenly greasy. It was a mound of food eaten with wreckless abandon. It had the lower quality of most buffets, the oily joy of a good buffet and a joy that onlly comes with eating a quantity of food with taste.

Moo Shu Pork

2009-10-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

It is seeming to become painfully obviously that I have a Chinese food addiction that needs to be addressed. This is Moo Shu Pork at the Crown Palace. The waiter wraps them for you in a grand gesture. The meal was good. Moo Shu Pork is not my favorite but I had a dinner partner which always makes it far more worthwhile.

Trying to relax

2009-10-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

I've been out of town going on my fourth day now. Back to the quiet and beauty of the blue cottage, the mountains, the lack of requirements to do anything. Oh wait I agreed to review my e-mail and edit the newsletter while I was away. That's ruining quite a bit of the mood. I procrastinate and worry about it. Of course it's Wed and it's still now off my plate. I can't seem to unwind. Perhaps I am expecting too much. Maybe that's the point. Last time I expected nothing. Now I expect lots from the trip. A grounding a centering a refreshment of the soul preparing for the long winter ahead.

Monday the coffee house was closed. I made some bracelets. Edited the god damn newsletter.
Downers I left my tools home. I bought new ones at Manny's art supply store - expensive but good tools. I left my charger home. I brought the WORK camera charger but not my charger. How irritating. The universal charger didn't work so here I am with an $80 Vivitar to get the job done the notion of wandering without a camera is beyond my comprehension.

People just seem to relax here at the coffee house. The music is mellow. There is a grace and a fascination of people who just sit and banter over a cup of coffee with no sense of urgency about anything. I always feels I need to be somewhere doing something

Dim Sum Joy

2009-09-08T13:15:00.002-07:00

Red Oak Goes Greek

2009-09-08T13:15:00.001-07:00

A Day's Worth of Home Eats

2009-09-08T13:14:00.001-07:00

Buffet Part II

2009-09-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Buffet Part I

2009-09-08T12:54:00.002-07:00

Sweet Sweet Memories

2009-09-08T12:54:00.001-07:00

Gotta Love Dim Sum

2009-09-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sweets Are Not Always a Treat

2009-09-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

You can pass on the Toffee Coffee Limited Edition Donut at Dunkin. It looks nothing like it's picture. In fact it looks like a the nigh after a bad hangover. It tasted like a bumpy glaze. Not worth the calories my friends.

Don't forget when your co-workers cheese cake is stuff of legend, eat it while it's cold because it's less than memorable when you let it get warm and mushy.

Good Eats from Home

2009-08-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

The answer to mindless eating and tons of take-out is your own or someone else's home cooking. These are two meals I have taken to work. What they may lack in presentation is replaced by substance, cost and taste. Noodles and cabbage with butter a polish favorite that makes me smile and remind me of Grandma. And if you've never had chili with tater tots and cheese you don't know what you are missing.

I am trying to stay away from restaurants and take away Monday-Friday. My stomach likes me, my wallet is starting to talk to me again and my mind is settling into the notion. I refuse to be hungry.

TGIF Right Price, Right Portion?

2009-08-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

My lunch partner and I made it to Friday's this week. I headed right for the right price right portion menu they keep advertising - not necessarily good for you but smaller portion and small price This is a petite six ounce sirloin and Mac and Cheese. It' grown up Macaroni and cheese - heavy on the bitter cheese like blue cheese. It was good but unique and not what you think of for Mac and Cheese. It needs the bacon desperately to cut the bit. The creamy texture was there however. The steak I ordered rare was not rare enough but good enough to quell the continuing nagging sensation I have to eat beef. As for the portion. I finished it all and could have stopped 2/3 through and been comfortable but not enough for take away. I can't leave food on the plate and didn't want to drag around a tiny left over so I ate it. I wasn't Thanksgiving full but I wasn't hungry for hours which solidifies again that theory that protein and fat have the longed staying power on the Hungry Train.

I'd go again and try something else. It's a little loud though with all the screaming children.

Tumbling Downhill on the Fried Food Road

2009-08-24T14:40:00.001-07:00

Saturday was movie day. There was really no time for a full meal and I've grown tired of food immediately around the mall. Well there was time if I wanted to waited for the 9:40 movie which I did not. Anyway I wandered down to Barnes and Noble - not open yet. I looked at Ruby Tuesdays - not worth waiting in a line. I wandered past pretzels and smoothies and coffee and junk food at a kiosk - no interest. I thought about ice cream for dinner and decided I really don't crave Coldstone. I'm still good from the Dairy Queen Blizzard the other day.

I walked up and down the illustrious food court that seems so popular. I thought I could have fast food and eat it in the theater the way other people do. In the end I settled on Nathan's because I wanted the French fries and was enticed by the 2.99 3 tenders and fries meal. I don't think I was really hungry enough but didn't want to be hungry at 10 p.m. Then I spotted Fried Macaroni and Cheese bites - you heard me. Fried Macaroni and Cheese bits 4/$1.49 I had to know. The whole thing came to $4.80. To Go means your food in little sacks, no boats shoved in a plastic bag where condensation makes your food soggy quickly.

I don't know why I wanted Fried food again. I had it yesterday. I think Fried food is a slippery slope and perhaps one should stay away from it. Anyway. The chicken tasted like someones fish and had been sitting under the lights. The fries were meaty and fried well if not a little soggy from the bag I like thicker fries I've determined, not shoe strings.

Mac and Cheese bites? Don't bother. They cheese isn't any gooier. The breading is nothing special. In fact the texture was mealy and kind like eating stale strips of cornbread. It's Kraft mac and cheese covered in batter and deep fried. Pointless. No joy, no feeling of decadent food delight. If you must, stick to the fries, then WALK AWAY!

And the whole eating in the theater think was shot by a painfully crowded theater wedged between two big men. Pick old or unpopular movie if you plan to have a culinary affair in a dark theater. The movie was Inglorious Basterds. Brad Pitt great, ending satisfying and so Tarantino.

Is Fried Chicken Important To Me?

2009-08-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

I've tried to get away from too much take out. Especially at the night job. It gets expensive and you are willing to sacrifice quality for convenience. That's not good eats at all. Anyway a co-worker talked about Chicken King the night before which left me thinking about it on and off for a day. Did I like Fried Chicken, was it important to me? I remember I wasn't crazy about their ribs but their chicken I could not place my interest level. Once again I read and read the menu, which we of course happen to have on hand. I ordered the deluxe because I couldn't decide if I like breasts, wings or thighs. I was pretty sure I wasn't into the leg but it came with it.

Fried Chicken created illusions of coleslaw dancing around my head. Now you either love coleslaw or you hate it. When it's good it's very good and very simple. I ordered the medium, which means two bowls like the one below came to me. If I had know that I would have ordered the small. I have trouble determining desired/needed/wanted quantity on take-out and consistently over order. Then I fell obliged to eat whatever comes. Especially this time because it came in plates and blows with aluminum foil in a paper bag. No containers to seal and dutifully tuck in the fridge for tomorrow.

It seemed well fried with a thin coating of fry on the skin. I seemed to want way more crunch then I got. Reminders of crispy KFC came to my head, but that's just processed silliness. The breast was tender. I wouldn't go as far as juicy but tender. The wing seemed to have little skin and little point. I think they should be reserved for enjoying from a roast turkey or slathered in buffalo wing sauce. The leg actually easy to eat because of the handle. I didn't get to the thigh until later in the evening. I do not recommend cold fried chicken thighs. They are fatty than breasts, it congeals into the mean and become a greasy gloppy taste in your mouth. The skin was not crispy enough on it's own to warrant being eating at room temperature either.

Now the coleslaw funny enough was just slaw mix and a bunch of mayo. What I did find as a memorable food moment was a piece of chicken breast, with fry skin attached, hot sauce drizzled on it and eating with a forkful of coleslaw. Heaven in the mouth.

Oh the fries. They can fry a fry well. I think it's because they are meatier fries. The oil it was cooked in was fresh buy a fry was a fry. All and all ok for takeout but the quest for Fried Chicken that make swear you'll never eat an other's chicken continues.

The thing to remember here is fried chicken breast, hot sauce and coleslaw taste good together.

Worth ordering through if you like good straight forward chicken.

Chicken King,110a Brighton Ave LONG BRANCH, NJ 07740(732) 229-6600

Taiwanese Take Out - Memorable Eats in a Bowling Alley

2009-08-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those great foodie moments when you're convinced you've found the find a lifetime? Enter China Palace. a Taiwanese restaurant tucked into a bowling alley. That's right a bowling alley. From the outside you'd swear it was closed. You walk through the doors with Chinese writing on the old bar sign. It's a dark bar with old-school red Asian restaurant booth. Four women are ordering lunch in the back corner. I saddle up the bar (by the way it is stocked with liquor?) and ask for menu. I ask what's good.

She tells me it's Taiwanese. I said I know I've heard about the place and wanted to try take out. What did she recommend? She didn't know, take my time and read the menu. It was way too hot for take out noodle soups of which there were many. I examine the menu many time and settle on spicy pork with tofu. I had read about this place on a blog that tried the fried meatball and mushroom sticky rice I was tempted to order the same but through a spicy stir fry was a clearer example for me.

I overlooked her limited hostess skills and ordered. At the last minute I through in and a Fried Meatball. She tells me I won't like it and it's not what I think. Now she has an opinion. I decide not to debate it. She tells me I'll like the tofu. I figure next time I'll order in and try it. I know it's a meat filled bun with sauce.

Anyway. The order comes to $8.50. She looks unhappy again that it's a card and not cash. So bring cash if you go. I got it back to the office and opened the lid. The smell was definitely Asian but different then every other Cantonese place you find around. The rice was long plump and round. The brown sauce had nice background heat, fermented black beans, coriander seeds, scallions, little chilies, and ginger. Bits of tender pork full of pork flavor laced the dish. The star was thick slabs of creamy tofu that picked up the earthy flavor of a dish. A definite repeat and a food journey worth repeating.

And yes you can really hear the balls hitting the pins in the bowling alley on the other side of the wall

Something Sweet?

2009-08-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

I'm craving something sweet after a wonderfully salty Tawainese lunch (Pictures coming later). Funny thought I don't want a Dunkin Donuts donut, I don't want convenience food snacks. I want something from real live bakery. There was no food from home today so I thought long and hard until I settled on food from China Palace, which I heard about online and couldn't believe it was as unique as suggested. It was good. Very good. Very different than most American Chinese restaurants and very Asian. I wonder I have have time to run to J&M bakery around the corner on my way?

Comtemplating Calories

2009-08-18T08:39:00.001-07:00

A smaller body needs less calories said a Weight Watchers Leader
A tormented body needs more calories to soothe the soul said a blogger.
How do you balance the two?

Dairy Queen Tag A Long Blizzard Hmmmm

2009-08-16T22:49:00.000-07:00

A medium DQ blizzard made with Girl Scout Tag Alongs and Peanut butter eaten outside on a bench with a cool breeze and nothing to do but enjoy the ice cream. It tasted heavenly. The peanut butter was right, the vanilla smooth and cream. 4.70. Eating ice cream on a summer night - almost priceless. Would have been better if I wasn't alone. - or maybe that's not true and noise would have ruined it.

It was eaten after a pleasant dinner made for me - pasta, butter, garlic and chicken sausage. I was smart enough not to have seconds and left to fill the craving created by the unsatisfying void of the peanut butter milk shake. It's been many years since I've been to the dairy Queen. They have signs for other things you want to eat. I gotta find somebody that's had a brownie earthquake to know how it is or it's gonna have to be me like the rainbow cookie cake.

Oh and can I just note I ordered the medium, not the large. Not the small, but not the large. A step in a positive direction. I'd like to think so.

Shakes and Onion Rings Don't Fix Sadness or Anger

2009-08-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

Chocolate peanut shake was the featured shake of the month. I was not in a good mouth. I ate with my anger. A chocolate peanut butter milk shake, onion rings and a cheddar bacon burger. I thought about the burger because I wanted the 7.50 movie ticket the onion rings and the shake were a hope that they would make me feel better - comfort the soul if you will. They did not. I drank the shake quick. Too much whipped cream. The onion rings were underdone. The burger was reasonable. They do have good bacon. The burger a bit overcooked and I don't understand why people insist on trying to melt cheddar. Too much lettuce and too much lettuce with hard parts.

I was just feeling miserable and impossible though because I really like the restaurant. I didn't even turn around to watch the dance. It was also the tight booth that makes me feel gigunda. I was still angry when it was over and sad...and uncomfortably full. It made me ill about 6:30 a.m. the next day. I think dairy and beef together make me sick.

BTW I saw District 9.

Far East Taste- Shhh! A Great Find

2009-08-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

I've driven past Far East Taste a thousand times. I thought it was closed with it's tired little sign about Pan Asian cuisine. A co-worker told it was open, to die for and a well kept secret. OMG. You drive around back. The entrance is non-descript and encourages you not to come in it not for the best of stickers all over the door, which is right next to the kitchen. You walk around the corner to a counter. She said Did you Call? I said no and she showed me to a seat. The decor is just silly. The carpet was brown industrial. There's weak hand painted pictures of food on the walls.

The meal did start with he standard American crunchy noodle and duck sauce. Funny though even the duck sauce was spiked with cinnamon, etc that reminded me of apple butter.

I scanned the menu for a long time unsure what the hell to order.

I asked the waitress what's good. She suggested Thai shrimp with basil and a fish dish - which she pushed on every customer. Very good I trust I'm not feeling fish. I wind up with a special chicken with string beans with red curry paste.

I started with dumplings. I meant to say no but I was curious. The dumplings were small flavorful and just yummy. I meant to eat half, I ate them all. The sauce was dumpling sauce was a good with a heat background that I loved. The vegetables in the dumplings were very flavorful and fresh. Come to think of it you could actually taste vegetables which I don't remember with other dumplings. The pastry was light and thin. There were 10 b/c they are smaller than usual.

Dinner was just superb - kicked the the ass of the Thai place down the street. The string beans were perfectly cooked a bit of crunch but just soft enough inside. The chicken was very very tender. The curry paste was thick and spicy and flavorful. Flavorful and spicy is always a treat. I opted for white rice because I wanted to see it. I was right it was a long grain rice cooked well. It was think a bit toothsome. I meant to stop eating twice and just keep pushing green beans into my mouth with a happiness and a joy.

I'm thinking about going back very soon. I have the menu in my bag. Oh yes I was so impressed I took the every little I had left home with a small hot and sour soup. Unlike any hot and sour I have very had. It was hot and sour with lemon grass, cubes of chestnuts. I it was outrageous.

A definite repeat - oh yes - and all for $20. Who said good eats has to be expensive.

Calzones Can't Take You Home

2009-08-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

I had to go into the office to get some work done. I decided to order in. I decided upon the new Pizza place I heard about in East Point. No we take credit signs on the door led me across the street to Bella Napoli - where it was packed for take out casual eating and a few couples in the dining room. When I was a kid I treasured the trips with my father to collect the ocassional take out. Pizza in Staten Island came from Sal's a roundish building. I loved to watch them cook, the big ovens and big pizza peels, the yelling and the men in the stark white T-shirts. Dad and I would talk about whatevever. He could order a calzone with ham in addition to the plain pizzas, remember not toppings. He would let me have a piece sometimes. I remember it was small but filled with melted cheese, ham and ricotta. I like the ricotta.

I looked at the pizzas already made and was going to get to slices but they didn't interest me. The whole calzone thing came back to me. I wanted to see if it really made me connect to somewhere pleasant. The man was obxious to the girl who helped me because she charged the wrong price. He asked me if I wanted a medium I said sure, not knowing what that meant. The price was irrelevant. She handed me the box and it landed in my hand with a thud and strained my wrist. It look to hands to hold the box. It was baked, not fried.

It was freaking huge. I should have said small. Way bigger than I ever expected and therefore worth the price. I thought about cutting it in half but decided to eat until I was done. A mistake. The tomato sauce was oily spicy and good. The calzone was doughy, the ricotta turned watery. However the domestic ham turned sweet which was interesting. I wonder if the salt sweats out during cooking. Anyway it didn't evoke memories of time gone by. I was not transported and I didn't feel my daddy's love. I did however demolish the majority of the calzone during the work session save some dough remains from one of the edges. I was way to full and pushed the rest in when I thought I could breathe slight. The experience interesting. The meal filling. I got through the work. I suppose we could talk about why I have to consume serious quantities of food to get work done but that's also another post. The quest for the perfect calzone and recreation of a loving parental moment continues

Charlie Brown Steakhouse Lobser Fest - A perennial favorite

2009-08-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

What could be wrong with a lobster dinner with your favorite girl. It was yummy. It was fun. Funny it's the potato salad with it that makes me feel like summer time at a lobster bake at the water like you seen on tv. I've never been to a real one even though I like at the shore but it makes me smile. I'm not sure why you dip it in butter you loose the taste of the lobster. Good eats. Nuff said

And I just had to find room for pineapple upside down cake with cream cheese filling caramel sauce and ice cream. Filling great cake. Cake moist. Ice Cream premium, love the cherry. I always wish there was lots more brown sugar like Addie's. Maybe I can get T to make me a pineapple upside down cake? Sweet and gooey with lots of brown sugar.

I'm sure glad we found the time to go before the promotion ended.

Red Oak Diner - Hawaiian Turkey Burger - A Treat

2009-08-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

I had eyed this surprising combination during another visit the Red Oak. It was truly surprising finger licking make your mouth happy enjoyable. You have the option to have beef or chicken or turkey in the burger section. I couldn't image it with beef and I think you'd loose the ease of eating you get with a turkey burger if you went with chicken. The grilled pineapple is sweet and brings in a charred caramelized flavor, the Canadian bacon is salty and adds nice texture, rounded out with orange marmalade, they called it chutney, the bit of red onion, the mealiness of ripe tomato and the green crunch of lettuce. Outstanding. The combo sounded so odd I had to know. I gave up fries for T's vegetables and didn't miss them a bit. You eat fries because they are there but they are not necessary in terms of portion and it's annoying they come with bread crumbs. I think it was a 10 burger. Well worth the time and the mess to eat it all with joy. I look forward to more of their seemingly bizarre combinations

Aligado

2009-08-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

It's driving me slightly batty that the photos load from last to first, which takes you through meals backwards. The cost was about $20 for the whole meal. I've driven past it a thousand times. The place always looks a little odd but it's been there for a long time and it's seems to have a reasonable number of cars near it. The reviews online are mixed. The decor is not special but the service is polite and impeccable. Move your plate around like your done just for fun and see what happens.

I read the menu for a while looking just at Japanese food. I though the deal was it was Japanese and Thai until I finally turned the page to find another whole page of Thai. I expected more fusion but instead I had two full menus to choose from. I was thinking bento box, then a series of appetizers from both cuisines. Then I settled on green curry, which came with the soup. The promise of spicy food always draws me in. I considered tamarind duck and beef satay. Still I settled on the spicy green curry.

Anyway this miso soup is the best I have had yet. You can taste the miso. You can taste the seaweed and appreciate it's texture because the pieces are large enough. It's just salty enough and gritty enough. Little cubes of tofu add texture to the experience without imparting more flavor.

The curry was very large. It came with a bowl of rice. The chicken was very tender melt in your mouth make you happy tender. The eggplant was soft sweet and out of this world. I drank the broth for a while with the spoon, eating the meat with chop sticks, wondering why the gave me so much liquid. It was hot. Then the waiter asked me if I like rice. I said yes. He said you are supposed to put the rice into the curry. Then he put the spoon in my bowl and stepped back. The change in the was amazing. The rice made the green coconut curry creamy and mellowed the chilies to a pleasant heat. I enjoyed the meal so much more I was so glad he had the nerve to show me. He noted I had taken a picture so he asked me if I like it. I said yes and that i take a picture of everything new that I eat.

I was full but it was so good I asked for the menu again, considering Japanese. I gave into the tempura cheesecake, also on the menu at Ahi Sushi. Since it tasted so good here I figured why not. I had to know. I don't think I like tempura batter. It's bland, thin and light in color - not what I think of when I think of fried food. I keep thinking of the fried vegetable tempura I used to get at JP Little's when I was a vegetarian in college and the rest of them would get burgers doing mega role playing sessions. That must have been a poor example of true tempura because nothing place creates the taste I expected.

Anyway back to tempura cheesecake. It is smaller than you expect. The first bite off the thin tip of the cheese cake make it's purpose clear. The sweet creamy cheesecake had grown way and deliciously cream and rich - make you smile and wonder where this delight had been your whole life. Then it fades out. The cake is obviously frozen so it withstands the frying. The rest grows cold, hard and the center is still frozen. Pleasant cheesecake but the point is lost. The tempura is thin, boring and it's tasteless crunch does not add to the experience. I can only assume tempura is tasteless so that you appreciate the food's taste inside.

I also watched them arrange sushi in a wooden ship for a table of six. It was beautiful and the care they took fascinating. I wish I had enough friends to order such a delight.

The fact that the whole experience was only $20 was all the better. Good food does not need to be expensive but I am compiling a list of more expensive places I hope to encounter but that could include dressing and being worried about how I look

All in all a good experience and I plan to return.

Pizza Cravings 101 - temporarily subdued.

2009-08-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

Pizza, pizza pizza. It took quite a while to work my way to pizza. I drove around for quite a while before settling on pizza on this day. Some day I am having real trouble figuring out what I want so I wait I wander and sometimes I investigate. I had been through Aldis almost bought a healthy choice chicken Margaretta steam bowl but put it back uninterested. I had driven past scores of fast food, considered my favorite pork chops at the diner but came up with nothing. Still I had to have something. I would be mean and hungry later at the night shift. I settled on pizza at Atillo's where we have ordered before. Two slices came to about $6. Once I saw the size of the slices I regretted ordering two - they looked SO BIG. Yes that sounds funny from me but it was true. It was good pizza, not great pizza but good pizza. I especially enjoyed the mushroom cooked on it. It reminded me of half anchovy half mushroom pizzas with John. It reminded me that we couldn't order toppings on pizza as a kid and put cold canned mushrooms on top of plain pizza when we brought it home on special price day. Mushrooms cooked on your pizza simply don't compare. I ate the sausage and pepper slice later. It was OK. The sausage was dry and the peppers overcooked. It was OK by then. The search for killer pizza continues but I was glad to find something that I wanted to eat.

Today I thought about pizza again and eyed up the pizza the mall in the food court but it looked tired. I read in Jersey Magazine and somebody and Elda's pizza in Asbury Park is worth the trip. I haven't actually planned driving trips around food but it's coming

I should mention that I ate it in the car while reading Geneen Roth. I'm staring to think she is a very brave, very smart lady and I'm glad she has written so many books. She deserves a post all to her own but I am working on this notion that not being on a diet does not mean being on a binge and that what you needed yesterday is not what you need today and that if you shake off your old persona people really do worry that they are dismissing their connection to their family. Hmph

Red Oak Diner Recommendation So So

2009-08-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

I simply couldn't decide what I wanted to eat. I eat here often because my occasional eating partner likes it here and can stick to her diet while addressing her food allergies. I went with old reliable - what's your favorite thing on the menu. The boy loved the southwestern wrap so here it is. Grilled chicken, a mass of bacon and cheese with a spicy chipotle sauce. The sauce unfortunately all rested on the bottom so I didn't get the point until the end. Although there was something ridiculous decadent and over the top about eating a pile of bacon chicken and melted cheddar. I thought I was done at half, but my dining partner was surprised I had not finished. I misinterpreted the point so I dutifully finished it and spent the rest of the day visiting too many bathroom rooms. I think it was the grease and the cheese - over the top even for my crappy eating habits. If I were to have it again I'd order more sauce on the size which is apparently what Jeffrey does. This was my first so-so experience with the server recommendation. Still I think the fault was my for not asking for sauce. I just thought it wasn't really as hot as the boy promised and I couldn't taste it. I can see why it's a young man's favorite however. I was also glad to see the portion was not unreasonable.

Ahi Sushi Round 1

2009-08-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

The first time I ate here was a bust. The miso soup lacks taste. The dressing on my American salad was sickly sweet and way too much. The sushi was too raw for me,mushy and not hot enough. I was honestly amazed there may be a whole cuisine that I do not like. Now I have been back - to the Sunday brunch a great deal for 16 dollars and had a much better experience but alas my camera was out of battery. So we'll have to wait until next time for the better report. Why I was even bothered by the fact that I did not like something was unnecessary but nonetheless relevant. I like California rolls at the buffets, snack trays at the supermarket so why not the real deal. I was so desperate in fact I tried the tempura - bland and boring but good dipping sauce.

A return visit revealed to me clear soup - tasteless but seemed to have a point. Crunchy salad with crab leg, dumplings that were decent crispy salmon skin roll that was too fishy, shrimp tempura that was annoying to eat but I loved the Christmas roll and plan to go back again one of these days. I'm tempted to find pictures on the Internet that demonstrate what I ate but it won't be the same. So you'll just have to wait.

The rest of this story is that I didn't eat in Eatontown and went driving around in search of something new. I drove down 35, I remember Tom's Fishery on 35 in Aberdeen where we used to stop when I was a kid on the way to Keansburg. What I am learning is that eating out is an experience that brings me joy since I was a child - happy birthday dinners where I could have whatever I wanted even if you couldn't take it with you in a doggy bag. You could try new things you've never had before. At in new places. No one fought, no one argued. There a suggestion out there that is a need to recreate a happy place for me. Interesting. I'm working with it. I just hope I have other happy places there or maybe i don't and that's ok?

Red Oak Diner - Rainbow Cookie Cake Mystery Solved

2009-08-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

You've seen a Rainbow cookie and if you are like me you love them. But have you seen a Rainbow Cake?

After the success of the meal at Ruby Tuesday, I saw a movie, I can't remember which one. Maybe I should started writing that down to take note of the fact that I do something besides eat in search of joy and entertainment, not much but a few things. Anyway, I stopped at the Red Oak dinner to have the cake that looks like the Italian Cookie that's been calling me for a while. It was about 10:30 at night after the movie. There was rock music in the lounge you could hear it in the dinner but still enjoy the meal in a diner atmosphere which was appreciated.

Anyway, the cake pays homage to the cookie but it's still cake. It was good job without a doubt and I'm glad I experienced it it. The filling is right, the strength of the flavors within the layers of cake was a little weak but there and the cake was a dense moist cake but did not have soaked dense flavor of the cookie. It had mocha icing around the outside and was covered with a heavy sheet of ganache or maybe modeling chocolate that separated from the cake as you ate it.

Funny I told Denise about it who knew exactly what I was talking about. She was so glad to know, know she doesn't need to eat the cake. I felt like I accomplished something and had food knowledge that would help someone else. She mentioned the cookies themselves were to die for at Normandie bakery. Once someone bought her a whole sheet of the cookie as a cake. Imagine that.

If you love the cookie, try the cake.

Ruby Tuesday - A Reasonably sized meal

2009-08-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

This is another trip to Ruby Tuesdays. I decided to give it another shot after a poor salad bar and mediocre burgers. It's in the mall, convenient and the same location as my movie plus I thought I wanted ribs and thought I could satisfy a trip to big eds with this. I didn't order the salad bar. I was hungry and it was a bit of a wait - less than 10 minutes but I would have been through a plate and a half of salad bar - pasta salads, etc, very little lettuce of course. I told myself that if I made it to dinner, ate it and was still hungry I could have dessert. Same price as the salad bar. I made it and was proud of my control. I order the half rack, not the whole rack it come with broccoli and I wanted french fries instead of mashed potatoes.

The broccoli was well, steamed broccoli. I was grateful they didn't douse it in vinegary Italian dressing like the yellow rose diner but it was boring a bit discolored in places which made me think it was old. The fries were salty, but that's what I wanted out of them. The ribs were falling off the bone but not flavorful enough, not meaty enough and too burnt for me. I ate it all and was sufficiently full to my joy but it didn't satisfy my hankering for a memorable set of ribs. I'm still fearing Big Eds is in my future with the battle to go all-you-can-eat or not. The lesson here is really that I survived without the salad bar ate a portion that looked reasonable and didn't walk away starving.

By the way I heard recent about a man who went into a gym and killed women. It was on a blog for a long time and it seems that no one read or you would think they would have told someone, contacted someone. I wonder if anyone reads, I wonder if anyone has any interest in this journey. Part of the point to this was that someone would find it and it would help someone. Maybe if it just helps me that's enough.

A Greasy Mess isn't always the Answer!

2009-08-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the greasiest mess I could find at Perkins. I was pissed. Really pissed and decided to eat dinner out. The reasons are really irrelevant. The point is the meal. It was greasy. It was fully of crispy fried bits of goodness. Grease running down your your face - ruining your favorite organge shirt because you tried to get so lost in the moment to distract you from your anger - salty beef mess of a meal. And yes folks I ate it. Ate it all. It made me nauseous and yes it ruined my favorite shirt

Two big blobs of grease that won't go away. It pissed me off so I took a picture. I tangled and I lost miserably. I debate I've tried to make my journey pictorial. I think it's helping. After this you are seeing smaller meals in sensible portion and it's made me think alot about the value of what I am eating. The point of the eating Interestingly if it's good enough to take a picture of then it's OK to eat. If I'm not then is there always a point? This is a question that remains deep unanswered but evolving. There are days that I don't take one picture. Don't have one moment of appreciation for the point of what I am consuming. It's as though it is not worth acknowledging. Or maybe it's just not memorable. Those are different from each other. I'm not sure which is which and when I am doing which. And are there things I simply don't want to remember? I'm thinking that's a big fat yes

http://www.perkinsrestaurants.com/menu/burgers

NEW! Tangler Burger*
A burger patty with Cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, crunchy Onion Tanglers®, Grey Poupon® Bistro sauce, fresh lettuce, tomato and pickles.NEW! Tangler Burger

Don't get me wrong I am a fan of Perkins. Good price, good services, respectable eats. I just made a crappy choice

Godiva - falls from grace

2009-08-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

You hear the word Godiva you think OMG decadent to die for chocolate joy. You think bits of yummy rich chocolate so it must be even better in a cold drink? Not so much. Too many bits of icy chunks caramel that freezes and sticks to the side of your glass. True Godiva flavor is there but if you seeking a decadent treat that satisfies you sweet tooth for at least a week this isn't it

Seaport Diner - Those were the days

2009-08-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

What you are looking at above is the quintessential cup of diner coffee. Strong, acidic and holds up to half and half. Starbucks can't replace the classic diner coffee. I didn't think it still existed.

The classic breakfast - fresh fluffy eggs, corned beef hash and real home fries with butter. The portion is human, the price was still less than six dollars. If you miss the tiny diners that your grandmother used to visit...this the place to visit. I plan on going back for dinner one of these days. However the folks that run this place are apparently as old as you grandmother and close by about 8 p.m.

Yellow Rose Diner - Respectable Eats

2009-08-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

This is the banana supreme cake for desert, little slice, yummo. First you think odd name and why are offering me this cake along with the stock bread pudding, rice pudding and jell-0 but OK you got to know. It's a beautiful banana flavoring - not fake a alcohol taste, it's ridiculously moist and there is mocha icing between the layers, a cream cheesy icing on top and chocolate. It make the whole meal worth it. Made you wonder why they didn't give you a bigger piece.

This the main course. It was special - Pork Chops Murphy. They added jalapenos for me to make it spicy. They "Murphy" part was good - tangy, spicy and fresh. The Pork chops were a little dry and a bonier than I had hoped for but there were three of them. I enjoyed it sufficiently ate the left over the next day because I could not finish it. The baked potato was added to the Murphy. The broccoli however. I could have done without the vinegary Italian dressing taste. Funny the Murphy makes me think of Murphy's in Red Bank - been an eon since I've been in there. And the Pork Chops make me think of the Raceway Diner in West Long Branch. Put those two things together and you could breathe easy.

The soup was non description not enough seasoning, not enough salt. They know how to make a roux but the fun stops there...and the rolls, well they were just rolls

This story ends with a pretty price of 12.99

Five Guys Needs A Sixth Guy

2009-08-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

OK Five Guys Burgers can get crossed of the list of I wonder what it tastes like. It was recommended by a co-worker. Its a chain. Inside there are lots of articles on the wall from other cities about how wonderful and cheap it is. The double is the regular burger, so I got the regular one. All the toppings are free which may be where the value comes in. I went plain thinking the burger and the bun were going to be worth savoring on their own. The burger tastes like beef, it was crumbly, clearly not over pressed, cooked medium well. Other than that it's a just a burger. I didn't cry. I did not declare this is the best burger I've ever eaten. It was so so.

The fries are fresh creative and yummy Cajun style. They stack their potato bags along around the store like they are special. A sandwich board tell you the city and state from which your spuds hail. Neato. They have a bit of a crunch on the outside and a nice mealy potato taste on the inside. The Cajun adds a nice heat. The kicker is that the come stuffed in a Styrofoam cup in a paper bag. Circles of grease emerge on the paper bag, promising goodness.

And the iced teak was gold peak - aka not fresh brewed, but refills were free.

Was it all worth about 8 bucks? I didn't think so. I occasionally think I'd like the fries again or perhaps I should try again with the toppings of my choice but Five Guys needs a Sixth Guy who knows how to cook a burger that makes you cry.

Apparently it's one of those things you love or could care less. I've heard a fifty fifty split on the burgers and but the fries are good..Check it out for yourself.

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Crown Palace - A Reoccurring Love Affair

2009-06-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

But can we talk again about Crown Palace. Hands down best Chinese restaurant I eaten in. This is Chef's special soup. Good rich broth - a wonton, a shrimp, a roast pork piece, water chestnuts and mushrooms. Dinner in a bowl and a good deal at 4.75 when you consider what's in it.

After that was imperial duck - I am so done with duck at the Buffet, actually I am done with buffets except Pizza Lulu. Killer alfredo and scary cheap. Rich flavor but deeper and more complicated than dark meat chicken or turkey. Full flavored and fills the mouth with strong meat taste like german food. Filling good and large for less than 15 bucks. Took 2 meals to eat it.

Above that is grand marnier shrimp. No I didn't get both for me. I actually had a guest this time. Great fun and nice to chat while you eat. Crown Palace has multiple locations in New York and New Jersey. If you find one be sure to stop in.

Marina Diner - A Failed Blind Chocolate date

2009-06-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

I keep going back. I want to love them. After the crazy waitress who didn't want to be bothered to serve me followed by the very nice waitress, followed by the sign that says 24 hours but they only mean during the summer months, followed by dry chocolate cake. We finish with poorly combined gummy chocolate brownie cheesecake. Sad but I was living with it because I came for the WiFi. Guess what he said to me nicely. Yeah mine never works either only Apple computers seem to work. So I paid my 6.40 for the cake and the iced tea and left. Phooey.

Chocolate Lovers Dream Date

2009-06-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

Ladybug Smile

2009-06-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

No I didn't buy it but it's cute isn't it. It was $39.99 and I couldn't justify a weekender bag. I don't travel enough and I wouldn't replace my backpack.

Sunday Food Adventure - S. Philly Steak Fries and Jamaicia Me Crazy Benedict

2009-06-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a food adventure by accident I suppose. The good news I wasn't eating alone even through no one was sharing my treats with me. This is the afternoon snack. They call them loaded fries. They are from South Philly Steak Fries. This one is Ranch and Bacon. Good god they taste wonderful. No doubt. It is a large serving and it is Philly. The ranch is sour creamy goodness with fresh herb flavors. The bacon is fresh cooked. And it is layered throughout the serving, not just on top. The fries are fresh cut and have a very yummy earthy mealy taste. Not earthy like dirt just the way you expect a good baked potato to taste but it's fried and cripsy. I won't imagine how many calories it was but I'll tell you that it was yummo. Yes ok. It looks messy but it's good stuff. Not something one should eat regularly but good stuff and I'm glad to add it to the list.
http://www.villapizza.com/South-philly-steaks-and-fries.asp

Jamaica Me Crazy Benedict at the Red Oak Diner. It seems important to try new things and not revisit old foods I've tasted before regardless of how good the are. I like to have some stuff again don't get me wrong but I get annoyed when I spend too many days too many calories and too much energy on crappy food. This is Chorizo sausage and crab cake on English muffin topped with 2 poached eggs and ranchero sauce. It's a good portion for $10. It's creative. It was interesting. It was tasty but I'm not adding to the must have again before I die list. The ranchero sauce was sufficiently spicy. The English Muffin needed to be toasted me. It need to be a bit crispier. Now I don't like crispy toast but all the wet ingredients made the muffin soggy. The crab cake was good. - again some spice, good flavor, good crab meat texture in the patty. The chorizo was grilled in half. It should have been cut, ripped out of the casing and crumbled on top. The poached eggs were good and the yolks were pleasant. The Red Oak has changed a lot in the last decade. This latest set of owners has taken it to move of a Bistro Lounge Diner. A lot of the food is good and there's lots to try. www.redoakdiner.com. By the way their potatoes have very little taste. My lunch guest said it's because they are not fried. That may be good for you but the way they taste they are not worth eating. But that's back to the old hash brown discussion where we started this adventure. Where oh where will it end and will I ever be done. I realize that's a personal choice. I'm just not there yet.

Pretty Food Returns - Thai Chili

2009-06-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

After a week of prepared foods that I have procured from walmart in an effort to control my restaurant obsession. BTW - taste of India Good. Those Bistro Pasta meals are nasty. Anyway after a week of all that it was time for something pretty and taste. Enter Thai Chili in Eatontown. They have a sister restaurant in Spotswood if that's your neck of the woods. It's GOOD!!!!

51. Spicy Noodle (Chicken, Pork or Beef) -10.95
stir-fried flat noodle, bell pepper, carrot, mushrooms, string bean, basil, onion with Thai Chilies spicy sauce. I had the pork. Such a different experience from Pad Thai which is what everyone thinks of when they think of Thai food it seems. The noodles were thick and chewy and crazy broad. You could taste the stir fry. The pork had a beautiful sear. Good, not sure it's my favorite but good. It's my third trip already. I had the Pad Thai, the Ginger (Beef as meat choice) and Thai Spring rolls. If you like spicy food. Tell them you mean it or you'll get a weak heat and need hot sauce - crushed vinegary chili paste or chili powder. Adding chilies after cooking does not do the same as when it's cooked with the meal. The flavor of the chillies open up, become full and the heat is crazy intense.

18. Tom Ka Kung 5.95
shrimp soup with galangal, lemon grass, mushrooms, bell pepper, coconut milk in lime juice.
Yummy. So good you'll crave it. The clear both is much spicier. The coconut milk rounds out the heat nicely. See the chili oils floating in it. You'll also gt three medium shrimp. The mushroom and the peppers and fresh and just soft enough. Still very fresh tasting.

Chipotle - More Great But Ugly Food

2009-06-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Tell people you know where there is a Chipotle Restaurant, they will proclaim joy and great food memories will emerge. A Chipotle has opened at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown. The Guacamole they'll proclaim. Their eyes will dance with images of burritos dancing in their head. So I went on Monday after getting my nails done before returning to work. It is yummy. The guacamole is creamy. It also comes in bowl, and salad. Next time is a bowl. You can keep the skin - even though it's good. I'm really interested in the inside. This is a vegetarian burrito with black beans, rice, guacamole, sour cream, hot salsa and cheese. It tasted great but I am unhappy that it is ugly. I think the bowl will be prettier.

http://www.chipotle.com

Back in NJ - It's Greek to Me - Yummo

2009-06-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

So I got back home safe and sound. I was hungry and cooking is simply not an option. Here's a gyro from It's Greek to me. Funny this isn't a very pretty dish compared to all the others but tasted great. I think the hard core garlic of the Naan at Suruchi made me made me crave the Tazikki. I wish I would have taken the picture before i unwrapped it but then all you see is sauce and pita. Oh well yummy is yummy. Check out the menu. I think next time I'm trying the moussaka. BTW they have free Wifi so we can eat in house and type until our hearts are content. On this day I do take out. I had my fill of eating out on my vacation and just wanted to chill in the pretty backyard with the new chairs and umbrella.
http://www.itsgreektome.com/menu.html

Random Beauty

2009-06-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

Fragrant Wild Roses Outside the Cabin

Isn't peanut cool. He's the leader at the cottages

These flowers are just hanging outside the Morning Brew in High Falls

Sunday Afternoon in New Paltz

2009-06-13T20:55:00.000-07:00

I started at the bottom right after the bridge. There was a small farmer's market with the most beautiful sweet strawberries EVER. They were so full of flavor. I bought two pints to eat when I got home. I had them with some of the pure honey that I got from the coop. Pure honey isn't strained and has yummy crunchy crystallized parts in it. The places that include flowers these days are odd to me. The flowers which have cool colors are in front of the Dunkin Donuts on the way to the Thruway.

http://www.newpaltzfarmersmarket.com/meadowviewfarm/index.html

If your in New Paltz. Stop by for killer produce

Sunday - The final meal in High Falls

2009-06-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

Admittedly my least favorite meal in High Falls but good nonetheless. Good casual atmosphere. i stood there and read the menu for a while seeing if there was anything unique to eat. I almost left until I saw the homemade corned beef hash with two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and toast. I've never had hash that didn't' come out of a can. What a treat to bite into actual pieces of corned pieces with fresh home fries and onion. I think it may be a bit like fresh brewed iced tea and ice tea mix. They are supposed to be the same concept but taste nothing alike and are both enjoyable in their own right. The coffee is totally standard - weak and didn't deserve half and half. I longed for the Morning Brew coffee waiting for me in the car that I picked up on the way. The breakfast was good and filling. At night they have live music booze and dinner. The name of the meal is Buffy's Choice and it cost $10.

Saturday Night Dinner - Suruchi

2009-06-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

Suruchi means good taste in Indian. It an mellow place with subtle sand colored walls. They have your choice of tables or traditional indian style seating. I had my own single indian style seating. You take off your shoes. And sit on indian style. Behind you is an fabric covered back of a bench. It gets a little uncomfortable to sit that way for long periods with your legs tucked under the table if you are not used to it.

http://suruchiindian.com/

The Best Indian Restaurant I have ever eaten in - Church Street in New Paltz. Fortunately for me I had light appetizers at the Brauhaus so there was room for Indian. I still had to take it home because the portions are huge.

Garlic Naan. The garlic is strong and the pretty is puffy warm with just the right amount of chew. For the life of me I can't remember the name of my dinner but it came in a spinach sauce it was spicy had chicken and was to die for. Like all good New Paltz establishments, they had organic brown basati rice but it didn't seem authentic enough so I went with the white rice and was glad. Interesting the rice is flavored in a way that it has a floral taste. Very cool and very complimentary to the spicy dinner. I found the name of the dish on the website. Palak Dosa- Savory pureed creamed spinach w/ tomatoes 11.95

A chai tea with a rich round mouth feel that makes you realize Chai at Starbucks is just a sham - but not to worry - they still make a helluva cup of coffee.

Papadam Comes with Tamarind, Chutney and Onion Relish. If you've never had tamarind it's a whole new taste senations to the mouth. Tart, savory, hints of sweetness, it seems so complex

Here's the how it comes. Pappadam is made with lentil Flour. This part is free and comes like rolls on the table.

Mountain Brauhaus - Saturday Afternoon

2009-06-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Then it was snack time. The Mountain Brauhaus is right at the base of the Mountain. A book I just ready about Skinny Girl, I think, talked about eating the appetizer to leave room for other tasty things in life. Since I don't have someone to share with it's not a bad idea. There are definetly times when the appetize sounds more enticing than the dinnes themselves. There was a rabbit green curry soup. It was cheesy not very spicy for a curry and the rabbit - tasted like dark meat chicken. It was good but it still tasted like chicken. The other dish is a lamb sausage with ginger and lemon zest, with a sunchoke pancake and beet horseradish sauce. It was moist it was tender and the flavor was very strong. It coated your whole mouth. It wasn't bad, just different with an intense meat flavor that you expect from German Food. We ate both felt like we had a sufficient foodie adventure and left without feeling crazy fully. Oh yes there was some brown bread with raisins like the stuff you get at a salad bar but better and the flavor holds up to the strength of butter.
Who doesn't love a link to more info? http://www.mountainbrauhaus.com/

Saturday - Lake Minnewaska

2009-06-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

It's truly such a beautiful place. Not a whiff of bad energy anywhere and the memories are all good. Only down spot was no swimming until June 20th. I did wade just a little bit - don't tell the rangers. The water is clean and crisp - so unlike the salt water of the ocean back home. I like both don't get me wrong. There's just a purity to my lake that is very special to me. The walk around the lake is two miles. The hills are a bit of bitch - but I made it which is very fulfilling. Then I just laid in the grass for a while and read or sat on the overlook and stared. There are very few places in the world where you really find yourself just stopping and staring at the natural beauty of it - without reaching for a book or some gadget. Boy documenting this trip is taking me days beyond the trip. But that's ok because it is very nice to keep remembering. I didn't make it to the Awosting falls, but I was ok with that because I had seen High Falls this trip. I am really looking forward to going back this fall.

Learn More: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=78

Friday Rainy Day - Dinner Course

2009-06-08T14:48:00.001-07:00

Dinner..yes there was room for dinner after a serious rest period. Unfortunately the rain pushed the food to the top of the To Do pyramaid. I'm not really sure it's a bad thing but it's certainly a vacation thing - or at least will have to be. Anyway the first time I found up on Rt 209 on accident I drove past this restaurant that isn't open for lunch - which by the way is also odd to me. Places that are only open for breakfast and lunch and places that are only open for dinner - too much of each for it to be a fluke. No matter it just makes you think about where you are eating sometimes. It looks like a roadhouse from the outside - pretty simple family oriented food. It's got one of those short steakhouse menus with limited choices - but lots of special - one of the specials was prime rib - which I admit I'm not even sure was as good as Charlie Brown's but it was good and I did crave some serious red meat. The lentil soup was oniony - but good. The baked potato was just a potato, the broccoli and the tomato pointless. The best parts were the oil to dip the bread, the cold butter and the dessert. Funny I ate the whole dinner you see before you - yes the whole damn thing and wanted dessert - if it was creative enough because dinner was good but not spectacular. Looking at other people's special I think I should have gone more creative - put it was was I wanted. The soft shell crabs sounded interesting but pointless in the middle of a Mountain-side restaurant. If you read the Zagat's rating plaque you'll find it got a good rating and the chef used to cook at the UN...now of course he could have been the head french frier but who knows. Anyway desert was serious - it was a chocolate terrine - good god

The outside was chocolate ganache the inside was this heavy mousse cream layered with nuts and flavor. It came with strawberry sauce (sweetened). Interestingly, at least to me the whipped cream was not sweet and topped with a strawberry - probably by design to counteract the intense sweetness of the meal. Again it was the girls favorite dessert - proving my point again when in doubt just ask the waiter or waitress for his or her favorite meal - It hasn't failed me yet. I wonder what she would have suggested instead of prime rib. And I should have had the mashed potatoes to see what they tasted like - a baked potato is a just a baked potato after all. However, I think it was a homey comfort food kind of day. And yes we should all be frightened by what I can consume.

I wish I could remember what day, ok days, I had Blake's brownie from the High Falls Coop but it was out of this world. If you find yourself there - GET the brownie. I was not alone in my theory. In fact, it encouraged another man to get a toffee bar - which he highly reccommends. I mean it. Don't sweat how earthy the ingredients sound. It's as big as you head and a chocoholics wet dream.

http://www.greenpeople.org/webpage.cfm?memid=1125&pmtlevel=0&linkpage=http%3A%2F%2Fhighfallsfoodcoop%2Ecom%2F

Awareness Shop - resting between meals

2009-06-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

As I had mentioned New Paltz was not quite all that I had hoped. Shall we go on about the parking meters again? Apparently it was big controversery at the time. The meters near the starbucks are not in effect after six and it matters which meter you use for cost - which a two hour cap in some places, one hour in others. I digress. It was inbetween rainy cycles so I headed to the awareness shop. It has its own parking lot - no parking meters required.

It was as an awareness shop should be with a card reader in the back reading - a man booked the next appointment which I was kicking around - only in my head so I bought my own cards. I flipped a few sets of cards. Wasn't surprised by a most things kinda. Nice cards - different but nice. The name of the deck is escaping me so that will have to wait and I'm tired of looking besides it's beyond the point. Point is one must be strong or one will not perserve.

It was kinda funny most of it didn't not attract my attention and felt like lifetimes ago. The cards seemed like a what the hell moment since I could do anything I wanted and had been for days. Admittedly my reading skills are not what they used to be and I had to rely heavily on the intended meanings of the cards.

https://secure.awarenessshop.com/

Egg's Nest - Rainy Friday Lunch

2009-06-08T14:23:00.001-07:00

The rainy Friday was a chilling kinda goofy kinda day. This was really good considering I ached more than I really wanted to admit to. Instead of lunch at my ever so favorite coffee house in High Falls, I went to the Egg's Nest. It's got all the eclectic funk of the Hudson Valley and a ton of weird kitsch- what Carlos Connor's wishes it was. It was really cut. Funny instead of seating you more than one place including this one offered you to sit anywhere you wanted. I don't know if that's more upstate laid back or just empty restaurant rules. There was a lot of tex-mex, a lot of standards, some pleasantries. Then there it was the Thanksgiving. Big as your head and heavy as thanksgiving turkey. I started with cream of mushroom soup. It was good but unnecessary in retrospect given how heavy the sandwich was. The atmosphere was a trip. Some elderly people are still like something out of the seventies. I swear they are still getting their hair set. If you are from there and elderly and I am wrong feel free to correct me. These folks are not be confused with the forever hippie still wearing long pony tail hair shopping at the coop not mind how freaky their kids look. Personally I wish I had the ease of the ageless hippie myself.

If you find yourself in High Falls you've got to go - if no other reason to see that it really is possible to add hubcaps to the decor. http://www.theeggsnest.com/.

Back to the Thanksgiving since this was Foodie day. It came with honey mustrard gravy cranberry sauce that I am pretty sure they made, a big old sandwich and salad. Not sure why they thought we needed salad but it sure made it look healthier. The Thanksgiving has homecooked turked sliced thin, piled high, apple walnut stuffing to make you cry, provolone and nest bread - egg battered like a savory french toast. Good god. If you dipped the sandwich in the gravy you really tasted the egg batter. I never really noticed the honey mustard but will admit it was a sweetish gravy - which I suppose is the point. Oh yes the soup. It was cream of mushroom soup - good because it was rainy out. I think it had cheese in it as well and a lot of mushroom which is nice and you couldn't taste the flour from the roux at all. If you go, skip the soup and bring a friend to share the Thanksgiving. If you don't have a friend, get a to go box or do what I did and eat it just like a Thanksgiving dinner....that is eat until every last bite is gone or you bust whichever comes first.

A Rainy Afternoon

2009-06-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

I woke up today this morning. Actually I woke up this morning, went back to bed and got up at noon. Then I went to high falls had the Thanksgiving for lunch - Goodness and wound up at my favorite High Falls Cofee house. The mosquito bites are killing me. I'm not sure why I'm blogging. I think I am the only one who reads my rantings or my travels. I just hope that somewhere it give pause to someone else trying to embark upon a journey of mixed emotions and ambivalent outcomes.

At the moment I am pretty sure I could spend the rest of my life right here on this couch. I think the folks at morning brew might mind at someone point. The music is mellow the coffee is great and the food is inspiring. I love the electic places here and there are lots of them. The Bird Nest, Eagle Nest a belly full of Thanksgiving is fogging my mind. I feel mellow at peace, relaxed. It's bizarre feeling. A ringing phone reminds me I hope I have left my in the cabin. It's just up the street a ways. Actually I ws supposed to go to the lake today but it's raining on and off so I'll have to go tomorow.

It's odd people smile here a lot. In the stores, on the trails, in the restaurants. I'm sure they stress they worry, it just seems mellower and friendlier. I took some time last night to look up walking trails back home. There several I'm thinking they are much flatter and less inspired. I figure it took about two miles before I thought I had enough. I'm awkwardly mobile after th 4.2 miles so I'm thinking a little hiking in the great state of New Jersey may be a reasonable stress buster. Doesn't hurt to trade off a few Sunday mall wanderings for a few hikes. I'm thinking Huber Woods and Thompson park are first on the list.

The weather has been beautiful this week even with the rain. The rain affords opportunity to dol mellowere things. The beautiful days inspire hiking and wandering about shops and stores.

The Best Brown Gravy in the World

2009-06-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been on a cheese fries and gravy quest. None of that American Cheese disco fry crap but real cheese fries with mozzeralla chese and brown gravy. I've had them at the Red Oak, the Broadway, the Marina - None are quite right. Then I realized by love of cheese fries and brown gravy evolved at the College Diner in New Paltz. Even after all these year the brown gravy is perfect a salty beefy taste bordering on fake but with au jus. Now at 6 p.m. it's a little thinner than at 2 a.m. after the bar but it's the same gravy. The coleslaw is the same. The quintessential meal would have been a main course of a bacon cheese burger deluxe with swiss, but I was craving beef. Sadly, prime rib is Fri-Sun so we went with a steak sandich - very good with the gravy. The best tasting thing in the world after a 4 mile hike in the mountains. The end to this day is an iced caramel macchiato and a double chocolate brownie.

Funny but the food was not the highlight but a side piece of joy. The real highlight of the day was the mountain despite my aching feet. I wonder if the the thing that tastes best in the world is life.

Mohonk Preserve

2009-06-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

The preserve was beautiful. The day was beautiful. I walked 4.2 miles today. My feet hurt. My body hurts. I am very proud that I completed the goal. The colors of the wildflowers agains the brown and green are beautiful. The mountains are breaktaking. Tomorrow is Lake Minnewaska if I can walk.

It's Beaders Nite

2009-06-04T18:17:00.000-07:00

At least I've got something beady to show for the week! The energy was good and the creativity strong. They are chunkier pieces than I often make but I like them.

When Your Get Up and Go Has Got Up And Gone

2009-06-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

No I am not crazy big like this. But have you ever just once wondered if they too are trying to find out if something tastes as good as skinny feels? Lisa pictured above eats 33,000 calories a day. Below is her story. Lucky for you I haven't figured out how to imbed video so you just have to click the link

I eat 33,00 calories a day - You Tube Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkvdEoM4Uqs

STUART, Fla. -- A 480-pound Martin County woman has died after emergency workers tried to remove her from the couch where she had remained for about six years. Gayle Laverne Grinds, 40, died Wednesday, after a failed six-hour effort to dislodge her from the couch in her home. Workers say the home was filthy, and Grinds was too large to get up from the couch to even use the bathroom.

http://www.wftv.com/news/3643877/detail.html

Big As Life - 625 pounds

DUNDALK, Md. John Keitz weighs 625 pounds. He is so heavy his legs will not support his weight. The last time he stood on his feet was Aug. 1, 1998. That night he was making macaroni and cheese for his wife, Gina. He boiled and drained the noodles. Right after he cut in the Velveeta, he went down.

Read the whole story - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/25/AR2005062501286.html

Techosaur Comes of Age

2009-06-03T13:36:00.001-07:00

If you can't tell, I'm trying to exit the technosaur age. I've got this here laptop, a Ipod (just the shuffle) a Nikon Cool Shot Camera, and a cell phone. I'm pretty convinced the Internet and computers can rot your brain. It' raining today. You'll see I had to repost everything. Why oh Why do you ask? Because I spelled the blog's name wrong so I could never ever find it again. I've got nothing but time on my hands so I am doing my very best to waste it. I've been sitting here for better than a couple of hours. I've lost about three hours worth of breath over the last few days arguing with Dell about my inability to connect to the Internet at obvious locations. Anyway. I think that enough's enough of this for now. I'm off to to the beads. It's raining so I'm using today as an inside day.

Life Beyond Hash Browns - Dim Sum

2009-06-03T13:01:00.002-07:00

Hash Browns - What old news. The best place to date believe it or note is Quik Chek. Anyone..there's much better foods to love...dim sum from Crown Palace, Thai food from Thai Chilies, Sushi from a good restaurant. Above is my favorite dim sum of all - fried seasame balls with sweet red bean paste. Had one once a a buffet. Have one fresh from the kitchen and you'll never go back. There's lots to try and some might freak out the western palette. Dumplings, tripe, congee, chicken feet, roast pork buns. The chicken feet are much better than you'd ever expect. If you are gonna go tripe go with the white one with the ginger. The dark on with the black bean is musty. Not bad with hot sauce...just go old fast.

Getting Away from it all

2009-06-03T13:01:00.001-07:00

I've run away. That's right run away. I'm in a little cottage in the woods. Where I'll never tell. Every just need to see where you left your own mind and if your voice was still speaking to you? My mind was tucked just inside my ass. My voice seems to be a little harder to find. What am I doing? Whatever I want. I've tried to barbeque. I've tried to make eggs. The eggs were sucessful..the barbeque, we'll talk about after I've tried again. I'm in my college town. It looks pretty much the same, funny enough, at least this end. It doesn't hold the same thrill of wondering through the shops that I had hoped. I am a little impressed with all the walking I used to do. I've sorted all my pictures, finally. I'm sitting in a little independent coffee shop. The music on the radio, in the cabin, has this earthy mellow sound no matter where I go. Now I know I could bring this music home I just need to figure out what it is and if I'd like so much when I'm not trying to be mellow. Blah Blah Blah. It going be a long week with me myself and I.

High Falls and A Great Cup of Coffee

2009-06-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

If you wander a 10 minutes drive away from your cottage in the woods complete with singing birds and llamas you'll find High Falls. A little town still has parts of canals built more than a century ago to transport goods up and down the Hudson river. The locks look old and creepy to be honest. The falls are pretty. They are still used to generate electric power for 1600 homes. That's right I read every one of the signs. I also climbed and tottled along the rocks to get the second picture. A tough hike no. A stretch for me these days yes. The adventure was a lot of fun. Oh yes an English-born potter, an old lady with a hairy dog that owns an antique shop and a great cup of coffee at the Morning Brew also await you at High Falls. Half and Half opens up the flavors a good cup of coffee. It just flatline the horrible cup of coffee I made at the cabin.

BBQ Sausage Dinner A La Me

2009-06-03T12:58:00.001-07:00

Lunch was rather uninspired so I tried cooking my owner dinner. Things I wanted. Things I craved. Personally I think it was the notion of bbq sausuage - my favorite. So I boiled and cut and sauteed and used the toaster oven until I got grilled sausage with peppers and opnions, coleslaw that i made in the morning (from a premixed bag) sweet potatoe fries and tobasco sauce.There is some satisfaction to what you have cooked with your own hands. It was pleasant and the only one to please was me. The first bite reminded me of festivals. Cooking them reminded me of being a kid when my dad burned them to a crisp each and every time. Mine looked and tasted much better.

Left Overs Anyone?

Sweet Potato fries, homespun colesaw and a sausuage sandwich.

Neko Sushi so so

2009-06-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

It's a cute place. Great outdoor seating right on the corner. The spicy tuna or salmon was not spicy at all. The shapes were not uniform. The size of the meal was sufficient for $8 but the taste was not. It seemed boring. The soup had no taste - not enough miso - just bland. The view of New Paltz was worth the time though. Amazing there are like 3 other sushi places in NP I dont think I'll try again though. Better to move onto something else.

Morning Brew Cafe

2009-06-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hands down still the best cup of coffee. New Paltz has all these crazy parking meters! Two hours here for 50 cents, 25 cents for 30 minutes here. Who can relax if you keep sweating the meter. Yes, sweat the meter. A pleasant middle-aged man in a beige work clothes surveys the scene regularly looking for red expired flags on your meter. Silly silly silly. This is in High Falls right on the corner of Route 6 and Route 213. Great coffee, great atmosphere, free wifi, and a great salmon sandwich with goat cheese onion and tomato that will make you cry. Sorry folks no picture the batter was charging and I was hungry. I digress the point was coffee. Full flavors that round out with a little wicked half and half. They seem to mellow and open up like a fine wine. Not that I know jack a bout a fine wine but it sounds like it relates. I was going to stop at Starbucks in New Paltz my favorite at home but who wants to sweat the parking meter!!!BTW if your somewhere new to eat and you don't want to think ask the counter person what is their favorite. They'll tell you. That's how I got the Parisian - the smoke salmon sandwich.