Jersey Exploration: Bovella's Bakery & Cafe

A lot of locals rave about Bovella's Pastry Shoppe in Westfield and were super pumped when they opened a new branch in Mountainside.  We had yet to sample their stuff, so we figured why not give the new location a try.  

We heard they're known for their rainbow cookies, which are actually Mel's absolute favorite cookie in the whole world.  So we decided to start a new tradition of getting coffee and rainbow cookies to enjoy while decorating our Christmas tree.  (Yes, we put it up a week before Thanksgiving.  We all love the lights.  It makes us happy and makes up for the sun going down at 4:45pm each day.  #NoJudgement)  Not only did the cookies live up to all the hype, but their coffee is AMAZING.  So smooth and robust, we could even enjoy it black. 

In fact, we've quickly become obsessed with their coffee and will swing by to get it for a weekend treat.  Their whole food menu also looks pretty tasty, so one day we decided to try a couple of their personal pizzas.  Totally delicious!

 Brooklyn Pizza

Mushroom Truffle Pizza

Pretty certain we're going to wind up becoming regulars here and gradually trying everything on the menu.  Extremely happy to have a non-Starbucks option for coffee and treats in the area.

Sandwich Bliss: 925 Nuevo's Cubano's in Florida

We took a short trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida just to soak in a bit more warmth before deep winter sets in.  As we've mentioned before, we've been obsessed with trying cubano sandwiches ever since the movie Chef made them look so mouth-wateringly good.  Our original plan was to go to the actual restaurant where they filmed a scene for the movie, but the drive to Miami would have been a bit long with traffic.  So we Googled the "best cubano in Fort Lauderdale" and came upon this gem:  925 Nuevo's Cubano's. 

It wasn't too far from our hotel at all, so we were excited to make it an early dinner adventure.  What we didn't realize is that there isn't actually indoor seating and it's on a very busy road.  Attempting to sit on bar stools with our hands full of sandwich while trying to keep a toddler from running to look at the cars didn't seem like the best idea.  

 

So we ordered two cubanos to go.  There was a bit of a wait - about 20 minutes - but once the aroma of the slow-cooked pork filled the car we knew it was going to be worth it.

After one bite, we looked at each other and agreed we NEVER knew what a true cubano was supposed to taste like until that moment.  Utterly amazing.  The slow cooked pork was another level of perfection, to the point where toward the end of his sandwich DJ actually took out the cold cut ham so he could fully enjoy it. 

We wish we could get sandwiches like this up north, but we realize if we want the real deal we might just have to be in Florida.  It's cool; all the more reason to go back sooner than later! 

Steak: From Frozen to Perfectly Cooked in 30 Minutes?!

We have had subscriptions to a variety of food-related magazines over the years.  As a results, Cook's Illustrated sometimes sends us promotional magazines to try to entice us to receive them regularly.  We have yet to take the bait, but we do enjoy thumbing through the samples.  This time around, a novel idea for steak preparation caught our eye.

Grill Master DJ was in complete disbelief that this technique would actually work, so we decided to give it a whirl.

We don't have a cast iron pan (need to work on that), so we followed the basic principles of the approach while using the tools in our kitchen and DJ's grilling intuition.

First, we seared on our stovetop griddle.  DJ was concerned the sear wouldn't be as good as if we had used cast iron, so he didn't follow the exact timing outlined in Cook's.  Rather, he left it on until the sear looked thick enough to hold its own in the broiler.

Once the sear was done and the meat was softened a bit, we seasoned with our favorite rub.

Then the steak was popped onto a foil-lined baking sheet and put in the broiler.  We set the timer for 20 minutes and checked on it every 15 minutes.  Because it was a pretty thick cut of meat, DJ followed his gut and put it back in until it didn't feel spongy to the touch.  Wound up being about 30 minutes in the oven total.

When we cut into it, DJ was shocked:  it actually worked!  From frozen to perfectly cooked in relatively little time.  If you can believe it, the Grill Master declared he may never make steak any other way again!

Paired with a variety of vegetables, this was a delightful meal made even more delicious by the fact that it was a victorious experiment.  Cheers to Cook's Illustrated!

Jersey Exploration: Talde Jersey City

Ever since we moved to Jersey, we've been wanting to venture to Talde in Jersey City to see how it compares to the one in Brooklyn.  As is evident in our posts about our first time trying the one in Park Slope and our subsequent visits with Dalton friends and then with Deep and Gigi, we love ourselves some Talde.  Well, we finally had a quiet Saturday afternoon when we could check it out for an early dinner and once again the Talde menu brought smiles to our faces.

We went with thoughts of the amazing watermelon margarita we used to guzzle in BK.  Unfortunately, they stopped making that one BUT the plum basil margarita they have in its place is just as tasty (though maybe just a bit too much ice for the price).

 Plum and Basil Margarita

And then, of course, the food: 

#6 BAO

(Spicy chicken, mayo)

DJ was shocked how much he loved this one.  He thought it might be pretty typical boring chicken, but it was spiced to have a great kick to it.  He said he'd actually go back just for that bao!

FILIPINO BARBECUE PORK

(Pickled young papaya)
Really no words besides perfection.  Mel's favorite dish of the night.  Went really well with the rice.
 

BEEF SHORT RIB KARE KARE

(Hong kong noodles, peanuts, thai chili relish)
The sauce had that great thai flavor profile and the short rib was cooked beautifully.
 

BLUE CRAB FRIED RICE

(Tobiko, jalapeno aioli)

We were way past full but kept grabbing forkfuls of this just because it was so tasty.

We are so glad that the Talde menu is consistently delicious in both locations.  We enjoyed our meal so much, we started planning when to go back before we even got to the car.  Our goal is to try everything on the menu (shocker).  We'll be sure to report back!

Jersey Exploration: The Corner in Montclair

Our friends Rachel, Mark, and their son were headed into Jersey to visit some folks in Montclair for the afternoon.  Since distance makes it hard for us to see them very often, they offered to hop over the bridge from Queens a little early so we could hang out for breakfast.  Their friends suggested a popular spot for Montclair locals:  The Corner.

The place itself is very quaint, and the location - quite literally a busy corner - is ideal for a group with two little boys who love to watch all vehicles and traffic action.  Free entertainment so we could eat in relative peace!  Score!

The waitress recommended sharing the pastry plate, which included a birthday cake scone, croissant, and jalapeno biscuit - all baked on the premises.

 The scone even had sprinkles INSIDE?!?!?  #MindFireworks  Worth going back just for these pastries.

Mel had the smoked salmon on toast with tomato.  The drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of salt and capers was a nice touch.

 The Primost crew got eggs and shoestring fries - delicious!

 

Last but definitely not least, DJ decided to try the pancakes.  These were possibly the best pancakes we've ever tasted.  Usually Mel's not a fan because they're so dense and land in the stomach with a thud.  But these are extremely fluffy and dare we say light - practically melt in your mouth.  Everyone at the table agreed they're much better than your average pancakes.  Totally worth a visit to The Corner just to give them a try.

We're so glad we had a chance to see the Primost trio and enjoy this awesome Jersey restaurant.  Will definitely keep it on our radar for when we're in the mood for great coffee (the Cortado = phenomenal!) and fantastic baked goods.

Jersey Exploration: Picante

Picante is a nearby Mexican restaurant we tried once a while ago and weren't really interested in going back.  The meal wasn't terrible, but also not memorable enough to seek it out.  They had just switched locations, so we figured maybe they were still getting their bearings in the new kitchen.  Well, recently we figured enough time had passed it might be worth giving them another chance, and we're so glad we did!  Perhaps there's a new chef or perhaps they just needed some time to get settled, but this time around the meal was so delicious we're actually looking forward to ordering from them again soon. 

Chorizo Nachos

A majority of the Yelp reviews raved about these, and for good reason!  The chips are pretty evenly loaded with yummy toppings and the chorizo flavor is awesome with the pico de gallo, guac and sour cream.

Al Pastor Tacos

The meat was seasoned beautifully and mixed with just the right amount of pineapple for that hint of sweetness with the pork.

Barbacoa de Res

The sauce of this slow cooked beef was perfection.  Such a great flavor combination with the guac.

Yes, the two taco pictures look very similar, but take our word for it - the flavors were unique and delicious!  Hooray for another good Mexican option in the area!

ADDENDUM

Turns out our tastebuds are right on target.  Just a day after posting this, we heard that Picante was voted one of the Top 21 spots to get tacos in Jersey for National Taco Day!  

Whole Foods Pumpkin & Sage Farro Pilaf

The leaves are starting to fall from the trees and the air is crisper carrying the awesome aroma of firewood...  IT'S PUMPKIN SPICE AND SLOW COOKER STEW SEASON PEOPLE!  WOO!

While Mel isn't one to want pumpkin spice in everything, she does like the fun variety of foods that pop up this time of year offering just enough pumpkin flavor to make you feel cozy.  A new item this year that caught her eye was Whole Foods' Pumpkin and Sage Farro Pilaf.

We love farro and sage, so grabbing a few boxes of this was a no-brainer.  It was extremely quick and easy to make, and just as delicious as we expected.  Paired with roasted red pepper chicken sausage and a stir fry vegetable medley, it was a nice hearty meal for an autumn evening.

Time to go grab a few more boxes!

Hudson Valley Adventure: Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa

The air is getting crisper and smells like apples and pumpkin spice!  Yes - Mel's favorite season is here and we decided to have a little road trip adventure to kick off autumn in upstate NY.

We knew we needed to find a place that had some kid-friendly activities on the premises so we weren't going stir crazy with a toddler whose favorite words all summer were "outside" and "walk."  (So grateful he enjoys the outdoors, but that definitely means the confines of a hotel room could drive us all nuts within minutes of unpacking.)  DJ did some great sleuthing and found Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa - a beautiful bed & breakfast with views of the Hudson River, a spa, and a functioning farm on the property!  You can stay in the main house, but they also have cottages with living rooms and kitchens for families and/or large groups.  We were able to feel right at home in a private cottage, and spent most hours of each day just wandering around looking at the water and the animals - geese, chickens (definitely a kid-favorite), goats, llamas, donkeys, and alpacas.

Beyond the amazing outdoor experience, Buttermilk Falls Inn was a perfect place to stay because of Henry's at the Farm - the awesome restaurant on the property.  Henry's uses a lot of locally sourced ingredients, and those fresh farm-to-table flavors made every meal memorable.  Bonus - we could bring the food back to our cottage so we could eat at our leisure.  We actually forgot to take pictures of our meals (shocking!  we must have been really hungry every time we finally sat down), but suffice it to say we tried almost everything on the menu and it never disappointed.  We also LOVED the variety of cocktails they offered.  Trying a new concoction each night was a real treat!

When we weren't exploring the grounds, we took time for a couple of foodie adventures nearby.  First stop:  Hurds Family Farm, known as one of the best in the area for apple-picking and fun activities.  After walking around and hanging at the playground, we could smell fresh donuts being made.  They told us technically the batch wasn't for sale yet and was being packaged for the weekend.  But since it was such a quiet day, they let us sample two - WOO!  Seriously, there's nothing better than warm, fresh apple cider donuts washed down with cider.  Autumn bliss!

There are also a bunch of cool wineries in the area.  We were trying to find one with a restaurant so we could make it a lunch outing but a lot of them had later hours or weren't kid-friendly.  So rather than worrying about a sit-down meal, we grabbed some sandwiches and headed to Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery to enjoy their amazing view while drinking and noshing.  And how was the wine?  We wound up bringing home two bottles of the riesling along with one of their award-winning reds.

So glad we were able to spend a bit of time with nature as summer comes to a close.  Definitely looking forward to our next road trip adventure!

Jersey Exploration: The Office Beer Bar and Grill

Deep was in town for the weekend and popped over for an afternoon visit.  Originally we were planning to grill, but the weather was not cooperating so we decided to venture to a restaurant we've been meaning to try:  The Office Beer Bar and Grill.  This place is right by two of our favorite restaurants in Summit (Due 360 and Piattino), and it always seems to have a good crowd with a casual pub vibe. 

We started out with hash browns with truffle oil.  They were tasty, but pretty heavy so we wound up only eating a few for fear of losing our appetites.

Then Deep tried out one of the brunch pizza specials...

DJ tackled the chicken and waffles...

and Mel got one of the monthly specials: a salmon roll.

As you can tell from the pictures, the serving sizes here are HUGE.  We definitely did not finish any of our plates.  And the food itself falls well into the category of pub food:  tasty enough to nibble on while you chat with friends, but not necessarily something you'll be craving and running back for anytime soon.  Their beer menu is pretty extensive though, and we didn't really have a chance to sample it.  So perhaps we'll keep it in mind for football season when we're in the mood for a few good pints with a side of wings.

Spicing Things Up with Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's never fails with awesome seasonal treats.  For the summer, we loved how they spiced things up with a variety of zesty flavors.  Our favorites:   

1. Roasted Tomato & Mango Salsa (also included black beans - yum! - and packed some serious heat)
2. Mango Jicama Slaw (the Lime Mango Vinaigrette it came with was perfect; just toss it all together and you had an awesome summer salad!)
3. Chili Lime Seasoning (tasted good on EVERYTHING, particularly sprinkled on avocado)
4. Jalapeno Limeade (pretty good mixed with mezcal but very acidic, so it created a little burn in the throat; we mostly used it as a marinade)

One of our favorite meals combined a few of these seasonal items.  We marinated pork chops in the Jalapeno Limeade and seasoned them with the Chili Lime blend before baking.  Served along with a bit of butternut squash and the Mango Jicama Slaw - Trader Joe's for the win!

Liberty House: Ringing in the Big 4-0

It's official:  DJ has been making the world more awesome since 1977!  To celebrate the Big 4-0, of course we had to happy dance with food.

Mel toyed with a lot of different ideas about where to take him for a surprise lunch.  In the end, she realized that with the excellent weather prediction for the day the focus should be on outdoor ambiance rather than type of cuisine.  We need to maximize our opportunities to dine al fresco before the autumn chill hits.  (::insert your own Game of Thrones "Winter is Coming" jokes here::)

Some online searching revealed that one of the best outdoor restaurants in northern Jersey is Liberty House.  Right inside Liberty State Park, it boasts amazing views of Manhattan, the river, and the back of the Statue of Liberty.  Sounds like a winner for a milestone birthday! 

We went for a weekday lunch and had no trouble getting a seat on the balcony, which is covered by a cloth awning so you can enjoy the view without having to deal with direct sun.  Such a comfortable seating area.

  Guinness Glazed Chicken Lollipops
Celery, Green Onions, Great Hills Blue Cheese
(a nice hint of sweetness from the Guinness)

House Made Cavatelli Seafood
Wild Prawns, Manila Clams, Mussels, Sea Scallops, Baby Vegetables, Cherry Tomatoes, Ginger & Poblano Peppers
(great spice, but the pasta was a bit hard)

DJ's Zimmern/Bourdain moment enjoying the shrimp head

Maine Lobster Cake
Champagne Mango Salsa, Avocado Mousse, Basil Oil,
French Fries
(tasty, though more cake than lobster; great fries and mango salsa!) 

A lot of the Yelp reviews said the food is average but the setting is worth it, and we agree.  We enjoyed our dishes, but the main appeal of Liberty House is its location.  When we finished our meal, we just walked down the patio steps onto the grass of the park and enjoyed an afternoon in the sun.  

We are now obsessed with Liberty State Park and can't figure out why we didn't start going there sooner!  And should we return to Liberty House, we'll likely skip the expensive entrees and focus on ordering drinks and some basic appetizers to snack on while we enjoy looking at the surroundings. Glad to have found this Jersey gem!