Busy Stew

We all have made this pot of busy many times! My travels come to an end this weekend, so I will post actual food ramblings next week.

Hope all is well and you are busy with your own pots of excitement the past few weeks!

Till then...

(photo taken The Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey)

Sunny Side Up, Silver Diner in South Jersey

A New Jersey Diner, Silver Diner- Diner is a 'silver' word in Jersey, maybe even golden. A prized possession in history and in a destination eatery for the family, seniors, or just for the hungry. I wrote a poem about diners, and probably should get it performance ready, because this place is note worthy.

At first glance it looks like another glimmering (pre-fabricated, written history tells us all of this) stainless steel, off the road of hunger, decent prices, and a plate piled high. Each diner is unique to its own menu, cooks, family owners, and have changed very little over the years.

This diner caught my attention. The menu had featured options for gluten-free eaters, diabetic choices, and heart healthy. You say, many already have this, but not with limited and regular options. The menu was not sooo large, that a decision had to be man-dated for the waitress to get our orders. We knew quickly what we would have. Okay, what I am trying to say is...some diners specials and menus are just way too big!

Crab Corn Chowder- Very filling and full of crab meat! I would go back for this...

Mozzarella Pesto Ciabatta Sandwich (above)- The Chef's specialty item on the menu, not so good for gluten-free (hint Chef), and fantastic flavoring- I say vegetarians you have a winner, and I would crave this if I was in the area!

Sweet Potato Fries- Not such an easy thing to get right. A friend and I discuss this, they are either too thin, or too fat. These were perfect, soft inside, just the right amount of crisp on the outside, and sprinkled with corn meal like one should! (Oh, and they have Louisiana hot sauce if you so chose to dress them up!)

Coleslaw with craisins- Like my dinner guest, I am always on a quest to taste coleslaw. So far the #1 winner is in Folkstone, GA, but we will take this any given day in Jersey. She even took home a quart for later! Not too much dressing, and the craisins added a nice touch.


Chicken Citrus Salad- A little too much fruit on this plate of spinach, but the chicken was cooked perfect on the griddle, and the dressing was perfect. So we would order this again, just easy on the strawberries...

Guacamole Bacon Burger- BBQ blasted the menu read, and a southwestern dressing to boot, but too much for me. Noticing right away it was oozing with sauce, we had a bite of the meat to see if it was cooked to order, and it was. I am not sure why we ordered a burger, maybe it was the 'guacamole' stuck out on the menu. They have 'Burger BYO', and if this guac burger is not your bag, you can order it 'your way'.

Apple Pie- Encouraged by the waitress we ordered a dessert to balance out the tasting. This was warm, and drizzled with caramel, a light touch I might add! Good cinnamon flavor rang through. Grandma would be proud.

Wow you say, that is a lot of food, but we shared, nibbled and took home left overs!


Silver Diner, 2131 Route 38, Cherry Hill, New Jersey- the staff was friendly, the prices were very good, and the food was delish...they even help steer you to the specials of the day, describe all the menu items if you chose to ask a million questions, and have good soup choices, which is one thing I like. If your in the Cherry Hill area off Route 38, we recommend you stop in and have a great meal!

Magma Volcano Oven Pizza

Lets step back in time...before Spain and when this sandwich was whole...A few months ago while shopping for our Spain trip- I needed some good walking shoes, International Drivers License, gadgets, and more travel gadgets- we stumbled upon a quick bite to eat. A good one at that- Magma Pizza- Volcano Stone Oven.

Well, an eatery that offered more than just New Jersey Italian Pies- Mediterranean fare at its best!

I am not a big fan of pizza as I was in my younger years (or at least chewy crust), so I ignored the pie menu and noticed the  Mediterranean items. I zoomed in on a salad but noticed something else, and hubby went for a piece of vegetarian pizza. Still hungry after the rather small salad, I went for an oven baked sandwich with artichokes, onion, mushrooms, and a tapinade spread (shhh, hubby dislikes olives, so I do not think he noticed!).

The food was served on the brick oven paddles- or in the bakers world, Peels. Duh! Did I not realize my favorite kind of pizza, the reason I do not eat any other- brick oven, in front of me?

Their oven is made of lava rock, bottom to top, so their oven heats up faster and is possibly hotter than the traditional brick kind. Oh how the crust was crisp like a thin thin cracker! The topping was also crisp. Normally people in our area would have to drive almost an hour to the nearest brick oven place, and now we have one just ten minutes down in Nassau Park Shopping Center.

I asked, they have been there four years. We just do not shop in that part of the center that often, or eat out more than once a month.

You can find their menu with things like Za'atar Break, one of my favorite new spices I use regularly, along with fresh Pita bread that puffs up when brought to your table, and hummus at Magma Menu.

Also, check out Simply Scratch, she made pita bread, and this is how it does look when Magma brings it to your table fresh from their oven!

Update, 10/8/10- Funny reading this post I wrote before we left for Spain, because I realize how often I would slip into eating bread, even if it did have vegetables on it...I have found out my sugar levels are border line diabetic, so now it is time to drastically change my lifestyle. I have started another blog, I know CRAZY! Yeah, but I feel it is time to turn my life around, so come over and read 'EatingWeeds'. A journey into my world of changing what is on my plate, whats in my glass, and other random discussions. I am hoping people can help each other ease into change, which we all know is not always easy to do...

New York Experience in Princeton?

Does the idea of eating traditional New York style delicatessen food rock your boat, but finding one in the Princeton area, or even in New Jersey period disappointing? You either have to head towards Philly, down south, or up to north Jersey, and face it, not many 'real' style deli's are left in New York either. Having eaten at a few in the city, I can see the appeal.

Gary and Lenny’s New York Delicatessen off Route 1 south is not quite over the top like its New York counterparts, but it does offers up breakfast to dinner with the appeal of large portions and reasonable prices. Diners will be glad to know this eatery is offering an extensive menu that reads like ‘Scrapple to Apples’ with Jewish specialties, including smoked fish combos along a column of Reuben’s and more.

Feels like being in New York without having to park, wait, and taking the train in. If you chose to drive, then the long traffic wait, and then high parking fees. No pickle bar though, but quick forgiveness with their pickle (half-sour and two full-sour pickles), kraut, and tomato plate quickly served up so you can nibble while waiting for your meal, and they bring plenty upon request. There are at least five soup choices, which is a draw for many light eaters, as well as the great vegetarian choices.

The wait staff was more than friendly/willing to give you samples of soup, or meats if you were unsure or might have forgotten how great the corned beef might be. The vegetarian mushroom barley soup was a plus, as well as a few other soup tasted. The pickle sampler was not disappointing, as the sample of chopped liver that was graciously brought upon request. When the pastrami/brisket sandwiches arrived, they screamed ‘large’, but no one at the table had any problems finishing the overstuffed bread.

Now if you are adventuresome the menu does offer a few ‘unusual’ deli choices that seem to remind one of a diner, which Jersey is well known for, such as the pastrami/corn beef/provolone stuffed twice baked potatoes. A great choice for gluten free eaters, and a delight from the regular ones found on chain menus, this dish was quite tasty, and quite a large order, so more than half were taken to go.

One highlight is their selection of Junior's cheesecakes, which got quite a few diners excited. Large slices of cakes are available and let’s just say if you were a carrot cake fan, well you will not be disappointed, and all large enough for the table to share, or take home for later.

Service was a bit off once the dining room began to fill up, but this is common in working out the kinks of a new location. There are plans for more visits to get more of this real deal delicatessen experience without having to travel to NYC.

This was also a chance to catch up with a neighbor blog who I adore, Figtree Appetizers (left) and my friend Gen (who knows her NYC Jewish deli's) for a new eatery experience. Often we have spoke of meeting for lunch one day, but found the weather over the past six months to be non-cooperative. We chose Gary and Lenny's and enjoyed a leisurely lunch together discussing our cooking class likes and dislikes (she teaches as well). The conversation flowed like the amounts of food we shared!

I am sure we will be meeting here, and at the Trenton Farmers Market for some more food experiences, but all three of us seem busy these days, so I only can hope to have that much fun again...

Features Mitchell's Sunday Brunch $44- feeds three, and includes such classics as Lox's and cream cheese bagels...

Gary and Lenny’s New York Delicatessen, 3331 Brunswick Pike (Rt 1 South), Lawrenceville 
Open 7 days: 7AM-9PM Su-Th; 7AM-10PM F-Sat

American Wine Society

• The American Wine Society is a national, non profit consumer organization devoted to educating people on all aspects of wine. Its members are wine novices, experts, grape growers, amateur and professional winemakers, restaurateurs, and anyone who wants to learn more about the appreciation of wine and food.

Once CookAppeal, LLC was up and running almost four years ago in the Princeton area she tried to start her own wine tasting business. I found due to strict ABC laws in this state; unless held them in BYO, or licensed restaurants and with the high cost of liability insurance I just decided to step down. I was already busy with a booming catering and staffing service. My hopes were up that some other groups might begin to pop up. There definitely was an interest here in New Jersey.

Shorty after wards and to our surprise there was an announcement in the papers about the AWS coming to the Princeton, NJ area. My husband's love of socializing along with the wine aspect, was a shoe in for the two. There has been no disappointments throughout our present membership in the NJ Princeton Charter. Our very first event was a 'Chocolate & Wine Tasting', and every one was very accommodating and friendly! What I like about someone else wearing the wine shoes is that the AWS fee cover the high cost of insurance required for the events, not to mention so much more listed below.

• Join an AWS Charter in your area
  
• Once you receive confirmation you will sign up for next months event
  
• Each month is hosted in a new location- Members homes or restaurant
• The host chooses the theme and menu
• Before leaving event you pay the host(s) a fee that covers cost of the wine and or food if not held in a restaurant location.
  

American Wine Society Information:

As it was in the beginning (1962), the American Wine Society is still an informational and educational organization. The founders defined the appreciation of domestic wines and the production of wine by home winemakers as major purposes of the Society. But today, the organization’s focus is much broader.

While the Society still emphasizes the appreciation of American wines and fosters competitions for amateur winemakers, its scope extends to educating people on all aspects of wine. Members today learn about wines from all of the world’s wine producing countries and evaluate them for their quality. Members travel in Society-sponsored trips to wine-growing regions, learn the latest in grape-growing methods, study to become certified wine judges, are knowledgeable about wine and food, and appreciate the responsible use of wine.

• Join an AWS Charter in your area
• Once you receive confirmation you will sign up for next months event
• Each month is hosted in a new location- Members homes or restaurant
• The host chooses the theme and menu
• Before leaving event you pay the host(s) a fee that covers cost of the wine and or food if not held in a restaurant location.

Benefits

Membership is open to any interested person - wine enthusiast, professional wine maker, amateur wine maker, grape grower, and curious novice - anyone who wants to learn more about wine!

AWS Member Benefits include:

• Participation in local chapter activities
• Participation in local, regional, and national events, including national conference
• Membership card and certificate
• Quarterly American Wine Society Journal
• Quarterly AWS Newsletter
• Technical manuals, bulletins, videos, and vintage charts
• Wine Judge Certification Program
• National Tasting Project
• Winemaking competitions
• AWS Education Foundation
• AWS Insurance Program
• Discounts at participating wineries (with AWS membership card)

Next Event (Princeton Chapter): Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Wine Theme: Cabernet Sauvignon (appellation to be determined.)
Menu: Brunch and a lighter fare (to be determined, and I will be consulting)

Once you become a member in my area, the information for events will be emailed to attendees by Joseph Broski, Regional V.P., American Wine Society