“Food brings people together on many different levels. It’s nourishment of the soul and body; it’s truly love.”

– Giada De Laurentiis

Back in April of this year, some friends and I decided to have a girl’s night. One of them suggested this place! Samurai Sushi features sashimi, rolls, and Ramen. It is located in East Rutherford, NJ.

The Chu-Toro was amazing and it melted in your mouth! It had a nice kick and so flavorful. The dumplings… cooked to perfection. The tuna, so tender… loved the added touch of the caviar eggs. All of these appetizers were a work of art!

My friends and I decided to do family style. I let them chose the different types of rolls and pieces of fish for the sashimi (I totally forgot the names of the rolls and pieces of fish????). EVERYTHING was super fresh and fantastic. Every morsel was absolutely delicious and filling. Their plating is beautiful and you can tell they put love into the dishes they create.

Drinks… refreshing and tropical! Again, a work of art. The dessert was yummy and a great size to split between three people. I loved the presentation and it was devoured in minutes!

Overall, this was a great experience! Everything was ABSOLUTELY delicious; presentation is on point and the service is amazing. The prices were on the higher side, but fair for the quality and ambiance. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside and the staff was very helpful and kind. I will definitely come back! Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

“Life is too short for self-hatred and celery sticks.”
– Marilyn Wann

Joe Bosco BBQ is an authentic smokehouse & BBQ located in the Delaware Water Gap region. They use a smoker and they smoke all their meat with wood fire. They have a signature brisket that undergoes a 14-hour smoking process that produces the juiciest and most tender cuts of meat.

When entering the place… it was slammed! However, it did not deter us from trying the place. The menu had a great selection of proteins! They also have a special of the day. (Unfortunately, we did not ask.) The menu ranges from Brisket to St. Louis Ribs. They also offer fun sandwiches and tons of sides. So many choices!! Once we made our choices we ordered at the register. (The lady at the front who took our order was super sweet!)

After we ordered, we had to wait patiently for our meal. It took some time for our order to come. My hubby was nice enough to ask the status at the register. They responded that they apologized for the long wait, due to so many people ordering at the same time. They further commented that their items on the menu are fresh and made from scratch. Once my hubby and I received our meals… oh my god, definitively worth the wait! My “Pig Tail” was awesome; everything from the pretzel bread down to the sausage. The skin was crisp and it was smoked perfectly. I felt the smokiness brought out the flavor of the sausage, giving it such a juicy texture! The pulled pork sandwich was also delish! It was juicy and again the smokiness just made it so tasty. They also didn’t drown it with sauce (my husband hates that). The hand-cut fries, addictive. We could NOT stop eating them. The potato salad was so good. Love how they added pieces of carrot and dill; it made the salad unique and oh so yummy! The corn bread was sweet and fluffy. Loved it!

Overall great place! The place is chill and comforting. The food is authentic and you can tell they put a lot of love in what they cook! The staff is super sweet and they take the time to answer your questions on the menu. I will definitely will be coming back. I want to try the rest of their awesome menu! Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.”
– Luciano Pavarotti

The hubby and I went down to South Florida to visit my brother and my sister-in-law. I told them that I was craving a delicious Cuban Sandwich. My sister-in-law told me about Versailles! We decided to go for an early dinner. I was super excited! Versailles Restaurant, a famous Cuban establishment is located in Miami Florida (Little Havana) and has been serving Cuban cuisine for five decades. Soon after it opened its doors in 1971, Versailles quickly became the gathering place and unofficial town square for Miami’s Cuban exiles. What is even cooler, this restaurant was featured in the 2014 movie “Chef” starring Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, and John Leguizamo. (One of our fave movies!)

The appetizer was amazing from the start! We ordered the Versailles Combo. Omg, so delicious and satisfying! The empanadas were flavorful and I never had croquettes like theirs. The Yucas were fried to perfection. That Cilantro Sauce was amazing… it was the perfect dipping sauce!

All are meals were fantastic!! The Oxtail was savory, tender, and yummy. It was very tender and fell off the bone. The Spanish baguette had a very good ratio of meat and bread. The chorizo was savory and smokey, which gave the sandwich a pleasant hint of spice. The Famous Cuban Sandwich….soooo good! A staple at this place and it did not disappoint. The bread was crispy and the inside of the sandwich was delicious!!

The Café con Leche was strong, but yummy. The coffee was served in a mini carafe, accompanied by a cup filled with steam milk. I poured the whole carafe of coffee into the cup… so good and it hit the spot! Big fan of Cuban Coffee.

I was very excited to come here and I was not disappointed! The food was satisfying and authentic. Our waitress was super sweet and attentive. This place is simple, homemade , and comforting. It’s a classic Miami (Little Havana) staple and I will definitely be coming back when I’m in the area. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.”
― Erma Bombeck

A friend and I decided to check it out this place. We heard good things and we are big fans of Chef Burke! 1776 by David Burke is a modern American restaurant (as well as a Topgolf Swing Suite) that provides a hip and contemporary vibe. It is located in the heart of Morristown, NJ. The menu consists of his specialty dishes, (such as the Clothesline Bacon, highly recommend that you try it if you see this dish on the menu or if you visit his other 5 restaurants). He uses seasonal foods that are presented with an elevated flare, which can making the dining experience fun!

Appetizers were amazing! We started with their Bread Service, which consisted of a jalapeno corn bread. The bread was so flavorful, soft in the middle and crispy on the outside. The corn bread was accompanied by gruyere popovers (so good) and sweet butter. We then had the Butternut squash raviolis. The ingredients of parmesan, sage, walnut, pomegranate seeds, and a tasty chocolate balsamic sauce melded so well with the butternut squash. Onto the lobster dumplings….  the spicy miso sauce they sit on is a perfect balance with the sweet of the lobster filling. A light and delectable dish. Both dishes were beautifully plated. Finally for my drink, I ordered the “Purple Heart”. It had some heat, but it was refreshing and delicious!

The duck breast was juicy and succulent. The dumplings were amazing and the sauce that they are soaked in is aromatic, sweet (but not too sweet). The dumplings themselves are filled with a mixture of duck paté and foie gras. The Salmon was cooked to perfection. Again, both dishes had beautiful presentations.

The presentations were beautiful on both desserts. The Smart Alec was so much fun to eat and a work of art! Love the mix of both the chocolate cake and the chocolate mousse, especially paired with the sauces and the hazelnut. Next up… the cookie sliders. The cookies were warm and soft, with nice cold gelato in between. The warm chocolate sauce, toasty marshmallows on top, candied pistachios… it was the perfect combo of all the right textures, temperatures and flavors.

The food was well prepared and the presentation was excellent! Our appetizers were flavorful and our main courses were cooked to perfection. Dessert were absolutely delicious and truly decadent. The waitstaff was attentive, friendly, and on their game! Be prepared to drop some cash, but worth it for night of culinary indulgence and creativity that this place brings. Overall, a great experience. Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica-

.

“Never eat more than you can lift.” – Miss Piggy

Back during the winter of 2022, I decided to venture back to this restaurant. The last time I dined here I was very young, yet I remember the sights, sounds and taste of eating here. ❤️ Now that I’m older, I wanted to come back here and rediscover it! Some friends of mine, my hubby, and I decide to make it a Saturday date night.

This steak house use to be called the “Old Joseph Davis House” and it is the oldest of the Pre-Revolutionary War homes in town. It was built by Thomas Davis in 1676 and remained occupied by his descendants until 1903. Over the past two centuries, The Davis Homestead has been a farmhouse, hospital, church and restaurant. While occupied by Joseph Davis about the time of the Revolution, the home was a meeting place for founders of the Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield and services were held here for many years before a church was built. A tunnel in the cellar of the Homestead runs to the foot of Orange Mountain (now Eagle Rock) and was used as an escape for women and children from the British. A wounded English soldier was taken into the Homestead by the Davis family women and nursed back to health. To show his appreciation, the soldier built the old well and hewed, out of stone, the basin next to it for the workers to wash. The well curb is now a converted planter near the front entrance. General Washington and General Knox stopped at the Homestead to inquire the way to Morristown and were entertained for dinner. This place is chock-full of history!!!

Appetizers were great! All three were delicious in their own way. The oysters were very fresh and were at the right chill temperature. The dip was amazing, and paired well with the amount of chips provided. The dip was also very addictive… we could not stop at one chip! The empanadas were delish! Nice and crispy on the outside and the beef inside was flavorful. The chipotle dipping sauce complemented the empanadas perfectly.

Our main courses were a treat! The salmon was cooked to perfection and it was a good sized portion. Regarding our red meat meals… we were told that they were flame grilled Certified Angus Beef and prime cut meats, and were wet aged for 14 days. This process does make a difference when eating their steak dishes and they did not disappoint! For the steak frites, the temperature of the meat was perfect and quite tender! The sides we had were so good as well. I really enjoyed the mashed potatoes, and the creamed spinach was out of this world. I’ve never had such delicious creamed spinach! (I didn’t take a picture of the sides because by that point members of our party started to devour them, lol.)

Overall I had an enjoyable night! I was happy that they offered outdoor dining! Great food, generous portions and excellent service. Bloomfield Steak House has a friendly neighborhood vibe in a charming, rustic, pre-revolutionary building that adds to the warm, inviting ambiance of your dining experience. I’m glad I came back and will definitely go again. Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

It has been a while since I baked….(a lot of things going on in my life). It was time and decided to bake these delicious bars!

The recipe calls for simple ingredients. 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of softened butter, 1 pinch of salt, 1 1/2 cups of oats, 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of water, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 2 cups of chocolate chips, and 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk (I had them all, except for the condensed milk). No eggs! ?

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl combine all ingredients until crumbly. Divide in half. Spray 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish with non-stick pan coating (I used melted butter to coat the dish). Press half crust mixture in the pan. Reserve remaining mixture.

In another large bowl (microwave safe) mixing cup melt together sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and water on medium power, stirring often, until smooth. Add the vanilla extract. Pour chocolate mixture over crumb mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top and press lightly to smooth.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Cool completely (very important you do this, if not they will fall apart), then cut into small squares. Wrap tightly to store in the refrigerator or freezer.

This recipe is always a favorite! A grand slam with my hubby and the rest of the family. It is also a favorite when I go down to the Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast in Cape May. They often serve it during their tea time and the hubby and I always gobble them up. It is great to have them at home, thanks to their cookbook! These bars are sweet and satisfying. They are always a favorite with chocolate lovers. Plus, they are so simple to make! Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” -Alan D. Wolfet

Around the holiday season, the hubby and I usually go to Cape May for New Year’s. Such a great time to go because this shore town is full of energy and jolliness. We decided to go the Ebbitt Room to celebrate a delicious New Year’s dinner ??. We partook in their four course dinner.

The Ebbitt Room is located in the heart of historic Cape May, New Jersey. Their menu consists of artisanal cocktails and farm-fresh classic American regional cuisine. The Ebbitt Room offers a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, too. As a farm-to-table restaurant, they feature free-range eggs and fresh herbs, vegetables and pork from their own farm, Beach Plum Farm located in West Cape May.

First course… both dishes were amazing! The Waygu beef was so flavorful! The pomegranate added a refreshing and bold taste to the meat, with a faint note of sweetness. Loved the citrus-based tang of the Ponzu sauce. The Yellowtail was delicate in taste, while the yuzu kosho added a citrusy heat, with the sweetness of the bosc pear.

The second course, we both ordered the same thing! The Rabbit Radu Cavatelli pasta was cooked al dente and the sauce was not overpowering. I was a big fan of the saltiness of the pancetta, mixed with the earthy and nutty flavor of the truffle.

Our main courses…omg delicious. My husband’s halibut had a flavorful crispy skin, with a mild sweet and light buttery taste. The beet reduction enhanced the taste of the gentle flavoring of this fish. The Filet Mignon was cooked to a perfect medium rare and melted in my mouth. I loved the taste of the foie gras, but I don’t think it was needed with this dish. I felt it overpowered the Filet Mignon just a bit. The Filet Mignon can stand on its own. Loved the red wine porcini sauce as it was rich and decadent. The flavors lingered luxuriously on your tongue!

Overall, as always, a great experience with the Ebbitt Room! Fantastic service, delicious food, and beautiful atmosphere. Their menu is diverse and always changing. Their dishes always reflects the fresh and local flavors of South Jersey farm to table. A definite must go if you are ever in the Cape May area. Thank you for reading my review and continue to Chomp away!

-Chompingchica

It has been awhile since I baked… The hubby was struck with Covid and luckily he is getting better. He had a craving for something sweet. I stumbled upon this recipe and decided to make this for him ? You can get this recipe at https://makethebestofeverything.com/2021/11/moose-tracks-cookie-bars/

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F). Cream butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a medium-sized mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, stir flour with salt and baking powder. Add the flour mixture into the giant bowl to make the cookie dough. Chop up the peanut butter cups and fold them into the dough.

Line your baking dish with parchment paper. Drop dough onto the baking sheet and spread it out to fill the entire thing. Microwave the jar of hot fudge and pour it randomly on top of the cookie bars. Use a toothpick to swirl the fudge around into the cookie dough. (I couldn’t find fudge, so I used a semi sweet chocolate bar and melted it on the stove top. It added such a nice touch!) Bake cookie bars in the oven for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven, let cool, and serve once they have reached room temperature.  Overall, the taste was amazing! I thought it would be way heavier and more sweet-tasting due to the peanut butter cups and chocolate, but pleasantly it wasn’t. It was simple, with just the right amount of sweetness from the cups and the chocolate (maybe the fudge would have made them more decadent?). They were very easy to make, with few ingredients. The next time I make them, I would love to try it with fudge and see if there is any change in the sweetness and consistency. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

A couple of weeks ago, I had a Godiva Dark Chocolate Bar and I wanted to use it for baking. My husband came across this recipe…. Chocolate Shortbread Cookies! You can get this recipe at https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/chocolate-shortbread-cookies-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-39431

In a small bowl, whisk flour and cocoa powder together. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, beat butter, vanilla, and sugar with a stand or handheld mixer on medium speed until smooth; about 3 minutes.

Switch the mixer speed to low and gradually add in the flour mixture, until just combined. The dough will have a chocolate tint to it ?. That’s pretty much all the ingredients you need!

Roll the dough into a log about 2 inches (5cm) in diameter, wrap well, and refrigerate until very firm, about 2 hours. I’m not sure if I rolled to the measurements it asked for…. but it was done. The 2 hour wait kind of stinks, but I understand why it is needed. So make sure you plan your timing in advance when you bake these cookies. Also, it may not look appealing at this point, but patience ?!

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut the dough into ¼ inch (7mm) thick slices and place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool on wire racks. Again, not sure if I sliced them accurately based on the recipe’s measurements, but definitely came close. They still don’t look appealing. They actually look like slices of liverwurst ?. But they will come out delicious!

Once cooled, melt the chopped chocolate in the microwave on low power or over low heat on the stove and drizzle over the cookies. Let set and harden before storing. Love the smell of chocolate cooking on the stove!

This was my first time making shortbreads and it was so easy!! I loved that it required minimal ingredients! Even the prep time was not bad. However, the storing of the dough and waiting for two hours was annoying, but that is because I was impatient! ? The melting of the chocolate on the cookies added a lovely touch to them. The actual shortbread was not overly sweet and the addition of the melted chocolate added a nice elevated sweetness to the cookie. I will definitely add this one to my cookie recipes collection! Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-ChompingChica

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien

The hubby and I were at Cape May, NJ for our typical New Year’s getaway. On our first night there, we decided to eat at Exit Zero. Exit Zero Filling Station is a restaurant with a bar and a gift shop selling Cape May souvenir shirts and sweatshirts, along with a gas station. The restaurant is owned by Jack Wright, a native Scotsman who emigrated to America. As owner of the Exit Zero publishing company, he later purchased property across the street, built a new metal framed barn to house his business … the restaurant, a retail shop, and then acquired a liquor license and the next-door gas station to form what is now the Exit Zero Filling Station. Their menu features dishes of seafood, meats, chicken, Indian curries, burgers, and sandwiches. Vegan and Vegetarian options are available.

In 2021, the gas pumps were removed and replaced with outdoor seating. When the hubby and I went, they had an awesome outdoor winter theme!!

I want to first discuss their outdoor experience… so festive and fun! Outdoor winter dining was a real treat. They have converted seven tents into cozy outdoor private dining spaces that can hold from 2-6 people. They also converted some vintage trailers. Really cool! The particular tent we stayed at was the “Cindy Lou.” Our tent was so colorful and it definitely screamed “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” vibe! Other themes included “Elf”, “Christmas Story”, among others.

I loved my drink. It was refreshing and the combo of lime with the coconut was not overpowering. It had the right amount of sweetness. I’m usually not a big fan of coconut, but this drink has made me convert! Onto our appetizer. The wings were large and tasty! Perfectly cooked and crunchy with the right amount of sauce.??

The “Hot Chick” (love the name?) was such a good sandwich! It was spicy, but not crazy spicy that I could not taste the flavors of the sandwich. (I did put the aioli on the side… very good, but it would have been too spicy for me ?) The chicken was perfectly crispy and flavorful, and the bun was nice and fluffy. Waffle fries were very nicely seasoned and cooked perfectly as well.  Loved the sweet pickles!

My husband enjoyed the Blackened Salmon Sandwich. He felt it was amped up by jalapeño mayo, a zingy slaw and a yummy Brioche bun. It was cooked PERFECTLY. So moist, fresh, and flavorful! My husband loved the taters tots! They were not too salty, crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. He gobbled them up.

We had to have dessert! Dessert was the peanut butter pie and it tastes like you are eating a peanut butter cup.? Super tasty!

Absolutely dig this place! The food is delish with a unique British/Indian flare. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I loved that they had heated outdoor seating! It was a fun atmosphere and just an interesting place to dine. Highly recommend and we’ll definitely return! Thanks for reading my review and continue to Chomp away!

-Chompingchica-