I am always a big fan of trying new baking recipes and this recipe, I have to say, was stellar! This recipe is from the Francis Malbone House Inn Cookbook. I bought this book when I was up in Newport, Rhode Island and staying at this Bed and Breakfast. Let’s dive in!
This recipe was simple to follow. The ingredients were easy to acquire, such as apple cinnamon, eggs, flour, sugar, etc. However, one ingredient that I didn’t expect to use was an orange in the recipe. The recipe called for 1/4 cup of squeezed orange juice and a table spoon of orange zest. I felt that the orange was a key ingredient in making this Bundt moist and it gave it acidity.
There were some minor changes I made to the recipe. First, the recipe asked for 2 1/3 cups of sugar. I felt it was a tad too much, so I just put the two cups. It still tasted amazing!! Second, the recipe asked for vegetable oil. Unfortunately, I did not have vegetable oil, but I did have Canola oil and used that instead. It did not effect the taste or consistency of the Bundt.
Overall this cake was unbelievably delicious, very moist and so flavorful. It was a crowd pleaser at my house. I’m excited to try other recipes in this cook book. If you are ever in the Newport Rhode Island area must stay at this Bed and Breakfast. If you do, definitely grab this cookbook! Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
A beautiful day full of fun beverages and delicious food!!
One of the many places we visited while we were vacationing in Newport, Rhode Island, was Newport Vineyards and Taproot Brewery. The winery has over 50-acres of vines, spread across 100-acres of historically preserved farmland. They have been around for over 25 years. Taproot Brewing Co. has been around since 2018. Equipped with a state-of-the-art seven barrel brewhouse… this place is a two for one, lol!
A tour of how their awesome beer is made!
The process!
Kevin Beachem, Brewer at Taproot, was nice enough to explain the process!
A sample of their new beer that is coming out. The WITBIER!
We entered and we were greeted by Kevin Beachem, who is the Brewer at Taproot Brewery (and a friend of my husband’s). He explained the process to us and how he creates his beers. One beer that he talked about, that we got to taste, was the Whitbier. According to Kevin, it is a Belgian Wheat, with ingredients of Elderberry, Orange Peel, Coriander, and Local Lemon Balm. I’m not a big fan of Belgian beers, but this beer was so light and refreshing. It was so delicious, that I may convert!
Wine Flights!
So let’s start with our flights. My husband had a beer flight and I had a wine flight. The wine flight I had was amazing!!! The one on the far left is called the Great White, this white wine was excellent! It is a blend of Cayuga, Riesling and Vidal Blanc. The taste was light with some sweetness, but not overly sweet. The next wine was the Pinot Noir Rose. This was a bit dry, but loved the rich flavors of strawberry! The third is the Pinot Noir. This wine is dry with light fruit notes (earthy, pomegranate, raspberry). Low in tannins, it is an easy drinking red, especially in the summer (the day we were there, it was hot). Last but not least, was the Cabernet Franc. The flavor was smoky, with a hint of raspberry. It was very good!
Beer Flights!
My husband’s beer flight… starting from the left was the Brosé. This beer had a sour taste with a blend of raspberries (which are local). This combo creates a tart and refreshing flavor! The next beer was the Zappa and according to my husband it had a combination of fruity and hoppy flavors. The third, was the F-Bomb, (lol)! This was my husband’s favorite! This beer had a tropical flare, with hints of spices and coconut. Finally the Vineyard Pills, which had a clean, crisp flavor with light floral notes.
Local Cheese Bite Board
Great Hill Blue, Atwells Gold, Crescendo, house jam, local honeycomb, dried fruit, spiced nuts, focaccia crostini
Bluefin Tuna
Landot herb roasted tuna, summer potatoes, local veggies
On top of their drinks being phenomenal, the dishes were not that far behind! Their cheese board was amazing. All the ingredients on this board melded so well. The cheeses were creamy and flavorful and the house jam was sweet and fresh. The fruits were fresh and paired nicely with the other ingredients. It was just such a great cheese board all around. The tuna entree was excellent! It had a nice sear and it was seasoned very nicely. The summer potatoes were cooked to perfection. Both dishes were amazing, as well as their beautiful presentations.
Checking out the winery!
Perfect day!
So overall, my husband and I had a great time! Great place, the staff was friendly, and the service was on point. The people here enjoy what they do and it is reflected in their beer, drinks, dishes and overall atmosphere. I highly recommend this place and if you are in the area please stop by! Oh, and it is recommended that you make reservations! Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
Enjoying Brunch with the view of the City and the Hudson River!
“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” ― Dom Helder Camara, Dom Helder Camara: Essential Writings
I wanted to go with my husband and long time college friends for an outdoor brunch and we decided to try this place. (They are big foodies, just like yours truly :)) This place is located in Weehawken, NJ on top of the ENVUE Hotel. It is a rooftop restaurant that has beautiful views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. Chef Marcus Samuelsson is the owner. (Chef Samuelsson is the acclaimed chef, cookbook author, TV personality, philanthropist and food activist behind the iconic New York City restaurant Red Rooster Harlem and Marcus B+P in Newark.) His menu is inspired by locally sourced seasonal items from local farms and suppliers.
WATERMELON SALAD with Heirloom tomato, Cucumber, Y
Toasted seeds, MintLOBSTER MAC N’ CHEESE with
baked mac, lobster bisque, breadcrumbsBUFFALO BROCCOLI with Coconut dressing
M’S CORNBREAD with honey butter
Starting with the appetizers… the best one was the Mac and Cheese! The taste was creamy, warm, and delicious! The pieces of lobster were generous and paired nicely with the creaminess of the cheese. The Cornbread was not out of this world, but it had a nice, moist taste. The honey butter for the cornbread… amazing! So creamy and light with a touch of sweetness from the honey. I felt the butter elevated the muffin. The Watermelon Salad… loved the freshness of the watermelon and vegetables! It is a perfect summer salad. The Broccoli was cooked well and the buffalo sauce had a nice kick. However, there was supposed to be a taste of coconut, but I and none of my guests tasted any of the coconut flavor.
“THE SWEETEST THING” Red Velvet Pancakes, white chocolate, berries and orange glazeFRIED CHICKEN & CORNBREAD WAFFLE,
hot honey, picklesED’S SLAM toast, fried eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes
BALLER ROLL
lobster & crab, celery, butter-toasted roll
On to the Entrees. The best one that was popular with our party was the pancakes. They were soft and moist. The combination of the fresh berries and the white chocolate was perfect. The homemade whip cream added a nice touch as well. The cornbread waffles from both the Ed Slam and the Fried Chicken dish were amazing! The waffles were crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside. The cornbread flavor of the waffle was buttery and sweet. Delicious!! Unfortunately, the Fried Chicken that accompanied waffle was very dry and it lacked flavor. The rest of the Ed Slam was ok, but the sausages and bacon were prepared nicely. The Baller Roll bread was “ok,” but the crab/lobster filling was good and not heavily soaked in mayonnaise.
Unfortunately, our overall experience was not spectacular. The time we went was not at all crowded, yet the service was a bit lacking. For example, I ordered a drink called the Lavender Spritz. Unfortunately, a good time had passed and I still didn’t have my drink. Then our server finally approached us and said they were out of Lavender. While it’s definitely possible the server did not know about the lack of Lavender, it took a VERY long time to get that info back to the table. This happened quite a few times when we asked for something. It just seemed uncoordinated. The staff was very friendly… just seemed overwhelmed on a day when it wasn’t too busy.
Our entrees were not delayed, however they made several mistakes with some of our parties’ dishes. One of our guests is lactose intolerant, and he informed the waitress of his allergies and worked out a perfect dish. However when his dish arrived, there was cheese on it. Another member of our party is allergic to garlic. She also informed our waitress and the waitress stated that the dish she ordered had no garlic. However, when our meals were delivered her meal was missing. The server informed her the reason it was missing was that there was garlic in her dish. This was something that should have been known prior to her ordering the dish. It’s a miscommunication between front of the house and the kitchen. I will say, even though there were several mistakes, the staff and management did all they could to rectify the errors in our dining experience. Beautiful place for the scenery and the ambiance. However, I’m not sure if I would return for this dining experience. It wasn’t a terrible experience, but there were a bit too many misfires for me to return. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
“People who love to eat, are always the best people.”-Julia Child
Sunday was Brunch with my Sister-in-Law and we decided to try a cute Thai spot in Montclair, NJ. Beautifully decorated restaurant, located right in downtown Montclair, they serve Northern Thai dishes. “SLA” stands for Simple, Love, Authentic.
SPRING ROLL, Crispy roll , shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, leeks ,clear noodles and truffles oil.
Chicken Sate, grilled chicken on the skewer. served with side peanut sauce and cucumber vinaigrette.
So for starters, we ordered the Spring Rolls and the Chicken Sate. The Spring Rolls were excellent! They were crispy and flavorful. They were not at all oily and so easy to pop in your mouth. The red dipping sauce that accompanied it was soooo good. It was light and sweet, but not overpowering. It added a nice touch to the rolls.
The Chicken Sate was good. It had a lovely grilled sear that added a nice salty taste. The chicken was moist and not at all dry. However, I felt it was missing something. The accompanied dipping sauces (peanut sauce and cucumber vinaigrette) were extremely tasty and paired well with the chicken.
KHOA KAPOW MOO KROB street food style Crispy Thai pork belly, stir fried with Thai basil sauce, garlic,chilli, and Thai Fried egg over jasmine or rice.
BAMEE HANG
Home town style ,Egg noodle with crispy pork belly , shrimp ,crab meat and baby bokchoi ,served with peanut and chili flake.
Entrees…. soooo good! The Khoa Kapow Moo Krob … amazing! The texture of the pork belly was crispy, with just the right amount of saltiness. The basil sauce that accompanied this dish was done beautifully, with a delicate sweetness and I loved combining the Jasmine rice, the egg and the rest of ingredients with the sauce. All the ingredients in this dish just complemented each other nicely.
The Bamee Hang … omg delicious as well. The Pork Belly and Shrimp were cooked beautifully (we love pork belly in this family). The Noodles were perfectly prepared. I also enjoyed the Bokchoi :).
Chill place 🙂
Overall, it was a great place to try! Definitely recommend SLA! The menu is small and refined. A place to chill and relax with spectacular food. Staff was attentive and service was spot on. Do not forget, this is a BYOB. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
“Food is our common ground, a universal experience” – James Beard
So this food outing we were celebrating my hubby’s birthday and we decided to go to one of our favorite places, The Barrow House! The Barrow House is a Colonial Era Farmhouse located in Clifton, NJ on the site of a former farm. They serve rustic American Farm Fare, as well as, handcrafted cocktails and a great selection of craft beers. They are currently doing an outdoor dining experience which runs until August 31. The theme of this eating experience is called Camp Barrow.
Scout’s Honor Drink made with Sky Vodka, Mizu Lemongrass, Shochu, Coconut, Kaffir Lime, Chili
Paste
Fireside Punch with Ford’s Gin, Perry’s Tot Navy Strength, Passionfruit, Almond, Falernum, Lemon
Kentucky Maid with Old Forester Bourbon, Mint, Cucumber, Lime
First off… cocktails! Two of the drinks, Scout’s Honor and the Fireside Punch, were from their Camp Barrow Menu. When I ordered the punch, I was pleasantly surprised by it’s packaging …so fun!! The pouch takes me back to when I use to have Capri Sun as a little kid. The only difference is that this version has alcohol in it and the creative way they labeled this drink, (Camp-Ri Sun instead of Capri -Sun). This drink was very refreshing, with a tropical flair. The other drink from Camp Barrow was the Scout’s Honor. Presentation was so pretty and artsy. The drink itself was very good. It was sweet, citrusy, with hints of a floral undertone.
Sausage Sampler with Smoked Kielbasa, Bratwurst, Chicken Sausage, and Pretzel Bread
Low Country Cornbread with whipped honey butter
Loaded Fries with Avocado cream, Black Bean Salsa, Pickled Jalapeño, Queso Fresco, and Jerk seasoning
Appetizers next… the Sausage Samper from the Camp Barrow menu was soooo good! All the sausages in the sampler were juicy and flavorful, but my favorite was the Kielbasa. I was big fan of its smoky taste and couldn’t get enough of it! In addition the dips, the pretzel bread and the pickled cabbage added a nice touch to this dish. I especially enjoyed the creaminess of the beer cheese, which paired nicely with the smokiness of the Kielbasa. The Pretzel bread was soft and warm in the middle. The outside was crispy, with just the right amount of salt.
From the regular menu, we ordered the Cornbread and the Loaded Fries. The Cornbread was sweet and savory. It was moist and not at all dry (some places you go, the bread is so dry it disintegrates in your hand). It was so good, we had to order another one for the table!! The Loaded Fries were amazing!! The fries were crispy and the flavors that accompanied this dish just melded so well. Definitely a party in my mouth!
Black Truffle Mac & Cheese with Fontina, White Cheddar and Jack Cheese
Squid Ink Carbonara with Lump Crabs, Peas, Corn, Guanciale, and Romano
Shrimp Po Boy with Spicy Remoulade and House Slaw
Atlantic Salmon with Mango Salsa, Forbidden Rice, Caulilini, and Basil oil
The entrees were also from the regular menu. All dishes were delicious, but my two favorites were the Mac & Cheese and the Shrimp Po’ Boy. For the Po’ boy, the bread itself was soft and warm. The breading on the shrimp was nicely seasoned and held together (some breading just falls apart and it’s just a big mess). The sandwich was very good and had a nice tangy taste.
The truffle mac & cheese….so yummy! It had a good amount of black truffle on top and it was so cheesy and it melted in your mouth! The combination of the truffle and all three cheeses was AMAZING!
So it was a great experience, especially for the birthday boy and for the rest of our party. Whenever we go, it is never a disappointment. If you can, try to visit the Barrow House, especially when they have a themed outdoor dining experience! I can’t wait to see what they come up with next! Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
So baking this Crisp was very easy and it came out delicious! Very few steps and a crowd pleaser! This particular recipe I got from a website called “I am baker” (link below). I decided to take a crack at it. 🙂
Fresh Strawberries are a must!
So when cutting these gorgeous strawberries, remove the leafy green parts of the berries (hulling the strawberries) and cut them into quarters. After cutting them, make sure you have six cups worth of strawberries. (I bought about 3 packs of strawberries. Initially bought two packs, but it wasn’t enough.)
The dry ingredients and butter
Mixing the berries, sugar, vanilla extract…
So the next step after cutting the strawberries, is mixing them in a bowl with brown sugar, vanilla extract, flour, and set them aside. Then in a separate bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients which are the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon together. Add in the cubed butter and use your hands to combine. You want the butter to be pea-sized and coated entirely. You should have 6 cups.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9×13 pan with baking spray or coating with butter. (I used butter, because I felt it might give it a better taste.) Spread 3 cups over the bottom of your prepared pan and press flat. Pour the strawberry mixture over top and press down with rubber spatula. Pour remaining crisp mixture over top of the strawberries and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. I baked for the full 45 mins because I like the top of the crisp to be darker, but if you prefer a less dark, crispy top you can add a foil tent to the crisp after 35 minutes.
It is done! Nice dark top.
The Strawberry middle looks delish!!
Boom! Ready to be devoured!
So I love to serve it warm, but you can serve it cold. If served warm, add a bit of vanilla ice cream with a touch of whipped cream.
So the finished product was amazing!! The strawberries fused with the brown sugar, cinnamon and oats was just perfect. The one modification I did was instead of putting two cups of brown sugar in the oat/flour mixture, I did 1 1/2 cups. I felt 2 cups would make it too sweet, and the 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar was just right. So overall I loved how it tasted and how simple it was to make. I give this Strawberry Crisp recipe a 9 out of 10. Here is the link to this scrumptious recipe https://iambaker.net/strawberry-crisp/#wprm-recipe-container-95728
Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
“I can’t stand people who do not take food seriously.”
-Oscar Wilde
So on a whim, my husband and I decided to try this place recently. It is located in the heart of South Orange, NJ. The Fox & Falcon has a warm and inviting ambiance, which reflects in their food as well. The menu consists of contemporary American cuisine that is elevated into unique and exciting dishes.
So the appetizers were amazing! Let’s start with meatballs. The meatballs were moist and flavorful. They were seasoned to perfection! The sauce had a perfect amount of spices and the consistency was perfect. It was definitely a “Sunday Sauce.”
The Seasonal Toast was very interesting. I’m usually not a big fan of fava beans, but this dish definitely made me want to eat them! The beans paired nicely with the ever so creamy lemon ricotta, with a hint of spice from the spicy honey drizzle. All ingredients just melded together very nicely.
NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN SANDWICH
smoked paprika aioli, lettuce, house made pickles, on a brioche bun with salt & pepper french fries
FILIPINO FRIED HALF CHICKEN
breast, leg & thigh, adobo chili sauce, garlic sticky rice, pickled green mango
My husband tried the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. It was very close to Hattie B’s Hot chicken (If you ever go to Nashville it is a must visit !!!)… at least here in the Northeast. The outside was crispy and had a very nice kick. The chicken itself was moist. I HAVE to mention the french fries. They had the right combination of crispiness without being too overdone. The spice on the fries were sensational.
So my dish was the Filipino Fried Chicken. The outside of the chicken had a combination of sweet, savory, and spicy. These flavors worked well together, without one overpowering the other. The chicken itself was succulent and moist. The chicken was paired nicely with their white rice, which was light and fluffy. The pickled green mangoes were a nice touch to the dish.
CAST IRON MIXED BERRY PIE – brown sugar crumble, vanilla ice cream
To finish off our meal, we had a decadent Mixed Berry Pie! I’m always a big fan of having desserts served in a cast iron skillet because it gives it such a homey taste and flair. The pie had a sweet crumbly top with a light, flaky crust. The inside of the pie was not TOO sweet, with the essence of the fresh berries. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top was refreshing and paired nicely with the decadent taste of the pie.
WATERMELON MARGARITA – tequila blanco, fresh pressed watermelon juice, lime juice, agave syrup, with a salt rim (unless you tell us otherwise)
WhiskeyTOKI HIGHBALL – toki japanese single malt whisky, club soda, fresh mint, lemon twist
Now, how could I forget to mention the drinks? Both beverages, were very delicious! My margarita was light and refreshing. The watermelon flavor was perfect and not overpowering. Hubby’s drink ( he is a big whiskey man), was refreshing with a nice minty finish.
So overall, a great place to go! Flavorful, unique food and with a very chill, inviting ambiance. In addition, they have a plethora of entertainment ranging from comedy shows, live music and weekly trivia. I give this restaurant an 8 out of 10. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
I always wanted to try almond flour pancakes. One day at the store, I came across the Simple Mills Almond Flour Pancake Mix and decided to give them a whirl ;).
So preparing and cooking them were not bad. The batter was interesting, it was more crumbly and coarse. When you mixed all the ingredients ( I used almond milk, instead of regular milk. I also used olive oil, instead of the vegetable/coconut oil) it came out smooth, but with a very thick consistency. When putting them on the griddle, they cooked nicely, but had to make another batch of the batter because they came out smaller in size and quantity. I added some fresh blueberries to pancakes because I love blueberries in my pancakes. 🙂
So the overall taste was not bad. It had a nutty flavor, with a mild sweetness. A bit dry, but that can be fixed if one played around with the recipe, but it also can be due to the lack of Gluten. (Which does not bother me and it’s healthier for you) But overall not bad, I would cook it again. I give it an 8 out of 10. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
Great experience in Morristown from a “Chopped” Chef!
“Love At First Bite” — So my food curiosity led me to this place! Morristown, NJ always has great eatery gems. This particular place is owned by Chef Leia Gaccione, who has been in “Chopped” and has worked with Bobby Flay as a sous chef for three episodes of Iron Chef America. She is also NJ born and raised!!!
Jersey Corn Empanadas
Inside goodness of the Jersey Corn Empanadas!
Pork Belly appetizer
So from the start, amazing appetizers! The Jersey Corn Empanadas, so flavorful and creamy. The outside was crispy and savory. The Pork Belly was awesome! The watermelon, fresno chile, and tamarind vin paired nicely with the pork belly. It gave both a nice hot and cooling effect all at once. I definitely wanted some more.
Fried Chix 2.0 polenta+salumi waffle, calabrian chili honey
Roasted Prawns with cannellini beans, charred zucchini, red pepper romesco, toasted garlic
Tile Fish over NJ corn chowder, garlic scape salsa verde, basil
So out of all these dishes, the Tile Fish was the best! The fish was cooked to perfection and paired nicely with a creamy corn chowder. Amazing!! Another dish that I wanted to mention, (unfortunately no picture was available due to my husband devouring it!) was the Local Beef Burger with house-smoked cheddar, bacon aioli, and a farm egg. But, he told us it was very juicy and flavorful, with a nice smoky taste.
Chocolate Sesame Cake with tahini caramel and vanilla ice cream
Strawberry shortcake with salted caramel, creme fraiche ice cream
The Chocolate Sesame cake was my favorite out of these two desserts. The chocolate was not too sweet, with a hint of salty flavor. The sesame seed definitely complimented the flavor of the cake by enhancing both the sweet and savory. Finishing it all off was the creaminess of the the vanilla ice cream.
Wilde Cock Wine from Willow Creek Winery 🙂
So overall, it was a great place to go. I would definitely go back and try other things on the menu. If you do go, just remember it is a BYOB. I brought one of my favorite brands of white wine… Wilde Cock (stop your laughing) from Willow Creek Winery, located in Cape May, NJ. This particular bottle is called Prestige Silver. I give this restaurant a 7.5 out of 10. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
