Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Break


Gotta get ready for Santa! Hope your holiday is super bright. XO

Friday, December 17, 2010

Snack


I've done many cupcakes posts (see here, here, here, and here!) but I've never done one on the queen of all cupcakes - MAGNOLIA. In my opnion, Magnolia Bakery gets it just right with a slightly savory cake and tons of buttery, sweet, soft icing in pretty pastel colors like purple:


Two bites of pure perfection.

P.S. This article claims they are soon to open in Short Hills Mall! I'm dying. I think I just felt my waistline expand by like 2 inches.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

First-Rate


In case you missed this article in The New York Post recently, I thought I'd link to it so you can read about just how amazing and perfect Mr. Ripert is (as if we didn't know THAT already). Look what he whipped up when challenged to cook a holiday meal using just what’s available at the local bodega with a $50 budget! My heart just skipped a beat.


Sigh.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Dressing Dependency

I have a minor pub obsession (see here and here). There is something I just love about the simplicity of the food I guess. A couple of visits to Poor Herbie’s in Madison recently reminded me of how the restaurant’s old-fashioned mahogany bar makes you feel like you are at “Cheers” and Ted Danson might show up any minute. Love that.




Typical pub fare of hamburgers and cheeseburgers, cold sandwiches, and hot wings are all offered on the menu. The 100% reason that Michael and I drive all the way there though is the salad dressing. It is addicting. Seriously, I might need a twelve step for THIS particular salad dressing (good thing they sell it to take home).

It has this really delicious onion-y taste and for the life of us, we can’t tell you what else is in there, but we can tell you if you eat it once you will want it again and again. Guaranteed.



Thursday, December 9, 2010

Edible Gifts

The other night we were watching this episode of Unique Eats when I heard the loud screeeech of car brakes in my mind as a food item appeared on my tv screen I had never seen. Hold everything...why haven't I heard of cucpakes in a jar????

Apparently this shop in California specializes in them. There is a whole menu of flavors that sound delectable.


(Photo courtesy of Yummy Cupcakes)

I thought I would share since they'd make a great gift this time of year. Who wouldn't want tons of icing with flavorful cake all jammed into a tiny cute little jar complete with spoon? I personally could not think of a better gift.


(Photo courtesy of Disneyweddingblog)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Rated Excellent

If you like Italian food and ginormous portions, I'm sure you have been to (or at least heard of) E&V Restaurant in Paterson. The place is an institution that has been around forev-ah. Seriously, I used to go as a kid with my dad and brothers a long long time ago.

I was all set to write my review and then I saw the statements below from various people on the web:

"The atmosphere is unpretentious and the place looks incredibly average, however, the food is anything but. The portions are abundant and perfectly prepared. Bar none, some of the best Northern Italian cuisine in the area. A Sopranos-like left over from a bygone era in Paterson's Hillside section"

"There are thousands of Italian restaurants in North Jersey, but none beat E & V. Whenever you go there, the line is out the door, that's how good it is. Excellent food at a great price and portions so big you'll bring home tomorrow's lunch too"

"You know a good restaurant when every time you arrive there are people standing outside waiting to be seated. E & V offers delicious Italian cuisine, at a very reasonable price. You can usually make two meals out of it too"


Yep, true. All true. Case in point - two people ate all of these mushrooms! The shrimp scampi sauce was so delicious Michael had to stop me from drinking it. And the garlic and oil pasta bowl was almost empty even after eating everything else.






P.S. - Some things you need to know before you go: (1) alcohol is now served, but you can still BYO; (2) parking lot gets full quickly because it is tiny; (3) CASH is king baby. No credit cards are accepted

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Shrimp Tricks

Do you know what these two dishes of sauce signify?


You probably guessed it...they are the first thing that is put in front of you when you sit down to a HIBACHI meal :-)

A recent visit to Kiku (Paramus location) made us feel like grown up children as we watched the chef toss shrimp in the air and make volcanoes out of onions! I mean, who doesn't love food that is cooked AND choreographed? Chefs performed the full blown Benihana-style experience with all the schtick and it couldn't have been more fun...or the food more delicious.

Hibachi fried rice is my absolute fave:


Main meal of shrimp, noodles and veggies:


We also gobbled up the complimentary soup and salad starters. Yum. Major scores for good entertainment and even better food.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Old Friends


I’m uber excited about the new season of Top Chef All-Stars that started Wednesday night. I feel like all my old friends are back with these cheftestants. Seeing people like Blais, Asprinio, Tiffani (shout out to season 1 fans) and Ms. “Hooty-Hoo” herself return to my TV screen was worth the wait. The season is going to rock!

The all star cast is ripe with memorable personalities, superior knife-skills, AND my main man Bourdain is back as a guest judge! Can you see me smiling????

Thursday, December 2, 2010

New In Town


Move over Panera, there’s a new game in town (which I couldn’t be more excited about).

Corner Bakery opened in the Promenade Shops at Clifton recently and we’ve made a few journeys there already. They offer a full sit-down breakfast menu with yummy options like French toast, scrambled eggs and bacon. Lunch includes fresh sandwiches, soups, salads and pastas. You can order any item at any time of day....like breakfast for lunch...love that.






Love me a free sample. Correction. Free DELICIOUS sample.


I like this new guy known as Corner Bakery. It conjures up notions of authenticity and fresh ingredients served in a fantastic atmosphere.