Back to the Beach

On my return trip to the beach this week, we went to dinner at Labrador Lounge in Normandy Beach. The restaurant had a relaxed vacation style atmosphere and plenty of outdoor dining while the menu featured fantastic high-quality eats.



Labrador Lounge’s menu was full of world fare and had dishes borrowing from Italian, Mexican, Thai and French cuisines. Our table was full of varied offerings including buffalo calamari, sushi, lobster rolls (see photo below), cheddar broccoli soup with bacon, vegetable gyozas, tortelloni pasta and a traditional steak dinner. Everything I tasted was delicious and I was intrigued by the effortless style of each dish.


Of course, it's hard not to enjoy your food when sitting outside with warm ocean breezes, summer salt air and great company!

New Magazine; New Meal

I picked up a copy of Rachael Ray's magazine for beach reading and found a great recipe! So great in fact, I subscribed to the magazine.

I dog-eared the page with the Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Warm Tomato Salad recipe. On the way home from the beach, I stopped at the market so I could get some fresh ingredients.



Though mine was not quite as pretty as the magazine photo, it was delicious, simple and quick. You can find the recipe here.

Morning Sunshine

Every year my sister-in-law and brother-in-law stay at a friend’s house in Lavallette, NJ for a week and are kind enough to extend us an open invitation to go down and stay as well. We usually go for the weekend, enjoy the beach with my niece and nephew, soak up the sun, and then all go out for a marvelous dinner. This year we were lucky enough to not only go to dinner here (fantastic food), but to eat serious pancake breakfast too!



How could you not love the Jersey Shore when the local breakfast place is named Sunny Hunny By the Sea Pancake House?! I was so smitten with the name that I bought the t-shirt (yep, I was THAT person...the one holding up the payment line to get the shirt). I had to have it, couldn’t resist.


It was such a delightful place to eat our breakfast. Apparently, Sunny Hunny has been pleasing the masses at the Jersey Shore for more than 20 years. Breakfast reigns from omelets and pancakes to egg sandwiches and French toast. The menu is a staggering collection of breakfast favorites and Sunny Hunny specialties. Our food was served quickly and with a smile by their youthful wait staff. (They also have people dressed up as Sesame Street characters to entertain the little kids - Elmo was outside when we went).

My short stack of 3 whole wheat pancakes with a side of deep fried bacon was just what I needed Sunday morning. The place seemed air tight when it came to serving up our morning eats and I loved everything about it....including the name!



Thanks to D, A, J & T for showing us such an outstanding time!!

Hot and Cold

You’re probably used to seeing the ice rink at Rockefeller Center look like this:


However, once the ice officially melts, the skating rink at Rockefeller Center turns into an attraction that's very alluring....an outdoor cocktail bar that whips up frozen, fresh strawberry daiquiris and piña coladas! I’m dying to go to Rink Bar. The submerged, cabana-like setting with umbrella topped tables and the Prometheus Fountain seems ultra cool.



Along with the aforementioned daiquiris, the bar also serves a menu of burgers, crab cakes, pastas and salads. It’s on my go to list.

I'll Be Back

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention when I was in Ridgewood eting my Greek Salad, I should have stopped here for dessert! The new cupcake shop, Cupcakes By Carousel, opened on July 1st at 192 East Ridgewood Ave. Best part? They have a cupcake version of Carousel’s Red Velvet Cake, one of Oprah’s “O” List favorites from 2007.

I’m totally going in the next few weeks!

Daily Treat

I can totally see why people move to Ridgewood, NJ. It has old-world charm, excellent schools, and an easy commute to Manhattan. However, one of the reasons I visit this vibrant downtown often is to eat a Greek Salad at The Daily Treat Restaurant.

Granted, in this town dining options abound with a restaurant to match just about any food mood. I love the simplicity of The Daily Treat though. It delivers diner comfort food nicely. EVERY SINGLE TIME (which is so important). Did you ever go somewhere, order something you like, go back again, and get that same entree but it is different than the first time you had it?! That drives me crazy. I like returning to The Daily Treat and getting my Greek salad the same way each time. Always fresh and delicious.

If you are in Ridgewood and find yourself dizzy from all of the restaurant choices, head for The Daily Treat. With their diner like menu, there is something for everyone and if you don’t know what to order - get the Greek Salad :-)

Familiar Tastes

Sometimes I miss my Italian grandma. My dad’s mom was the most awesome cook. Her name was Albina (how Italian can ya get?!) and her food was the stuff that you’ll never duplicate now matter how hard you try. Hey, at least I have the memories.

When I really really miss her and want something that tastes like she made it, I go to A&S Pork Store in West Paterson. The owner Frank stocks the store butcher case with plenty of homemade sausages that will totally bring out your inner carnivore. He also offers tons of prepared foods....eggplant, manicotti, homemade mozzarella (delicious), hot peppers, fried olives, broccoli di rape, tomato sauce, stuffed sausage bread....it’s all here. He even has Pellegrino sodas and Italian bread directly from Brooklyn (combine this bread with the above mentioned mozzarella and you will lose your mind).



In a recent episode of the The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Chris and Albie went to A&S to stock up for some poker night snacks - $544 worth, to be exact. While you might think the show is rotten, you have to agree if you’ve ever seen it, that these people would know where to get good Italian food.

If you don’t believe me after all of the above, look here. A&S received the award for Best Italian Style Deli in North Jersey! Hungry yet? Go get a “Godfather Sandwich” stuffed with Ham, Prosciutto, Capicollo & Fresh Mozzarella and see for yourself. Guarantee you’ll go back again and again.