Morning Relaxation

Nothing beats a relaxing morning with reading materials, iced coffee, and a breakfast treat. Bluestone in Montclair (mentioned before here) has tables outside so it makes the whole breakfst experience even better.


{I knew I loved this scone the minute I tasted its buttery texture. Later on I read on the menu that it came from Balthazar...no wonder.}


{If you asked me to pick between my magazine addiction and my iced coffee addiction, I'd never be able to do it.}

Greek Repeat

I've mentioned Greek Delights before along with my love of Greek delicacies. Michael and I have tried numerous Greek eateries, but we keep coming back to this one. I know I'm repeating myself by telling you their Greek salad topped with gyro meat is hard to beat, but it is. Anonother dish that rocks that I didn't mention in my last post involves seafood.....


{Shrimp broiled with Saganaki cheese is pure pleasure. Tender shrimp are floating in super flavorful tomator sauce beneath bubbling hot cheese. What's NOT to love?!}


{Michael's usual.}

Brownie Cupcakes

As I have mentioned before, I bake up a storm when it is someone's birthday at work. Last week, one of my co-workers requested brownies, but said she also loved vanilla icing. So for her, I combined this buttercream with my favorite basic brownie and baked them up in the form of cupcakes. Success.


{The buttercream was the star of the show. Annie's recipes are always extremely tasty and reliable.}


{I always reserve one cupcake for the chef. But, this one I'm sending to my girl "ALJ" along with air hugs and birthday wishes!}

Routine Comfort

When I find myself in New York for a mid-morning appointment, it's difficult to veer from my usual breakfast spot. Le Pain Quotidien's menu has organic tasty selections that I find, well, just too flavorful to pass up. I know I should switch up my game and try new things in the gigantic City, but last trip I stuck to my routine spot.


{Inside the restaurant light, airy, country farmhouse decor with pine furnishings radiate rustic ambiance. Local sophisticates gather at a long communal table or couples can sneak away to private seats in back.}


{Spinach, goat cheese frittata with multi-grain toast felt nourishing and somehow guilt free.}

Sugary Sweet

Continuing with the theme of talking about great food a second time and the theme of New York snacks, below is my latest indulgence repeat.


{If you find yourself on Bleecker Street passing Magnolia, it is virtually impossible to pass up purchasing one of their sweet confections.}


{Correction - one OR TWO of their sweet confections!}

At Last

I seem to be in the habit this week of talking about things a second time. I've been obsessed with tasting Van Leeuwun ice cream for as long as I can remember. I wrote all about their gorgeous vintage looking logo and pretty pale yellow truck here.

So when I spotted the truck in New York City last week, I absolutely couldn't resist ordering a cool drippy ice cream cone. FINALLY!

Spicy and Delicious

I've been blogging for a while now so naturally some restaurants will be featured in more than one post. Case in point - Lombardi's. They were previously mentioned here and after revisiting their long hot pepper pie a few weeks ago, I thought it only fair that I did a repeat pizza post! I love that when a craving hits every few months and I return to Lombardi's, the pizza will always taste the same. Absolutely delicious.


{Salty, thin, well done, long hot pepper pizza is as good as it gets. The piquant taste of the peppers adds just the right amount of heat.}

Other favorite pizza posts here and here.

Pizza or Pasta

Ralph's in Nutley is a pizzeria landmark. Ask anyone from the surrounding towns and chances are they've tasted Ralph's. It's been around since 1961 and I remember eating this pie frequently as a kid. The thin crust, brick oven pie is baked in a black cast iron pan (I think this is precisely why it is so dang good).

However, our past couple Ralph's outings didn't involve pizza. Instead they involved a pasta dish I adore - cavatelli and broccoli - and their version ranked as one of my defininte favorites.


{The more garlic the better and this had tons.}


{Unfussy and flavorful equals just right.}

Coo Coo for Coconut

As evidenced here and here, one of my all time favorite lunches involves some sort of tea house. There is something utterly irresistible about homemade scones, soups, tea sandwiches and petite desserts.

I recently went to Harmony Tearoom in Westwood and had one of the best scones I've eaten. A coconut scone to be exact. Sadly I gobbled it up so quickly, I forgot to snap a photo. Sorry!

I did, however, manage to take some shots of my exquisite asparagus soup with a dollop of goat cheese and tiny tasty baked confections.



I'm still thinking about the coconut scone.....

Strawberry Mascarpone Filled Cupcakes

I work in a place with lots and lots of staff and somehow I've become the baker when it is someone's birthday. Last week we celebrated with these cupcakes from Giada and they were a real hit! Quick, easy AND delicious. Can't beat that.

{Mix filling and try not to eat the whole bowl - very tough.}


{You don't need this special tool but it makes filling cupcakes much easier.}


{There is something so appealing about mascarpone cream INSIDE a cupcake!}


{Iced, packed, and ready for delivery.}


{Of course, you always save one for the chef.}


Recipe is here.