Fort Worth, Texas

Me and the kids had a great time in Dallas last weekend for the Cowboys game and we took the opportunity to sample the local cuisine and breweries. Connor and I started at Reata's in Fort Worth where the chicken fried steak, the Jalapeño and Cheese Elk Sausage and Bacon Wrapped Crab Stuffed Jalapeño's were excellent.  Just a warning, however my fish (not sure what I was thinking with that selection) was dry and not good. Nice to have that authentic southern cooking but we really did not get the chance to eat in Dallas since we were only there for a few days.  

We then went to Angelo's barbecue in Ft. Worth and we had an excellent sandwich with barbecue beef, onions, mustard on a very soft roll.

At the Star in Frisco we had a real good lunch in the Concrete Cowboy and Connor had the Mac and cheese burger while I tried to go healthy with the Shrimp ceviche on chips.

Last but not least the surprise of the weekend was the great barbecue at Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-b-que which was in the Stockyards area of Fort Worth. This was the best Bar-b-que we ever had as you selected the ribs, chicken and beef right off the grill.  If you are in the Fort Worth area go to Coopers.

Favorite lunch or quick dinner spots in NJ

Here are some of my favorite lunch or quick dinner spots in New Jersey which I go to when I have my Board meetings.

Americana diner - West Windsor

Slamwich Kitchen - Madison

Sorrento's - Freehold

Harrold's New York Deli -Edison 

Fiore's - Hoboken

Burrini's Deli - Randolph

Cubby's BBQ- Hackensack

Pub 199 - Mt. Arlington

Nugent's - Morris Plains

Local Smoke - Neptune

Town Deli - New Providence/Summit

Original Steak and Hoagies - Plainsboro

Tito's Burrito's and Wings - Morristown

Randazzo's - Hainesport

Hoboken, Morristown and Randolph

The highlight of the week occurred on Wednesday night with Connor's roommates and their families. The Silveri's selected Cucharamama in Hoboken for our get together which offers a great selection of South American food.  The Silveri 's called a week early to have the pig roasted for the group.  The pig was so moist it was amazing and was really good but the appetizers such as the empanadas and the croquettes outshined even the pig.

As an aside, we can't wait to try Steve and Andrea's new restaurant in Long Valley named OMG Burger and Brew which opens this week. Sounds blogworthy to me!

Friday night we tried Portofino's in Morristown for the first time even though I pass by the restaurant every day going to work.  We started with the Hot antipasto which was a great selection including shrimp, mushrooms, clams oreganato.  Leslie's bowtie pasta with salmon was very good although my flounder was slightly overcooked so stick with the Italian dishes.

On Saturday, we tried the Corner Bistro in Randolph which  was a pleasant surprise.  The Burrata appetizer was good and I really like my duck.  Leslie's salmon crusted with coconut was a first for either of us and was a really nice combo.  The deserts looked phenomenal and the home made creme brule with Bailey's Bristol Creme was excellent.  
The good news is that we found some good local places to go when we don't want to go far.

Nashville, TN, and Hoboken

Karl's Korner is back after  a long delay due to my travel and I lost my google password and thanks to Connor for helping me get it back!!!!!

Going to try something different with my blog for Nashville and make it a bit reader friendly (hopefully) to digest (excuse the pun) by doing a list of favorites.

Nashville:
Favorite Fried chicken - Hattie's Hot chicken. Note: Avoid the lines and go to the 8th avenue joint.
Favorite Shrimp and grits (anywhere not just Nashville) - The Standard at Smith House
Best Seafood - Fin and Pearl with super Breaux bros gumbo.
Best Restaurant - Henrietta Red -Amazing crab dip, strong trout and scallops.
Best Dessert - Henrietta Red - Catch More Flies with Honey Tart with apple cider vinegar. (really!)

We finished up our week with a really strong brunch at City Lights in Hoboken where I loved the skirt steak and eggs.  

The last few weeks we tried a new restaurant in Florham Park (Lucco's) and a old favorite in Jockey Hollow in Morristown.  Lucco's was good but the loudness factor was tough.  Have to say Don's lasagne was one of the most different presentations ever and was very good. My shrimp dish was good and the salads were excellent. Jockey Hollow does some things different as well such as the pasta dish with an egg in the middle.

Beers, etc. page

Starting with my beer brewing days back in Basking Ridge I have always been a big fan of good beers.  My taste has evolved from bringing Coors (it was a very good beer back then) back from Denver when you could not buy it here in the East to the strong micro-beers of today. However, if you are looking for Porters or Stouts you are on the wrong page.  I am a Lager, IPA, APA, Ales and Pilsner kind of guy.  Most recently I have enjoyed some really good New Jersey beers which have blossomed into some of the best beers you can get.  Here is a list of my current beers for you to try:

Kane (NJ) Brewing - Head High IPA - especially good on draft.
Carton Brewing - 077XX IDIPA - go to the brewery in Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Goose Island IPA
Cape May Brewery - Coastal Evacuation Double IPA
River Horse Hippotizing IPA and their Lager
Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA
Stella Artois
Sierra Nevada
Dogfish Head 60 minute
Boulder Brewing Mojo IPA
Omnibroue - La Fin Du Monde - Go to mont tremblant and have on tap

Old Favorites:
Samuel Adams Boston Lager


Summer:
Blue Moon
Bud Light Lime/Orange
Landshark
Shock Top


Try Kane Party Wave, Sneaky box, Overhead
Treehouse brewery (Mass.)
Alchemist Heady Topper
Russian River Pliny the Younger
Magnify Brewery
Jughandle Brewery

We went to two breweries in Nashville, namely Yazoo Brewery and Bearded Iris.  I liked the beers at Bearded Iris a little better.
Also sipped some good local beers such as Blackhorse IPA and Jackalope Pale Ale.

Although not a beer I loved the red wine slushy and the unbelievable selection of Whisky's and moonshine at Tennessee Weekend including Salted Caramel, Creme brule Whisky.  Really unusual and we loved the free shots.

Nomad restaurant in NYC

Saturday night, the Sisto's and Meth's celebrated their respective anniversary's in Nomad Restaurant in New York City.  Nomad is the sister restaurant to 11 Madison (one of the top restaurants in the World) and Nomad did not disappoint with a number of dishes I had never had before. The star was the duck which gets great reviews by 11 Madison customers as well.  My Aperol drink was really good and the presentation (that is a ball of ice on top) was exceptional.  The suckling pig was a first for me as well as the the appetizer of whole prawns with a nice dipping sauce which made the meal. Really nice place for a special occasion but what was really interesting was the music selection which, for a fancy restaurant was unusual - classic rock and other great songs!

Yankee game and Larchmont , NY dinner

Compliments of our Becker group we went to the Yankee game last Thursday and although the humidity was ridiculous the food was excellent.  Arnold and I, at Victor's suggestion went to Lobel's on the first floor of the Stadium for a superb steak sandwich which went great with my Goose Island IPA.  Great call Victor!

Our next stop was Annamaria's Kitchen in Larchmont, NY where the owner greeted us with some great stories about working with more than three administrations of NY mayors before she started this restaurant.  For a background go to http://www.annamariaskitchen.com/about-chef-anna-maria or wait for her book to come out!  The food was plentiful thanks to Vincenzo (our colleague and the owner's nephew selected some great options.  I coaxed Vincenzo into a nice fig appetizer but he came up with some the excellent appetizers on his own including a really light but tasty fried  flower and a bolognese on polenta.

My fish was the bronzino but I barely had room to finish it! A fun time was had by all!

somerville

A trip back to Boulevard Seafood in Somerville reminded us of why we like that place a lot. The appetizer of crab cannelloni with avocado (see prior post for the picture) just is one of my favorite appetizers anywhere.  The red snapper with the mushroom risotto and avocado cole slaw was a great pick. Leslie liked her really nice portion of halibut.

Summit, Madison and Jersey City

The week started with a trip to Jersey City for a brunch with Connor at a location Martin recommended,  White Star Warren Street where I had the Chorizo and Kale hash which was very good.  We then walked over to Zeppelin bar and restaurant for a couple of beers to finish off a very nice afternoon.

During the week I tried a bbq place Tyler recommended and got the brisket sandwich.  I will definitely go back.

This Saturday I finally got a chance to go to Fin in Summit which has been hard to get into.  Thanks to the Summer season and we got in and had a very good meal.  We started with the lobster and scrimp sliders and the excellent spring rolls.  Leslie had the salmon and I was thrilled to be able to try the Barrimundi with scrimp and bacon - Excellent.  We finished off with a creme brule with fresh berries which Leslie polished off and embarrassed herself by licking the bowl. :) :)