Hoboken updated

Updated 09/24/17

Last weekend we got the opportunity to go to Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken which we had heard great things about.  The restaurant did not disappoint and the vibe was very cool with great music and a kitchen that is open and near our table; a little dark but the pictures came out ok.  Careful because the drinks are kind of pricey but the appetizers were very good.  We shared the rice balls and peas as well as the Hot Oil Shrimp.  For our main courses, Connor had the Hanger steak with an excellent dipping sauce, Leslie got the Black Bass and my stuffed lobster with pasta was really good.The most unusual part of the meal was the Peanut butter and Bacon banana split.  I am not sure the slab bacon really worked but the rest was amazing.

        We then tried to walk off the meal but Connor suggested a really fun bar that was dog friendly.  Made a note to bring Murphy the next time we went to Hoboken.  Really interesting beer selections with cask beer (see menu below) and we ran into the Mahon's and chatted until moving on.

We finished the night with a few drinks at the roof top bar of The Dubliner on a beautiful night.

This Sunday we tried the breakfast in Denville at Mara's cafe and I can recommend the Breakfast Steak burrito and the baked goods were very fresh.

9/4/17

Great afternoon in Hoboken for a food walk from Connor's apartment to the 14th street pier and then back again on the Labor Day weekend.  We started with a cheesesteak from Piccolo's (which is never open when I go by) and a real piece of good steak.  This place was like going back to the 50's with Sinatra playing in the speakers and photos galore on the walls.

Next we hit the Pier and had an excellent lobster empanada from a food truck but the beef was very good as well. After splitting a Pizza and some beers we made the nice walk back along the Hudson.  

On the way back we stopped at Makai Poke on Washington Street for a strong bowl with salmon and spicy king crab and my first Poke experience.  Well done!

Can't help but end with my latest dinner at my favorite dinner, Americana in East Windsor where the lobster and crab fritter (I love fritters!) and a shrimp tower.

When we passed the Brass Rail I could not help but think of the amazing country ham and southern hash we had two weeks before.

The Big weekend of the Meth/Jillions wedding!

Although food was a side attraction to the main event of Tyler and Allie's wedding we still had a fun food experience the past week or so. Please excuse the wedding photos but proud papa has to post.

Weekend before we ate on the back porch of Towne restaurant in Morristown and had some strong seafood spaghetti.  Started the weekend on Thursday with an amazing roast pork sandwich from John's Roast Pork in Philly. Friday morning at the Cubby Hole in Moorestown. Really happy with the food at the rehearsal dinner especially the desert of fruit tart on a croissant bed. The wedding was so much fun and the appetizers were amazing.
  Thanks so much to the Jillions who went above and beyond and got an amazing priest to do the wedding with a rare combination of humor and warmth that was engaging.

Millburn and Jersey City

The last two weekends have been food gold mines with two restaurants that are really tough to get into. The first restaurant was Common Lot in Millburn.  Everything we had was fresh and tasted great. Most interesting was the steak which was not like a steakhouse but really a great taste.

Sunday we got into Battello in Jersey City and the meal and the views  of downtown NYC were as good as advertised.  Especially amazing was the Bronzino with Crab fondue on top.  The amount of large lump crab meat was just ridiculous. Check out the picture below.  

Annapolis, Maryland

Great long weekend in Annapolis with the Scott's who were great hosts. We got a late lunch at Mason's lobster roll where Leslie had the excellent lobster BLT with great bacon while I had the crab roll (not so surprisingly crab was the theme this weekend).We then went with some drinks and appetizers at the Federal House before getting to Vida Taco bar where I went with one cod, one soft shell crab and one duck taco.
Jeff and I started Saturday with a very good crepe with cinammon and strawberries before heading up the Chesapeake in Russell's boat

to Mike's North for some really good crabs but the crab balls were the star of the show.  On the way we saw a water spout which was pretty cool. Dinner was at Level for small plates and shots.  Level had an excellent smoked salmon dish some great vodka shots with a green juice chaser (they did leave a mark though!) and strong brussels sprouts.
Sunday morning before heading back we went to the Iron Rooster for breakfast.  We got a really unusual giant handmade pop tart to start.  Jeff and Leslie had the Biscuits and Country Sausage gravy which was very well done.  I had the crab hash and made a note that next time I would get the Shrimp and Grits.

Somerville, nj

We had to be in  the Somerville area this weekend so we had drinks at Wolfgang's in Somerville before our meal.  Beer's were good but the fresh chips out of the fryer were really tasty. Decided to try an old school italian restaurant in Da Fillipos Authentic Cucina which didn't look great from the outside but the service made the place.  The owners, a wife and husband (the chef) were really nice and had great recommendations including the fried arugula which was excellent.  Really interesting way of cooking cod in paper which kept the moisture in the fish. Everything was very good. The chef suggested we come back in Winter when he fries a different vegetable which is even better.