28 January 2013 A Toute Heure Monthly Sunday Brunch

A Toute Heure Monthly Sunday Brunch

January 28, 2013 By
Pork Belly Steamed Buns

Pork Belly Steamed Buns

I’ve written about A Toute Heure and its brunch before, but feel the need to recap today’s visit. First, it’s difficult to secure a brunch reservation at the cozy neighborhood gem. There are two reasons for this, first, the space has a limited number of tables and second, A Toute Heure only offers brunch on the last Sunday of each month. Come on! We must change this!

I was able to get my brunch reservation by getting waitlisted. I was thrilled as I had some friends in town from Florida who, like me, love brunch.

Maple-Glazed DonutsAs we sipped darkly-roasted coffee and mimosas (the restaurant is a BYOB, so bring your bubbly to accompany the freshly-squeezed orange juice), our waiter brought a bowl of still-hot beignets, a plate of maple-glazed donuts and a pair of succulent pork belly steamed buns. What a way to start our meal!

Duck, Knoephla and Egg

Duck, Knoephla and Egg

Our entrees came a bit later and were decadent and scrumptious. We opted for the Croque-Madame, the Duck, Knoephla and Eggs and the Cinnamon and Brown Sugar French Toast. The roast ham on the croque is beyond-flavorful and topped with good-quality Gruyere cheese. The pulled duck confit is rich and smartly-paired with knoephla, an authentic German dumpling similar to Spaetzle, and topped with a New Jersey fresh farm egg. The portion of French toast was more-than-generous and served with stewed pear and honey butter.

The space at A Toute Heure is charming, the staff is helpful and passionate about the locally-sourced menu and the food is simply incredible. Make a point to book a reservation at the start of the month for that precious last Sunday brunch table.

232 Centennial Avenue

Cranford, NJ 07016

908-276-6600

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30 December 2012 Quebec Welcomes Cake Boss

Quebec Welcomes Cake Boss

December 30, 2012 By
My Sister Marie-Josee

My Sister Marie-Josee

With a 9-year old and a 7-year old, it’s oftentimes difficult for my sister to find television shows she can enjoy with her daughters. A program her whole family can agree on is Cake Boss, featuring Buddy Valastro. As a resident of The Garden State, I get a kick out of my family in Quebec being avid fans of a show taped in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Cake Boss BoxSince I drive to Quebec for Christmas each year, I typically make my sister a special birthday cake and bring it with me as her birthday is December 21st. This year, I’d seen Cake Boss cakes at Super Shop & Shop and decided to bring (smuggle) one with me to surprise her.

Can you tell I made her day? Yes. Think I’ll be able to skip a visit to Carlo’s Bakery next time my sister and her family come visit? Not a chance and I look forward to it.

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18 December 2012 Booskerdoo Coffee – Jersey Shore Roasted

Booskerdoo Coffee – Jersey Shore Roasted

December 18, 2012 By

Photo Credits – James Caverly

Booskerdoo Coffee, based in Monmouth Beach, is a micro-roaster coffee shop that’s grown a serious cult following among coffee lovers.

While I won’t claim to be a coffee connoisseur, I can easily pass as an educated amateur. The richly-roasted coffee created by Booskerdoo is some of the best I’ve had. The New Jersey business ships all the coffee it roasts on the day it’s roasted – talk about fresh!

James Caverly, the owner of Booskerdoo Coffee, proudly states “We believe great coffee should never sit in a warehouse… so we don’t use one”. Quality, handcrafted, Jersey-based product – I can passionately endorse this.

Booskerdoo offers over 10 coffee flavors from around the globe. The “Jersey Diner” coffee is one its best-sellers with good reasons. Upon sipping this brew, you’ll wish your local diner served coffee this absolutely rich and nutty. Another coffee I sampled is the “Black and Tan” Organic and Fair Trade Coffee. It’s a blend of light and dark roasted beans that produce a cup with a robust kick and silky body.

Black and Tan Beans

From now until 12/31/12, 10% of the proceeds of the Jersey Diner coffee blend sold online will be donated to the Monmouth Beach Fire Company. Orders over $20 get free shipping. Click here to order.

Not sure what to get the person who has everything for the holidays? Booskerdoo offers a “coffee of the month club” which is an easy way to have two, three or four pounds of freshly-roasted coffee shipped to a friend or colleague’s door.

Swing by the store if at the Jersey shore or order for home delivery for some of the best home-brewed coffee you’ll have.

36 Beach Road, Suite 9

Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750

Telephone: (732) 222-0729

www.booskerdoo.com

PS: I received complimentary beans for sampling and am now a fan and client.

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15 December 2012 Magnolia Place Bed and Breakfast

Magnolia Place Bed and Breakfast

December 15, 2012 By

Housed in a beautifully-restored 1830 farmhouse, Magnolia Place offers breathtaking views of Seneca Lake, in one of the most picturesque areas of New York’s Finger Lakes region.

From the moment guests walk through the front door, innkeepers Theresa Kelly-Remmers and Ted Palevsky make them feel like family. The entryway leads to a gourmet kitchen where there’s always coffee and treats to greet guests. Adjacent to the kitchen is a spacious living room with a grand fireplace where guests can read a book, watch television or enjoy board games. There’s even a pantry where complimentary beverages are available. “We try to improve our guests’ power lounging techniques,” muses Palevsky.

Seneca Room

Guest suites are located on the main and second floors. The property offers eight guest suites all with private baths. Some of the suites feature spa tubs and fireplaces and several suites, like the Seneca Room I stayed in, have private access to a second story veranda overlooking Seneca Lake.

Magnolia Place is centrally-located within the Finger Lakes region and is near some of the area’s top wineries.  Many guests visit wineries during the day and return to the inn with wine to sip while rocking on the porch or while sitting by the fireplace.

Bathroom in Seneca Room

Little touches like the selection of home-baked goods and seasonal beverages served in the evenings, the fine linens dressing the comfortable beds and the artisan soaps featured in the suites help enhance guest experience.

Magnolia Place puts the “breakfast” in bed and breakfast. Each morning, guests are greeted with inviting aromas or freshly-prepared food and brewing coffee. The array of dishes is beautifully-presented on the kitchen island and various juices and coffees are served in the inviting dining room. The full country breakfast, prepared with locally-sourced ingredients, features custom-blended coffee, house-made granola, fresh-baked pastries and a hot entrée like the popular baked blueberry French toast or the corn fritters with house-smoked salmon, crème fraîche and a poached egg.

The inn is near some of the region’s best restaurants – Suzanne’s Fine Regional Cuisine and Dano’s Heuriger on Seneca. For a more intimate dinner, Magnolia Place offers meals served at the inn and prepared by Table for Two, a local high-end catering company.

Warm and friendly hosts, attractively-restored suites, great food, a central location and gorgeous Seneca Lake views are what await you at Magnolia Place.

Magnolia Place
5240 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

http://magnoliawelcome.com

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29 November 2012 Northern NJ Wine MeetUp Visits Spuntino Wine Bar

Northern NJ Wine MeetUp Visits Spuntino Wine Bar

November 29, 2012 By

Last night, the Northern NJ Wine MeetUp Group had a gathering at Spuntino Wine Bar in Clifton. This diverse group of wine fans meets about every six weeks at various places in northern New Jersey. I’ve belonged to the group for about three years and the events are always fun and insightful. I’ve written about Spuntino in the past, so I was pleased when I received a notification that the November event would be there.

Our group of about 30 members, including friend and fellow New Jersey food and blogger Peter Conway of Mano A Vino, met for drinks in the spacious bar area then met in a private room near the open kitchen. Spuntino’s Sommelier, Jane, graciously walked us through the extensive menu and wine list. The restaurant offers forty two Italian wines by the glass, over one hundred Italian wines and a reserve wine list with several gems I’d like to sample.

When I say the menu is extensive, I mean it! Spuntino features a tapas menu, small plates meant to be shared. My party sampled a plate of Salumi and Formaggi, cured Italian meats and cheeses served with perfectly grilled crostini that was perfect paired with our first bottle of wine.

Bruschetta come in nine variations (one for $3, three for $8 and five for $14) and our table tried the Prosciutto di Parma and fresh Mozzarella version. The Italian bread was grilled to a crunchy exterior while the interior was still moist. We also sampled the Carciofo – flash-fried artichoke hearts served with a tangy lemon aioli.

Meatballs ($6) are king at Spuntino and last evening, we opted for the lamb variation. The three meatballs were served with a Parmesan wafer and were good, albeit a bit bland.

There are five pastas ($8) on the menu and on this visit, we devoured the pasta with wild boar ragu. The sauce was rich and flavorful and the pasta was topped with freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.

The pizzas are thin-crusted and hand-stretched and the meaty Salumi ($11) topped with Prosciutto, crumbled sausage, Capocollo and Cacciatorini made it to our table, once again.

If you’ve not experienced Spuntino, make a point to visit soon. It serves delicious, affordable food and the wine list would please any fan of the grape.

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas

94 Kingsland Road

Clifton, NJ, 07014

(973) 661-2435

HOURS

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. -10 p.m.
Monday –Thursday: 11 a.m. – Midnight.

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15 October 2012 Sam’s Morning Glory Diner – Philadelphia’s Finer Diner

Sam’s Morning Glory Diner – Philadelphia’s Finer Diner

October 15, 2012 By

I would normally be upset if I reserved a room at a bed and breakfast only to find out there was no actual breakfast being served but over the weekend, the lack of breakfast at my B&B prompted me to eat at Sam’s Morning Glory Diner in South Philadelphia and I am thrilled about it.

Morning Glory is housed in a small unassuming place on the corner of 10th and Fitzwater Streets that serves breakfast and lunch during the week and brunch on the weekends.

Blueberry Pancakes

The hip energy hit me as soon as I entered the restaurant. The staff is younger, fun and eclectic. There are several tables and a long diner-style counter overlooking the bustling kitchen. The kitchen entails a fryer, a griddle / flat top, a grill and a small prep area. The staff makes incredible use of the small kitchen area and efficiently handles his/her station.

Foccacia Sandwich

Here are 5 things I loved about Morning Glory:

  1. Homemade jam and butter displayed over ice at each table.
  2. Perhaps the most important after a night of wine over-indulgence, was the steaming hot mug of high-quality coffee served in tin cups. My coffee was hot from the first sip to the last and I praise the person who cleverly bought these mugs.
  3. The grill person carefully searing fresh asparagus and heirloom tomatoes for the various dishes.
  4. The diverse mix of people. From the elderly couple in Eagles jerseys to the much tattooed and pierced line cook to the parents with a couple babies in tow to folks like me craving carbs, coffee and bacon, there is just no “standard” type of person at Morning Glory. Everyone there seems to…fit in.
  5. The food. Although Morning Glory had me at hot, strong coffee in tin mugs, the food is incredible. The blueberry pancakes ($7 for three hubcap-size cakes) were perhaps the best I have had and were served with real maple syrup. The side of bacon was smoked with a perfect mix of quality meat and fat. The Foccacia Breakfast Sandwich ($4.50) consists of a fried egg with cheese and a side of seasoned red-skinned potatoes. There is an option to add meat to the sandwich for $1.50 more. Some of the other tantalizing brunch items are the Monkey French Toast ($9) made from Challah bread that is stuffed with caramelized bananas and mangoes and topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream – brilliant! There are also several frittatas I will be sampling on my next visit.

Sam’s Morning Glory Diner is cozy and there was a line of hungry people waiting when we left so go early and savor some of the best breakfast grub in Philly.

PS: Grab a homemade muffin on your way out!

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
6 September 2012 YOLO – Brunch Here Because YOLO

YOLO – Brunch Here Because YOLO

September 6, 2012 By

Pork HashDuring a South Florida visit last weekend, I brunched at YOLO (You Only Live Once) with some girlfriends and truly enjoyed the space, wait staff and, most importantly, the food.

Eggs Benedict

The space is trendy yet comfortable with some outdoor seating and a mix of tables and chairs and comfortable banquettes. I liked the open kitchen concept and loved the idea of a giant TV screen showing what is being cooked in real-time. There was even a DJ spinning the latest hits in the dining room.

The wait staff was beyond accommodating and helpful. For a Sunday morning, there was a big group of kitchen workers hustling to get the delicious food out to the guests.

The food was indeed delicious. There are brunch favorites and some inventive finds that feature top-quality ingredients on the interesting brunch menu. The popular Smoked Pork Hash is a must-try, the eggs benedict were super and the side of artisan bread was incredible. The pork hash features house-smoked pork, potatoes, onions, fried eggs and Queso Fresco. Who ever created this dish is simply brilliant. The sauce on the eggs benedict is tangy, light and delicious. It is just a great example of this staple brunch dish. For $15, there are all-you-can-drink brunch cocktails – what a deal!

Bloody Mary

YOLO is a neat find in a town full of good brunch options. I will make it a point to return when in South Florida.

333 East Las Olas Boulevard

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

(954) 523-1000

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28 August 2012 Grammy Award Winners Train Gets in the Wine Business

Grammy Award Winners Train Gets in the Wine Business

August 28, 2012 By

Train in Central Park 8/27/12

Last night, I had the chance to attend the Central Park concert of Train. The evening was gorgeous and Train’s charismatic lead man Pat Monahan’s voice was as powerful, captivating and full or emotions as ever. The intimate group of loyal fans were treated to nearly 15 songs and the band sounded incredible. I would recommend attending this tour to anyone.

A perk of attending the event was an exclusive private wine tasting hosted backstage by the band members of their Save Me, San Francisco Wines.

A collaboration between Underdog Wine & Spirits and the Grammy Award-winning band, Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company was birthed because of Train’s love for wines.

Veronique Deblois, Pat Monahan and Guest

The band currently offers three aptly-named wines: Drops of Jupiter, Calling All Angels and California-37 (the name of Train’s new album).

Here are tasting notes according to Underdog Wine & Spirits:

  • Drops of Jupiter Petite Sirah ($9.99): Fruit-forward, insanely loveable Petite Sirah-based Red Wine. The minute you uncork the bottle, the boysenberry fruit leaps from your glass. With soft, supple tannins, this wine is great with food or without. Serve it at cellar temperature to allow the flavors to evolve in the glass.
  • Calling All Angels Chardonnay ($9.99): Fruit-forward, medium-bodied Chardonnay. This wine has a fantastic citrus scent and a hint of pineapple that works great with the slight vanilla bean notes. The soft tannins and long finish make this great with both a dinner or a drink with friends. Serve straight from the cellar so flavors come alive in your glass.
  • California-37 Cabernet Sauvignon ($9.99): Big, bold and enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is driven by rich, ripe cherry flavors with a cedar and tobacco nose. Packed with soft, round tannins and a nice long finish that lingers with spicy, vanilla notes. Serve it at cellar temperature to allow the flavors to evolve in the glass.

The band kindly donates a portion of all Save Me, San Francisco wine sales to San Francisco’s Family House. The organization helps provide a safe, secure temporary home to families of seriously ill children who are undergoing treatment far from their own homes (for more information on Family House, visit http://www.familyhouseinc.org).

The wines are affordable and readily available nationwide.

Veronique

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21 August 2012 Dad’s Quebec Smoked Meat Sandwich

Dad’s Quebec Smoked Meat Sandwich

August 21, 2012 By

A special Quebec treat I enjoy is a perfectly steamed smoked meat sandwich.  Dad has had a restaurant-grade food steamer since I was a little girl that his brother from Montreal found for him. Fabulous hot dogs and smoked meats have come out of that steamer over the years, and this past weekend, while I was in Quebec, dad treated the family to the tasty sandwiches.

A 10-pound piece of corned beef was steamed for a couple hours until perfectly moist and fork tender.  Rye bread was also steamed for a minute to create the perfect sandwich.

The steamed meat was sliced thin on an electric meat slicer and piled high on the rye bread. A little mustard and some crisp pickles were the only complements the sandwich needed.

If you make your way to Quebec City or Montreal, be sure to sample a real Quebec smoked meat sandwich, it ranks up there with the very best New York corned beef on rye.

Cheers,

Veronique

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10 July 2012 Cheese Making Fun with Caputo Brothers Creamery and A Toute Heure

Cheese Making Fun with Caputo Brothers Creamery and A Toute Heure

July 10, 2012 By

On Saturday, I attended a fresh Mozzarella-making class hosted by Rynn Caputo, President of Caputo Brothers Creamery. The class lasted two hours and was held at lovely A Toute Heure, a farm-to-table restaurant in Cranford, New Jersey.

The class was attended by 25 cheese fanatics and everyone had a chance to make cheese under the tutelage of patient-beyond-words Rynn.

Working from frozen then thawed curd base, hot water and salt were added and gooey cheese began forming.  It is an art to know when to stop stirring the hot water and curd mixture and when to begin stretching the cheese to make it silky, smooth.  “Doing this process at home is a great way to teach kids about cheese making with a cheese that most of them are already familiar with from eating pizza.  It gets them excited about food and encourages them to participate in the cooking process”, says Caputo.

Rynn molded the fresh cheese into balls, tore it into long strings for Burrata, creamy-cheese filled cheese (brilliant) and flattened it, pizza dough-style, for pesto-stuffed pinwheels.  I have not had a better fresh Mozzarella cheese, even in Italy.  The cheese is perfectly salted, soft, milky and overall, heavenly.

A Toute Heure features Caputo Brothers Creamery cheeses at to the delight of its loyal clientele.  Executive Chef Kara Decker is thrilled to offer Burrata and Burino, butter-stuffed fresh cheese, to her clients, and I cannot wait for my next visit to sample her summer menu.

For details on future events hosted by A Toute Heure, access its Events Page.

To learn about Caputo Brothers Creamery, where to buy its products and to find information about its future classes, access its website.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Cheese, Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , ,
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