Food and Wine Corner

    WE'RE GOING TO THE CHAPEL     Hello, my very awesome and  tasteful friends. Ya know, I always felt that my home town of Long Branch was somehow missing something. It seemed contrived, lacking the personality, creativity and yes, the  coolness factor of Asbury Park. This is apart from the fact that  it was historically, the birthplace of many literary giants, including Poet Laureate  Robert Pinsky, Pulitzer Prize Winner Norman Mailer and most humbly yours truly. Now if the only Culture that concerns you, is written on the side of a Cherbani Container, it may well be time my friends to expand your horizons. Enter the fabulous art and event  venue, come gastro pub, come environmental marvel; The White Chapel Projects (15, 2nd Ave, Long Branch). The WCP is aptly named for  the bustling district in London’s infamous East End  a virtual epicenter of art, culture and most importantly the home of Jack The Ripper ( who has sinc...

             Now That The Boys Of Summer Have Gone Hello my very awesome friends ( you know who you are) . I hope you have all  heeded at least some of my recommended warm weather spots and slayed summer at Jersey Shore. Well, it had to happen sooner or later but the boys of summer  are starting to load their beach chairs  into the Woody and you are just beginning to feel  hints of the brisk chill on the back of your neck. It may well be time to check that lightweight  wool sweater in your winter drawer  for moth holes, ( “Damn  how do they get in there ?”)  top off your tank and head for the hills. But where to go? Well, I am glad you asked , my friends. I for one am heading West  to “The Blue Bottle Cafe ” (101 E. Broad Street, Hopewell) ,  just 10 miles out from nearby Princeton and downtown New Hope , PA . The  BBC is headed by Super Chef  Aaron Phillipson, late of La Cote Basque, The Ryl...

           THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ( PART DEUX)                                    LOCAL EDITION Hello  my hungry friends. Harry here. I know it hasn’t been long but it is seriously  hard for me to contain myself.  I was really not done with the list of “My Favorite Things” , which have pathetically changed my world. You know I always thought that it takes a bit of talent to find  the best takeout and dining spots , if you ask me, which you didn’t. But as usual , I feel compelled to tell you anyway. Besides, life and happy hour is short and I just can’t live with the fact you might miss something. After all, that is what I am here for. So without further ado or additional loquaciousness (another good SAT word) here it is : Tremendous Takeaway ( Mark...

                                        TAIL OF TWO BIRDS    Hello my fellow bargain seeking omnivores, did I hear you asking me  what's new? Well I can’t really hear you , but I am still pretty sure  you asked. Coincidentally , there just happens to be two new Avian named restaurants that you should flock to sorta speak, competing for the best new spot. This begs the question: Why  birds?” Did you know that there are almost 100 million birdwatchers ( 35% of the population) in the US alone. Last year they spent $250 billion on their hobby. That is not chicken feed . Anyway where was I? Oh, Yes. Are you looking for a cool new spot on the water with finely crafted pizzas?  Look no further my friend and meet me at Catbird (1215 Sunset Ave, Asbury Park) This is the former location of what locals called “The Canoe Place”, essentially a cabin perched on S...

  HOT TOWN , SUMMER IN THE CITY  Hello my fellow summer fun seekers. ( Say that 3 times fast).   Are you looking to hang out at a beach concert with 100,000 of your closest friends? No , you are not , but  the good news is neither am I. But  what I don’t mind doing is sipping some ice cold beer , munching on crispy fried clams with waffle fries while watching the boats go by. But where to go? I am glad you asked. BTW now I am not guaranteeing that you can actually park there ( and having a fistfight over the last parking space  could  kill your  buzz) so it might be expedient to finally use that outdated UBER app that your friends grandson installed on your phone four years ago .Yes, the APP is  black  and no, you can't share the cost of  the ride with 14 other people  cheapskate).So for what it’s worth  (or not , you decide ) here is my list of ,Water, Water Everywhere , the Shoreist of the Shore : Watermark Asbury, (800 ...

                 Sweet  Dreams are Made of This …           Greetings my penny pinching Gastronauts, did you miss me? Well I missed you. So tell me , Mon Ami , do you feel like a bear emerging from  hibernation just  Jonesing to feel that warm sun on your face. I bet you do. Well my friends , it is time to party. How would you like to be sitting ala fresco at your favorite trattoria  in  sunny Piedmont sampling some freshly made Stracciatella ( homemade Italian Cheese) . Well you can , Tue Amiche, just ring up  the designated driver of your choice or what the hell, call an Uber ( because parking is a bringdown there)   and Andiamo your butt  over to the  fabulous  new Dolce Fantasia (521 Cookman Ave) in Asbury Park.  Now I can hear you thinking, ”Italian” , it is so boring, you can almost taste the...

                         GO WEST  YOUNG MAN (OR LADIES)               Hello my penny pinching Gastronauts. Are you sick of the same old, same old? Then it could well be time to throw caution to the wind, top off the T bird with that  sub $3  gas and as Horace Greeley ( editor of The NY Tribune and failed presidential candidate ) once declared “Go West Young Man (Or  Ladies) .”  Now by West, I mean Freehold not Oklahoma. Our first stop on our journey has got to be the fine new  Turkish Restaurant Marmara (3710 US 9 Freehold) named for the small inland sea located entirely within the borders of Turkey. It is the brainchild of Bill Ayaz a Manalapan resident of Turkish heritage who has transformed this large space (seating for 200)  occupied by Ruby Tuesdays into an authentic mecca of Modern Turkish fare.  It is, if you ask me, ...