Pumpkin Tiramisu Pie

Hi there! So...it's been a while. But we're not completely dead (just yet)!

Before Thanksgiving, BWL subtlely requested this pie - one in a long list of yummy-sounding pies.
It seemed easy enough, so we obliged.

Honestly, the most difficult part was trying to get the strips of parchment to cover the bottom of the pan, while trying to get the bottom latched in. We supposed the point of the strips was to easily transfer the pie to a plate later on, but it really didn't make a difference. Think we'll go with a single parchment piece next time.

K actually has skills (unlike me), taking the effort to pipe on the top layer of frosting, and add in some decorative cookie hearts.

Isn't it pretty? :)

The bad thing about this pie? I couldn't eat it.

Happy Father's Day

(Let's ignore the fact that we haven't posted in 3 months and continue on with the yummies!)

First time using our grill. And our patio furniture.

Happy Daddy Day! :)

Avenue (Brunch)

When you're brunching aside the ocean on a warm, sunny winter's day with family, it's easy to recognize happiness in the everyday. And when you have good food and overabundant service, Sundays are just that much more fulfilling.
The food, described as Parisian brasserie, isn't exactly crave-worthy nor perfectly authentic. However, Avenue does have consistently tasty food and an expensive, yet earthy, ambiance (which is memorable enough to crave). Being by the ocean doesn't hurt one bit. Parking in the summer is positively impossible, but in the winter? Easy Peasy. The Pain Perdu, made with brioche (!), apples, and hazelnut butter (!) is definitively delicious, and the titular, Avenue Breakfast, is perfect for the hungry (wo)man who enjoys a sampling of foods for brunch. Be sure to share a pot of pomme frites (cause the French seem to do this best!) as the perfect accompaniment to round out your meals!

And then there's always room for dessert. Well, not always, but room will be made; space created! We shared the pecan pie, pineapple cheesecake, profiteroles, and chocolate crepes with pistachio. Yum!



Avenue Restaurant
23 Ocean Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740

Jingle Mingle...6?

Every year, the "kids" uphold the tradition our parents started many years ago. Their parties have gotten too big for us, and so...we've started holding our own. Though we don't do presents, our renditions have included video games, rocking out to xmas songs, watching concerts, ELFing it, and most importantly - EATING.
This year, the party moved to good ole Hobo (thanks M!)...

May all your christmases be just as merry & filling :)

Merry Christmas!!

Peep Peep!

For our true loyal readers (aka the ones who actually still check this blog after several months hiatus on our part), here is a [**drumroll**] rerun!

But it looks so gooood! With work (I know, repetitious excuse, but it's true!) and home renovations going on, who has time to eat out anymore? Well, it's a new year. So let's make (and keep) them resolutions that encourage more time spent with those we love (but not those we don't).

Le Peep. Their coffee isn't so great, but gosh darn those pancakes are craveworthy. The Pumpkin Pie pancake is pictured here, but we still recommend the Apple one over this gooey-ness. The Grande Skillet is huge! Our eyes saw it, and our brains registered it. Yet, we still ate the WHOLE thing! Bad coffee doesn't stop us. We just stopped by Starbucks on the way home. =)



Le Peep
Design Center Plaza
345 Rt. 9 South
Manalapan, NJ 07726

Panera

Hankering for a fresh, tasty Lobster Roll/Sandwich? No time to drive up to Maine? Hate road trips? Or just plain old don't have a car? Luckily, now you can pick one up at your local Panera (Hurrah!)-- Limited Time Only! (Oh, no!)

But beware, convenience comes with a price. An arm? A leg? No, $16.99!!! (Thanks, A, for pickin' up the tab!)


Panera Bread
multiple locations

Bridgeway Diner

It's been a while since the family has dined out on a Friday night. With E (and her I'm-not-going-out-there attitude) gone away for the weekend, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for...diner food! The menu is filled with everything but the kitchen sink (YAY!), and the seating area was filled with tons of kids (BOOO...).

I ordered a Meatloaf Sandwich (meatball sandwich craving? check!) while the rest of the family ordered: Tex-Mex Burger, Salmon Filet, Beef Goulash, Chicken Milano, and Disco Fries (French fries topped with gravy and provolone cheese). Everything was pretty typical, tasty diner fare, but the fries could do with a little more home-lovin and a little less gravy-from-the-box. Also, the service could do with a little more pep-in-the-step.


Bridgeway Diner
3030 Us 9
Old Bridge, NJ 08857

Five Guys

We were coming back from the city for a really belated lunch, and what could be more convenient and appetizing than the new Five Guys that just opened up near us?!


We drooled over all the dine-ins' meals as we waited on line to place our order. With mostly meat on the menu, I wasn't sure what to eat - a veggie sandwich (your pick of veggies on bread) just didn't sound so appealing in this burger joint. I made a quick decision to try something new and this is what we brought home to feast on:

KS: Cheeseburger (lettuce, pickles, tomato, mushrooms, onions, & BBQ sauce)
A: Cheeseburger (lettuce, mushrooms, onions, & BBQ sauce)
K: Little Cheeseburger (lettuce, mushrooms, & BBQ sauce)
E: Kosher Dog (ketchup & mustard)
(yes, that says I had a hotdog. no, it wasn't a chicken, turkey, or tofu one.)


Plus plenty of Five Guys Fries & Cajun Fries to share :) The cheeseburgers (in all shapes & sizes) earned two thumbs up, and that was arguably the best hotdog I've ever eaten (why doesn't anyone else cut up their hotdogs like they do?!) Brilliant!

Don't forget the free peanuts! :P

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
1114 Route 9 South
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
(Next to the Wal-mart)

Turning Point

Hawaiian Cafe

Though we've been here dozens upon dozens of times, we've only written about Turning Point a couple times here and here.

Yes, the whip cream is eating the Pumpkin French Toast before your very eyes.

Low and behold, the Chef's Specials! Every restaurant has it! Yet, it's taken us this long to realize that if you're bored of the same ol' same ol', check out the small placard in the center of the table! This week's special was the Pumpkin & Apple Stuffed French Toast w/ Apple-Cinnamon Brown Sugar Syrup. YUM. Around the table, we also had: Chocolate Chip Pancakes, the Bandito Burrito, Ham-Cheese-&-Egg Baguette, (2) Western Omelets, and a Catalina Wrap.



Turning Point
55 Route 9 South
Manalapan, NJ 07726

A Gnome of a New Year

Dooooooughnuuuuuutssss!!!
We are officially addicted.

But fortunately for us, each new visit is always slightly different from the last. It was a BUSY December, but we somehow managed to squeeze in Fromagerie's BUFFET BRUNCH on the last day of its offering (....in January XP). I mean really - passing up a buffet brunch at one of our favorite restaurants is deserving of a hard slap in the face. And none of us want a bruised face to start off the new year.

Buffets are dangerous. Especially when there's plenty of delicious food to serve even the pickiest of palates. And our eyes are always hungrier than our stomachs can handle. So I'm going to do the nice thing and make your eyes salivate too. :)

a little breakfast sampler

These four dishes were available from the kitchen as part of the buffet
...and of course we ordered all four

though INSANELY full, we still never miss out on dessert


....hungry yet?


David Burke's Fromagerie
26 Ridge Road
Rumson, NJ 07760

Cafe 360

There are two things at Cafe 360 that we had to try. OK, more than two things. But we held back! We know. It's hard. It's shocking. It's unbelievable. BUT. WE. DID. IT.

Of course it helped that we entered the bakery with our minds focused on gelato [insert angelic song here]. Not hindered by the freezing temperature outside (yeah! hardcore!), KM ordered scoops of hazelnut, dark chocolate, and dulce de leche. I got amaretto and tiramisu. It was definitely hard pickings, but we resolved to come back at a later [warmer] date to try the other flavors. Dining next to the Hookah paraphernalia and utilizing our Shifu-trained gelato taste buds, we concurred that though it's not the best we've had, it's way more convenient than stopping by-- O' say Italy-- on the way back from the mall. We'd go back, but we definitely prefer other shindigs in NY, NY, and NJ.

Oh yeah, and then there's the rainbow marzipan. Meh. While it's amazingly five layered, the layers actually work against it. The cake is too thick and therefore heavily sugar-soaked, the jam is too prominent, and the chocolate is completely lacking (literally-- where's the chocolate?). Ooooh picky picky.

These are some of our favorite desserts, so we always look for recommendations. So, RECOMMENDATIONS???

Cafe 360
34 East Main Street
Freehold, NJ 07728

Court Jester

KM & I went here as a pre-Christmas luncheon on a lax Wednesday off. With no particular restaurant in mind, we chose this place for the crowds entering it and its decently priced low-key bar food. It was OK.

We ordered Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer, which was misleadingly delicious. Misleading because the rest of the food was average at best. KM chose the Jester Steak & Sweet Potato Fries and I tried the Chicken Finger Platter. Two key things were left out that could have made this meal a smidgereen above average: the promised Mushroom & Onions with the Steak AND seasoning on the waffle fries. So now, we are left--underwhelmed.


Court Jester: A Saloon & Eatery
16 East Main St
Freehold, NJ 07728

Crown Palace

It's hard to find good (authentic) Chinese restaurants in the middle of the suburbs, which automatically makes Crown Palace one of our two staples in the area.

We've been here many times with family & friends, but dim sum outings are too few and far between. What better excuse than the holidays to gather everyone around and "drink tea". ;)

pictured above left = must-have dish

Crown Palace
8 N Main Street
Marlboro, NJ