Category: Out of New Jersey

In our family, fall is the season of birthdays and time to go out. Not that we don’t go out otherwise. It’s that these fall outings are more thoughtful and better justified — pleasures less guilty. The birthday boy chose the fusion of Latin and Chinese flavors on Upper West Side in Manhattan at La…

Birthday marathon in our family starts off at the twilight of summer and finishes just in time to start Thanksgiving-Christmas preparations. After Christmas, we rest, squeeze one more birthday at the peak of spring, and dive into the sunny season. It is October. Under cloudy skies we are marching across the Gowanus Canal to celebrate…

And she said she was in the mood for southern comfort. Grits, collard greens. Fried chicken. Where did that come from? Not sure I’ve ever even made it — still going strong in my Chinese and Asian zone. It’s her birthday. Who is going to argue. Red Rooster in Harlem it is. The restaurant is…

I am a die hard carnivore and love a good burger. Raised in a place where no burgers were served and steaks, loins, ribs, and chops were not on rotation, any burger was a good burger for me. Until recently. Instead of dwindling, my aging palate made a mistake and perked up starting to distinguish…

Some like it hot? Another legitimate Sichuan find in the city on West 37th Street — spacious two story Cafe China. Featured here are:   Braised Beef in Red Soup. Slices of boiled beef, wood ear mushrooms, napa cabbage, glass noodles, chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns in oily heat hot and spicy hot broth hit all…

This is it! The burger. From Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, CT. It is here, in 1900, Louis Lassen invented the hamburger sandwich as we know it. Today, the place is run by the grandson of the original owner. Make a note — over the centuries, the dining experience has not changed. You are served…

Once a high school teacher told our class that most true long lasting friendships form in high school:— The older you get, the harder it is to find like minded people and make connections. True, the older we get, the more we set in our ways, the less we’re willing to budge. And every relationship…

Astoria, Queens, is known for its Greek neighborhood. But once off the W train and a little east along Astoria Boulevard, there are three blocks of Steinway Street known as Little Egypt with large Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Moroccan, Tunisian, and Algerian population, their stores, restaurants, hookah lounges, and that specific smell of sweet smoke. This is…

Our annual pilgrimage to Coney Island. You’d think I am drawn there by things I miss. Nope. On the contrary, things I don’t miss pull me here. Sort of an affirmation that it was the right decision.  The words “Coney Island” do not revoke any nostalgia at all besides that of watching good bootlegged…

Pete Wells included Mariscos El Submarino in 2023 New York Times list of 100 Best Restaurants in NYC — together with Le Bernadin, Atomic, Via Carota, Daniel, Silver Apricot, Le Coucou, Aquavit to name a few. We’ve been to some places from the list. The line up is less about smoke and mirrors and more…