Lolita’s Mexican Cantina, Westwood, NJ

Have you ever had a craving for some good old fashioned street tacos? We call that Tuesday in our house. Always looking for new adventures, we were excited when our neighbors suggested a new taco hot spot- this local suburban NJ Mexican Cantina called Lolita’s in Westwood (Bergen County).

Stepping into Lolita’s felt like stepping into an old family friendly Mexico City eatery with the brick walls, wooden tables, and vibrant colors complete with a full 360 degree bar as the centerpiece. There is a range of Mexican beers and the premium tequila collection sets the stage for some delicious margaritas. After all, what’s a taco without a margarita to wash it down?? Those who know me understand my love affair with spicy margaritas and Lolita’s did not disappoint with the “El Barrio”- a margarita concocted with jalapeno infused tequila!

Both times that we visited Lolita’s (Yes, we liked it so much we went back a few weeks later!) , we decided to make our own “family style” meal. The dishes come complete with 4 tacos, so we ordered multiple different flavors and them divvied them up!

Needless to say, our craving was satisfied! The food was fresh and delicious and the servings were the perfect amount- we felt full but not regretfully overstuffed. Here is what we ate:

Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Aioli and Avocado

Beer Battered Fish Tacos with Mango slaw

Carne Asada Tacos with Guacamole and Pico de Gallo

Crispy Chicken Tacos with Avocado and Pico de Gallo

And I wouldn’t be doing our visit justice if I didn’t mention the Mexican Street Corn, which was AMAZING!

*Also pictured: Mexican Meatballs, Handmade Guacamole, Rice and Beans, and* *Flautas.*

Tacos are not the only food served at Lolita’s- the menu is complete with empanadas, quesadillas, paellas, enchiladas, and more! So if you are in NJ and looking for a night out with some delicious Mexican food, check it out!

For more information visit Lolita’s Website www.LolitasMexicanCantina.com

Buen Provecho!

The Dead Rabbit, NYC

Nestled in the Financial District on Water Street in NYC you will find The Dead Rabbit- not the animal, the pub. It’s an old fashioned “saw dust on the floor” Irish bar started by Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon back in 2013 when they came to New York from Ireland. It didn’t take long for them to be voted “Best Bar in North America”. In fact, they hit a homerun, claiming the title for 4 consecutive years!!

The Dead Rabbit: 30 Water Street, New York, NY

So what does it take to get on the “Best Bars” list? The menu is far more impressive than most Irish bars. The whiskey list is so great the Village Voice voted The Dead Rabbit “Best Whiskey Bar in New York” in 2015. The cocktail menu has won so many awards that we lost count. This should come as not surprise considering the fact the Jack McGarry has been voted “International Bartender of the Year” and Jillian Vose, the bar manager, won a 2013 “Rising Star Award” from Star Chefs. The food menu is a little more upscale than your typical Irish bar and is as good as the cocktails and whiskey, offering labeled gluten free menu options for those with food allergies and sensitivities. If you are downtown and looking for a place to enjoy good food, drinks, and atmosphere, this is it! There are 3 floors of fun and cheer, including The Taproom on the first floor, The Parlor on the second floor, and The Occasional on the third floor, where small private parties can be accommodated. Cheers, or should I say Slàinte!

What We Ate and Drank:

~”World Famous” Irish Coffee
~Deviled Eggs (Gluten Free)
~Hand Cut Truffle “Chips”

*According to the National Institute of Health, the distilling process removes all gluten proteins from whiskey, making it gluten free.

*After this trip, we returned to The Dead Rabbit for brunch. If you are looking for an authentic Irish breakfast, this is the place! Whether you are going for drinks, food, or their comic book-like menus, it’s definitely worth a trip to see The Dead Rabbit!

Slàinte!

For more information, visit their website www.deadrabbitnyc.com

Suprema Provisions, NYC

There is a lot of flavor cooking at this West Village gourmet eatery and market. With the feel of an Italian Salumeria and the taste of a French Bistro, Suprema will leave you salivating for more. The setting is cute and informal with just the right amount of tables for a small restaurant feel. There is a full service bar with a wine list that complements the cuisine, which is no surprise with Joshua Wesson, a well known sommelier, heavily involved in the restaurant’s success. The wait staff was friendly and helpful, assisting us with the best choices for pairing our food and drinks. At the back entrance of Suprema, Italian meats, books, and other fine imported foods can be purchased in the “market”. From salami and cheese boards to pork shoulder lasagna to the famous “Suprema Burger” itself, you won’t be disappointed here. It is worth noting that the “Suprema Burger” was the highest rated burger in NYC by the Gotham Burger Social Club!

What We Ate:

**The Suprema Burger: Short Rib, Brisket, iberico jamon, bacon jam,**
**black garlic sauce, aged cheddar cheese sauce, and sundried tomatoes.**

**Roasted Chicken with Young Carrots and Potatoes**

Since this is a smaller venue, reservations are recommended, especially in the evenings and on weekends.

You can call for reservations at 646-964-4994.
You can visit their website at www.supremanyc.com

Suprema Provisions is located in the West Greenwich Village neighborhood at 305 Bleecker Street New York, NY

Remi Flower and Coffee, NYC

I don’t know about you but I find gardens and greenhouses to be very soothing spaces. After all, psychologists have found that having plants in your living space can decrease stress and anxiety, boost your mood, and enhance creative thinking. And who doesn’t enjoy starting their day with a good cup of coffee or tea? So the idea of combining plants with coffee is brilliant! That is just what you will get at Remi Flower and Coffee in NYC! Buy your java in the front of the store and your hand cut flowers in the back! The café beverages are well done and are complete with a frothy design. There is seating available amongst the greenery so you can enjoy your coffee peacefully in house or you can get it to go. Either way, this is a great spot for your morning joe!

What we ordered:

Left: Turmeric Latte with Almond Milk

Right: Pumpkin Spice Latte

You can visit Remi Flower and Coffee at 906 2nd Avenue New York, NY
For more information, visit www.reminyc.com

~Enjoy!~

1803, NYC

New York winters may be cold, but you can walk into 1803 and immediately be transported to the French Quarter in sunny New Orleans. Named for the year of the Louisiana Purchase, 1803 offers Cajun cuisine with a flare of French and Spanish flavor. It is brunch by day and speakeasy by night, offering a downstairs jazz club with Bourbon Street style cocktails. Next time you are downtown dine in NOLA style at the Big Easy of the Big Apple!

1803 Restaurant, located at 82 Reade Street, New York, NY

What We Ate for Brunch:

Crawfish Cakes Benedict with a Side of Slab Bacon

Green Eggs No Ham (Poached Eggs in a Tomatillo and Poblano Pepper Sauce) with a Side of Jambalaya

Bon Appètit!

For more information, visit www.1803nyc.com

Chelsea Market, NYC

75 9th Avenue, New York, NY

FOOD LOVERS UNITE!! Housed at the original National Biscuit Company (or better known as NABISCO!) is a unique food hall and shopping center in the Chelsea Neighborhood of NYC. Consuming all of the city block between 9th and 10th Avenues and 15th and 16th Streets, you will find a variety of retail including artisnal salt, olive oils, chocolates, flowers, produce, clothing, jewelry, home goods, and more. The gourmet food is even more impressive with names like Sarabeth’s, Buddakan, The Lobster Place, Amy’s Bread, and more! Come hungry or take some home! Either way, it’s worth a stop here if you’re in the neighborhood. Check out our Chelsea Market Fun Facts below.

Fun Facts: The first Oreo cookie was invented and made in this very building back in 1912.

On the floors above the bussling retail space, producers are hard at work at The Food Network, MLB.COM, Oxygen Network, Music Publishing and more. Google and YouTube also take up residence at Chelsea Market. In fact, Google purchased Chelsea Market in early 2018 for 2.5 BILLION dollars, making it the second largest full single asset sale EVER in NYC!

Make Sure You Come Hungry!

Visit www.chelseamarket.com for more details!

Budweiser Clydesdales Celebrate the Repeal of Prohibition in Local Towns

Budweiser Clydesdales riding down Washington Street in Hoboken, NJ

On December 5, 1933 Prohibition was repealed in the United States of America after a long 3+ years of alcohol drought (well, except all that illegal booze!). This was the day the Budweiser Clydesdales made thier debut. They paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue with their red wagon to deliver the first case of post prohibition beer to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the White House. Since then, they have gained popularity through the memorable Budweiser commercials, appearances at events, and of course at the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.

To commemorate this day, the Clydesdales saunter down main streets all over America in December to recreate that first post prohibition gig and deliver beer in the signature wood Budweiser cases to local establishments. These beauties are a sight to see.

Fun Fact: Riding shotgun in the wagon next to the drivers is their mascot, the Budweiser Dalmatian. Why the Dalmatian? Years ago, they were known as coach dogs who ran between carriages or coaches and became companions for the horses.

So next December, look for Clydesdales near you! To see these beautiful creatures in person other times of the year, you can visit 1 of the 5 locations in the United States where they are kept and cared for:
*San Diego, CA
*Merrimack, NH
*San Antonio, TX
*St. Louis, MO
*Menifee, CA
You can also visit the Budweiser website for the “Hitch Schedule” at www.budweiser.com/en/clydesdales/hitch-schedule.html.

As beautiful as they are to see, I wanted to know if the horses are cared for properly. After some research, here is what I have found:

*Travel is limited to 500 miles or less per day.
*When traveling, the driver must stop every 2-3 hours to ensure the horses are drinking and eating the appropriate amount
*Drivers have cameras in the cabs to be sure that the horses are doing ok during travel
* Each Hitch has its own designated veterinarian
*The team exercises the horses at every stop
*More times than not they stop at local stables during travel so the horses can rest peacefully
*They are fed a diet ich in grass hay and given supplements for joint health. Some horses also receive chiropractic care as needed!
*All horses receive regular Farriery Care

Om Sweet Home Specialty Bakery

708 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ

Feeding your sweet tooth is a challenge when you have a gluten allergy. Luckily, if you live near the Bergen County, NJ waterfront, this bakery will come to the rescue! Om Sweet Home in Cliffside Park is Celiac safe and 100% vegan and gluten free. All products are also dairy free, soy free, wheat free, palm oil free, non-GMO, organic and made with non dairy butter alternative. It’s like the unicorn of bakeries! I’ve been to gluten free bakeries that fell short of satisfying but these delicious treats were nothing but delightful!

So, without further ado, here are our favorites from this yummy allergy free establishment:

Spiked Eggnog Donuts made with Sailor Jerry Rum:

Whoopie Pie made with Spiced Nut Cookie with Chocolate Beet Cream Filling:

YUM!!!

For more information, visit www.om-sweethome.com.

Enjoy this secret New Jersey Treasure!!

The Green Pear Cafe- Hoboken, NJ

Having a gluten allergy, I am always looking for allergy friendly restaurants. This gem on the back streets of Hoboken was a great find. Located between Newark and 1st on Grand, you can stop by for a coffee to go or sit at one of the tables to enjoy a full breakfast or lunch (outdoor seating also available). There are many gluten free options available on the menu, including a variety of gluten free pancakes, gluten free crepes, and gluten free arepa sandwiches. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing. Make this your next stop for breakfast or lunch!

My Gluten Free Menu pick:

Italian Arepa: Gluten Free cornbread Arepa with Fresh Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Greens, Prosciutto, and Pesto.

This is perfect combination of sweet and savory!!

For the full menu and hours visit www.greenpearcafe.com

Seattle Food

Like amazing art, Seattle is filled with some pretty tasty food too. These establishments will get your mouth salivating and your tummy growling.

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream

Molly’s is a Seattle based homemade ice cream shop that partners with local farmers and producers for high quality local ingredients to craft the finest ice cream in Washington. The first time we walked in, they were still hand making the waffle cones. This means my decadent dairy treat was served in a waffle cone that was STILL WARM. O.M.G. I didn’t eat the rest of the day but it was worth it.

If their ice cream wasn’t enough to make you feel happy inside, you should know that Molly Moon’s gives 1% of all sales to local food banks and the Anna Banana Milk Fund. They also donate 3200 scoops of ice cream per year to local non-profits and school programs. On top of that, 100% of the products used in their shops are compostable. So there you have it…eating Molly Moon’s is good for the community AND the environment! There are 8 locations in and around Seattle so stop by and feed your sweet tooth!

For information on locations and hours visit their website at www.mollymoon.com

Biscuit Bitch

Biscuit Bitch is a must visit for breakfast in Seattle! You have to get there early because there will be a line but it moves fast and it’s worth it! The owner, Kimmie Spice, has cooked up unique and scrumptious biscuit creations including “The Canadian Bitch” with maple peanut butter and bacon, or “The Smokin’ Hot Bitch” with a biscuit and gravy smothered in cheese and topped with a grilled Louisiana Hot Link and jalapenos, bringing some southern style to the State of Washington. Don’t let this one slip off your list. Bring your appetite.

I’m sorry there are no food pictures, apparently it was so good the camera didn’t make it fast enough!

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is like a Food Mecca, a foodie’s paradise. All the gourmet eats one could ask for is gathered on one street through the heart of the Historic District. From Farmer’s Markets to Spices to the Fish Market and beyond, you can eat your way through Pike Place.

For more information on Pike Place Market,
visit www.pikeplacemarket.org

Starbucks- The Original

We may be jaded after seeing a Starbucks on every other corner in every major city, but the one located at Pike Place is special. It’s the first location that opened back in 1971, starting what has become a Seattle coffee craze.

Beecher’s Homemade Cheese

The glass kitchen walls in Beecher’s offer a clear view of the cheesemaking process. You can watch from the sidewalk or inside the store but be sure to drop in to try some of their signature cheeses. Beecher’s is located at Pike Place Market, next door to the original Starbucks. For more information, visit their website at www.beechershomemadecheese.com