Surf Taco

December 29, 2008

A little bit tired of those long and drawn out holiday meals of lamb, roast beef or whatever your family served up? Maybe you need to dial it down a few notches and have something a little more casual before the big New Years’ celebrations start…

We really like Surf Taco. It is casual, easy on the budget and very family friendly. It is cafeteria style so convenient to eat-in or take-out. They serve lots of tasty Mexican dishes and it is BYO so grab some Coronas and head on over for lunch or dinner. My fave is the Teriyaki Chicken Taco (soft or hard) and my husband loves The Teriyaki Bowl on the specials menu. There are a variety of quesadillas that are good for the kids. Almost everything is served with chips.

We have been to the Belmar, NJ location and catered a summer party from there as well but there are 6 or 7 other locations scattered throughout NJ and the Jersey Shore.

If you are not near a Surf Taco, find an equivalent in your own area. Just because it is casual and budget friendly does not mean it can’t taste good!

Bon Appetit!

Restaurant: Surf Taco
Location: 1003 Main Street, Belmar, NJ
Phone: (732) 681-3001
Website: www.surftaco.com

Some Other Locations:
21 Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, NJ 732.363.8226
121 Parke Avenue, Manasquan, NJ 732.223.7757
212 SE Central Avenue, Seaside Park, NJ 732.830.2111
1887 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 732.255.3333

Last Minute Holiday Hors D'Oeuvres

December 24, 2008

During the busy upcoming week, if you run into a bind for a quick-serve, but tasty appetizer try these ideas:

1- Serve a small bowl of olive oil with a cut up baguette, italian bread, etc.. There are tons of flavored olive oils available everywhere from the super market to specialty stores like William-Sonoma. It is a great idea to keep one on hand for emergencies or if you just have any regular old olive oil, add your own flavorings- a little salt and pepper, crushed red pepper or even parmesan cheese. The good thing about this is that it can be left out for an extended time.

2- One of my favorties: spread soft brie cheese on petit toasts or the cracker or bread of your choice and top with a slice of strawberry. This goes particularly well with a celebratory glass of champagne or white wine.

3- Similar to the brie and strawberries, top petit toasts, baguette slices or crackers with softened goat cheese and a sliver of roasted red peppers* for a delicious treat. (*roasted peppers from a jar work great)

4- For a hot appetizer, bacon roll-ups are such a crowd pleaser that I hesitate to even share the recipe!!

Ingredients: package of bacon or turkey bacon, small loaf of wonder bread (crusts removed), spreadable cream cheese and toothpicks.

After removing the crusts from the bread, spread slices of bread with cream cheese on one side. Bread slices should be large enough to cut into 3 smaller slices (I use a scissor to make it easier). Next, cut each slice of bacon in 1/2. Line bacon up on the side of the bread WITHOUT the cream cheese and roll. Secure with a toothpick. Bake at about 350 degrees for about 20 to 30 minutes but keep a close eye on them. Bacon should be on the crisp side and when the bread is becoming toasted on the inside, that will be an indication that they are just about finished. A 16 slice package of bacon will yield about 32 pieces (in which case you probably won't need the whole loaf of bread).

Enjoy and let us know if you try any of them!

FOODIE FAVORITES WISHES YOU A SAFE, HEALTHY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Wine for the Holidays

December 19, 2008

ADVICE FOR THE HOST

How much wine will you need? ( Food & Wine, December 2007)

A Cocktail party:
2 hours @3 glasses per person X 20 people = approximately 12 bottles

A Dinner party:
4 hours @ 5 glasses per person X 8 people = approximately 8 bottles

(generally there are about 4.5 to 5 glasses per bottle so you can calculate for your own party)

WHAT TO BUY…

Whether your gathering in the coming weeks is for Christmas, Hanukkah or another celebration, Foodie Favorites and The Wine Cellar can help you with your wine picks for this festive season.

Mark and I walked the racks and here are some of his suggestions:

A little bubbly to get the party started…Sparkling Wine or Champagne is a must at this time of year!

Two very reasonably priced sparkling wines that are great as a greeting for your guests, an aperitif or a first course pairing… From Savoie, France, Varichon & Clerk for only $12.99 or Anime, a pink prosecco from Italy for $16.99.

If you are looking for a white wine that is good with fish, salmon, turkey and a nice alternative to an oaky chardonnay, try a 2007 Graham Beck Viognier from South Africa for just $14.99.

Mark picked two red wines that will go well with a range of foods (in particular, think roast beef , lamb and other savory holiday entrees). Chateau Reynier, a great Bordeaux for only $18.99 and Fonthill, a 2002 Shiraz, selling here for a mere $19.99, are sure to be enjoyed by your guests.

Lastly, to cap off the day if you are so inclined, a dessert wine from Spain… Casa de la Eramita for $17.99. It will go well with chocolate, nuts and other treats as you are winding down your celebration.

PROPER SERVING TEMPERATURE (Food & Wine, December 2007)

Serve white wine at 55 degrees. It will reach the proper temperature if kept in the refrigerator for about 1.5 hours, in a freezer for 40 minutes or in an ice bucket with ice and water for about 20 minutes. If the wine has been in the refrigerator for an extended time, you may want to keep it at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

Though many people drink red wine at room temperature, it should really be served at about 65 degrees. You can achieve that by keeping it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Do not overchill though!

Cheers!
Foodie

The Wine Cellar
www.thewinecellarredbank.com
23 Monmouth Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732.219.9935

Food and Wine
www.foodandwine.com

Affordable Pre-Theater Restaurants

December 17, 2008

This post is in response to an off-line question that I received this week…

Q: Where can I go in NYC this week before the Christmas Spectacular that is not too pricey?

A: First, you should look at Jean-Georges’ blog and website that you can access through Foodie Favorites (lower right hand corner) or at www.Jean-Georges.com . All of his restaurants are currently offering price-fixes and some also have wine and drink specials. The locations are scattered throughout the city and the food is always great so it will really depend what you are in the mood for, how easily you can get around and how much time you have.

A long-standing theater-district favorite of mine which I first went to as a teenager with family friends is Becco at 355 W 46th Street, phone 212.397.7597. They have a great lunch and dinner pre-fixe that usually includes salad and/or antipasti and unlimited servings tableside of the 3 pastas of the day. Check the website for more details. www.becco-nyc.com (Besides the pasta special they have a full a la carte menu.) They also have a good and reasonably priced wine list- all bottles around $25.

If you really want to keep the prices down and/or are looking for a very family-friendly locale, there is always John’s Pizza which sounds like a little pizza joint but is a huge, two floor, Italian/pizza restaurant in the heart of Times Square- 260 W44th Street, phone (212) 391-7560, www.johnspizzerianyc.com They have great thin crust pizzas but lots and lots of other Italian favorites.

I would recommend a reservation at all of the above places, especially during the holiday season.

Good luck! Let us know how it works out and/or chime in if you have other recommendations! (just click on the comments tab under this posting and you can add your own post!)

Banana Nut Bread

December 15, 2008

Looking for something delicious (not to mention super easy) to do with those overripe bananas that you inevitably throw out every week? I have been making Beth Hensperger's recipe for years (including yesterday!!)- it was originally published in Food and Wine magazine in November 1998. www.foodandwine.com

Enjoy!
Foodie

Banana Nut Bread
(makes one 9X5 inch loaf)

Ingredients:
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (3 ounces)**
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
3 medium overripe bananas, (mashed 1 1/4 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Spread the walnuts in a pie pan and toast in the oven for 5 to 8 minutes, or until frangrant; let cool.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, combine the sugar, eggs and oil and beat at high speed until light-colored and creamy. Add the mashed bananas and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in the dry ingredients until thoroughly blended. Fold in the nuts.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top is springy and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a rack to cool completely.

Make Ahead: Wrap the bread tightly in plastic and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

**For those who don't care for nuts or have a food allergy, substituting chocolate chips is another yummy option. -Foodie

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas for the Food and Wine Lover

December 15, 2008

Two of my favorite catalogs for food, wine and gadgets that you can still order on-line or by phone for Christmas delivery are: Sur La Table ( www.surlatable.com ) and Napa Style ( www.napastyle.com ). These are the types of catalogs that I flip through as soon as they arrive and fold over every other page because my intention is always to go back and order everything. Take a look- if not for the upcoming December holidays, at some later date for yourself or as a gift for other occasions.

Wine is always a nice hostess gift OR a nice holiday gift depending on the recipient. You can order from large and very reputable retailers such as Sherry-Lehmann ( http://www.sherry-lehmann.com/) or visit their flagship store in NYC but visiting a local wine shop is also a great option. One of my favorite locals is The Wine Cellar located on 23 Monmouth St, Red Bank, NJ 07701, (732) 219-9935. Website is http://www.thewinecellarredbank.com/. Mark, Dennis, Monica and the whole team are super knowledgeable about wine, they are great teachers and are very helpful with food pairings and gift choices. Their selection consists of a wide variety of price ranges from about $10 all the way up into the $100's. If you are buying multiple bottles, they also offer discounts on 6 and 12 bottle purchases. Lastly, don't miss the weekend tastings (Friday 4-8pm and Saturday 12-4pm)!

Cheers!

Foodie

Aqua Grill, NYC

December 12, 2008

I recently ate lunch at one of my old downtown NYC staples, Aqua Grill. It was a busy and bustling Friday and while I had a lovely glass of Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay amongst a full bar of diners, the camaraderie of the patrons and the staff reminded me of a scene right out of “Cheers”.

One of my favorite things about the menu here is the very large selection of oysters (25-30 different varieties every day)- you can order as few or as many as you wish and will not be limited to ordering by the dozen or the half dozen. If you normally eat oysters with cocktail sauce, you will be forever converted after you have had the amazingly tasty vinaigrette that they serve. While you are pondering the menu, you get a tasty bread plate with focaccia, corn bread and a roll- all freshly baked. Of course I had the oysters to start and then taking a cue from a fellow guest, I ordered one of the specials- Lobster, Crab, Mushroom and Pumpkin Gnocchi and it was DELICIOUS!

The everyday menu has a good seafood selection, and is balanced out with a mix of sandwiches, pastas and salads and having eaten here a number of times, everything is consistently very good. There is also a nice selection of both wine by the glass and the bottle.
If you’ve never been to Aqua Grill, it is definitely worth a visit and if you have, it is always good to see old friends!

Enjoy!

Foodie

Restaurant: Aqua Grill
Location: 210 Spring Street, NY, NY
Phone: (212) 274-0505
Website: www.aquagrill.com

About Foodie Favorites

December 11, 2008

Whether dining out, cooking at home, or meeting friends for a quick drink, at “Foodie Favorites” we love food!

We plan to include regular postings of restaurants that we have recently visited and enjoyed, delicious recipes that we are thinking of trying or have successfully made, favorite food brands and products, links to notable stories in other food publications or sites, wine suggestions, as well as occasional guest blogging appearances by notable food and wine experts, self-proclaimed connoisseurs, restaurant and business owners and last but not least, fellow foodie friends.

In the spirit of the glass always being half-full, at least initially we will only include restaurants that we liked and thus would recommend. It does not mean we haven’t dined at many others but with the state of today’s economy our intention is not to negatively impact anyone’s business but only to help it if we can!

In the long-term, we hope that wherever your travels take you, “Foodie Favorites” will be a fun reference in helping you find good food and drink!

Cheers!
-Foodie