January 29, 2021

Colleen is the best! Colleen is the best! Did I mention Colleen is the best? She went to 618 and got me Short Rib Ravioli, Grandma’s meatballs and she had them make me Angry Shrimp and Grits!

She dropped off the food, so we could eat lunch, sort of together. Well……ummm….by the time she got home I sort of, ate almost all of it. I couldn’t wait. It’s been almost a year since I had them. We then tried to play Overcooked and again it did not want to work. We played We Were Here instead. A fun game, but not as much as Overcooked.

My list of the favorite restaurants for 2020:

10. Spike’s Fish Market: I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I would have because it was the start of the Coronavirus. I kept worrying about getting infected. The seafood though tasted fresh.

9. Cuzin’s : The seafood is fresh and the service is excellent. I asked for extra tartar sauce and the waiter came back with cupfuls.

8. Yardville Inn: A historic restaurant that served people like Annie Oakley. The restaurant could use a bit of a remodel, but keep the historic charm. The food is very good.

7. Keyport Fishery: A favorite of mine for many years. I remember when it would take an hour to place your order and then around 15 minutes for it to be done. Things are much better now, with Covid you place your order by phone and they call you when it’s done.

6. Turning Point: I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad dish at the Turning Point. Some I enjoy more than others, though. The ingredients are always fresh, love the fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Tuna melt from the year before. I don’t think it has returned to the menu yet.

5. Fiddleheads: I always feel like it’s an adventure when I go here. So many interesting combinations of food.

4. Spanish Tavern: I just love this place. You feel welcomed. They have a man walking around with a pot of soup that serves you after your order. The atmosphere is excellent and comfortable without being stuffy. The food is excellent.

3. Aunt Butchie’s: I drive by here almost every day. During the beginning of the corona, I would think of how warm and comforting it would be to have a bowl of their Chicken Tortellini soup. I can’t eat just plain chicken soup anymore.

2. 618: I still love their food. One of the best restaurants I have ever indulged in. I want to try other dishes, but when I go all I can think of is what I would miss if I ordered something else.

Liberty House: it has replaced 618 as number one. Colleen took me here for my birthday last year. It was so good. I had the pasta. The pasta was so light and sauce was scrumptious. I ate it all and I never eat it all easily. I can eat it all at 618, but the last two raviolis are a bit hard to finish. This pasta I easily ate it all. For months after I could still taste it.

January 22, 2021

This Friday we played one of our favorite games Overcooked 🙂 We went on to the third part and we did not work well together. Colleen wanted to do it only her way and I wanted to do it only mine. While she wasn’t paying attention I switched to the next part. To despite me, she started putting only rolls on the plates. I said fine and worked on the hamburgers. We ended up getting a really high score! It broke the ice and we tried to better our score. The mad round was our high score. Colleen would like it if we get three stars but now we settle for two. If we get stuck, we can go back to the lower parts and they should seem easier, I hope. I’m just glad that the game worked the whole time.

Colleen’s list for the top ten restaurants of 2020:

Honorable mentions: Turning Point, Molino’s, and Shake Shack for giving a tasty reprieve from the Corona Virus when it was badly needed.

10. Tommy’s Tavern: best pizza. Delicious toppings over a crisp barely existent crust.

9. Aunt Butchie’s: Chicken Tortellini Soup and Chicken dishes never disappoint.

8. Fiddlehead’s unique combinations of ingredients, not seen in other restaurants.

7. Yardville Inn: something about the coziness of this place. Don’t miss the crab cakes.

6. Cuzin’s Seafood Restuarant: good quality of food and service. Lobster Bisque Soup is an item not to be missed.

5. Spanish Tavern: quality of food and service superb. Especially enjoyed soup and Day Boat Scallops Spanish Tavern Style.

4. 618: Can’t beat their meatballs and Short Rib Ravioli. Also, memories of other years’ Angry Shrimp and Grits. (They offer both the angry shrimp and grits, but not together anymore. I really wish they were together, it’s a winning combination!)

3. Costa Verde: gets the number three spot for having the most flavorful paella against which all other paellas are measured.

2. Liberty House: gets the number two spot for the combination of ambiance, service, and quality of food.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord: gets the number one spot for variety and quality of food.

Next week is my top ten list.

October 16, 2020

This Friday we went to Costa Verde and Costco.

The bread is so light and fluffy. If you squeezed it, it felt like a sponge. I really liked the bread and I’m not a bread person.

Paella Valenciana Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, Clams, Mussels, Spanish Sausage, Chicken & Pork in Saffron Rice$17.95

Colleen and I had the Paella. We got the lunch portion. There was so much food, I would hate to see the dinner portion. It said lunch, I imagined a soup bowl size. It was a medium size dutch oven. It was very tasty with so many flavors. If you order this though be careful of the shells and bones. I found the beef a little tough, but the shrimp was excellent!

The virus is spreading again. I felt a bit uncomfortable dining indoors. I think outside is much safer, because the virus wasn’t spreading when people were dining indoors, like it is now. There were people at the bar talking and drinking without masks. They were in another room, but still, I worry. The way this virus spreads, it is only a matter of time before someone you know or you yourself have it. Back to gaming for us, I have to tell myself it’s only a matter of time before things go back to normal. What is one or two years taking extra precautions, compared to all eternity in the ground?

October 9, 2020

This Friday we went to Anemo’s in Manalapan. After we went to Battleview and a quick stop to Trader Joe’s and Micheal’s. Then we played Overcooked.

We both had the soup. It was a creamy soup with a hint of lemon and chicken with orzo. I would definitely have this again. We both really liked it.

shredded chicken, lemon, egg, orzo 6

Colleen had the moussaka. She wasn’t a fan. She wished it had more of the bechamel sauce. I think that is her favorite part of moussaka.

Moussaka potato, eggplant, zucchini, ground beef & lamb topped with creamy béchamel 16

Beef and Lamb Gyro Platter with rice and salad

I had the the gyro platter with the salad. The meat was so tasty and the tzatziki was so creamy. The salad had a light dressing. I’m not a fan of rice. I don’t care for cinnamon in my main meal and prefer it for desserts.

• Beef & Lamb Gyro 16

I wonder if the first time you have something makes a difference on how you view food. I know that when my daughter was growing up, I had a hard time getting eggs over easy right. I would get the lace on them and they would be hard in the middle. The first time I did it right, I was so excited. “Look Kim I did it right!” My daughter tried it and said it was wrong. She wanted the hard eggs with the lace. 🙂 I know salmon can make a difference in how it’s cooked. It seems some foods are finicky and have to be cooked just right. I tried making and had Moussaka in a restaurant. I did not care for it. I wonder if the one Colleen likes I would like. Sometimes when I make a recipe, I find I do not like the food I’m making. Then thinking I made it wrong, I will try it made somewhere else. I often find that I still don’t like it. I wonder how many tries should I give something before I decide if I like it or not.

October 2, 2020

This Friday we went to Cuzin’s Seafood Restaurant in Marlboro and Battleview Orchards. Then we went to our homes and played Overcooked.

We both had the lobster bisque. It was very tasty with a tomato broth. It was a bit more creamy than Fiddleheads. Most times you will find a piece or two of lobster in the bottom of the bowl, but Cuzin’s bisque had many large pieces.

Colleen had the snapper sandwich. It is an open-face sandwich and she said it was very good!

I had the shrimp sandwich. I don’t know how the sandwich tastes altogether, because I ate the shrimp off it and left the rest. The Coleslaw and fries were ok. The shrimp though was very well seasoned with lots of flavors. We asked for extra tartar sauce and the waiter came back with two large bowls. 🙂

Colleen and I work well together. We often come up with new strategies when playing games. We will try it one way and then another until we find something that works. I would say neither is a leader. Our relationship works well without a leader. Often someone in a relationship takes the leadership role. I often wonder what makes a good leader. It feels there are few and far between, that are able to lead. Often you come across tyrants it’s their way or no way, even if the ship is sinking. Then there is the figurehead who is content to just do things as they were always done, with little to contribute. Once in a while, you come across those who are able to lead, to make things better.

September 25, 2020

This Friday we went to Sam Vera in Marlboro. Then we went to Papa Ganache and Delicious Orchards.

They brought this with the bread. It was very yummy.

Colleen had the chicken. She said it was very good.

I had the pasta, it was very good too.

Pappardelle a la Bolognese 17.95 Wide ribbons of fresh pasta in a rich ground beef meat sauce.

Papa Ganache is very cute and charming store in Matawan. They sell vegan and gluten-free bakery items and food.

They were very good, a little dense but if I was vegan I would be more than happy with these.

Colleen and I had driven by Sam Vera many times. It is very beautiful and we both wanted to eat there for a very long time. We finally went. We were the only ones in the restaurant. We sat indoors and they had the screened doors open. There was a nice breeze blowing and the place is just as pretty on the inside. We both got very excited by the little antipasto. I was really expecting a lot. Maybe the best meal I ever had. I was let down. It wasn’t bad, but it failed my expectations. Colleen’s too.

It’s funny how expectations often lead you to be disappointed. Often when someone tells you about a great movie or restaurant, you build it up in your head. Then when you go to the restaurant or see a movie, you are often let down. The best is when you do go and it’s better than expected, but I can probably count on my hand how many times that happens. I think that’s what happened with Sam Vera, we expected a lot and built it up in our heads. It is a beautiful restaurant with good Italian food.

September 18, 2020

This Friday we went to Fiddleheads in Jamesburg. Fiddleheads is surprisingly good. You wouldn’t expect to find such quality in a small town as Jamesburg. The chef often likes to experiment with food and you often find combinations that you wouldn’t have thought of. Some are okay, but some are really good and leave you wanting more. We took our food to the park and enjoyed an outdoor lunch. Then we went to Better Living to look at refrigerators/ranges.

We both had the soup. It had a tomato base and was very tasty. It had just a hint of heat. It’s funny how bisque can be so different.

We both had the crab sandwich. The only difference is that Colleen had the creamy shallot dressing for her salad and I had the raspberry vinaigrette. This was really good! The crab had pieces of apple in it, for a nice sweet crunchy taste. The dressings are homemade and are very good. We both enjoyed the Santa Fe slaw. Colleen ate hers all up and she doesn’t like Coleslaw.

After we went to better living to look at appliances. Colleen needs a refrigerator and I need a range. It’s so hard to pick which is the best option. You can’t always trust reviews on the internet. I try to look at the worse ones. If they complain it had a scratch on it, then I think the product must be good if that’s the worse they can say. I also put items into three categories, the high end, which have all the bells and whistles. I think of them as rich people who want the latest and greatest to impress their family and friends. I don’t think of them as long-lasting. I feel like they probably don’t have all the kinks out. Then there is the low end. With no bells or whistles. Sometimes you can get lucky and get something that lasts, but more often than not, you are lucky if it lasts past the warranty. Then there is the middle, that is where I want to be. Not as fancy as high-end but built to last longer and more tried and true. I feel like that is where Fiddleheads restaurant would fit. It’s not cheap or you get a lot for your money, nor is it very fancy and you get little for your money. It’s on the higher end of the middle. Tasty gourmet food at a decent price.

September 11, 2020

This Friday we went to Aunt Butchie’s and then played on the computer.

They give you bread with butter and this delicious dipping sauce.

STUFFED MEAT BALL100% Beef, Breadcrumb, Romano Cheese, Stuffed with Ricotta & Mozzarella and Baked with Tomato Sauce

The meatball is so very tasty and light, but not as light as 618. It is really good though.

All White Meat Chicken with Celery, Carrots & Cheese Tortellini.

I was craving this soup. I would often drive by here and start thinking about this soup. I know it has a bunch of herbs in it, but I’m not sure which ones. It has such a good broth and I love carrots in soup. One of the best soups I have ever had.

In a Lemon – Butter White Wine Sauce, with a Touch of Limon cello.

We shared the chicken. The chicken melts in your mouth. We have had two of their chicken dishes, so far and both have been excellent.

She had to make her portion pretty.

After we both went home and played Overcooked 2 again. We didn’t have much time to play, so we didn’t get very far.

This is the anniversary of 911. Many people weren’t alive during this time. I remember it. All planes had been canceled for a period. I remember standing in a parking lot during this period and a plane went overhead. All around me it seemed eerily silent, except for the noise of the jet. It was just me and one other person in the parking lot. We both stopped and looked at the sky. It must’ve been the president going to New York City. I had this feeling of dread seeing it. It took a long time for the sense of fear to leave. I’m not sure that the feeling of safety will ever come back fully. Life is uncertain, as has been seen by this year. Things we often take for granted, we really can’t.

August 21, 2020

This Friday we went to Molino’s and then to the park. I met Colleen at her house and we walked to Molino’s. Colleen was in front of me on the sidewalk and I watched her very carefully move a branch out of her way. I wondered if she was going to hold it for me. No, no she wasn’t going to hold it for me. Whack! 😦 Ouch! After we went came back from Molino’s, we took separate cars to the park. We ate at a table on a hill. It was a perfect day, not too hot or cold.

At Molino’s you can get a custom order salad and you can get it either chopped or not. I like it chopped, you can get so many tastes at one time. I always like the combination of foods. Their salads are really good.

Colleen brought a bowl from home and added some fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from her garden. Her salad looks so fancy!

We watched youtube videos on our phones. This place looks awesome, but I don’t know if I would want to spend time here with Disney and Universal being close by. I wish they had them in different areas. I think it would be better in the mountains or by the shore. With the corona virus, it’s like a miniature amusement park without being around hordes of people.

August 14, 2020

This Friday we went to Tommy’s Tavern and Tap in Freehold. We went early trying to avoid people. After we made a few quick stops to Battleview and Pastosa’s. Then we played games online.

We had the sweet potato tater tots. They were a bit sweet for Colleen and me. The sauce didn’t help cut the sweetness, it only made it more sweet.

crunchy sweet potato tots 6

We had the meatball appetizer. They were good, not as good as 618 but decent. It was very pretty though, the way they piped the ricotta.

Tap House Meatballs pork and beef mix served with ricotta, pecorino & housemade marinara 13

We both had the personal pan pizza with ricotta and eggplant. We both had slightly different pizzas. Colleen’s was crisp and tasty with yummy toppings. Mine was not crisp but limp with tasty toppings. Colleen said it was the best pizza she ever had. 😦 Mine was ok. I think the differences might have been a couple of minutes.

san marzano tomatoes, grande mozzarella, grated romano & basil, drizzled with extra virgin olive oilpersonal (8in) 9.

the toppings you can chose from breaded eggplant – bacon – anchovies – ricotta cheese – jalapeño – pepperoni – – broccoli – roasted mushrooms – sautéed bell peppers – meatballs – grilled chicken — cherry tomatoes – sweet italian sausage – coal fired onions – roasted red peppers – – hot sausage – pesto – garlic – hot cherry peppers – breaded chicken -each topping | personal 1. |

We played Keep Talking, Fibbage and Guesspionage. I think with keep talking, we could use another person just for the needy knobs. I don’t see us getting past this part otherwise. Fibbage Colleen won best 2 out of 3 and I won Guesspionage best 2 out 3. She is the better liar and I’m the better guesser, at least that is the way I chose to look at it 🙂

It’s hard not to be down this year. It seems like nothing is going right. I’ve been coloring like a madwoman to help keep myself centered, but even that is starting not to help. I think I need to try and do something I haven’t done before, to keep focus elsewhere. How much longer until 2021?