=Mark

I know I bugged Bourdain often enough about releasing an uncensored version of Cook's Tour on DVD, I hope he considers this possibility for No Reservations down the road...

We have one of those local free weekly newspapers (Tr-City News) that is refreshingly frank and honest about many local affairs. If the editor thinks someone is an a$$-hole, he'll come right out and say so. He refers to those Long Branch condos as "Architectural Abortions."

There seems to be a rule of thumb down here in Monmouth County; the quality of seafood at restaurants is inversely proportional to their distance to the water. Food at those places literally sitting on the dock/beach is most likely to be crap (Doris & Eds excepted). The best seafood is usually found inland at less than astronomical prices. Rays Seafood in Little Silver and Navesink Fishery in Atlantic Highlands come to mind.

Went there last year and it suffered from the weather and a lack of promotion. Will be there this year as there are several teams I am familiar with competing...

Oh, I thought we were discussing "real" food. You don't think any other cuisines have been as bastardized in the US? A suggestion, go down to the local grocery store, pick up and look at a bottle of "French" salad dressing. Tell me where in France you're going to find any of that florescent orange goo for sale...

Must be living in the corredor along the NJ Turnpike that was constructed as sort of a movie set to keep out of staters from wanting to move here...

True, though that describes real French, Chinese, Thai, southwestern US and California cuisine pretty well also.

Kind of reminds me of the type of shows Keith Floyd used to do for BBC. Irreverent and mocking of the other food/travel shows of the era. Floyd did more actual cooking than AB but I expect they would have had a stellar time if they ever got together...

What details?

Thats a dumb analogy (forgive my bluntness). Might as well be "London vs. Hartford, CT" or "London vs. Albany, NY." New Jersey is not about globally-recognized urban culture centers (we have NYC and Philly for that). New Jersey is about quality of living and diversity. Trees and farmland. Rivers and oceans and mountains. Quiet sleepy country towns towards the Delaware River, and chic trendy urban towns like Montclair, Red Bank, and Princeton. ← Don't forget property taxes and auto insurance. I've been a NJ resident all my life but will not be able to afford to retire here.

Those hotdog places are a bit of a hike for stopping at on the way to Sandy Hook, but I can attest to how good they were during a Hotdog Safari I attended while eG still had a soul. As for food on the way tp the Hook, you may want to check out a new place called Rice at the end of Bay Ave. in Highlands. It is a pan-Asian place run by the folks who own Teak in Red Bank. They have a stunning outdoor garden area with some really nice waterfalls and pools. Looks like it would be a good place to loaf at for a long meal on a weekday.

Odd, I know both my next door neighbors and don't recall meeting you...

Toni Froio has been the executive chef at I Cavallini Ristorante, 29 Rt 34, Colts Neck (732-431-2934) since December 2004. ← I Cavallini is located directly across the road from Delicious Orchards in the free-standing house that used to be Ray's Seafood. Although it was open a year and a half before they brought Toni Froio in to head the kitchen, we had not tried it. We've had dinner there twice since she arrived. The first time, in December, the meal was excellent in every respect. Unfortunately, the second meal in January was disappointing. Though we haven't rushed back, we'll probably give it another try one of these days because it's only about 15 minutes from our house. ← You may want to try Christophers Cafe in Colts neck, which is located in the small shopping area just south of I Cavallini and also across from Delicious Orchards. They are open Wednesdays thru Sundays for lunch and dinner and offer contemporary new American cuisine (their duck is excellent!). The place has been there for like 5 years and for some reason seems to be a local secret (lots of folks in horse riding gear show up for lunch).

Farmingdale house closed over 10 years ago after chef Toni Froio left. She is now serving undersized portions at the Raspberry Cafe in Ocean Grove. A new place has recently opened right in Spring lake where the Sisters Cafe used to be. It is called the Island Palm Grill and has gotten good reviews from an enthusiastic audience (Even managed to squeeze out a 3rd star from Andrea Clurfield of the AP Press). They feature a "Pan Latin" cuisine with dishes such as Ancho/Maple glazed beef over Corn Cake, Duck and Goat Cheese with Yukon Gold Potato, Grilled Pork with Cilantro Mojo and Ceviche with coconut broth and Papaya. Apps are from $10 - $12 and Entrees from $20 - $25.

Parkhills in Allenhurst (Just north of Asbury Park) have a nice patio that overlooks Deal Lake.

It's not so much a matter of where for me as it's a matter of when. I generally don't even think about the issue till sometime in July when the Jersey Tomatoes start to ripen...

Am just getting File Not Found errors on those links.

Changes to list Eastern Monmouth/Shore: Casa Comida has not had outdoor dining for a couple years now. Juanitos outdoor dining area is now under a rather permanent tent. Navesink Cafe has closed, but has been replaced by Osaka, a great Japanese place with the same view Union House has closed Additions: WindandSea - Highlands Nice view of Sandy Hook Bay Rice - Highlands (Former site of "Havana") Exceptionally beautiful outdoor patio with waterfalls and reflecting pool. Parkhill's - Allenhurst, nice view of Deal Lake. Watch trains go by behind restaurant Teak - Red Bank Nice view of downtown, great dining before shows at Count Basie theater a block away Christophers - Colts Neck

You just want her to have to find a new way to disparage fiddleheads this year. ← I can do that! "Rich earthy aroma and flavor" = Tastes like dirt.

This is true, current poultry is harvested before the major bones have fully calcified and tint the nearby meat pink. A number of BBQ restaurants have had to post signs stating this due to customer fears that the chicken was undercooked.

I find it highly ironic that peppers started producing capsaicin to scare off hungry mammals whose complex digestive systems destroy the seeds, only to have seemingly irrational humans becoming perversely attracted to the pain they produce. As a result, a fairly innocuous plant indiginous to a small area of central America has now been spread to 6 of 7 continents with thousands of variant strains in less than 500 years. Pretty successful reproductive strategy...

Never had a green salad?

Sigh... Where do you live? 2 spring related posts within a few minutes... I'm staring out my window past the icesicles at the snow that is starting to melt now that the temperature has almost reached freezing. It has snowed ten inches in as many days and there is a forcast of a few more inches tonight. Dirty piles of snow garnished with rock salt seems to be in season...

3 words: soft shell crabs.

Interesting in that it was announced earlier this week that human life expectancy in the US has increased again. The obvious inference is that chemicals and pesticides in food are good for us...