Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

The Sawmill – Seaside, NJ

In 2012, the devastating Super Storm Sandy hit the New Jersey coastline. The beach community of Seaside lost practically everything. There was one spot that actually withstood the storm and that was The Sawmill. Located right on the boardwalk since 1977, The Sawmill stands as a symbol of New Jersey’s resilience.

5 years since the storm, I was able to visit and see how much the area has bounced back. I had to make a stop by The Sawmill to get some famous boardwalk pizza. They are known for their 27″ jumbo pizza but luckily they also sell them by the slice.

I got a classic slice of just cheese. It was so big I had to fold it in half in order to eat it. The crust was nice and crispy. There was the perfect proportion of sauce and cheese.

I washed down the pizza with a Mai Tai. It was the perfect blend of light and dark rum, amaretto, triple sec, pineapple juice, and orange juice. The drink was sweet and it went down smooth. It was a great choice to enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean. Unfortunately it was raining the day of my visit so I could not enjoy it outside.

I ended up staying at The Sawmill longer than I expected because I was enjoying the company around me. Instead of getting more pizza I decided to check out the rest of their menu. To my pleasant surprise I saw Polish kielbasa and potato pierogi listed. I was not expecting this and was excited to try these.

They sliced open the kielbasa which allowed it to be grilled on both sides. I loved the crispy grill marks because it added additional smoky flavor to the meat. The kielbasa was tender and did not have an abundance of fat mixed in which can sometimes make it chewy.

The pierogi were pan fried perfectly. The outside dough was slightly crisp which is my favorite way to have them prepared. They were stuffed with a ton of potato filling. They were cooked with a huge helping of caramelized onions. Having the onions always adds additional seasoning to the pierogi. I also loved that they sliced the onions super thin –  julienne style.

I had a blast visiting this 40 year old establishment. The food was amazing. I can see why it has been around for so long. If you are headed to the Jersey Shore, you need to make sure to stop by The Sawmill. Whether it is for a slice or a cold drink, you will have a great time.

Visit their website at http://sawmillcafe.com/

Enjoy!
T

 

 

The Cove – Bayville, NJ

New Jersey is a state that has everything from sandy beaches to cranberry bogs. New Jersey also has a wide range of food options, whether it’s fresh seafood, authentic Italian, or even boardwalk French fries. Everywhere I turned on my visit I found a restaurant. It was hard to make a decision, so I asked some friends who grew up in the area where they recommended. The Cove is what made the top of the list for fresh seafood.

Located in an actual cove off of Barnegat Bay, The Cove has been a hot spot for locals for years. In the summertime you can sit outside on their patio and put your feet in the sand; or you can pull your boat up to their dock after a long day out at sea. There is also plenty of inside seating if you need to get away from the heat.

The bar was hopping when I got there. It felt like the whole town was there. I started off with the red sangria called The Cove. I figured I needed to try the namesake drink. It was a blend of red wine and an assortment of tropical juices and liquors. It was not overly sweet. It also had a slight spicy after taste, which was probably coming from the oak essence in the wine. It was a great way to say cheers to a fun evening.

  

The group shared a few appetizers. The mozzarella sticks were pretty standard bar food. They were good, crispy, and cheesy but nothing out of the ordinary.

The fried calamari was nice and crispy. The calamari itself was soft and tender – not chewy – so I could tell it was fresh. I started off with the marinara sauce, which is typically how they were served. However, the breading did not have a lot of flavor so it did not taste right with the marinara. Something was missing. So I ordered a side of their Thai chili sauce. This sweet and spicy sauce was what the calamari needed. The sauce coated the breading much better and made the calamari itself more flavorful.

The coconut shrimp was an appetizer that could easily be someone’s meal. The shrimp were butterflied and coated with coconut flakes. They were fried really crispy. The flavor was sweet and when I dipped it in the coconut dipping sauce, the sweetness increased. I loved it, I did not feel it was overly sweet at all. I also loved the crunch when I took a bite.

I wanted to try their New England clam chowder. It was a large size bowl. The first thing I noticed was the soup base was not as creamy as a typical clam chowder. It was more on the lighter side but still had great flavor and a ton of fresh clams in it.

For my main meal (as if I had not eaten enough already) I ordered one of their daily specials – Salmon Piccata. It was a large fillet of fresh salmon that was char-broiled. It was drizzled in a lemon butter wine sauce and topped with a ton of capers. It also came with a rice pilaf and fresh vegetables.

The salmon was so fresh it was flaking apart as I was eating it. They added a generous amount of the lemon butter sauce. It was slightly sour because of the acid in the lemon but creamy at the same time because of the butter. The capers added a nice salty element to each mouthful.

The rice pilaf added a neutral element to the dish. It was not heavy in flavor, but it was great when I drizzled the extra lemon butter sauce on it. The fresh vegetables added a healthier element to the meal.

My visit to The Cove allowed me to enjoy a local band that played in the main dining room. The band FIASCO played a great array of music from the 70’s and 80’s. The really appeared to have a fan following.

   

While I enjoyed the music I ordered another drink – the white peach sangria. It was Pinot Grigio, peach Schnapps, fresh juices, and a splash of lemon-lime soda. This was much sweeter than the red sangria. I could taste the peach right away. It was a great dessert drink after all the salty food that I enjoyed.

If you are looking for a fun place to hang out and enjoy music or food with friends, then The Cove is a spot to try. You can check out the band schedule and their daily specials at the website http://www.covebarandgrill.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

Happy Memorial Day

I hope everyone enjoys Memorial Day with their families.

Enjoy!

T

La Imperial Bakery – Lakeland, FL

The pandemic that we have all been facing has affected every single person in one way or another. One area hit hardest has been restaurants. I have been trying to do my part by getting take out from local establishments. La Imperial Bakery is one of those local places.

This Puerto Rican restaurant was having a “Hard Times” menu with specials that I thought I would check out.

One of the items on the menu was a chicken and rice soup. The chicken broth had a great salty taste. It was filled with fresh carrots and onions, plus a ton of fresh chicken breast meat that was shredded. They served a slice of toast on the side. This was no ordinary toast. They pressed a slice of Cuban bread extremely thin until it got extra crispy and savory from the butter they added.

I also got the half Cuban special. This was a half Cuban sandwich served with a side of rice and beans. The Cuban sandwich was on the delicious, fresh Cuban bread. It was the perfect proportion of ham, pulled pork, and cheese. The rice and beans were full of flavor and the perfect accent to the sandwich.

They were also running a BOGO special on their homemade pastries. They had several to choose from.

The Guava and Cheese Pie was crispy and sweet. The filling of cream cheese and guava paste was very sweet together. The two different textures did go well together. The pastry shell was light and flakey. It reminded me of a turnover. I ended up warming it slightly in the microwave. This made the cheese a little softer and easier to eat than being cold.

The other dessert was the Cream Filled Horn. This was light and fluffy whipped cream stuffed in a crispy pastry shell. They sprinkled powdered sugar on top for added sweetness. I really liked the flavor of the cream. It was messy to eat, but totally worth it.

I am glad that I could help a local restaurant during these difficult times. I am looking forward to when everything gets back to normal and I can go to enjoy one of their many other dishes that they normally have on their menu,

Check out their website at la-imperial-bakery.hey-restaurants.com/

Enjoy!

T

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Enjoy the day!

Enjoy!

T

Stasio’s Italian Market – Orlando, FL

In the wake of the country’s new social distancing reality, it has been a challenge for a food blogger to write about restaurants. Fortunately, there are a few places open for take-out that I have been able to visit. Stasio’s Italian Market in Orlando, Florida is one of those places.

This is an Italian market that offers meats, cheeses, and homemade dishes that you can take home and enjoy.

They also have a little market area where you can get sauces, pastas, cookies, and some everyday cooking essentials.

I got a container of anti-pasta salad. This was a blend of pepperoni, cheese, salami, ham, peppers, olives, and celery. It was tossed in an Italian dressing that had hints of basil and oregano. It was very filling. They were very generous with the amount of meats they used.

I also got a container of pasta salad. They used tri-colored pasta and mixed it with carrots, cheese, and zucchini. They combined it all together with a little mayo and a little seasoning. The pasta was tender. I liked the raw zucchini they included; it added a nice crunch.

The final thing I ordered was their meatballs. They were huge in size which were perfect for sharing. The meatballs were tender and moist. There was the perfect ratio of meat and breadcrumbs. The flavor from the seasoning was spot on. Their marinara sauce was a little tangy and complemented the meatballs.

I was grateful that Stasio’s was open for takeout. I am glad I was able to help a local business during this time of uncertainty. The items I ordered were great. I look forward to when everything gets back to normal, so I can go and enjoy a few other items from their menu at their restaurant.

Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/category/Restaurant/Stasios-Italian-deli-194418224503776/

Enjoy!

T

Ai Fiori – New York, NY

Inside the Langham Hotel in New York City is a beautiful restaurant called Ai Fiori. It has won many awards and I was looking forward to enjoying an elegant dinner.

It all started when a waiter came over with a tray of assorted breads.  I love fresh bread.

I went for the olive bread and the sun-dried tomato bread. With the added ingredients, this bread was full of flavor. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I was able to eat it straight without adding any olive oil or butter.

The Maitre’d’ brought over a welcome appetizer. It was a berry compote with an avocado mouse. The mouse was creamy and paired nicely with the sweet berries. It was a great starter.

We ordered a salad to share around the table. It was mixed greens with a vinaigrette. Very simple.

I ordered the Vellutata, a lobster soup with Périgord black truffle tarragon. It was very similar to a lobster bisque. It was light and not very filling.

We ordered a few pasta dishes as starters to share. The spaghetti was a very cheesy pasta that was tossed with blue crab meat, lemon, and bottarga chilies. The crab meat was a nice, unique addition to a simple spaghetti dish.

Up nest was the Trofie Nero. This was a squid ink pasta. The pasta was shocking when it came out because it was jet black. However, there is no funky flavor from the squid ink. The pasta had a liqurian crustacean ragu on top along with sepia scallops and spiced mollica. This pasta was rich and savory. I could not get enough of this dish. It was delicious, and the scallops were tender.

The last pasta dish was the Agnolotti, which was a ravioli. The filling of the ravioli was a braised short rib. The filling had great savory flavor with a hint of sweetness. The meat was tender. They covered the ravioli in a parmigiano fondata. This was an extremely rich and creamy cheese sauce. The flavors reminded me of a BBQ mac and cheese.

For my dinner I ordered the Capesante. This was pan seared scallops with a black truffle mushroom consommé and trout roe. It was a simple dish with just the right amount of food. The truffles added an earthly taste to the sweet, tender scallops.

While enjoying wonderful dinner conversation I ordered a cappuccino. It was perfect to go with the desserts we ordered to share around the table.

The first dessert was the Pudding di Riso. This was a vanilla rice pudding, roasted pears, and a maple gelato. This was a unique rice pudding. I really liked the pears in it verses the traditional raisins. The maple gelato was creamy and there was only a subtle taste of maple.

The second dessert was the Budino. This was a total coconut dessert. It was a coconut milk pastry topped with coconut almond crumbs and fresh lime pudding in the center. They also served a coconut sorbet on the side. This was my favorite dessert because of all the different uses of coconut. Everything from creamy to crunchy. It felt very tropical.

The last dessert was the Tartelletta. This was a small tart filled with ricotta crema and topped with mandarin curd and kumquat. There was a lemon-ginger sorbet on the side. The filling of the tart was creamy and went well with the sorbet when eaten together. It was sweet and tart.

The meal I had at Ai Fiori was amazing. I really liked that we shared so much around the table. When they open back up after all the Covid-19 social distancing you should check them out.

Visit their website at www.aifiorinyc.com

Enjoy!

T

Happy Earth Day 2020

Happy Earth Day 2020. Everyone needs to do their part to help!

Enjoy!

T

Rum Fish Grill – St. Petersburg Beach, FL – Visit #2

Well I made it back to Rum Fish Grill sooner than I expected. I really enjoyed my last visit, so I figured I would go back and try some other dishes. Plus, I needed to see the fish in the tanks again.

I really enjoyed the Banana Colada I got last time, so I ordered it again. I love the creamy texture and the sweet taste of banana and coconut. They are a great flavor combination.

I was looking forward to trying some new dishes. I ordered the crab cakes first. They use fresh blue crab meat and mixed it with seasoning and breadcrumbs. They used a lot of crab meat that was sweet tasting. There was an Old Bay remoulade that added nice spice to the crab cake. I really love the flavor of Old Bay on seafood. There was a shaved fennel salad and arugula on the plate that also tasted great with the remoulade.

I also ordered a flatbread. This was the caprese flatbread loaded with fresh mozzarella, fresh cut tomatoes, fresh basil, prosciutto, and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. The crust was extremely crispy and had a nice char from the oven. All of the toppings worked well together. The creamy cheese and the salty prosciutto were the best part.

Both of these dishes went perfect with my Banana Colada. I am glad I went back to Rum Fish Grill. This is a really good restaurant. I highly recommend them.

Check them out at www.rumfishgrill.com

Enjoy!

T

Marie’s – Chatham, NJ

Tucked away in a shopping center is Marie’s, a quaint little Italian restaurant. When you walk in you are instantly greeted with the smell of fresh pasta sauce. It’s enough to make someone feel like they are walking into grandma’s kitchen.

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I was excited to try their arancini, 3 huge rice balls filled with cheesy rice. Marie’s serves them with their homemade vodka sauce, rather than traditional red sauce. It was certainly a nice surprise. The crunch of the arancini was incredible while the creamy insides stayed extremely hot. I could taste hints of different cheeses in every bite. I know they classify this as an appetizer, but I am convinced that rice balls can be an entire meal.

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I could not pass up the opportunity to try their mac n’ cheese. This too was classified as an appetizer so I expected a small dish; when it came out it was anything but small. The baking dish was still bubbling as it clearly just came out of the oven. A nice crispy layer of baked cheese laid on top. They used a combinations of 6 cheeses that blended together with perfection. The prosciutto added a touch of meaty saltiness that worked well with the creamy texture.

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I was not planning on getting dessert since I was so full, but the waiter surprised me with homemade cannoli. That is not something to pass up. The filling was smooth and sweet. I could tell that the cannoli shell was fresh. A perfect ending to a great meal.

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If you are headed to the New Jersey area make plans to stop by Marie’s for a classic Italian meal. Visit their website at: www.mariesdeli.com

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Enjoy!

T