Social Feedia

There is no better way to wind down from a long, work day other than to be social with your friends by sharing drinks, food, and fun. (And this time, I mean physically sharing these things, not like posting about them on social media). The best time to do this is during happy hour when the prices won’t break your piggy bank and you don’t have to feel guilty for having that second martini. Recently, I stopped at a place called “Social” in Somerville.

Social is a nice restaurant and bar with a “cool”, contemporary vibe. There are huge windows along the walls that bring in massive amounts of natural light to lighten up the mood during the day but when it’s night time, there’s a more serious, almost club-like atmosphere. The bar is in the center of the dining room and is the focus of attention. I have to say, even the bathroom is really nice. There are rocks in the sink! Something about it makes you feel like you’re at a spa and that you should be treating yourself really nice.

All of the workers are extremely friendly and attentive. As soon as my friend and I were seated at a table, we were given the happy hour menu. Monday- Friday from 4-7 pm, Social offers items such as $5 UV Vodka cocktails, $5 martinis, and a few small plate appetizers for $3. 

To commence the happiest of hours, I decided to try their pomegranate martini. (Pictured left) It was delicious! Extremely refreshing, a tiny bit sweet, a little bit tart, and freezing, freezing cold! On the right, is the pineapple upside martini which is also a very decadent and delicious martini option- just a little bit sweeter if that’s what you like!

Along with the two martinis, my friend and I also ordered our own small plate of crispy calamari. It’s just enough to have a crunchy sampling while you wait for your main dish and at $3 a piece, it’s hard to not go for that kind of delicious deal.

Also, while you wait, they serve a delicious, warm, crunchy bread with a roasted pepper dipping sauce. Definitely worth the extra carbs.

So after all of the picking and sipping, more food arrived at the table. Instead of going for a salad like I was planning, I decided to eat a real diner. I was told the chicken francese was amazing. I couldn’t really remember the last time I had really good chicken francese so I was pretty excited to try it!

Come on. How good does that look? I have to say although it was a slow process, I ate about 80% of the food that was on that plate. It was so good, I just couldn’t stop eating it! The chicken was ALL white meat, lightly breaded, and perfectly tender. There weren’t any of those weird bad pieces that I am so picky about. It had a good lemon flavor that wasn’t too powerful and an amazing butter flavor that was extremely addicting. I would go back again and again for that chicken francese and that wasn’t even one of the happy hour specials offered.

Finally, to finish off the happiest of hours, I ordered an espresso martini. This was my first espresso martini and I’m so glad I finally tried one! It’s a different take on the chocolate martini. Same kind of thick, rich consistency but with a coffee flavor that is perfect for dessert! Also the three little espresso beans floating on the top add a nice touch. You eat with your eyes first, right?

The perfect night cap.

Side note: Have you ever logged on to lets say facebook, instagram, twitter, maybe even pinterest and said to yourself, “Okay, only five minutes”? Only to realize that two hours have a passed and you don’t know where your life went? That’s kind of what happened this night. Except, I wasn’t upset at all more like sad the the time flew by so quickly and the experience was over. Luckily, the restaurant still remains and the specials are still offered so I can go back and get lost in my social feed all over again.

Put down your devices and start being social the right way!

For more information visit: Social Restaurant

the eggstravagant burger

This, my friends, is off the charts insane. I don’t know what came over me on this particular morning. I  mean, clearly, I don’t always eat the healthiest of things but I typically would never have gone this far. But I did. And I have no regrets.

The Committed Pig in Morristown is really the cutest place for breakfast and brunch. It’s small with a homey feel. On a Sunday, it’s important to get to this place early if you don’t want to wait on a long line.

Except, it’s  worth the wait so you should just go anyway no matter the time.

Anyway, first comes coffee. Not just a cup of coffee but a huge thermos of coffee given to you so that you can refill your cup as often as you’d like. I know you’re thinking, “That probably doesn’t stay fresh or hot”. But it does and it’s an awesome way to avoid the whole “wait for your waitress to come refill your cup” ordeal.

After sitting at the table for at least 10 minutes debating what to have for breakfast…

go on, be shellfish

Some people may think that being selfish is a negative personality trait. I mean when I googled the word selfish, Kim Kardashian’s name popped up and she isn’t exactly who I think people should strive to be.  But who am I to judge? Anyway, something tells me that you’re not Kim Kardashian and because of that I am giving you permission to be a little bit selfish. I think it’s okay to make sure that you take care of yourself first from time to time. 

((knock knock)) penne!

((knock knock))penne!

((knock knock))penne!

Okay, now we can start. Lou Cas in Edison serves up classic but delicious Italian food perfectly like it’s their Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to do so. Let me explain further…

now sushi-me, now you don’t

After a long, cold day walking around the city, nothing sounds better than a huge plate of carbs. Okay, fine… some protein too would probably be good for me too. My favorite way to combine the two food groups is through sushi. Right off of the Metuchen Train Station is a small little place, Sushi Suzuki, that called my name.

The space is definitely small but there’s nothing small about their plates of food and flavor. I had to quickly take a picture before the plate was devoured. Now you see me…

omelette you decide

It’s a very rare opportunity that I get to indulge in a delicious breakfast. For one, I wake up, get ready, commute to my job, and start working every morning all before 7 am during the week. On the weekends, I take the extra morning time to make sure I get a good workout in at the gym. (I have to-look at the stuff I eat).

Then, there are moments in time when a friend says she will commute 40+ minutes to go to a breakfast spot by me so that I can write a blog post (and for gossip purposes, of course), and I’m all for it!

We decided to go over the the Skylark Diner in Edison, NJ. You may have heard of this before because Guy Fieri visited this spot on his show “Diners Drive-Ins and Dives“. Guy’s main topic about this diner was the fact that it had a full service bar serving specialty cocktails, beer, and wine- which of course is a plus. However, the breakfast here is also one to talk about.

Spoiler alert:

relish in the moment

Want to go on an excursion but don’t have the time? The money? I found the perfect place for you. On a small side street away from the Rutgers chaos is a place called Destination Dogs in New Brunswick. Typically, I’m not really a hot dog lover but when you come up with some crazy combinations and vow to mentally take me somewhere awesome, I’m willing to give it a shot.

The theme of this pub-like restaurant is just what the name implies: traveling to another destination. Your waiter/waitress arrives at your table as your “flight attendant”. He or she is eager to help you out and make your stay as enjoyable as possible. 

The menu has a plethora of options. I mean, if you’re one who cannot make a decision, you might as well ask your “flight attendant” to do the job. You can “travel” to places within the U.S. like Massachusetts, Florida, and Hawaii. You can even “travel” internationally with hot dog themes from Vietnam, Canada, and Germany. You pick your flavor!

I decided to try one hot dog within the United States as well as one from another country. I come from a place of yes so I couldn’t resist.  Yes, the hot dogs are huge. Yes, I knew I ordered way too much food. But the prices are extremely reasonable-starting at $4.25 and I really wanted to have multiple options.

I decided to go with “The Chicago Bull” with flavors from Illinois and “Salchicha Vergara” with Colombian flare. Both hot dogs are all beef and made in house. (Which I find amazing).

No more than ten minutes after taking off (ordering), I was ready for landing right into these beauties.  The decent was a dream.

Starting on the left is the Salchicha Vergara: Colombian hot dog. This is a fried, all beef hot dog with bacon, yellow mustard, mayo, ketchup, coleslaw, pineapple relish, crushed potato chips, and scallions. Are you kidding me right now? This hot dog is insane. I am SURE you have never seen another hot dog like this in your life. I know I haven’t. The all beef hot dog tasted amazing with a slight crunch when you first bite into it from both the hot dog itself, the bacon, and the toasted roll. The condiments are mostly cold (except for the bacon) which contrasts the warm toasted bread and hot dog. The coleslaw and pineapple relish are sweet, cool, and refreshing. Although only a sprinkling, there is the perfect amount of crunchy, fresh made potato chips and chopped scallions. They provide an enhancement to the savory taste that you would normally associate with a hot dog. The saltiness cuts right into all of the sweet flavors of the pineapple relish. Everything works extremely well together and only takes the experience to new heights. For a moment, I forget that I am in New Brunswick, NJ because I am taken away by the delectability of each bite.

To the right of the picture above is “The Chicago Bull” with flavors of a typical Chicago style hot dog. This again, is an all beef hot dog with onions, tomatoes, pickles, green relish, hot peppers, and yellow mustard. See, there’s a method to all of this madness. I decided to go with this hot dog because I believe that it would be my refreshing bite after all the crazy (crazy good) flavors of the Colombian hot dog.

And I was right. The bread that they put these hot dogs on needs to be noted. It is thick cut and slightly toasted which aids to hold in all of the flavors without getting soggy. However, it is soft on the inside which makes it taste like a fresh hot dog bun that was just made. The toppings on this dog are savory and very fresh. It’s like having a full garden on top of a hot dog. It’s so refreshing and definitely satisfies any salt craving. With every bite, I’m just taking it all in. It’s best to “relish” in the moment. Enjoy it while it lasts.

When it’s all over and every crumb has been eaten, I’m thankful for the mental vacation. There was zero turbulence, no annoying bag check, no security hassle, no ear popping, no anxiety, just complete bliss.

I believe the pilot deserves a round of applause.

For more information visit: Destination Dogs

 

hit the board running

When this hits your table, you dive right in with enthusiasm! This beautiful display includes thinly sliced bread drizzled with olive oil and black pepper. Down the center, the board is a piece of parmesan, brie, and blue cheese. Along the sides of the cheese is a smear of mustard and pepper jam. The furtherest away in the picture are spicy cashews and tiny chopped pieces of bacon. 

curry up, i’m so hungry

I’m one of those people you don’t want to mess with when hungry. I have a bad attitude, I don’t find anything funny, I’m snippy, and extremely impatient. Other people just have to understand this and make sure they hang around me when I’m eating or have just eaten.

For some, I will make an exception. For some, I will wait to be seated and wait for my food to be delivered to me all while feeling joyous, hopeful, and patient. Who gets to be so lucky, you ask? Thai Kitchen I in Bridgewater, NJ.  

I don’t know why I was surprised when walking into Thai Kitchen on a Saturday night that every single table was packed and people were waiting out the door to be seated. I had read reviews and even had this as take out once before and knew it was favored by many.

Well in my favor, since their staff is so efficient and meals are cooked in what seems like almost an instant- I was seated in less than twenty minutes since entering the door. While walking toward my table, I did the whole “look at everyone’s food to see what looks good and what I want to order” bit. EVERYTHING looked SO good. EVERYONE looked SO happy. I couldn’t help but think it was directly correlated with the food they were eating. So I knew the decisions would be tough…

First…

A Thai Iced Tea. A strongly brewed tea topped with evaporated milk and served over ice. The best part is getting to stir the milk that floats on top of the tea and watching it all swirl to perfection. Each sip is refreshing, cold, a light tea flavor, sweet, and a little bit thick. It’s hard not to guzzle it all down at once. But you must not do this because Thai dishes are typically spicy so this will be the perfect beverage to cool the flames in your mouth later on. (you’re welcome)

Then…

A table full of appetizers is my kind of table. Farther away are steam shrimp dumplings. Closer to you are curry puffs.

The shrimp is delicately embraced in a thin dumpling wrapper that when steamed, tastes like a very light pasta that holds small pieces of fresh shrimp in a perfect little pouch. You could pop these in your mouth or (depending on who you are eating with) you can dip part of the dumpling into the garlic soy sauce (left) and the other part into the ginger, peanut sauce (right). The dumpling soaks up all the flavor from the sauces creating an explosion of flavor and texture in your mouth-chewy, delicate, hearty, smooth, salty, garlic-y, peanut-y, slightly crunchy.

After finishing the dumplings, I headed right into the curry puffs. Now, I have to say, I have had curry puffs from other places and I have not enjoyed them so for me I was really feeling this one out with caution. These puffs are filled with chicken, potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery. In these puffs, the curry flavor is not overwhelming at all. It’s very subtle. These reminded me of empanadas with a slightly different take- and I LOVE empanadas. To counter the flavor of the curry and flakiness of the puff pastry, it was served with a cool cucumber relish. Perfect combination. I fear the curry puff no more.

Finally…

The main event. Pa Nang Curry dish with chicken. No this is not soup. The dish comes in a bowl because chicken, onions, carrots, and bell peppers are flooded with panang curry paste, coconut milk, and lime leaves. On the side is a dish of jasmine rice. All of which are extremely aromatic and enticing.

In order to eat this dish properly, first you must lay down the steamed, jasmine rice. Then, using a spoon, you dish all of the ingredients on top of the rice. Finally, put as MANY spoonfuls of the sauce as possible so that all of the rice can soak up that flavor. The chicken was so tender. I’ve never had more tender chicken in my life- seriously. The carrots and onions are cut julienne which I think adds to presentation and to the flavor when you take a bite. It’s not like “HEY there’s a carrot and onion in your mouth!!” which can be extremely overwhelming for some. The peppers are a little bit bigger but that’s okay because they keep their freshness and crunch this way. The best part is the sauce. It has so much depth and flavor you could get lost in it. It’s thick, nutty, spicy, (take a sip of your iced tea) a little bit grainy, and sweet too. It’s just so amazing, I could have this every day of my life.

I must say that when finishing, the owner came over to the table and informed me that the dish gets even better over night because it gives the flavors even more time to blend together. She also said that sometimes instead of rice she will eat it over pasta. VERY interesting an intriguing! I always appreciate workers who pay attention to their customers. It yields towards a very comfortable atmosphere.

Heck yes I was hungry- not hangry though. Because honey, some things are just worth the wait.

For more information visit: Thai Kitchen I

dream cheese

After an all nighter sleep over with your girlfriends, the best thing to have in the morning is for someone to take care of breakfast for you. Something that is fast, easy, and delicious.

So, what’s a girl to do? You stop at Morristown Bagel and Deli to help you wake up and get enough energy to help you make it through the day.

Did I hit the jackpot with this place or what? Not only are the bagels freshly rolled and baked to perfection, but they also have a plethora of cream cheeses to choose from. Yes, I prefer cream cheese on a bagel to butter. It’s just the way I am.

Here are some examples of what they have to offer: Walnut Raisin, Bacon Scallion, Jalapeño Cheddar, Lox Spread, Strawberry Spread or Sundried Tomato Spread.

I said I wanted something easy but they make it extremely difficult to pick a cream cheese. The struggle was real at the decision moment.