Listen And Ask

I go out to eat frequently and am well known in several places (although I hope they don't know I write this.) One thing I have learned is that when you frequent a place you can ask for things that may not be on the menu. If you are polite and they have the ingredients and the time, they most likely will do as you ask.

Another advice I have is to listen and watch. I look at plates as they go by and ask about them. At one place I discovered something they make up for the servers and now order it frequently.

I will not mention these places or the special things they make as it will definitely flag who I am.

Business is hard not and most places are cooperative. Enjoy eating!

Julie & Julia

You may think this is a strange entry for this blog... well it is not. If you haven't seen the movie, do so. I started this blog for similar reasons as Julie started hers in the movie... to share my experiences. After watching the movie I realized that it has been a long time since I have made an entry. This is for two reasons. One.. I am trying to lose weight and that is not always easy going out to eat. The other reason, I am not aware of new eateries in the area that I have not experienced.

Having said that, there are two places I have to visit. The first is the JC's Grillhouse which has reopened after some trouble over their liquor license. The other is a new Mexican place which is located in the former Kebab place just north of Newton on 206 right after the light at Clinton Street. I wish them well but unfortunately, the parking there is absolutely terrible. One doesn't need many strikes against you to kill a new food business and the parking thing here is a BIG one. Hopefully I will stop in there soon.

Airport diner/Family Restaurant - Lunch

Burger (1/2 lb.) with swiss ($4.40) The burger came with a small cup of cole slaw, pickle and a pile of chips. The burger was not a purchased pattie and was very moist. I asked for it to be medium rare and it was. As an option I got it on an English muffin (sandwich size) for 65 more cents. I also opted for tomato slices for 50 cents. I could have purchased the platter which came with fries, lettuce and tomato, but I did not want the fries. This place, right at the Sussex airport is food like you would cook at home. Nice food and reasonably prices. Just be aware it is a luncheonette - only breakfast and lunch.

Airport diner/Family Restaurant - Breakfast

Two poached eggs on corned beef hash ($6.50) This was served with hash browned potatoes, toast, and coffee. Eggs (especially poached) are a good way to test a place and these were cooked perfectly. This place is right at the airport on 565 (about a 15 minute drive from Newton.) It has a great deal of local color -- you can sit at the counter and joke around with the local people and waitress. It is a luncheonette (serving only breakfast and lunch) so don't show up for dinner. I am told that they have incredible hamburgers (their menu says the best in Sussex County.) If you want a friendly place like what diners and luncheonettes used to be years ago, give this place a shot. I will head up there soon for one of their hamburgers.

Taco of the Town (dinner)

Chile Relleno ($13.50) The meal started with chips and salsa with chunks of onions and noticeable celantro. The chile relleno was by far the best I have had around here. It was made with a large pepper, breaded and fried and stuffed with plenty of cheese. It was served with refried beans, mexican rice and a nice slaw (warm in a good way.) My iced tea was served with lime. For dessert I had flan.. which was mediocre. The flan was piled with whipped cream. If the flan was good with a nice caramel sauce it wouldn't have needed the cream. The decor at Taco of the Town is Mexican. Parking is adequate on the street (in the town of Sussex.) Besides the mediocre flan, the other thing that bothered me was chipping paint on the ceiling in the dining room. I know it is an old building.. but could it end up in your food? I have not been here in a long time and I guess my first visit several years ago... the menu confused me. Now, after being at several Mexican places around here and judging by this one meal, it is the best in Sussex County. It is worth the trip to Sussex from Newton.

Atlantic Manor (Ogdensburg) dinner

Paella Valencia ($23.00) Atlantic Manor is a new place in an former restaurant on 83 Main Street (517) right in the center of Ogdensburg (almost across from the school.) There is adequate parking. It is a Portuguese/Brazilian restaurant with seafood and grilled meat (steakhouse.) At the table was bread and assorted olives. I ordered a half pitcher of red sangria. (They have a licquor license and a bar.) My (smaller) paella valencia had a half lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams chicken and sausage and of course rice. It was a lot to eat .. two people could eat the small.. even though there is also a large one for two people at $42.00. With the meal came a wonderful white bean soup (soup of the night.) A salad or appetizer would have been extra, but I had plenty with just the soup an paella. It is not a inexpensive meal, but if you want to have a real dinning experience, it is well worth it. The also have an outside deck if you wish to eat outside. They have something called a Rodiza ($27.00)which is a bunch of Brazilian rotisseried meats ending with an pinapple on the rotisserie. I am so glad to have a different cuisine in Sussex country. Give it a try. It is well worth it. [Phone: (973) 823-6378]

Riviero Mayo - Dinner

Camarones Verdes - $15.95
The meal starts with chips and salsa with a nice bite (it may be too hot for some people... buy why then go to a Mexican restaurant.) I ordered black bean soup ($4.00) for an appetizer. It was the thick kind with a lot of black beans (I prefer a more brothy one.) There were diced raw onions on top with a swirl of yogurt. It was served in a wide, yet shallow bowl so it is not as large as you think when it first arrives. The Carmarones Verdes was shrimp with in a green sauce. There only 5 medium sized shrimp! It was served along with Mexican rice an beans. The sauce was excellent with a lot of celantro and thinly sliced onions. The mean was fine. They even have some padded chairs mixed in with the other wicker type ones which I have always found uncomfortable. There is adequate parking. There service was TERRIBLE. I left less than a 15% tip which I rarely do. I had to wait and wait for the bill. If you are looking for a Mexician Restaurant, give Riviero Mayo a chance it is north of Branchville on 206 in what used to be Mamaroni's. They have a liquor license and bar if that is important to you.