Author Archives: Xsivjosh

Every year Longport, NJ shoots off a great fireworks show around Labor Day weekend. This year they did it a week early and told very few people. Good thing my friend Sherri found out. They do it from the beach right across the street from the Jetson’s home, so the Tutellas invite some friends forContinue reading “Fireworks Buffet at the Jetsons (Sherri and Harold Tutellas)”

Since moving to New Jersey Barb and I have stopped going to several places we have enjoyed in the past. Jules @ Market was an especially good place for us during the pandemic when we still lived in Bucks county. They had expanded outdoor seating and acceptable spacing between their indoor tables. Their food wasContinue reading “Jules @ Market in Bristol, PA”

We’ve had limited success trying out new restaurants this year, so I decided we should revisit some places we’ve enjoyed in the last few years. We really liked both meals at One 53 two years ago, but heard they’d changed hands last year. We didn’t visit and had no way to evaluate the new ownersContinue reading “One 53 in Rocky Hill, a two year follow up.”

I’ve been reading about a Peruvian restaurant nearby and have been thinking about Ceviche and roasted corn kernels and Chicken ala Brasa and Parihuela and Pisco Sours. A lot. Too much. Sorry, but that’s how my mind works. So it’s Saturday night and we have no plans and we cooked at home last night andContinue reading “Peru Chikann in Hillsborough, NJ”

Sometimes we choose to go out last minute for something quick, inexpensive and satisfying. It’s a bonus if the meal ends up being really enjoyable and double bonus if it’s byob. Last Monday we had a hankering for sushi, but didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg. A bit of googling around ledContinue reading “Sushi John in Skillman, NJ”

For the third year straight we recently met our friends Sol and Carin at Lemon in Freehold. There are many other options for dining halfway between Deal and Princeton. We simply have outstanding meals at Lemon, so we stick with this place. I reviewed Lemon two years ago, but decided to give it a “boost”Continue reading “Lemon- a two year follow up”

Barb and I had a date night and decided to go to our favorite place in Jersey, Blue Bottle Cafe. It’s always been a guaranteed hit for us, and I get to bring some of the better wines in our home. Weeknights have always been best because they are not jammed with reservations weeks inContinue reading “Blue Bottle Cafe in Hopewell, NJ. Still the Best in the Region!”

(what the hell is Josh doing in Memphis?) We have popped over to Memphis for a joyous occasion, the Bat Mitzvah of our Great Niece Celia. We scheduled an extra night to experience something different in a strange town. I sent a list to both my nephew and niece figuring they’d edit it down andContinue reading “JEM: a casual, upscale restaurant in Memphis Tennessee”

First thing you do is say thanks. Thanks Ed. Those quails were little beauties. Cleaned, skinned and Spatchcocked. (Did I spell that right?) Barb got on the internet and looked up a recipe for me to grill them, using the stuff we had remaining in our pantry. Here’s the recipe with her modifications: We hadContinue reading “What to do when your friend, Ed, gives you 10 beautiful Quails.”

We have been going to The Local for dinners at least once or twice a year since it first opened. It was the first truly “farm to table” restaurant we’d found in Naples. What first impressed me, in addition to its really good food, excellent wine program and laid back but attentive service, was theContinue reading “The Local in North Naples, Florida”