Reviews

I Overdosed on Wheat Grass!

April 11, 2013 by brittany 2 Comments

Today was day 3 of Healthy Chicks’ Happy Healthy Wellness Challenge and the challenge was to have a “new-to-me” leafy green as the star of one of my meals. I was excited because I have a bunch of kale (which I have eaten but have never cooked) – and a can of white beans I planned to cook together. But then I remembered that my meals for the day were all already prepped, cooked, and packed for the day; I wouldn’t get home until closer to 10pm and there’s no time for making a brand new meal that late! I could skip the gym, but this is a happy and healthy wellness challenge after all and the gym makes me happy, healthy and well, so I figured that wouldn’t be a good idea.

I was going to have to bend the rules a bit and get a lot a bit creative. Then I remembered that on my walk home the night before I passed a very a-typical food truck: one that makes organic juices! That’s what I’ll do – I’ll get a green juice chock full o’ some green they have that I don’t normally juice. I got most of the way to work and no truck (must have been too early) so I scoped out Jamba Juice.

I immediately smelt citrus as I walked in, very welcoming especially early in the morning. I looked over the menu and settled on the green smoothie… or so I thought. It contained whole pieces of fruit but the really green part was ambiguously termed “green veggie juice” – no thanks. God only knows what that’s made of!

Wheat Grass Overdose

So instead I opted for the unadulterated wheat grass shot with an orange wedge! I waited for an eternity so the gentleman behind the counter gave me a double shot free of charge. I didn’t even have to complain. Very good customer service despite the ambiguous ingredient list. So I got my beautiful wheat grass and orange wedge plate, took it to the ledge by the window to enjoy a little sun and the view of Bryant Park (and all the daffodils!) while I slugged this back.

The taste came in waves, and I had to take 2 sips (anyone who knows me know that it doesn’t matter what the contents are, I’m no good at taking shots!) Grass. Semi-sweet Goodness. Grass again. Repeat. Interesting. Leafy, kinda sweet, starchy and all around strange. But not bad, but I definitely needed the orange wedge. After that I wasn’t even reaching for water or anything else – little to no aftertaste!

Next stop: Starbucks to get another Passion tea – trying to hold on to yesterday’s challege and drink only water and herbal tea (I’m thinking the wheat grass doesn’t count as “drinking” something else. Hope I’m right! Rachel?). Anyway, I get my tea and notice their new all natural juices, snag the green one, the ingredients seem to check out, so I buy it. I figured I’d save it for my afternoon pick me up and add to my “new-t0-me leafy green” goal for the day.

About 20 minutes later I’m hit with an unbelievable wave of nausea. Concentrate, Brittany. You can do it. Do not throw up on your desk. I repeat, do not throw up on your desk. You just started working here a couple months ago. Don’t. Do. It.

I reached out to a few fellow #HappyHealthyWC-er’s and shared the horrifying news. They talked (and laughed) me through it and after about a half hour I felt better. And another hour went by and I felt just fine. I feel great now! That was scary, though.

Could you imagine if I threw up on my desk?! Or anywhere at work for that matter?! Ugh!

Naturally I googled it and found a few sources that all led me to the same conclusion: this is normal due to the fact that I don’t regularly (ever) drink wheat grass, and that second free shot may have done more harm than good. As a newbie I should have had less than 1 ounce, and I had 2. On an empty stomach. Followed by hot tea. No. Wonder.

Needless to say I didn’t drink my juice. It had wheat grass in it and I had already OD’d on that for the day and didn’t need another puke scare. I will though! And I’ll be sure to report back!

So will I have wheat grass again? Yes. From Jamba Juice? Sure! Will I have less and make sure I’m not running on empty? You betcha.

Again, at least I have a good story to tell!

Filed Under: Drink something new, healthy eats, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: drink something new, healthy, wellness challenge, wheat grass

I Got Schmeared at Zuckers!

April 5, 2013 by brittany 2 Comments

It was a Friday morning and feeling a little under the weather, I was beyond thrilled to walk in to work and have my coworkers greet me with an offer to walk down the street to get bagels. I don’t know why, but bagels are a morning comfort food for me and feeling not-so-great, this was perfect timing.

We went down the street to Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish. I had never been here before (perfect!) but many of my coworkers have and I’ve been wanting to try it.

Let’s get right to my order – more on Zucker’s history later.

Whole wheat everything flatz with low fat scallion cream cheese, tomato, and cucumber.

Not too shabby on the health meter.. it’s still a bagel and it’s still cream cheese, but the less evil versions at least! (Only 6 WW points!!! Regular bagel with cream cheese has 12+!)

No exaggeration this is the best bagel I have ever had. I much prefer the flatz (thinner bagel with half the calories and carbs) because I get the bagel texture and taste, but the other ingredients have their time to shine, too.

The cucumbers were insanely fresh, crunchy and cool. Not too thinly sliced, they were a major addition to the sandwich and one I am so incredibly glad I opted in for. The tomato was also fresh and perfectly sliced and layered. The scallion cream cheese seems to be one of their big sellers so I knew I had to try it, even if it was the low fat variety. Delicious! Not too “onion-y” but definitely a noticeable scallion flavor. Went really well with the “everything” and complemented by the fresh cucumber and tomato.

The bagel flat its self was crisp on the outside and doughy on the inside – exactly how a bagel should be (later I found out that this is exactly how Zagat described their bagels, too! “Exactly as a bagel should be”).

Now I know why so many people in my office are loyal to Zucker’s! I will definitely be back for breakfast another time, but next I must try their lunch! Anyone have any suggestions?!

The store is beautiful, modern and rustic, and also very clean. Their website is also beautiful, and they have some really great offerings!

Like the Getaway Bag! $100 for a re-useable tote filled with their best products. More info here: Zuckers Getaway Bag

Schmeared-At-Zuckers

Their slogan they display on their merchandise is “I Got Schmeared at Zucker’s”. Coincidentally I received the Schmear Badge, Level 2 from Foursquare when I checked in that morning!

I will 100% be back again. The question is whether I’ll be able to resist ordering the exact same thing again when I go to try their lunch!

Anyone have a favorite, unique bagel combination they love to order?

Are you a “healthy eater”? What are your thoughts on bagels? Do you ever give in?

Think I’m crazy for thinking this is the best bagel out there? What’s your favorite? Where should I go next time I give in?

Filed Under: Restaurants, Reviews, Uncategorized, WW Points Tagged With: best bagel in NYC, Everything bagel, NYC bagel, Zuckers

Hotties at Teak on The Hudson

April 1, 2013 by brittany 2 Comments

Last week I attended my first blogger meet up with some awesome fellow Hoboken bloggers! We met at Teak On the Hudson in Hoboken where I - how appropriate – ate a few new things and introduced something new to the bartender!

Those girls aren’t the only hotties I’m referring to in my title up there. I’m also referring to my food and drink selections. I had a bit of a theme going: FIRE.

While we waited for everyone to arrive we started with a drink at their beautiful bar; huge fish tank, beautiful bar top and lots of plants. I ordered a dirty martini, with a dash of Tabasco. The bartender was immediately intrigued, made a face as if to ask if I was being serious, so I shot a look back confirming that was, indeed, what I wanted. He made the drink and then asked me where I had been served this drink before, later claiming that I’ve ruined his social life because he plans on making himself many of these in the future. You’re welcome, Mr. Bartender.

My love for this spicy, dirty libation all started at 10th and Willow when I went for a friend’s birthday and ordered the Spicy Dirty Martini. I forgot about this drink until last month when I went to 3 forty Grill during Hudson Restaurant Week and ordered their Dirty Sexy Money Martini. I fell right back in love with this drink, and this time I fell hard. The following week we went to Courtstreet for Hudson Restaurant Week and I ordered a dirty martini and asked for Tabasco to add myself. That’s how my love affair with dirty, spicy martinis began.

So back to the blogger meet up at Teak… We sit down and start looking over the menu and of course I can’t decide. Do I go with their namesake, the Teak Roll like I normally would. I mean, if they’re putting their name on it they must think it’s pretty good, right? It seemed too plain (especially for the price) so I passed. Then, Like Alyssa and Jill, I was tempted by the Chilean Sea Bass. I wound up sticking to my spicy theme and going with two sushi rolls that were different than anything I’ve ever tried before: Tuna Cashew and Hot Popper. The first one is exactly what it sounds like – a tuna roll with a cashew in it. The second was a tuna, yellowtail, avocado and, wait for it… jalapeno. I had a Jalapeno roll a week prior at The Illuzion and there wasn’t enough jalapeno and I was a little disappointed, so I was excited for this one!

Jalapenos aren’t that hot, falling somewhere near the middle but toward the more mild side of the heat continuum. I usually don’t have an issue. Well, this time was different. Very different. This time I was sweating. At the table. At a nice restaurant. With a group of people I had just met. And the waiter kept forgetting my water.

Finally I grabbed the bus boy and said, “I don’t know if you’re supposed to serve us, but please get me some water. My mouth is on FIRE”. This girl was on fire. (see what I did there? Thank you, Alicia)

He laughed and walked away, but he did send someone back over with some freezing cold ice water. Thank god. Crisis averted. No more sweating.

So I pushed my wasabi-laden soy sauce to the side and put some plain soy sauce on the remaining pieces of the rolls and was good to go. Big gulps of water in between, but I managed.

Regardless, the food was delicious. The rolls were fresh and well constructed. The cashew roll was different than I had anticipated because I thought the cashew itsself would be crushed up, but it was a whole cashew put right there in to the roll just like the other ingredients. The cashew taste was prominent but surprisingly complementary! A little plain, but I liked it overall.

The Hot Popper was very tasty, but the jalapenos were particularly strong and they are what lead to the fire situation. The taste, however, was very good. Again the fish was fresh and the roll was well constructed, plus I was a fan of the combination. A good roll, I just would not suggest pairing it with another spicy roll, adding any wasabi or drinking a spicy dirty martini with it! My bad. Lesson learned.

Hey, at least it wound up being a pretty good story.

Shout out to all the bloggers were there that night. And to Lynda of The Healthy Hoboken Girl for setting it up, finding me on Twitter and inviting me, and for bringing awesome organic and allergy free chocolate treats! Post on the chocolate coming soon!

Sprinkle Massacre, The Bloginista, Shore to Run, Hoboken Girl, Tiffany Pinero Style, Don’t Sit Home, Life a la Wife - Thanks for a great night!

Filed Under: Drink something new, Restaurants, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: dirty martini, hoboken, jalapeno, martini, sushi

Coupons for Canapes!

March 28, 2013 by brittany 1 Comment

For anyone who knows me personally, you know I’m a little (okay, a lot) coupon crazy. We clip coupons every Sunday before heading to the grocery store. I have small (hot pink!) expanda-file I keep in my bag with coupons for everything from Hummus to Mouthwash to Clothes. I am known for my bargain hunting skills. I even once had a newsletter where I sent out coupons, tips and tricks to friends and family who wanted to learn how to better budget their money. Certified Coupon Crazy Chick right here.

So naturally, when I received an e-mail promising coupons in exchange for creating my own canape from President Cheese, being the coupon-clipping foodie that I am, I could not resist! Three of my favorite things: Coupons, Cheese, Canapes! (4 if you count the alliteration going on here).

I clicked the link which, for all my fellow digital nerds out there, they did a great job with UTM codes. I hope to stick out like a sore thumb in their Google Analytics when they check the stats.

Anyway, the link goes to an interactive create-your-own canape “app” of sorts. First you choose your bread base, then President cheese product, then your toppings. I thought it was kinda silly at first, but then when I looked at the options they presented, the wheels starting turning and I was really contemplating which direction to go in! Do I do light and fresh water cracker with cucumber, brie and honey? What about Melba Roquefort with pear and balsamic? So many good ideas!

I ended up making what I named The Simple Italian (although the cheese is French so the naming is off a bit). There it is in the screenshot below!

Presidente Cheese Recipes

Rye Cracker

Camembert (this was my favorite cheese when I studied abroad in Paris!)

Grilled Zuccini

Roasted Red Pepper

BOOM!

Then I e-mailed it to 3 friends and in return got a coupon for $3 off 2 products. Score! Typically I don’t like coupons for having to purchase more than one of something, but this works out because I plan to buy more than one anyway.

Bravo, President! As a result of this little activity I plan to make canapes for an appetizer for next month’s Girls’ Night! This is some serious ROI on your e-mail and digital experience marketing. I hope your tracking is in place so that everyone involved gets credit when I purchase your products in a couple of weeks!

Bonus: They have Skinny Cheese! Check out the President Skinny Cheese Movement on Facebook.

Want to try it out? Click here for the President Cheese Canape Creation for Coupons!

And check back later, I’ll post photos and recipes of what I wind up making!

Note: For you gluten-free foodies out there, Crunchmaster makes my favorite (gluten or no gluten) crackers ever!
And they’re gluten-free! I usually pick them up at Sam’s Club!

Filed Under: gluten-free, healthy eats, Recipes, Reviews, snacks Tagged With: appetizers, apps, canape, cheese, fun with food, presidente

Guilt Free Ravioli w/ Vodka Sauce

March 21, 2013 by brittany 1 Comment

Sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? How can ravioli and/or vodka sauce, let alone together, be guilt free?! Well, believe it or not, it can!

This week at Shop Rite we were looking for a few things to pick up to have on hand for those particularly hectic nights when we need something super quick and easy without breaking the healthy routine. We were in the freezer aisle and I saw the raviolis and thought to myself, “I doubt it, but let’s see what the options are.” That’s when I found Mama Rosie’s Low Fat Whole Grain Raviolis.

Now, if you’re Italian and have Sunday dinners, and someone in your family makes homemade ravioli’s I am in NO way suggesting these will compare. Although not homemade or perhaps truly Italian, they are delicious. They are your typical frozen ravioli’s and perfect for a quick and ea sy meal.

Made with whole grains and low fat cheese, these are a great option for these kinds of nights while also staying on track.

The texture was almost exactly like regular ravioli, just a little bit firmer given they were made with whole grains, but not quite as firm as typical whole grain pasta tends to be. The cheese was delicious and I truly didn’t taste a difference compared to full-fat raviolis.

While the ravioli’s were cooking I pulled out the already-open jar of Colonna Vodka sauce from the fridge and threw a bag of Italian blend frozen veggies in to the microwave. Once everything was done I mixed it all together, topped with garlic powder, sea salt, cracked black pepper and crushed red pepper. And that was it! Start to finish probably 20 minutes! Can’t beat that!

How Mama Rosie’s Low Fat Ravioli’s Stack Up:

Buitoni Regular: Buitoni Light: Mama Rosie’s

Buitoni-ravioli-nutrition-facts

buitoni-light-ravioli-nutrition-facts

mama-rosies-low-fat-ravioli-nutrition-facts

Clearly, Mama Rosie’s wins! Only 3 grams of fat per serving, less than half of Light Buitoni! Plus more fiber! Only 5 WW points per serving. For pasta, especially ravioli, this isn’t too shabby.

Colonna Vodka Sauce isn’t a bad option either at only 2 WW points per serving. One of the few times where store-bought may be healthier than homemade!

AND this would work great as a lunch option too! Easy to make in advance and pack for the week so it becomes grab-and-go! I’ll definitely be making this again.

Have you ever tried Mama Rosie’s or any other Low Fat or Whole Grain Ravioli? Have any favorites?

Any other simple week night [healthy] meal ideas?

Filed Under: healthy eats, Lunch Box, Reviews, WW Points

Salt ‘n Vinegar Almonds

March 19, 2013 by brittany 2 Comments

Recently at work I was introduced to a snack I had never even heard of: Blue Diamond Almonds’ BOLD Salt ‘n Vinegar flavored almond salt n' vinegar almonds s.

I have seen plain almonds, salted almonds, roasted almonds, honey almonds (I’m starting to feel like Bubba), even chili lime almonds, but never Salt ‘n Vinegar.

I love salt ‘n vinegar chips, but very rarely eat them since they’re pretty fattening especially given the little to no nutritional value they provide. I love almonds, and although still high in fats, there’s a lot more nutrients so this is a great alternative!

So how did they taste? EXACTLY how you’d expect them to. Salt ‘n vinegar chips, minus the chip taste, plus the roasted almond taste.

If you like almonds and you like salt ‘n vinegar flavor, these are a must try!

Thanks for sharing with me, Eric!

salt-n-vinegar-almonds

Caution: These almonds are even more fattening than regular almonds, so watch the serving size! A 1.5 ounce package runs 7 WW points compared to 5 for the regular roasted almonds. Needless to say I opted for half of a package and am saving the rest for another day!

Filed Under: Reviews, snacks

Kopparberg Pear Cider

September 1, 2011 by brittany 12 Comments

It was dark in there and I was sitting front row, so...

This weekend I saw The Bither Brothers Band play at The Bitter End in NYC….PAUSE - I can’t even get through the description of this lovely night without a grimace on my face as I remember the taste of this god awful cider.

I know I sound like a hater, but if you’ve followed this blog at all you may have been skeptical of my honesty up until now. I know what I like (and let’s face it, there isn’t much that I don’t like) so I know what to order and how to order it; what to cook and how to cook it (most of the time).

Because of my keen sense of awareness of my taste, I rarely blunder in ordering, leaving all of the blundering up to the establishments – which just hasn’t happened to me all that often.

So, I’m not a hater, I’m just being honest. And no, “god awful” is not too strong of a phrase. None of my friends who tried Kopparberg Cider were able to swallow it with a straight face (TWSS).

Back to the story: we’re having a grand ol’ time at The Bitter End listening to The Bither Brothers (Lady Gaga played here back in the day) and I’ve already enjoyed a few libations. BUT now I am looking to try something new; you’re surprised, I know.

I mosey on over to the bar, take a look at the scribbled list (just how I like it) and I see “Kapp???? Pear Cider.” I couldn’t quite make out the name, but I love me some cider! And pear – even over apple – happens to be my favorite.

Michael

Patrick

I am immediately mentally (and possibly emotionally) taken back to my alma mater to a local bar and restaurant, HomeGrown where I would frequently order – and even recommend – the oh-so-delicious Ace Pear Cider . My mouth starts to water (then and now as I write this) and I’m pumped for my cider.

I am given my receipt, the bottle and… a glass of ice?! I was so befuddled that I’m sure I hesitated, but I chalked it up to the bartender’s ignorance of cider. It’s not all that common so I wasn’t holding it against her.

Leaving it up the “expert” I poured some cider over the ice and took a nice, long sip. BLECH! What the F**** is this?!

It is super duper, crazy-over-the-top sweet, syrupy, watery (I know, that sounds contradictory – think watered down syrup) barely carbonated and bland all at the same time.

I said to myself, “okay, maybe it’s this weird glass-of-ice-thing,” and took another big swig right from the bottle: EQUALLY BLECH.

It didn’t taste terrrrrrible in that it wasn’t expired, it didn’t smell bad, it wasn’t thick or even flavorful at all. For that reason, and the fact that it set me back almost eight big ones, I finished it. But not without a grimace on my face.

It wasn’t good. To confirm my thoughts I passed that puppy around the table..

You know, the oh-so-strangely-common “This is gross! Wanna taste it?!” thing…

(Why do we ask that? And why do so many people say “yes”?)

I got the same review from every. single. person. A grimace.

I do not recommend, under any circumstances, that you try this cider. Not if you are a fan of cider. Not if you aren’t a fan of cider. Not if you are the cider expert of the world and… okay, maybe then. Otherwise: STAY AWAY.

I know that this seems like a very strong opinion. And you’re right. And although I’m sure someone somewhere likes this – they do continue to sell it and they do carry it is bars (apparently) – so maybe there is some kind of “acquired taste.” However, for those of you who like Strongbow, Ace or even Woodchuck’s – you’re not going to like this. It tastes absolutely nothing like it’s highly superior counterparts.

Have you ever tried hard cider? What’s your favorite brand?

Apple or Pear?

Ever have an equally surprisingly displeasing experience after ordering a drink? I’d love to hear about it!

Sorry, Kopparberg. I SEO’d the shit out you and your god awful cider. Hopefully for you your SEO is strong and Google won’t index this blog on your first page… Oh look, it’s actually on page one. Whoops.

Filed Under: Drink something new, Reviews Tagged With: Ace Cider, Ace Hard Cider, Hard Cider, Hard Pear Cider, Kopparberg, Kopparberg cider, Kopparberg Pear Cider, Lady Gaga, SEO, The Bither Brothers Band, The Bitter End

Jazz! Apples

August 31, 2011 by brittany 4 Comments

The power is still out due to Hurricane Irene and therefore this week’s grocery trip was short and sweet.. literally. I was only in the store for about 25 minutes (I check lots of labels and compare prices so this is short for me!) and I bought apples and new snack bars for work. I needed items that don’t need to be refrigerated, but I also didn’t want to completely sacrifice nutrition, either.

I have been in the market for new snack bars that are low in fat, calories AND sugar – a combination, come to find out, that is hard to come by. More on my thoughts on sugar and snack bars in a later post. This post is about Jazz Apples!

As I walked through the produce section, admiring all of the need-to-be-refrigerated fruits and veggies, I thought to myself: Apples and Pears! Both are great snacks for me at work and don’t have to be refrigerated. AND I could keep them in the office. Looking around for my normal favorite, Fuji or gala apples, I was surprised that I didn’t see any. I settled on some other variety, but then out of the corner of my eye I saw a sign that said Jazz! Confused at first and then intrigued, I put my apples back and made my way over to the Jazz! apples. They looked like both fuji and gala in that they were yellow and red in color. They were larger, though, and had a more of a “tall and skinny” look than the normal “short and fat” apple shape. Only 10 cents more per pound, I figured what the heck? Eat something new, right?

I snacked on one at work yesterday (and today) and they are delicious! Crisp, dense, NOT gritty at all – my number one attribute I look for in a good apple (the only macintosh I like is my computer) – and just the right amount of sweetness. Jazz apples have a distinct taste that is hard to explain, but nothing crazy or strange, just delicious!

This is what Wikipedia had to say about Jazz apples:

“Jazz is a relatively new apple variety from New Zealand. It is the result of a cross between Royal Gala and Braeburn made by Plant & Food Research in 1985.^[1] It is also known as Scifresh. It was launched in April 2004.

The apple is sweet, crunchy and juicy. It has a firm, dense flesh and a complex flavor with the acid of Braeburn and the sweetness of Royal Gala giving it broad appeal.

The speculation about why the apple variety is named Jazz, is most likely the exciting color combinations that can be compared to the music style jazz which is often an advanced harmony with discoloration of a piecework.

Jazz apples are being grown under license in New Zealand, UK, Washington state in the US, Australia, France, Chile, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_(apple))

After doing a simple Google search I noticed that Jazz apples even have their own website: jazzapple.com.

Here are a few images they featured that I thought were worth sharing:

They also boast many health benefits including:

Lots of fiber
Cancer fighting abilities
Help facilitate easier breathing

Anyone ever hear of the 3-A-Day Apple Diet? Jazz Apples link to the 3-Apple-A-Day Plan, claiming that on average, those who participate lose 20 lbs. in 12 weeks. Let me know if you’ve ever hear of or tried this. Very interesting!

Do you have a go-to apple variety?

What do you look for in a good apple?

What’s your favorite way to eat an apple? (plain, peanut butter, pie?)

Any out-of-the-ordinary fruits you think I should try?

Filed Under: gluten-free, healthy eats, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: 3-Apple-A-Day Plan, Apple Diet, fresh fruite, fuji apples, hurricane irene, jazz, Jazz apples, Mac, macintosh, macintosh apple, new fruits

Omega Diner Reuben Sandwich

August 25, 2011 by brittany 5 Comments

I could do without the fries, to be honest

The history of the Reuben sandwich isn’t known for sure, but there’s a few stories that seem to host the most klout. If you’re interested, you can read about them here.

Several variations of the Reuben exist, but the traditional Reuben is either cornedbeef or pastrami on grilled rye bread with sauerkraut and either Russian or Thousand Island dressing. I prefer mine with corned beef and thousand island dressing.

What’s the difference between Russian and Thousand Island?

Thousand island dressing is lighter in color and chunky, containing finely chopped ingredients such as pickles, onions, bell peppers and/or green olives, among other things. Russian dressing is a darker, brighter orange color and does not contain any chunks. I prefer the former.

A Reuben sandwich is one of my favorite not-so-healthy foods. If you follow along here you know I prefer gourmet, healthy wraps to greasy sandwiches, but sometimes a Reuben just hits the spot. The good news here is that it is pretty filling, so I normally don’t eat more than half, saving the other half for later or sharing it with my date.

A few weeks ago I had been craving a Reuben, so before leaving for vacation we headed over to my favorite NJ diner: The Omega Diner and Cafe in North Brunswick, NJ. I didn’t even have to look at the menu, knowing that I wanted the Reuben sandwich. I did look, though, because you have to be careful! Like I said above, I enjoy mine with corned beef and thousand island, so it’s important to make sure that this is how they serve or that these are at least options. I’m not a fan of the pastrami and Russian dressing version.

If you’re scared of corned beef, don’t be! It is salty, tender and juicy. Especially on this sandwich with the cheese, sauerkraut and dressing it all comes together in your mouth as a perfect flavor combination.

It is traditionally served as a hot, grilled, open-faced sandwich with cole slaw, a pickle and fries. Let me tell you, Omega hit it out of the park. It was a great sandwich; the meat was tender and juicy, not too much cheese, the rye was perfectly grilled and the thousand island came on the side, just how I like it. It was absolutely delicious! Seriously as honestly.

So much so that a few weeks later we went back and I got it again!

What’s your favorite not-so-healthy indulgence?

Do you like Reuben sandwiches? How do you like yours?

Filed Under: Restaurants, Reviews Tagged With: NJ diners, Omega Diner, reuben sandwhich, russian and thousand island

Brennan’s Lobster Salad

August 22, 2011 by brittany 1 Comment

: Brennan’s Lobster Salad Sandwich

Whenever I visit two of my best friends in their hometown we head to the beach, but not before stopping at Brennan’s Delicatessen in Rumson, NJ. Famous for their extensive selection of gourmet wraps, not to mention homemade salads, sides and sandwiches, they are the must-try lunch spot if you’re in Central Jersey.

Having been there a few times and having loved their food, I said YES! when I was asked if I wanted to try the one in Oakhurst. It did not disappoint.

It sported the same big board of numbered sandwich options, the same glass counter filled with delicious and obviously homemade salads and sides, and the same cozy beach-town atmosphere.

First I ordered a roasted vegetable wrap, but quickly asked if it would be too much of a pain to change my order. They were offering a Lobster Salad Sandwich special that I simply could not pass up! I didn’t order it at first because “Lobster salad” makes me think of Lobster Rolls which, believe it or not, are not my favorite.

Last summer I tried a lobster roll and a lobster ale at The Lobster Roll on Long Island, supposedly the original and creator of the sandwich. It was a cute, fun place and the lobster ale was great. The roll, however, not my thing. Not bad, just not my preference.

This is why I was nervous to order it at Brennan’s… until I saw the big bowl of it on the counter. I saw that there were HUGE, and I mean HUGE chunks of lobster with shopped veggies and a light layer of dressing. I am always afraid that chicken, tuna or lobster salad will have too much filling or mayonnaise, thus hiding the supposed feature ingredient. Not the case here.

Brennan’s lobster salad was chunky with gigantic pieces of lobster that were complimented with a little bit of mayo, and some fresh, crunchy raw veggies – mostly carrots, red onion and celery. It was served on soft, multigrain bread that stood up to the salad, even over night in the fridge! Yes, that means I could only eat half per sitting. It was a delicious and big sandwich, enough for lunch on both Thursday and Friday.

The only thing I have to say, and only because this blog is honest, is that I did not care for the chips. They make homemade potato chips, which I usually love, but this time they were a disappointment. They were soggy and some tasted like BBQ chips – something else I am not a fan of.

BUT the lobster salad sandwich was so good I was willing to over-look the chips and still give Brennan’s my utmost approval.

Not a seafood lover? Not in to Lobster salad? Try any one of their other gourmet sandwiches or wraps – you will not be sorry!

Filed Under: healthy eats, Restaurants, Reviews Tagged With: best deli nj, Brennan's, Central NJ, gourmet sandwiches, gourmet wraps, lobster roll, lobster salad