Mistral: Princeton, NJ

 

 

Final Grade: A

            Sometimes I think this blog should be re-titled, “WilltravelforFood.blogspot.com’! We, myself and Hubby, more often than not, arrange our plans and appointments based on restaurants within the vicinity. This may sound crazy, but for us whenever we get to hit the road for any reason we know we 1- will have to eat, 2- may never get to this area again and 3- can possibly cross off a restaurant from our list. It's a win-win for all involved……unless we are coming to your house for a BBQ or dinner, we then might have an issue with you.

            Towns we love to ‘just so happen to be in’ or around are Jersey City, Morristown, New Brunswick, Westfield and most recently Princeton. The last one there being the focus for this review. Princeton- what a beauty. I had never really given the town more than just a thought involving an Ivy League school and it being close to Trenton. Basically and more realistically, I haven’t given this town its credit. Just in the past 6 months, I think I’ve pinned a handful of restaurants I need to get to  and read reviews about umpteen more. So naturally, when the opportunity presented itself a few weeks back for us to be in that area to drop off my cousin, I was like, “Slam bam, thank you Mam, we gonna chow right now!”

 

            After narrowing down our choices for that Sunday afternoon lunch, we decided to go to the much-desired Mistral.

            We opted to sit at their bar area where the kitchen is in full view. This, for me, is like being a kid in a candy store. Watching chefs work is so intriguing and entertaining. What’s more here is also getting a look at how the Chefs both handle and respect their ingredients. What I truly loved here was that many ingredients, from the croutons to the pickled vegetables, were labeled with dates.  Now I would hope most restaurants do this, but for me, actually seeing how literally fresh these items were did nothing but make me smile.

            Our lunch consisted of a few items to share, although our forks generally stayed in our own direction. I went with the Grilled Vegetable Salad ($8) and an order of the Warm Cornbread with Jalapenos and Honey Butter ($5). The salad consisted of locally grown summer vegetables tossed with fried crouton crisps, a few lettuces, fresh herbs and a light dressing to tie it all together. What I thought at first was just a heaping bowl of arugula actually turned out to be a pot of gold once I tossed what was on the bottom to the top. The vegetables had what was somewhat of a cross between a roasted and grilled flavor while the croutons dazzled up each bite with a fried crunch. Now the cornbread I knew I would have no problems with upon seeing. Arriving straight from the oven in its cast iron skillet with the butter melting more each second, I knew I had paired the salad perfectly. Oh how scrumptious that buttered and steamy bread was with each sliver of jalapeno. This was a dish hard to share.

                       Hubby had similar to say about his choices as well. He went with the Seared Halibut ($16) and a side of Bacon Beignets ($5). The fish was outstanding, simply put. Wrapped in Serrano ham skin and simmering in a broth sporting both turnips and rock shrimp, it was culinary craftsmanship at its finest. The broth alone could win awards, which is why if we had one complaint it would be: serve that dish up with some crusty bread please! The Bacon Beignets speak for themselves. Puffed, salty and rich in pork fat flavor, they had me wishing I was willing to share more of my cornbread!

            We skipped dessert as it was lunch and I, being a weirdo and all, don’t like to overstuff during the day for one reason: it ruins dinner. I live for dinner, if you haven’t noticed yet. Anyway, we did glance at the dessert offering and were both caught eyeing up our neighbor’s Pot de Crème ($9) with hazelnuts and thyme all in a too-cute tea cup. Oh well, we will be back again for dinner and will most definitely get our shot at dessert. Actually when we do go back, I already have a few things I saw the Chefs create that had my name all over them. I would list them all but I’d rather let you go there yourself and watch the spectacle of Mistral unfold before you.

 

Mistral is located at 66 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ. Visit their website for more information.

 

Total score 22/25

Final Grade: A

 

A: 21-25    B: 16-20    C: 11-15   D: 6-10    F: 0-5

Restaurant Rubric

	1	2	3	4	5
Food Taste	Bland, boring, overcooked, underdone	Very little flavor, not much aroma	Flavors apparent, basic ability to please palates	Flavor worth discussing, chef’s use of ingredients impressive	Great flavor, taste lingers and leaves diner wanting more
Restaurant service	disrespectful	Inattentive staff, no regard for wait time	Staff average in helpfulness, timing alright, either more/less needed	Staff knowledgeable and attentive to needs without asking, timing very well executed	Remarkable and noteworthy, service so good you forget it is ever an issue elsewhere
Food Presentation	Cover it up please	Sloppy and the eater can tell little thought went into it	Descent presentation: looks alright, not worth a picture but enough to make you hungry	Admirable, it is apparent the chef plated with a consideration for presentation	Presentational talents are here. Looks beautiful and too good to dig in
Prices match quality	Prices are too high for quality	Prices are still too high but not outrageously	Some items are priced accordingly but not all	Most items are priced accordingly	All items are matched accordingly
Would I go back?	Not a chance ever	Nope	Maybe	Looking forward to it	What time should I arrive?!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Time Foodie Adventure.....

First Time Foodie Adventure:

Whole Foods

            Whole Foods, a recent phenomenon in my book. Or more precisely, a place where people go to get wholesome and fresh food items, from seafood to saltines. I think everything there is organic and lists most ingredients on the label that you can actually read. This all sounds well and dandy, I know. But for me, I have actually always been on the fence with this place. First of all, I have heard and all-too-quickly agreed that it wasn’t Whole Foods, but rather Whole Paycheck. And for two, I have always been in the mindset of the best way to be healthy is to cook at home and control your own quantity and ingredients, none of this ‘where was it grown’,’ what was it sprayed with’, and ‘can I pronounce its components’ stuff.

            Now don’t get me wrong, I think all those fundamentals and practices are great and kudos to you if you can abide by them 24/7. For me, I know I can’t and have therefore, become very accustomed to La Shoprite. Ha

            Well, I must take back some opinions, my friends. A Whole Foods Market has just opened in our neighborhood and I recently took my first trip…..

            Simply beautiful. The colors, the displays, even the organization was eye-catching. I loved every nook and cranny, from the cheese counter to the brick oven pizza station. The place wasn’t as expansive as I thought it was going to be, yet it had the perfect amount and offerings of everything one might need.  I would actually venture to say that having such limited supply of items made for easy shopping (read: quicker shopping). I tried to stop and examine each aisle but as I usually am, I was hungry and we had to get something for dinner.

            We decided to get 2 pre-portioned fresh fillets of Sea Bass, a pound of bread & asparagus salad, and ready to heat empanadas. The latter for appetizers, because life is too short to not have them.

            The bill didn’t faze me at all, in fact I think it was pretty close to what we would spend elsewhere. I mean, if you do all your shopping there, from yogurt to romaine lettuce, you will spend more. But if you are looking for a few quality items and know what you want, the price tag won’t cause any flinches.

            The end result was quite yummy. My favorite was the bread salad, it had such balance of textures, flavors and spice. The empanadas were quite delightful too, as we heated them to a crisp and dunked them in the accompanied tangy glaze.

            So it is a true fact that I will be back. In fact, I hope it is true that I do so very soon. I saw one too many yummies that I need to try. Not to mention, I just want more time to peruse their collections and selections. And fortunately, as I have learned, I won’t be breaking the bank by doing so either. My pennies and dollars will be put to good use indeed, which is more than I can say after most shopping trips. Win!

 

Whole Foods Market is located at 113 Route 9 South, Marlboro, NJ 07726. Check out their Website, Facebook page, and Twitter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My most recent Jersey Bites post...

Pizza Time at Galloping Hill’s Red Knot Restaurant (via Jersey Bites)

With the amount of time I spend in a classroom, it can be a touch difficult for me to want to step inside another one after the 3:45 school bell rings. You can, however, coerce me if the classroom is also known as a kitchen and the one doing the instructing…

---

Now Open: Bonefish Grill in Manalapan (via Jersey Bites)

The one shopping center I find to be beyond amazing has just gotten unbelievably better. Before this year, the shopping center I speak of had a lot going for it: Target, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Wegmans, and a pretty good pizzeria, Alessi’s, all within…

---

Siam Thai

Siam Thai

Colts Neck, NJ

Final Grade: B

            So it has been about a year since Hubby and I settled in and began to call Colts Neck our new hometown. During the past twelve months, we’ve definitely learned a lot: 1. Deer eat everything 2. Weeds grow everywhere 3. Dust settles on anything 4. Restaurants within 5 minutes- next to nothing! Now numbers 1-3 are all things I can deal with, but number 4 has been quite an adjustment. Yes, there are standbys in these parts- Huddy’s, Colts Neck Pizza and a few delis here and there. And of course, we have Delicious Orchards. But if you have gotten to know me over the past few years, I’m sure you know one thing- I like to get my restaurant pants on and get on to trying new spots. Which, if I want to drive 30+ minutes, is easy squeezy. However, when I just want to take a quick ride, grab a tasty bite, and head back home, is anything but easy or squeezy.

            Well, my complaining (for now) stops there as I have just found and tried a great new local place that will keep me (and hopefully you) at bay. Siam Thai, located on scenic Route 34, has been on my radar for a bit of time. A lover of Asian cuisine, I knew it was only a matter of time before I got my chopsticks out and got to indulging.

            Matt and I chose to dine there on a busy Saturday afternoon for us since we knew it would be a quick drive, a satisfying meal, and one that wouldn’t break the bank. If my memory serves me correctly, the location has been host to previous restaurants that obviously had to close. That being said, the layout is vast and tables are placed adequately spaced throughout.  The décor is a bit dim but accents of Thailand do a decent job to enhance the atmosphere while also transporting you from suburbia.

            The food was very good- fresh, spiced, and piping hot from the kitchen. We started with the Golden Shrimp ($7.95). Although on the small side overall, the seafood tucked inside each rice wrapper was perfectly cooked and delectable indeed. For dinner, I went with my favorite Thai dish- Pad Keemaw ($12.95) while Matt opted for the Spicy Fried Rice ($11.95). My dinner was definitely something the kitchen should brag about. The noodles were plentiful and plump, also being dressed just enough to let the veggies keep their bite while still permeating with decent heat from the fresh chili. I added shrimp to my plate and was impressed at both the quantity and quality of the additions I asked for. Matt’s dish was another one of their *-marked dishes, designating that it was going to be very spicy. Although it was hot, it didn’t have the same punch of heat that my dinner had. Luckily, the flavors were abound and he truly enjoyed the fried and fluffy jasmine rice that encompassed the chicken pieces, bell peppers and onions.

 

            We skipped dessert since our objective was to grab a quick dinner after a busy day so we could plop down on the couch ASAP. Needless to say, mission accomplished!

           

            Siam Thai is located at 323 Route 34, Colts Neck, NJ 07722. They are a BYO establishment. More information can be found here.

 

Total score 19/25

Final Grade: B

A: 21-25    B: 16-20    C: 11-15   D: 6-10    F: 0-5

Restaurant Rubric

	1	2	3	4	5
Food Taste	Bland, boring, overcooked, underdone	Very little flavor, not much aroma	Flavors apparent, basic ability to please palates	Flavor worth discussing, chef’s use of ingredients impressive	Great flavor, taste lingers and leaves diner wanting more
Restaurant service	disrespectful	Inattentive staff, no regard for wait time	Staff average in helpfulness, timing alright, either more/less needed	Staff knowledgeable and attentive to needs without asking, timing very well executed	Remarkable and noteworthy, service so good you forget it is ever an issue elsewhere
Food Presentation	Cover it up please	Sloppy and the eater can tell little thought went into it	Descent presentation: looks alright, not worth a picture but enough to make you hungry	Admirable, it is apparent the chef plated with a consideration for presentation	Presentational talents are here. Looks beautiful and too good to dig in
Prices match quality	Prices are too high for quality	Prices are still too high but not outrageously	Some items are priced accordingly but not all	Most items are priced accordingly	All items are matched accordingly
Would I go back?	Not a chance ever	Nope	Maybe	Looking forward to it	What time should I arrive?!?

 

 

 

Red Store

 

 

Red Store

Cape May Point, NJ

Final Grade: B

            In the past 3 weeks, I have called this place the wrong name too many times. I’ve said Red House, Red Door, and maybe only twice referred to it with its correct name- Red Store. It also obviously didn’t help that I recently ate at a restaurant called Red Knot just a few weeks ago. What the heck, do I need to look into the color of red or something?!? Anyway, even though I can’t seem to remember this spot’s name, I most certainly can remember what we ate. Food this good doesn’t slip the mind like namesakes do.

            This is actually Part 2 in a 3-part series all based around Hubby’s _ _ birthday. Last week, I detailed Our Day in Cape May while today you will be in luck to read about our celebratory dinner.

            After searching and searching for a reputable seafood BYOB restaurant in our area, I was left with little hope for a memorable meal. I decided to switch focus and start looking into French BYOB places. After making a few calls and finding out most places were booked, I went into my trusty NJ Monthly Top 25 Restaurants List, 2013 to see what I could find. This is where I found the write-up on Red Store. Seafood-check, BYOB- check, great reviews-check, open reservation for August 10- check. Done! Off we went…

            As the name implies, it is somewhat of a store. Don’t fret though; the store is like a country convenience store that only takes up the first ¼ of the space. It is actually very cute and while your table is getting set, you can shop- nice touch. We didn’t specify whether inside or outside with our reservation so were a bit apprehensive about being placed al fresco. Again, no need to fret here either- the outdoor garden patio is covered, breezy and ridiculously romantic. I’d take a table there any day over their wood-plank floored and ceiling fan ventilated dining room.

            The menu was small but definitely detailed and grand in its scope of cuisine. We decided to each go with the 3-course tasting menu. Even with 6 meals to pick between the two of us, we had difficulties deciding. So while we debated and discussed our choices, we enjoyed an order of the Artisanal Bread. The bread was decent, the butter was divine. Covered in course sea salt, it spruced up that loaf like a pro.

 

            My first course was the Corn and Crab Chowder and what a way to start! It was, by far, the best soup I’ve ever had. Creamy, steamy, and seasoned perfectly, it had me at first spoonful. The corn was just ripe enough to let both the silkiness of the base and freshness of the corn shine.  Matt went with the Wagu Beef Carpaccio and was quite content with his choice. He admired the velvety richness of the paper-thin beef but honestly thought the arugula salad and Grana Padano cheese stole the show.

 

            For the second course, I went with my old standby, Jersey Scallops. Laid atop a quinoa and pistachio taboulei, they were simply scrumptious. The tomato jam was a nice addition that added a welcomed depth of acidity but with fresh scallops, I am always one to adhere to the “less is more” mantra. Matt went with the Argentinean Style Spicy Empanadas and was then sitting next to 2 things he loved, (wink wink). The pastry dough was light and just-a-bit-buttery while the inside chopped meat was kicking with spice and personality. I especially enjoyed the cilantro crema as it both cooled and contrasted the spices.

 

 

 

            Dinners were next and we were definitely ready to get to the “main course”. Birthday Boy went with My Mother’s Ricotta Gnocchi with Crab while I went with the Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Duck Fat Fries. Yes, I just typed that- duck fat fries. My dinner was the better of the two indeed as Matt’s was a bit too one-noted. The creamy sauce and lump crab meat needed a burst of color or liveliness to cut through the deep and rich flavors abound. My steak was cooked to its requested medium-rare and was rather flavorful. The fries, ya know- the duck fat ones, were as you’d expect, delicious times a thousand. And although a bit too large for my liking, the crispy-fried edges were darkened and crisped just enough to counter the heavy starch within.

 

 

            As with any birthday dinner, we were more than willing to stay for dessert but were surprised to not see nor be offered a dessert menu. We didn’t ask the waitress either as it seemed that no one around us was satisfying their sweet tooth either. We paid our bill, thanked our wonderful waitress and trekked it back up the parkway. Our 2.5 hour drive was long without a doubt, but we filled it with tasty conversation about not only our next trip back but to how we could replicate that chowder in the meantime. Funny, we still haven’t attempted that recipe nor have planned that trip…..Frankly, I think we need to narrow our focus and just concentrate on getting the name right first!

            So even if you can’t remember the name, here is the info you do need to know: Red Store is located at 500 Cape Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ 08212. For more information, please visit their website .

Total score 20/25

Final Grade: B

A: 21-25    B: 16-20    C: 11-15   D: 6-10    F: 0-5

Restaurant Rubric

	1	2	3	4	5
Food Taste	Bland, boring, overcooked, underdone	Very little flavor, not much aroma	Flavors apparent, basic ability to please palates	Flavor worth discussing, chef’s use of ingredients impressive	Great flavor, taste lingers and leaves diner wanting more
Restaurant service	disrespectful	Inattentive staff, no regard for wait time	Staff average in helpfulness, timing alright, either more/less needed	Staff knowledgeable and attentive to needs without asking, timing very well executed	Remarkable and noteworthy, service so good you forget it is ever an issue elsewhere
Food Presentation	Cover it up please	Sloppy and the eater can tell little thought went into it	Descent presentation: looks alright, not worth a picture but enough to make you hungry	Admirable, it is apparent the chef plated with a consideration for presentation	Presentational talents are here. Looks beautiful and too good to dig in
Prices match quality	Prices are too high for quality	Prices are still too high but not outrageously	Some items are priced accordingly but not all	Most items are priced accordingly	All items are matched accordingly
Would I go back?	Not a chance ever	Nope	Maybe	Looking forward to it	What time should I arrive?!?