Remember I wrote about Half-Life 2: The Orange Box in my last entry?
For you non-nerds, just stop reading now and read something else from my blog that you may have missed over my years and isn't my "Essential Entry". How about my Top 5 Embarassing Moments: High School? Or The Top 5 Memories Of My Father, for my relatives who haven't read it...
For those who enjoy video games, read on.
One of my favorite meals is brunch. My last report was about Court Street's brunch. My next report is about Mikie Squared, owned by Michael and Cindy Fasciano, who also own Margarita's on 8th and Washington. 
Of course you can take this review with a grain of salt, I do work at this restaurant, but I don't work during brunch. I have been working Saturday nights there for the last few months and eating at the restaurant at least once or twice a week for dinner or brunch. The brunch at Mikie's is every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. They regularly get a sizeable crowd, depending on what college or NFL game is on television.
The brunch menu has quite a few interesting and eclectic choices. You should know that nearly everything they serve is made from scratch. Unlike many restaurants in Hoboken, Mikie Squared takes the raw ingredients of every dish and prepares it on the premises. What they don't make in the restaurant, they only serve the highest quality ingredients and their attention to detail is what will win you over.
I have sampled many of them, and this is what I can tell you. The Huevos Rancheros ($10) is by far my favorite dish. It is a symphony of ingredients, including two sunny side eggs, on top of a crisp tortilla shell, with melted monterrey jack cheese and refried beans, a touch of homemade fresh guacamole and diced tomatoes, along with a Ranchero sauce complete the dish . It is served with homefries.
The Eggs Benedict ($11) comes as a close second favorite for me. The simplicity of the meal, with poached eggs over Canadian bacon and english muffins is what I like most about it. One of my biggest peeves with eggs Benedict at other restaurants is the Hollandiase sauce. Some restaurants make them too buttery and others are heavy with the lemon juice. The sauce they use I think is a wonderful balance between the two and its subtle effect on the palate is what makes me order this time and again. 
I have tried the Pancakes ($10) and the French Toast ($11), also. The pancakes remind me of French crepes I have tried in Paris, with its light, fluffy, thin texture. The pancakes are served with fresh sliced bananas and strawberries. Also note that the syrup is real maple, not some nameless industrial processed syrup.
The french toast is made with brioche bread dipped in battered eggs and cinnamon, then pan fried and dusted with powdered sugar. A sweet amaretto strawberry sauce is drizzled over top, and it is served with fresh bananas and strawberries, along with real maple syrup. As one person commented to me, "They are to die for!"
I have tried the Steak and Eggs ($12), and its a great power breakfast for those looking for a protein infusion to start their day. Made with marinated hangar steak and sunny side up eggs, I think of it as the "hangover cure". Wolf that down to start your day and soak up the alcohol from the night before, and you will be right as rain. 
They have also added a few new dishes in the last few days. "The Bambino" Italian Omelet ($11 - With homemade mozzarella, red bell peppers, sliced fresh tomatoes, with homefries and toast), Fabulous Shrimp Frittata ($12 - tomato, scallions, and shrimp with homefries and toast), The Defibrillator Omelet ($11 - Not for the feint of heart! ham, sausage, bacon, jalapeno & pepperjack cheese, with homefries and toast), Mikie's Breakfast Burrito Wrap ($11 - A tortilla wrap filled with two eggs, sausage, homefries, peppers, onions, and homemade guacamole).
I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. Certainly some people are going to read the prices at Mikie's and say, "Wow! That's expensive. I can go to a diner and it only costs "$XXX" for "XYZ"!"
I agree that there are cheaper alternatives in Hoboken. But I seriously question the quality of those ingredients, the way that the food is prepared and the attention to detail. Sure, eggs are eggs, but Mikie's bacon is large, fresh and have a smoky, crisp flavor. The hollandaise sauce, mozzarella, guacamole, homefries, along with a multitude of other ingredients are made fresh in the kitchen. They only buy the highest quality shrimp, beef and pork. The fruits that accompany many dishes are freshly sliced, the sauces are homemade and maple syrup is of the highest quality and fantastic with the pancakes or French toast.
But, to each their own. Mikie's is easily one of the top tier brunches that Hoboken has to offer. Looking to bring your family in for an impressive brunch or maybe a choice for someone special in your life? I'd choose Mikie's.
I can love both fair and brown;
Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betrays;
Her who loves loneness best, and her who masks and plays;
Her whom the country form'd, and whom the town;
Her who believes, and her who tries;
Her who still weeps with spongy eyes,
And her who is dry cork, and never cries.
I can love her, and her, and you, and you;
I can love any, so she be not true.
John Donne, "The Indifferent", (1572-1631)
The birds are chirping and the trees are blossoming. It was a beautiful spring Sunday in Hoboken, and I wore shorts for the first time this year, while looking for a restaurant to have brunch.
When it comes to breakfast, it easily is my most favorite meal of the day. So many fun choices, from eggs to pancakes to french toast to cereal to soup (yes, we ate soup for breakfast growing up). Many times when I have guests over (heh), I can whip up delicious breakfasts myself. But cooking for yourself is like doing many things alone - it just isn't as fun. So, what I have done many a weekend is try the various brunches in Hoboken at many different restaurants in proximity to my humble abode.
I haven't tried every place in town, but I have been to many. I have tried places like East LA, The Hoboken Gourmet Company, Liberty Bar and Restaurant, Amanda's, The Brass Rail, and Court Street. Yes, I know there are plenty of other places for me to try and I will attempt to visit them all in the next coming weeks and report back.
But my current favorite is....
Boy, oh boy. I don't know if you have been there, but i'm sure its not a very big secret, considering that the entire place is packed every weekend. Today when I arrived, the bar was fairly open, and the seating in the back was about 60% full. I asked the bartender if it was like this all the time, and she mentioned that "It is because of the nice weather, everyone is out doing things". That made sense, because even on my walk up to the bar I noticed that Stinky Sullivan's (yes, it will always be "Stinky's" to me) that the front area was full of people boozing it up in the sun.
This is my second visit to Court Street for brunch. I visit there about once a week, or so, for dinner, and love the wine lists (especially the choices of wine they have by the glass) and food. They simply hit three key points for my dining experience: Taste, Portions and Price. The food is always delicious on a consistent basis. The portions they serve aren't skimpy, and I always walk away full. The price is excellent, you get coffee, fruit, bread and your choice of an entree for one reasonable fixed price.
Of course I have other side considerations to when I dine. I don't forget about important key points like service or atmosphere. As much as service is important, I have found that if the food is delicatable, people are willing to put up with poor service for good food - like people who visit the "Soup Nazi" in New York. The same is true for a good atmosphere, like people who go to "The Madison" and stand outside in line for an hour in cold weather.
Fortunately, those considerations are moot at a restaurant like Court Street. The wait staff are aimable and chatty, and the atmosphere contains zero pretentiousness that other snooty establishments in town like to air.
I found out a tidbit of good news about Court Street this year. Turns out that every summer Court Street closes for brunch on the weekends. Turns out they are going to be open all summer long, Saturday and Sunday, for brunch. On a sweltering hot summer day would you rather be outside wilting in the heat or inside in a nice, cool, air conditioned restaurant eating? Hey, the choice is yours.
I'm not indifferent about it. I will be in Court Street on Sundays, i'm sure.
...
Oh, on an interesting side note the bartender said to me..."You look familiar... do you have a blog?"
"Yea,", I said sheepishly, "Philly2Hoboken.com"
"I thought I recognized you, my coworker send me links to read."
I'm no Kevin McCormick, but it certainly is amusing when that happens.
Marma Day Spa
1122 Washington Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
201-795-3636
Spa Hours
Sunday 10am-4pm
Monday thru Friday 12pm-9pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
The longer I live in Hoboken, the more I realize that it is a much bigger town than I realize, with so many interesting businesses and restaurants. My latest foray was getting a massage at Marma Day Spa, located at 1122 Washington Street.
Marma was based on the principles of Ayurveda (pronounced eye-yer-vay-duh) is the art of healthy living developed in India. The word, from ancient Sanskirit literally means "Knowledge of Life". Such principles of Ayurveda includes the use of herbs, nutrition, panchakarma cleansing and acupressure massage which promote taking charge of your life and healing.
These principles are not lost upon walking into Marma, where the front entrance has statues of Indian dieties, textbooks on the subject of spiritual healing and an atmosphere of comfort. The receptionist marked off my appointment, and led me into a back area of the spa, where they had individual lockers, and a changing room. I was given a robe and rubber slippers, where I removed my clothing and waited on a couch in a private area adorned with candles and a small faux waterfall.
In a short time I was introduced to Carla, who was a very friendly massage therapist, and she led me into one of the four therapy rooms. The rooms are small, with the sound of dripping water, soothing music and candlelight, all playing upon my different senses. The massage began with her washing and massaging my feet in a large stainless steel bowl. She first asked the purpose of the massage, and anything she should know about my health. I asked why, and explained to me about how Ayurvedic massage focused on hitting certain pressure points in the body and that depending on why I needed the massage, she would change the massage accordingly. I told her about my leg, and to take care around the knee area, but otherwise I just wanted to destress and relax.
After drying my feet we selected a liquid scent that she would use during the massage. There was a whole table with dark, tiny bottles on them each containing a different fragrance. I had her choose one for me, since I really was aloof about what scent was used. She chose orange mint, and then left the room to let me disrobe and get on the massage table, under the sheets.
After a few minutes she returned, and before she began she told me to let her know if she was using too much or too little pressure during the massage. She first started by having me breathe in the citrus oils from her hands three times, with deep breaths. She began the massage in earnest, and it was, quite simply, wonderful.
I could write about the finer points of the massage, but what is there to tell, really? It was relaxing and soothing, and when I walked out of the spa I felt like a million bucks. I walked home, and when I entered my home I realized for the first time, in a long time, that I completely forgot about my sore leg. My surgery was mid-January, and the whole walk home was at a brisk pace with little thought about my leg.
A few days after I called Laurie and chatted with her a bit about her salon and spa.
Owned by Laurie Michelson, also the owner of Hair Cult salon on 11th and Washington. Laurie told me she was a hairstylist in the entertainment industry including Carly Simon, Bon Jovi, Kip Winger, Sean Penn (while he filmed State of Grace). She needed a base of operations for her work, and Hair Cult was born 18 years ago.
She came up with the idea to open a spa after listening to feedback from her customers.
"At our spa we give head massages while we shampoo our clients hair, many told us they would love to have other spa services and Marma started because of that.", Laurie told me.
When she opened the salon she combined the elements of Ayurveda along with the products and mission statement from Aveda, creating an enviromental concept salon. The Aveda website quotes Horst M. Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda, "Our mission at Aveda is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for enviromental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world."
It seems to me that Laurie isn't just creating a business, but a way of life for her clients. If my massage at Marma was any indication, I can only imagine how wonderful the other spa services at the salon could be. The offer Spa therapy, skin care, manicure, pedicures and waxing. Prices and services are explained in detail on their website at www.marmadayspa.com. Of course i'm about 6 years late getting to Marma, and hoping I can make up for lost time. If you haven't been here yet, maybe it is about time to make an appointment and see what you have been missing.
I finished reading, "Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog" by John Grogan, and it was a touching tale about the unrequited love and bond that a canine companion can bring to our life. Marley, a yellow Lab, was blockheaded in form and actions, barrelling through screen doors and dragging dining tables by his leash, while trying to fetch any piece of fabric, trash or food into his cavernous maw. Many families wouldn't put up with such an unruly hound, but the Grogans learned to love Marley and his boneheaded ways up until his passing after thirteen years. The book is an easy, witty and lighthearted look into the Grogan's life of the last thirteen years, from John's early years working in Florida, to his stint with Organic Gardening to his present job as a columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Any dog owner of past or present will instantly relate with this book, and it certainly is a GREAT read if you ever plan on adopting or buying a dog. Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware.
A visitor to my site saw my review about Carl's Philly Cheesesteaks, and emailed me about a place called Wogie's:
Hello,
I read your blog today for the first time. I made it my new book mark
for a daily read. I am a huge fan of Dalessandro's myself, I make a
trip there every time I go home. Have you ever tried Woogie's on
Greenwich Ave for cheeseteaks? Its owned buy a guy in Philadelphia
and I heard the cheesesteaks are awesome.
I got to email chatting with my new friend, and she turns out to be a Philly Eagles fan and fellow cheesesteak enthusiast. I promised her that I would follow up on her suggestion. It only took me a month, but I finally got to Wogie's.
Located on the corner of Charles St & Greenwich Ave, it is an easy walk from the 9th street PATH train station. Just make a right exit from the station, cross the street to Greenwich, and make another right walking two blocks north to Charles. Wogie's is on the west side of the street - you can't miss its red awning with "Wogie's" on it. For you non-Hobokenites you can take the A, C, E, B, D, F, V to W. 4th St.; 1 to Christopher St.-Sheridan Sq.
They are open Sun-Thu, 11:30am-2am, Fri-Sat, 11:30am-3am. If you are in the West Village on the weekend, here is a late night stop for you.
I got there on a Monday night, and the place was pretty dead - but I used to bartend on Monday nights and they aren't a very active night. There were a few outside tables, but inside was empty. I plopped down at the bar, and noticed that they had $3 drafts of Yuengling (along with Rolling Rock, Bud Lt)! They also had Victory on tap , and if you read my Hop Devil review - Victory is the same brewer of Hop Devil. Of course I noticed this after I ordered my captain and coke. Damn!
The bartenders there were more interested in sitting outside with some friends, so I only occasionally saw them. The waitress was also very quiet. I sat and watched Monday Night Football, while I waited about 15 minutes for my pizza cheesesteak to arrive.
I will use the following words to stress how good this cheesesteak was: tasty, good, fingerlickin good, goodtasting, savory, savorous, palatable, toothsome, gusty [Scots], gustable [old], sapid, delicious, delightful, delectable, exquisite; delicate, dainty; juicy, succulent, luscious, ambrosial, nectarous, scrumptious and yummy.
It was all this. Why?
The meat was tender and juicy, chopped correctly in a Philly manner and invoking a mouthwatering flavor that I haven't had for a long time. Yes, Carl's and Philly's (in Hoboken) are very good. I like them both, I am not knocking either. But Wogie's was delicious.
It was a greasy steak. No, this isn't a sirloin - this was a greasy mess that was everything that a steak should be.
They had a roll which is by far the best roll I have found in New York. It had a semi-crisp exterior (not hard, but hard enough not to go soggy on you in a minute) and a soft interior. As soon as I sunk my teeth into this monster I was in cheesesteak heaven.
The provolone cheese was UNDER the meat, so it melted nicely. The sauce was DEE-LISH-OUS. It tasted like a pizza sauce, not a canned marinara sauce. I doubt it was a freshly chopped tomato spread, but I loved the sauce. Plus I ordered some onions on it and I think I ate the entire thing in 8 bites.
One downfall of Wogies is the french fry situation. You can order a steak, but you don't get anything with it. You can order fries, and they give you a MONSTER basket of fries that there is no chance one person (like me) can eat. They certainly should have a smaller order for people. But the string fries were tasty enough.
The cheesesteak was $6.75, and the fries were $3. I ordered 1 captain and coke along with it and my bill was $17! Grrrr.
But, certainly another establishment to add to my list of places to get my cheesesteak fix. I'm willing to try other places, just send me an email if you think you know of one.
Fresh Direct, the online market which specializes in fresh, organic products announced last 
week that they were delivering to Hoboken residents. From their website, you can browse the various departments from fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, cheese, deli goods, dairy, breads, pastries, full meals, household goods, beverages or even frozen foods. Once you fill up your shopping cart - FreshDirect will arrange delivery to your door, for a $4.99 delivery charge - during the weekdays or weekends, at a specific 2 hour window you specify. FreshDirect claims that their food is fresher than a supermarket because they get their food directly from the source, circumventing the layers of distributors and middlemen that others use. They prepare the food at their own facilities - from roasting green coffee beans, aging their own beef or baking their own breads. There are no retail locations for FreshDirect - which allows them to keep their costs down and even less expensive than your local supermarkets.
Hype? Reality? Somewhere in-between?
So I decided to 
discover this on my own, and ordered up from FreshDirect last week, on a Wednesday. I went on the website, registered, and first found out that first time users of their site get a $20 coupon towards any fresh food. I ordered up filet mignon, ground veal, chicken breasts, tuna steak, vegetables, pasta, canned goods and some paper products, along with a whole wheat baguette. My focus was to order foods that I would use over the next week to prepare dinners at home. Normally, I stop at the Kings at 333 River St or the A&P on 6th street on my walk home to buy the ingredients for my dinners.
The ease of use on the website was incredible. 
I was floored at the pictures and information that FreshDirect provides. It was like using Amazon.com - but just ordering up your favorite foods. I also found that I ordered more than I expected. I kept searching on various items, like Prosciutto, real Prosciutto di Parma Ham. They had that from Citterio or Leoncini, for example.
Also what was unexpected was the various qualities of meats that are available. Most supermarkets get "USDA Choice" meats. If you are unfamiliar with the meat grading system, USDA Choice grade beef is tender, juicy and good flavor - but is second in rank to USDA Prime. USDA Prime is normally only available to hotels and restaurants. I don't think any A&P would ever carry USDA Prime. Places like Peter Lugers, Old Homestead and Sparks would only serve USDA Prime to their customers. Premium beef does carry a premium price, and is more expensive. I ordered up two USDA Prime filet mignons, and had them vacuum sealed for freshness. All meat orders on FreshDirect 
have rubs and marinades available with your purchase. Chicken is available in different forms, from money saving bulk packs or individual orders. Available antibiotic free or grade A chicken, if you prefer.
Simply put - this website caters to everyone. Are you a discerning cook that wants very specific kind of cheeses? Are you simply trying to get some quick meals ready for the week? Are you hoping to find specialty foods? FreshDirect blew me away.
I made arrangements to have the order delivered between 11am to 1pm on Saturday, since I was busy on Thursday and Friday. The FreshDirect truck and delivery person appeared at 12:20pm and delivered 3 boxes and 1 frozen bag. It was brought to my door, I signed the delivery paper and brought the goods inside.
After you open the boxes, you first notice the attention to detail that FreshDirect takes with their packaging. Each box was seperated by the type of goods: 
One box was boxed & canned items. One box was meats and vegetables, which was still cold from the refrigerated truck. The frozen bag was the frozen bread I ordered. Every meat was seperately wrapped in a styrofoam container, with plastic and then wrapped in another plastic bag. Each meat had a label inside, identifying the product, along with care instructions.
Monday night I grilled up a tuna steak, using the blackened rub from FreshDirect. Tuesday night I made meatballs using the ground veal. Tonight I plan on searing the filet mignons. The food has been delicious, and I am extremely satisfied with what they offer.
My total bill was around $100. I paid a premium, for example, on the filet mignons. I was curious. Was Fresh Direct ripping me off? I took my bill and walked over to the Kings on 333 River Street and decided to compare prices.
Last week I was reading New York Metro, and they had an article on "Best Cheesesteaks in New York", which is an oxymoron, since it's like saying "Best Italian Ices in Iraq" -
just not gonna happen.
Interestingly enough - I was pleasantly surprised with Carl's Philly Cheesesteaks. I scurried down to 34th and 3rd from my office in midtown during lunch of last week (took the 6 train to 32nd and Park) and walked in to a nondescript deli. At first I was thinking "This place sucks" - then thought of 
my favorite cheesesteaks at Dalessandro's in Roxborough or Pat's and Geno's - they aren't anything special.
Suffice to say - I really like Carl's. It is much better than our own Philly's Cheesesteaks in Hoboken (sorry guys) and totally worth a trip if you work in New York City on the East side. They deliver, too - but I was just outside their delivery range. Plus they have a second store at 79 Chambers St. downtown.
The staff at midtown were very friendly and accomodating. I didn't have to spell out what I needed for my provolone pizza steak with onions. I figured that I was already damning my diet so I did order cheese fries and a coke. Also don't expect to sit down and enjoy your steak - Carl's has 2 tables and 6 seats. I was expecting it to be larger, but it really is just a hole-in-the-wall shop.
You know what else? Carl's is fairly priced. My Pizza cheesesteak was $6.25! Along with cheese fries and a coke and my total was around $10.
I wouldn't recommend eating here every week like you did if you lived around South Jersey/Philly - but if you have that cheesesteak itch and you are in New York - hands down try Carl's Philly Cheesesteaks.
Get one, and post a comment. Take the Carl's Challenge.
For the record, nothing beats a Philly steak - but this place sure comes close to making me happy.
Grolsch.
The name, rolls off the tongue with a strong Dutch accent just as much as the beer stays true to its ethnic heritage. First brewed in the seventeenth century by Peter Cuyper of Grolle (present day Groenlo) who developed the brew in 1615. By 1677, he was the Master Brewer, 
in charge of all the other brewers in Grolle. He mastered his own method of brewing and his own style of beer, which to this day is the same recipe passed down from generation to generation.
I have heard of Grolsch before, but never tried one - but it is a lager, and I decided to take the plunge. It is very crisp and refreshing, it has a faint hoppy taste that you get from drinking other Holland imports, but not as strong as a Hieneken's.
Unlike the Hop Devil, this beer packs a normal punch of 5% alcohol by volume.
I kept these beers all to myself this time, Jon decided to wimp out and buy his favorite Hoegaarden white beer.
My verdict? I think Grolsch is good, but I still would like a Yuengling Lager over it. If you like that Dutch/German hoppy flavored beer - I think you will like Grolsch. If you are more of a malty person - like Yuengling or Newcastle, you may not enjoy it as much.
But hey, give it a try - always fun to try something new, right?
One of the cool things about travelling all over the world is trying new things. I have tasted dishes made from Kangaroo, Emu and Camel in Australia. I have tried homemade wine and grappa from my family in Italy. I sampled beers during the Oktoberfest festival in Munich.
Sometimes, you forget that life is about trying new things. I'm as a guilty as the next guy when it comes to my habitual problem of living life like a horse wearing blinders. I trod along the well worn path of the life that lay before me - the life of a middle aged working professional. The 45 hour-a-week guy, who watches the weeks pass and has glimmers of excitement and hope every Friday at 6pm - for something interesting may happen. Sometimes, you just have the little things that make life an adventure.
Last weekend, I sat on the couch drinking a Coors Light, which was left over from a party the night before. To me, a Coors Light is your most basic beer, and I don't mind it or really savor it. 
Much like I really don't savor a cold glass of milk or orange juice. It's milk. It's OJ. It's Coors Light.
Whatever. It meets the basic criteria of what I want - satisfy a thirst for a particular craving. Dairy. Juice. Beer.
Drinking that Coors Light I turned to Jon.
"Hey man, I hope you don't mind me drinkin' this. You had a 12 pack in the cooler...", I began.
Jon smiled and waved his hand in a quick, dismissing gesture, "I hate Coors Light, drink it all you want."
"There's nothing like a cold beer on a hot summer evening.", I sighed.
"Come on, it's a Coors Light. We should get some good beer!", he said.
"What, like a PBR?", I joked.
"Anything is better than Coors.", he stressed.
"I remember once, when I travelled through Australia, each region would have a bitter, a beer, which were much better than what we had up here. I remember Victoria Bitter, VB - loved that stuff...", I recalled.
"All right...let's try some of that action!", he said, snapping his fingers and pointing at me.
"I don't think they have that up here. But let me walk over to Garden Wine and Liquor on the corner of 7th and Park and see what that liquor store has. The guy who runs it is pretty cool and always has a good wine for me to try...", I remarked.
I walked over to the liquor store on 7th and Park. I have been going in there long enough that the guy knows me - I know him - but I still never remember his God damn name.
"Hey man! Do you have a beer list?", I asked.
The owner says, "Oh, no. What you see in the cooler is what I have...what are you lookin' for?"
"I want somethin' different. Nothing crazy, like beer made with prune juice or added caffeine. Just a good, tasty American beer to try.", I reply.
"I got some guys who are real beer connoisseurs, they make me get some of these beers.", he says gesturing to a variety of six-packs in the glass cooler, "Here is one...it's called HopDevil! Supposed to be made with some real good hops, and has a strong, remarkable taste to it."
"Sounds good, i'll try it.", I tell him.
I paid $9 for the six-pack, and went home, to try out the new ale with Jon.
