The New Jersey Foodhound™

  In a busy, large strip mall in Bergenfield, NJ sits one of the state's best ice cream shops - Francy's Artisanal Ice Cream. A step inside reveals a bright, cheerful atmosphere and clean design with extremely helpful and attentive staff.  Peek into the ice-cream cases and discover that Francy’s is unique to Bergen County, and beyond. They incorporate the tastes of Philippines into many of their flavors and even into their cones. Explore some of their savory options including Kape’T Tinapay, (which is coffee and bread a common breakfast in the Philippines), maize, London Fog Latte and Dulce De Leche to name a few. Personally, I lean more towards the fruit-based flavors and can highly recommend the Bukomansi, a coconut and calamansi (citrus fruit) ice-cream, calling forth bright tropical notes that really make a summer day more bearable. The Sampaguita (Philippine national flower) and Elderflower is another incredible flavor if you are looking for something completely unique to...

  I popped into the The Corner on a hot, muggy August day seeking cold refreshment and the  delicious juice I was handed absolutely delivered. They serve a bevy of beverages with flavors including mango, passionfruit, guava, strawberry, Lulo and blackberry.  I tried both the Lulo (tropical and sweet/sour) and strawberry. Both were fresh and and quickly helped me beat the heat that summer day. The Corner and it's Delights also offers an array of Columbian and American food options like empanadas, burgers, and salads - so stop in and try it out if you're in the neighborhood! By Amanda Z. for the NJ Foodhound The Corner and Its Delights 103 S Washington Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621 (201) 743-3722

On a non-descript brick strip sandwiched between the usual delis and laundromats, lies the food gem of Teaneck, NJ, Coffeecol Arepa Bar & Grill . A peak under the hood of this establishment reveals that they are crafting way more than arepas at this Columbian inspired café. As a background, my partner and I both have significant food restrictions. He can't have wheat and I can't eat anything with eggs. I emailed Coffeecol ’s owner to inquire about allergens in their food and quickly received back a highly detailed email, explaining their food ingredients and allergy policies. At this point I was sold and dove into their menu.   Coffeecol offers smoothies, coffee in various forms, baked items and pastries, salads, and burgers, just to name a few things. If this tickles your fancy, then I encourage you to indulge. However, the absolute star of this café are the empanadas and arepas.  The empanadas are corn based/gluten free and come stuffed with either chicken or beef and a...

  I am an avid biker that commutes during the week and takes long rides on the weekend. Many, if not most of my "fun-rides" are in search of local eateries. I found Daniela’s ice-cream on a hot, early summer ride and have been happy customer on every single visit.  First, I have an egg allergy that makes it hard to find any sort of dessert. The staff at Daniela’s was friendly and accommodating. They took my concerns about an allergy seriously and even double checked with other staff to make sure the food was safe. They did not flinch when I asked them to use a clean scooper. This may not seem like a big deal, but I have encountered MANY eateries that have no idea what is in their food and do make any effort to assist me.  The menu is even labeled for gluten free flavors!   I have tried the Ginger, Rum Raisin, Lavender Honey, Chocolate Chip Mint and Lemon Poppy flavors. They are all incredible and made with high-quality milk and other ingredients. They also off...

Kensi Thai is a much-welcomed breath of fresh food above 130th street in Harlem, NYC.  Yes, there are plenty of good local spots, but Kensi is the first neighborhood Thai place that I know of. I was elated to see their storefront and immediately tested the waters with a Vietnamese iced coffee. It was 100% authentic and provided an hours-long afternoon boost.  Diving deeper into their food, my favorite dish was their Thai fried chicken. The three large pieces were wonderfully marinated and perfectly crispy with an excellent dipping sauce. If you are trying Thai food for the first time, this would be a good dish to start with. If you are looking for something a little different, I thoroughly enjoyed their well flavored larb chicken salad and fried chive pancakes. My coworkers, who are now equally hooked on Kensi, recommend the Pad Thai and any coconut-based curry dishes. For dessert or a sweet snack, I highly recommend the Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango. Give this place a try, I p...

Pre-Pandemic I took a three-day trip to the Islands of Trinidad and Tobago equipped with a lifelong love of their incredible food. Particularly, the delightful snack called Doubles. If you are unfamiliar, doubles are two fried, puffy pieces of dough with a semi-spicy chickpea mixture in the middle. They are best served hot and wrapped in wax paper. GT West Indian Cuisine and Deli in Bergenfield, NJ is one of a handful of places in all of New Jersey that serves up fresh, incredibly flavored Doubles for a mere 2.00 each.  Get an order with “everything” meaning the full spice mixture. I cannot emphasize how satisfying these small pockets of fried wonder are. They are worth a trip from anywhere in the Tristate area and are the thing to try at GT’s. If you feel like diving deeper in into Trinidadian cuisine, this shop also has an amazing spread of curries ranging from mango to goat, which are served with a massive piece of roti. Top off your meal with a unique drink ranging from a peanu...

Hell's Kitchen has no shortage of places to find a quick lunch, the trick is finding one with good food that breaks the typical mold of catering to the hot-table zombies. Luckily, Sophie's Cuban is here to break the monotony of the everyday routine with time-tested, delicious Cuban classics. The Grub: Sophie's is a great grab-and-go eatery obviously specializing in Cuban cuisine. Their offerings include some of the well-known classics like roast pork, fried chicken cutlets, baked chicken, and pork-chops with onions which are also their most popular dishes. I would also suggest giving their spicy grilled chicken and shredded beef stew a try, though quite honestly - you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. When you order, you are asked to pick an entree and 3 sides - which, in and of themselves could make a meal for most. Again, no wrong choices with the side dishes, but I would suggest some Moro rice, black beans (unless you are gluten-free like ...

There are a lot of places to find a bagel on Staten Island, but I'm going to be honest - most of them aren't very good. Of course that's just my opinion, but I spent a great deal of time visiting over 30 shops and the best of the best by far is Hot Bagels & More . The Grub: Hot Bagels & More is your average NY/NJ deli establishment with a number of breakfast and lunch options you would typically find at any deli. What really separates them though is their bagels and bialys made in-house. Again, these are by far the best iteration of each I was able to find on the island. The dough consistency, bite, crunch and texture are 100% on-point when compared to a number of the more bread-like or improperly baked bagels available on SI. I highly suggest an Everything bagel with cream cheese, or my personal favorite, a bialy with butter (according to wikipedia:  Bialy, a Yiddish word short for biały or bialystoker kuchen, from the city of Białystok in Poland, is a small...

In and around my area there just so happen to be quite a few spots to grab high-quality ramen. Blackbeard Ramen in Cliffside Park is one of those - and if you find yourself in the area I highly recommend a trip!  The Grub:  Would it shock you to hear that the featured cuisine at Blackbeard is, in fact, ramen noodle soup? It certainly shouldn't! Blackbeard doesn't have what one would call an "extensive" menu by any means, but then again the ramen is so good you really wouldn't them to focus on anything else. They have four soup options on the menu : Tonkotsu (pork broth), Tonkotsu Gyokai (pork/dashi broth), Miso (pork broth/miso), and Green Curry (pork/fish broth with a Thai twist). Pick whatever fits your mood when you sit down and get ready for a good meal. If you think you need a starter or something on the side, I would suggest trying the Cha-Don rice bowl with chashu pork - always a welcome addition if I'm feeling extra hungry! My Order: Miso R...

A few years ago my girlfriend was diagnosed with a fairly serious egg allergy, which spurned a diligent search around NYC for vegan friendly baked goods. Since there are very few restaurants and eateries that serve food based on an allergy-friendly basis, vegan food seemed like the closest analog that offered what we were looking for. Our search lead us to the dead center of Manhattan, to a little food stall inside the PENNSY food hall (adjacent to Penn Station and MSG) known as The Cinnamon Snail . The Grub: I think first it's important to mention that The Cinnamon Snail has more than just vegan baked goods. They also offer a menu of fully vegan lunch/dinner options in short-order fashion - sandwiches or 'samiches' like the Basil Grilled Tofu Banh Mi and the Mushroom Red Quinoa Meatball Sub seem to be quite popular. Also offered is a selection of meatless burgers like the Beastmode Burger Deluxe and Smoked Sage Seitan Burger both of which I haven't tried...

On a recent trip to London, it was one of my personal goals to find a gluten free Indian restaurant - Chicken Tikka being one of the unofficial national dishes, it seemed a must-eat. My search brought me to a lovely restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden aptly named, Masala Zone . While the name may not be as "classy" as some of the other establishments, the food, ambiance, and service all exceeded my expectations by a long shot. The Grub: It should come as no surprise that a restaurant called Masala Zone serves Indian food, what is surprising was just how amazing it was. On offer are a number of traditional Indian classics as well as unique spins on old favorites that made me wish I had the time (and ability) to try them all. As I was waiting to order, a quick scan of the other patron's tables clued me into the popularity of the Thali (an Indian-style meal made up of different dishes served on a platter) which is comprised of a main dish along with a selection o...

For generations, denizens of the Five Boroughs have started their day with the humble, tasty, ubiquitous ring of dough known as the bagel. And for just as long, the very same New York natives have been debating where the best examples can be found. I can't claim that the debate is settled, nor can I guarantee that it will ever be, but what I can say is if you want a damn good bagel - get yourself to Black Seed in Nolita (or any of their 7 locations) pronto. The Grub: Black Seed's bagels are honestly some of the best I've ever had. They take great care in making what seems a very simple baked item, and you can definitely taste the difference against any run-of-the-mill bagel slinger. As accompaniments, traditional butter and cream cheese is offered - but their bagels also serve as the foundation for a number of delicious Egg 'n' Cheese sandwiches like The Hampton (beef sausage, egg and cheese), The Leo (Salmon, egg, cream cheese and sauteed onions), or for t...

Down-home Southern baking may be one of the last things that comes to mind when thinking about New York City. Even so, there are a few hidden spots where a home-sick Southerner or curious foodie can find authentic pastries and the like. One such location is Donna Bell's Bake Shop , tucked under the World Wide Plaza building on 49th St. in Midtown. The Grub: If you have ever found yourself in the mood for a fresh buttermilk biscuit then look no further than Donna Bell's . They typically have a variety: plain buttermilk, cheddar, ham and Swiss - lots of creative and absolutely delicious choices to be had here. Want something a little sweeter? They've got you covered! Cookies, cupcakes, scones, muffins, cakes are all available but their flavors change very regularly (sometimes daily!) so be sure to stop in often for something new! Keep in mind that they are a very small shop, so things can sell out very quickly. While you're getting something to eat, you may as we...

If you find yourself in Manhattan and are in the mood for Thai food, you might as well wander over to the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood and pick from one of the dozen or more restaurants that line 9th Ave. I have had the opportunity to try nearly all of them and they tend to vary widely in quality. Whenever a new one opens up I do my best to give it a try in an endless search for the best. Currently, the best one around is a little hole-in-the-wall spot called Thai Chella. The Grub: If you've had Thai food before, you already know what's on the menu at Thai Chella . Noodle dishes, curries, fried rice and multiple iterations of stir fry make an appearance and having tried a little bit of everything here I can honestly say there's a slim chance you'll order a bad dish. I can make some specific recommendations though and suggest trying their Pad Thai (good-old standby), Thai Basil Stir Fry or their Green Curry. While their dishes may walk "the beaten path,...

If you have gluten intolerance or suffer from Celiac disease, you know just how hard it is to find baked goods and breakfast pastries. Especially those that taste the way traditional wheat-based products used to. Well, if you happen to find yourself in London, or just feel like exploring a new destination as a culinary tourist, then Beyond Bread is exactly what you are looking for. The Grub: Beyond Bread is a exclusively gluten free cafe/bakery that offers a fairly wide selection of bread, pastries, cakes and breakfast items that meet Celiac standards. Croissants, scones, buns and twists - it was very exciting to see the variety of baked items available that, quite honestly are almost impossible to find anywhere else (especially done properly). They also offer a delicious gluten free Full English breakfast served with their amazing home-made bread to stop up the runny poached egg. When I saw waffles on the menu - I knew I would have to go back the very next day which was, as e...

It will probably surprise no one that the population of Staten Island is roughly 35% Italian-American . From its reputation to its depictions in popular film and TV, its a personality the island -  for better or worse, just can't shake. So I say, embrace it by taking a ride to Alfonso's Bakery to get yourself some authentic Italian pastries. You'll feel like a part of the crowd in no time. The Grub: Alfonso's is a purveyor of all things baked, be it breads of all shapes and sizes, cakes, cookies, canoli, and other fine Italian pastries. Starting with their selection of breads, I would highly suggest trying one of their sesame twists, if there are any left that is. Nothing's better to sop up some of Mamma's home-cooked sauce! Make sure to browse the cookie counters as well, the almond cookies and Italian rainbows are some of the best I've ever tried. Lastly, grab a half-dozen, or hey, even a dozen canoli and get out fast because there will almost c...

Finding gluten free breakfast options can be one hell of a hassle. That is unless of course, you find yourself in London. Never in my life have I seen so many options that cater to individuals with food allergies and intolerance. On a lark my girlfriend launched a quick google search for vegan,(she is allergic to eggs) gluten free (for me) pancakes and lo-and-behold, My Old Dutch Pancake House popped up less than a mile from our hotel. Needless to say, we were thrilled! The Grub: As you would probably surmise, they have pancakes at My Old Dutch Pancake House - and quite the variety at that. Both savory and sweet pancake options can be found on the menu, sort of atypical for the US where savory pancakes aren't often served. Some of the savory options include Greek, smoked salmon, chicken curry and the namesake My Old Dutch with bacon, ham, chicken, peppers, mushrooms, sweet corn and cheese. If you're more in the mood for something sweet, don't worry, they've go...

When I first moved back to the Tri-State, I made a point to venture out to as many new restaurants as I could. My search started in a stereotypical fashion, in that I felt Manhattan's Chinatown and the adjacent neighborhood of Little Italy were a great place to start. My girlfriend was somewhat familiar with the area, and one hot summer day while walking through she suggested a stop in at Ten Ren's Tea Time . It was my very first experience with the now well-known and extremely refreshing treat - bubble tea. The Grub: While I've heard they serve food at Ten Ren's Tea Time , I'll be honest and say I've never tried it. What I really show up for is their vast list of drinks and tea concoctions, and I do mean vast. Iced tea, hot tea, fruit tea, milk tea, fresh tea, flavor blends, slush and milk ice in a variety of flavors offer customers no shortage of choice. Many of these drinks can be combined with "toppings," which, for the unfamiliar, are gummy...

Ever heard of a salt beef sandwich? If you don't live in London you likely haven't by name, but you may know it by taste. In the US we refer to this delicious meat product as "corned beef" but let me tell you - one is definitely better than the other. Head over to Tongue and Brisket for the best possible rendition of this English classic and see what all the fuss is about. The Grub: Tongue and Brisket serves up a delightful menu of breakfast and sandwiches to suit a variety of tastes all at very  reasonable prices. Fancy a traditional English breakfast? T&B has you covered with their Breakfast Set - 2 eggs, 2 sausages, hash brown, beans and toast. Something lighter perhaps? Beans on toast or a sausage sandwich will do just fine. The real show-stopper, and what you really should stop in for - is their Salt Beef sandwich . Perfectly cured brisket placed between two slices of rye bread with mustard and a pickle. In my opinion, it compares to or beats any ...

One of my many goals on my first trip to London was to find a traditional plate of fish and chips. Having been recently diagnosed with Celiac disease, this seemed a bit of a far-fetched prospect. To my delight however, the UK is extremely progressive when it comes to the needs of diners suffering from allergies and food intolerance. After a quick search, I happened upon a little place called The Chipping Forecast - and boy am I glad we stopped in for a bite.  The Grub: The menu features an extensive selection of seafood options all of which sound quite delicious. Most often though it seems that people visit for their fish-and-chips which come in both traditional and gluten free varieties. You can choose from one of three fish options as well: cod, hake or haddock; I suggest the cod as it provides the most traditional experience but the haddock was also very good. The chips were cooked perfectly, chunky almost steak-style along with a small side of minted pea puree - insan...