The New Jersey Foodhound™

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...

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 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...

There's a lot of pizza in this world. So much in fact, we may be burdened by the sheer number of choices we are faced with. Per capita, a number of states have at least 3.0 pizza restaurants per 10,000 people , or more than 1,000 restaurants per state. Its a little bit of a leap, but logically speaking you are probably close to at least three pizza places right now - maybe more. So, let me do you a favor and make the decision a little easier for you. For a a truly unique pizza experience, I suggest Tuzzi's Baking Co. of Berwick, PA. Located in a quaint, post-industrial Pennsylvania town, its the perfect location for anyone interested in pizza tourism. The Grub: Tuzzi's is first and foremost a bakery, offering a variety of breads and pastries that are quite good. To be honest though, the real unique offering is their square-cut "sheet" sized pizza made with their own fresh home made dough. These come in regular cheese, white pie, or broccoli with a sma...

For those not in the know, today is May 15th - a day on which we celebrate the great American treasure: The Chocolate Chip Cookie. On national Chocolate Chip cookie day, lovers of the ubiquitous dessert can come together and reflect on such a perfect creation. One may find that they can pick up cookies for free in various locations across the country, if they be so adventurous. While this isn't going to be an article about that, I do plan to talk about one of the best places I have found to pick up a chocolate chip cookie, or any baked good for that matter, at Martha's Country Bakery . The Grub: In my humble opinion, Martha's is a bakery and cafe of the highest caliber. They offer an extremely wide variety of baked goods - and I truly mean that. You can find all manner of breads, cupcakes, cookies, cakes, pies and anything in between. While you may be able to stump them with the odd request, they will almost certainly have something to fit every taste (a...

Hell's Kitchen is a great place to work, always lively and never short on food options. If your in the mood for something of the baked variety and find yourself in the neighborhood, then you definitely need to stop by Amy's Bread . Now, don't me wrong, there is a lot of good bread to be found in NYC. Some people say its the water. I think its a lot of talented people that have refined the skill of baking over long careers. And, maybe just a little bit the water. The Grub: It goes without saying that Amy's has bread, and a great variety at that - they have 20+ options to choose from on a regular basis - along with seasonal and special items. The sourdough, French baguette and olive sticks are a few of my favorite things to get here. If you have a hankering for something a bit more sweet, don't worry Amy's has you covered. They offer cakes, cupcakes cookies and and a number of other delicious treats. You can never go wrong with a chocolat...

I have heard people say that the first step to overcoming addiction is admitting you have a problem. Well my friends, I am a sandwich addict, and I will not repent. My blinding addiction has led me on a hunt for the very best meaty-bread mashup money can buy and I am confident in saying I have found the penultimate sandwich spot. A place so hidden, so secret it was dubbed by my former co-worker "the teamster sandwich spot." (He was a big fan of 30 Rock). The Grub: It is first worth noting that the Artisan Bakers Group is not really a restaurant, they are a commercial bakery serving many restaurants in NYC. They do happen to sell sandwiches on the side, out of an unassuming small space adjacent to their baking operation in an industrial park on Staten Island. What they don't have in looks, they make up for 1,000 fold in producing the best god-damn sandwiches I have ever tasted. I mean it, in my entire life I can not think of a better tasting sandwich...