The people: Tuggies, Chard and Snef (Narn was away on business so he missed his “golden ticket” in terms of food euphoria – Jersey Shore watchers, take notice. More references to come.)
The problem: We are starving. We have options – in fact pretty much any restaurant in the greater North Jersey area, and trust me there are plenty of good ones to choose from, at our fingertips, but we cannot decide where to go.
So we said we enjoyed food, we didn’t say we were good at making decisions. The biggest obstacle we face is that we are all strongly opinionated about our food and at any given moment, we each have one… or more very different cravings. Therefore, on this given night, we are all at a shouting match (very common might I add) about where to go eat.
The contenders so far: Chard, along with Larry, also part of our entourage, are salivating at the thought of Cheeburger Cheeburger. We initially tried Cheeburger Cheeburger in Sarasota, Florida but were thrilled at the recent opening of our very own location in Rutherford, NJ. Although Cheeburger Cheeburger can hold its own in our book, with its milkshakes galore, French fries with dipping sauces and most importantly, one-pound burgers as its claim to fame, (readers take note, Cheeburger Cheeburger will likely be featured at a later date), this was not what Snef and Tuggies had in mind on this particular night.
In fact, after watching Top Chef, and its “Italian theme” (go Fabio!), they were in the mood for one thing, and one thing only: PASTA! On their minds was Bazzareli’s, the only place to go to for francaise, be it chicken or veal. This is a big deal considering the number of Italian restaurants in New Jersey. However, even with a majority vote, Bazzareli’s was not the final decision of the night.
After much consideration, famous Hoboken, New Jersey was put on the table. The tiny square mile, Washington Street, and not one, but three stops, was the final decision of the night. Tuggies suggested Benny Tudinos. Snef suggested Taco Truck. And then as if the sky opened up and angels began to sing in triumph, they both looked at each other and said: BOTH! And this is how the typical Thursday night turned into a night with delicious food.
On the menu:
- Al Pastor Tacos (adobo marinated pork with onions, cilantro and pineapple)
- Barbacoa de Costilla Tacos (pastille braised shredded beef with onions and cilantro)
- Carnitas Michoacan (slow braised sweet pork with onions and cilantro)
- Guacamole with chips (obviously)
With its fresh ingredients and authentic Mexican flavors, this tiny hole in the wall is legit. There is nothing bad that could be said about the food, and as an added bonus, their environmentally conscious philosophy. In fact, their guacamole is our pick for the “Best Guac in NJ” award. It rivals even the upscale Rosa Mexicano. One of the night’s favorites was the “Al Pastor Tacos.” The spiciness of the pork was offset nicely by the sweet pineapple and the fresh cilantro. Hoboken drunks with the late-night munchies take notice: Taco truck is open late and it sure beats McDonalds! But we can’t stop there. More food to come…
Benny’s trademark: enormously large slices. In fact, as you walk in, there are a few pictures displayed on the side of the pizza oven showing newborn babies next to a Benny’s slice. We’ll leave it up to you to guess which one is bigger. Despite its gimmicky large slices, the pizza is surprisingly tasty, and tonight was no exception. It fulfilled the pizza craving, and we definitely recommend a stop there if you’re in the area.
As Winnie the Pooh would say… Time for something sweet! Despite our disappointment at Buddy’s newfound fame, this stop was inevitable. Yes, we said it. We are disappointed that Buddy went “Hollywood” or whatever you want to call it. Of course we are happy about his success, but as loyal customers way before Buddy was a household name, it is frustrating to wait in ridiculously long lines only to discover that the crumb cake is long gone. Or to have to pay for a cake in full when you order by phone when just a year ago all they required was a name. Nonetheless, Carlos Bakery lives up to its name and their sweet concoctions are well worth the wait and price. On this particular night we grabbed cannolis, red velvet cupcakes, vanilla with chocolate buttercream cupcakes, and a few Italian cookies, and ended the night in true fatkid fashion. Oh yeahhh!! ( Pauly D voice)
Until next time, happy eating!
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