Hobcaw Cafe

Today, I dropped by the Hobcaw Cafe at 20 Grove Street in Verona, New Jersey. Hobcaw Cafe is a unique little spot with a pleasant atmosphere. I sat at a small table facing the self-serve coffee area with an assortment of novelty tea pots on display. On the wall behind me, there is a mural of a lovely beach with pieces of driftwood. When I was a patron for the first time, someone explained to me that the name Hobcaw Cafe comes from Hobcaw Barony in South Carolina, a favorite spot of the owners. They do all their own baking on the premises and serve a nice selection of gourmet sandwiches. But, today, I went for brunch.



I asked for the tea menu. They have a wide selection of gourmet teas and herbal teas available. I asked my server, Kim, for her recommendation. She recommended the toasted coconut apple tea which I had iced. The menu described it as an Indonesian black tea with coconut and apple flavors. My iced tea was lovely, not too sweet and with a recognizable coconut flavor.

From the brunch menu, I selected the black and white French toast. Three thick slices of French toast were arranged on my plate, one black (chocolate,) one white, and another black. I ate my slices in that order. I told the server later that it was a nice combination, that there was one vanilla with the two chocolate, to cut the richness.

My black slice was topped with powdered sugar and mini chocolate chips that were quickly melting. As I cut into it, I was surprised to see how it squashed down into a seeming puddle of chocolate. I forgot that I had read on the menu that it was made with chocolate bread. Someone from the kitchen later informed me that there were large pieces of chocolate baked inside the bread. It must have been these melted chunks that made my bread seem like a pool of chocolate. The richness was, however, not overwhelming. Otherwise, it has a spongy bread texture with chocolate flavor.

The white slice was also enjoyable, between these two richer offerings. It was made with brioche, coated with powdered sugar and had a spongy texture. I could taste more of the egg coating and real vanilla.

If you're local to northern New Jersey, give Hobcaw Cafe a try. It's special and unique, and the service is friendly.

"My Cousin Vinnie" Panini Sandwich

Yesterday, I dropped by the Saddle Brook Diner on Market Street in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Usually, the Greek host greets me with a smile that shows he recognizes me and says something friendly in his charming accent. This time, it was a lady who led me to my table for one in the rear.

 The retro atmosphere in the diner is fun. "Navy Blue" by Diane Renay pumped through the sound system as I sat at my table and reviewed the menu. Just behind me, a teddy bear in Harley gear rode a bright red tricycle. Black and white photos of the Rat Pack grace the walls in the opposite corner. As I entered this room, I passed under a curious mural that shows stars like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and James Dean in blurry form, as if they were there in spirit.

The lunch and dinner specials change daily, and I'm surprised by how exhaustive the menu is. I played "Eenie Meenie Miney Mo" with four selections before finally choosing the "My Cousin Vinnie" panini. I do remember watching the movie by that title some time ago and finding it amusing. Today, I'd have to watch it again to remind myself of the plot. The panini, however, did have a wonderful combination of Italian flavors as suggested by its creative name.

 It featured mozzarella cheese, broccoli rabe, roasted garlic, juicy slices of Italian sausage and pieces of roasted red pepper. I understood the pepper at first to be red pepper flakes, maybe because of a reference in the menu to "sprinkling." The broccoli rabe made it too difficult to pick up and eat. It was more of a knife and fork sandwich. The slight bitterness of the broccoli rabe is wonderfully combined with the savory sausage and cheese and mild sweetness of the roasted garlic.

The lunch special came with a soup or salad option and a dessert option of Jell-O, pudding or ice cream. In spite of the nearly 100 degree weather, I chose the matzoh ball soup. I love how one matzoh ball just about occupies all available space in the cup and is soaked up with the broth flavor. A small cup of chocolate ice cream was a smart choice concerning the weather to end my meal. My sandwich was also accompanied by fries, the skinny kind not steak fries, at the desired level of crispiness.