SUNDAY, July 6, is Hoboken Cove Boathouse’s Free Kayaking Day and it’s open to novices and experts alike. It sounds like a great way to get involved with local, grassroots adventure-seekers. According to their website, “HCCB is currently supported by voluntary help and borrowed kayaks and equipment from the Downtown Boathouse in Manhattan. Trained kayakers will be hand to provide tips for new paddlers.” (sic)

Even if you’re not interesting in getting that close to the (actually cleaner) Hudson, go to this page on their site where you can support the Boathouse in encouraging the director of planning to expand public access to the water.

If you’ve gone to these free kayaking events in previous years, you’re still going to want to click here because they’ve changed locations!

Thanks to a reader for telling us about this!

*image from flickr

I can’t say I have ever been a big fan of feta, but since becoming a teacher, I have been surrounded by feta-fanatic Greek women. They cook and bake or bring in all kinds of feta-filled foods (even green olives!); every day is a Greek feast at my school. So feta and I went from uncomfortable acquaintances to friendly neighbors.

At Tulas, a Union City cafe that offers authentic Greek cuisine, feta, oregano and grilled meats are just some of the traditional ingredients used to create a truly appetizing menu. Some of the items listed include mousaka (a dish made with eggplant and ground beef), pastichio (actually my favorite Greek meal made with macaroni and ground beef), and souvlaki platters and gyros. Another great thing about its menu is that, unlike many other Greek restaurants I’ve frequented, Tulas offers descriptions for all their dishes, rather than letting the “rest of us” figure out what kolokithokeftedes* is, never mind its pronunciation.

On my first night experiencing their food, I tasted their Greek salad with grilled calamari, spanakopita (spinach pie), and Greek fries. I have to tell you - I have a new-found love for red wine vinegar; the salad dressing was so delicious I almost forgot I was eating a salad for dinner. The calamari was grilled just right, bringing out the natural flavor without overcooking it and turning into rubber.

I just had to try the Greek fries, described as fries seasoned with lemon and oregano since that seasoning is very traditional and something I had never had on fries before. The fries were not crispy in any way — quite floppy actually. I debated putting it in my oven to brown them a little but decided against heating up my little apartment. I couldn’t detect much of a lemon flavor, but the oregano was pronounced, in an enjoyable way. With a little ketchup, they were fine, even floppy. I would consider using these seasonings myself the next time I make fries or just baked potatoes.

Now, like feta, spinach was also never popular with my palate. Yet I knew this spinach pie was a very popular dish (my co-workers brag about theirs all the time and have brought them in to share), so I wanted to see how a restaurant might make it. Since it’s listed as an appetizer, I was expecting it to be fairly small, but it was bigger than my hand (from wrist to the tip of my middle finger is less than 6.5″) - definitely very filling. The philo was light and crusty as it’s supposed to be, and it was overflowing with spinach. I don’t know if it’s normally seasoned or not, but it simply tasted steamed. It made me think I was eating something healthy, despite being enjoyable. I ended up pulling some of the spinach out since it really was just too filling.

I know I often say I would be willing to order from or visit a place again, but I actually just can’t wait to eat Tulas’ Greek treats again.

(*It’s zucchini meatballs)

Tulas Cafe
4601 Park Ave
Union City, 07087
201-348-1300
(open 11AM to 10PM)

The Meadowlands Fair returns this week!

If you like spending your hard-earned money riding around in death traps, playing fixed carnival games and eating funnel cake, your time has come!

There are plenty of money-saving promotions going on:

June 26: Preview Dollar Day - Enjoy $1 parking, games, rides, and admission.
June 27 - 29: Preview Weekend - Buy one unlimited ride stamp for $23.99 and get a second for $12.
June 30: Unlimited Carload Day - Fill up your car; $69.99 covers admission and unlimited rides for everyone!
July 9:State Fair Dew Day: Save $5 on an admission/ride combo ticket with specially marked cans of Mountain Dew.
July 13: Patron Appreciation Day - $25 dollars covers admission and an unlimited ride stamp.

Have fun at the fair!

Email your stories and photos to info@gooutjersey.com

Meadowlands State Fair
Giants Stadium Fairgrounds
Route 3 West, East Rutherford
June 26-July 13 2008
www.njfair.com

Insulting? Typical? Or just pain boring?

Post your opinions below

On a recent Saturday night, as our stomachs growled (and neither my wife nor I wanted to cook), we decided to venture out to a nearby Italian restaurant called Bella Sera (saving precious gas money by staying within 2 miles of home). I called the restaurant at 6:15 pm to see if a last-minute table would be possible. As the phone rang repeatedly, I had my doubts, but finally the guy on the other end said, “Come on down; the wait won’t be long.”

When we arrived, the front waiting area was busy but passable. We gave our names and had a table within 10 minutes — so far it was going good.

As a lover of Italian food, I was excited to try this local restaurant for the first time. I ordered the chicken parmigiana for my entree as I usually do the first time I dine at an Italian restaurant. My logic is, if you can’t make a decent chicken parm, the place is doomed! My wife decided to go with the balsamic chicken since she is doing Weight Watchers right now.

As an appetizer, I ordered the escargot and my wife ordered the seafood salad. The turnaround for the appetizers was very quick for a busy Saturday night with many large tables of hungry people among us. The escargot arrived about 10 minutes later, and was very good. They gave a big order for just $7.95. My wife’s seafood salad came in a big plate, causing her to ponder how she could eat it all plus her entree. She dug in and stopped to gasp for air about halfway through. The server walking by stopped and inquired, “Should I wrap it up to go?” Yes, please!

Our entrees came out a little while later and were very generous portions. Both orders came with a small bowl of pasta and it was obvious my wife would not be finishing her chicken tonight. So the real question was, would I finish mine? The chicken parm was delicious and I anticipated I would be eating the whole thing.

Fast forward about 20 minutes later as the server handed us the containers of our leftovers; we had had our fill for the night. For a dinner consisting of two appetizers, entrees and two iced teas, the bill came to just over $50 — not bad considering we had three containers of leftovers to enjoy over the next few days.

Next time we go back, we will bring our favorite wine as it is a BYOB and most tables there had bottles of wine or beer.

For a small town, this little Italian restaurant is a gem — just ask the constant flow of hungry people that continued in well after we were seated. We will return for more in the near future, as will all the locals who know that Bella Sera is the place to go for great food!

by Tom Kaszner of Riverdale, NJ

Bella Sera
60 Main St
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
973-283-8020

Saturday, in search of something out of our routine (Peruvian, Thai, Colombian and back again), we chose to eat from Ana’s Kitchen. A quaint little Brazilian/Peruvian spot with a bright yellow awning, Ana’s Kitchen offers (what I assume to be) typical Brazilian/Portuguese fare along with plates like chicken parmigiana, Greek salad, burgers, wraps, and the like. According to their website, the husband-and-wife owners both have considerable previous restaurant experience, and it shows.

My fried chicken in garlic sauce was a surprise. For one, I ordered it picturing breaded chicken cutlets for some reason, so when I saw the small pieces of chicken on bones, I took an initially-unhappy double take. Not something I would normally order. Not a fan of bones unless we’re talking hot wings. Had I just wasted $8?

No; clearly this was a mistake worth making. Served on a large serving of fluffy rice with slivers of garlic everywhere and a side of beans, it was actually tasty. The garlic had been roasted with the chicken just enough to bring out its sweetness, which is nice since you know garlic flavors linger forever in your mouth. The skin was definitely crispy but, unlike other fried chicken I’ve had, it wasn’t exceptionally greasy, so I felt like I was eating almost healthy.

We also ordered the sauteed steak with ham and egg, which came with fries. The steak was cooked well (as my companion prefers it), and yet was still tender and juicy. The fries, cut into medium-width chips and baked, were just crispy enough while still maintaining the great potato flavor you’d hope for. Of course, due to my chicken, everything tasted like garlic to me, but I’m not complaining.

Rarely do I willingly break routine, and I’ve since decided that ordering a mistaken dish that ends up tasting better than expected, is more fulfilling than getting exactly what you thought you were ordering.

Oh, and another great surprise: the two dishes were just about $22.

Ana’s Kitchen
5104 Park Ave, West New York
201-766-9363
http://anaskitchen.com/

In college, a feast of all-night studying usually meant popcorn and soda for nourishment or, if lucky, some ramen noodles, of course. Now that I’m married, it means ordering in. I should have gone with the popcorn Saturday night.

We ordered from Rice Shop, a restaurant whose menu I found in my entryway. I had assumed since people in this building ordered from there it shouldn’t be too bad. That or they lack taste buds.

No, I shouldn’t be so harsh. My husband’s order of shrimp pad thai was “not worse than other places”, even if there were just 3 pieces of shrimp and they charged $1 for extra peanuts (understandable but unique). My spicy thai tataki beef salad wasn’t bad either — there were pieces of meat (kinda fatty but well-cooked) and mango, pineapple, peppers, lettuce with a sweet and spicy dressing that was enjoyable. My tom yum goong with shrimp and thai noodles soup, however, was not well put together. The broth was delicious - spicy and spiked with lime juice - but it was so overloaded with noodles (and scant veggies and shrimp) that it wasn’t much like a soup. More like tasty wet noodles.

I should add that I had decided on ordering from there also because they offer some steamed dishes advertised as healthy. I didn’t end up ordering healthy dishes, though. Hey - I was studying and needed calories for energy!

I don’t think I’d order from there again, but I may give them a chance if I was walking around Hoboken, desperate for thai with no other option before me. I would be open to trying other dishes from here since they do have a fairly extensive menu, including Vietnamese plates, but I likely wouldn’t get what I ordered Saturday night. The food was filling enough to fuel my studies until 2AM.

If you’ve had better or similar experiences, please post your comments below.

Rice Shop
304 Washington St
201-798-8382
(you can order online at delivery.com)

It’s BYOB

Today, Krispy Kreme will be giving out free doughnuts but you won’t be getting any!

Unfortunately, Kristpy Kreme, its inviting red light and warm fresh doughnuts are not located in New Jersey.

Fortunately for Jerseyites, one of the top ten doughnut places in the country is located within our great state. If you want to celebrate by patronizing Obco’s Donuts in Tom’s River, they are highly rated by MSN City Guides.

Check out today’s Click This!

(*Obviously I am being completely sarcastic. In fact, I am blogging while crunching at this very moment. 84….85….86…)

(**out-of-state memberships are transferable for new residents)

Or perhaps you drink like a fish, are known for holding your liquor, and know several Jersey bartenders by name (and they know yours). Has the economic slump simply meant racing out of work so you don’t miss a minute of happy hour (as opposed to god-forbid cutting back on bar hopping)?

Do acquaintances and strangers call you “harsh”, “brash” or “foul-mouthed” while friends defend you as “witty” or “sarcastic”? Or maybe you’ve been stared at by dates as you sniff your wine, or struggle to detect the subtle flavors of a dish.

Or maybe you are what’s often called “artsy” — you own a dog-eared copy of Leonard Maltin’s Movie and Video Guide, are a regular at Maxwell’s or other music venues, attend all the summer outdoor screenings known to man, and can quote lines from such films as Garden State, The Goonies or Office Space with perfect intonation.

If any of these descriptions sound like you, send some reviews our way via donna@gooutjersey.com

We are seeking to more actively involve our most creative reader(s) — you!

Requirements for submission:

1. The venue/event reviewed must take place in Jersey (or, if you’re reviewing something like a band, the band must be based in Jersey).

2. In your email, the subject heading must be GOJ Review.

3. Time constraints may limit how quickly we reply, so if your piece is timely (i.e. giving a heads up about something readers need to add to their calendars ASAP), include the word TIMELY in the email subject.

Should your piece get chosen, an email will be sent to you confirming its acceptance. Then an edited copy will be sent to you for your review. Then, either it will get published or re-written by you.

Want to include photos? Awesome. DON’T EMAIL THEM. Upload them to Flickr and tag them gooutjersey

*As in volunteered, unpaid, soul-enriching assistance