Review: Vincetown Diner

On a recommendation from a twitter friend, we took a ride to Vincetown, NJ in search of the Vincetown Diner. It looks like any other diner on the outside but it's menu is far from ordinary. Many items are organic and the ingredients are as local as possible. A creative flair adds gastronomic fun - the chicken cupcakes, for instance. Excellent chicken meatloafs made in muffin pans with mashed potato "frosting".

My hubby, Monsterfink, had a burger made from local beef that he greatly enjoyed. And our daughter ordered the Mickey pancakes with sausage:



that came with REAL maple syrup!


Her breakfast sausages were out of this world - I snagged a taste!



My entree came with a salad that was actually a salad - so many other places plunk down a bowl of sad iceberg, but this salad was crisp, fresh and had a homemade crouton. Bonus!


Entrees also come with warm bread with 3 types of organic butter - cranberry (tangy creamy goodness), plain, and parsley garlic (OMG- soooo good!).

The meal was so big with 2 full sized chicken cupcakes and half the plate filled with seasoned veggies, I took half home for a full meal the next day. Entree was only 14.99 so both the meals I got out of it were only 7.50 each.


Dessert was to die for blueberry crumb pie made in house with local NJ blueberries. The berries were sweet and paired perfectly with the butter crumb topping. Served warm with whipped cream, it was heaven on a plate.


My daughter's ice cream was beautifully presented, rich and creamy...



This meal was a perfect end to our summer foodie staycation. To combat my food hangover after the week long foodventure, it's on to exercise, whole grain and organic produce goodness!

-DK

Staycation: Ringing Rocks Park and Homestead General Store

If you follow my tweets, you know I love love love Suburban Organics. And will often add a bag of coffee locally roasted in Buck's County to the order. This info will appear to have no bearing on the post but, hang in there, there's a point to this.

During our staycation we went to Ringing Rocks Park which is only an hour's drive away. After packing a picnic lunch, half a gallon of water and a hammer (for the rocks) we were on our way.

Right before the turn for the park, we passed a general store advertising ice cream and fresh roasted coffee. Too bad I'm not Tyler...


After some hiking, hitting rocks (yes, about a third of them do ring!) and having an overall grand time for absolutely no money (the park is free), I figured it'd be OK to spend a few sheckles at the the general store.



After entering, the aroma of coffee pulled me to many bins of bulk coffee by Homestead roasters - very same local Buck's County company I had purchased through Suburban Organics! This was the origin and I was thrilled to have found it, even by accident. After helping myself to a pound of an intriguing blend...



We ordered Pennsylvania Dutch ice cream in a mind bendingly good flavor: cake with fudge frosting ripples and sat in the dining room to enjoy it.



My daughter loved that the chairs looked like watermelons. (So did I.) And there were pump pots full of brewed coffee to enjoy with our ice cream.

I can't recommend this enough...Ringing Rocks is just big enough to spend a few unusually fun hours and cooling off in the the general store on the way out was a perfect end to the day. The ride to and from on either Route 29 (NJ side) or 32 (PA side) is tree lined and offers amazing views of the Delaware.

Crowded theme parks will never rival a trip with my little girl where we share exceptional food and natural wonders.



-DK

Staycation: Field Guide for New Hope, PA

During our Staycation, we spent some time about a half an hour away in New Hope, PA. Although fun, it's one of those towns that brings a lotta tourists.
To successfully New Hope on a summer Sunday, a few givens need to be considered:
- most shops don't open until noon
- once shops open, parking and traffic are an issue
- shopping in specialty stores does not thrill children
- crowds hit the restaurants at lunch & dinner

Check it:
- Bring a cooler with an ice pack and bills/change for parking.
- Park in the Union Square parking lot between 10-10:30. It'll be dead cause most everything isn't open yet.
- Eat brunch at Sprig & Vine, which opens at 10:00. It's an excellent vegetarian restaurant with generous portions so pack half up in the cooler.
- Check out Olive N Grape after brunch cause it opens at 11:00 and is a short walk from the restaurant.
- Walk to the back of the Union Square Parking lot at noon for the Children's Museum
- After the Museum, the kids'll let you shop for a while now they've been fed/entertained and all the stores are open. And you'll notice the parking lot is full and there are people everywhere! But you already have a spot, so nyeh to them!




At Sprig & Vine, My French toast with blueberry compote and ginger lemon cream was spicy, sweet and decadent!

-DK

Staycation: New food joints close to home

This year we bought an iPad, renovated the deck, invested in a Big Green Egg and purchased an elliptical machine. Just doing' our part to stimulate the economy... but that doesn't leave a heckuva lotta ching for vacations.

But a vacation can still rock without departing for places far, far away. And in many ways a vacation from home base is better. No packing or layovers. No dealing with family members curled into fetal positions due to fear of flying. No week's worth of laundry to do when you get home.

We eased into Staycation nice n easy today. You know how when you're busy with daily life you tend to eat out at the same restaurants? Not during Staycation you don't! The whole fam had dinner at Dolce and Clementes in Robbinsville, NJ.

My picky 6 year old was very happy with her slice of pizza with housemade sauce and fresh mozzarella (once I picked off the fresh basil of course).

Hubby (aka Monsterfink) ordered and inhaled a toasted Parmesan sandwich that was half homemade meatballs, half sausage and smothered in the fresh mozzarella. Crunchy toasted roll, meaty and cheesy heaven.

I had the Woody (heh heh)... smoked turkey, sharp cheddar, bacon, sun dried tomato and roasted red pepper mayo on a toasted roll. Enough to fill me up for dinner and bring half home for dinner tomorrow.

Annnnd...it's an Italian market so there are huge glass cases with foodie coma inducing things to buy, take home and cram in mah face! Like the seven (count them) seven cheese Mac & cheese that's waiting in our fridge right now. I can hear it calling...




I ate my sandwich too fast on our Staycation to take a pic. But this is the sandwich I inhaled on my first visit. Chicken breast, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella and balsamic reduction on a toasted roll. Mmmmmm. Yeah.. Good times.

-DK