HobokenFoodCritic

The other night we headed over to Black Bear Bar & Grill with a couple of friends to grab some dinner and drinks. We have had many good experiences at Black Bear as an after work hangout because of its consistently good bar & grill type food and fun, casual, laid-back atmosphere.

Since I had eaten an uncanny amount of red meat throughout this holiday season, I was in the mood for chicken. Although I’m a big fan of the Adirondack Chicken Sandwich at Black Bear, which is topped with bacon, cheese, sauteed onions and barbecue sauce, this time I went for another of my favorite Black Bear sandwiches–the Chicken Cheesesteak. One of our friends also ordered the same.

Black Bear’s Chicken Cheesesteak is a step above what you might get at other places because, rather than giving you a chopped up chicken steak-um, they actually give you sliced pieces of grilled chicken. Top that off with some carmelized peppers, onions, and cheese, and you have a winner.

The fries at Black Bear are also pretty good. They are nice and crispy, which is how I like them. Although we had a Heinz bottle on our table, a quick pour of the ketchup revealed that the Heinz bottles were obviously refilled with a cheaper, more watery brand.

Ashley had been craving ribs, so she opted for the 1/2 rack of Baby Back Ribs. Although her ribs were tasty and had a pretty good “fall-off-the-bone” quality, there simply wasn’t a lot of meat with them. Ashley managed to easily finish off the 1/2 rack, and despite her slender figure, regretted not ordering the full rack.

The service at Black Bear has always been pretty consistent for us. The wait staff is friendly and on top of things. Keep in mind that it is a busy place, and the bar area always seems to be crowded, so sometimes drinks take a bit longer than usual to arrive to the tables.

After dinner, we hung out at the bar area for a few drinks. We could hear roars upstairs from Black Bear’s weekly “Rock, Paper, Scissors” tournament. Black Bear has all kinds of weekly events and specials–one of my favorites being Wednesdays, when they have specials on their delicious Mini Burgers (aka “Sliders”), along with drink specials.

On weekends after about 9pm, Black Bear betrays its rustic decor and becomes the same kind of “hip-hop central” place that most of the downtown bars sadly become. So we stay away during those times. However, Black Bear is a great place to go after work, or for dinner when you are in the mood for bar & grill type food such as burgers and sandwiches.

For the past month, we had been seeing signs posted all over town advertising Sparrow’s 12th Annual Wine Tasting event, so we decided to check it out. The event was held this past Thursday night from 6:30 to 10:00pm at the Hyatt in Jersey City. Tickets were $65 each and all proceeds went to support HIV/AIDS programs at the Hoboken University Medical Center, so we could drink as much as we wanted without feeling guilty about it.

I’ve been to many tastings for wine, beer, and scotch, but I must say this event was one of the best I’ve attended. The Hyatt ballroom was jam-packed with over 60 tables, each one featuring anywhere from 5 to 15 wines to taste. With over 400 wines total, it was impossible to try more than a fraction of what was offered, but it was an incredibly educational and fun experience. There were wines from every imaginable region of the world–not only the usual suspects such as France, Italy, USA, Australi

a, Spain, Chili, and Germany, but also some areas less frequently associated with wine, such as South Africa, Brazil, Portugal, and Greece.

My taste for wine was acquired in college, when I spent five months living in Melbourne, Australia. As a result, I’ve developed a particular affinity for the heavy, full red wines, such as Shiraz, which is popular “down under”. I also enjoy a full-bodied Cabernet and a medium to full Merlot.

Of course, I kept notes in the little program booklet on each wine I tasted. My favorite red wines at the event included:  J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Paso Robles 2005, Blackstone Cabernet and Syrah, Lindemans Shiraz, Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, Laura Hartwig Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Kilikanoon Shiraz “Killerman’s Run” 2005, Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz 2004, GV Cellars Merlot and Cabernet (both 2004), and Marion Cab Sauvignon 2001. All can be purchased on Sparrow Wine and Liquor’s website…and they even deliver!

As for white wines, I like them dry with a bit of tanginess, such as the Sauvignon Blanc’s found in Australia and New Zealand. I’m not a fan of Chardonnay’s in general, they are usually too “buttery” and not dry enough for me, but once in a while I come across one that fits my tastes.

My favorite white wines at the event were limited because I focused mostly on reds, but I particularly liked Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc 2006, and J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay 2006.

The event wasn’t only about wine, though. There were also over 15 local restaurants, mostly from Hoboken and Jersey City, each serving up samples of their food. And the food was all included–just grab a plate and eat as much as you want.

Sushi Lounge continuously put out tray after tray of fresh sushi, and it was no wonder their table was constantly crowded–I went back twice myself. Margheritas served up some delicious lobster ravioli in a tomato cream sauce. We also enjoyed the mushroom ravioli in cream sauce served by Porto Leggero.

I never knew there were so many ways to serve plantains–several restaurants such as La Isla, Creative Food, and Cucharamama all incorporated plantains in their dishes, and all were pretty good.

We stayed away from the Charrito’s table, only because we had eaten there the night before.

The spinach dip served by Mikie Squared was unimpressive–it looked like green slime and, much like the other food I’ve had from there, it lacked flavor. Their corn and crab chowder was pretty good though.

The longest food line was for the mini burgers being served by Edward’s Steak House. Though tempted, I wasn’t about to wait in such a long line when there was plenty of other great food and wine waiting to be tasted.

There were also tables featuring scotch, vodka, gin, cognac, beer, and tequila. Samuel Adams had a table, as did Brooklyn Brewery, and a host of other microbreweries and craft beers. There was even a sake table–we tasted five different types of sake, and we were surprised at how different the five flavors were.

And in case you were wondering, Lindemans had a table there, so Ashley was able to get some of her favorite, Framboise Lambic. Only this time the guy working the table suggested that we mix it with some chocolate stout from an adjacent table. The blending of the dark stout with the sweet raspberry lambic made for quite a dessert-type treat.

We didn’t get to bring home wine glasses from the event, but after drinking that much wine in one night, we probably won’t want to even look at a wine glass for quite some time.

Hoboken411 posted some good photos from the event if you want to check them out.

A few weekends ago, I went with a group of friends to Brewtopia, the Great World Beer Festival, in NYC.

Brewtopia really is a great concept. You pay about $50 to taste as many beers as you want for four hours. When you walk in, they hand you a small “tasting” glass (which you get to keep), and then you are unleashed into a big room full of over 100 booths and tables, which are occupied by breweries from around the world. There are imports, domestics, and a wide variety of microbrews. There are even some of the big name brands. Most of the breweries have several different beer varieties to try, and as a result you have the opportunity to taste over 400 different beers.

This year there were three four-hour sessions over a two day period. We went to the session on Saturday, from 12pm-4pm. Due to ferry delays from the uptown Hoboken ferry terminal, we didn’t get across the river until about 45 minutes into the event. Even though we arrived late, we had more than enough time to accomplish our mission.

This was my second time attending the event; my first experience was three years ago. I have been trying to learn about beer for quite some time, and beer tasting events have definitely educated me and helped me develop a taste for what types of beer I enjoy most. It’s great to be able to try different styles of beer right next to each other, as well as talk to the people at the booths about how their beer is made.

I have realized that Belgian and Belgian-style beer is probably my favorite type. I also like some German beer such as Hefeweizen or anything with the word “Weiss” in the name or the description. I also like most wheat beers. I am not particularly fond of IPA’s (India Pale Ale), Pilsners, or anything described as “hoppy” (adding too much “hops” makes beer taste too bitter in my opinion). Some flavored beers (blueberry, pumpkin, etc) are ok, but they tend to be hit or miss. I feel the same way about stouts.

The beer selection this year was not nearly as good as I remembered it from last time, although it is nearly impossible to avoid packing on a pretty serious buzz after only about an hour of tasting beers one after another, so perhaps my memory is a bit blurred. There were several beers we particularly enjoyed though. One of my favorites was Hennepin, a domestic Belgian-style brew with a 7.7% alcohol content. I also enjoyed a couple of the beers from Heartland Brewery, a local brewery with restaurant/pub style brewery locations around New York City. One of my friends really enjoyed Cricket Hill and kept getting in line to taste it over and over again. Original Sin hard apple cider was a big hit with everyone in our group. Lindemans was supposed to be there, but their booth was empty for some reason, so Ashley didn’t get a chance to have any of her Framboise Lambic.

I was a little disappointed that Samuel Adams wasn’t there this time. Last time they had a big table where you could try their whole line of selections (except their famous “Utopia”, which is pretty expensive), and they gave out Sam Adams visors to everyone who tasted their beer.

Come to think of it, while I came home from my last Brewtopia experience with all kinds of bottle openers, coasters, keychains, and other beer memorabilia, this time I came home empty-handed. For some reason, barely any of the vendors were handing out promotional materials this time. Also, last time, the 4oz glasses they gave us to use for tasting, which we were able to keep, were made of real glass. This time the “glasses” were actually made of plastic. I would guess they switched to plastic because of people dropping the glasses on the floor and shattering them. Still, though, it was nice to get a real glass the first time–it’s more nostalgic as a keepsake than a flimsy plastic cup.

Food was limited, and sadly not included in the $50 ticket price. I paid $8 for a bratwurst sandwich. It was greasy and fatty and gave me a stomach ache within 15 minutes.

There were a few non-beverage vendors worth mentioning. Thrillist is a free email list that tells you about upcoming events, new restaurants, new shops, trends, and other topics of interest in the NYC area. Thrillist, which I subscribe to, is a great way to be alerted about next year’s Brewtopia and other simialr events. Another vendor called Beer Chips was selling small bags of their potato chips for $1 each. The chips are kettle-cooked and have a bit of a sweet and salty flavoring. They were so good I went back for a second bag.

Although this year’s Brewtopia wasn’t quite as amazing as my original experience, I will continue to attend the event in the future–it really is too much fun to pass up, especially with a group of beer-loving friends.

Rain was pouring down, we didn’t have much in the fridge, and we weren’t in the mood to order in, so we went to Ted & Jo’s (on the corner of 11th and Park), since it is a short walk away and reasonably priced. We have been to Ted & Jo’s many times, and the food and service are both spotty. We had one experience where we were seated and then just forgotten about until we got up and asked someone for service after about 15 minutes. Another time our waitress kept forgetting about us. Other times our orders have been messed up. I will say, however, that when the owner is present, he stays on top of things to ensure the service is good.

Experiences with their food have not been much more consistent. Any dish involving grilled chicken, such as the Barbecue Chicken Salad or “The Clinton” chicken sandwich, almost always comes out with the chicken overcooked. When we tried the Fish and Chips, the fish was over-fried and dark brown. Most of the time, we order from the specials menu, because the specials tend to be pretty decent.

This time the service was good from the beginning–we were seated promptly and we ordered drinks right away. I had a Blue Moon, and Ashley had a glass of Ruffino Chianti. The night was off to a good start.

As we overlooked the menus, I was reminded that I’m not crazy about the menu at Ted & Jo’s. The menu seems rather limited, and there never seems to be anything on it that excites me, especially after being disappointed more often than not.

Ashley ordered the chicken pot pie, because she wanted to compare it to the one at Maxwell’s, which is right up the street. She had a chicken pot pie at Maxwell’s a few weeks ago, and although she enjoyed it, she said there was room for improvement.

When the meal arrived, it was not a chicken pot pie at all, but rather just a bowl filled with all the stuff that would be inside a pot pie. It was topped with a small puff pastry. Although the dish was not quite what she expected, Ashley gave it a chance, thinking that sometimes “different is good”. But not this time–it tasted disappointingly bland. I tried a few bites and agreed. Even after loading it up with salt and pepper, it still had very little flavor.

I ordered a burger, cooked medium-well (which is how I like my burgers), with provolone and mushrooms. Since I had eaten fries for lunch that day, I asked if I could substitute my fries with a small side salad, which was no problem. The meat was cooked perfectly, and although the bun it was served on didn’t have much flavor, I have to say it was a pretty good burger overall.

Our waitress, who was very nice, kept coming back at regular intervals. When I finished my Blue Moon, I ordered another. But that was the last we heard from our waitress until we were done with our meals, about 15 minutes later, when she finally brought me my second beer.

I guess we couldn’t complain too much, since the bill was only $38.

Ted & Jo’s is the kind of place that I wish I liked, but I just can’t because of the experiences we’ve had. It’s a small local Irish bar & grill that looks very appealing from the outside, and has a nice, clean, relaxed atmosphere inside. There is also outdoor seating. In fact, I think the visual appeal is what keeps us coming back–we keep giving it another chance after enough time passes that any negative experiences don’t seem so bad anymore. I feel like the place has so much potential, but continues to fall short.

As we walked home, we talked about our experience. Ashley remarked, “Well, another mediocre meal at Ted & Jo’s. Who makes a chicken pot pie like that?”

I thought it might be a good idea to post my 5 favorite hangouts. Now, understand, I am not saying that these are the best places in Hoboken, but rather they are the places you would most likely find me when I’m not home. I’m not really into many of the trendy, contemporary quasi-lounges that keep cropping up around town. Instead, I usually tend to gravitate toward establishments that have a bit more of a relaxed atmosphere where you can let your guard down a bit, pound a few good beers, or get a solid, inexpensive meal.

Most of my favorite hangouts are in uptown Hoboken, mainly because of their proximity to where I live, but also because I can only take so much of the just-out-of-college craziness that goes on downtown. That is not to say there aren’t outstanding bars and restaruants downtown–there is definitely a ton of variety down there no matter what type of experience you are in the mood for, and there are plenty of places that I visit frequently. However, not as frequently as the establishments I would call my “favorites”.

So, without further ado, in no particular order, here are my 5 favorite hangouts in Hoboken, with some notes on each:

Maxwell’s ~ Corner of Washington and 11th ~ I’ve eaten here more than any other restaurant in Hoboken, mainly because of the variety of good food, friendly service, generous portions, reasonable prices, and really cool atmosphere. It’s Hoboken’s version of South Street Philly or New York’s CBGB’s, but Maxwell’s is more than just a punkish bar/restaurant–there is also a small (but legendary) concert area in a separate room off to the side that hosts local and emerging artists, and sometimes some bigger acts. Strangely, non-punks like myself need not feel out of place. I’ve only seen one concert there, but this place is a favorite of mine because you can always get a good, inexpensive meal–whether you are in the mood for beer-battered shrimp, a huge chicken sandwich, meatloaf, a huge burrito, a ‘health salad’, or ‘Hoboken’s best quesadillas’. They call it all “comfort food”, and let me tell you, it is comforting.

Helmers’ Cafe ~ Corner of Washington and 11th (opposite Maxwell’s) ~ One of best beer menus in Hoboken, Helmers’ came roaring back to life when it reopened in August 2007 after a fire left it vacant for over a year. This place always seems to be busy, and it’s no surprise–the combination of authentic German food, premium Imported beers, and a classy yet relaxed atmosphere makes this one of the more unique hangouts in town. Expect to pay a little extra on average for their beers, but I’m sure the predominantly 30-something crowd can handle it. I usually just go down the menu and try anything I’ve never had before. Ashley loves Helmers’ because it is the only bar we’ve ever been to where she can get Framboise Lambic (raspberry beer) on tap.

McMahon’s Brownstone Ale House ~ Willow Ave between 10th and 11th ~ My local hole-in-the-wall Irish pub. Some of the friendliest bartenders I’ve come across in Hoboken. It’s the only bar on my favorites list that has a pool table, and sometimes on a slow weeknight, the bartender will challenge you to a game. And by the way, pool is free on Tuesdays. On the weekends, McMahon’s is more lively, and often overtaken by birthday parties or large groups of pub crawlers. Awesome digital jukebox. The owner, Francis (”Fran”), is a super nice guy with an Irish accent who takes pride in his bar and his clientèle. The small, old-school TV’s could use some updating, but they have never taken away from my having a great time at this place.

Liberty Bar ~ 14th Street between Washington and Hudson ~ My favorite place to watch sports, Liberty Bar has about 20 crystal-clear flat screens plus a huge projection screen on the back wall. It’s almost like walking into the TV section of BestBuy. They also have some of the best burgers, sandwiches, fries, appetizers, and salads in town. Very reasonably priced. Try the bleu cheese burger or one of the several filet mignon sandwiches they offer. Beer selection is decent (they have Blue Moon and Sam Adams’ Seasonals), service is friendly. Daily drink and/or food specials. Rumor has it that Artie Lange hangs out there once in a while.

Farside ~ Washington Street between 5th and 6th ~ Casual, good beer menu, good music, good service. Black motif with red light bulbs (gotta love it), and there are about 10 flat screens showing whatever sporting events are on at the time. Darts. Limited outside seating, but if it’s not crowded you can sometimes snag the coveted wicker couch. This place is usually packed on Sundays. Decent bar food….I have not yet tried their fabled ‘Fat Bastard’ burger, which is smothered in a mound of bacon. I’ll post an update when that day comes, if my arteries don’t clog before I get home. Farside is a great place to hang out when you just want to go somewhere and chill, particularly during the week, and it is also a great place to hit for a few drinks to get warmed up for a big weekend night out.