Ranu's Reviews

Spoon Me Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:50:00 +0000

Spoon Me

216 Old Tappan Road

Old Tappan, NJ 07675

201-880-8171

I’ve been saying this for months and was even quoted in The Record in an article by Joan Verdon when she interviewed me about the importance of differentiation among the self-serve frozen yogurt places in North Jersey.

After spending over an hour at Spoon Me in Old Tappan with basically the keys to the fro-yo shop, I have to tell you that Spoon Me listened and they get it. This place is like no other self-serve fro-yo joint I’ve been to and you’re a forking fool if you don’t try this place for yourself.

Homemade Waffles and Fro-Yo—Enough Said!

While I do enjoy a good chicken and waffle combo, nothing beats waffles with ice cream—except maybe waffles and fro-yo. The waffles at Spoon Me are made-to-order and taste fantastic! Not only does the staff at Spoon Me make the waffles for you—they even put on four generous dollops of frozen yogurt of your choice and you don’t have to lift a finger—they do all the work. And it doesn’t stop there. Oh no, they will even put on whatever toppings you like for under six bucks.

In addition to the freshly-made waffles, Spoon Me also offers waffle bowls that fit right in your cup. Enjoy a waffle-cone experience with the fro-yo in your cup. These are just two simple concepts that are not unfamiliar to the frozen dessert industry, but are unique to the self-serve frozen yogurt places that I have visited. I applaud Spoon Me for thinking outside the cups.

Whip It Good

Spoon Me has a healthy frozen alternative “whip” that will make everyone happy. It’s 100% raw, 100% vegan, 100% unprocessed, all natural, organic, low calorie, low fat, gluten free and it’s even Kosher! You’re probably wondering what is in this magic recipe? Very simple. It’s just a frigging frozen banana, but it is whipped so good that it has the consistency of ice cream. It was almost like banana fluff.

I enjoyed the frozen banana whip, however, since it was so healthy I decided to add a little peanut butter topping. That made a good thing taste even better! Spoon Me also has a strawberry whip as well that was pretty good, but I preferred the banana.

Smoothies and Frozen Drinks Too

If you are still looking for something different or are in the mood for a frozen drink, Spoon Me has over a dozen different 16 oz. smoothies and they are all under $5. I tried a raspberry smoothie and have to say that it was quite tasty.

Spoon Me also insisted that I try their Frozen Hot Chocolate—not that they had to twist my arm or anything. This concoction was a most pleasant surprise. If you like hot chocolate, you are going to love Spoon Me’s Frozen Hot Chocolate. And just like the Banana Whip, I added a little peanut butter topping—so good!

The 411 on the Fro-Yo

Let me start off by saying that Spoon Me does not use the very popular YoCream brand of frozen yogurt. They have their own proprietary brand of fro-yo which was something nice for a change. Spoon Me’s fro-yo has a little thicker consistency and I will say that it is not as smooth as YoCream.

The fro-yo itself was good for the most part, but I wasn’t completely blown away. I think some of Spoon Me’s flavors were better than YoCream’s and vice versa. For me, I thought Spoon Me’s Cake Batter was their best flavor—hands down—it is even better than YoCream’s version. The Cappuccino was my second favorite and their Peanut Butter, Red Velvet and Very Vanilla are also worth mentioning. While I did like their Mint, I think YoCream’s tastes better.

The one recommendation I would have for Spoon Me is to be a little more mindful of the flavors they decide to pair together. Every other place I’ve been to has two flavors that go well together if mixed, so in essence they are creating three flavors per dispensing station (two flavors and one flavor of the two mixed together). While Spoon Me does have eight stations of fro-yo, I wouldn’t necessarily say they have 24 varieties. Some of the pairings, like Mango Sorbet & Pistachio or Peanut Butter & Coconut Cream Pie, are just combinations that I don’t find that appealing.

The Toppings

Spoon Me might not have the most toppings out of the competition, but I will tell you that their toppings were the neatest and most organized of the bunch. They have fresh fruit, nuts, candy and cereal.

Bonus points from me for carrying two of my favorites: marshmallow sauce and Nutella! They are also the only fro-yo place I’ve seen with actual hot fudge.

Inside the Spoon

There are quite a few things that Spoon Me does differently that are worth noting. The first thing I noticed was there is plenty of room inside the place. You are not the least bit confined and to me, that is a big plus because I am a big guy.

I also liked the fact that one of the owners was there the whole time overseeing everything and checking on the customers. Now, I don’t know if that was just because she knew I was coming, but regardless—it was still nice to see someone genuinely interested in the customers. Usually the staff at these type of places are more interested in texting than working, so it was a refreshing change of pace.

Spoon Me also likes to pay it forward. There are no tip cups in their store, but each month they do collect spare change and donate the proceeds to a different charity which is very cool.

Spoon Me also has the cups for the yogurt built right into the wall by the fro-machines. I thought that was a very effective use of space. And it is always a plus to have all the nutritional information right by each flavor so you know exactly what you’re getting in your cup—even if you choose to ignore the calorie count.

Another nice touch is having the scales flush with the counter. It gives it a more sleek and modern look. Speaking of modern, Spoon Me doesn’t even use cash registers—everything is done on an iPad. Very chic!

Last but not least, the bathrooms are immaculate and are covered with witty sayings on all the walls. I had to take a picture of my favorite and wish every bathroom in America had this on their walls.

Spoonwear

For a place that just opened in October of 2011, I have to give them credit for having quite the clothing line of Spoon Me branded merchandise. T-shirts, sweatshirts, yoga pants and even underwear if you dare. Yeah baby!

The End Result

Spoon Me in Old Tappan breaks the mold when it comes to self-serve frozen yogurt places. Their innovations are exactly what I have been talking about for over a year now and am happy that someone has decided to offer so much more than just frozen yogurt. This is the future of frozen yogurt and the places that dare to be different are the ones that are going to survive while the stagnant ones will be left out in the cold.

For more info, visit Spoon Me's website at http://www.spoonme.com.

In compliance with FCC regulations, I am obligated to inform anyone reading this review that the staff of Ranu’s Reviews did not pay for any of the products mentioned in this article. Ranu’s Reviews was not paid to endorse any of the products mentioned and this review is completely the opinion of Ranu’s Reviews.

Spartacus: Vengeance

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Spartacus: Vengeance

Starz

10PM Fridays

One of the main reasons to subscribe to Starz returns--and my dear friends--Spartacus is back with a VENGEANCE!

The 411

With the most unfortunate passing of Andy Whitfield, Liam McIntyre has taken over the role of Spartacus as the show returns for its second season. After destroying the house of Batiatus , the gladiators (and slaves) are on the run and all of Rome is looking for them. Spartacus: Vengeance is the furthest thing from Twilight, but it appears as the line has been drawn in the “blood and sand” and we must now choose: Team Spartacus or Team Crixus.

The Good

Now anyone thinking that the tragedy and time off between seasons will affect the overall brutality of this show better go get their head examined. Steven S. DeKnight’s creation returns to Starz looking to show the other programs on the network exactly who is “Boss.”

The blood flows on Spartacus: Vengeance as if there is a water tower on the studio lot filled with red corn syrup. And if there is not a scene with blood, there is nudity. If Spartacus was a planet, 71% of it would be covered in blood, while the remaining 29% would be naked bodies.

However, after seeing the first two episodes, I sense a viciousness and darkness that will surely incite the legions of Spartacus fans. People aren’t just getting killed and beaten—they are getting downright butchered and tortured beyond anything I’ve ever seen on a television show.

There are a lot of tormented souls on a path to destruction looking to make amends for their past deeds and it will be interesting to see where they end up as the season progresses.

The Not-So-Good

While Liam McIntyre does an excellent job as Spartacus, it is still hard for me to let go of the character Andy Whitfield created. I’m sure I will eventually take more of a liking to McIntyre, but Whitfield’s untimely death has cemented a spot in my head and heart—so while I’m sure I will enjoy McIntyre’s interpretation of Spartacus, I will never forget Andy’s contribution to the franchise.

As much as I like Spartacus: Vengeance, it is still missing John Hannah. His presence on the show is only second to Whitfield’s. However, it is a testament to everyone involved that Spartacus can continue at such a high level of entertainment minus two major players.

The End Result

Spartacus: Vengeance will not disappoint the devoted fan and is sure to attract hoards of new ones. The first episode started out a little shaky, but it quickly rebounded. I love the dark path that Spartacus: Vengeance is on and I am very interested to see who (if anyone) makes it out alive by the end of the season.

For more info on Spartacus: Vengeance, visit: http://www.starz.com/originals/spartacus.

Chocolate World Expo

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:35:00 +0000

I attended my second Chocolate World Expo recently and thought I would share with you my observations of the event and the many different vendors that showcased their products.

The Event

If you have never made it out to the Chocolate World Expo (http://www.chocolateworldexpo.com/), I strongly suggest you go at least once to experience it for yourself. There are a plethora of chocolate (and non-chocolate) vendors from the Tri-State area and beyond.

Be forewarned that there is an admission fee* to gain access into this Willa Wonka-like environment and at the December 2011 event at the Meadowlands Expo Center the cost was $15 per adult, $10 for children between 5-11 and kids under five were free. Not a terrible price to pay since you do get to sample a lot of different items, but do your best to get their earlier than later because some of the vendors will eventually run out of samples.

This time around Chocolate World utilized the entire Expo Center instead of just half, like it did earlier in the year. The extra space made the event much more enjoyable and less claustrophobic. There was also more than enough room for “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro’s well-organized book signing.

The Vendors

The one big difference at this Chocolate World—the chocolate actually tasted a hell of a lot better than the last event. A lot of the stuff I sampled at the last event looked amazing, but tasted downright awful.

There were quite a few different vendors this time and a decent amount returned once again. Screme Gelato (http://screme.com/) and Gnosis Chocolate (http://www.gnosischocolate.com) led the pack of my favorite returning vendors. If you are in NYC, you simply must try Screme Gelato. They have such decadent and unique flavors of creamy gelato.

Gnosis is also based out of NYC and their organic, hippie-like chocolate is actually good for you and tastes pretty damn good too! Their stuff is a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth the extra money.

Breezie Maples Farm (www.BreezieMaples.com) is a USDA Certified purveyor of organic maple products. I learned quite a bit about their farm after spending some time with them at the event. All you need is a sample-size taste of their products to know that this maple is straight from the tap! The maple rush is amazing and is something to be savored in small quantities. At the show they were selling Organic Maple Sugar Cotton Candy that was simply amazing. I loved their spin on a classic carnival treat!

Their most popular product besides their maple syrup is their maple cream. It is almost like maple butter, but super creamy and rich with maple goodness. This maple cream can impove the taste of just about anything it is added to. For the show, they even put some of it in oversized chocolate cups. The cups were way too big to manage without making a mess, but the mix of dark chocolate and maple cream was worth the cleanup afterwards.

The Hangover Pretzel Company (www.thehangoverpretzelcompany.com) had four different flavors of pretzel pieces (Lemon Pepper, Sweet Heet, Brown Sugar Cinnamon & Caysabi) on display at the show. I have to admit that I wasn’t really that excited about pretzels at a chocolate expo so I didn’t try these until a few days later. I’m sorry I didn’t try these sooner because they were absolutely fantastic. Before I get into the flavors, I have to give props to the actual pretzel. It was hard and crunchy like it should be, but it was not too hard like other pretzels of this nature. These pretzels would be just fine by themselves, however, the variety of excellently proportioned flavors take the pretzels to another level.

I usually find flavored pretzels to be grossly over or under-seasoned. The Hangover Pretzel Company would make Goldilocks proud because their pretzels are flavored just right. Each flavor delivers as advertised and I have to agree with them—it is nearly impossible to eat just one. Whether you are looking for sweet, hot or both—The Hangover Pretzel Company has a flavor for you. I can’t tell you if they really cure a hangover, but I can tell you that they are a damn good pretzel.

The Pie Lady & Son (www.pielady.com) yield from Upper Nyack, NY and gave me an apple crumb pie to review after I asked them for their best pie. This pie lasted about 10 minutes in my house. The apples were fresh and the filling had a nice, thick consistency—it was not watery or loose. I enjoyed the crumbs on top as they were not overbearing and went well with the pie. However, the rock star of this pie was the crust. Sweet, light and crisp—just the way I like it. If you are ever trying to impress someone—bring dessert from The Pie Lady & Son and I guarantee that you’ll get another invitation back!

Saratoga Peanut Butter Company (www.yopeanut.com/) makes some funky varieties of peanut butter and they were all on full display at the Chocolate World Expo. They gave me a jar of chocolate peanut butter to sample and I was pretty excited because I love both chocolate and peanut butter. However, I was not a fan of this combo. I really do not like chunky peanut butter and this jar was basically some bland-tasting chocolate with a whole bunch of peanuts. I appreciate their effort and probably would enjoy a creamy version of this, but this particular jar was not for me.

Bacon Bites (www.baconbites.com) combines the saltiness of bacon with the sweetness of chocolate. I tried a few different types of chocolate-covered pieces of bacon and was a little disappointed. That magic combo just wasn’t there for me. The bacon just gets lost in all that chocolate and if the chocolate tasted better, I probably wouldn’t have minded so much, but this product did not live up to my expectations. I think their combo of bacon and gummy eggs is brilliant, and I do like their logo, but the product itself just fell short. By far, their “Angry Bacon Bites” which is a spicy version of the original , was the worst thing I tasted that day at Chocolate World.

Best in Show

The Chocolate Swirl (www.thechocolateswirl.com) made the best brownie pops and truffles. I sure wish I would’ve spent more time at their booth! Everything about their creations were absolutely perfect from inside to out. The brownie pops were like heaven on a stick. Each pop was so moist on the inside that it tasted like brownie batter. Every time I have a brownie pop, it is usually dry, but not from the Chocolate Swirl. And the outside was just as good as the inside. Let me tell you—these people know chocolate! They have so many unique flavors that I wish I had the time to try them all! Save room for their truffles too because they were fabulous!

Fretzels by Jill (www.fretzels.com) is also deserving of the best in show award and I have to agree with their tagline, “You may not know what a Fretzel is, but one bite and you’ll never forget. “ I tried their “Fractured Fretzels,” which were pieces of pretzels covered in Premium Belgium Milk Chocolate and adorned with different “confetti” creations of goodness. From mini peanut butter chips to mini M&Ms, these pretzels were completely covered from front to back. Two words: FRIGGING AMAZING! Forget all those big company chocolate-covered pretzels—Fretzels by Jill could possibly be the best tasting chocolate-covered pretzels on the planet.

*In compliance with FCC regulations, I am obligated to inform anyone reading this article that the staff of Ranu’s Reviews did not pay to attend this event and all products reviewed in this article were submitted to Ranu’s Reviews free of charge for review purposes. Ranu’s Reviews was not paid to endorse any of the products mentioned and this review is completely the opinion of Ranu’s Reviews.

Ranu's Rants: Bob's Discount Furniture

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Layover

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:15:00 +0000

The Layover

Travel Channel

9PM Mondays

Anthony Bourdain is back with a brand new show about maximizing your time in a big city. The culinary world’s bad boy will show you where to eat, what sites to see and how not to be a douche when traveling.

The 411

The Layover is a fast-paced look at how Anthony Bourdain makes the most out of 24-48 hours in an unexpected destination. Don’t worry about budget, because Bourdain finds places and things to do for everyone—regardless of the size of their wallet. Anthony’s insightful commentary, delivered only the way Anythony can, makes The Layover one of the most useful and entertaining shows on television today.

The Good

I saw the premiere episode of The Layover and Anthony is in Singapore. One of the first things you’ll notice is that The Layover is all business. Anthony only has a certain amount of time at a location and that need to cram everything in before the clock runs out is brilliantly conveyed. I love the use of split screens to fit even more info on your screen and the interactive maps really help you get a feel for exactly where the heck he is on the planet.

There are also a lot of well-shot interviews with locals. Not only do these candid clips add to the overall experience of the city, but they also prove to be most educational. With intel from Bourdain himself and the locals—you can’t go wrong!

Of course this review would have no merit unless I commented on the no-nonsense attitude of Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain’s cynical, yet honest approach to his surroundings is infectious. This guy knows what the hell he is talking about and honestly doesn’t give a shit if you listen—because you’d be a complete idiot if you didn’t!

The Not-So-Good

The only negative thing I can say about The Layover is that Anthony seems to not be as descriptive as he can when he is trying new dishes. For the most part, he just says, “This is awesome” and leaves it at that. Granted, I do have to cut the guy some slack since he doesn’t even appear to sleep during his layover. I’m just such a fan of his every word that I was a little disappointed when he didn’t “wow” me with a description of every dish—but that’s just me being picky and wanting more Bourdain.

The End Result

The Layover is classic Bourdain and does not disappoint. Anthony has traveled all over the world and we, the viewer, are lucky to have a guy like him to share his expertise in such an interesting manner. I didn’t know anything about Singapore before I watched this episode of The Layover, but now I know where to eat, some history of Singapore, how to travel within the city, which local attractions to visit and more importantly—what not to waste my time on—all thanks to Anthony Bourdain. Who needs a travel agent when you have The Layover!

For more information on The Layover, visit their website:

http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/the-layover.

Swirls Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:05:00 +0000

Swirls

688 Westwood Avenue

Rivervale, NJ 07675

Hours: 10am -10pm Seven Days a Week

Bergen County—the frozen yogurt gods have heard you and now there is a place where you can get the same exact delicious yogurt as Cups in Clifton and not have to deal with the GSP, Route 17 or Route 3.

All’s Fair in Love and Fro-Yo

Let’s face it—there was only so much time that Cups could keep their distributor, YoCream (the Willy Wonka of fro-yo), under wraps before the imitators started popping up all over Jersey. Swirls is one of those imitators, but they wisely have made improvements on the flawed design of Cups.

First off—you can actually breathe inside the comfy confines of Swirls. There is plenty of room to hang out, sit down at one of the many tables and enjoy your fro-yo. You can even have a real, face-to-face conversation with people instead of having to communicate via Twitter.

Second—the yogurt dispensing area is wide open. You are not forced into a refined area like cattle—so feel free to graze among the numerous flavors of tasty fro-yo at Swirls.

Third—the yogurt dispensers look to be top-of-the-line. Not sure if they are the 4S versions, but they have a digital front-face that makes it look pretty damn cool for a frigging fro-yo machine. Just don’t try talking to it—they are not voice-activated. However, I have to say that I thought it took less effort to pull down the handle and the yogurt appeared to stop coming out a lot quicker than the Cups dispensers once I let go of it.

Lastly—the nutritional information is on full display for each flavor. No need to defer to a three-ring binder or website to get something so simple like the nutritional information.

Best Fro-Yo in Bergen County

If you’ve read my past reviews of Cups or Bberries you know I am a huge fan of their yogurt, which is distributed by YoCream. Swirls also uses YoCream so check out one of my past reviews to see how passionate I am about the YoCream brand. Without a doubt, it is the best fro-yo I’ve ever had.

Swirls has eight machines with three handles, so that comes out to 24 total flavors (16 flavors and eight flavors “swirled” together). They also have 50 different toppings to choose from: fresh fruit, cereal, candy, cheesecake bites (my personal favorite) and much more.

The End Result

Without a doubt, Swirls is the place to go for fro-yo in Bergen County. I just wish the place was closer to where I live, because I definitely prefer the spacious accommodations and well-designed layout of Swirls compared to the fro-yo joints in my neck of the woods.

I do have to tell you that the price per ounce at Swirls is a whopping two cents more per ounce than the other places I’ve been where it is 49 cents an ounce. However, you do have to keep in mind that Swirls is in Bergen County, so I don’t think the two cents is a big deal. Heck, even Clifton’s own Mr. Cupcake charges more for a cupcake in Bergen County than he does in Clifton.

The bottom line is that I have now been to three establishments selling the YoCream brand frozen yogurt and they are all pretty similar. As more of these fro-yo places pop up, differentiation is going to be the key to success and longevity. Cups was the first and closest to me, but after seeing the competition, I am starting to gravitate towards them as each one appears to make appealing improvements.

Swirls by far is the nicest one of the three I visited. It is super clean and not the least bit confining. I know Cups is trying to push their place as more of an experience, but I’m just not sure if blaring club music with extremely limited seating and TVs that run the same movie from 1960 is something I want to experience. Call me old, but I much rather enjoy my delicious fro-yo at a place where I can sit comfortably, watch current television programming and chat with my friends without having to yell. If you agree and live in Bergen County then Swirls is the place for you.

Hell on Wheels

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:25:00 +0000

Hell on Wheels
AMC
10PM Sundays

Once you come to terms with the fact that Hell on Wheels is not Deadwood nor will it ever be—you will appreciate and even enjoy this latest offering from AMC.

The 411

The Civil War just ended, slavery is newly abolished and now it is time to connect the two coasts of the US by railroad. (We got Starbucks to build!) Hell on Wheels focuses on the greed and dishonesty of the railroad industry while showcasing the immigrant and African-American experience in America, and the ravaging of the Native American land and people—all for the sake of progress. If that’s not enough for you—Hell on Wheels also tells the story of Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) and his Terminator-like mission for revenge over the death of his wife that occurred while Cullen was busy fighting for the South—and the future home of many, many Waffle Houses.

The Good

The storyline of Hell on Wheels is an interesting one and something that most Americans just take for granted since our railroad system has always “just been there” during our lifetime. I found it fascinating to see how much work got done with such little technology and was intrigued by the level of corruption back in the day.

As Mad Men sheds light on how women were treated during the 60s, Hell on Wheels does the same for African-Americans. It is one thing to read about how poorly people were treated back then, but to see it for yourself (regardless of the validity), really makes you take a step back and think.

There is a decent amount of bloodshed and violence—just like one would expect. Hell on Wheels definitely does not disappoint in that department. I also enjoyed the virtual unknown cast for the most part and eventually warmed up to quite a few of them. My favorite character so far is “The Swede” (not to be confused with Peter Koch’s role in Heartbreak Ridge) played by Christopher Heyerdah.

The Not-So-Good

The show is good, but not great. I felt that the writing could be more consistent. Some scenes I absolutely love and others not so much. Can’t put my finger on it, but I’m just not feeling the main character of the show. Anson Mount does a pedestrian job with Cullen Bohannon and the supporting cast does an equally average job with their roles as well (with the exception of “The Swede”;). Maybe the writing is to blame more than the actors, but something is a little off track.

The End Result

As much as we all want Hell on Wheels to be the next Deadwood, it is not—which is not a bad thing—just different. It took me some time to stop comparing the two and once I did, I saw the show in a new light. Hell on Wheels is a good show that takes a little time to develop and is worth a weekly investment of 60 minutes of your time (42 if you DVR it and fast forward through the commercials). It is nice addition to the AMC lineup and I look forward the rest of the season.

For more information on Hell on Wheels, visit AMC’s website:
http://www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels.

Boss

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Boss

Starz

10PM Fridays

Kelsey Grammer is back on television as the Mayor of Chicago, Tom Kane. If you are looking for Kelsey to revive the lovable Dr. Frasier Crane on this show—you better lay down on the couch—we have a lot to talk about.

The 411

Mayor Tom Kane (Kelsey Grammer) sits on the throne in Chi Town and he didn’t get there via Foursquare. Kane is a very powerful man, but is finding himself powerless against a recently diagnosed degenerative brain disorder that he is keeping from just about everyone, including his estranged wife and daughter. In order to stay in power, he must keep this a secret. The question is, “For how long?”

The Good

I should call this section “The Great,” because that’s exactly what Kelsey Grammer is on this show. Kelsey’s ability to display such a diverse range of emotions in a scene is truly a pleasure to watch. You have never seen this man in a role like this and based on his performance—it is no wonder Starz renewed Boss for a second season before the first episode even aired.

The writing on the show is excellent. I’m not a big fan of politics, but Boss takes you inside the inner sanctum of City and State government like no other show I’ve seen. I also like the way the show is shot and I definitely see the influence of the show’s creator Farhad Safinia (Apocalypto) in some of the racier scenes (thankfully involving Kathleen Robertson)—sounds odd, but you’ll see when you watch the show.

The Not-So-Good

I really don’t have anything truly negative to say about the content of the show itself, however, if I must bitch about something—I think the opening credits are pretty weak. Unless they somehow tie into the show later in the season—I think the sketch drawings make the show appear juvenile. However, this review is written by a 40-year old juvenile, so take it with a grain of salt.

The End Result

Starz reached for the stars when they lured Kelsey Grammer to their network of solid programming with relatively unknowns. Kelsey gives the network more credibility and it doesn’t hurt that Boss is one of the best new shows of 2011—so it is win-win for Starz.

Boss will take your emotions on a roller coaster ride from love to pity to revulsion with Kelsey Grammer as the conductor of this 60-minute ride that you’ll not want to ever end.

For more information on Boss, visit their web site: http://www.starz.com/originals/boss.

The Walking Dead, Season 2

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:45:00 +0000

The Walking Dead: Season 2

AMC

Sunday 9PM

After surviving the big blast at the CDC, the few remaining people not munching on raw flesh are on the road again looking for any type of civilization. There’s gotta be a Cracker Barrel somewhere? Right?

The 411

Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and crew are right back where they left off in Season 1—looking for fellow humans, trying to get some answers and avoiding the walking dead that seem to be everywhere. I promised the good folks at AMC that I would not divulge any specific storylines, but I will tell you that if you liked the first season—you are going to LOVE what I have seen so far of the second season.

The Good

The first bit of good news is that you will be seeing twice as many shows (12) this season and the debut on Sunday, October 16 at 9PM is 90 minutes long. After watching the first two episodes, it is crystal clear that the second season is even better than the first. This show is so addicting that not even Dr. Drew could convince me to tune out.

The premise of this show couldn’t be further from the truth (well, at least I hope!), yet I am so enthralled with The Walking Dead that I often find myself contemplating survival strategies and plotting the cast’s next moves like I’m part of the group.

I think the zombies overall look a lot truer to form than they did during the first season. The makeup is outstanding and just like snowflakes, there are no two zombies that look alike. It really makes you appreciate the insane amount of attention to detail on the production of The Walking Dead.

The Not-So-Good

Remember when I said there are twice as many shows this season? The bad news is that AMC is splitting the season in half, so you will see six episodes starting in October and the remaining six in February. Not the end of the world.

The only other thing I want to point out is that the zombies appear to be on Red Bull or some type of energy drink because they all seem to be moving a hell of a lot quicker than I remember. Maybe it is just me or the living are moving slower. Let me know what you think after you see the first episode.

The End Result

No sophomore jinx here! The second season of The Walking Dead is the benchmark of zombie shows on television. More story, more zombies, more blood, more graphic –what more could one want?

For more information, visit The Walking Dead website at http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead.

Greek Taverna Restaurant, Glen Rock, NJ

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:50:00 +0000

The Greek Taverna

175 Rock Road

Glen Rock, NJ 07452

201-857-4528

11:30 – 10:00 Mon – Thu

11:30 – 11:00 Fri – Sat

12:00 – 10:00 Sun

This was my first time in Glen Rock, my first time at The Greek Taverna and the first time I ever had a full-course Greek meal. I’ll tell you this—it won’t be my last!

The Food Tastes as Good as the Place Looks

Normally I don’t pay much attention to the interior of a restaurant unless there is something grossly unappealing because let’s face it—I’m there to eat! However, I would be doing the Greek Taverna a terrible injustice if I didn’t mention the amazing décor.

As soon as I stepped inside the Greek Taverna I was blown away by the sheer beauty. I was almost afraid to eat in the place it was so nice—kind of like finally graduating from the “kids’ table” and getting to eat in the “dining room” when mom cracked out the fine china. The bar is absolutely stunning and besides the alcohol, I found out why I was instinctively attracted to it—the countertop has slivers of lava rock from Italy’s Mt. Vesuvius and the stained glass is a product of Sicily. Their bar is Italian just like me!

I could write an entire review of the inside without even mentioning the food, so I will just point out one other gem inside this treasure trove of amazing artifacts. Across the room is a semi-circular staircase of polished blonde wood that was bought at the auction of New York City’s Plaza Hotel. The fact that it came from the Plaza is so cool—I just had to walk on it—a few times! Definitely ask your server or manager to walk you through the Greek Taverna to point out all the wonderful pieces of eye candy.

It’s a Sure Bet When It Comes to These Greek Spreads

On the menu, it is called Pikilia—a selection of traditional Greek spreads: Tzatziki, Skordalia, Tarmosalata and Melitzanosalata. For those of you like me who don’t speak Greek— let me break it down for you: Tzatziki (awesome white sauce that comes on gyros), Skordalia (garlic puree), Tarmosalata (this wasn’t on my plate, but in case you’re wondering, I Googled it and it is cured fish roe mixed with bread crumbs and mashed potatoes and some other stuff. I think the Greek Taverna knew this was my first Greek meal and didn’t want to scare me off!) and Melitzanosalata (eggplant dip).

My favorite was the Tzatziki with the Skordalia a very close second. The Melitzanosalata was also tasty, but I liked the other two spreads better. Each spread had such a fine consistency that went so well with the warm and tasty slices of pita bread. I don’t know for certain, but my family of three had to scoff those spreads down in record time! We also had a Greek Taverna salad which was decent, but the Greek spreads were a hard act to follow—although the Feta cheese in the salad was outstanding.

Fresh Seafood Cooked to Perfection

I had the pleasure of trying two seafood dishes at the Greek Taverna and one thing is for sure—you can’t beat the taste of fresh seafood. The Greek Taverna has pretty much ruined seafood and fried calamari for me because no other place can compare to the amazing seafood I had that night.

Let me start with the fried calamari or Kalamarakia Tiganita. Call it whatever the hell you want, but this is the best calamari I ever had. Seriously—the best. Why you ask? Simple—it was fresh! All these years, I’ve been feasting on frozen calamari and loving it because that’s all I knew. After eating the calamari at Greek Taverna, you’ll realize that fried calamari should taste like calamari and not be dominated by the breading. Even the homemade marinara sauce tasted like it was made from the old country. Paesanos, please forgive me but I was ready to turn in my Italian card after eating this calamari—it was that damn good!

I also had the Seafood Platter for two. This more-than-generous-sized platter of seafood consisted of grilled jumbo shrimp, octopus, calamari and sepia served with lemon olive oil dressing, and had enough seafood for four! Each piece of fresh seafood was expertly grilled and seasoned for maximum flavor. The lemon taste was outstanding while the olive oil helped lock in the freshness. Never had grilled seafood quite like this and wouldn’t even second-guess ordering it again.

Rock Me Papadias

The last entrée I tried was “To Piato Tis Papadias”—simply put—a plate of assorted grilled meats. Actual translation: “The Platter of the Priest’s Wife.” Let’s just say that I willingly committed adultery that night because I was all over that “Platter of the Priest’s Wife.” This dish was comprised of irresistible selections of grilled chicken breast, lamb chop, Greek sausage, bifteki and pork souvlaki.

The lamb chop was the standout on this all-star lineup of grilled meats. Unfortunately, there was only one lamb chop, so make sure you distract your dinner mates in order to capture the prize. The meat was marinated magnificently and came off the bone with the greatest of ease. My second favorite was the chicken. It was moist on the inside and just like everything else I had that night—perfectly cooked. I also enjoyed the Greek sausage (that’s what she said) and other meats on the platter. Definitely tasted different from Italian sausage, but delectable nonetheless.

Desserts: Italy 2, Greece 0

I’ve never been a big fan of Greek desserts, so if you’re Greek—skip this part of the review and proceed to the end. I’m sure the desserts were excellent to someone that likes Greek desserts, but I’m Italian and the desserts were pedestrian to me. I tried the Baklava and Galaktobouko (a cream milk pie). Presentation was excellent and I’m sure they were prepared properly since the Greek Taverna does a fantastic job of paying attention to details, but these desserts just weren’t for me. Please, don’t let me discourage you from trying them for yourself.

However, the one surprise I did find at the end of the meal was Greek coffee. Never had it before and it was very different from traditional coffee. Granted, I had a sweetened version, but it was very smooth and not the least bit bitter. I must warn you not to make the same mistake I did—when the liquid is gone from the cup—stop drinking. The sludgy residue from the coffee-making process is not to be consumed.

The End Result

I couldn’t think of a better place to enjoy an unbelievable meal in such a picturesque setting. The Greek Taverna in Glen Rock, NJ is one of those special restaurants that everyone can—and will enjoy. Whether you are hanging at the bar for cocktails or some exquisite Greek wines, or enjoying a sit-down meal in one of the lavish dining rooms, the Greek Taverna is a place for the whole family—they even have a children’s menu!

I think it is a true testament to the quality and taste of the food at the Greek Taverna that a person like myself with such little familiarity with Greek cuisine could enjoy a meal so much. There are also Greek Taverna restaurants in Montclair and Edgewater, NJ—so I encourage you to try this place for yourself and experience the euphoric taste of fresh, well-prepared meals.

For more information on the Greek Taverna, visit: http://greektavernausa.com/index.html.