Category: Good food

Good food, Jameson's Soul Food, New Restaurants

Jameson’s Soul Food Restaurant is the Stop of all stops!

The ReadyWriter

jamesons_soul_foodDuring my holiday weekend travel, one of our choices for dinner was at Jameson’s soul food restaurant. A quaint little spot nestled in Neptune, NJ just shy off the beaches of Long Branch, NJ and the coast of the Jersey shore.

Owned and operated by a former marine, who’s charm and appeal are no match for his slammin mac and cheese, fried catfish and buttery candied yams. Our food came out piping hot and served up by Mr. J himself.

The ambiance was sweet, friendly, family oriented and frequented by the locals. It was raining men as they all marched in by the droves for his mouth watering oxtails smothered in gravy, collard greens and black eyed peas. His desserts were an array of southern favorites such as; red velvet cake, sweet potato pie, chocolate cake, banana pudding, peach cobbler and cheese cakes. The choices were many and the place was packed!

Jameson also make and bottle his own beverages.

If you’re ever on the shores off the coast of New Jersey be sure and put this place on your stop.

I give it 10 thumbs up.!!

Good food

Since Some Of My Readers Just Need To Know!

The ReadyWriter

Some of you are anxious to know where I’ve been dining on my down time, like any good blogger I’m compelled to tell.

I had dinner recently at Travinia’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. The food was exceptional and the service impeccable.

The menu variety was huge however I opted for the Orzo spinach salad with shrimp (close to what’s shown above). The ambiance was comfortable and romantic, with it’s soft music and candle lit dinner tables. The scene was alive, the cost was average and well worth the experience.

Then on yesterday, I dined out at “Cracker Barrel” restaurant, where almost everything on the menu was “Fat, Fat and more Fat!”

It was off the hook on gravies and high in cholesterol count. I felt fat from reading the menu alone. 

Although this restaurant is big on breakfast, I was there with friends for a late lunch/early dinner. 

My choice for a meal was, fried shrimp, mixed vegetables, a mixed green salad and French fries. The food was good but would I eat here again? Probably not.

Tracys_Breakfast

Ok guys catch you later got eat the breakfast my brother made me. Grits, eggs and cinnamon toast. He can keep the “Jimmy Dean” maple country sausage. Ugh! 

Conversations Of A Sistah, Culinary cook, Food and Dining, Good food, Tracy L. Bell, Tracy L. Bell - Blog Talk Radio

Chef Richard L. Austin, Tonight… on “Conversations Of A Sistah”

The ReadyWriter

Chef_Richard_Austin

It’s not uncommon to be in touch with my high school classmates, especially with the popularity of various social media options that we have today, which makes it all possible. I get excited to see and hear, when so many of my classmates are successful and doing well.

Like Richard L. Austin (pictured above). He was the heartthrob of almost every female in my class at Passaic County Technical and Vocational High School in Wayne, NJ. Richie (as he was known), was handsome, athletic, buff and charming. He was so cool, very polite but in a way, he made me nervous; I was a bit intimidated by his charisma.

Today, he is known as “Chef Austin“, a professional chef who specializes in Southern American/International cuisine and has been certified by the “American Culinary Federation“. Chef Austin also is owner and proprietor of his own business: “Austin’s Catering“.

Chef Austin’s Grilled Chicken
Chef Austin
Chef Austin
Chef Austin
Chef Austin’s Lobster

Educated at Brunswick College in Brunswick, Georgia, Chef Austin has much to add to his accredited achievements, having appeared on The Savannah morning news; Brunswick News 6, Coastal Illustrated Magazine, Coastal Cuisine and Elegant Island magazine. Winner of over twenty five (25) culinary competitions, and now manufacturer of his very own seasonings, Chef Austin is truly accomplished. 

Join me tonight at 6:30 p.m. EST on “Conversations Of A Sistah” via blog talk radio, as I catch up with this culinary genius and high school classmate, to discuss how he’s manufactured his own seasonings and the secret to his success. 

All “Conversation links” make it possible to access the show!

See you on the air but in the meantime sound off here!

Good food

Had Dinner At Café 2825 this weekend and the food was Fabulous!

The ReadyWriter

Angel hair pasta w/shrimp
Angel hair pasta w/shrimp

I’m convinced; almost all great and authentic Italian chefs were born in Italy but migrated to Brooklyn.

Dinner this weekend at Café 2825 was out of this world!

It’s a very small quaint but cozy café located in the heart of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This fine eatery serves simple Italian-American cuisine in an upscale casual style location since arriving from Brooklyn in 1986. The service is/was impeccable from start to finish. The food was so authentic, you would swear somebody’s Italian grand-mama was in the kitchen churning her very own home-made sauces and slicing her very own pasta. Fresh mozzarella was being made right before our eyes and added a tasty touch to any dish.

The bread was delivered to our table hot and slighted dusted from the oven, with an olive oil dipping that put butter to shame. Our choice for an appetizer was stuffed calamari…one big roll of calamari stuffed with crabmeat and rings of calamari dancing around it. The menu said it was fried but the taste said something different.

Rated one of the top five (5) restaurants in Atlantic City, NJ the ambiance was warm, friendly and very inviting.

So if you’re ever in the Atlantic City area, make Café 2825 your choice for dining.

Food and Dining, Good food, New Restaurants, The Grilled Chicken Palace

The Grilled Chicken Palace in Hillside, NJ

The ReadyWriter

Grilled_Chicken_Palace

It’s been a while since I featured a food post and I thought I’d share with you my venture to the Grilled Chicken Palace on Hillside Avenue in Hillside, NJ over the weekend.

Owned by this Sistah I went to High School with, she runs a pretty impressive take-out joint to satisfy your every taste bud. A friendly staff of professionals, who are “on point” and courteous, I was shocked when we walked in and were asked “If it was our first time there?” and when we replied “Yes“, we were told we were going to get a taste test. Well the food was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

This is not a soul food restaurant in my opinion, the food had more of a Caribbean flair. They had everything but the kitchen sink on the menu; from rice and beans, to condoles and rice, from collard greens to a stir fried mixed vegetables of cabbage, broccoli, zucchini and carrots.

The home of a variety of chicken and I don’t eat meat but you can wrap your appetite around her Palace chicken, curry chicken, pineapple chicken or drunken chicken, just to name a few; each meat had its own flare. And the choices of fish are endless, from the Terriyaki grilled salmon to the lobster and shrimp pasta with spinach. The menu is ever-changing and “all of that” with a big fat bag of chips!

You can “top your meal off” with any of her desert selections; “Red Velvet cake” “Sweet potato cheese cake” “Coconut cake” or the ‘Chocolate chip mouse cake”.

With a full serviced staff, an awesome chef and a packed house, you won’t go wrong to satisfy your cravings, so bring your appetite because this place is “off the hook!” and sure to please.

I wanted to feature the owner and former school mate as a guest on “Conversations Of A Sistah” during “Women’s History Month” but she’s too shy to pull it off….so you’ll just have to visit the restaurant and have the “best food experience” for yourself.

If you’re ever in Hillside, NJ make your way to Hillside Avenue because The Grilled Chicken Palace is way more than just chicken but it lives up to its name.