Napa Valley is known for its gorgeous backdrops of never ending vineyards, culinary creations and incredible selection of wines: and now gluten free cuisine at Carpe Diem Wine Bar.  As more and more people travel to Napa, restaurants are starting to cater to the needs of their customers, especially those who are gluten free.
 
Carpe Diem Wine Bar is located in downtown Napa. Their menu is extensive and the wine list has so many great options, it’s almost hard to choose just one. I started my dining experience with a flight of reds: that included a Russian River Pinot, Cabernet Franc Blend, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. 
 
I informed my waitress, that I am gluten free: and she provided me with the separate menu of gluten free options. For an appetizer, I started with Carpe Diem Wine Bar's house made burrata with heirloom tomatoes, a caramelized onion jam, basil crystals and sea salt. The chef replaced the grilled bread with homemade taro chips. The burrata was so fresh and light and the onion jam really gave it just a little bit extra without overpowering the cheese. 

I then tried Carpe Diem Wine Bar's shaved broccoli salad with cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, basil, toasted hazelnuts, fresh asiago cheese and a blood-orange lemon viniagarette to complete this dish. This was truly a refreshing summer salad. 

Like a message in a bottle drifts until it is found: Culinary Centerfold tasted the menu at Barbalu after it weathered Storm Sandy. And the message was clear: Old Seaport New York was back and stronger than ever: and Barbalu was at the forefront of that message in Italian cuisine. Barbalu had been operating out of a small section of their destroyed space, just to keep doors open: but restaurant owners Stefano Barbagallo and Adriana Luque gave me a guided tour of what is now the full restaurant with a dining room with a wall to wall  vaulted skylight.  They changed the name from Barbarini Alimentari to Barbalu: a blended name to represent their love for each other and the restaurant. They are truly a lovely couple and love is felt in every dish at Barbalu. 

Culinary Centerfold was thrilled to be part of the reopening of Barbalu and looked forward to some Italian bliss on a plate. Our first tasting was the Mozarella Di Bufala and Eggplant Caponatina. The golden raisins , pignoli nuts and roasted eggplant were divine under the oversized mozarella. This definitely needed two to finish it. I love how Barbalu gave us something different than the traditional tomatoes and basil appetizer. The mozarella was so moist, soft and flavorful: I had to ask if they make it form scratch. Adrianna said that it is outsourced, but that it is made fresh daily from that source. I have to say it is thus far, the best fresh mozarella dish I have ever had. 

Hoboken Farmers Market is in full swing with fresh produce and great foodie finds. Pickle Licious is putting the licious in the local market, and Culinary Centerfold was "pickled" pink with its Chili Infused Pickle Slices.  Pickle Licious also had an assortment of hummus and Olive Tapenade, that was divine. Robyn Samra, known as the "Pickle Lady": runs Pickle Licious with her husband Ray Clavo and two daughters Alex and Taylor.

With so much heat packed in one bite, Can a Papa Rellena be too big? Boston Scarlette says no! On this plate...BIGGER IS BETTER! 

La Isla's has mastered the Papa Rellena. I could not get enough of this ball of fluffy mashed potatoes with spicy meat in the center. It was like opening a box within a box, the flavor just kept coming undone in my mouth. The dipping sauce had a kick to it: that was inviting and dangerous, to the preservation of my taste buds. But I didn't care, I was going to finish this bad boy. I took breaks, with the Arroz con Gandules (yellow rice with Pigeon Peas) and a can of Classic Coke. It was delectable, but I kept going back to the Big Papa. 

I was not the only one obsessed with their plate choices. The guy next to me was making food porn with his cell phone. I quickly interjected and asked if he was a foodie. And YES, he was: and allowed me to get in on the action. So we both shared our plates, instagrams and snapped away. He also shared his Yuca with me: just a small bite. It was golden yum with a shot of minced garlic on top. Wish I had ordered some, but I was plenty full. I watched as he devoured his El Cubano: a sandwich with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese and a thin pickle on Cuban bread lathered in garlic mojo. I felt like I just had a "When Harry Met Sally" moment, but there was no faking here. Our foodie senses had climaxed with so much robust flavors. 

To cleanse our palates and take in the moment, we both ordered the Cuban Espresso with a shot of miracle. The thick froth was a delight on my lips, as I sipped away. Ahhhh, I felt like I could close my eyes and wake up in Havana, Cuba. 

Instead, I was sitting elbow to elbow with a foodie and many locals in the "Mile Square". But when I need to escape the busy city life, I can go to La Isla's for authentic Cuban Food, great people and enjoy a Great Big Ball of  Fire... Papa Rellena. 



Note: La Isla's is so hot, not even heat guru Bobby Flay could beat Owner Omar Giner in a "throwdown" on Throwdown with Bobby Flay. The infamous Omar's Stuffed French Toast prevailed: filled with Strawberry and Guava Cream Cheese, coated with almonds and corn flakes.

La Isla Restaurant 
104 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Tel 201 659-8197
Fax 201 659-8320
Sorry, reservations not taken 
We are a BYOB with no cork fees
Credit Cards Welcome

Anthony Pino is a household name in Hoboken, and is known for his impeccable Northern Italian cuisine featured at Anthony David's. But, according to him, you have to keep evolving and set the counter for the latest trends. Literally, Anthony has done that with the newly renovated space and marble counter top at Anthony David's. 

Besides his honed culinary talents, this is part of what keeps him current and on the tips of people's tongues in Hoboken: whether they are talking about his latest culinary venture or dish.

Recently, I had a chance to take in the updated scene at a special reopening party and taste the new Antipasto menu. It was simply inviting and divine. A couple friends joined me, sharing: white wine, artisanal cheeses, brussel sprouts, and grilled artichoke with the right mysteriously divine seasoning. 

Mysterious, because it took great finesse to create the deep profile of flavors ...allowing them to become a symphony in one great bite. 


Impressed with how sophisticated this afternoon delight was, I had to go back again. There was one plate that evaded me at the party: the roasted duck. Today, it was all about the duck. Although, there was no goose in sight...this sweet, moist and well cured duck: dripping with glazed juices... was definitely playing games on my tongue. I felt goosed, with each bite I took, and gladly so. I found a new meat to love...and will be bringing back some friends to share my new afternoon delight.

Oh Duck, sweet Duck....for an afternoon delight, Anthony David's is definitely it! 

-Boston Scarlette

DIAMOND NUTS GUY    VS.   THE KRAFT ITALIAN
Many woman find themselves underwhelmed by the courtship of men in today's dating world. Knowing that women do most the food shopping and the latter, could that explain the influx of promotional male models associated with food products? The grocery industry has definitely heated up our shopping experience. 

Two leading companies have really pushed the envelope with this strategy: Diamond Nuts and Kraft Italian Dressing. Their respective marketing campaigns, has injected automatic innuendo felt just by typing the product names. They say guys think about sex every 5 minutes: now women will be thinking about food and sex every 5 minutes, because we can multi-task. 

That being said, what woman doesn't like two men competing for her attention? Cast your vote for who is best to spoon and who is best to fork. We will see which guy, I mean product, is grocery cart worthy.

It was one of those evenings, when wearing sheer black vintage seamed nylons and a new Victoria's Secret Bra seemed like a great idea. I was about to meet a new "Italian" and some friends on the Upper East Side at the Writing Room: and I was not sure how good the menu would be, but I wanted to make sure my date found something appetizing. 

Walking up to the Writing Room, stood the tall Italian I had been chatting with all week. He was friendly, sweet and hugged me right away. This was going to be a great night and a double date: the Writing Room was packed and he suggested we wait for them at Cafe d'Alsace... a nice French bar across the street. As we sat at the bar and drank wine, our nerves seemed to disappear. He was sweet, he was handsome and he was looking only at me. And our bartender was gorgeous, so I appreciated his genuine interest in me and sincerity for our time. He was first class in every sense of the word, and it made me want him more. He made me comfortable, he raised the temperature in the room, and he made me want to kiss him. But right now my sexy thoughts kept being interrupted: all I could think about was when are we going to eat. I did not eat all day, so I could fit into this tight pencil skirt. Maybe not my best idea, but I also thought maybe it won't be on too long. Anyway you look at it, drinking wine on an empty stomach was not a good idea. And I needed to make sure I had enough energy later that evening, you never know where it will end. 

Finally our friends appeared, and we quickly moved onto Bill's Food and Drink. Here we went to listen to a couple they all know perform music and sing. We arrived too late for the show, but they all got to hang out for a little while. I took a moment and quickly went to the ladies room: where I noticed, they have a floor to ceiling mirror on the wall. It was huge! I was already anticipating a romantic evening, I really didn't need the encouragement from the enticing mirror. When I got back to the bar, I couldn't resist and told my date about it. I thought that and a gentle touch would spark romantic thoughts, ensuring a kiss soon? After we finished our drink, we all decided to finally get something to eat. Finally! 

Since, it was one in the morning and Bill's was closed: Empanada Mama in Hell's Kitchen it was. My date was open to going somewhere else, but I knew Empanada Mama's was definitely open and I was definitely hungry. So there was only one option in my mind: Empanada Mama's. 

We all hailed a cab and made it to Hell's Kitchen. We walked into Empanada Mama's and sat down. It was packed. The menu was extensive and had something that caught my eye right away. I shouted,

"Look, they have Viagra Empanadas. Did you see they have Viagra Empanadas? I can't believe they have Viagra Empanadas. Why do they have Viagra Empanadas?" Okay, so I was excited about the Viagra Empanada, and even the table next to me noticed. I was also sexually deprived from my last relationship. I needed food and I needed sex. I was doing everything in my power to make sure both happened. 

But lets start with the food. The menu presented at least forty types of empanadas: all stuffed with wheat or corn based flour pockets, delivered in a basket. Each sat in a little white paper bag, like a special gift from the chef. I chose the Brasil wheat flour empanada: stuffed with ground beef, olives, sauteed onions and potatoes. Each bite was robust, authentic, and satisfying. The Cuban looked delish too: it is stuffed with pork, ham, mozarella cheese and a touch of Sofrito. I LOVE Sofrito Sauce. I cook with it all the time: it is better known as the red sauce, (not the green, as in verde). It wakes up any dish and I am assuming this empanada, and maybe yourself at two in the morning. 

Somehow, the Viagra Empanada eluded our table. But with one glance at my date, I knew there was no need for Viagra. On the side, we all ordered plantain chips served with guacamole. The chips were amazing and the guacamole was freshly made. We also had Plantain and Yucca Fries. They went best with the chimichurri sauce. I prefer my yucca boiled. The Plantains were the better "fry", and fried to perfection. I could have eaten the whole basket by myself. But I was confined to my pencil skirt and could only consume so much. But I could still find space for an alcoholic beverage.

I selected White Sangria, which tasted like Del Monte Mixed Fruit syrup had been drizzled into it, but in a good way. The Sangria was light, potent and great. I sucked it down quick, as it was more fruit than anything else. Then everyone explained, the idea is too eat the fruit macerated in tequila, that's how you get intoxicated. So I nibbled on them, and was more intoxicated with thoughts of removing my dates clothes.


As our men talked man talk, my new gal pal and I started to shake our ta ta's to lady Gaga's "Do What You Want to My Body": trying to gain back their attention. Again, I was sending morse code: Shake, shake, shake..... SHAKE. SHAKE.SHAKE, (I want you..... look at me).  Shake. Shake. Shake.... SHAKE SHAKE (You can take.... me home). But my gal pal and I just laughed, as our message was lost in translation. 

While we waited for them to notice us, we glanced at the dessert menu. We decided to order the Elvis and Fig Cheese with Caramel. Finally when the waiter came over, we had their attention. Now her date wanted the Cheese and Caramel Empanada my date chose nothing. I am a fiend, when it comes to dessert. I would rather have dessert and wine, if that was all I could have. The wait was worth it. My gal pal and I shared. I was excited for the Fig, Cheese and Caramel: but I actually loved the Elvis best. It was filled with the cliche Peanut Butter and Bananas. But it was dam banana good. You can order a scoop of ice cream, choclate syrup or caramel with the dessert empanadas. But I was not about to go that far on my first date with the new Italian (wink).

While we were finishing our desserts, my date disappeared for a little bit outside. It didn't make sense til we said good night to our friends: they went home. We stood waiting for a cab, and I waited for his next move. I stood close as he signaled a cab, wondering if this was it. Would he ask me back, kiss me or just say goodbye. We leaned into each other, the nerves were back...but that was okay. I kind of liked it as he finally kissed me. And kissed me again, caressing my lower back. Then the cabbie shouts,

"Are you coming!" And I stood there wanting to go home with him, and not wanting to mess it up. I liked kissing him. I wanted it to last. Then he handed me some money for the cab ride home: that was why he disappeared earlier. He wanted me to get back quickly and safe, and asked me to text him when I got back. So I did. I had my bag ready for an overnight stay, but I had a feeling there would be more than one overnight stay in the future. And we would definitely be returning to Empanada Mama, as the food was delish and we had a great time.

I realized I needed more than sex, I needed a real man. I think I found a great spot to eat late in the evening and I found a great new Italian. I highly recommend Empanada Mama, but you can't have my new man ladies. He is all mine.

It was late afternoon, and I stopped into have a little macaroni menage at Pizza Republic. If you can't have the real thing, this is one way to check that naughty deed off your list. There were so many flavors to choose from: Classic, Republic, Cheeseburger, Pesto, Buffalo Chicken, and the list goes on.

As we know, I have had a love affair with macaroni and cheese from an early start, as described in another part of my blog here, (http://www.bostonscarlette.com/the-chase.html ).  Pizza Republic makes it easy to graduate from the "Little Blue Box" and devour a more sophisticated macaroni and cheese, in two minutes or less. But, these are so indulgent...you will want to devour them slowly. To fulfill my macaroni menage, I selected: the Mexican, Black Truffle and Mac Daddy to spice up my afternoon.

The Mexican was made with monterey jack, seasoned with chili powder, topped with a mound of crushed tortilla chips and a dallop of sour cream. And to take it a notch further, jalepenos were hidden like spicy viagras: making the dish hotter with every bite. Next I tried the Black Truffle. And although, truffles are considered an aphrodisiac: my culinary senses were already heightened with the secret creamy blend of cheese in each serving. Owner Gregg Kronhaus shared, that they make almost all of the ingredients from scratch: including their crispy onion rings. But he would not reveal the secret blend of cheeses. 

The Black Truffle Mac n' Cheese has parmigiano reggiano, black truffle oil and portobello mushrooms. You can also order White Truffle: but I wanted the most potent, and black truffles are considered the rarest and highest protein content. No matter what way you shave it, truffles in general will evoke lustful and luxurious thoughts in the kitchen and provide health benefits for the boudoir. Now that my taste buds were fully aroused...I had to have the Mac Daddy.

The Mac Daddy is the colossal form of my dream mac n cheese. It is cheddar based and so meaty: with plenty helpings of sausage and meatballs. What more could a girl want? A ring of course (wink)...crispy golden big onion rings loaded on top! The texture of this spoonful of mac n cheese is so on point. Unlike most onion rings, these retain their crispiness and crunch: which marries well with the creamy cheese and macaroni. And the flavors of the meatballs and sausage caress your taste buds just enough to make you want more. Pizza Republic is definitely Boston Scarlette's Mac Daddy, and should be for Hoboken. 

Now that I can check "Macaroni Menage" off my food bucket list: I will have to return to try Pizza Republic's other menu temptations. They have a wide variety of pizzas and tossed salads. I highly recommend Pizza Republic for an afternoon delight...but I am sure they can heat up anyone's dining table or evening with the multitude of choices they deliver. 

(Note: Gregg Kronhaus said he is always updating the macaroni and cheese profiles...so make sure to try these delectable ones while they still are on the menu. Gregg is definitely the Mac Daddy of Hoboken and it looks like he will continue to tempt our tongues with an endless parade of macaroni and cheese. Thank you Gregg!)

-Boston Scarlette

Walking towards Lexington, I felt lost without my Italian. It had been weeks since we kissed. It had been weeks since I heard his voice. The city was filled with so many people and the most significant of all was nowhere to be found, except in my heart. There were so many noises filling the city air, but all I wanted to hear was him saying “Boston’s here, Boston’s here, Boston’s here”: like he did every time I spent the night at his house outside the city. 

As those words echoed in my head, I stepped down into the NYC subway. People pushing past me and others flying up the steps around me. It was a strange place to be and I was feeling strange. Standing amongst a crowd, I waited for the train to 86th Street and for my heart to stop aching. Eager to be comforted by drinks with friends, I asked the sheepish white haired gentlemen standing close to me if the next train was local. Looking at his watch, he appeared annoyed: but nodded yes.  I followed the white haired man onto the 6 train, and hung onto the pole. Everything became dark as we moved through the tunnel. Felt like I was running away from my Italian, but really all I wanted was to be close to him. Smell his cologne. Feel his hand hold mine.  He was the one that ran away.

Two stops later I left the train and made my way towards 88th Street, going to meet my trusted friend for some clear headed advice on broken hearts. As I walked down Second Avenue into Rathbones, he was already inebriated, wearing a big cowboy hat. For a moment I chuckled inside, and envied the care free attitude in the room. Next to him was a beautiful lady sharing drinks. I quickly realized there would be no answers or logic found in this evening. But at least someone would find love, if at least for that evening. As I sat down at the bar, the Cowboy introduced new friends. It seemed like a spiked tea party: with people dumping their sorrows in glasses of alcohol and laughing. One of the Cowboy’s friends quickly bought me a drink. I will call him “Revolver”, because the drinks just kept coming. I began to look for my Italian at the bottom of every glass. But no matter what drink he ordered, or what glass it came in: the Italian still remained missing. I was feeling really small and lost without him. And I wondered if my toothbrush still sat on his bathroom counter, or if he had completely thrown me away.

As I continued to chase the Italian with vodka and cranberry, Revolver kept asking me questions. He wanted to know my name: and I rebelliously replied,

“Boston, just Boston. Last names are highly over rated. Besides all last names stand for ownership, and no one owns Boston”. He sat their amused, not sure why. But my guess would be, that I just assured him I did not want commitment. He introduced himself without a last name too. He said he was a “Private Guy”: as if that signified he was of importance. Even with all the drinks, that translated into I most likely am cheating on someone. Although I could not be sure, I found it very suspicious.

I looked around for the Cowboy to rescue me from the Revolver, and his ridiculous rhetoric. He had disappeared again. He was hard to keep tabs on, leaving the bar minutes at a time. The sun was gone too, and I was left with the cold night to comfort my sorrows. There was no turning back now. Each drink that I took, made me feel like I was shrinking into a world of loneliness. One in which the Italian could never find me. I was growing smaller by the minute. At the end of the bar, I found a really nice older woman, glancing over at me with her gentle soul welcomed my presence. My escape was clear and I went over to introduce myself. She told me her story and I spilled mine. She gave me a hug and said I lived a harder life than she ever knew: and blessed me. I might have shed a tear, but I couldn't tell the difference any more between being happy and sad. 

The world I once knew, now made no sense. I did not know how to act in it all. Everything was so obvious before, I had my Italian guiding the way. Now I was lost in my own soul. I didn't know how to be me. Could I be me? It was a strange place to be. It most certainly was not the Boston I wanted to be. Oh where must that Cowboy be? Will my Italian ever come back to be?That’s a lot of “Be’s”, well we were all buzzed. 

Maybe more than buzzed, because I actually left Rathbones with Revolver, looking for my Italian. He took me to some restaurant next door, and fell down on our way in. I helped him up of course as the room stared in judgment: like they had never seen an older gentlemen on the Upper East Side with a younger lady before. So we sat and we drank. It was nothing like my Italian fed me before, but then again he was not my Italian. Otherwise we would have been sitting side by side. The only similarities were mutual friends and their age. My Italian would never drink this much, unless it was a Manhattan with old friends back in Jersey.

I only had to drive us home once, after leaving a hidden restaurant between Wayne and North Bergen. The evening became a table with the staff, and the Italian reminiscing of the good ole days. I found it endearing. I could have sat there all night, I loved seeing him smile. I loved hearing his stories. I loved him.

But as I looked across the table, I was now having dinner with a stranger. And I was far away from the shoulder I used to rest my head on. After a quick bite, and conversation I cannot remember: I felt a little better, and bigger as we made our way to Genesis. Sitting at the corner of the bar, were two young men. They introduced themselves, but all that stuck in my head was the names Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. I ended up taking a nap in a booth for a short while on my way to the ladies room, hoping to wake up back in my place. So many thoughts rushing through my head, all spinning and making it difficult to remember the way home. I rejoined Revolver at the bar. It did not take long before he asked me to leave, and go back to a hotel room. Furious at his gesture, I told him off using every four letter adjective in the book. It was not like me, but neither was leaving a bar with a man to go to a hotel room. So he finally left and I was left with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. 

My inner Cougar had no interest, and I left them outside Genesis. I started walking and got lost. My head was spinning worse, everything was getting bigger. I was getting smaller. I had to sit down. So I plopped my bottom down on a concrete bed outside this building and buried my head in my arms. Tears streamed down my face, one by one, until a flood washed my makeup. I was shaking and embarrassed, as a Doorman noticed me crying. I took a deep breath and collected myself. I decided to play my cards and call the Italian.The phone rang and he did not answer. I got his voice mail, started to leave a message and then with tears in my voice said…

“Sorry, I should not have called”, and hung up. Sitting alone, I felt the cold air sink into my chest. Then my phone rang from a long time friend, whom I had texted. He wondered if I was okay. Usually I would never own up to it, but I had never felt so abandoned in my life. So I said yes, and he guided me to his place one NY block at a time over the phone. As the elevator took me up to his floor: I remembered being here before. The halls have doors with no numbers…and when the elevator opened the doors presented confusion. Which was the right one to knock on? Thankfully this old friend opened his door and invited me in. I immediately apologized for being so drunk and a hot mess, and he was quick to share his sandwich.  He could tell I needed more than a bite to eat, and asked what was wrong. I told him the truth of my relationship ending with the Italian. He was completely shocked. But he told me he was not done, he would come back. I hoped he was right. 

It was a long night in Wonderland on Second Avenue, and I just wanted to get home. I was tired of this strange place. I left my old friend and walked to the Subway. As I entered the steps, everything became a blur. Some guy shouted at me trying to pick me up, but I kept going. Going faster and faster, my thoughts running with me…until I got home. I don’t remember getting into bed, but I remember waking up late in the afternoon with no missed calls from my Italian. It was a feeling I liked to forget, but never will. My world would never be the same.

It was Friday afternoon, the only Holiday left was New Year's Eve: and I was not sure if I would be spending that one alone too. Tired of chasing men, I went to Fiore's Italian Deli in Hoboken. It's old school, like my Italian: but without the complications. 

This deli has been around since 1913, they are committed to doing things right. They serve an infamous roast beef and gravy sandwich (which made a debut on the show "30 Rock"). The Roast Beef is made in the back room, by a group of old school Italian men. So cute. And they serve it up with gravy made from the juice of their home made roast beef.

Although this local favorite is tantalizing and satisfying, there is Scarlette's Selection: that is most wanted to taste on my tongue. After selecting my bread carefully: making sure it is thick enough, hard on the outside and squeezable...I ask them to make me a sandwich. My choice is Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers, sometimes a couple hot ones, with Balsamic, Oil and Black Pepper. I can't get enough of it. I always grab a can of coke to go. Cans are my favorite way to drink coke, so it makes the experience that much better. I try to remember to ask for the cans on the side, not in the bag with my sandwich. They really know how to make it juicy, with the Balsamic and Oil, which is great! But it gets all over sometimes, and I don't like the taste on my can...just the sandwich. Also, you know its good, when they put paper towels in the bag instead of napkins. You know its going to be messy, and every great aftenoon delight should be.

If your lucky, you can get in and out in a couple minutes. But definitely expect to wait in line on Saturdays. It is the go to spot for locals after a solid night on the town. Today, it took five minutes, and I was on my way home to devour every inch of mozzarella. As I sat down, with my Fiore's Sandwich on a nice plate, coke can on the table and a fork to grab any pieces that fall: a former booty call started to blow up my cell. Why now? Why must he interrupt this divine moment? He had begun to make eating my mozzarella complicated. And besides, my heart still belongs to my Italian. I was not interested in this booty call: which now I realized, I had flipped to wanting more from me. That would have been great two years ago, but now I was satisfied with loving my Italian. And at this exact moment this sandwich was all I needed. 

But this guy kept sending text messages, trying to sext me! Like sexting is going to make me want him? He obviously was clueless and so I sent a message back:

"The mozz is better than sex." And claimed if I wanted sex, I would go Italian. That only made matters worse. Instead he now kept texting..

"No way mutz is better than my sex."

Ahhh, silly boys. If it was that good, I never would have stopped seeing him in the first place. He was just amusement, when I had nothing better to do. We shared Amarone wine and a wall at one point: he used to be my neighbor. It was conveinent and now he was just annoying. My Italian was the only guy for me, and was the only thing that could take me away from this mozzarella sandwich. So I decided to ignore this younger guy trying to "sext" me, and devour my sandwich. A stolen moment with my Italian is the only other thing I craved.

A way to a girl's heart is to wine and dine her, or buy her a Fiore's Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich: they are better than Sext! But, nothing can trump my Italian...he simply is the yummiest of all. My heart belonged to him...and since he was not around this afternoon, Fiore's Sandwich was my stolen moment and did not last long on my table. 

Although the Italian on my table...that would be hot!


LOCATION:
Fiore's Italian Deli
414 Adams St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
(201) 659-1655

At the bottom of my tight small closet, sat these Leopard Sam Edelman high heels: a gift from an Italian man, I allowed myself to love. They sat there looking pretty, just like he wanted me too. As long as I was quiet, he was happy. And as long as he was happy, I thought I could be too. 

The Italian liked to talk the talk, and when we went places: he liked to watch me walk the walk. So he bought me shoes and fabulous dinners. At first it was exciting. Never before had I dined in the company of such a sophisticated man or had to worry which fork was what at the table.  All I knew before, was ice cream parlors, pizza places and that I grew up in the not so nice part outside of the city. And I wondered, could a guy like this, ever love a girl who grew up on powdered milk?

 So I did what felt best and made me forget everything else… stared at his smile, sat closely and listen intently to his sexy voice. In that moment I felt alive and his hard counterpart.  He was in search of the perfect woman and Martini. I spent our dates trying to figure out when the glass slippers would shatter. 

Our first date was on Christmas Day. As a single mom, I spent most holidays alone and was thrilled this one would be different. And just like Christmas morning when I was a kid, I had to sneak a peek. So I looked out my window as he arrived to pick me up. From that moment, I felt something. It just happened. Later that evening he would hold my hand as we walked from bar to bar. He said it felt natural and he was comfortable with me. He said things like he meant them. He said I was his gift for Christmas. But what did it all mean?

A couple dates later he took me to Shun Lee Palace on the East side. I think that was the name, I was more focused on him. So let’s just go with it. The Italian was always the charismatic one, in an old school kind of way. He knew everyone and he knew the unwritten formalities of securing a great table. But any table would do. Any cuisine would do. Not any man would do. He was my Italian and whatever table we sat at became the best table in the house. I used to joke that we could sit at a booth in a diner, and that would be just fine. It still would.

That evening he asked the manager about the Golden Dragons holding our tableware. He wanted to know if people took them. His inquisition took me by surprise. I had many questions pressing, but that was not one. But it was a good question. I wanted to know the answer too. The manager said yes… and indulged us with further explanation that it cost them thousands each month to replace the stolen ones. It was a very expensive setting. I would realize more than the golden Dragons were stolen that night, and dining with the Italian would cost me dearly. 

At the end of that very evening, I took a moment to freshen up in the powder room. Then walked towards the front where he was waiting with my coat. Our eyes met as I walked the walked, and sparks set off like the Chinese New Year and Fourth of July together. It was the glance us girls dream of…it was my heart stolen and served on a silver platter. I was in love and I knew it.

Almost a year later, the dinners were gone. But that was okay. Sitting next to him that was the allure. What really got me, is that he was gone. No more chasing me, no more nights falling asleep in his arms, no more telling me "Good night, love." The courtship became a fairy tale and it was back to reality. The Edelman high heels did less walking and I wanted to do more talking. 

A simple text telling how I felt and asking to talk, would ultimately cause the Italian to go missing in action. For months I had been looking for the courage to tell him I loved him, now I was looking for the reasons he was gone. To save face, I did what any girl with a broken heart would do. I went to my closet to put on the sexiest outfit to hit the town. All dressed up in my little black lace dress, I reached for a great pair of heels. And there they stood in my closet: the mighty leopard ones, ankle strap and all. Tears began to trickle down my face, lips quivering as my relationship was summed up in five inches. 

I wanted to throw them out the window, I wanted to throw them in the Hudson. Then I thought about giving them to the homeless shelter. But what homeless women wants to walk around in heels. I thought about sending them back via Fed Ex. I thought about sending him money, so he couldn’t have the satisfaction of saying he bought me or did anything for me. But I couldn’t do anything but sit on my bed, and put them on. There would be no night on the town. There would only be a hopeless girl in love. But everything happens for a reason. And there I had it: my reason. I had learned to love. And that was something I was not throwing away or sending back. I treasured kissing him. I loved loving him. And I really loved kissing his cheek, right next to his side burns.

I decided to keep my Edelman high heels and I decided to keep my love. Even If he would never love me back. I always have the memories, I always have Manhattan and I always will have these heels. It was an Italian love affair... and as any city girl knows: it was Manhattan love.

TO THE LEFT: The Red Lion Staff learning how to "Unleash" their sexy with Diana Antholis.

http://dianaantholis.com/
http://redlioncoffee.com/

PHOTOGRAPHER
Natalia Khramova
 
www.iphotoboutique.com

It was a "Redelicious" afternoon tasting some of the finest teas and coffee Hoboken has to offer with Diana Antholis at Red Lion Coffee. As soon as we walked in the staff was not shy, and they immediately shared their knowledge with us. Although, I must say, I think Diana had something to do with it. She has a knack for getting people to do as she calls it: "Unleash your sexy".

So what is sexy? According to Diana, it is confidence. And these Red Lion Coffee Masters have it...and are unleashing it on Hoboken. Located uptown at the corner of Bloomfield and Fourteenth Street, it is easy to spot. They have great seating outside: but with the chilly weather, we chose to stay inside and chat with the gregarious coffee masters. 

Manager Sean, took the lead and explained how they have a medium light roast with citrus hints, that is used for iced coffee. But when you ask for the iced coffee black, a dark roast is used: because it has a smoother bold taste. The Red Lion Espresso Blend is a combination of five beans: an Ethiopian, two Brazilians, a Yemen and a Sumatra. It is a light to dark roast, which is less bittersweet with a chocolate undertone. Red Lion has coffee flavors bagged to take home: Red Lion Espresso, True Mocha Java Blend, and their first direct trade Costa Rica Sirri Naranjo (from the West Valley).

I ordered their Autumn Spice Latte, a Pecan Pie Bar and a Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookie with Cranberries. Diana went straight for the Double Chocolate Cookie and plain Chai Tea. As an avid tea drinker, she appreciated the in depth knowledge Sean shared and told me she would definitely come back again. 

We decided to share our snacks and we found the Pecan Pie Bar and Double Chocolate Cookie to be the winners. According to Diana, the Double Chocolate was just the right amount of chocolate, chewy inside and right texture to bite into. For someone who "believes in dedication, commitment and chocolate", that testimonial holds a lot of weight.

My eldest daughter popped into Red Lion, ordered a Vanilla Latte and joined in on the review. Sean explained how they make their own syrups and as much as possible everything from scratch. My daughter thought it was really cool to see the actual vanilla beans sitting in the jar of simple syrup mixture. I took a taste of her Vanilla Latte and it was amazing. My daughter started to taste the cookies Diana and I had. We all agreed, the chocolate chip bacon cookie was a little over powering, but so interesting in concept. I would like to see the cranberries disappear and maybe replace the bacon with a less smoky one: and it would be perfect. 

Overall, we loved the desserts at Red Lion and will be stopping in repeatedly for them. What I love is that they have vegan and gluten free treats as well. The Vegan Banana Bread looked simply delicious. Red Lion is definitely being attentive to the alternative coffee drinker with soy, agave, sucanat, and stevia. I fell in love with the details and vibe of this place. Jazz music played in the background and the expansive windows let you become a professional people watcher. Inside was small and cozy at the window bar, but Red Lion is definitely going to be big in the coffee scene. And, they are approved by Hoboken Mommies! Also, you can use Loyal Blocks at Red Lion too.

Check out below, my formal interview with Diana Antholis on her just launched book "Unleashed: Live the balanced, centered, and sexy life you deserve."


BS: What was your ah ha moment in writing this book, that you could say "I have done a great job in getting my message across to the reader"?

DA: I wrote most of the book in a few months right before I went to South East Asia. I was in Thailand (1 month) and Indonesia (2 weeks) and had no internet. So I spent six weeks doing absolutely no work…and came back mid November. I didn't want to read what I wrote already and I kept thinking the book was not done. A couple weeks later…I finally read it. That's when I had the ah ha moment. I said, "Holy Shit, this book is good." It helped being away from it completely and coming back to it with fresh eyes. 

BS: What is that core message you nailed?

DA: The core message is about understanding your thoughts and feelings, in order to live a life that you love. My main philosophy is found in the title "live the balanced, centered, and sexy life you deserve." That is the way I communicate it. For balance, you focus on your priorites for each day. For centering, understand and get a hold of your thoughts and their origin. For sexy, believe in yourself and exude confidence.

BS: What is the part of your day that you look forward to most? 

The moment that I give myself nothing to think about. And that is extremely hard to do. Meditation is something different to everyone. Once a day should do something that requires your brain to do that one thing. It allows your brain to shut down.

BS: So, like an adult recess for your mind?

DA: Yes, it needs to reboot.

BS: What is your current mantra?

DA: I have different mantras everyday. One I've been using for about  a month now is: “Be kind to yourself." It came to me when lots of thoughts I was having were self-sabotaging. When you get into a new place where your brain is clear, a mantra comes to you and feels like magic. It is your intuition talking to you. I actually have a phone notification that says “Be kind to yourself” as reminder everyday.

BS: Now that you have finished this book…how will you delegate the chunk of time that was allocated to writing it?

DA: There is always stuff to work on. I'm currently using those creative chunk for a new program. “Unleash Your Sexy Experience”- a self study program that expands on the book and has multi-media space, like videos and audio. It is a bridge between the book and one-on-one coaching. It should be available in early 2014.

BS: How is your life centered? Balanced? And sexy?

DA: Balanced- I make sure that everyday I do one thing for myself. Usually that is yoga/exercise (movement) 5-60 minutes. The priority is to move, no matter how long. Centered- I actively write and do free writing. It's like brain dumping onto paper. This is so your thoughts don’t drive you crazy. You  leave them on paper and they are gone. Sexy- I believe confidence is sexy. Anytime my confidence is down, I go back and ask myself "What have I accomplished? What have I learned before? What have I done? Why is it amazing? Why  am I beating myself up?" I have so many good things happening, so there is no reason to let negative thoughts affect me. Sexy is a constant reminder that you're in control and know what you're doing.

BS: What is your favorite comfort food to feed your mind? Nourish your body? And, what is your guilty pleasure?

DA:  Peppermint tea (5 cups a day) is my habit and is good for digestive reasons. When I drink it, I feel better and centered. Nourish your body? Avocado on everything. I have the same breakfast every morning: an egg, half of an avocado, spinach and quinoa. All good stuff: protein, carbs, good fat. I feel like I can take on the world after I eat that. Guilty pleasure? Chocolate…but specifically, I make my own chocolate chip cookies: Jacques Torres recipe from NY Times.They use two types of flour and sea salt. Salty sweet indulgence. I also make a chocolate chip vegan and gluten-free cookie.

BS: What did you order at Red Lion Coffee? 

DA: Double Chocolate cookie. That one is really good, I was impressed with it because it was soft in the middle and that doesn't always happen with a cookie in a café with a good flavor. And they put enough chocolate! I had Chai Tea plain…It was amazing. I would go buy it from them.

BS: What were your thoughts on the Red Lion? The food? The tea? The staff?

DA: I like the atmosphere and design, the lamps were cool, and loved the brick. The only thing I wish they had was more indoor seating space. It is so cute. Great place for coffee and tea. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the product. I’m a tea drinker…they went through each tea and showed it and explained it. “And they were very happy to unleash their sexy."

BS: Would you go back again?

DA: I would definitely go back…but not to sit, more on the go.

BS: How do you recommend they unleash their sexy? Or do you think they have already? 

DA: I think Sean has his sexy unleashed most of the time, but can learn a lot from the book.

BS: What is your motivator in life? 

DA: Outside force: to prevent disease, because I believe there is a lot of research that shows stress and food contribute to disease. It affects the mind, body , and soul. There is research now, that shoes your personality type can cause disease based on how you deal with emotion. We hear others say it is genes, but it is more environmental. What you are doing with your mind and body:that determines it. I don’t want that. I want to be able to run around with my kids for a long time. I don't want to be like friends and family members I have seen in the hospital. I can see what it does to your body an I don't want that. 

BUY THE BOOK HERE:
http://dianaantholis.com/unleashed-book/



-Boston Scarlette

Carpe Diem
1405 Grand Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
201.792.0050

The best of both worlds now exist at Schnackenberg's Luncheonette on Washington Street in Hoboken. Eugene and Joyce Flinn has brought life back to the luncheonette with a beautiful renovation: and Mark Novak of the Schnackenberg family, still makes the chocolates downstairs in the new bakery area. (As a trained baker, I was drooling over this new edition.) 

Now, the "Old Hoboken" and "Newbies" can rub elbows together at the counter, and "Schnack" on a piece of Carrot or Chocolate Cake. Or they can have a Portabella and Goat Cheese Burger with French Fries, like yours truly Boston Scarlette did. It was creamy and delish. Either way, it all goes good with a traditional Schnackenberg Shake. There are the traditional "Schnackie" menu items and new gluten free options. Hoboken Mommies is sure to love this! And kids will soon get their own "Schnackie Man" rewards card.

After my meal, the manager took me on a tour. He explained all the details and history. He pointed out the huge back window still exist, but now with Eugene's touch of a glass bottle collection.  Then we went down to the basement, where I met Eugene. We shook hands and he would'nt let go: until,  I gave the proper hand shake. Schnackenberg's has always been about the shake, so of course this shake was no different. But what was the proper hand shake? It was firm and pronounced. Once I got it, Eugene said he now felt like he knew me. And that is exactly how you feel about Schnackenberg's: once you sit down, have a shake, meet the people, enjoy the food and absorb the history. I always say every culture and generation has something to bring to the table: Schnackenberg's brings us all to the counter.

The manager explained, that Schnackenberg's was past down from Schnackenberg to Schnackenberg, and now last September to Eugene and Joyce. Maybe one day, it will be from Flinn to Flinn. Until then: a picture of Dora Novak hangs on the wall behind the shake counter, the German Schnackenberg Chocolate molds still are used, and the Penny tiled floors still ground the original booths and tables. Changes made were subtle and have a sophisticated nod to the past. 

It is behind the scenes, where upgrades were made: a new kitchen, refrigerators and heating/cooling system. Mark Novak explained that this was the most exponential change: it now allows him to make chocolate all year round. Before Schnackenberg's could only make chocolate during the Fall and Winter Seasons: because it would not temper correctly when the weather got too hot. Mark is excited to see what new molds he can use for the year round holidays. He mentioned possibly a Statue of Liberty for the Fourth of July.  For now, he still makes the "Zepplin" and other family heirloom molds. He pointed out a "politically incorrect" chocolate mold, where Santa is pulling the kids ear. He still makes it despite, the supposed controversy: which I think is great. It shows spunk and that both worlds of Hoboken are just going to have to deal with each others culture, and what better way than to do so over chocolate! Now reopened, I hope this joint can temper the two mind sets over a great dish or piece of his chocolate.


Note: Besides shaking things up at the counter upstairs: I noticed that Mark shakes the molds in the process of chocolate making. This leaves behind a shell in the shape of the mold, otherwise it would be solid. Mark Novak is truly a chocolate craftsman. It was very evident that he loves making chocolate, his family and the traditions.

We drank Sangria and shopped all night with S-T-E-L-La Dot and LA Lola! Thanks to the candelight, the atmosphere and tapas made our night, in Hoboken.

Lola lo lo lo lo Lola lo lo lo lo Lola...

I tried to push those plates away, but those Mussels in Verde, Wine and Garlic were just so tantalizing, they had to stay. Patatas Bravas seasoned just right, a little authentic Chorizo Salteados with Peppers and Onions...thought about trying it sauteed in beer. It's flavor was bright with citric juices and paired well with Sangria that had the right hint of fruit.

While stylist Jennifer Sutton draped a pearl and stone necklace around my neck...I snacked on Croquetas del Dia in a menage style of ham, crab and spinach. It was served with a tomato sauce and crema. My favorites were the ham dipped in the crema and the crab in the tomato sauce. I'm no Olive, so the spinach Popeye can keep. 

The staff were very attentive in making sure all the ladies had what they desired...if only our men in our lives could be as much. The pitas with goat cheese and mushrooms Osborne Style, were the favorite of the evening. The mushrooms were done delicately with full flavor and great texture. One last dish I did not get a chance to have, but had tasted from the dinner menu prior to this evening: are the Scallops wrapped in Bacon in a Sea of Raspberry Sauce. Have that and the Pitas and you will have a mouthful of reasons to return to Lolas. If you do with a date, there is a basement level similar to a wine cellar that offers an intimate setting.

Our Sangria filled night gave us a good excuse to justify why we spent so much on Stella Dot jewelry and accessories... Happy Hour at Lola's was definitely a happy hour with stylist Jennifer Sutton and the ladies.

Not exactly. But Speakeasy Breweryis playing their cards right: teasing our palettes with a seasonal swallow ofScarlett. Although, I think they are missing one important letter here and maybe two syllables. Sultry and seductive, it should be called:
 
House of Boston Scarlette. 

However, the licorice, caramel and gingerbread notes: have my tongue singing so many ideas to create in my kitchen. A seasonal craft beer doesn't give a girl much time to make her move...but I will definitely be making something hot with this one. Besides, how can I not with a name like Scarlett.


You can find Scarlett at the local Shop Rite in Hoboken and soon when available at:
http://goodbeer.com/wordpress/

One last note, Speakeasy also makes a beer called Double Daddy that I would love to try. Why have one, when you can have two ; )

-Boston Scarlette