It’s been a minute since I’ve written about themes directly related to New Jersey outside of this mildly mental Jersey girl’s wild ride on the rollercoaster of life.
Before we moved, before we even listed our house, Hubby had started me in golf lessons. When I first started golfing, we did a crash course together at our local golf course, but we (he) decided it was time for me to get some one on one help with my stroke. I often relate golf to playing the violin. You can play the violin well and still have hundreds of little details of your positioning and method which could be adjusted to better not only your performance but your body’s reaction to it. So pretty much, this is what I needed with golf. Someone who could look past what I did horribly, around what I did well, and pinpoint what was going on.
Today’s post isn’t at all about golf though.
Every other weekend, we found ourselves less than ten minutes from the beach after my lesson at the William F. Larkin Golf Course.
It was too tempting to not tack on a beach trip.
Sometimes we’d go for the food, and others for the food and a day in the sun*.
*The only part of fall/winter I dislike is the loss of warm days in the sun. That said, I will still go to a beach town in December and encourage you to, too. The ocean quiet is therapeutic.
This led us to The Speakeatery. I’d heard of The Speakeatery from my friend Kristine, a serious Asbury Park lover. It always came up in my searches of where to eat in Asbury Park, which means this visit was a long time coming.
Ultimately, The Speakeatery is a sandwich shop, but that feels a little too simple, especially considering a restaurant Hubby and I went to this weekend which called itself an “American restaurant” but should really call itself a burger bar, because that was legiterally* all they had.**
*Legiterally, my favorite not word word to use.
**Okay, fine. They had three entrée options, each which I’m pretty sure 75% of the platter consisted of French fries.
But The Speakeatery is not just a sandwich shop. Yes, they sell just sandwiches, but they aren’t just sandwiches. Understand?
They have a breakfast sandwich menu which includes unusual things like fried shrimp, with bacon, arugula, and a sunny side egg and then indulgent rarities like sausage gravy*.
*I’ve been waiting patiently for sausage gravy and biscuits to become more of a regular thing here in Jersey.
Hellooooo sausage gravy on fries!
Our first visit, I was intrigued by the description of ‘steamed rice buns’ so I gave The General a try.
It was like having the best General Tso’s chicken ever—as a sandwich.
The Pickle Focker
This place simply makes good decisions about their food all around. Good choice of buns (the Po Boy I had on our second visit was, dare I say, better than a Po Boy I had in New Orleans?), fun and creative menu options, and amazing fries.
Said Po Boy
I’m one for driving an hour for food—so, if you’re in the hour range of Asbury Park, take a drive for lunch and you won’t be disappointed. Or, plan a day: Walk the boardwalk. Pop into the little shops on Cookman Avenue. Get Speakeatery for lunch and snatch up some coffee from one of the half dozen spots nearby.
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