Four Food Friday!

Normally, I decide a Four for Friday based on two things:

1. What is something post worthy but difficult to dedicate an entire post to?
2. What are the most recent pictures in my phone?

Today’s post comes from the latter, because as I scrolled through my recent photos, I was pleased to find food, food, food, and more food.

There was a point somewhere in the depressing year which has been 2020-2022—yes, we are counting this still continuing time period as a year, folks—where I inexplicably stopped taking pictures of things I baked or beautiful meals I ate or just beautiful food related moments in general. And while I know there are those out there who get tired of seeing food pictures, let’s be real, they’re probably the same people who get tired of seeing dog pictures, and we can’t trust that kind of negative energy.

So, today I give you Four Food Friday, where I share with you four recent foods I have been so thrilled with I needed to photograph them to have forever.

1. Pastries from Carlo’s Bakery

Secret: My favorite piece of cake in the whole wide world is the rainbow cake from Carlo’s Bakery. I can’t explain it. I understand it is FULL of food coloring, but I absolutely love it.

So, after spending an afternoon at the Natural History Museum in Philly*, we obviously needed desserts to take home.

*Which was preceded by going to Federal Donuts and having a literal brunch—Breakfast + Lunch—because we not only had coffee and donuts but also chicken sandwiches and wings.

Here’s how this picture was taken: Me (thinking): I need to take a picture of these masks for my COVID folder. Me (speaking): Oooo, Lance, hold our cannoli in the shot.

2. Grilled Cheese from The Flying Pig

We just got a new restaurant down the street and everyone around is abuzz with questions of Did you know The Flying Pig is open now? and Have you tried it yet?

We went with friends on a spur of the moment decision* and when I saw the description of this grilled cheese—choice of bacon, ham, or pork roll, gruyere cheese and white cheddar cheese on Texas white toast—and THEN had the waitress tell me I’d need to eat it with a fork and a knife, I was SOLD.

*Let’s just say, one member of our group was trying to convince us to go to a not so amazing diner, and so we vetoed by trying The Flying Pig.

I’m not a leftovers person. But this was even good leftover.

3. Mutzenmandeln at Brick Farm Tavern

I’ve had a special love for Brick Farm Tavern ever since Lance, Amy, and I did a chef’s tasting menu there several years ago. We branched outside of our comfort zones* and had such a good time.

*Amy and me, especially. There was a beet course we both expected to hate that turned out to be incredibly tasty.

Lance and I went recently and when I saw Mutzenmandeln on the small plate menu described as a German fried bread, I didn’t care how difficult it was to pronounce—I was going to have it!

I’m sure you already know, anything fried is going to be delicious, but the texture and chew of these lovely little fried dough balls was incredible. The huckleberry jam on top was the perfect hint of sweetness.

4. Spicy Beef Ramen at Lan Ramen

I love Lan Ramen so much, that it’s made it difficult for me to try ramen anywhere else local. We brought Jon there one night to share the love of Ramen and he ordered the spiciest bowl on the menu and loved it.

There is something incredibly soothing about a big bowl of ramen on a cold night, and since we’re living in a seemingly endless winter here in Jersey, I might find myself there more often than usual for April.