The Star Legder’s Munchmobile Trip

The tofu’s out of the bag. I can post about my trip on the Munchmobile, finally. The Munchmobile is part of the Star Ledger, the largest circulated newspaper in Jersey, where you drive around in a van with a giant hot dog on top, trying different local restaurants all summer long. Each week, on the trip, there is a new type of place and I was fortunate enough to land a spot on the Vegetarian/Healthy trip.

The article is finally done and in the paper today. If you have the Star Ledger, check it out, if not read about the trip here.

My short review is also posted online, click here for that link. In addition to reading, click here to see some pictures from the beautiful day of munching and the videos are online also, click this.

Finally, I expanded on my original review after the drop, so click the header to read the full post.

Technorati Tags: NJ, nj.com, leafygreen, munchmobile, star ledger, vegetarian, new jersey, restaurants

Greenmarket Cafe:
The outdoor setting was a perfect way to start up a fun-filled healthy day. The club sandwich was great. The combination of all of the flavors worked really well together. Hummus, aioli, veggie bacon, cucumber on a multigrain bread was perfect. The wrap was also great. The Thai veggies and tofu over organic brown rice was light and sweet. The tofu really took on the flavors of the dish, bringing it all together. The veggie chili was hearty, but lacked the traditional mild heat to warm you up a bit.

The veggie burger was generic. The baguette special had a great pesto dressing on the hearty multigrain baguette. Even the drinks were good. I had iced green tea. Sugar-free, just the way I like it. Ho-Ho-Kus has a hit nestled in a small shopping center, but the hot dog atop the Munchmobile brought some glances all morning long.

I’ve been to Greenmarket cafe numerous times and when we headed north on Route 17, I knew there could only been one place north of Ridgewood that we were headed too. I was delighted, because I knew the food is excellent and that no one else had been there so the other Munchers were in for a treat. Greenmarket had a website, but it seems to be expired, however, they are part of Merchant Circle, so click to view the menu. Even though we did not sample the Black Bean Hummus, I can assure you, it is excellent. The staff are always friendly and you can leave your shameless self promotion materials on the bulletin board too.

Piquant Bread Bar and Grill:
The menu’s bursting with flavors, combining traditional Indian foods with modern American and vegetarian cuisines mixed in. I loved the mango soup and the tandoori pizza. The mango soup was cold, and was prepared with ginger and rum. The tandoori pizza was covered in garlic, ginger, cheddar
cheese, sundried tomatoes, portobello mushrooms and some heat to top it off. We also sampled the paalak paneer – the best I’ve had. I’ve never tried polenta fries before. These deep-fried polenta cubes were crisp and crunchy. We tried a few different types of breads in the bread sampler,
but also the cauliflower naan. That was unique and a big hit. I also liked the orange and fennel salad with pomegranate seeds and the sesame jimaca salad. Two flavors I have never experienced before. We also tried the cold cucumber soup, which was, oddly enough, hot and cold at the same time. Not spicy, but hot. I liked it, however. The end of the meal came and before we parted, we tried the mint limeade shot, which cleansed our palettes and refreshed our senses. It was outstanding.

Indian food growing up was never an option. My family does not do well with spices and heat, but as a vegetarian, it’s one of my staples now. I only recently started (last 5 years) eating Indian food and I’m a 100% convert. It’s so robust and flavorful and hearty too boot. Piquant’s decor is the first thing you notice. High ceilings, differently painted, colorful walls. Modern meets urban meets tradition styles. I can’t wait to go back and it’s across the street from the Harvest Moon (brew pub) and down the corner from The Court Tavern. If only the Melody Bar still existed and 331 Somerset.

Re-Juice-a-Nation:
The decor was simple, modern and they had XBox 360 if you wanted to play on the giant flat-screen TV. Very hip atmosphere. We sampled a few of the energy drinks, smoothies and juices. The Acai was my favorite. This new wonderberry was tangy, sweet and full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It was awesome. The Formula 1 tasted like liquid salad, but it had a punch. The Mocha Deep was coffee-esque, but tasty for sure. The Peanut Butter was just that. The Ole Blue Eyes and Cherry Bomb were
too bitter for me, but full of veggies and fruits. We all seemed to enjoy the drinks, but I think the Acai was the best.

I liked this places mod deocor and laid back come on in and chill atmosphere. It probably does super well in the summer from all the bennies.

Twisted Tree Cafe:
Asbury Park is coming alive again, and it’s because of shops like Twisted Tree Cafe. A small, intimate setting, where homemade food is prepared in the tiny kitchen on Cookman Avenue. The Veggie Meatball wrap was made from oats, rice and all that healthy good stuff that makes for a hearty sandwich. The Tuscan White Bean Soup was excellent. You could taste all of the different flavors which make the soup. The chili was not liquidy; it was full of beans. I liked it, but it needed more liquid. The foccacia bread was amazing. It had red peppers, artichoke, olives and vegan pesto. Great combination! The sandwiches had mini-salad dressings, which reminded me of really light tahini. Even the hummus wrap was homemade. The causal outdoor setting to chow down was another bonus.

This is also another place that I’ve been to before, but under the previous name. It was Bee Green and it was just basically a juice bar. Now, they offer live music, homemade foods, comfortable furniture, organic soaps in the bathroom and an awesome staff. Asbury’s on the rise and Twisted Tree’s not far from the Stone Pony and The Asbury Lanes.

My favorite things all day were the white bean soup from Twisted Tree Cafe, the palaak paneer from Piquant, the Thai tofu from Greenmarket, and the Acai from Re-Juice-a-nation. I also really loved the tandoori pizza and mint limeade from Piquant. It was an amazing experience and I had a blast. Be sure to check out my site, Leafygreen.info, for a more in-depth review, and The Star Ledger, of course.