Heinz revamps ketchup packets

Now, here is a huge food technology advance.  Finally, one of America’s favorite condiments catches up to the way we live now!  A recent AP story described a redesigned Heniz ketchup packet.  Instead of that squishy plastic thing you end up tearing with your teeth, and then it shoots all over your kid’s clothes, or, gulp, maybe … Continue reading →

Brothers Moon Open Tonight

“Snowing, shoveling, sledding then dining,” said the email I just received from Brothers Moon in Hopewell, reassuring all that they’re open tonight,  They even included their list of specials, below, which sound scrumptious.  Great timing Will! It was a beautiful snow. Hope digging out wasn’t too bad. We are open for dinner this evening. It’s warm … Continue reading →

Oyster Bowl XI-Slurp for the Cure

Sunday is New Jersey’s Oyster Bowl XI, presented by Blue Point Grill and Nassau Broadcasting Partners.  The Oyster Bowl is an annual oyster eating contest to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central and South Jersey. Hundreds of spectators gather each year to watch contestants devour all the oysters they can in a two-minute … Continue reading →

Swiss Chard Gratin

In my recent review of Blue Bottle Cafe in Hopewell, I raved about the little ramekin of Swiss Chard gratin that came with the tenderloin. My friend and I swooned over this deceptively simple accompaniment to a meal that was already a success. Our forks vied for every bite, and I resolved to try making it at … Continue reading →

Pizza de Provence

I recently enjoyed dinner at Sophie’s Bistro in Somerset (you can read about it in the February 17-19 issue of the Packet’s TimeOff), including their appetizer Pizza de Provence, topped with pear, bleu cheese, and sunflower seeds. So good was it, I couldn’t resist trying it at home.  Please excuse my crust!  I bought pizza … Continue reading →

Local Grandmother on Rachel Ray 1/27

Watch Channel 7 (ABC) at 10:00am Wednesday morning (or catch up after online)!  West Windsor resident Marie Calogero was recently taped to appear on the Rachel Ray show with her granddaughter, also named Marie Calogero.  The show airs Wednesday morning, January 27.  They competed in a grandmother/granddaughter cooking contest against two other couples.  Producers of the show … Continue reading →

Sonic Drive-In

If you haven’t been to an old-fashioned burger stand drive-in lately, the kind with car hops on rollerskates, wait no more, Sonic Drive-In is here.  The national chain of 50s retro drive-ins has opened in Franklin Park and was doing a brisk business on Saturday afternoon when I visited. As I drove in, I was directed to an … Continue reading →

Princeton Foodies at Library

Looking for the inside scoop on places that Princeton foodies like to frequent?  Here’s a chance to hear some dedicated noshers talk about their local favorites on February 9 at the Princeton Public Library.  I know two of them myself, Pat Tanner is my longtime colleague and fellow In The Kitchen columnist at the Packet, while Linda … Continue reading →

Wegmans Stir-Fry

I have to hand it to Wegmans (and not for the first time).  I was there today and in the produce section saw pre-cut stir-fry vegetables, all laid out in rectangular trays, ready for you to take home and cook.  There was even a store chef there about to start a demonstration.  The photo here … Continue reading →