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From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

Erin:

You should know that I only play Farmville because SeriousEats hasn't created its own online game.

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Growing Up Jersey With Diner Coffee

In the eight years I've been living in New Jersey, I've been hoping to find the sort of diner that so many people pine for, but when I'm there, I just don't get it.

In any case, when I went from Edison to Princeton for some shopping this morning, I passed three diners and eight or nine Indian vegetarian places.

The diners are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: The Great Wall Supermarket

Castor:

To answer your question; I spent quite a bit of time deciding between the AFC and Great Wall and gave it to the Great Wall because of their larger fish department and seating in the prepared foods section. It is a very close call.

It won't be long until AFC opens a new store in Piscataway and that may or may not change the whole landscape.

And too those who are comparing Chinese supermarkets in Brooklyn and Queens, I think the criteria there are a bit different than in New Jersey because they are so often surrounded other Chinese shops and restaurants - especially in Flushing.

In New Jersey we expect - and we get - a real destination in itself. In the city, the neighborhood is the destination.

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From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Supremo Food Markets

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Turkey Shopping in the Garden State

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Back to the Dragon Palace

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Asian Food Center

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From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

Erin:

You should know that I only play Farmville because SeriousEats hasn't created its own online game.

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Growing Up Jersey With Diner Coffee

In the eight years I've been living in New Jersey, I've been hoping to find the sort of diner that so many people pine for, but when I'm there, I just don't get it.

In any case, when I went from Edison to Princeton for some shopping this morning, I passed three diners and eight or nine Indian vegetarian places.

The diners are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: The Great Wall Supermarket

Castor:

To answer your question; I spent quite a bit of time deciding between the AFC and Great Wall and gave it to the Great Wall because of their larger fish department and seating in the prepared foods section. It is a very close call.

It won't be long until AFC opens a new store in Piscataway and that may or may not change the whole landscape.

And too those who are comparing Chinese supermarkets in Brooklyn and Queens, I think the criteria there are a bit different than in New Jersey because they are so often surrounded other Chinese shops and restaurants - especially in Flushing.

In New Jersey we expect - and we get - a real destination in itself. In the city, the neighborhood is the destination.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Farmers' Markets in Elizabeth, Millburn, and Freehold

JP:

It's tough comparing them. Different days of the week, and then weekends vs weekdays. And of course, the fact that the best stuff winds up at Union Square or Headhouse doesn't help either.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Whole Earth Center in Princeton

korovka:

The food landscape of New Jersey has been laid to waste by endless chain supermarkets, chain restaurants, and just plain chain stores. Whenever possible, I'm going to use the voice I have here to remind people that there's an alternative.

It's an important mission.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Whole Earth Center in Princeton

korovka:

I suggest that instead of waiting for Trader Joes, you instead check out the amazing range of independent specialty shops in the Princeton/Kingston/Kendall Park area. Between the Whole Earth Center, the PA Dutch Market, The Great Wall Supermarket (Dispatch soon!), Cherry Grove Farm, and a host of other small shops, you should be able to find an amazing array of foods sold by local and independent retailers.

If you must shop at a chain - even I do sometimes - at least go to one out here in NJ that has easy access and free parking.

Bringing chain supermarket food from NYC to NJ is like traveling to NJ from NYC for fine dining. It just isn't as good as it can be.

Please though, I've spent the past 13 months writing these dispatches so NJ food shoppers can enjoy that astounding array of specialty shops we have. Give them a try.

From Serious Eats

Zummo’s Café in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Betty:

It's a funny thing. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area is loaded with great food resources and the only thing that's ever reported on is Old Forge Pizza.

I'll try to make that right.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Moustache Bill’s Diner

Eating:

As always, stay tuned.

I've got several seafood-driven dispatches in the works.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Moustache Bill’s Diner

Eating:

I spotted that menu and went for the scrapple. Given my recent experiences with "local" crabmeat in the Garden State, I just skipped it. Add to that, my normal "not the fancy stuff!" reaction and you won't find me ordering that anytime soon.(In New Jersey anyway.)

I'll get to local crab and local seafood in general another time. It's a whole separate dispatch.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Asparagus Farms

Thomas:

The market issue is a very serious one here. The two best places to get New Jersey produce are Union Square and Headhouse - both close to New Jersey, but neither in it. Indeed, if you visit the farms themselves, you won't get what they offer in the big city.

Is there a best place in New Jersey to buy produce? I have some theories, but I'll be out of state most of May and won't be able to put them to the test until summer.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Don Alex Restaurant, Route 27, Elizabeth

Thomas:

Thank you very much.

Funny you should say that because I'll be out of town for a couple of weeks, but I've already got the next couple of dispatches drafted.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Patel Brothers Supermarket

Tarelki:

I'm glad to hear that. I'll check it out soon, but it was the one on Oak Tree Road that had both great shopping and a unique food court. As for the produce, it seems that competition between Chinese mega-marts in Central New Jersey is really heating up. New stores and remodelings have really raised the bar.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Patel Brothers Supermarket

Tarelki:

Sadly, the Hong Kong Supermarket at the corner of Oak Tree Road and Park Avenue (About 3 miles from Patel and around the corner from that beer store I wrote about a few months ago.) has closed for good. It is deeply missed both for its great ingredients and its truly memorable food court.

Stay tuned - reports on both Chinese and Latin American mega-stores are coming.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Fried Chicken at Last Legg in Somerset

Sure!

They're about 1/2 mile north of Last Legg on Route 27 (called "French Street" here), just south of downtown New Brunswick and the big hospital.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: White House Subs in Atlantic City

Joan:

I went with Four-meek-ah and they seemed pretty pleased.

Of course, whatever you say, don't pronounce it the same way as the countertop!

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: PA Dutch Farmers Market

Mother:

Both the Columbus and Cowtown markets are on the list of future NJ Dispatches but will wait because they're both kind of dismal and out of season.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: PA Dutch Farmers Market

Castor:

This is by no means the only quality butcher in the area. I'm posting these reports as fast as I can write them but this is uncharted territory and there is (for the most part) just one of me out here.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: China Palace in Middletown, What's Going On Here?

Heart:

In my opinion, there is no "law" of Chinese restaurants here in New Jersey. The Grand Shanghai on Route 1 is nice enough to take anybody to and had terrific food the last time I was there and China Bowl, a quick mile away looks like it's straight out of Mott Street, yet I enjoy the (very different) food there too.

Thomas:

This whole inferiority thing leads people to some bizarre restaurant and food shopping choices. Indeed, most people almost seem to make a point of avoiding anything good.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Trenton Farmers' Market at Christmas

Perky:

I would be shocked if the Trenton Market WASN'T there!

It's just timeless. Yes, there are heirloom tomatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes, and the ethnic stalls come and go as Trenton's population shifts, but the format, and the big sign are here to stay. If the original "Planet of the Apes" movie had been filmed in New Jersey, they'd have used the Trenton Farmer's Market sign instead of the Statue of Liberty for the closing scene.

Zern's seems interesting, but we have at least a few similar places here in New Jersey that I haven't written up yet...Come to think of it, I've barely scratched the surface of what's going on here...I mean...I haven't even discussed pizza!

From Serious Eats: New York

Jersey Dispatch: Churrasqueira, Garden State Style

Hi:

There is no rule about this. No assurance that a large immigrant community will reproduce quality versions of what those people ate back home.

I am hoping that upcoming my upcoming dispatches will include Chinese/Peruvian, Chinese/Indian, and with a bit more luck than I'm having right now, Chinese/Jamaican.

Stay tuned.

From Serious Eats: New York

Jersey Dispatch: Collingswood Farmers' Market

Betsy:

When farmer's markets began to reappear in the Garden State, a big deal was made about how they were just that; farmer's markets.

Today, the success of farmer's markets is well-known. They often draw huge crowds of serious shoppers. The question I've been asking in both my talks and this post is "should farmer's markets be for something other than what's grown on farms?"

By far and away, the largest group of non-farm vendors at New Jersey markets are bakers. Would a crowd like the one I saw at Collingswood attend a "baker's market" without farmers?

Why not just name the markets honestly?

Couldn't your market be called the "Collingswood Food Market" instead?

I believe that the distinction is a serious and important one. We in New Jersey have no shortage of shops that offer baked goods of very high quality. However, I often find myself driving thirty minutes or more to find local, in-season, fruits and vegetables. This is why I want to see farmers at "farmer's markets." More than that, I want to see farmer's markets that are for farmer's, first and foremost.

From Serious Eats: New York

Jersey Dispatch: Two Takes on the Italian Hot Dog

I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make the hot dog tour - I'll be in Italy chasing down some of the breweries I mentioned in my post a few weeks ago.

For me, what's most important about your comments is the mention of "German" food at all. It's one of the states most hidden and unsung genres.

Good luck with it though. We need more activities like this. I myself have wanted to lead a dosa or soup noodle tour for some time.

From Serious Eats: New York

Jersey Dispatch: Dosas Get Their 15 Minutes at Woodlands on Oak Tree Road

Tam:

Sit tight, I've already covered the beer and will have more soon enough. The fact is, I'm overwhelmed by the incredible amount of food worth writing about.

From Serious Eats

Rocco DiSpirito on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Who else? I can't think of another male cookbook writer in America who'd even dance half as well.

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

i need a couple more neighbors so i can expand my farm. most of my friends think it's too dumb to waste time on. want to by my neighbor?

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

@hkydiva - Teleporting and door removal. Makes all the difference. Check out the forums and they'll explain all.

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

I need to join a Farmville twelve step program. It's such a time waste. I try to quit but I keep sneaking back to harvest my trees and cows!

Ahem, Chisai...what two basic game cheats?????????

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

I'm hooked on Farmville and Cafe World. Farmville is a bit time consuming, but once you have things up and running, it really doesn't take all that long, and with both, once you learn 2 basic game cheats, things move along swimmingly. Now if only I could figure out how people much lower than me in ranking at the Cafe have managed to get 20 stoves at a time, my lunchbreak time would be complete. :-)

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

i am all about cafe world!

(the other night my husband called on his way home and asked me what i was doing. i told him there was a few minutes left on my roasted chicken. he was excited that his vegetarian wife was roasting him a chicken. when he got home he couldnt wait to see the chicken. so i showed him the chickens i was roasting in cafe world. he was not happy)

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

I get these game addictions. One summer, my friend from Hong Kong came to visit, we played all day and all night, changing shifts so we could build the greatest empire the virtual world has ever seen! hahaha those were the days.

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

It's not about having the free time, but making the time to do stuff like this.

I refuse to play any of the games on FB, but I understand how it is. My husband and I used to set our alarms to do stuff on WoW, SWG, and EQ for 10 years. laf

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

I had to stop playing farmville (I actually blocked the application so I won't be tempted). My farm just got too big and it took to long to harvest, plant, seed, etc.

Café World, on the other hand is AWESOME!

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

my sister's obsessed with farmtown.
i don't know how anyone has time for it...far too demanding for me.

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

Farmville, Farmtown, Cafe World, and Restaurant City have all stolen my soul. I have to play Mafia Wars just to feel normal.

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

I'm totally addicted to Farmville and Cafe World. I would love to stop playing, but then what would happen to my crops and food??

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

I've been playing FV for awhile now but I would NEVER set my alarm to get up and pick anything. I do, however, revolve some activities around picking and planting my farm. Thank god my husband is hooked too or he'd think I was nuts!

From Serious Eats

Video: How to Play Farmville, the Facebook Farming Game

You should also add that they have a game called Cafe World which is about cooking food and serving it in the same way that you play Farmville.
Its a bit newer but catching on with the same people who play FV.

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Growing Up Jersey With Diner Coffee

There's still tons of diners around here (Central NJ), at least a dozen within a 15 min. drive of my home.
The Skylark Diner on Rte. 1 in Edison is pretty good, however, I never drink diner coffee, so I can't speak to that.
Does anyone here know of Gilley's Lunch Wagon, Portsmouth, NH? An obscure reference, no doubt, but the best night owl diner of all time.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Trenton Farmers' Market at Christmas

Forgot to mention The Crab Shack, which is part of-but just next to The Trenton Farmers Market. All of the shrimp at The Crab Shack is wild, not farm-raised like that of most supermarkets - Great difference in the taste! Every Sunday, they drop the prices down really low, so you can buy wonderful seafood, such as salmon, halibut, scallops, tilapia at rock bottom prices. The owner is picky, and has a nose for freshness. Visit the website: http://www.trentoncrabshack.yolasite.com

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Whole Earth Center in Princeton

korovka sounds like someone who was hired by Trader Joe's to start a buzz...

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Farmers' Markets in Elizabeth, Millburn, and Freehold

Morristown's farmer's market rocks - usually at least 5 farmers set up there, including a smattering of organic farms.

From Serious Eats

Zummo’s Café in Scranton, Pennsylvania

As a NYState investigator, I am on Route 81 a lot. Best road joint (my humble opinion) is mile 219 Hartford - Penn Yan Diner I get the Biscuits Sausage & Gravy with a dash of hot sauce. They have 2 different bottlles, and a refill for my Green Tea container 5 bucks with the tea. Also near there mile 194 Clark's Summit - A REAL WAFFLE HOUSE. They will greeat you with a big HELLO and have butter for the pecan waffles. Clean bathrooms also.

From Serious Eats

Zummo’s Café in Scranton, Pennsylvania

We made it there this weekend and it was as promised. Fantastic coffee and a wonderful turkey salad.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Whole Earth Center in Princeton

"If you must shop at a chain..."

So the new Mike Judge cartoon isn't a parody after all?

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Zummo’s Café in Scranton, Pennsylvania

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Moustache Bill’s Diner

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Snapshots from Scotland: Deep-Fried Mars Bars

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About BrianYarvin

Website: http://www.brianyarvin.com

Location: Edison, New Jersey

About: Cookbook Author, Food Photographer, Instructor at the Washington School of Photography.

Favorite foods: Anything with chili sauce. Even better, anything that combines ground meat and chili sauce.

Last bite on earth: Hopefully fried, hopefully Chinese street food, Hopefully with ground meat and chili sauce.