Heidi's Finest

Sorry for the late post reader(s) I got jammed up at my real job yesterday.  So, bakeries are pretty awesome.  How and/or can you really go wrong with one? They usually have that fresh baked goods which really just wet your appetite for something dessert-like.  Something about fresh baked goods when it hits your nose; something I would like to call a haunting aroma. 

Heidi's Finest 

This is a fine establishment that serves many baked goods, but specializes in German baked goods.  When I first walked into the place, I was blown away just from the smell of the baked goods.  As i walked to the glass case; I was like a kid in a candy store my nose pressed up the glass wanting to eat everything.  

As I make my order of a hot chocolate and some type of pastry that escapes my mind; i am instantly hit with a smell of waffle in the air.   Yes, they make waffles here.  At first I was confused and intrigued, but then I had to have it.  The amazingness that was happening in my nose had to happen in my mouth.  I quickly go back to the counter and request one for myself.  

It wasn't too long after that my waffle arrived to my table, it was not only big but fluffy.  I love a big fluffy waffle.  It was crisp on the outside and soft and amazing on the inside.  Not too much powdered sugar on top and just enough syrup to make it a complete meal.  

Now for the real story and/or spotlight here.  They have a semi-off menu waffle that I was introduced to by one of the staff, it was a waffle that had cinnamon and vanilla in it.   I looked at the girl behind the counter and asked her if it was any good.  She looked at me and said "it tastes like Christmas".  With that type of voucher how could I not order it.  Since I was already a fan of the regular waffle, how can I resist one that tastes like Christmas. 

 

The picture above should help sell the idea.  The waffle tasted exactly how you would think Christmas would taste like.  It was a waffle that almost tasted like there was a candy cane baked into it, but not in a bad way either.  

Oh also, the girls behind the counter are wearing traditional lederhosen, so that helps too.  All in all, this place is great for dessert and or coffee and or a place to relax.  

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Follow the link below for more information:

http://www.heidisfinestbakery.com/

Raymond's (Ridgewood Location)

I have a general rule of thumb that has proven me correct about 90% of the time about diners in NJ.  If a diner has some type of  brick face/ stone work on the outside, you probably found a really good diner to eat at.   Most diners that are all steel or "modern"  usually don't pan out too well.  There are a few exceptions that I have found over the years, but mostly any diner with brick face is good to go.

Raymond's

I usually don't do this so fast about a place, but I can't help myself.   So diners are pretty commonplace here in New Jersey.  I would be comfortable to say that New Jersey has more diners than people.  Finding a good diner is pretty hard to do.  Most diners serve the same food pretty much across the board.   It's rare for me to say that a diner is amazing, and with that in mind this place was pretty amazing.  I know that I just gave away the ending to my review, but stick around cause it gets better.

This place is a newly established dinner in Ridgewood, NJ.  It's fairly unassuming when you look at it from the outside.   Yes, it has brick face on it so my hopes were already high on it.  It had a very simple look on the outside, which I like.  

I walk into the door and I was greeted by not one BUT two hostesses.  They kindly greeted me and did their normal job.  I was quickly seated at my table.   I was then given a menu.  Possible the best menu I have seen in a while.  I say this cause it was only ONE page.  Yes, I know a one page menu is pretty unheard of especially in the dinner game.  Most dinners that I have been to in my life give you a 10 page menu that has like size 8 font on it so they can cram in a lot.   This place was like NOPE here is what we have take it or leave it.

So after i adjusted to the idea of a one page menu the waitress (Nancy) walks over and asks if I knew what I wanted.  I order my standard coffee and ask her what she would recommend to me.  She rattles off a few of her top choices.  Then, as if she was struck by lighting, she enthusiastically recommended the french toast.  The sales pitch and tone of her voice really sold me on the idea.  So I sat there for about 5-8 minutes.  The following image is what they brought out to me

I have said this in the past, but it needs repeating.  I usually do not take pictures of my food.  I like to craft my words in a way that you would enjoy the meal of my words.  This is one of the exceptions.  Almost like crostinis that were re-purposed for french toast.  They were light and delicious.  They also had a center that I can only describe as creamy.  I poured the syrup on top to bring it home.  The fresh little fruits on the side combined with the french toast were a revelation.

Midway into my meal I felt the meal needed a side of scrambled eggs.  In my mind this meal was already complete, but you can't really go wrong with eggs and french toast.  I really had nothing in mind for the eggs, cause eggs are eggs.  Everyone makes them and there is no real way to make them better.  Plus, I asked for them to be scrambled soft you can't improve on something so simple.  I WAS WRONG.  I can honestly say that this was THE best eggs I have ever had in my life.  Seriously best eggs ever.  I was later told that the eggs were farm fresh eggs from a local farm not too far away.  Nancy had told me that they get the eggs fresh pretty much daily.  I then replied to her that that was possibly the first time I had real eggs.  Now I don't know if I can ever go back.

So basically, I love this place.  This has dethroned many of my favorite diners in NJ.  It has possibly set the bar high for many of my favorite restaurants.  They have taken my most favorite ideas of how a restaurant should be; simple, fresh and easy.   This place was so good that it made me mad.  I usually try not to gush over food and restaurants.   I try to put my emotions to the side, but when I encounter some place that does it right in so many ways, I can't help myself.   I am now honestly trying to find excuses to go there more often, because if breakfast was that good I can only imagine dinner.   I highly recommend going.  Make/find an excuse to go.  You will not be disappointed.


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For more information follow the link below:

http://www.raymondsnj.com/index.html

Please be advised that the location on the ridgewood raymond's has not been added yet.  Address is as follows 101 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.  


Also on a more personal it's my brother's birthday today.  Happy Birthday.  Love you.   

Tea Fields

So I have been on the hunt for alternative places to dine with the mindset of a diabetic.  Sadly it is tougher than one would expect to find some place.

Tea Fields

There aren't many coffee shops that I consider a good place to eat.  Coffee and tea shops only really focus on those two aspects.  I walk past Tea Fields almost on a daily basis.  The store really didn't grab my attention, until one day I decided to walk into the place.  I found the place to be comfortable and friendly.  It felt as if I was at home ready to brew my tea or coffee.  

I walked up to the counter and made polite conversation with a lady behind the counter ( I later found out she owned the place).  In a passing conversation about my recent diabetes diagnosis, she recommended several of her dishes for me to eat.  I took her advice and ordered what she recommended.  

I ordered their house special salad and a bowl of soup.  You can ask anyone of my friends or family about my feelings on salad.  I am one not to eat salad if I can, but decided to order it anyways.  I was delightfully surprise it delicious.  The carefully picked and planned ingredients really tied the salad together.   mend going to tea fields.   You will find an amazingly friendly staff with a wealth of knowledge of their teas and products.  I person

I am one not to really will be going back several times d about how great the salad tasted.  It was light and refreshing.  The house made dressing really madeally boast about salad or healthy food, but I highly recom for the salad alone.   

Bai 5

I know this is unusual for me to package two posts at a time, but this has to be in here.  This is NOT about a restaurant, but a product.  I stumbled upon this drink a few weeks back at a local store.  I truly believe that is product is AMAZING.  

My nutritionist had advised me that fruit juices are really bad for diabetics.  Sadly I enjoy juices like many people.  So when i discovered this this drink, I thought it was a gift.   The calorie count is really low and the carb count is low as well.  They even advertise that it will not affect my blood glucose.  I believe that this is a perfect drink for diabetics.  You can get the juice drink you crave without risking a blood sugar spike.  I highly recommend you consume this drink if  you are diabetic.  This is a great alternative.  I will be drinking this for long time.