Segovia Steakhouse:The Best Of Iberia

New Jerseyians know that if you want  good good Spanish or Portuguese influnced food you have to trek down to Newark's Ironbound area. However there are good Iberian centric restaurants studded throughout the Garden State. Segovia Steakhouse is one of those ,located in LittFerry in southern Bergen County. It's a true taste of the Ironbound, from the menu to the energy.

The restaurant  spun off  Segovia Restaurant in the next town of Moonachie. Both are owned by Manny Martinez and Tony Treus. The original eatery has been in existence for the last thirty years and is a staple in the area.It's an elegant place in the middle of a Manhattan bedroom town. (New York City is only a scant nine miles away). It's a nice place  featuring paellas and seafood however its' the steakhouse that 's now the star. It's a busy, buzzy wild place on a Saturday night. Situated in an elegant looking Mediterranean building that's painted a terra cotta orange, the restaurant is located in Little Ferry, only a block in from Route 46 , one of the county's main arteries. Unfortunately Segovia doesn't take reservations, the only drawback because the place is packed to the gills on a Saturday night. Waiting can be anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour depending on your arrival time.Another drawback is the small parking lot but luckily the TD Bank next door is generous with theirs.

The wait and the crowds are worth it. The dishes are phenomenal, fragrant with saffron and garlic. Segovia offers tapas  (s does the Moonachie one) that features grilled chorizo,pinchos, marinated pork cubes and pulpo feria, paprika laced octopus.  Segovia  is a steakhouse first and foremost and it doesn't disappoint . A friend had their Porterhouse which could have fed three people. It was accompanied by a scant portion of veggies. There is also a skirt steak with the famed green sauce churrasco..All dishes come with a side of saffron rice and crispy homemade potato chips so good dipped in the sauces that come with the meals. My favorite is the pollo ajillo. This is a heavenly blend of chicken tenders with sauce of garlic and peppers in a buttery sauce.It was heavily spiced but delicious dish, especially the sauce which was also good sopped up with hot crusty rolls. I will definitely go back for this along with the arroz con pollo. Other tasty dishes are the arroz con camarones, a shrimp studded rice dish and pollo castellones, chicken with artichoke.The shrimp and rice was also amazing, fragrant with saffron and loaded with plump shrimp. Even though the dishes were more than filling ( diners can definitely leave with doggie bags) there us room for dessert. Yes Segovia features traditional flans but it's the chocolate cannoli with dark cheery sauce that steal the show (this could be a nod to the town's mostly Italian population. The tres leches cake was a nice mild ending to a highly spiced dinner.

If  you're craving good Spanish and Portuguese food then head to Segovia Steakhouse in Little Ferry ,New Jersey, The dishes are traditional , celebrating Spain and Portugal along with large platters of steak, Head over there for a phenomenal dinner.

Cannolis - That Sicilian Treat

Sicily is known for a lot of things: its ancient culture, its; beautiful beaches and of course its variety of foods, including pastries. The last has a srtandout universally loved by everyone. This is the cannoli, a crisp fried tube filled with a creamy ricotta mix. There have been variations on the recipe but the original one is the best.

Cannoli which is the plural started in Palermo during the Carnevale season leading up to lent. The tubes were representative of fertility and possibly first served a the harem of Caltisenetta indicating an Arab influence, The shells themselves are made from butter flour, vegetable oil and sometimes a dash of cinnamon for added flavor and color. These are then fried in hot oil and left to drain on paper towels. The filling traditionally is a blend of ricotta or marscapone cheese, and confectioner‘s sugar blended to a creamy consistency. Chocolate chip are added as are citron and candied cherries to give it color and taste. Once the cannoli are filled the ends can be dusted with chopped green pistachios. The cannoli should be eaten when the shell is crispy and fresh otherwise the filling will sog up the pastry.

There are some variations to it. Fro one you can buy premade cannoli shells which does save a lot of time and trouble. I’ve bought these and found they were OK. I also vary mine with filling them with pudding and ice cream for a different spin. Some New York bakers do their own thing, such as dipping the shells in dark chocolate or adding unusual flavors such as root beer and peanut butter and jelly to the fillings. The best cannolis , though are the traditional ones with little or no change to the original recipe.

Cannolis are a wonderful treat, They offer both a crispy crunch and a soft sweet filling. They’re a wonderful dessert with a cup of hot steamy espresso, especially now during the fall.