The New Relocated East Wok

 Sometimes an upgrade isn't always good for a restaurant. The food can go down in quality while going up in price. Old favorites are knocked off the menu . Even a new location can be bad. However for East Wok, formerly of Saddle Brook, New Jersey now in the neighboring town of Elmwood Park changing locations was a glow up.

I;be always loved East Wok. They have the best chicken on a stick as well as a very lush shrimp in lobster sauce Their soups have gotten me through a number of colds and stomach flus. Their chefs produced some of the best food in the worst space possible. All those great dishes were created in a cubby hole in an ancient strip mall. It was tiny , without any air conditioning./ Anyone could see the need for a move.

Move they did - to a corner shop with a revamped kitchen and new floors. This (above) is so much better than their old eatery. There are marble floors and a lovely bathroom. Seats and table line the curved windows where you can see the main street.

Their always delicious fried dumplings and spring rolls actually taste better. Is it because of the air conditioned and bigger kitchen Maybe? Or the fact that its a joy to be in? Maybe. They have added to their menu too. I am dying to try their salt and pepper tofu and chicken as well as their new seafood dumplings.There is also Mala style different meats and tofu, cooked with fiery dry Szechuan peppers..East Wok still has their lunch specials that has the main meal with the choice of wonton or egg drop soups and a soda.

If you're looking for a great Chinese restaurant to visit this weekend stop in at the newly relocated East Wok.It's a great place to get a variety of different Asian dishes. The food is beyond delicious.

EAST WOK
234A Market Street,

Elmwood Park ,New Jersey 07407

Tell.201-556-0032

Hook And Reel Seafood In Your Neighborhood

 Usually you have to head to the shore if you want good seafood. yet thanks to Hook and Reel , that's notnecessary. This seafood restaurant offers a wide array of different seafood. You don't have todrive an hour for lobster or shrimp.

I visited my local one in elmwood park new Jersey the other day. I've seen their flyerss in my local ValPack and wondered about it and the menu. It looked interesting and was much closer than those places down at the Jersey shore. It's roots are Cajun so there re boils and some fiery spices. There is also the raw bar which offers blue point oysters , perfect for a hot summer's night.The appetizers are varied. We ordered the hushpuppies and garlic bread sticks. These came with cups of melted butter for dipping. They were crunchy and flavorful. The next time it's a definite order of the crab bites which are miniature crab cakes along with breaded chicken wings.(yes, they have them along iwth wings for a main course). There are also crabmeat fries (another must try) and coconut shrimp. There are also steamed oysters that come with a choice of sauces and fried calamari. The mozzarella sticks  are another must try. As for the main courses. There's are also soup and salad. Hook and Reel onlyu serves new england style clam chowder and lobster biaque for the soups. I had theclam chowder. It had a tangy taste, sort of like a warmed Ranch dressing, but rich with potatoes and large chunks of clam. Next time I'll have the lobster bisque. There are different salads from a simple Caesar to salads topped with chicken, shrimp or crab.

Hook and Reel are famously known for their boils. These are any kind of seafood , from something as big as a whole lobster or crab legs to calimari and crawfish. It';s then picking the sauce from  the dry rub Old Bay toCajun and garlic. Ther'es even a Hook and Reel Special blend that mixes fiery hot chili powder with fresh garlic, lemon pepper and herbs and spices. Then ther'es the heat, You can pick mild, spicy and fire. The whole things comes in a big plastic bag where' it's shaken at your table. It sort of looks like a popped Jiffy Pop  foil container in a giant pie pan. Diners are given elbow length plastic gloves to eatt this .It's a wild look for a  fun seafood festival. There are sides too, with corn on the cob and potatoes. There are mini boils (another must try on the next visit) of  half a pound of shrimp, black mussels or snow crab legs.  These too come with corn and potatoes.Their baskets are also filling with a choice of fried chicken, catfish ,oysters and flounder. For more lux there are baskets of fried jumbo shrimp and lobster tail. Po'Boy lovers will appreciate their mega big sandwiches. A cat fish po boy can feed too and it even comes with a generous side of sweet ptoat fries ro sou[p. There are also sliders and even a pasta dish chock full of shrimp and mussels. There's also a kids menu and a wide variety of alcoholic drinks to choose from. Unfortunately there are no desserts.

Try Hook and Reel for a tasty seafood dinner without heading to the shore. They have a wide variety of differnet seafood plush chicken that make for the perfect summer dinner. Try them for a fun night out.

The Mediterranean Influence

In the last few years Eastern Mediterranean foods are becoming part of the American culinary landscape. It's easy to see why - with the melange of flavors and textures They can be spicy or mellow , simple or complex. The combination is a refreshing breeze of warm, fragrant air.

I discovered this at King Falafel,down the road from me in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.It's a place on the highway - Route 46 West, that I usually pass by.I went there for lunch  and had the one spice mix I've wanted to try for the last few years - za'atar.. It was served, heavily layered on warm, puffy pita.The taste was pure heaven, a dark green spread rich with olive oil and such spices as sumac(yes sumac  which also give Greek gyros their earthy flavor) along with fresh oregano, cumin, and  sesame seeds along with Kosher salt. Unfortunately King Falafel doesn't sell the mix so I will be making it at home (along with providing a how to for home chefs sometime soon. We also had this

an incredible chopped salad, rife with parsley, cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. It is a refreshing bite on a hot October day. This is my new favorite - I even took a container home for dinner.

Mediterranean cooking has been around for millennia. Some recipes such as za'atar have been around since Biblical times yet we're just discovering it now, thanks to Instagram. I'm looking forward to making my own blend and plan on using it on everything from scrambled eggs to Gardein's beef tips. It would even be great sprinkled on fries or mixed with olive oil to be used as a dip. Hummus is another Middle Eastern food that is now so common. It's also easy to make as is falafel - fried chickpeas balls. This is another recipe on my radar.It can be a labor intensive one because the chickpeas have to be soaked overnight.Another dish that's on America's culinary must try list is the hugely popular shakshouka. This is a Tunisian and Israeli version of huevos rancheros. Fried eggs simmer in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices. It's usually a breakfast or lunch dish, but can be made for a vegetarian dinner too.Cumin, cayenne, garlic and paprika, give it spark and color.It's an easy cook.

Mediterranean food is part of our American landscape. discover it, cook it, enjoy the variety of flavors and textures. It's as refreshing as a warm, fragrant breeze ,