Fasr Food Fast Yuck

 We've been told for decades that fast food is bad for us despite its' taste. Those burgers and nuggets were addictive as were those fries. Somehow these indulgences are as lacking in flavor as they are in nutrition nowadays.

 I discovered this in the last two days. I was rerouted more or less to the Jersey shore after trying to go Christmas shopping in Clark, New Jersey. I didn't mind the detour. I love hanging out at the Raritan Bay, enjoying the calm waters and briny sea aroma. I knew I'd have to stop and eat somewhere along the road because I hand't eaten since mid morning. I knew where to go. The Jon Bon Jovi stop on the Garden State Parkway always had a good choice of fast food. I knew I had wanted to go to Nathan's if it was still there. It was!!! I looked forward to their hot dog and crispy fries. I bought them along with a diet Coke. The diet Coke was the only good thing. The hot dog was so burnt and salty that I couldn't finish eating it . Nathan's fries were known for their crunchy outsides and the perfect taste of potatoes and salt. These were downright horrible. They were overcooked with a charred aftertaste and a strangely mushy and damp inside. These too went right into the garbage. Luckily they didn't disturb my stomach.

Then today i had lunch at one of my local McDonald's near me in Garfield NJ.I had always got a decent burger there (to me the best McDonald's is down in Hazlet on Route Thirty-Six). Tired of eating red meat I thought I'd get the chicken nuggets. Bad idea. They were over crusted and the flavor only improved when I peeled off the coating. Even the accompanying sauces couldn't help. At least the fries were decent, being thin and crunchy. I've got to admit.I was not used to two days  of stupendously bad fast food. I don' know if it's the staff overcooking or just not caring how the food turns out. Maybe fried fast food is becoming a thing of the past as chains like Jersey Mike's offers freshly made sandwiches that require little frying - save for their bacon. it could also be that newer burger chains like Shake Shack and Habit Burger are offering better made hamburgers that taste like they came off the back yard grill. Also many people are embracing vegetarianism and eating Beyond Burgers and Impossible Meats. There probably will be vegan chains that will eclipse the established ones.

All in all it's very surprising about the overall poor quality of fast foods. They have to improve or lose customers like myself to chains offering at least better tasting fare. If not, they face a dismal future.

Teterboro's' Restaurant Row

Mention the town Teterboro to anyone from North Jersey and they'll say  "That's where the airport is." Now  it's home to an exciting row of chain restaurants. These are a welcome arrival to those living in southern Bergen County, giving us new eateries to try and enjoy.

For years' the southern part of New Jersey's most prosperous county  had mostly privately owned restaurants, offering the usual Chinese or Italian fare. Once  in a while an all you can eat buffet cropped up.Thnaks to the tearing down of the old Bendix Building , acreage opened up in this busy section of the Garden State. Wal-mart and CostCo took over and in front of them two , smart, shiny new strip malls. Locals can now enjoy everything from pizza to halal, from Japanese to frozen yogurt. There are even two chain restaurants , one the famed Texas Roadhouse and the other is BJ's. These are great burger and steak places that also offer pasta and tacos. I have yet to visit these but they 're on my must see list. I'm especially looking forward to Texas Roadhouse , known for their sumptuous steaks and  their cactus blossom, their take on the Bloomin onion. Their rattlesnake bites, namely jalapeno poppers also look intriguing while . their steaks are very impressive looking too.

I have eaten at most of the smaller restaurants, starting with Habit Burger. I reviewed it a year ago when it first opened, and was not happy with the result. I am planning on returning to see if they improved their recipe. One of the better eateries there is Sarku, a Japanese fast food place that features teriyaki along with sushi. Their shrimp and beef is excellent as is their chicken. Another good place to eat is Blaze Pizza where everyone gets an entire , freshly made pie I have to admit I did have reservations about this place, thinking it would be just blah generic stuff . Boy, was I wrong. The pizza tastes exaclty like the ones I've had in Italy. . Just a perfect marriage of sauce, cheese and crust. I also love the cherry soda they serve too.. The Halal Guys are another tasty stop,with pitas filled with chicken and tahini. They also have very good falafel too. The meal ends with a trip to Panera Bread. Nothing beats their cappuccino and holiday mitten cookies. That's another place I want to try for lunch too. There's also Sixteen Handles which has the best frozen yogurt and toppings. Try their Chocolate Brownie with a big blob of whipped cream.

If you're in southern Bergen County, visit the new Teterboro Lamding. Yes, you can shop at the Wal-Mart and CostCo, but try the wide variety of restaurants that are there. They are fun and different, perfect for a meal out.