Fat Filled Fall Drinks

The temps dip and the first thing we reach for is --- a pumpkin latte. We down it like it's ice water on a hot day.The same goes for the peppermint mocha's which ride in on the pumpkin spice's coat tails.To be honest, all we're drinking is fat. Think of these quaffs as liquid cake and you might not be so quick to glug them down.

The average pumpkin spice coffee is anywhere from 300 to 400 calories. It's not much if you treat yourself to it once a week but have three or four times a week and then watch the weight gain. A better choice would be just a regular no bells and whistles cappuccino that comes in at only 120 calories. It's just as flavorful, especially when there's a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg on the top.Another idea is a simple black coffee.It's actually better because you get to enjoy the rich flavor without the hindrance of chocolate or caramel syrup and whipped cream. Hot tea is another zero calorie choice. Starbucks subsidiary Teavana is also being offered in all their locations. Try a hot , fruity tea instead. If you're stressed a soothing cup of chamomile is a better beverage than a caffeine laden espresso shot. A real dilemma is hot cocoa. This is a comfort drink and fortifier after  a hard day at work on a busy Saturday and Sunday. It will be high in calories however they can be cut with the right choices. Skip the whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. Hot chocolate has a froth of its' own.Also  asked for two per cent milk instead of whole and keep the size down to a kid's mini cup.

Just as seductive and loaded with calories are the frappuccinos and frozen hot chocolates. These are basically liquid cake. They are tasty and refreshing , especially after a warm fall Saturday morning spent on the soccer field.One with all the works is close to five hundred calories!!! That's  one hero sandwich with the works.It can also be two lean pieces of steak too. Even just limiting these sweet coffees to the weekends, can cost one thousand calories. Is the flavor worth it? If you want an icy pick me up settle for a cold brew. Again, Starbucks has theirs , and one in particular the Nitro Foam
Cascara which has only eighty calories and gives a satisfying kick. A plain cold brew is even better with only five calories a glass.As for iced tea, just have a plain  unsweetened one with a slice of lemon.Many tea and coffee shops can turn their hot brews into iced ones. Think about having an iced peppermint or jasmine for a refreshing break. Some coffee shops, such as Dunkin Donuts, still sell their frozen hot chocolate. Stay away from these lethal sips.Some can reach up to nine hundred calories!!!!. If you want cold chocolate, opt for Silk's Chocolate Cashew Milk boxes at ninety calories a box. These can be brought anywhere and are even a great drink at home.

Don't fall into the pumpkin spice latte trap. Pick a sensible hot or cold drink that has zero to very little calories. Remember , they/'re just as refreshing and comforting as their high calorie counterparts.

Coffee Cocktails, Anyone.?

Can a cup of Java be as intoxicating and complex as a mixed drink? The answer is a surprising yes.There are an elite grouping of coffee bars that are taking the average cup of coffee to new levels.It's coffee but for the coffee affection ado. These spruced up brews were the subject of an extensive article in today's Wednesday New York Times Dining section.Oliver Strand, newcomer to the section, got the lucky chance to taste a variety of different shots.A Los Angeles coffee shop has the honors of being the most innovAtive and the best (although some New York City coffee shops come in close).The owners, Charles, Babinski and Kyle Glamville, are the owners of two places, G & B Coffee and GoGet Em ,Tiger.Where they make coffee with only whole milk and real sugar.Any thing even vaguely diet related is not allowed.This simply creates a better cup. They do add a homemade almond macadamia milk to their lattes.It's first shaken over ice with espresso,then strained into a chilled Mason jar.Ice is then added and it's not must any cube.The ice is made from a Kold Draft ice maker, a machine only found in cocktail bars.The result is more a cocktail dessert hybrid, elevating it to a new level of Joe?they also are the ones behind the coffee milkshake, two double shots of espresso blended with fresh made vanilla ice-cream that has also been dusted with espresso grounds. Babinski and Glanville have gone a step further.They have mixed homemade Ginger beer, exciting on , with espresso to create a drink called The Dark And Stormy.Mr.Babinski has also toyed with the idea of carbonating the coffee to create floats.They have already broken new ground with a trio of drinks called The Business And Pleasure.This is a shot of espresso ,carbonated ice tea,with the fizz made with citra hops and an iced almond macadamia milk cappuccino. Their idea for these new creations came from when both worked at different coffee companies.While doling out cookie cutter cappuccinos and lattes both men talked to regulars about what they really liked and wanted. Their first two creations were a nod to the. Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays.They infused cream with fresh mint for their peppermint mocha while the pumpkin spice latte has freshly ground spice base of nutmeg,Ginger, allspice clove and cinnamon.The eggnog latte started off in a growler, a canister where mixed drinks are made.Other coffee companies around the US are trying similar recipes.Intelligentsia Coffee inManhattan has a coffee drink based opacity fave, the egg cream .Black and Blue Curee Coffee in Austin, Texas puts coffee in kegs and serves it like a frothy stout.In San Francisco,tonic is added to the brew at Saint Frank to create a fizzy Brazilian tonic.while Washington DC Mockingbird Hill has a Kenya Cola .It also has an extra kick of bitters to it. Thanks to coffee innovators , a cup of Joe will be an experience and not just a daily jolt to wake up.There will be new ways and new methods to turn this ancient brew into something sophisticated and modern.It won't just be aborting cup with froth anymore.

Bibi'z Elegant NJ Dining

Elegant dining and New Jersey usually aren't used in the same sentence. However there are cities,such as Westwood, Red Bank , and Westfield that are known as restaurant towns. Westwood has several excellent places. one is Bibi'z an eatery that combines style with culinary savvy. I had the chance to eat there last night with friends. the vibe is Village trendy without the snobbery.There is a slant on Middle Eastern cooking .Hummus and lamb feature in the appetizers as the last is also prominent in the main courses too. The lamb appetizer I had was excellent. It was two small and meaty Tbone chops ,perfectly grilled. the inside was just tender to the point of melting in my mouth.I also had Bibi'z soup of the day, a bouillabaisse that had what tasted like duck and chicken in it. friends had the shrimp and braised lamb shanks ,which were said to be excellent. Of course the champagne we had with our meal added another special touch.It was the California Roederer Estate which was very brut Bibi'z dessert menu was as elegant as the rest of their menu.I could not resist their small bowl of jasmine infused sabayon over a trio of berries .It was delicate and creamy ,denser from the usual egg rich froth. The tiramisu also very good.What I also liked Bibi'z attention to their tea and coffee. I had the choice of seven or eight different flavors. With it came a small tray of additions such as lumps of both brown and white sugar ,a small flagon of honey and tiny lemon wedges. My friend's cappuccino came with the same sugar along with small bowls of shaved chocolate and ground cinnamon. New Jersey is known for its' raucous diners with their big platters of comfort food.However there are, small elegant restaurants - bistros really - that serve four star foods .Bibi'z is one of them. Bibi'z is located at 284 Center Ave., Westwood New Jersey 07675 go to www.bibi'z.com for reservations and to see the entire menu