Tired Of Le Cuisine Francaise

 It's been two weeks since the spectacular and jawdropping opening ceremonies at the Paris Olympics, The world has  have been inundated with all things Francaise including the cuisine. Yet after  a couple of weeks , it seems everyone is tired of those croissants, beurre and escargots.

I've been feeling that way and longed for my summer favorite , the Spanish classic, gazpacho.

This is a refreshing, light cold soup., made with fresh veggies,  like tomatoes peppers and cucumbers. Garlic and onion powder flavor it while white wine vinegar gives it its' zing and oil makes it smooth and creamy.It's a wonderful spoonful after gorging on Camembert on French bread .Don;t get me wrong I love any  French cheese on bread but it can become a bit too much after a while. The same thing for croissants. They are good but too caloric. Time for simple water crackers.

Everyone does love French cuisine  and thankfully there's been a renewed interest  in it since the Paris Games.. Yet the foods , even salad Nicoise, can be too much at times.It's time to pare it your men down for these last weeks of August. Think cool soups like gazpacho or  simple salads   topped with grilled chicken or shrimp. Save the heavy stuff for the cooler fall months ahead.

Explore other countries . Try their dishes. It's a nice change up from  indulging on le cuisine Francaise.

Our Own Central Perk

Friends nostalgia is sweeping the country, especially here in the New York area. As we know, the beloved comedy was set in Manhattan and debuted this much a quarter of a century (gasp!!!) ago.Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey hung out at a hip downtown coffee shop, Central Perk. It turns out there's one here in Bergen County, in Hasbrouck  Heights, New Jersey. It's the KTB  -Sean Ryan Coffee Shop , located at the southern end of the town's busy Main Street,

It is a trendy , eclectically decorated place, usually filled with Hasbrouck Heights (or the Heights as we locals call it) high schoolers. It's a great meeting place with a game cupboard - full of really neat ones like the classic Monopoly and Yahtzee. These are for all ages - and a great way of passing a rainy Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

The cafe also has poetry readings on Tuesday where young artists can showcase their work. The cafe also highlights jazz groups too for a night of good music and good coffee.

 There are cozy clusters like this, tables for two and longer, Baroque dining room tables surrounded by a variety of fancy, ornately carved dining room chairs. The decor reminds of the famed Raffiela's in lower Manhattan.

                                         These are some of the pastries they sell

There are plain and chocolate croissants as well as apple turnovers. Check out the generous crumb cake squares that can be shared. Individual cake slices as well as tiramisu  can also be bought.There is also a good variety of different macaroons, from chocolate ganache to red velvet.

 KTB also has a large variety of breakfast dishes such as omelets and French toast along with lunch dishes such as vegan and meat paninis and pitua bowls.

Of course being a coffee shop there is also a variety of coffees and teas. Their Arnold Palmer is perfect on a hot day, served in a mason jar, Southern style. Their cappuccino is huge, served in a cup , more of a bathtub.

The cappuccino was strong  - and generous. The macaroons, chocolate and red velvet were a bit too sweet - not what I 'm used to. It would be nice if KTB offered big and small cupcakes as well as different types of cookies too. Maybe their North Arlington branch has these. It would be worth visiting just to see what they have.

If you want your own version of Central Perk, then come to KTB in Hasbrouck Heights. Visit during the day for a quiet coffee or tea or head to it in the evening for jazz and poetry readings. It's a nice escape for you and your friends.