Friday, August 23, 2013

Hoffman's Ice Cream

I love places that actually live up to the hype surrounding them! And Hoffman's Ice Cream does exactly this. Feel like a kid again and get yourself to this adorable Point Pleasant Beach  ice cream parlor before summer ends. Wait on line with the locals (yes there is a line), order a waffle cone filled with creamy delicious homemade ice cream, and sit outside on the stoop as you lick up the remnants dripping down your elbows. 


I tried the location in Point Pleasant, but I'm told the one in Spring Lake is also delicious. Point Pleasant Beach is only a few minutes further down Main Street from Vic's. It's worth taking the kids here and getting in your last licks (see what I did there?) before it's back to reality.  
Get the Cookie Monster. Blue vanilla ice cream spun on premises with cookie doughp bites and smashed oreos. Life doesn't get much better than this. Fudge Mint, Peanut Butter Nugget and Cookie Dough were all also winners. Hoffman's also does prepared ice cream cakes in the fridge if you want to take it to go. Good luck getting it home in one piece. Yes, it's that good. 

Almost forgot to mention the "Octopus Challenge". 8 scoops in 8 minutes of less, gets you a free t-shirt. As good a reason as any to get down here ASAP. 



Neighborhood: Point Pleasant Beach or Spring Lake, New Jersey

Bite Mark: ****

Good For: Everything! Kid-friendly, Date Night, etc 

Hoffman's Ice Cream, 800 Richmond Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ www.hoffmansicecream.net


Monday, August 5, 2013

Monday Munchies: Moonstruck

For this week's Monday Munchies, I'm going with the tried and true, Moonstruck in Asbury Park. I really like this place and surprisingly it is not predominantly based on outstanding food coming out of the kitchen. Yes, the food is always pretty good and consistent, but it's really a mixture of things that do it for me here.

 I love the atmostphere. Set in an old Victorian style house with 3 floors and beautiful wrap around porches, it's a nice mix of relaxing and romantic. I love it for a special occasion, but then again I've gone with other couples and loved it as well. Sitting outside overlooking the lake, you really feel like you are away for a moment. 



The service here is also great. It's a big place but they definitely get crowded especially weekends in the summer, but they seem to always have everything under control. Even when they quote you a half hour or longer wait time, they give you a beeper, and more times than not, by the time you finish one drink at the bar your table is ready. The waitstaff as a whole seems to be friendly and helpful, and minus the attitude that I sometimes feel as a New Yorker visiting Jersey for the summer. 



I like the food here, I just feel like it's the aforementioned things that keep me returning time and time again. I like going with the seasonal items on the back of the menu. The other night we had a nice refreshing Watermelon Salad with feta and arugula and a whole wheat Margarita with greens on top. The White Bean and Caponata Bruschetta tasty as well. 


 For the mains we got the special white fish of the night, and a Grilled Salmon with lentil couscous. We also got a nice summer spiral shaped Pasta with grape tomatoes eggplant zucchini and fresh mozzarella cheese. Everything was in the above average category. Nothing stuck out for me to say you must order, but then again nothing was a flop either. 

My favorite dish of the night was the Black & White Creme Brûlée. Wow. Not sure what exactly was on the bottom of this, but it was a nice spin on a classic dessert. Now that'll keep me coming back for more.


Neighborhood: Asbury Park, New Jersey


Bite Mark: ***

Good For: Date Night, Out with Friends, Special Occasion 

Moonstruck, 517 Lake Street www.moonstrucknj.com