#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Reservoir Tavern: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

June 4, 2009 · Narrative

Pepperoni Pizza

Whenever there is a write-up on the best pizza in New Jersey, the Reservoir Tavern frequently makes the conversation.  It’s no wonder.  The place is four generations strong and has been around since 1936.  We actually originally set out to visit the place a few months ago.  I looked up the address and it was listed as Parsippany Road in Parsippany.  Easy enough, I knew exactly where to go.  After about 30 minutes of driving up and down Parsippany Road and looking for the darn place, we called.  No answer.  We asked.  No one knew.  We gave up and headed towards Star Tavern in Orange instead (see review here).

After asking around, it turns out the although Reservoir Tavern’s address is shown in Parsippany, they’re actually in Boonton.  Go figure.  Two totally different towns not even next door to each other.  Nick had karate after work today and I hadn’t planned anything for dinner.  I voted for calling in a take-out order to Reservoir Tavern.  It would give us a chance to try out their fare, but we could relax at home so we could still get in homework, bath and a reasonable bed time.

As luck would have it, today’s e-newsletter from NJ My Way was all about Reservoir Tavern.  That sealed the deal.  They waxed rhapsodic about the pineapple pizza.  I’ve always been intrigued by pineapple pizza, but can never find anyone adventurous enough to try it with me.  The newsletter suggested getting it as a bar pizza (much smaller), and that sounded like a perfect idea.  I added a half-pepperoni/half-cheese pizza for the kids, and mussels marinara to round out the order.

This time, I got directions from the restaurant’s website and found the place really easily.  I was a little shocked when I pulled into the parking lot.  Six-thirty on a Thursday night and the place was packed.  Packed.  As was the small lobby area, the bar area, the whole joint.  Body to body.  I was really glad I called in an order.  Except for the fact that when the restaurant is crowded, there is really no good place to wait.  I made my way over to the bar area because I saw two other patrons picking up take-out orders.  A woman who had just sat down at the bar with her husband looked over at me, with Nick and Maddie, and said, “You really shouldn’t have kids in a bar.  They don’t belong here.”  Seriously?  Seriously?  I restrained myself, biting my tongue, and said I was just there to pick up an order.  I mean, really, with Maddie on my hip, cash in my hand, and Nick at my side, does it sound like I’m there for a night on the town to throw back a few?  Honestly.

Pineapple Pizza

Unfortunately, her demeanor mirrored the staff at the restaurant.  The hostess didn’t smile once and greeted people with a head nod or a swift motion with her fingers.  No pleases, no thank yous, no friendliness.  I’m guessing it’s the food that keeps the restaurant so packed on a weeknight, because it sure as heck wasn’t their personality. We waited about ten minutes and left as soon as we received our order.  The pizza smelled amazing all the way home.  But how about the taste?

…

Read More

Star Tavern: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

April 6, 2009 · Narrative

Half Everything
Last weekend, we headed out on our second stop on our quest to find the best pizza in New Jersey.  In case you missed it, our first stop on the tour was Grimaldi’s in Hoboken.  This time we headed to Orange to Star Tavern.  It’s a place that is pretty well known to anyone who is on their own personal quest for the best pizza in the Garden State, and the tavern even made it as a stop on the Munchmobile Pizza Tour last year.

The interior is very traditional bar with wooden tables and chairs, the requisite big screen TV blaring the current games, and two video games in the front.  Nobody came to greet us, so we seated ourselves in a booth near the door.  Within a few minutes of sitting down, the waitress came and plunked down a few menus and took our drink order.  For die-hard soda fans, be warned.  They’re not serving Coke or Pepsi products here, it’s all RC.  Blech.

We already knew we’d be getting pizza, but took a look at the appetizer section as well, just to see if anything popped out at us.  Mmmm, Mussels Marinara.  Sold.  For the pizza, we did half plain and half everything.

“Including anchovies?” the waitress asked when we ordered.

I glanced at The Husband, who laughed….

Read More

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

Pinterest

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design