For our big Parents Weekend visit at Rutgers, I made a reservation at Le Malt Lounge for Saturday night. I fully expected this to be the marquee meal of our trip. For Friday’s adventure, though, I texted Aaron to ask him if he wanted to go anywhere special. He didn’t express a strong opinion, but reiterated his interest in the Frog and the Peach, so I made a rez.

It was more expensive than Le Malt Lounge, and decidedly better–casting no shade on Le Malt, but there it is. It’s in a newer development that put me in mind of the Naval Yard in Baltimore: cultivated, consciously developed, and oddly quiet for such a busy city. There’s nothing kitschy, accretive, or quirky about the neighborhood, Hiram Square, in the same way that a McMansion development often appears, and like the Navy Yard, it bears its share of social scrutiny.

Rhonda and I each ordered the Black Manhattan, which added Averna to the classic cocktail. I’m often suspicious of substitutions or additions like this, but the herbal, licorice flavors paired superbly with the drink. It had an inky blackness I appreciated in both the title and the presentation.

For apps, Aaron tried the bone marrow, which didn’t surprise me. I expected a couple of cross-cut shins, with a spoon to scoop out the marrow. Instead, the bones were cut longitudinally, such that the marrow (and the mushroom stuffing) was easily accessible. I can’t say that I preferred it with the stuffing to straight gelatinous and umami-rich marrow, but it was still good. It came with bread for serving.

I had the oysters, which were billed as from nearby Fishers Island. They were briny and delicious, up there with Sweet Amalia oysters in my opinion. I don’t need mignonette with oysters when they’re good. The muddy Delaware Bay ones we often get in South Jersey require a flavor boost, but not these.

Rhonda had the the pumpkin ricotta gnocchi as an appetizer. These were fantastic, with only a hint of pumpkin (and not the cloying “pumpkin spice” version of things that assault the senses around this season). They were clearly hand cut, varying wildly from pillow to pillow in shape. They were firm for ricotta dumplings. The garlic mushroom broth and escarole added great flavor and texture. I adored my bite. Sadly, I neglected to take a picture.

Aaron and Rhonda both ordered the duck breast; they had steak on the menu, but it was eye-wateringly expensive (as was Le Malt, to be fair). This was an excellent preparation, cooked perfectly, and the baby turnips, almond spatzle, spicy duck sausage, dried cranberries, and a balsamic fig puree, which, composed, added a ton of flavor and textural contrast.

I have an fulsome appreciation for the humble monkfish since my college days, when I swore off meat but ordered (and prepared) fish as often as I could. The tightly wrapped loins evoked the over-worn comparison to lobster tails, but I can’t crow about that: their lightness was emboldened by the prosciutto, which imparted a nice salty crust to the delicate fish. The shaved squash offered a ribbony pasta texture and chew without adding unwanted carbs, and the lemon in the sauce was nicely balanced with a touch of fat. Monkfish and a glass of Sancerre… perfect any night.

It feels like fall out there! Finally! I pulled some flannel out of the closet upstairs and swapped out my short-sleeve polos and shorts. It’s a good day to be inside, with all this rain and wind.

We met Teri for some snackies and wine at Bellview for one of the last soirees of the season Friday after work. Next weekend Rhonda and I will be in New Brunswick visiting Aaron at Rutgers for Parents Weekend. I’ll have plenty to share for sure. Tripsy is all loaded up with ideas and a reservation for Le Malt Lounge on Saturday. We’re planning on stopping at Stokelan Estate Winery on ride up.

Buena Connection’s The Backroads

Rhonda and I rolled up to Hammonton yesterday to restock our salami stash; they have these big unmarked salami that are identifiable as spicy or mild only by a rubber band. They are always excellent and will last you a while unless your salami lust is boundless.

We stopped off for a pint at the Buena Connection Brewery, which I’ve featured a few times here. I tried their Backroads IPA, which they describe thusly:

Pours like a pale yellow, almost straw-like color with a light-moderate haze. notes of fresh squeezed orange juice with a medley of citrus and tropical aromatics

It’s their take on the juicy, hazy style of IPA that has found favor among hopheads in the last few years. It was excellent. I was tempted by their Photon (kölsch) and Western Sky (West Coast IPA), and of course the Oktoberfest. I was really happy with my selection. A former classmate of Rhonda’s pours pints there and we love to chew the fat with him while we have a few sips. I actually cycled with him once, back when I first started riding with the group that would become Paramount Cycling Club.

Gerard Bertrand Gris Blanc

After the salami run, we stopped at Rocco’s Town House for an early dinner (are we that old now?) and it was once again excellent. We asked for a bottle of White Horse Winery’s rosé, but they were out. The waitress suggested this gris blanc, it was perfect: crisp, but with a touch of tart fruit on the palate.

I had scallops for dinner, and we shared their steamed mussels first. All really really good.

Tron 4K

I was a wee pup of seven years when Disney’s Tron debuted in theaters. It was the kind of special effects-heavy kid-friendly sci fi flick that us kids dug right into, including the five-points-of-aritculation Tomy toy line. Tron:Ares just came out in theaters, and while I don’t think I’ll see it there, I will as soon as it comes out on Disney+. I thought it would be fun to watch the original, which I’ve done many times over the years. I cued it up the other night and started watching, and the first thought I had was, “wow, the special effects really hold up.”

Rhonda remarked that it must have been touched up, and she was right:

The original Tron has been digitally scanned and meticulously restored by The Walt Disney Film Restoration team, which corrected the new digital master for dirt, warping and other source imperfections. Resulting, Disney claims, in “pristine image quality.” The Restoration Team’s work was all undertaken under the supervision of director Steven Lisberger, too, to ensure that the remaster remains true to the original artistic intent.

I’ve encouraged the boys over the years to enjoy Tron, as I did with DC and Marvel comics, Star Wars, and lots of other plastic pursuits. Diamond Select released a three-pack of Tron figures that borrowed the Tomy line’s colored translucent plastic, but with updated articulation and detail compared to the original line. I ordered it for the boys back then and Aaron was kind enough to let me display the Kevin Flynn figure on my desk.

There’s a lot to ponder on rewatching Tron: the nominal hero, Tron, overshadowed in plot and on screen by an impossibly young Jeff Bridges; the anthropomorphized “programs” that live in the Grid; and questions of identity and free will.

We’ve been making jaunts to Wildwood during our annual Ocean City vacation for years. Wildwood is the closest approximation of the canonical Jersey Shore in parts southerly. It’s a baudy, ribald place compared to more Disney-esque Ocean City or Stone Harbor. For a 14-yer-old, it’s a revelation; to young parents, a hive of scum and villainy.

Pizza

There are a few things to say about Wildwood. First: pizza. Pizza is a big deal down here. The king in Ocean City in Manco & Manco, which fumbles off the tongue of local pizza cognoscenti. It was, and perhaps always shall be, Mack and Manco. Due to a family squabble, there’s Mack’s in Wildwood, and Manco in ocean city.

There’s a famous/infamous pizza reviewer who I won’t comment on other than to say that he weighed in. And he really liked Sam’s in Wildwood. We’ve tried it both before and after Dave’s seal of approval and I will say I considered it fine but quotidian before the big review, but enjoy it more now. It’s got a more crusty, firm undercarriage. I did have Manco earlier this week and I liked it more, though.

Fries

Wildwood and of Ocean City both have great French fry spots. We always hit the curlys in wildwood on the boardwalk near Morey’s because there’s a bar there and we can always get a Tonewood on draft. They serially have the Parkway to Paradise which we really like every time we have it. Back to Curly’s-They’re a thicker-cut fry than I prefer, but they’re good and have a sheen of historicity. (For the record, I like the hand-cut fries at the Promenade.)

The Local Flavor

Wildwood is a bawdier affair than Ocean City. I naturally gravitated towards it from the ages of 13-20ish, but the ideal of the boardwalk as a cozy family place always took root. Think vape shops, lousy pizza, and barkers.

Somers Point

We did manage to squeeze in another pint at the Somers Point Brewing Company. It has nothing to do with Wildwood but there it is.

The date itself did not occur in OCNJ; the vacation prompted us to alight for Atlantic City, which is a town with a vibrant dining scene. (I’ve never been one for casinos.) We did our own surf n’ turf at the Knife and Fork, ordering a ribeye and the lobster thermidor, and split them. The waitress caught onto our design and the kitchen helpfully divided the steak into two serving dishes. It’s a small thing, but not to have to ask for it was classy.

We skipped dessert but ended up at a local brewery for a quick pint. Great night.

Aaron had an overnight orientation last night; retrieved him and a friend this afternoon from Rutgers. He had a nice time it seems! I think these toe dips are helpful to anxious parents too. It’s really dawning on both of us that he’ll be away so very soon.

I did a little research and found John and Molly’s as a possible stop on the way home. It was a good mid-journey break. They have really good mussels.