Jolly Nick’s is a small local restaurant in Downtown Dumont, NJ with a menu of deep fried hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and cheesesteaks. They have other deep fried treats like French Fries, Onion Rings and Mozzarella sticks.
The front of Jolly Nick’s at 31 East Madison Avenue
The inside is like a step back in the 1970’s and 80’s with classic chairs and tables and menu prices to match. The menu is so reasonable at a time when everything is getting so expensive. The owner keeps the prices with reach of his customers.
The inside of the restaurant
The menu is varied and very reasonable
What I love about the hot dogs here is that he deep fries them so they come out crackled and crisp. Then he puts them in a soft bun and you can choose from a variety of toppings
The hot dog and French Fries lunch special with a drink
I chose to keep it traditional and chose mustard and relish. It was loaded on top and I liked the combination of spicy and sweet in the taste.
The special meal
The deep fried hot dogs
The French Fries
Lunch was so good!
It was nice to sit back and talk to the owner while I was eating. He really loves what he is doing and the food he makes brings back a lot of memories of high school and summers.
On my last day of class at the college, I stopped in for lunch to try more of their delicious and very reasonable menu.
I was in the mood for a Cheeseburger with a side of Onion Rings and a Dr. Brown Black Cherry soda. It was the perfect meal at the end of the semester.
The Cheeseburger and Onion Rings
The burger was perfectly cooked and had a nice caramelized flavor to it. It was topped with lettuce, tomato and a pickle.
My burger and Onion Rings
The Onion Rings were perfectly fried and crisp and had nice slices of onion in every bite.
The Onion Rings
I really enjoyed my lunch out!
What I like about lunches here is they are reasonable, filling and well cooked. You can a nice meal for a fair price.
I took a ride to Upstate New York in July to visit museums and historical sites in Orange County, NY that had been on my bucket list but most were closed on the sunny Sunday. I made a U turn on the local highway and stopped to visit the Hill-Hold Museum in Campbell Hill, NY.
The Hill-Hold Museum at 128 NY 416 in Campbell Hill, NY
After the tour of the house was over, I decided to stop at the Orange County Fair for the evening and get something to eat.
Being a frequent visitor of the Dutchess County Fair, I expect all the fairs to be of the size and scope of that fair. This one was much smaller but still had a lot to offer.
The entrance to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Middletown, NY
When I arrived in the late afternoon, the fair was rather quiet as it was the late afternoon and most of the demonstrations and entertainment would be later that evening.
Walking through the entrance of the fairgrounds past the rides and the concessions
Still there was a sizable crowd already at the fair riding the rides, playing games of chance and eating at the somewhat over-priced concession stands.
There were a nice variety of rides and things to do while I walked around surveying the grounds to what there was to do and experience.
Looking over the rides which were filled with families
The first tent I visited was the Livestock Tent and the petting zoo. While the fair did not have the livestock displays that the other fairs did or the 4H presence, the tent had friendly selection of animals to see and feed. They looked so happy to see humans with food.
Walking through the petting zoo
Walking through the petting zoo
The sheep and llamas were waiting by the edge of the pens for treat from a human hand. I found them inquisitive of us especially as we fed them.
Watching the llamas decor an ice cream cone filled with treats
The next tent I visited was the 4H tent with all the craft and food items on display. The judging had taken place and all the ribbons were on display.
Walking through the crafts tents
The Scarecrow Contest in the Crafts Tent
We even got to vote on a scarecrow. I thought that was interesting.
Nightmare Manor, the haunted funhouse
The preview of the movie “The Funhouse”
I next walked along the Midway past a whole series of rides and attractions. The first ones were the funhouse and the glory, the Nightmare Manor haunted ride. The lines were short so most people were getting in quickly.
The next thing I did was visit the grandstands where they were having a demonstration on Monster Trucks. This I had to see.
The Monster Trick Rally competition
They were offering rides to patrons before the show (which was a separate fee), so I got to see people driving around the field having a great time.
I did not want to stay for the show as those lines were getting long and I wanted to head home before it got dark. I left the ever growing line to head to the concession to get something to eat.
Stopping for dessert at Tootsie’s Fried Dough Concession
Someone had just walked by me with a steaming funnel cake and then I had to have one. The one thing I have to say about Tootsie’s Fried Dough is that everything is made fresh to order and the quality of the funnel cake was better than any one that I had at the Dutchess County Fair, which are always premade and soggy by the time you get them.
The Funnel Cake was made to order and out of this world
Yum! These were the best!
The last thing that I attended was the circus, which had just started at 6:00pm as I was leaving the fairgrounds. I decided to stay for the most of the show. I enjoyed the high wire acts and the acrobatic displays.
The high wire acts
These brothers from South America were extremely talented and do the most amazing tricks on the high wire.
The bicycle ride over the high wire
Skipping rope on the high wire acts
I really had a nice time at the fair. While it was not as big as either the Dutchess or Ulster County fairs that I attended in the past, there was a lot to see and do at the Orange County Fair.
The Bridgewater, NJ 4H Fair:
Going to the 4H Fair in Bridgewater, NJ was like a step back in time. I used to come here with friends after swim team practice as kids and we all used to garbage up eating our way through the Food Tent. After that, we would enjoy the fair.
The entrance to the Somerset County 4H Fair in Bridgewater, NJ
Walking into the 4H Fairgrounds was like stepping back over forty years as I had not been here since 1981. I even searched all the tents to find someone I knew (I did not know anyone).
The various displays of crafts, hobby cars, crafts and gardening tips
I first visited the Craft and Hobby tents with the displays of model trains, planes, automobiles and artwork. It was mostly families talking amongst themselves. The I next visited the Cow pens.
The cow pens
The cow pens
The cows were getting their afternoon feeding
I next visited the Sheep tent and they were in the middle of having their lunch as well not paying too much attention to us humans.
The sheep were enjoying their lunch when I got there and stopped for a second to see what I was doing
They all went back to feeding
There was a llama tent as well and they seemed very welcoming to human interaction
While walking around the fair, I could see the dark clouds coming in the distance. I had thought the storms were not coming until that evening, so I hustled through the rest of the tents.
Walking down the Midway of the fair with dark clouds in the distance
Entering the Poultry Tent
There were all sorts of varieties of chickens, ducks and geese to visit at the fair.
The prize chickens in their pens
The chickens were eating their lunch and pecking away
The highlight of the 4H Fair to me as a child was the Food tent with all the hot dogs, hamburgers, fried dough and funnel cakes and the popcorn and cotton candy for dessert.
The Food Concession tent
The Food tent
Just as I was deciding what to eat for dinner, there was a panicked announcement over the loudspeaker that they were closing the fair due to incoming storm clouds and lightening.
Everyone made a mad dash for their cars and I actually felt for all the concessions, who had all this food to sell and now how to shut down quickly. Some of the patrons had a ‘screw it’ attitude and kept eating probably until they kicked them out of the tent.
It started to rain while I was in the parking lot and I just checked messages on my phone and worked on blogs until most of the traffic got out of the parking lot. Then I drove into Bridgewater and had dinner at Joe’s Pizzeria at 1938 Washington Valley Road in Martinsville.
Joe’s Pizzeria at 1938 Washington Valley Road in Bridgewater, NJ
I had been coming to Joe’s since I was five and the pizza has not changed on bit since then. The next and the current owner both use the original Joe’s recipe for tomato sauce for the pies and calzones. Dinner here is another step back in time to my teen years. The inside of the pizzeria has not changed much in 35 years.
I was in the mood for a sandwich but I did not see any on the menu. They no longer make them so I ordered the Sausage and Pepperoni Roll. When it came out, it looked like a small pizza folded over. They made it fresh for me.
The Sausage and Pepperoni Roll with a side of red sauce
The roll was stuffed with a half pound of sweet fried sausage and spicy pepperoni, tucked in a pizza dough shell and baked to perfection.
It was the perfect meal for me covering both lunch and dinner. This could have been shared by two people.
The food here has been excellent since I started to come here in the 1970’s and has not changed since.
The dining area has not changed much since I was a kid
There’s more fairs to see and many more experiences to be had at them.
*The blogger wants to note that the prices have gone up a few dollars but the quality and portion sizes are well worth it.
This iconic pizzeria has been open since 1970 and has been serving the Bridgewater, NJ community and beyond since then. I have been coming here since I was kid and have rediscovered again when travelling in the area. On only its third owner since its opening, the pizza and their amazing tomato sauce has not changed since then.
Their iconic sign
The original Joe sold the business to Joe II in 1984 and this year after 35 years of ownership, Joe II retired and his family did not want to take over the business and sold it to Sal, who I met recently who said he is keeping all the original recipes.
The longevity of this restaurant is the food and their prices. The mozzarella is always stringy on every bite, especially when a fresh pie comes out for slicing at lunch. The tomato sauce has a wonderful spicy tomato-y flavor to it that really brings out the sweet flavor of the fruit.
The pizza sauce recipe has been passed down through three owners!
The bottom of the pizza has a crisp consistency to it and you can taste the caramelization in every bite. The best thing to do is order a large and really enjoy it.
The pizza is really good!
Joe’s sandwiches are always consistent and delicious (See review on TripAdvisor). The half meatball hoagie comes with four rather large, freshly made meatballs. Joe’s meatballs are made fresh every day and are loaded with garlic. On a crusty fresh roll and lots of their tomato sauce each bite is special.
The meatball sandwiches here are amazing! (They no longer serve sandwiches)
Their half Italian hoagie is loaded with freshly sliced Italian cold cuts including ham, salami, provolone cheese with shredded lettuce and tomatoes with a vinegar and oil dressing. The combination of flavors of meats and vegetables really works.
Add a half dozen mozzarella sticks with fresh sauce on the side or garlic knots to a slice and it will give you the perfect afternoon lunch or dinner. In the almost fifty years I have been coming to Joe’s, I have never had a bad meal through the three owners.
The calzone was excellent
On a recent trip after a Michigan State versus Rutgers football game I decided to stop for dinner. I had the most delicious Sausage and Cheese Calzone that was made by the current owner. The calzone was huge. It was about the size of a small pizza that had been folded over.
Where the pizza magic happens
The calzone was filled with a combination of ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses with a big handful of fried sausage tucked into a soft pizza dough that was baked golden brown. It was accompanied by a bowl of their delicious tomato sauce that is based on the original Joe’s special recipe. Each bite was wonderful.
I went to Bridgewater again in 2026 to go to the 4H Fair and when a storm brewed during the fair, the organizers kicked everyone out before I could eat, so I decided to stop by Joe’s for a sandwich. They no longer make them so I ordered the Sausage and Pepperoni Roll. When it came out, it looked like a small pizza folded over. They made it fresh for me.
The Sausage and Pepperoni Roll with a side of red sauce
The roll was stuffed with a half pound of sweet fried sausage and spicy pepperoni, tucked in a pizza dough shell and baked to perfection.
It was the perfect meal for me covering both lunch and dinner. This could have been shared by two people.
The food here has been excellent since I started to come here in the 1970’s and has not changed since.
The dining area has not changed much since I was a kid
It’s nice to know that somethings never change. The restaurant has always been consistent and it’s nice to know that some things don’t change.
The front of John’s Caffe Pizzeria & Caterer at 574 2nd Street in Downtown Elizabeth, NJ
The inside of the restaurant
I enjoy coming to John’s Caffe Pizzeria & Caterer when I am visiting Elizabeth, NJ for various appointments. One of the office workers recommended the pizzeria for lunch and I look forward to eating there when I am in town. The food and the service are great.
The Pizza case of all the delicious pizzas
I know there are a lot of pizzerias in New Jersey and since 80% of the State has some form of Italian blood in them, there are different way s that people prepare their pies. This is the same with John’s Caffe Pizzeria & Caterers. There prepare pizza all different ways and each one of them is more delicious than the next.
The Chicken Parmesan and Cheesesteak pizzas
The location is just off Downtown Elizabeth NJ and around the corner from my doctor’s office so I stop there for lunch when I am in town. I love the pizza here. There are so many choices to select from in the pizza case.
The first time I selected a piece of the Trenton style pizza and a slice of Hot Honey Pepperoni with Ricotta Cheese on top. The woman at the counter highly recommended these and they were delicious.
The Hot Honey Pepperoni and Trenton style pizza
They have all different types of lunch specials and one of my favorites (as of 2026) is the Specialty slice special with a Coke for $7.99. That is a bargain considering you get to choose the slices you want for lunch.
My selection of pizza slices for the lunch special
On my most recent trip I tried the Trenton style pizza, which was made famous the Little Italy that was once located in Downtown Trenton. This is when the cheese is baked on the bottom and the sauce is ladled on the top.
The Trenton style with cheese on the bottom and sauce on the top
The tomato sauce is a traditional sauce of fresh tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. The taste was amazing.
The Hot Honey with Pepperoni and Fresh Ricotta Cheese
The second slice I had was the shot Honey with Pepperoni and fresh Ricotta Cheese. I love the contrast of textures and flavors on the slice. It also has a pinchiness of the taste of the spices.
Yum!
When I came a second time I came in for lunch, I eyed the Sicilian pizzas in the case and had to have a slice of plain Sicilian. This was a full meal on its own.
The Sicilian pizzas plain and with pepperoni
A slice of plain Sicilian pizza
The slice was nicely sized and it tastes wonderful
The Sicilian slice has a wonderful taste and consistency
When I visited again, I had to have another slice of the Trenton style pizza and a piece of Pizza Bianco, a white pizza slice with Mozzarella and Ricotta Cheeses topped with Pepperoni. The pizza slices were spiced well and tasted wonderful.
The pizza selection on a recent afternoon
The Pizza Bianca with Pepperoni and the Trenton Style pizza
The Pepperoni Bianco slice
On all of my visits for lunch, the food and the service have been wonderful, the staff really nice and the restaurant has a nice neighborhood vibe about it.
The food and the service are really good.
The history of the Pizzeria:
(From the John’s Caffe Pizza & Caterers website):
In April 1968, Giovanni Cerullo and family opened up an Italian Caffe shop in a small Italian section of Elizabeth, NJ called “Peterstown”.
Over 40 years Johns Caffe’ was a staple of the Peterstown community and played many roles for the local people. Italian specialties, food, and pizza were some of the items Johns Caffe had to offer over the 40 years. Johns Caffe was one of the few vendors that participated in the famous Italian street fair called St. Rocco’s.
After many years of serving his customers Giovanni Cerullo passed in February of 2009. His son Gerry and grandson Giovanni decided to honor his legacy and keep Johns Caffe going!
In April 2009 they renovated and re-opened Johns Caffe Pizza & Caterers! They created an innovative menu that included their famous Paninis and other Italian delicacies such as focaccia sandwiches, thin crust pizza, wraps, salads and dinners, just to mention a few.
The sign that welcomes you to this local breakfast and lunch establishment
I was visiting New Vernon, NJ for the annual ‘Pathways Tour’ that the Morris County Historical Board sponsor’s twice a year. While visiting the Tunis-Eckllis House around the corner, I passed the Village Green Deli, a popular local sandwich shop while driving through this small downtown area facing the Village Green. I made note of it as it was getting closer to lunch time.
After the tour, I stopped by the deli, read the wonderful TripAdvisor reviews online in the parking lot and headed inside for lunch. I really liked the vibe of this small town deli where the owners knew everyone by name and I felt like an interloper at a private party.
The inside of the Village Green Deli
The deli has that small town feel to it, with local art and sports paraphernalia in the walls. The woman who worked the register was greeting everyone by name and the guys that worked the grill seemed happy to see me.
Looking at the menu at the grill
I looked at the extensive lunch menu of popular sandwiches and some wonderful combos. You could even still get breakfast as I saw some of the guys at the counter devouring as I decided on what I wanted to order.
The deli has a wonderful selection of sandwiches, hero’s and other delicious sounding items.
There were so many things I wanted to try that day that it was hard to choose. Was it a breakfast sandwich with local sausage? The Thanksgiving ‘Gobbler’ sandwich with turkey, stuffing and cranberry relish, that sounded so good? I decided on an Italian hero sandwich with a selection of deli meats with fresh lettuce, tomato and onion. The hero was excellent!
The Italian hero with a pickle
The sandwiches here are huge! One half of a sandwich a normal person could eat for lunch and save the rest for another meal. The sandwich was loaded with salami, bologna, ham, Swiss Cheese and fresh veggies. I could barely fit it in my mouth.
The sandwich was excellent
I was able to eat about half of the sandwich before I told myself I was finished and not to push anymore. I wrapped the rest up to go and went back to study the menu before I left. I definitely want to come back and try more. The food and the service were both excellent.
After lunch was over, it was such a beautiful sunny day and I walked over to the historic Green across the street and looked over the artifacts in the park. New Vernon is a very picturesque and beautiful little town.
The New Vernon Village Green in the early Spring
It was nice to have a place to walk and digest after that wonderful meal. It is worth the trip to visit this wonderful little deli in the small town. I really enjoyed my meal and the afternoon that followed.
The New Milford Village Green
I have to come back. There are so many sandwiches to try and I want to visit the Great Swamp which is a mile away. Until the next time.
The first thing you should know about Bachi 197 is that if you blink on Hackensack Street, you will miss it. It is located in a tiny strip mall on the busy Hackensack Street in Wood-Ridge, NJ. It’s located next to Rita’s Ice Cream Store.
Bachi 197 at 197 Hackensack Street in Wood Ridge, NJ
Bachi 197 has the most unusual menu’s I have seen in a long time. It is a combination of Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Chinese and American that as the owner quoted in saying that it has something for everyone. The cooks are both Mexican and Japanese.
The diverse menu of items to choose from
The food, even with its odd combinations, does not get lost in translation. Everything I have tried on the menu is delicious, the prices are reasonable (everything in under $10.95 but a few items) and the portion sizes on most items can feed two people comfortably.
The dining room
The other side of the dining room
My first trip to Bachi 197, I tried their Beef Sliders which are rather large for sliders, you can eat these in six bites instead of the normal four. They are perfectly cooked with a sliver of sautéed onions on the top on a soft potato bun. They are seared and caramelized on the outside and juicy on the inside. Each bite has a salty richness to them.
The sliders are so good!
They were so moist and juicy
These were delicious
I also ordered a small Chicken Quesadilla that was filled with grilled Chicken breast, veggies and cheese and the tortillas are cooked golden brown on the outside and when you bite into it is crisp and gooey. It is a nice combination of chicken and cheese and the accompanying sauces add some extra tang to it.
Bachi 197’s Quesadilla’s are rather large and good to share.
This was the small Chicken Quesadilla
Yum!
My recent lunch where I combined my two favorites, the Beef Slides and the small Chicken Quesadilla
On my second trip, I came in starved and over ordered. I had one Beef Slider, an regular order of Belgian Fries and a half side order of Bachi Chicken which was served with steamed broccoli and a side of lo mien noodles.
Trust me when I say, the regular fries look like a large serving and the half portion of the Bachi Chicken is the size of a normal combination entrée portion at any Asian takeout restaurant so be careful when ordering. Their portion sizes are very generous.
The Belgium Fries are fresh cut potatoes that are deep fried to a perfect crisp topped with sea salt and it is almost a sin to use ketchup on them. They would taste better with a little vinegar on them and some extra salt. You can taste the potato flavor in them. They came in a large bag and trust me, a small portion can feed two people quite well.
The Bachi Chicken is delicious
The Bachi Chicken is good and the sweet/spicy sauce is a combination cross between between a General Tso’s and a Sweet & Sour sauce. Even though the chicken was freshly fried pieces of white meat chicken breast, I thought the breading was a little tame for the dish. It was still delicious but not quite I had imagined. It is still a wonderful dish but I thought the coating would be more of a tempura coating.
The Bachi Chicken with Rice tastes like General Tso’s Chicken
The service is friendly and welcoming and the couple that run the restaurant are eager to help you make a selection and made some good recommendations to me. I wish they had let me know how big their portions were so I would not have over-ordered.
The restaurant does not skimp on portion size
No big deal to have the leftovers for the next day.
I love the Lunar New Year with all its pageantry, parades, fireworks and crackers and especially the food. I spend most of my time running around Chinatown in Manhattan before the holidays began, where most of the main celebrations take place but now travel to museums to enjoy the festivities they sponsor for the holidays.
I start the holidays at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (or as I say my second home in New York City) for their celebration for the ‘Year of the Horse’
Touring the Asian Galleries on the second floor for the ‘Year of the Horse’ celebration
The Met had created a display of all sorts of objects in the Asian Wing of the museum for the holidays. So there many horse themed pieces on display in the cases includes a series of zodiac figurines.
Some of the ancient horse artwork in the Asian Wing
Some of the artwork is so beautiful
The Scroll Room with the paper artworks. The collection is very extensive
The Chinese Shine tucked back in one of the galleries with its unusual stonework
Some of the statuary and stoneworks in the entrance gallery of the Asian Wing
The ancient stonework in the main gallery
The last event of the day in the American Wing was the Peter Lin Ensemble, who had played at the museum last year. The band was wonderful and played all sorts of jazz hits from all over the world.
The Peter Lin Jazz Ensemble
Video of Jazz tunes:
Video of Jazz tunes:
Mr. Lin then talked about the history of his group and introduced them to the audience.
After the break, the group performed more songs
Video of popular Asian jazz tune:
At the end of the afternoon, I stopped in the lobby at the gift shop. The Grand Hall was beautifully decorated with cherry blossoms.
The cherry blossoms in the Grand Hall on the first floor
The cherry blossoms decorated the urns around the Grand Hall
The weather that night was an unbearable 10 degrees and after all that touring in the Asian galleries, I needed some dumplings. So I took the Q subway and back downtown to North Dumpling at 21 Division Street in Chinatown.
The food had been so good the week before, I had to go back and try the fried dumplings. Even in the cold, it was well worth the trip to Chinatown. The food here is delicious and so reasonable. I can see why it is winning instant popularity.
The Spring Rolls are the perfect way to end the meal
After dinner, even though it was freezing cold, I had to try a soft serve cone at Mixue, a Chinese dessert chain that just opened on Canal Street. At $1.99 for a cone you can’t get a better deal than that. The Vanilla ice cream is really good even on that freezing night.
I had to head home as the temperature dropped to 12 degrees. It had not been this cold in many years during the New Year celebrations.
The next day I visited the Newark Museum in Downtown Newark for the start of their activities with a performance of Korean dance. It was already over by the time I got there but they had a sampling of popular Korean foods and the door was excellent.
I went into the main hall as the entertainment was ending and everyone was taking pictures. I loved the outfits everyone was wearing.
The main hall of the museum just after the festivities
A sampling of Korean dishes including Korean Fried Chicken, Noodles, Dumplings and Shushi
I had to go back for seconds the food was so good
I toured around the museum but most of the galleries closed early that afternoon. It was a nice afternoon of just walking around the open galleries on the first floor.
The exhibition of art by local Korean artists in the hallway off the museum’s main hall court
I unfortunately could not go in for the parade this year plus the weather was not the best to stand around and watch other parade goers freeze. The year before it down poured making two years of not the best conditions to attend the parade. On TV I did notice a nice sized crowd.
I managed to get to Chinatown after the parade and have dinner. Chinatown is becoming unrecognizable as many of the grocery stores and restaurants have closed to the change in rents and many of the old tenement buildings are being knocked down for luxury condos. I have never seen so many changes.
Chinatown in the afternoon
While Mott Street, like Mulberry Street, keeps up appearances for the tourists, the rest of the neighborhood is under gentrification. I have watched one business after another close including groceries and take out spots. I can see a lot of changes coming over the next five years.
As the snow storms peaked and did it snow this year with 18 inches coming after the holiday, the weather gave way to two 75 degree days during my Spring Break and hopefully warmer weather in the coming months. Spring is on its way.
I love coming to the Pancake Cafe (formerly the Country Pancake House & Restaurant) when visiting Ridgewood, NJ. The portion sizes are huge, the dishes are creative and the food is delicious. The service is really nice and very patient when you come in with a big group and the prices are fair.
I have been here several times over the years and the food has always been consistent and the quality is excellent. The one thing that does stand out with them is that their prices are very fair for the amount of food you are served. The breakfasts I have had here have lasted at least two other meals.
The inside of the restaurant at Sunday breakfast
The first two times I had eaten here, I had ordered the over-sized pancakes. I thought they were kidding when people who had eaten here before had commented that they are the size of large plates. They are larger than that as they fall off the plate. One of these large pancakes is more than enough for one meal.
The “Do it Again” Blueberry pancakes are excellent
The first time visit I ordered the ‘Do it again’ pancakes with pancakes and blueberries. I could barely finish one of these huge pancakes! They were fluffy, well-caramelized on the outside with the rich flavor of butter and loaded with fresh fruit.
The corn bread that comes with the meal.
The second time I visited, kept the complimentary chocolate chunk and plain cornbread that they bring to the table at a minimum so that I could enjoy the meal. I had the ‘Apple Cinnamon Pancakes’ ($9.95) with a side of sausage.
The Chocolate Chip and Corn bread is irresistible
This even was too much. The pancakes were light and fluffy with a rich cinnamon flavor accented by the mashed apple in the pancake batter. It tasted almost like a turnover. The sausage was a pork sausage with the nice flavor of sage. These were over-sized and reminded me of the sausage we used to get from the Amish markets.
The most recent time I visited I had a Meat Lovers Omelet with sausage with cheese, which came with a side of hash browns and a side of pancakes. The omelet contained six eggs and was loaded with grilled sausage, bacon, ham and cheese. It also came with one pancake and I ordered the blueberry one again.
It was fluffy and well seasoned. It filled most of the plate and I could barely finish it. I ended up bringing part of the omelet home which was finished when I got home.
The Meat Lovers Omelet with a side of Hash browns and a Blueberry Pancake
The pancakes were breakfast the next morning. Just 250 degrees for five minutes on each side and they were just as good the next day. The restaurant gives you two nicely sized buttermilk pancakes on the side and the platter is enough to feed two people comfortably for breakfast.
Everything I have tried here has been delicious. The omelets you can barely finish and they even come with a side of Hash Browns that are a meal in itself
The service is always been very friendly and welcoming every time I have visited here. The breakfast menu also includes selections of waffles and French Toast and egg Frittatas.
Yum!
The selection of dishes for both lunch and dinner are extensive. The menu is loaded with gourmet salads, crepes, over-stuffed country sandwiches, steaks and chops and chicken dishes. The portion sizes are really large and can feed two people comfortably. The best part is most entrees are not priced over $20.00. This is a nice deal for an excellent meal.
The extensive breakfast and lunch menu
Author’s note: The long time owner of the Country Pancake House just passed away.
Mills Bakery at 275 Valley Boulevard in Wood Ridge, NJ
Mills famous Crumb Cake
Their delicious doughnuts
The History of Mills Bakery and the business story:
Head Master Baker, John Cabrera started at Mills Bakery in November of 1998 at the age of 14 to earn a few dollars during his freshman year in high school. Starting out as a dishwasher, John quickly learning simple baker tasks such as dipping cookies with sprinkles and chocolate to learning how to use a pastry bag. All through high school he worked side by side with seasoned bakers and realized this business was for him.
He later received his associates degree in baking & pastry arts from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Upon graduation he became Head Baker of the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. After Vegas, he knew he wanted to own his own business. An opportunity came about to own Mills Bakery, the very place in which he learned his craft, and he jumped on it. He is proud to say that he is the owner of a small town landmark which has been around for almost a century.
Video on the the Business:
The store is always decked out so nicely for each holiday so you have to visit to see all the creative treats.
Coming to Mills on the holiday of love
The store decked out for the holiday of love
Cookies and cakes that everyone loves
Cakes and pies and things that people love
Sweet Heart cookies are always the perfect gift
The store comes to life at the holidays. At Christmas every year, it is a fantasy land of cakes, cookies and pastries beautifully decorated and smiling back at you. The store is always nicely decorated.
There is nothing like Mills Bakery at the Christmas holiday season. I stop in for all sorts of baked items to take to my mother’s, who loves their doughnuts and turnovers. I will bring desserts down too when we are having a meal at the house. Over the years, I have taken the best pictures at the store as Christmas has gotten bigger every year since the renovation.
The store at Christmas time
Mills has such delicious treats at the Christmas holidays
The penguin cupcakes at Christmas time
Christmas and Butter Cookies at Mills Bakery
The store has a nice selection at every holiday
The joyful cookies at the holidays
The beautiful cakes
The beautiful Gingerbread houses at Christmas time
In the Christmas holiday season of 2025, Mills really went all out with the declarations both inside and outside of the store.
The front of Mills Bakery Christmas Eve 2025
The gingerbread lady outside the store
The gingerbread man outside the store
The beautiful display of holiday goodies
The window display for the holidays
The display cases bursting with holiday cookies, cakes and pies
Case lines topped with gingerbread men and holiday butter cookies
Holiday cookies smile and wink
Bunche De Noel’s lined up for Christmas
Snowmen cakes at Christmas time
An igloo cake at Christmas time
Mill’s Bakery is very creative at all the holidays and adds that special touch to all their products.
The bakery has a lot of interesting baked items for St. Patrick’s Day as well.
The delicious cookies at St. Patrick’s day
The selection of delicious looking cakes at St. Patrick’s Day
The delicious cakes at the holidays
St. Patrick’s Day cakes at Mills Bakery
Halloween offers such colorful and artistic baked goods. I loved the Frankenstein cake.
The decorations during the Halloween season
The Halloween treats in the bakery case
The Ghost cookie
The Mummy cookies
I had to come back and buy one of these. It scared me that it was $5.00!
The Pumpkin cookies
The pumpkin cookie
Halloween at Mills
Here’s Halloween!
Easter is another popular holiday at Mills Bakery. There are all sorts of cookies, cakes and holiday treats to choose from. I love their festive items and the store is so beautifully decorated for the holiday.
Mills Bakery at Easter
They decorate the outside of the store for each holiday
Inside the store, cases are filled with the most colorful and well decorated assortment of holiday treats. Perfect for any child or adult with a child in them.
The creative cakes for your holiday dessert
I loved this holiday bunny
There were many other choices in the other cake case
There was a selection of holiday cookies and the traditional Italian Easter Bread
The Italian Easter Cake with colored eggs is a big tradition at Easter
I loved the Chocolate Bunny cookies in the Easter Basket
Mills Bakery knows how to provide the most wonderful decorated set of edible gifts at the holidays.
I love the holidays in New York City. There are so many Christmas themed events to go to and decorated homes to visit. One of my favorite tours is at the Met Cloisters for their Christmas themed walking tours that take place from December through early January.
The Cloisters Museum & Gardens: A Branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
To finish my weekend of holiday festivities before the Epiphany, I took the annual Christmas walking tour of the Met Cloisters. The museum hosts an interesting walking tour of the history of the holidays during the Medieval era. Each tour has a different theme to it. There is the history of Christmas in that era, the use of plants and flowers in the decorating of the religious sites and the historic significance of the visit of the Three Kings.
Each tour guide incorporates the artwork, architecture and plants into the discussion. On average you will have about forty people on the tour.
The entrance of the Cloisters decorated for the holidays
The entrance of the gift shop decorated for the holidays
The archways were decorated with seasonal plants and fruits. I read online that the volunteers went into Fort Tyron Park and collected ivy from the wild to decorate the museum. Every day the museum is open during the holidays these are replaced on a daily basis.
The entrance to the galleries decorated for the holidays
We started the tour with a discussion of plants that once decorated churches and ministries
With the change in attitude towards the Christmas holidays during the Middle Ages and its incorporation into church traditions, decorating for the holidays came back into style. The use of holly, evergreen and mistletoe became part of the Christmas tradition and to justify the decorating, they were related to Christian symbols.
The beauty of the life plants in winter
Each of the Cloisters were lined with fresh greens and potted plants giving each of the Cloisters its own special mood.
One of the Cloisters bright with plants
The stairs leading into the chapel decorated for the holidays
The chapel on the main floor decorated for the holidays
The colorful floral displays lining the window sills of the chapel
This led to a discussion about what each plant, flower and fruit meant in the Christian tradition, a clever way to justify decorating and celebrating during the holidays. Ivies, pine, winter flowers and even late season apples not only lined places of worship but gave a festive look and district smell to these buildings. A symbol of life in the cold winter months while they waited for the arrival of Spring.
The plant types that decorated the houses of worship
The flowers and plants lining the chapel
The decorative candle stands lining the walls of the chapel
We then toured the main Cloister, closed for the Winter but was lined with plants, flowers and greens brighting every corner of the building. These were examples of plants and flowers that would have decorated these halls at the holidays.
Walking the halls of the Cloisters
Touring the halls of the Cloisters with flowers and plants to celebrate the season
Walking the halls of the Cloisters
The flowering plants of the Cloisters
The flowering plants and vines that would have decorated churches in Medieval times
We then toured the Tapestry Room and discussed the use of plants in art form and the use of the detail as symbolism in art. These tapestries were meant to cover the drafty walls of palaces and bring in color and decoration to the stone walls.
The famous ‘Hunt of the Unicorn’ tapestry
We then took a detour to the outside gardens that are enjoying their winter slumber. These gardens were used by the cloisters for food, medicines and decorative use. They will start coming to life in a few months.
The Cloisters Gardens
The garden terrace over looking the Hudson River
The terrace gardens in the winter waiting to come to life
Then we went back inside for a discussion of the Three Kings and the Epiphany and its symbolism in art at the Cloisters. These are some of the works featured on the ‘Christmas Tide’ tour to symbolize that visit.
Some of the woodwork from that era
The Visitation of the Three Kings
The Visitation of the Three Kings depicted in stained glass
The Visitation of the Three Kings depicted in statuary
We visited the last of the Cloisters and discussed some of the plants in the collection
We were admiring the plants and flowers
A candelabra in the hallway of the Cloisters
As I exited the building that afternoon, there were potted plants at the entrance of the Cloisters. It was a real treat to walk around the building at the holidays.
The potted plants outside the entrance of the museum
On my way down the stairs and out the door to Fort Tryon Park, I took another walk down the stone steps and walked through Ann Loftus Park. This popular playground was quiet this time of year, awaiting the Spring and the wonderful warm afternoons ahead.
I love coming for breakfast at G’s Coffee Shop after a tour of The Cloisters. The food and service of this small ‘hole in the wall’ diner is wonderful. The meals are so reasonable and when you dine at the counter, you can watch the food cooked right in front of you. I had a wonderful Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich with a side of golden pancakes. What a great meal on a cold winter morning.
The Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich
The breakfast sandwiches here are so good
The pancakes were wonderful. The perfect comfort food on a winter day.
It was a really great tour, and it was fun to walk around the neighborhood through the parks and seeing all the post-Christmas decorations. Inwood is a really beautiful section of Manhattan with lots to do and see. It is the perfect place to spend the Christmas break.
mywalkinmanhattan 