Hot dog!

It's baaack...

All winter long I couldn't bear to drive on Route 22 East in Lebanon. I relied on a friend who lives there to tell me if he saw any sign of life replacing the "for sale" sign posted outside Stewarts Drive-In. Since we moved to Jersey (an aside: is it okay to use the term "Jersey" and not spell full out New Jersey? I have been chastised for using either term so would appreciate a definitive answer), this has been Herb and my standing date every Sunday, rain or shine, summer or winter. It was a looooong winter without. And just about a month ago the news got good, really good. My friend left me a voicemail that simply said, "there are trucks parked in Stewarts lot". And it went from there. I called their number which was still listed, left my name and phone and hoped for a response. Which I got a few days later from John Schneider, who told me he and his two partners (Rich Hendricks and Jim Daley) had bought the location and would be opening within days. My countdown began. Interrupted last weekend by an unexpected trip to Canada, our waiting ended yesterday. Good luck is wished to the new owners, once again all is well in my gustatory world (and where else can you see family minivans and sports sedans parked side by side with sleek Harleys?!)

Soup's on

Winter...summer...fall...spring the meal that never fails to satisfy (apart from anything chocolate-related) is a bowl of soup with a piece of bread on the side and a bit of fruit. Most of the requisite food groups thus spoken for and hunger appeased as well.
Soup's a featured item on just about every menu but why settle for a "soup of the day" when you can choose from half a dozen different varieties at a specialty soup shop? The Soup Shoppe at RiverWalk Village Center just off 78 in Basking Ridge.Every day Brian and crew spotlight several deliciously filling vegetarian and meat selections. A recent day's offerings included 3 bean, chicken corn chowder, Black Angus beef chili, white turkey chili, chicken noodle and my favorite--carrot ginger bisque. Served with a freshly-baked roll and a whole fruit.
But The Soup Shoppe is more than soup: build-your-own-salads, signature sandwiches and wrapps (sliced avocado in the California Tuna wrapp adds just the right distinctive ingredient) and a thriving catering business (plus they have Herb's favorite cookies, Tate's Chocolate Chips, imported all the way from Southampton!)

Shear Genius

I take my hair styling seriously. Very seriously. When we first moved here I conducted my search for a new salon with all the deadpan earnestness of a Joe Friday. Made a list of all the salons within neighboring villages, called upon the places that appealed most, peppered them with a list of questions--what products do you use?...how is the parking?...what kind of snacks to nosh on? (bonus points for a cappucino maker). And then chose the salon on the basis of none of the above but because its building reminded me of our house on Long Island.
A good hairdresser is part daVinci, part Dr. Phil, works wonders with two hands and hair blower and keeps up a running conversation at the same time. My hairdresser of choice (Deni) is at The Vanity Room in Bernardsville. Lowkey albeit lively atmosphere, a product line (Bumble&Bumble) that delivers what the label promises and I can even get a cappucino (plus its proximity to Monterrey Gourmet is pretty neat as well).

The Wheel Thing

Our pleasant Sunday afternoon came to an abrupt end: as I was blithely loading my trunk with purchases from Bed Bath & Beyond and Old Navy in the parking lot of The Promenade in Bridgewater, my reverie was interrupted by a helpful voice. "Uh, miss, I think your right rear tire is low."
"Low" was charitable: driving not quite on the rim a more accurate description. Managed to get car home for a temporary infusion of air and made my way to Flemington Audi first thing Monday morning. Prognosis: two nails (I never do things one at a time--eg. twin children and go from there). Treatment: tire replacement which took all of maybe half an hour.
The reason for me to travel to my Audi dealer generally alternates between two must scenarios: it is either a routine visit (as in when the dashboard computer sternly informs me that I am due for a tune-up NOW!)or at times of greater urgency (such as this). However it is always something of a treat to go there, especially since they built a new building on Route 202 South, a structure that externally resembles a cross between a hangar and an atrium. Inside it has a spa-like feeling, from the self-serve Quattro Cafe to the lounge with wi-fi access and TV where you control the remote. And there's a children's play area just adjacent.
The service is always prompt, workmanship clean (another perk is the free car wash that accompanies tune-ups)and personnel genuinely strive to assure cars that run right all the time and therefore satisfied customers. And they get them. By the way, this dealership is part of Flemington Car & Truck Country. Where have you bought your car and why? Curious minds want to know!

General Custard

Thank you, Wildsnowflake, for expanding my icy dessert horizons and pointing out several more convenient Rita locations (Rt. 28 in Middlesex, also Scotch Plains and South Plainfield.) A rave review as well for the custard served at Dairy Quick in Dunellen, where two additional flavors are offered between Memorial and Labor Days--banana and strawberry soft serve (you had me at banana: reminds me of McDonalds limited time only banana milkshake--ahh bliss in a tall paper cup and spoon-straw!) And Wildsnowflake adds, "There's also the shore's Kohr's Custard, a visit to the boardwalk is nothing without an orange/vanilla swirl. " If you're not able to go down the shore, Kohr's has an outpost at the Bridgewater Commons. And before you can say "gelati"...that's a whole other topic; call it, "to be continued..."