Café 44 is a new café on Leigh Street across from Tortugas. The café is off the foot path for most of Princeton so clientele is likely to be local or those in the know. I think it’s owned by that restaurant’s owners.

The staff is friendly and seems interested in getting to know me. There are framed photographs from local photogs on the walls and ample seating space in the main room. Most tables seat four. For larger groups or If you just want to sit and read the side room has two sofas and a large coffee table. This is my Saturday morning before haircut routine and hopefully soon to become my early Sunday morning routine.

What’s on the menu? Everything I could want for breakfast — bagels, cream cheese, omelets, bacon, muffins, oatmeal and well … coffee. Most of the bakery items are sourced from Sweetmama’s. My son loves the cinnamon buns and the brownies and the red velvet cupcakes.

We’ve live in the area for over twelve years and this is the first time we’ve every attended Communiversity. I always thought it was some Princeton University only event but my friend Robin Birkel set me straight last year.

Communiversity may have started out as a Princeton U. event but it has grown over the years to incorporate the larger Princeton community. I’m glad I went. The streets were more packed that I had expected and I’m glad we parked at the Community Park Pool lot and walked in.

The streets were lined with food, products and services from local stores. Communiversity could easily be called a shop local event.

Grilled Atlantic salmon marinated in sweet Bourbon served with carrot health salad

Bhavana and I dropped into the McCaffrey’s to pick up a few items for Shaan. He’s making keema samosa for dinner.

With my cholesterol being high – over 262 – I thought it best to avoid too much meat and fried food. McCaffrey’s doesn’t have the selection that whole foods does but after spending some time in the deli I settled on two filets of Atlantic Salmon marinated in Bourbon. I also bought an entire striped Bass which the fishmonger was happy to skin and filet for me. Maybe I’ll grill that tomorrow.

I grilled the salmon – don’t forget to grease your grill so the fish won’t stick – for about 4 minutes on either side and served it up with some carrot health salad and confetti cole slaw that we also picked up from McCaffrey’s. It went down easy with a bottle of Innis & Gunn Rum Cask ale.

minimalmac:

(via Aaron Curtis)

A quote from the most recent episode of the Enough podcast where I further discuss The Farmer. Please take a listen and, if you like what you hear, subscribe.

Ellis Island Field Trip with the 5th Grade

My daughter’s 5th grade class went on a field trip to Ellis Island today. My daughter insisted that I chaperone so I was given the responsibility for seven girls (including my daughter).

We of course started our trip on the New Jersey side. I car pooled with another parent. Despite leaving 15 minutes before the school bus we arrived too late to catch the 9 AM ferry. We got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on I-78 that caused our 90 minutes trip to take 150 minutes. We arrived just at the plank was pulled from the dock. We were in good company though since apparently a lot of other parents were stuck in the same traffic.

I find it odd that we had to go through a security check very similar to the one you see at airports around the country. I even had to take my belt off. At least I got to keep my shoes on.

The girls were given an assignment sheet to complete so we walked around looking for the information they needed before breaking for lunch. It’s fascinating the sort of questioning and physical examination immigrants had to endure to gain entry to the United States. Things that we would not tolerate today. There were tests for mental health, financial status (so much about give me your poor), and physical disability. Fail the test, and the person was placed back on the next ship leaving for their homeland. Yikes! Imagine selling all your possessions, traveling weeks and months inside the no-windows cabin of a ship only to be told that you must go back. Apparently some people could not bear it and some jumped into the waters of the Hudson to their death.

I didn’t learn much though — I was too distracted making sure I didn’t lose of my wondering flock — so I think I’ll have to make another trip back with the family.

Beer & Bratwurst.

Bhavna and I both agree that the Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Ale is our favorite ale right now. It seems to go well with anything and I think it will satisfy any thirst. It’s heavy enough to hold its own with a meaty dish but I think it will also prove refreshing on a hot summer (or spring) afternoon.

Dinner was a Johnsonville Bratwurst, grilled 7 minutes on each side, served on whole wheat bun with a side of baby dil pickles.

Beer & Bratwurst.

Bhavna and I both agree that the Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Ale is our favorite ale right now. It seems to go well with anything and I think it will satisfy any thirst. It’s heavy enough to hold its own with a meaty dish but I think it will also prove refreshing on a hot summer (or spring) afternoon.

Dinner was a Johnsonville Bratwurst, grilled 7 minutes on each side, served on whole wheat bun with a side of baby dil pickles.

Grilled spicy Italian sausage with home made vegetarian chili. I was hungry (very hungry) and wanted to eat something right away. I found some spicy Italian sausage in the fridge and a small container of vegetarian chili Bhavana had made. The grill and the microwave were my tools. My thirst was quaffed with a pint of Green Flash Rayon Vert. It’s a Belgian-Abbey style that I did not like it one bit. Yuck!