So many macaroons. So many calories. So little concern.

I'm finally starting to catch my breath since landing a great new job in New Jersey. I hit the ground running back in late August with the move/s, the challenges of being the new girl/boss, my new lifestyle, and the new territory. I was no longer surrounded by good friends, familiar faces, favorites restaurants, or even southern charm. I was now in a cultural epicenter in every way you can imagine. Attitude wise, I fit right the fuck in. Jersey isn't known for it's filter, and neither am I.

I moved to a city called Cranford, and work in a city called Springfield. The distance between the two is only 4.5 miles, and on good days it takes me 25 mins to drive it...  Early mornings, count on 40 mins... Yeah, that's right. at least 10 mins per mile. Luckily I drive through windy, lush, park-filled areas of suburbia at it's finest. Truly though. While these suburbs are still suburbs, they are filled to the brim with local businesses and restaurants, not to mention mountain ranges in the distance. The food though... The food is what's got me feeling the most excited. Not only are most of these places "Mom and Pop" establishments, they are also ethnic and cultural food havens that have their recipes down to a science. And please don't let me forget all of the other local restaurants full of young and innovative chefs that are taking gourmet cuisine to the next level, and this is just in Jersey folks. I haven't even touched on the fact that NYC is just a short train or car ride away (25 miles/40-60 mins...). and yes, I make the trip at least every other week, if not every week, in search of the city's finest cuisine and cocktails.

A couple of places I'm obsessed with right now are A Toute Heure and Bovella's Pastry Shoppe
 
A Toute Heure, loosely meaning "anytime", is hands down my favorite restaurant so far, and lucky for me (unlucky for my wallet) it's a short walk up the street from where I live. I had been eyeballing it on my way to work for the past 2 months, and after reading their menu online (which changes often), it's where I chose to celebrate my 30th birthday with friends. The food we ate that evening is a blur. Somewhat due to all the beer and wine we "BYOB'ed", but mostly because we all ordered so much of EVERYTHING. Highlights from the evening were the beet and arugula salad with blue crumbles, frickled pickles, cauliflower fritters, marrow bones, my dinner of scallops over turnip mash, and the most amazing pork belly sandwich I've ever tried. This experience only left me wanting more, and of course I've been back since! How could I possibly ignore their unusual varities of mussel pots, decadent cheese plates completed with honey comb, East Coast raw oysters served with an amazing mignonette, innovative entrees reminiscent of home cooking, and don't let me forget about their assorted "bites", appetizers, and desserts... This very cozy, low-lit restaurant sources most of their goods locally, and even has a fishmonger who arrives to NYC at 2am to get his flippers on the best fresh seafood NYC has to offer. Trust me, I will definitely be posting more about them at another time (time and time again, I'm sure...).

This brings me to Bovella's Pastry Shoppe... Located in Westfield, maybe 2 miles from where I reside in Cranford, lives this tiny little bakery that absolutely made my jaw drop upon entering. One night in search of a quick bite to eat on the go after work (while also trying to eat somewhat healthy since that's pretty much ended after leaving Whole Foods Market) I stopped into Wild Greens (which by the way was a tasty and enjoyable choice) to check out their menu and just how "Wild" they actually were. I promptly noticed Bovella's staring me down from across the street upon exiting. Taunting and teasing me with the delicate treasures inside that were illuminated through the windows, I knew I had found trouble and that it was going to be delicious. Stepping inside instantly evoked feelings of how I once felt upon entering Roselyn Bakery back home in Indianapolis as a child. Granted though, Bovella's is much higher quality, way more delicious, and hopefully doesn't have the ignored rat/bug infestation that shut Roselyn down for good 15 years ago. (Which broke the hearts of Hoosiers across the land upon exposure, but that's a whole different story for another time...) With 4 service cases packed full of different delicacies, it was hard to make a decision on the fly. Luckily their cookies are sold by the pound, so I just started pointing. Best of all, they have at least 8 different types of macaroons, which are by far some of my favorite delights on Earth. With a $10 minimum on credit cards, I was forced to get much more than I needed, and truly I'm not complaining. After sealing the deal and signing my name, my bag of goodies and I came home. And yes, in one sitting I promptly ate them all. I'm sure my neighbors heard piggy noise coming from the front door that night. But let me get something straight with y'all, these cookies aren't the run of the mill, boring rounds I'm used to in the Mid-West and South, these are cookies that have been recreated time after time for the past 60+ years, and their recipes probably started back in Italy even before that. Sugary sesame seeds, moist coconut, amazing chocolate shells, bavarian cream, and buttery, flaky edges sent me into a near diabetic coma. But had I overdosed, at least I would have died with a smile.