Category Archives: Restaurants

Porch and Proper – Collingswood, NJ

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

Porch and Proper – Collingswood, NJ

The building sitting directly across from Joey Baldino’s award winning Zeppoli at 619 W Collings Ave, Collingswood, NJ has had quite a storied past in a very short period of time. It ranges drastically from the disgraced Chef Alex Capasso’s Blackbird all the way to amazing Indian cuisine coming from Chef Rakesh Ramola’s mind when Indeblue was there. Well now Jason Simkins is looking to put his legacy in the history books of this location with his creation and vision as owner of Porch and Proper with Chef Anthony Marini at the helm showcasing an exquisite and delicious menu. They are doing a fabulous job and are proving that Haddon Ave isn’t the only place great dining can be had in Collingswood and maybe awards will continue on Collings Avenue. I had a great meal and will be interested to see how the menu grows and changes through the seasons. Below is listed what is in the pictures of what I had to eat, and don’t worry, everything was great and I would eat it all again in a heartbeat.

House-made bread

Proper shrimp with persillade, tarragon caper mayo, and lemon

Black Chittara with Maine lobster, truffle butter, and chilies

Soft shell crab with Jerusalem artichoke puree, kohirabi slaw, and chow chow vinaigrette

Icelandic cod with farro, blue crab, mushroom conserve, and crab veloute

Black Sesame Cheesecake

Homemade strawberry candy

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Macona BBQ – Collingswood, NJ

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

Macona BBQ – Collingswood, NJ

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The BBQ game is just getting better and better around the Philadelphia/South Jersey area. This is a tiny little spot, but a nice diverse menu with a good choice of specials daily. I had the 3 meat platter with ribs, pork, brisket, beans, mashed potatoes, and corn bread. The brisket and pork were a highlight. The brisket was some of the best around and the pork had a Latin sort of flair to it with its seasoning which was a nice touch. The corn bread was a surprise as well as usually I am not a fan, but their version is delicious and closest to a muffin that is moist, silky smooth, and yummy with real pieces of corn throughout. They are a welcome addition to the wonderful Collingswood dining scene.

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Olor de Mar at Palo Verde Hotel – El Zonte, El Salvador

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

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Olor de Mar at Palo Verde Hotel – El Zonte, El Salvador

Situated on the Pacific Coast with a black sand volcanic beach front dining view is Olor de Mar at Palo Verde Hotel from Chef Carlos Burgos. If ever in the area, this is a must stop and stay destination and somewhere you can watch surfers catch some waves or take a surf lesson and do it yourself. Pictured is Ensalda Extrema with snapper carpaccio, Snapper Pargo Verde, and traditional pizza. As with many places around the world, the majority of El Salvador gets a bad rap, but this area is a tropical paradise with some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. You could even brush up on your Spanish or try to learn it from scratch while attending lessons right at the hotel with Spanish School El Zonte instructors. Travel the world and find out for yourself. It is what is inside each other that matters, not what politics tell you.

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The Bourse Food Hall – Freebyrd Chicken & #getfried fry café – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

The Bourse Food Hall – Freebyrd Chicken & #getfried fry café – Philadelphia, PA

My oh my, what a beautiful renovation at The Bourse Food Hall. So many choices and only so much I can eat at one time. Well you’re getting a 2 for 1 deal on this week’s post. You get two different food vendors in one post. For the price you pay to read this blog, that’s a steal. Let me start with the one I really enjoyed. That would be Freebyrd’s Nash-Vegas Honey Hot Chicken Sandwich with slow roasted pulled chicken, honey hot sauce, and beer mustard braised onions on a soft roll. It was delicious and devoured in seconds. I will definitely give them a repeat visit and try some of their other offerings. The other selection was from #getfried fry café with their Oh Canada Poutine with bacon topping. I’ll say I’ve had worse and I’ve had better. They have quite a selection of different things to try fried so I recommend you try them and let me know.

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El Manantial – Woodbury, NJ

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

El Manantial – Woodbury, NJ

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At first I wasn’t sure if I was in the right location when I walked through the doors of El Manantial as you enter into a nice Mexican Tienda and have to walk through to find your way to El Manantial. Once inside El Manantial it is quite a sight to be seen. This is sensory party for the eyes and you can see they are setup for some fun at night. They have specials every day for discounts and things going on which is nice. The food was pretty darn good as well and a large menu to choose from. I had 3 Mexican tacos of bistec, carnitas, and barbacoa which were a decent value, tasty, and filling.

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Pho Garden – Cherry Hill, NJ

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

Pho Garden – Cherry Hill, NJ

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Have to say this is one of those great Jersey strip mall foodie finds. I really enjoyed my meal here. Had their Pho Mi Bo Kho which is beef stew with rice noodle. It was so fresh and flavorful and service attentive and friendly. I will certainly go back when in the area again to try some more of their menu.

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Reggina Gelato & Espresso Bar – Mullica Hill, NJ

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

Reggina Gelato & Espresso Bar – Mullica Hill, NJ

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What a find and gem this little off the beaten path gelato and espresso bar is. If you blink, you will miss it and hard to see off the road. For an easier way to find them, they are located right next door to William Heritage Winery. Reggina had REALLY good Madagascar Vanilla Bean gelato. They also have all sorts of tasty Italian treats for sale there too so I decided to have a few ricotta cookies. The service was TOP NOTCH and super friendly. My only regret is I wish they were closer to where I live as I would visit them daily for a wonderful dessert or treat.

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Bud and Marilyn’s – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

Bud and Marilyn’s – Philadelphia, PA

When Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine said on Small Bites Radio that Chef Marcie Turney‏ is one of Philadelphia’s best chefs, I finally took notice. The name was familiar, and I was aware of the restaurant group that Chef Marcie and her partner Valerie Safran ran, and who knows why, but I had never been to one of them. Well I should be ashamed of myself. I like to call myself a foodie, and was missing a big portion of why Philadelphia is receiving so many accolades nationally due to our wonderful restaurant scene with Chef Marcie being one of the driving forces and reasons why.

I decided that my birthday would be a good excuse to make my first visit to one of Chef Marcie’s restaurants. If she is indeed that talented, then why not go during a time that should be celebrated and special. Well I can honestly say, she and her team did not disappoint in the least. The choice was made to dine at Bud and Marilyn’s. It was the chosen destination since I would have my 6 year old son join us, and the menu looked approachable for all palates. As soon as we stepped inside and saw multiple families dining there, I knew things were off to a good start.

From start to finish it was an impeccable experience at Bud and Marilyn’s. The décor is simple and tasteful. The service was flawless. The drinks were strong and mixed to perfection. The food was amazing, and dessert delectable. I can’t say enough of how much fun and how wonderful the meal was. Now don’t get me wrong, Bud and Marilyn’s will not be for everyone. We had American comfort food at its finest, and this type of cuisine is not for everyone. Chef Marcie does this style well, and I am now intrigued to try her other restaurants to sample her versions of Italian, Mexican, and Mediterranean. Give them try, and maybe you will become a fan of Chef Marcie like me and Chef Robert Irvine.

Below is what I had:
Warm Pretzel Rolls, Thai Style Mussels, Fried Cheese Curds, Soft Shell Crabs, Fried Chicken, and Funfetti Cake. They were ALL delicious as could be!

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Tony Luke’s Old Philly Style Sandwiches – 39 E Oregon Ave Philadelphia, PA

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

Tony Luke’s Old Philly Style Sandwiches  – 39 E Oregon Ave  Philadelphia, PA

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Yep that’s right, a cheesesteak wit wiz and fried onions. Yummy 🙂

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Celebre’s Pizzeria – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Bluejeanfood

Celebre’s Pizzeria – Philadelphia, PA

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Situated near the stadiums, this is a perfect spot to grab a nice bit to eat dining in or take out for tailgating parties. Pictured is the Spimato Pizza, a white pizza with spinach and plum tomatoes and seasoning. It was really good!

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