Coffee & Eggs ~ {post 1 of 2}

{at present:  perfect writing conditions… cool eve, Yankees on the radio in the background, dog snoring)…

Eggs & Coffee  ~  { post 1 of 2 }

Even on the most hectic day, when the world seems to be moving in concert to thwart my every effort; as my head hits the pillow in the evening, I take solace in a single thought:  “Breakfast”.  In my kitchen, always at the ready, for the start of the day, is coffee and eggs.  But not your ordinary coffee & eggs…  The bestest, freshest,  most delish coffee & eggs in the world. 

THE COFFEE ~  My coffee purveyor go-to is  Asbury Park Roastery .   My current coffee-of-choice obsession is the Costa Rican (dark roast).  Bold, lots of character and flavor, and stands up well to the smidge of 2% milk that I add.  

I am SO psyched (and appreciative) that Alli Kennedy, founder/owner of Asbury Park Roastery, was kind enough to spend some time with me for this post,  educating me about coffee and passing on the story of Asbury Park Roastery ("A P R" for the sake of brevity, herein).  With much neighborhood foot traffic making with the in-n-out as we spoke,  Alli, with humble pride and a sense community allowed me access to the world of A P R.

Alli, it seems, was born to do exactly what she is doing... she is approachable, warm, and has a devotion for her craft that is contagious.  Alli learned her craft the old-school way; through apprenticeship, mentoring and a strong work ethic.  A P R has evolved (slowly), building confidence of spirit, predicated upon experience, to be what it is today… a mecca for coffee and tea enthusiasts, with a capable, accessible owner and purveyor of a super quality product, and Good Will.  Alli knows her trade and builds a congregation of the knowledgeable and the dedicated.

True coffee roasting, as it takes place @ A P R, is very akin to wine making.  It is a learned process, that never stops evolving.  It is about intricacies, and knowledge of product.  It’s about having an ardency and knowledge base  that ranges from fruit harvesting & the seed production process to transportation techniques, to the constant tweaking of the roasting process to fruition of the final product.  It’s about passion and dedication. 

Tips from the Master Roaster, Alli Kennedy:

1)  Water.  The 2^nd most important component in a quality cup of coffee.  Filtered tap water is the go-to of choice.  As filtering will produce H20 void of  minerals and such that detract from taste.

2)  Choice of coffee.  Seems pretty obvious, but, opting for a higher quality product, when it comes to coffee,  makes a dramatic difference.  And, if we think through to fruition;  a cup of coffee is the opening volley in the starting of the day.  Why not make it an “event” rather than just a cup a joe.

3)  Be sure to add enough coffee!  The Coffee Industrial Complex would have us believe that it’s 1 tlb. Per 8 oz cup.  “Nay!” says Alli.  The true amount is 2 tlbs. Per 8oz cup, which ensures body, character and taste.

4)  Be sure that if you use an automatic coffee maker, that the resting temperature is high enough.  Each cup of coffee should be hot and not warm.  4a) Paper filter over metallic filter, is the personal choice of Alli… and me too!  

END NOTE & humble observation ~  Starbucks seems to have cornered the market on the caffeine “social scene & be seen”, scene.  As well, Starbucks has an unending plethora of styles, flavors and sizes to meet every quirky niche'.  Hat tip to them.  

However, if you are a coffee/tea enthusiast unfettered by the aforementioned scene and niche eccentricities, who appreciates coffee as roasted to perfection by a local resident, with deep and appreciable roots in the community, please do try Asbury Park Roastery .  The ultra- freshness of the coffee, the vibrancy that is Asbury Park and the open warmth extending from Alli, all combine and lend itself to making a new habitual routine for coffee needs}.

Quickie sidebar ~  A P R also offers "coffee in a box" service to go.  A really great alternative to the usual offering brought to a gathering.  Walk in with A P R's "coffee in a box" , and wala!, you're the most popular kid at the party. 

Coffee & Eggs ~ {post 2 of 2}

The Eggs:  The prologue to the story:   I had spent several years trying to find eggs similar to those we ate when  I was a kid.  In our town there was an elderly Italian woman who sold eggs from home, (it was an egg “speakeasy”, welcoming only Family and Friends, who were in the “know”).  The eggs (along with a bit of nesting material), came home and when prepared, were absolutely  heaven sent. Over the years,  I’ve tried to find eggs of similar quality, without success.    

After eventually making my way through ALL the egg options at A & P, Wegman’s,  etc,  I made a Grand Discovery.   One a Fall day a few years ago, I was driving with my daughter in the car, in the area of the Allaire State Park . While on our post-hike Fall Leaf Tour, we discovered  the Green Family and their Eggdom (eggs + Kingdom = Eggdom).  We pulled into the unassuming frontage (which looked way more like a sales lot for landscaper trailers, than an Eggdom),  and accidentally stumbled upon  an egg history that began in 1932, and is at present, three generations deep.

The Green Family does eggs every bit as mentioned above, and thankfully in a much more professional (and cleanly) manner.   The eggs when prepared to your specs, are aromatic with all the correct eggy-taste attributes well pronounced, and are rich-creamy of yolk (please, fear not the yolk and all it's tastey magical wonder).  Too, technically speaking, a noted divide and rise of the  thick albumin  sitting atop the thin albumin, which makes up the white of the egg, and denotes ultra-freshness.  These gems are very different from those bought at the supermarket.   They are what an egg was always intended to be.  

When picking up your eggs, it is not uncommon to be among folks from all over our area, and much further.  Lots of loyal customers have been purchasing eggs  from the Green Family for decades.  It’s not rare to  hear Grandparents explain to Grandkids that they were brought here to buy eggs, when they were kids .  During my last egg pick up, a woman was there doing the same for her kids, who were going to school in Baltimore.  She was bringing them on her visit because the kids missed the eggs, and put in a request.  A gentleman was picking up a few dozen and explained that he had been coming for the last 40 years.  The Green Family has a loyal following, indeed.

The kibitzing:  If you do happen to stop by and Allen is manning the cash register; you may consider hitting him up for some Atlantic City/gambling scoop/advice… he’s a solid source of info, which I have turned to before an A C outing.  Another item of interest:  Rumor has it that Allen and Stephan’s dad (who recently passed away), was Milton Berle's  original straight man.  Not sure if that is “officially” accurate, but the stories are great.

{End note ~  Of course, with the perfect coffee & eggs, perfect toast will round out the perfect breakfast triumvirate.  My fave:  The brick oven bread from Brooklyn @  Drew's Market or a 2nd choice, Calandra's bread (semolina), with a little (real) butter.}

Bread is well deserving of it’s own post at some point… stay tuned!

Asbury Park Boardwalk Empire ~ psst, keep it on the down-low. "The Black Hand" opened a speakeasy in the Asbury Park Convention Center.

Cool right?  Only in Asbury Park.  I was just eavesdropping over at the Asbury Park Boardwalk web site and gleaned some quality scoop.  In honor of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire , a speakeasy serving authentic Prohibition Era drink specials will be open, weekends, at an undisclosed location, inside the Convention Center. 

If you're clever enough to find it, (and keep this under your hat)... entrance is gained by letting them know at the door, that your with "The Black Hand" .  Once inside, you might consider ordering a Sidecar (cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice, over ice, shaken and poured through a strainer into a 'Tini glass, garnish with lemon slice).  Once your Sidecar is secured, you can begin the coast to comfortably numb while listening to live jazz.

Great Stuff.

In Jan. or Feb., McLoone's Supper Club will be hosting multi-episode viewings of the Boardwalk Empire series.  Hmm,, a great excuse for an evening out & and a great way to combat the winter blues that are as sure to arrive (for me), as the short days and wet-cold weather.

Did you know that Watermark  (a short walk from McLoone's & the Convention Center) is prohibition-speakeasy inspired?  Their "liquids" menu boasts cocktails of that era, to include infused tea cocktails.  It's a gorgeous space... very conducive to the mixing and cavorting.  Think chill, relaxed lounge, for grown folks who appreciate a quality experience... with a view.  One of my very favorite places to hang my hat for a few hours, after a too long week.

{End Note ~   I am a bit of an Asbury Park cheerleader, and have been for years.  Please do follow the Asbury blogs and web sites posted herein, and elsewhere.  Asbury is creative, kinetic, and a really vibrant, free-spirited place to visit.}