Toast, Montclair, NJ

 

Like pretty much all of my brunch spots thus far, Toast was introduced to me by one of my girlfriends! Hey what are girlfriends for right?!?! It's always nice to catch up on the weekends and get away from the boys for a bit......sorry babe! Toast is the perfect place to do just that. From the outside it looks like a tiny little building. but when you go inside, there are three levels of seating and it is jam packed with fellow brunchers. They have a menu that is very accommodating to everyone's needs in your party. The menu consists of traditional breakfast foods like your waffles, eggs, and pancakes. To more decadent versions such as the Bella Nutella (pictured below left), which is Nutella stuffed French toast with strawberries, S'mores pancakes (below right), and, Red Velvet pancakes. 

There are also food items for those that have certain dietary or diet needs. Pictured below is their gluten free carrot cake pancakes (they were amazing). And in case you're wondering, this food was from two times there (I usually take my hubby another time if I love it so he can experience it too). So besides all the amazing food choices there is something else that is amazing about this restaurant........it is BYOB! Those mimosas that the ladies  and I enjoy with our brunches usually come at a hefty price (around $7 per mimosa). However, by bringing our own bottle we end up saving about $40 (split between us) which adds up! This will definitely be a spot I will want to take those who come visit, but if you are in the area you should check it out. Beware it does get packed (the longest wait I've had is 30 minutes) because it is soooooo good!  

Red Eye Cafe, Montclair, NJ

Last weekend I went to a new restaurant with one of my girlfriends. It's nice finding friends in the area because they let you in on all these little gems and advice about the area. I have discovered a few new restaurants that I may not have found otherwise by myself. So far, they have all been delicious and unique in their own way. The restaurant we went to for brunch was the Red Eye Cafe in Montclair, NJ. It is a tiny (it looked like it sat maybe 20 people), BYOB coffee shop with an eclectic menu (think beet tartar and shrimp & grits).  

I opted for the Chipotle Cheese sandwich (below) which was "Queso de freir with avocado, tomato, refried beans, and chipotle mayo on ciabatta bread. Served with shaved Brussels sprout, apple, red onion, and spiced walnut salad". Of course in usual brunch fashion, it was complimented with mimosas. I was throughly pleased with my selection, but can't wait to go back and try other items on their menu. They don't take reservations so if you plan on going for weekend brunch be prepared to wait (we waited about 25 minutes for 2), though it is worth it. Red Eye Cafe is also a short walk from the train station which makes it super convenient since there is no parking lot and street parking can be hard to find.

If you are in the area, I suggest you try this restaurant out if you have a moment. If you don't have time to sit down for a meal, you can get coffee and a pastry to go. Since I am a sucker for anything French, I got their Sludge coffee to go which they make through a cold brewing method and it is so good and potent! Enjoy your week! 

Pyramid Mountain, Boonton, NJ

In an attempt to practice more outdoor photography, we set out to go to Pyramid Mountain early in the morning. There is a "golden hour" rule that most photographers follow and it takes place right after the sun rises and right before the sun sets. That is when you get really nice, softer light from the sun. Well, I was desperately trying to capture that, but by the time we found the place, it was too late. No big deal though, we still walked around and I practiced a bit. The area was absolutely beautiful and the leaves were amazing colors! It's sometimes hard since we live in a city area and so close to NYC that there is beautiful landscapes like this right around us as well. We walked around for quite a while and had the place practically to ourselves which was nice. I am really glad we found it and will continue my "golden hour" quest and to improve my photography! 

My goofball husband. I told him to give me a pose and this is what he did. He was warned I was going to post it :)

Overlook Park in Paterson, NJ

As the majority of you know, or have realized, we live in New Jersey. We are fortunate enough to live in an area where we can see the NYC skyline and travel there by train usually in 20 minutes, depending on how they are running. Well this weekend we decided to check out a place that is also close to us, but in our own state. Of course the day we wanted to head out, it decides to rain the majority of the day. So there I was sitting by the window like a little kid waiting for it to let up. When it did, I hurried up and got ready like my parents told me it was alright to go out and play again. Which is pretty much the case. Photography, though frustrating some times, is like play for me. I am still so new and learning a ton. While I will never claim to have "mastered" anything, I feel pretty good about most of my food shots I take. They aren't perfect, but for the knowledge I have right now they are fine. Outdoor shots are a little more tricky for me. That's why I wanted some practice and sometimes it's tedious carrying my camera to the city. 

                       

After a quick 20 minute drive we were there. We traveled to Paterson, NJ to Overlook Park to see the Paterson Great Falls. It may not seem like much, but here in the middle of a predominately industrial city lies a roaring waterfall. Part of the park was closed off for repairs for the time being so we couldn't see how massive the waterfalls actually were, but it was such a neat little area. There were actually quite a bit of people out taking guided tours and taking pictures of the area. For me, it's the pictures and seeing the beauty that gets me. For my hubby, it's the history. He was spouting off all sorts of random facts about the area.  

For instance, the building above is the S.U.M. hydroelectric plant, which was built in the early 1900s and was designed by Thomas Edison's Electric Company.  It still powers 11,000 homes to this day. Below, is a picture of Alexander Hamilton, not only one of the founding fathers, but also the person who saw the potential for the falls in terms of potential industrial growth.  Paterson was the first planned industrial city.  Hamilton foresaw the great falls as a great place to set up future water mills which would help drive the industrial revolution. 

I hope you've enjoyed the pictures and very brief history lesson! Have a great week and I look forward to sharing more adventures next Monday!