Burger King doesn't get fall.
Two weeks ago, I wrote an article about all the "fall treats" you can find at your favorite fast food chains .
Starbucks nailed the seasonal shift, with the launch of an Apple Crisp Macchiato and soft-baked pumpkin loaf, while McDonald's slayed the game with the return of its Pumpkin and Creme Pie . Even Smoothie King — who added a bunch of bizarre products (like the Pumpkin Spice Slim-N-Trim Smoothie) to its menu — properly acknowledged the autumnal equinox.
And then there was Burger King, which dropped a Frozen Pink Lemonade .
AKA, if you ever ask a Burger King exec to book you a nice wedding venue? You're getting married in the Outback of Secaucus — because BK just doesn't understand assignments.
Here are four things I ate this week that are better than the King's seasonal awareness.
New restaurant openings
Back to those tasty eats in a minute.
First, let's talk about this week's three new restaurant openings:
- 101 Chicken , a Korean fried chicken restaurant known for its robot-fried chicken , opened a second Jersey location in Ridgefield Park. The menu lists the same signature dishes as its Fort Lee predecessor, including my favorites; the Soy Honey Drumsticks, Supreme Wings and Potato Crisp Chicken Sandwich.
- Salad House , another chain I'm a proud fan of, opened a new location in Parsippany. Menu highlights include an apple walnut salad with bleu cheese, Backyard BBQ with crispy onions and a variation on the cobb with sliced avocado.
- Boonton welcomed its newest coffee shop (the town is obsessed with espresso, if you ask me) Catfight Coffee . The punk rock-themed spot serves "bold coffee" with a side of "good music" and "creative vibes."
The best things I ate this week
And we've returned to your favorite part of the local news.
These are the best things I ate in North Jersey this week.
Pumpkin Caramel Smoothie Bowl, The Fruit Bar
Speaking of fall — The Fruit Bar , Cedar Grove's hot new smoothie bar, launched three seasonal specials this past week.
The first, an Apple Orchard Bowl, features a cinnamon apple smoothie base topped with sliced apples, granola and honey, while the Pumpkin Pump smoothie is a pumpkin protein shake mixed with granola, vanilla and chia. Neither hold a (jack-o'-lantern) candle, however, to the sweet Pumpkin Caramel Smoothie Bowl.
A variation on the popular açaí bowl that showcases a creamy pumpkin smoothie instead of a fruity purple base, the decadent creation is loaded with crunchy granola, smothered in caramel and finished with white chocolate sauce, bananas and coconut.
Somewhere between a Snickers, Mounds Bar and Pumpkin Pie Kit Kat, the dessert-y bowl tastes like a hodgepodge of Halloween candy.
Go: 582 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove; 973-433-4433, thefruitbarnj.com .
One-Pound Flamin' Hot Cheetos Mozzarella Stick, The Brookdale
Oh, what a surprise; the girl who can eat a liquified bowl of Trick-or-Treat candy for lunch also likes an oversized Cheeto.
Well, newsflash, Jersey — you're going to like this, too.
Essentially a 16-ounce block of gooey mozzarella cheese rolled in crispy breadcrumbs and Flamin' Hot Cheeto dust, this spicy version of The Brookdale's iconic "Big Cheese" (which I sent viral on Instagram last year ) is melty, steamy and irresistible.
The crushed snack chips add extra salt and flavor to the mozzarella's delicious shell, and the angry marinara served on the side is much more fun than a standard (non-spicy) tomato dip.
If I had to upgrade the dish, I'd drizzle it with a creamy zig zag of cool ranch, but — until that happens — it's pretty close to perfect as is.
Go: 1099 Broad St., Bloomfield; 973-323-1680, thebrookdale.com .
Steak Carpaccio, RP Prime
And, in a complete 180-degree turn of direction, I also like aged meats topped with truffles, cream and hand-crafted gnocchi.
Because, if I'm not eating garbage, I'm fine-dining.
Last Thursday, I visited RP Prime (the young, modern spin-off of Edgewater's acclaimed River Palm Terrace ) in Fair Lawn. On the hunt for Bergen's most chic bites, I was drawn to the spot by the prospect of strip steak-wrapped sushi rolls, filet medallions with lobster tail pairings and a posh "serendipity" ice cream sundae. All existed, and all delivered.
Nonetheless, some dishes are always better than others, and — in both the opinion of my mom and me — the steak carpaccio, prepared in the way mentioned above, was the star of the menu.
Featuring meat so tender it fell apart at the touch of a fork, the quality of the appetizer rivaled any version you'd find in Manhattan. The rich, mushroom-flavored sauce lying above each beef slice nodded to the classic pairing of filet with Bordelaise, and tasted delicious when dripping over the team's house-made potato gnocchi.
Go: 41-11 Route 4, Fair Lawn; 201-267-0702, v1-rpprime.getbento.com .
Crispy Spicy Shrooms, Fat Choy
I wrote about these crunchy, sticky bangers last year, but Fat Choy recently reopened after a multi-month hiatus.
Here's all you need to know about chef Justin Lee and team's return:
- Englewood's best "Chinese-ish" restaurant is back.
- It's not vegan anymore (though it's super vegan-friendly).
- The shrooms are still on the menu.
Go: 52 E Palisade Ave., Englewood; 201-408-4581, fatchoyworld.com .
Hungry for more?
Want more on this week's latest food news? Check out some of my (and others') best articles below.
Until next week, North Jersey; here's hoping it's warm enough to crush one of Burger King's out-of-season slushies.
(Or cold enough for corporate to raise the white flag and resurrect the Halloween Whopper).
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats .
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Flamin' Hot Cheetos in this email
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