For Kathy- seafood place

[MrsReber]

Kathy, I don't eat seafood, but I checked with a good friend of mine who also loves good food. She says Red's is very good, only seats about 30 people, so I guess you'd need to see if they take reservations. She also suggested Captain Ed's on Arnold Avenue in Pt. Pleasant (that's where we grew up, actually) She said they have a wonderful house salad, too. Hope this helps!

I'm sure I will get better on Monday- you know how it is, always get sick in time for the weekend. I just wish I could put out the fire in my throat!! But alas, I still drag myself off to work each day. What a sucker I am.


[This message has been edited by MrsReber (edited 08-04-2000).]

[Kathy]

Thanks so much for your recommendations! We always seem to go to the same places which serve fish but are not Seafood Restaurants. Reds is one of my favorites but the wait is a problem. I have WW tomorrow morning at 8 so I need light food tonight! Natural diaretics may be involved..it has been a bad week! I feel like a blow fish!
I felt sick a couple of days ago but am fine now..I am not sure if it was allergy related or not! My kids seem to have had the same thing.

[MrsReber]

I hope you enjoy your dinner out. Sounds really nice. Tonight is going to be soup night for the Rebers. I hope my husband doesn't mind. I am trying to find a good cream of artichoke soup. Or maybe tomato. Can't decide, but I'll probably be stopping on the way home. Good luck with WW. My sister in law and her husband went on it last year and they did really well. Hmm, maybe I'll have to make a home made bread to go with my soup, too. Oh, good luck trying the pizza crust, too. I really enjoy making pizza. There's some good ideas on that pizza thread, too.

[Kathy]

I bought the American Pizza Kitchen Cookbook yesterday. I really need to start cooking again! I am so sick of the sodium in all the foods I have been eating. How much weight did your in-laws lose? Do they live locally? I wonder if I ran into them at a meeting! How weird would that be?!

[MrsReber]

yes, Kathy, that is the problem with being mostly Italian- no one can cook like grandma! Also, I can make alot of really good italian dishes at home. That's why I look for a restaurant that is exceptional- so I can get something that I can't make.

Wow, I LOVE spring lake. That was my favorite walking spot for a long time. I used to go there at night and walk a few miles down the boardwalk. Holly and I used to drive down there quite often when we were still teenagers (where does the time go??) It was part of my long weight loss road, actually. I did that at least 3 times a week with my old (hate him) boyfriend.

Funny you said that about Captain Ed's- I can see him too! Dressed in a red outfit and a big hat!

[Holly S]

OK, Now you are just getting silly! Kidding. Anyway, there are pictures when you first come into the restaurant that "explain" who Captain Ed is.

It is very casual, and yes Kathy, from what I can remember they do have lighter fare. I was telling Sue, you will not believe how good the house salad is. I wish I knew what they used for dressing, it is unbelievable. My husband and I could hardly move, of course we always seem to gorge ourselves. I hope it meets your standards... Or I am going to be really http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif.

[This message has been edited by Holly S (edited 08-04-2000).]

[Holly S]

Robin..... I just realized how very rude I have been. WELCOME, as you can see I am a new member too. And thanks for joining in....

[Kathy]

Okay, so I pictured a yellow rain coat and matching hat on the Captain! I can't help it, I was born silly! I am sure it is delicious! Maybe my hubby and I will head there tonight! We are going out tonight alone and tomorrow night with friends..no wonder i can't lose weight!

[Holly S]

Kathy, I can only sympathize, since Rich (my hubby) and I are on opposite scheduals, we end up eating out far too often. And on top of that it is really hard to always get the "Healthy" meal when they have many desirable foods to choose from. Don't get discouraged if nothing happens with WW right away, it will work, just give it time!

[Kathy]

Thanks, Holly. I appreciate your inspiring words. I was down 30 on WW last year then my hubby was diagnosed with oral cancer in January and I stress ate myself way up again. (He seems to be okay). I am afraid I have done a job on my metabolism so I will have to be extra patient. I also need exercise which I have not been great about doing.

[MrsReber]

Wow, Kathy, I sure hope your hubby is okay. That must've been awful scary. As long as you have your plan in mind, you just need to work at your own pace. It took me about 9 years to get to my current weight. Exercise is great. I always hated excercise, but now I love the way it makes me feel afterwards.

Oh, and don't worry about being silly. Silly is good. Some evil people left cake and donut holes in the kitchen and I just finished one. Bad bad bad!!

My husband and I are also known to stuff ourselves when we go out. We try to limit our eating out to one night a week. We're usually pretty good about it, but then again, he's got me to cook for him! I have nobody to cook for me! I love to cook, but I need a break from the kitchen at least once a week!

[Holly S]

Kathy,

I have been down the road of coping with Cancer, so I understand what you are going through. It is too hard to concentrate on yourself when all of your emotions are in turmoil. Just remember, there are a great many things that cancer CAN NOT do. And one of those is take away your memories and joy. Focus on the forward and put the past behind you, everything will work out.

[Kathy]

Thanks so much for all your kind words! I know slow and steady wins the race, but I need to get mysekf under control in the eating department!
Does, the feeling that the other shoe is going to drop ever go away in regards to the Cancer? The doctors say he should be fine, but they didn't expect this so it is hard to relax! My doctor said Cancer survivors tend to enjoy life more in the longer run..they appreciate it more. It has just been one heck of a year! Thanks for letting me vent!

[Holly S]

Kathy,
That feeling does pass. Unfortunatly my brother didn't win his battle, but he had a different type of cancer. Just remember, If he has beaten it this far, then he has all of the future to look to. There is a great big world out there, and you have been given this beautiful gift of having the rest of your lives to spend with each other. That doesn't mean forever, but it does mean for a good long time. Just enjoy the now, because you know how precious it is. I have to run along home now, but you all have a good weekend!

[MrsReber]

My in-laws put me to shame- part of my reason for losing that last 15 pounds two years ago. They are all good looking, thin, and tall. My husband is 6'5" and my mother in law is almost six feet. My sister in-law is 45 now and I guess it's getting harder to keep the pounds off. She looked fine the way she was, but she wasn't comfortable with herself. I think she may have lost about 15 pounds. Her husband lost alot more than that. He had to buy alot of new clothes. It didn't even seem like it took all that much time, either. I heard they were on WW in the early summer and by Thanksgiving, they were looking very fit. They live in Jackson. Let me know how it goes with the pizza when you try it!

[Kathy]

I was going to meetings at Seaview Square Mall..there was a couple there but I think the wife lost more weight..apparantly the husband had lost a lot of weight. I guess a neighbor had asked if she had a new boyfriend because he looked so different. I think his name started with an S but I am not sure. I don't remember them being especially tall but they were in the front and I was in the back! My hubby is 6'4; I am 5'6" and I outweigh him..MOOOOOOOOO!

[robinf]

I hope I am not intruding. I love reading about restaurants and so thought I'd check out this thread. Imagine my surpirse when the first restaurant mentioned was Reds! It is one of my favorites though we usually try to go before May and after September. The only problem with that is they are closed from November to April! By the way - they don't take reservations.

The to top it off - you mentioned WW. I am 5 weeks away from becoming a lifetime member (i'm keeping my fingers crossed which makes it a little harder to eat but not much). I used to attend an at work program but am now trying out meetings in Brick and Manasquan since I left my job. I can't decide which I look best. Where do you attend? Maybe we can encourage each other.

[Holly S]

Kathy, Good luck with WW, MrsReber and I are dear freinds since childhood, so I hope you don't take offense to my reading this. Just remember, it is healthy to loose the weight, but love yourself no matter what. I outweigh my husband by over 50 pounds, so I understand the Mooooo comment. You seem like a great lady, keep up the good work, and keep having faith in yourself! By the way, I live in Brick, I am the one that recommended Captain Ed's. trust me, really good food.....

[MrsReber]

Holly can also attest to my thin good-looking in laws (though they can be a little wacky!). She also knows about my struggle with my own weight and how long it took me to get where I am. My problem was that I thought there was something wrong with me if I was overweight and I still carry that around- thanks largely to my parents.

Hi Robin! We sure don't mind the intrusion! Nice to meet another Jersey girl! Like I said before, I don't eat any seafood so I've never been to those places. I am always on the lookout for a good Italian place, though! My husband and I live in Howell.

Welcome- looks like you are a new member of the BB.

[Kathy]

I am so glad you both responded! My sister lives in Manasquan! Too funny! I am actually thinking of moving to Spring Lake. (My son needs a very small school)
Capt Ed's Huh? Definitely worth a shot! Do they have lighter dishes as well? I have to admit, for some reason I had a visual of a guy in a pirate suit with a fried fish platter. Not that I have a problem with fried food, my thighs do!

I figure if we went to Red's we could bring some wine and watch the boats. Please, 2 extra hours without fussy kids..not a problem! I do, prefer earlier or later in the season myself!

Thanks for the vote of confidence! My mom had a heart attack 2 years ago; I really have to lose the weight!
Congrats on your weight loss, Robin! How much weight have you lost? I just started up at Seaview Square Mall on Saturdays at 8 am..it will be a long road! I have about 75 to lose! (3 kids worth!)

[Kathy]

Good Italian food is tough in Monmouth; San Remo was good for a while but I haven't been there lately. I have to admit, I find a lot of the "Good" Italian restaurants overated. What can I say, I have an Italian Grandmother who was an amazing cook!

[robinf]

As is the case with just about every summer weekend, we had company for this one as well. I wasn't able to get back to you all. It seems new friends and relatives sprang up out of nowhere since we moved to within walking distance of the beach! Oh well, it's a price I am willing to pay. Of course, despite your very warm welcomes I feel even more intrusive. As you noted, I am new to all this and am not really sure I understand all the customs.

I've lost 12 pounds with WW, the last of a 40 pound pregancy weight gain. It was sort of silly to balme being pteganant for those exta pounds now that my daughter is 3 1/2! (I needed to deliver a record breakling 20 pound baby but she only weighed in at 6 lbs, 7 ozs). The first 25 came off pretty easily but I cound not get rid of those last few alone. WW really did it for me.

Kathy, don't give up. Even if you only think more about what you are eating than you did before - and don't change how and what you eat, you are on the right track. I remember many times when there was an empty plate of food in front of me and I couldn't even rememeber what I had just eaten. Now, I always try to focus on what I'm eating. (don't I sound like a WW leader? My former leader is trying to convince me to become one as well. I guess it will force me to follow the program!).

There were just too many coincidences in our lives. We probably have passed eachother a thousand times and don't even know it. It really is a small world!

Best Wishes for the coming week.

[robinf]

As is the case with just about every summer weekend, we had company for this one as well. I wasn't able to get back to you all. It seems new friends and relatives sprang up out of nowhere since we moved to within walking distance of the beach! Oh well, it's a price I am willing to pay. Of course, despite your very warm welcomes I feel even more intrusive. As you noted, I am new to all this and am not really sure I understand all the customs.

I've lost 12 pounds with WW, the last of a 40 pound pregancy weight gain. It was sort of silly to balme being pteganant for those exta pounds now that my daughter is 3 1/2! (I needed to deliver a record breakling 20 pound baby but she only weighed in at 6 lbs, 7 ozs). The first 25 came off pretty easily but I cound not get rid of those last few alone. WW really did it for me.

Kathy, don't give up. Even if you only think more about what you are eating than you did before - and don't change how and what you eat, you are on the right track. I remember many times when there was an empty plate of food in front of me and I couldn't even rememeber what I had just eaten. Now, I always try to focus on what I'm eating. (don't I sound like a WW leader? My former leader is trying to convince me to become one as well. I guess it will force me to follow the program!).

There were just too many coincidences in our lives. We probably have passed eachother a thousand times and don't even know it. It really is a small world!

Best Wishes for the coming week.

[MrsReber]

Hello everyone- Holly, Kathy, and Robin-
Robin, you most certainly are not intruding! Don't worry about understanding the customs on the BB. I am a fairly new member myself (beginning of July), I just kept writing messages and sooner or later, everyone gets to know you. Feel free to offer an opinion or ask a question on any post on the BB. Everyone is really nice.

Kathy- so did you go to the restaurants?? I hope you went out and had a wonderful time!

And Holly- well, I always talk to you! Oddly enough, though, my husband says that your husband "sure can talk!".

[Kathy]

Good morning Ladies! I feel like we are all old friends! You included Robin! If we ever move down to your area, maybe we can walk the Boards together! (My sister is pushing Brielle)
After all your help, my friend decided she didn't want to travel so we went to a semi-local place in Atlantic Highlands..it was great, but not even close to light food! We ate and drank far too much this weekend..but what a great time we had! Now I am completely on WW! Having my coffee with no-fat half and half.
We went to Menzel Brothers yesterday, not sure I can go back for a couple of reasons but got a lot of great stuff!
I am going to make the morning glory muffins this morning..have you ever tried them?

[MrsReber]

Good Morning Kathy! Where did you go in the Higlands? I used to live up the road from there in Union Beach and I dated a guy (another famous mistake)who lived in the Highlands so we'd go to dinner there alot. Not so great for me since I don't like seafood, but some of the places there are really great. I've been to Bahr's, The Clam Hut, Doris and Ed's, McCloone's, and a few others that I can't remember! Then there was the Careless Navigator- a little dive with the best cheesesteaks around! Okay, I didn't like the guy, but the food was pretty good!

I wish I had gotten out to eat. I went to a little graduation party at Peterson's, but the food there isn't so great, so I didn't eat much. Now tonight, I am torn between making a nice dinner and making my husband take me out! I deserve it!! Hope you enjoyed your weekend!

[Kathy]

We went to Copper Canyon in Atlantic Highlands (or is it Highlands, I always get them confused!)on Saturday and Uptown in Long Branch on Friday! Neither are really seafood restaurants and both were great!

[MrsReber]

Long Branch has some good restaurants! We had our rehearsal dinner for our wedding at Piancones. It was so good! It was good enough that my mostly Italian family loved it! And we had so much food leftover, but the scavengers ate it all while we were on our honeymoon!! Very sad. We had to go back for dinner for my mom's birthday. They have awesome stuffed rigatoni and great appetizers. Plus, they put our rehearsal dinner together in 2 days since our original place had disappeared off the face of the earth! We booked a restaurant and, as the day got closer, I kept trying to get in touch with the place. Turns out the owner was in jail on some tax issue and we lost our deposit! Not to mention the chest pains I was having from not knowing how I was going to find a place for 30 people to eat dinner! But it all worked out great, thanks to my sisters-in-law! But my main point is that it's a really good restaurant and now I am starting to get hungry! We went to Wall Stadium Saturday night, my husband runs a street stock there on occasion. My dinner was a hamburger from the folks who pitted next to us!

[Kathy]

Wow! What a story, Mrs.R! Where was the first place? I love Piancones but I can't go there because I eat too much!We had our rehearsal dinner at the Sandpiper...seems like a life time ago..was only 8 years.

Robin, thanks for your kind words! I would go to a meeting, maybe you can have them at my house!Or on the beach! All 3 of my kids have that stupid coxsackie virus! HELP ME!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[Beth]

Kathy, I hadn't been down this thread at all and opened it just to see what it was about. Bless your heart! and everything else! My 2 boys have never had it, but I took care of a neighbor's daughter with it once and had my nephew while he had it. The kids can be pretty miserable, and I can't imagine 3 at once. Hang in there and treat yourselves to something special when you all revcover.

[robinf]

Hope everyone had a good weekend. I am enjoying a couple of minutes of quiet as my daughter is next door playing. Ahh the sweet sound of silence.

More favorite restaurants. Piancones is way up my list too. I am notorious for bringing home food and always plan on getting at least another meal at home from the leftovers. I've been known to bring salad home. But deserts are ALWAYS fininshed before we leave!

How was Uptown? I couple of friends thought the food was good but that it was very loud.

I'd love WW meetings on the beach as long as I'm not forced to wear a bathing suit. I ate way too many points this week and am not looking forward to weigh-in tomorrow. It's a egg white omelette with salsa for dinner tonight. These are a lifesaver - just a point or 2 each and very filling!

By the way, I aplogize for that double post. It's not that I think what I have to say is that important - I have no idea what I did. Do you more experienced posters have any ideas!

[Kathy]

Thanks so much Beth! I have Mommy guilt because I had no idea they were sick until I looked at my little ones feet!

Thanks for the egg white omelette suggestion..sounds good! I was planning on going to Oli Kleins until I noticed the blisters..now I need to figure out dinner! The food was pretty good at Uptown. My hubby and I had a great time..it was definitely noisy, but we were in a fun mood, not a romantic one. Great place to have a martini (they don't taste as strong as they sound!) and relax. I had a pink prozak which was unbelievable! My hubby and I felt like we were dating again!

[MrsReber]

Sounds like a great evening! The first place we had booked for our rehearsal dinner was called La Toscana. We ate there and the food was really good. The owner was a Brooklyn Italian guy - the best! He invited us to come back and have dinner on him while we made the arrangements. We did go back and get our free meal. We gave him a $300 deposit, and then I went to call him about 2 weeks before the dinner and there was no answer. I finally drove over one night and almost had a heart attack on the way home- When I got to the restaurant, there were notes all over the windows about their assets being frozen. Never did get our deposit back. The lawyer said they were in jail and chances of recovery were pretty slim. Plus, I still had to get through my wedding and honeymoon. We really had no choice but to let it go. One thing we did get out of it was a great recommendation for a bakery. The owner got all his desserts down the street at Gian's. They have THE best chocolate mousse cake! As a matter of fact, I took Holly over there and they made her wedding cake- with cannoli filling! It was really good.

[Holly S]

Hello All.
I hope you all had a great weekend. I am taking my moment away from my boring job just to say hello. Kathy hang in there with the Kids. Gosh, I wish I could do something for you to help! I am glad you had a good weekend , it sounds like you really needed it. I just had to put in my two cents. And yes, Gian's bakery made me the MOST BEAUTIFUL wedding cake, I almost didn't want to eat it

[Kathy]

Wow, Mrs. R! Unbelievable! Maybe he is "sleeping with the fishes" now! Where is Gian's bakery? I am always looking for a good one...plus my son's birthday is Aug 18th! Your cake sounded wonderful! We are heading to the beach..doc says the kids are okay to go..Thank God!!!

[MrsReber]

Kathy, Gian's is on Route 9 south in Howell. I don't know what the cross road is and I don't know how well you know Howell, but it's across the street from the Pathmark and K-mart shopping center. My husband loves their chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate mousse frosting. It's out of this world. We got one for our rehearsal dinner - it fed 30 people and it was only $30. They'll do any kind of cake you want. They have all kinds of fillings and they'll make any designs you want. Really nice folks. They also have good cannolis and eclairs! Watch out!

[Holly S]

Kathy, to add to MrsReber's thoughts on Gian's: The cake that I got was supposed to be for 80-100 people. It was $160 and we ended up haveing the WHOLE bottom layer left. It was an 18" bottom, 12" middle and 8" top, it was huge. We also did a small viennese table with a few pastries and cookies, we had almost nothing left. Everybody raved and wanted a card, so I hope that tells you something.

[Kathy]

It is amazing how quickly I can get myself out of light cooking and into the best bakeries around!!!Maybe I will hit the bakery after a trip to the mall! Sounds wonderful!

[MrsReber]

Some things are just not worth skimping on- dessert is one of those things! When I joined my gym and spoke to their Apex representative, he asked me what I thought "bad" food was. He told me that there really is no "bad" food out there. It's all good for you in one way or another, it all has to do with how much we eat and how we choose to consume our daily calories.
I eat 5 meals a day- one thing every 2-4 hours- to keep my metabolism going. I try to choose heathy things, but every so often, I have to go for the peanut m&m's in the snack machine. Hey, we must enjoy life while we are here! And my body does tell me when it doesn't like what I'm eating! Another thing I've learned over the years is that you do things for yourself in your own time. I was overweight for years, but I couldn't lose the weight until I was ready to make the commitment- no matter what anyone else said to me or how they thought they were "helping" me. They were really only making things worse by constantly pointing out my weight, as if I weren't a good person because of that! Kathy, you seem like a lovely person and a good mom. Enjoy life- eat some cake!

[Kathy]

Mrs. R, thanks so much for the vote of confidence! I am trying desperately to get back to my pre-children eating habits..much lighter, fresher food with an occassional dessert. My sister always teases me for knowing exactly what to get for dessert..I seem to have a knack for picking the good ones..it just struck me as funny that through a Cooking Light forum, I found a great resource for dessert! (As well as MANY other things!) I really LOVE GOOD food! My hubby and I drove to New Haven for his Cancer treatment and I found the time to stop in Greenwich for amazing chocolates my sister loved growing up(We grew up in NY)(This was after we knew he was okay, but it is still a bit nuts!!!)Maybe I should be a restaurant critic..do you want to join me? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[MrsReber]

Kathy, I share your passion for good food. That's why I try to cook every night. I can't stand the thought of eating fast food. There would just be something missing. It's okay every now and then, but why waste your time eating food that's just okay when you can have food that is really awesome? Hmm, restaurant critic. Maybe, just maybe..

[Kathy]

Mrs. R, the way I see it..we could be a team..you could test the pizzas..I will check the seafood...Holly can test the salad dressings or what ever else she pleases!!! I am so sick of these restaurant critics..what do they know?Let us at those restaurants!!!