So, it’s finally here. After much fanfare Trader Joe’s has finally opened it’s doors in Millburn, New Jersey. Located in the old Whole Foods space at 187 Millburn Avenue. This store is sure to be a huge hit with local granola eating set.

Well, yesterday I had a chance to drop by the store — and here’s my initial impression.

Bland.
Cold.
Sterile.
Warehouse like.

Sure, I was able to find all of my favorite Trader Joe’s products – but the store seemed to lack the warm feeling I’ve always associated with Trader Joe’s.

I don’t know.

Just a visceral feeling.

No big deal.

Bottom line is that Millburn finally has a Trader Joes’ and I’m psyched.

By the way, don’t think that you’re going to find a case of Three Buck Chuck at this location. That’s not going to happen. Stop by the store in Westfield to get your wine fix.

TJ’s is open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

A couple of weeks ago a reader of this blog recommended that I check out Tutti a Tavola. Located in an odd area of Chatham Borough, this Italian slash French specialty shop doesn’t disappoint.

The store is packed with an eclectic assortment of cheese, sausage, Italian mineral water, olives, aged balsamic vinegar. Oh yes, and for the oh so very refined — there’s foie gras.

There’s also a wonderful prepared food section which, I’m told, will be growing in a big way thanks to Restaurant Serenade.

Can’t wait to try those dishes.

If you looking for a quick lunch or late day snack stop by Tutti a Tavola and order one of the many wonderful Paninis. See the menu below.

You’ll also find some tasty looking sweets and of course coffee.

Best of all there’s Joseph Cammarata. The owner. You’ll find him behind the counter available to answer any question you might have about his unique products.

So stop by Tutti a Tavola and be sure to let me know your thoughts.

Tutti a Tavola
34 Watchung Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
973-701-7600
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I want you to relax as a calming energy washes over your body. You have not a care in the world. With each breath of ultra clean piped in air from Iceland — you feel totally renewed. A masseuse kneads the tension out of your shoulders as you quietly place organic fruits and vegetables into a hemp woven basket. A man with a large machete cuts a piece of fresh mango and places a slice in your mouth. Water trickles down a small water fall and flows into a sparkling Koi pond. A blond haired woman tenderly milks a cow – smiles at you – then places a warm glass bottle in your basket.

Ok. This is getting weird. Are you relaxed? Great!

People in Union — what’s up!!!!! You better be thrilled that Whole Foods Market has moved into your area. This is a major stamp of approval from a serious upscale retailer — and totally reinforces the fact that Union is serious town to watch. Believe me — Whole Foods Market doesn’t put their stores in just any old town.

So what’s up with this new Whole Foods?

Size and selection. It’s huge. That’s what’s up. It’s like the Disneyland of health food markets.

Do I like the store?

Hell yes. Absolutely. Who wouldn’t want a store like this within a few miles of their home?

I could drone on and on about the place, but “here are a few of my favorite things.” No pun intended.

1. Fresh Roasted Coffee. They actually roast it in the store. It’s awesome.
2. Large prepared foods section. The food ranges from curry to macaroni and cheese.
3. Amazing gelato ice cream. Try the chocolate. My son loved it.
4. Fresh pizza. Looks good.
5. Fresh sushi.
6. Large Bakery.
7. Huge Meat Section. Dwarfs the old one in Millburn. Excellent selection.
8. Fantastic produce area.
9. Homemade pasta bar. What a trip. They make it right in front of you.
10. Huge frozen section.

That’s not all. Whole Foods Market in Union is so large that it would be extremely difficult for me to cover every detail. That means that you’ll have to check it out yourself.

By the way, there’s also in store dining at Osteria. I haven’t tried it yet but here’s the menu.

If anyone’s had a chance to sample the food – I would love to hear your comments.

So what are you waiting for? Go check out the new Whole Foods in Union, New Jersey. It’s an amazing shopping experience.

Oh yeah, don’t forget to bring your wallet.

Whole Foods Market
2245 Springfield Ave.
Union, NJ 07088 USA
Phone 908.688.1455

Store hours:
8 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Daily

Osteria hours:
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Homes Currently For Sale in Union, New Jersey
$0 – $300,000
$300,000 – $500,000
$500,000 and Beyond

Here are the Holiday Hours for the Short Hills mall. Don’t forget to get your picture taken with Santa.

December 1: 10am-9pm
December 2: 10am-9pm
December 3: 10am-9pm
December 4: 10am-9pm
December 5: 10am-9pm
December 6: 9am-10pm
December 7: 10am-8pm
December 8: 9am-10pm
December 9: 9am-10pm
December 10: 9am-10pm
December 11: 9am-10pm
December 12: 9am-10pm
December 13: 9am-10pm
December 14: 9am-9pm
December 15: 9am-10pm
December 16: 9am-10pm
December 17: 9am-10pm
December 18: 9am-10pm
December 19: 9am-10pm
December 20: 8am-10pm
December 21: 8am-9pm
December 22: 8am-10pm
December 23: 8am-10pm
December 24: 8am-6pm
December 25: Christmas Day — Sorry not open.
December 26: 8am-9pm
December 27: 9am-7pm
December 28: 10am-6pm
December 29: 10am-9pm
December 30: 10am-9pm
December 31: 10am-6pm

January
January 1: New Year’s Day, 10am-6pm

Department store and restaurant hours may vary

Like many Americans, my wife and I have been looking for ways to save a few dollars during this scary chapter in our nation’s history. Neither of us are very frugal, but I’ve been told it only takes twenty one days to create a habit. Why not give it a try.

The first thing we did was look at our fixed expenses. Our monthly utilities and whatnot. Within minutes we were able to bring down our High Speed Internet bill and scale back on some unneeded Auto Insurance. In addition, both of us agreed to keep an eye on the thermostat. No need to keep the temperature in the house at 75 degrees when we’re not there.

Well, what about our dogs? Won’t they get cold?

Next we busted out the MasterCard bill. Not fun. This usually goes right into the shredder. Today, however, it was center stage on our dining room table. As I went down the long three page list, I put black dots next every item that could have been avoided. This was a serious wake up call. Nearly 75% of our expenses were needless or could be seriously scaled back. The number one culprit – EATING OUT. $800. Need I say more?

Now, with an agreement in place that we would only eat out once a week – we moved on to groceries. This is our toughest subject – and largest expense. Both of us agreed that we would continue to purchase only organic or range free meats coupled with organic or locally grown fruits and veggies. This was non negotiable. Everything else – fair game.

So how could we save money on groceries????

Use coupons?

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease. Not Moi. I’d rather do an open house on a vacant lot.

The next day, while yapping it up in the office (I can be a real yenta sometimes), I struck up a conversation with a coworker. Wearing a deep smile on my face, I told her of my metamorphosis from an extreme money waster into an incredibly cheap bastard. Well, maybe bastard is a little strong. Perhaps “financially prudent individual” works better. As she pounded on her keyboard politely pretending to listen to me, I explained to her that our only unresolved issue was groceries. I needed a real strategy to bring down the price of our groceries.

“Coupons.”

“Here we go again.”

“No really. I save so much money using coupons.”

She then began telling me of how she was saving nearly fifty percent off of her grocery tab by clipping coupons.

“No way!”

In fact, on a recent visit to the supermarket, at the checkout stand, she pulled out a massive pile of coupons. Seeing this, the overly hair dyed woman standing behind her let out a huge sigh. How dare she make her late for Saturday Botox. But when the price adjusted from $175 to $83.50, the woman let out another sigh, paid $30 for her overpriced tap water and eagerly followed her out the door.

“How did you do that?”

“Coupons.”

Ok. That peaked my interest. She was saving some serious duckets. Serious Cash. I needed to find out how she did this. Not only that — I needed to pass along her amazing strategy to all of my loyal readers.

It wasn’t easy, but after groveling at her desk for a half hour, this is what she sent me today. I’m posting it “As Is” — so enjoy.

My Best Coupon Tips — I save between $50 – $100 every week using coupons paired with store sales & using my store club card.

I clip & save coupons. Most are good for several months, some never expire. I keep a pocketed coupon organizer, organized by product type or grocery store section (personal care, pet foods, baby products, refrigerated…etc). I check for expired coupons once a month. Every Sunday I clip coupons while having my morning coffee and peruse the store flyers to plan my purchases. If ketchup is on sale for $1.00 and you have a .50 cent coupon for it, it will get doubled, and voila – Free Ketchup.

Several years ago my wife and I were driving down South Le Brea Avenue in Los Angeles when out of the corner of my eye I caught the words “Rita Flora Kitchen”. Without saying a word, I jumped out of the car and ran across the street dodging oncoming vehicles. Unscathed, I bolted right up to the counter and ordered a huge (I mean HUGE) piece of apple pie. Sat down at a table an inhaled it. It was amazing, however my ecstasy was short lived as my wife walked in the café and…..well you know the rest of the story.

So why am I telling you this? Am I about to do a blurb on the best shrinks in New Jersey? Nyet. Actually, I simply wanted to illustrate that there are some things worth dying for – and fantastic baked goods are one of them.

You won’t encounter the insane Los Angeles traffic on Beechwood Road in Summit, however, you will find a bakery that is literally to die for. Brownie Points.

The buzz on Brownie Points has been whipping through the streets of Summit. This happens anytime something special enters our pseudo small-town world. It blasted into my arena recently, not from the yada..yada..yada crowd – but from real foodies I respect.

Well, I stopped by the other day to check it out, and I have to say – “this place is off the hook”.

Owner Bob Conway (Formerly of Gramercy Tavern) has put together some of the most delicious baked goods ever. Just passing by the front door of Brownie Points made the blood coursing through my veins begin to pump faster.

There’s definitely no shortage of sugar and cream at Brownie Points. If you’re planning a birthday party or just need a midday sugar infusion, this would be the best place to make it happen.

Some of the highlights include: various types brownies, whoopee pies, hummingbird cakes, parfait, muffins, various fruit pies, brioche cinnamon rolls and of course multicolored cup cakes.

Take it from a person who has serious issues with sugar, if you need a fix — put that Atkins Bar in your desk drawer and head over to Brownie Points in beautiful Summit, New Jersey.

You won’t thank me later, but you’ll be happy now.

Ready….. Set……. Binge.

Brownie Points Bakery
3 Beechwood Road
Summit, NJ 097901
(908) 464-2253
(Right across from Starbucks)

Hours of Operation:
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday
11:00 to 4 pm Sunday (Summit Farmer’s Market)

View Homes Currently For Sale in Summit NOW.

Mall Hours

Department Store and restaurant hours can be slightly different — so call first if you’re heading to NM.

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I’m not a huge fan of knitting or yarn. I don’t know much about either.

When I was young, my friend’s father used to sit on a rocking chair with the lights very dim knitting. If you walked in the house he would just stare at you like a raccoon on the side of the road. It was really weird — kinda like a David Lynch movie. Everything back then was like a David Lynch.

Today, I noticed that All About Yarn, the local yarn and knitting store in Millburn was closing shop. I never went in the establishment, but I liked it. It was part of the fabric of our town. A place where hard core and not so hard core knitters could pick up their wares. A unique non chain store kinda place not found in every town. The type place I like.

Well, who knows what will replace it — I doubt it will be as interesting. I hold out hope.

I’m told that the store may be relocating to another location — If I find out where, I’ll post it.

Until then try visiting:

The Stitching Bee
240 A Main St.
Chatham, New Jersey
Phone: (973)-635-6691

Elly’s Knit N Rest
16 Church St.
Montclair, New Jersey
Phone: (973)-744-1034
Phone: (973)-635-6691

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Ok. Let me break it down for you very quickly. It’s a cross between Whole Foods, Balducci’s and a 1970’s throwback heath food store — minus the stoners working the register.

There’s a great selection of fruits and vegetables. An excellent meat and fish section. A really interesting station where they make homemade doughnuts and other awesome sweets. A fantastic hot food area. And a scattering of other gourmet food items I have never seen.

It’s a very cool place.

This store is definitely worth a look. It’s a perfect addition to South Orange Village. Eden Gourmet totally reinforces South Orange’s upscale eclectic image.

I know that times are tough, and buying foods from a gourmet grocery store like Eden Gourmet might be the last thing on people’s minds – but trust me – when you go to sell your home in a couple of years — the buyers are going to be wowed by places like EG. Stores like this make the transition from a places like Manhattan to South Orange a lot easier. It’s a shame that the Dancing Goat is gone.

Stop by Eden Gourmet at:
1 S Orange Ave
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 762-5200
Eden Gourmet Website
Hours of Operation: Sunday through Saturday 7am to 9pm

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So, why not give Trader Joe’s a try. There are two locations in this area:

Trader Joe’s Westfield
155 Elm St.
Westfield, NJ 07090
(908) 301-0910
Store Hours 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Seven Days a week

Trader Joe’s Florham Park (Doesn’t sell alcohol)
186 Columbia Tpke
Florham Park, NJ 07932
(973) 514-1511
Store Hours 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Seven Days a week

Oh, by the way, please don’t tell anyone about those B movies I did back in 90’s. It’s not the kind of thing I would want to broadcast to potential clients.

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