Everything tastes better in NJ

At least that’s what my kids say that I say all the time. It’s hard not to during the summer when I can relive my childhood favorites all on this on Long Beach Island. But really all the great food I miss about NJ year round is here on this island right now. Today, I introduced the kids to the Jersey sub. Sure the water park was cool. But stopping for a sub and a birch beer was the highlight of the day for me. Not sure why bread, deli meat (cheese for me these days) and lettuce taste better in NJ but they do. The kids agreed. If you really want to get me started, the NJ tomato and blueberries take my breath away. Bram has turned into a huge fan of corn on the cob this week, devouring multiple pieces at one meal. Is anyone going to eat that last piece we’ve taught him to ask before he reaches for it. Then there is the daily ritual of the ice cream which in all fairness is the same, just tastes better during the summer when eaten with a cool ocean breeze and with jimmies instead of sprinkles.

I didn’t want to leave things so one-sided however so I embarked on a review of great foods at some of our other hangouts and homes with the kids as we drove back from miniature golf. What’s better in Virginia Beach? Grammy’s desserts says Eli. . She makes the best zebra pie ever! Grammy’s 4^th of july jello, blueberry and cool whip says Orly. What tastes better in Atlanta? This one stumped the kids. Truth be told we don’t do a lot of BBQ. They like the smoothies that Dad takes them for. I like the grits and biscuits though they can hardly be mainstays of my diet the way blueberries and tomatoes can in the summer. What tastes better in the north Georgia mountains? That one was easy. First strawberries Memorial Day weekend, peaches a few weeks later. And the corn and tomatoes up there aren’t bad either. But they aren’t as good as the ones in NJ!