Getting creative with low carb omelets in Hoboken, NJ

Living the low carb life might leave you with many less choices when it comes to what you eat, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely down and out.

The almighty egg and wonderful omelet gives low-carbers an almost blank canvas for culinary creativity!

Here’s a dish I had recently that I hope can give you some inspiration as to what the possibilities are.

Below, we have half an omelet, which consists of extra yolks, chopped pieces of baked pork chop, sliced jalapeno peppers and fresh mozzarella cheese. On the side is a refreshing scoop of homemade bruschetta (tomato, onions and garlic).

You can easily make this yourself, but considering my time is valuable, this gorgeous meal came from the talented crew over at Cugini Kitchen (918 Washington St.), where on their menu they have an “I did it my way” omelet.

What is you favorite omelet creation?

Technorati Tags: Blood Sugar, Cugini Kitchen, diet, Egg Yolks, eggs, health, High Fat, Hoboken, losing weight, Low Carb, Low Carb Living, New Jersey, NJ, Nutrition, omelets, Weight Loss

Legal Beans now offering slow-cooked BBQ options in Hoboken

Spotted an exciting sign over at the oft-flooded Legal Beans eatery downtown – they’ve been offering Slow Cooked, Hickory Smoked BBQ for a whole year already! How’d I miss that?

Some good BBQ choices at Legal Beans

With Joey’s BBQ long gone, Hoboken has dwindling BBQ options – but Legal Beans has a lineup of exciting meats like Espresso Rubbed Ribs, Pulled Pork, Brisket and Dry Rubbed Chicken. Minus any sugary BBQ sauces, this sounds like dream come true in the low carb life!

Tried THREE of their options last week- Pulled pork, ribs and the brisket. Here’s the 60 second rundown and ranking:

1. Brisket: Heaven on a plate! Tender, fatty juicy meat. Will definitely order again.
2. Pulled Pork: Also very well done. I asked if they added an sugar to the seasonings, and they claimed they didn’t. But the pulled pork here did have a good, yet somewhat sweet-ish taste. I’d suggest eating in moderation.
3. Ribs: If you like ribs that are similar to a dog-chew, where you have to really dig your teeth in and gnaw away, then you will be happy. If you like the “fall off the bone” type ribs that melt in your mouth – then stay away. While the flavor was good, we didn’t prefer the tough texture. Will not order again, despite their impressive appearance.

Sides: Almost all of the sides were carb-heavy (beans, cornbread, mac & cheese and more), but chose the cole slaw which was homemade and quite good.

See Legal Beans BBQ Menu Here.

Technorati Tags: BBQ, Brisket, Dry Rubbed Chicken, Espresso Rubbed Ribs, food, Hoboken, Legal Beans, New Jersey, NJ, Options, Pulled Pork

Eating low carb is easy at Cugini Kitchen in Hoboken, NJ

I write about Cugini Kitchen (918 Washington St.) on Hoboken411 a lot. And I have good reason to!

For one, they’re some of the nicest business owners I know in Hoboken, and they serve delicious food at a fair price.

Another reason I’ve been mentioning them more as of late – is because I find eating there quite compatible with living the low carb life.

Like this meal I had the other day. I took their marinated skirt steak special – and was able to replace the usual high-carb mashed potatoes with a tasty steamed broccoli with spicy colby jack cheese instead. Hit the spot, and I was able to make two servings out of it because it adequately filled me up.

See Cugini Kitchen’s awesome new menu here
and the weekly specials for 3/19 through 3/23 here – and enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Cugini Kitchen, Hoboken, Low Carb, Low Carb Living, New Jersey, NJ, steak, Vegetables

Food options do not have to be difficult when living low carb

When living the low-carb lifestyle, it often inspires creativity with your food options around town.

For the now permanent LCHF (low carb – high fat) life I’m living, it’s been easy to maintain and relatively problem-free for the most part, and I haven’t even become “bored” with anything.

The fact that you’re never hungry or peckish has a lot to do with it (food becomes less of a “pleasure source” rather than just eating because it’s time to eat).

I believe that plays a huge role, because when you’re constantly hungry when your blood sugar goes on the typical daily roller-coaster ride in the Standard American Diet (SAD), you equate the food you eat as “pleasureful,” rather than just feeding fuel to your body to survive.

That’s not saying us low-carbers don’t ever experience tasty, pleasureful meals to eat – we just don’t make it our mission to “make love” the food we eat nor do you have incessant cravings. It’s a non-event that doesn’t dominate our life or our thought-processes (more primal than anything). We use our new free time to do other, more useful things. Your mind is clearer, you become more focused. Fact of the matter.

Eggs go beyond bacon and ham in Hoboken, NJ!

Normally, one of the staples of a solid low-carb diet is EGGS. Yep, the much-maligned “egg from a chicken!”

Eggs are wonderful (when eaten in moderation). In fact – you know those “egg white” dishes you see everywhere? That’s overkill for the low-carb person. Because too much protein is also considered a negative – almost the equivalent to too many carbs, because when you ingest more protein than your body needs – it converts that excess to glucose, which is not good for you (cancer, diabetes, and all the negatives associated with sugar).

In fact – you’re better off eating the YOLKS!

Regardless, I was at my favorite Hoboken Deli Cugini Kitchen uptown (f.k.a. Joe’s Prime Meats) – and I saw a delicious lunch special tray of pulled pork.

I immediately thought – why shouldn’t I order pulled pork omellete? You have bacon, Taylor ham, Canadian bacon, why not pulled pork? It’s the same damn animal!

WOW – it was better than I thought. The texture and richness of a tender, properly cooked pulled pork is fabulous with a nice omelette. I also added cheddar – but next time I’ll also add onions, jalapenos, and spicy pepper jack cheese instead – with maybe some red pepper flakes and cayenne as well.

The omelette you see pictured above was only 4 eggs with perhaps 6oz. of pork. I couldn’t finish half of it. By keeping the blood sugar low, and ingesting the proper amount of fat – my body immediately told me I was full, and didn’t need to “clean my plate.”

I saved the rest for dinner – and remain thrilled that weight is dropping on a weekly basis with essentially zero suffering or sacrifice.

Special message to low-carb haters and detractors:

411 Note: I’ve now received well over 100 emails from local residents who’ve become inspired by the frequent low-carb updates here on Hoboken411. All have reported success (ranging from 5 to 40 pounds since this feature started).

And to all the “haters” who have tried lambasting 411 for publishing helpful tips about low-carb living in Hoboken – keep your negative comments to yourself if you cannot add something of value to the conversation. And if you recall reading, the low-carb life is NOT just for “vanity” purposes. The benefits go way beyond the superficial, which is why we feel it is very important to get the word out. Your health depends on it!

But luckily for you (when you are ready), I’ll gladly welcome everyone with open arms.

Technorati Tags: Augie, cheddar, Cugini Kitchen, Delicious, eggs, food, Hoboken, Hunger, Joes Prime Meats, Low Carb, New Jersey, NJ, Options, Perfect, Pigs, Pulled Pork, Satiated

Sol Caribe in Hoboken, NJ has the BEST tasting bread ever!

I mentioned in an earlier post about the new Choc-o-Pain French Bakery (157 First St.) – that if you need to have an occasional “cheat” in your low carb lifestyle, that you should reserve those moments for phenomenal products. Not Cheetos, or a garbage slice of sub-quality pizza, NO!

You should save those “bad” occasions for food that just cannot be replicated otherwise. A special personal moment for your taste buds and intelligent food consumption life.

Pandebono Columbian Cheese Bread: A great “cheat” for low carb living

Enter one of the ridiculously crazy-delicious items in Hoboken: Pandebono (Columbian Cheese Bread) from Sol Caribe Latin American Kitchen at 518 Washington St.

This isn’t as much of a “cheat” for low-carbers as you’d think – since much of this tasty, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth “soft & delicious hockey puck” of a bun is comprised of CHEESE!

But since NO OTHER Hoboken establishment offers this – it gives you even more reasons to try it.

I’ve tried spreading the word about it to my close-knit circle of friends and family – but it appears Sol Caribe doesn’t need my help.

I was in there last week, and a girl stopped in on her way home from work – just to pick up a giant sack of these outrageous Latin delicacies. She no doubt had a humongous and satisfied look of anticipation, and had no problem waiting 15 minutes while they prepared a fresh batch for her.

Please – stop in and try them… you’ve never had anything quite like them. Note: microwaving the cheese-bread, while still beyond tasty, does NOT give you nearly the same texture as baking them in a conventional oven. Have patience – it’s well worth the added benefit!

Final point: If you’ve behaved on your low-carb (or any other diet for that matter) – and you’re seeing “gains” overall, then this is one fantastic cheat/reward you can give yourself. (Note: I do take a liking to sincere “thank you” notes for sharing hidden secrets like this with Hoboken residents – so feel free to connect with Hoboken411! Just email Hoboken411@gmail.com with your feedback – positive or negative.)

Technorati Tags: 518 Washington Street, Bread, Carbs, Cheat, Hoboken, Latin Cheese Bread, Latin Fusion, Low Carb, New Jersey, NJ, Pandebono, Sol Caribe, Sol Caribe Hoboken NJ, Sol Caribe Latin American Kitchen

Legal Sea Foods has Celiac Menu – great for low carb too!

Many Hoboken411 readers may not be aware of the restaurant chain Legal Sea Foods.

They have over 30 locations in the Northeast (including two in New Jersey – Short Hills and Paramus).

But one thing we discovered last week (as I was buying yet more “shrinking bling” at the Short Hills Mall) is that Legal Sea Foods – besides being a tasty restaurant – also has a separate menu just for those that suffer from Celiac Disease.

While that ailment is not pleasant by any means – it’s also an immediate opportunity for people living the low-carb life to get an easy menu to order from.

Burgers with no buns, meals with no wheat, and anything else that is gluten-free. Either way – Legal Sea Foods, despite their chain status, is a fantastic place to visit and eat. Recommended by Hoboken411.

Why don’t any restaurants in Hoboken do the same?

Technorati Tags: Celiac, Celiac Disease, disease, Hoboken, Legal Sea Foods, Legal Seafoods, Low Carb, New Jersey, NJ, PHOTO OF THE DAY, photography, Restaurant, Review, Short Hills