TASTY TALULA'S

Asbury Park's motto is "It's Happening," and based on the experience we had at one of this Jersey Shore town's newest restaurants, it is!  Talula's, located on Cookman Avenue in downtown Asbury Park, New Jersey, first opened its doors on Halloween day last year.  It's now three months in, but this past Sunday we finally got to experience it, and we were just blown away!!!

The space at Talula's is like an open loft with high ceilings and brick walls.  The decor is simple with hardwood floors and wood tables and chairs.  To me it is very California clean which I just love!  The service is also incredible, and very family friendly too!  My sister-in-law was visiting, so between her twin 2.5 year old girls, and my 4 year old and 2 year old, I think it's safe to say most restaurants would have wanted to turn us away.  Instead, we were greeted with a basket of toys for the little ones and a highchair (something not every restaurant in this town has on hand).

  (Photo Credit: Behance)

As for the food, it is phenomenal...period!!!  We tried as much as our tummies could handle off of the brunch menu, which included some delicious (and addicting) cocktails like the Gin & Jam (made with gin, lemongrass simple syrup, cranberry jam and lime), and the Brooklyn (not pictured; which has rye, dry vermouth, maraschino liquor and mere nouvelle).

 We also had two of their pizzas- The New Yorker (tomato sauce, fresh + aged mozzarella and provolone), and a Pepperoni which has thinly sliced chorizo on it.  These pies were as good, if not better than some of the best pies I have had in New York!  The dough is sourdough (baked fresh daily at Talula's), and the ingredients are so fresh!  In fact, many of them come from The Homestead at Seven Arrows Farm (the CSA that we belong to which I've talked about before here).

 We also had some of their more breakfast items like the toast with Avocado + Pickled Veggies + Salsa Verde...The Fresh Ricotta + Soft Scrambled Egg Toast...and the toast with Benton's Bacon + Fried Farm Egg + Cheddar.  The two later ones came with a small side salad (from Seven Arrows), and were simply amazing.

 We also got to try the Brown Rice Porridge (which I would like to start my day with each and every morning)...It has coconut milk, cardamom, vanilla bean, cranberry jam and marcona almonds.  And quite possibly the best thing on the menu was their Apple Cider Donuts!!!  They were hot, gooey, and served with fresh whipped cream.  Unfortunately, we scarfed these last things down so quickly, I forgot to snap some pictures, but if you look at my son's face while enjoying the donuts...well, need I say more???

Bottom Line: Talula's is such a welcome addition to Asbury Park.  

Fresh, local, farm to table ingredients, and bread that will just knock your socks off!    

This place is amazing and we can't wait to go back!

TALULA'S

550 Cookman Avenue #108

Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712

(732) 455-3003

Open Tuesday-Sunday

JOINING A CSA

Last summer Rich came to me with the idea of joining a CSA.  I said "CSA, what's that?"  I went on to find out that CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which basically means it's a way for us (the consumer) to buy local, seasonal vegetables from a farmer.  I was nursing Brody at the time and thought it sounded great because I'd be eating a lot of fresh, healthy foods and passing it onto him.  Then when he told me we were joining a start-up CSA by three Brooklynites who moved to New Jersey to begin this wonderful program, the New York born and based/frequent New Jersey shore girl couldn't be happier.  Every week we would get a huge basket full of amazing green things like lettuce, mixed field greens, kale, radishes, garlic scapes, cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots and eggs just to name a few.

We loved it and found it to be a thing we looked forward to each week....what would we get?  What meals would we cook with our ingredients?  Plus, the boys loved visiting the farm and seeing all the animals run free.

 So we decided to sign up again this year, and to treat ourselves!  In addition to the "share" of a fresh green weekly basket and eggs, we also signed up to receive fresh wildflowers, and homemade soap.

We can't say enough about joining a CSA!  It's great for the environment, it's wonderful to help local farmers fulfill their dreams, and it's a reason for our family to eat right and eat different things in a fun way! I love starting my day enjoying my weekly fresh flowers from the farm.  If you are not part of a CSA, check if there is one near you...I promise you will love it!