The next stop was Blue Moon Premium Olive Oils and Vinegars. The group was given a warm welcome by owner Bobby. He provided an informative lesson about the various types of olive oils and vinegars, and how one can identify huge flavor differences between grocery store olive oil and specialty store premium olive oil. There was also instruction on using olive oils and vinegars for marinating meats and seafood. In the group there was a lot of buzz about the authentic flavor profiles of the Lemon and Blood Orange fused olive oil varieties. As parting gifts, everyone received a beautifully packaged sample bottle of Tuscan Herb Infused Premium Olive Oil.
To get the group ready for a stroll through Bordentown’s historical section of town, each person selected from a variety of homemade ice cream, water ice and sorbet from Smylie’s Ice Cream Shop II. It was the perfect thing for people to eat as they strolled down the streets and learned about the history of Bordentown.
The historical tour included a war memorial that celebrates the lives of Bordentown residents who fought in war, including the American Revolution. There were interesting facts about Bordentown’s famous people and their homes, which included Francis Hopkinson (signer of the Declaration of Independence), Patience Wright (First American Woman Sculptress and an American Spy), and Thomas Paine (author of the pamphlet “Common Sense”, which helped ignite the Revolution), plus so much more.
Under The Moon Café was the stop after the historical tour. We talked about umami, the Fifth Taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami), as we anticipated the rich and bold flavors of a Spanish meat and cheese board, which included cabrales cheese, mahon cheese, sarta chorizo, serrano ham, plus other delicious items. The server did a wonderful job in providing the descriptions of the food. The group favorite was the fried rice ball stuffed with manchego cheese and tender artichokes.
Several doors down is Toscano Ristorante & Steakhouse, here the food is creative and delectable. This fine dining establishment showcased Italian tapas which included bacon dusted calamari drizzled with a hot and sour sauce; Italian egg rolls stuffed with sausage, broccoli rabe and parmesan cheese; homemade butternut squash ravioli; and dry aged beef meat ball with Sunday gravy. The staff did an excellent job with the descriptions of each dish, which kept the group salivating for the next tasting. Chef/owner Zack came to the table to greet everyone and ask about their meal. Everyone gave him a round of applause for the excellent food, presentation and service.
The group ended the tour at The Cake Box by Neelma. The glass cake boxes held a number of creative cupcakes to choose from. Neelma gave a fantastic presentation about each variety of cupcake. The huge black board tallies over 222 creative flavors served to guests. The Mango Tango cupcake variety created a lot of buzz with the group, however everyone ordered their own personal favorite cupcake flavor. Since this was the last stop, the group relaxed with a cupcake and cold beverage at the umbrella tables in the back patio.
What a great end to a great afternoon!