Monmouth Buzz

{ BUZZ } OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTY.

FALL FOR FRUIT

Soon enough we’ll be tempted by Halloween candy, sweetpotato pie and Christmas cookies—so eat healthy before it gets harder. Luckily, autumn is a great time for fresh fruit and produce. Want to get your own? Try Eastmont Orchards in Colts Neck (181 Route 537 E., 732.542.5404; eastmontorchards.com), Battleview Orchards in Freehold (91 Wemrock Rd., 732.462.0756; battlevieworchards. com) or Happy Day Farm in Manalapan (106 Iron Ore Rd., 732.977.3607; happydayfarmnj.com) to pick your own apples, berries and more! Otherwise, check out these fall farmers’ markets in Monmouth County, where someone else can do the plucking and you can enjoy the fruits of their labor. Here they are listed in order of when they close for the season, starting with the earliest:

• Freehold: Hall of Records; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays until Oct. 28; downtownfreehold. com • Marlboro: 444 Rte. 520, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 30; marlboro-nj.gov • Aberdeen: Samaha’s Farm; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day until Oct. 31; samahasfarm.com • Red Bank: The Galleria Red Bank Parking Lot, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through mid-November; thegalleriaredbank.com • Holmdel: The Block at Bell Works, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays until Nov. 24; bellworksfresh.com • Asbury Park: Kennedy Park, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Every Sunday until Nov. 27; asburyfresh.com Before Hollywood, New Jersey was home to the biggest names in the movie biz. (Fort Lee in Bergen County claims an enduring place in pioneering cinema history.) It’s only fitting that Netflix, one of the largest streaming services, set up shop in our state. And there’s a good possibility the company can land in our county: Netflix has submitted a bid to develop Fort Monmouth, an old military base spanning parts of Eatontown and Oceanport. If its proposal is approved, Netflix anticipates building its second-largest production site (its biggest is in Albuquerque) at the sprawling, 300-acre property. It’s not a done deal, though, as the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority received three other development bids in addition to Netflix’s submission. The approval process could take months, officials say. Who will get the nod? Stay tuned.

—Vintage charm

A warm greeting to Shedhead Vintage, a unisex vintage clothing store that began out of co-owner Hallie Endresen’s backyard shed. The new storefront in Red Bank proves that sustainability is in fashion, with a curated selection of vintage items from the ’60s through the ’90s. We love pre-loved, and so does the Earth!

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

• 93 Broad St., Red Bank, 732.997.3141; shedheadvintage.com

—Happening in Hazlet

Four more welcomes are in order for the companies setting up in The Hazlet Town Center: Urban Air Adventure Park, Bubbakoo’s Burritos, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice and AT&T Wireless. The new stores make the town center a one-stop shop for food, entertainment and personal services. After working up an appetite from bouncing all day at Urban Air, head next door for a burrito from Bubbakoo’s and a beverage from CoCo Fresh. And if you accidentally jumped on your phone, AT&T’s got you covered.

• 3010–3070 Rte. 35, Hazlet, 732.362.8800

CULINARY CORNER

Gluten-free to go

Go against the grain and still enjoy all your favorites at Café LaDeDa. Now open in Highlands, this bakery-deli features pizza, bagels, bread, pasta and pastries— all 100 percent gluten-free. After you try the cinnamon rolls here, you’ll wonder why gluten was ever needed in the first place. With vegan and keto options, this celiac-safe, grab-and-go spot truly has something for everyone.

• Café LaDeDa, 71 Waterwitch Ave., Highlands, 732.993.7423; cafeladeda.com

Big history, big flavor

Charlie’s of Lincroft took over the space formerly occupied by the iconic Lincroft Inn, which dates back to the mid-1800s, and offers diners delicious twists on contemporary American cuisine. The casual yet elegant restaurant boasts a menu with innovative dishes such as Jersey drunken clams, crab deviled eggs and prime beef croquettes. Vegetarian? Try the strawberry salad or the fried goat cheese.

• Charlie’s of Lincroft, 700 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, 732.812.4500; charliesoflincroft.com

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS

Running a business isn’t easy these days. So let’s give a shoutout to women-owned Monmouth County food businesses. We like to support them every day, but especially on American Business Women’s Day, Sept. 22. Some of our faves: Bakeries: Confections of a Rock$tar Bakery in Asbury Park; Antoinette Boulangerie in Red Bank; Cravings Desserts in Allenhurst; Chocolate Carousel in Wall Township; Papa Ganache in Matawan; Cats Luck in Neptune City Coffee shops: Coffee Corral in Red Bank; Steady Hand Cafe & Collective in Neptune City; Booskerdoo Coffee & Baking Co. in Fair Haven; The Porch Crepe Cafe in Ocean Grove Restaurants: Pascal & Sabine in Asbury Park; Rosa’s Kitchen in Wall Township; Nettie’s in Tinton Falls; Amy’s Omelette House in Long Branch; Pasta Volo in Asbury Park; My Kitchen Witch in Monmouth Beach

PUPPY LOVE

Dog: Baymax, 5-year-old, Bernese mountain dog Owners: Nicole Costanza and Michael Nash of Freehold He’s the face of Big Momma’s Dog Training and a therapy dog, but Baymax’s primary duty is “professional snuggler” for his “mom and dad.” The family’s love affair started in 2017, when Nicole drove three hours to Pennsylvania to pick him up—and he’s been a ham ever since. Over the years he’s mastered plenty of tricks, chewed countless squeaky toys, dressed up for holidays, played with his 5-year-old Lab mix bestie Harper and even helped Mom with her clients at Freehold-based Big Momma’s. Baymax continues to do all those things today, but he also spends time doing more therapy visits and just saying hello to people on his walks around Atlantic Highlands and Sandy Hook. Follow along with Baymax on his adventures on Instagram @baymaxtheberner49.

Do you want to see your puppy or kitten in an upcoming issue? Email a photo and brief description of your pet to editor Rita Guarna at rita.guarna@ wainscotmedia.com.