Waffles all around!

So, I'm an absolute waffle lover. I would eat them all day if I could, well I do have one every morning but that's besides the point... So when I drove past Grid Iron Waffles in South Orange, NJ I had no choice but to try it. My cousin was visiting from NC so I was hoping that she would like it. We decided to try 2 types of waffles, one stuffed with eggs ,cheese and turkey bacon, traditional breakfast like food, and the other was their version of chicken and waffles.

The one stuffed with eggs, cheese, and turkey bacon was great. I didn't think that I would like the sweet and savory combo but the two complimented each other. The chicken and waffles one had grilled chicken and cheese in it. It was a nice spin on what I normally have as a chicken and waffles.

Overall, both waffles were very tasty and filling. The staff are friendly. The cafe has a nice quiet atmosphere that's good for sitting and chatting with friends. Two thumbs all the way up from me. I will be back (everyday if I could lol)

AB Chef Na

Wing-Off 2010 Pictures

For all those who could not make it, here are some pics from
this year's Wing-Off so you can see what you missed..!!!

Guests arriving at the Wing-Off...

Above: Hart, Hen, and AB Chef Teo the Dragon
Below: AB Chef Joe Basa "The People's Champ" and family,
wasting no time tasting this year's flavors...

AB Chef Al dishing out the Wings...

Casting the People's Choice Vote

Ladies love wings...

Last minute guests came to finish off what was left...

The Panel of Judges

Third place AB Chef Khadine with "Rosemary's Baby" Wings

Second Place AB Chef Leknauth with " Aloha Wings"

First place AB Chef Al with "Deja Voodoo" Wings

The People's Choice Award went to AB Chef Al with "Deja Voodoo" Wings

"The Arthur Downey Award" Presented to Khadine Grizzle
for her culinary talent and her impact to the community
of Orange and Maplewood

AB Chef Ant giving Seba some last minute tips about the chicken toss

G-Juice (Bran NU Classix) and daughter Masaai
enjoying the games in the park...

2009 Chicken Toss Winner Okailee defending her title...

Kids getting ready for the chicken run..

Henley is the Chicken runner

And they are off!!!

Mellisa the winner of this year's Chicken Run and Chicken Toss

Families and friends enjoying the kids games



The Annual Toast...

AB Chef Ant, AB Chef Naimah, and AB Chef Al
wishing everyone a good night and a safe drive home.
From all of us at American Backyard Chef, THANK YOU!!!


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ABC Presents "Wing-Off"

2^nd Annual "Wing-Off" Competition 2010

We are proud to announce that with a successful first year that ABC (American Backyard Chef) is having there second annual Wing Off competition on Saturday, August 21, 2010 in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Do you have what it takes to win? Well come join us and prove us that have the making of a Backyard Chef.

Our "Wing Off" is a competition among local self-proclaim chefs who can whip up their best version of the classic Buffalo wings recipe. The rules are simple:

1) Your wings / sauce must be original - Please no store-bought wings or sauces
2) No boneless wings, no exceptions
3) No whole wings, i.e. the drumstick and flat must be separated
4) Your pan of wings must at least weigh 8lbs. (roughly 60 hot wings)
5) You must have a name for your wings that does not contain your own name

There will be a 1st, 2nd,& 3rd place winners

The popular "People's Choice Award" that will be decided by the people.

It's a family event there will be games and activities for children of all ages.

Come and have a good time with us.
You can compete or just eat, you choose either way you will have a good time.

You can also check us out on your favorite social network:

Email: AmericanBackYardChef@Gmail.com

Twitter: ABCWingoff

Aim: ABCWingoff

Facebook: American Backyard Chef

YouTube: American Backyard Chef

PARADISE IS VERY NICE

Cheeseburger in Paradise is a nice place to have a few drink and eat fried pickles... They're actually good! When it comes to the wing department, they come with a few flavor.. a mango, teriyaki, jerk, and buffalo... The teriyaki are the best flavor hands down. Second to that would be the buffalo. Teriyaki had just what you would expect from the name.. nothing more, nothing less... the buffalo was spicy, but they are not buffalo style. There is no sauce! they're spicy, but they need a different name. Jerk is a gas because it never gets island hot. I felt like a jerk for ordering them. The mango flavor just wasn't strong enough on the mango wings. What all these wings have going for them is a great texture... They are juicy and crispy!!!! If they can work out they're sauce issues, Cheeseburger in paradise will have the most unbeatable wings around...

Cheesburger in Paradise Wing Rating: 6

-Ab Chef AL

APPLEBEE'S: Eating good in the neighborhood?

Applebees offers 3 different types of sauces for their wings. They have classic, hot and barbecue. On this particular night, I had classic. The classic had a little bit of spice to them. They also had too much sauce for my taste. They were completely soaked. The wings were juicy and the serving size was good. The wings are a decent appetitizer but not a main attraction.

Applebees wing rating: 5

~AB Chef Naimah

TROPICANA: NOT THE CASINO, NOT THE JUICE

I went to the Tropicana Diner yesterday in Elizabeth, NJ. Now wings are not what I was looking for on this particular day, however, they seemed to find me anyway. Tropicana Diner serves Buffalo Wings. Their wings are not covered in sauce but instead the sauce is cooked into the batter. The wings have a nice crisp to them. I like that the sauce is cooked into the batter because this gives them a good flavor throughout. They were not overly spicy which was nice. I would have to say that I would order wings there again.

Tropicana Diner wings rating: 7

~AB Chef Naimah

WING-OFF 2009 PICTURES

There is nothing like being there, but a few photos will help you see what the day was like.

Here's AB Chef Ant helping tend the grill. Thanks to our gracious hosts Khadine and Arthur, everyone was able to have burgers, hot dogs, and shrimp skewers... very nice start to the day.


AB Chef Ant and host Khadine were happy that the sun beat out the rain.


AB Chef Naimah helps Hart sign the e-mail list.

This year's wings being served: "Garlic Breath", "X-Wings", "Baby Dragon Wings", "Carnival Cruise", "Zenobia Wings", "Beer Battered Health", and "If These Wings Could Fly".


This year's Judges, Walter, Randall, and Jaime, Deliberate on Appearance, Texture, Originality, and Flavor...

Esere casts her People's Choice ballot.

While everyone voted, the kids competed in our Chicken-Toss.

AB Chef Ant helps Leila with her form.

Okailee, this year's Chicken-Toss champion, takes her second throw.

Even Judge Randall took a crack at it!!!

After the scores were tallied the Winners were announced and honored:
AB Chef Ant, Leknauth Angad, Teo Rivera, and Joe Basa.

1st Place winner: Leknauth "Professor X" Angad

2nd Place winner: Teo "The Dragon" Rivera

3rd Place winner: "The Fireman" Antony Hage

'Garlic Breath" wings by "The People's Champ" Joe Basa won the 2009 people's choice vote.

Judge Randall brought out a gift to help us celebrate the occasion.

We toasted to a great time.

From all of us at American Backyard Chef, THANK YOU!!!
(Justin (Volunteer), AB Chef AL, AB Chef Naimah, and AB Chef Ant)

-ABC