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 By Sally Deering

 Hobokenâ€s 13^th street just got a new kid on the block: Smokin†Barrel Authentic Texas BBQ is the most recent addition to the neighborhood and the place is jumping with locals who like smoked meats and a choice of 50 domestic beers to watch the big game on one of 23 flat screen TVs.

Partners Robert Kakov, Tony and Danielle Lenardo, Chef Otis Gordon, consultant Marc Bernstein, and partners Narev Patel and Richard Gaetor enjoy a Sunday afternoon at their new Hoboken restaurant Smokin’ Barrel

 The brainchild of a group of business-partners Robert Kakov, Nirav Patel, Richard Gaetor, and Anthony and Danielle Lenardo – Smokin†Barrel fills a void on Willow Avenue where thereâ€s a dearth of restaurants and local places to hang out with friends and watch a game over some cold brews. There are glass topped-barrels that serve as bar tables, and if you canâ€t find a stool at the bar, you can always hitch a ride on one of the leather saddles affixed to a thick coil for a little “Yee-Ha” with your BBQ.

“Itâ€s a vision,” Anthony Lenardo says. “We have the only in-house smoker in Hudson County.”

Other restaurants in Hudson may serve their version of BBQ, which might be “pouring BBQ sauce on meat thatâ€s already been cooked,” Anthony Lenardo says, but authentic Texas BBQ is a different and slower process. With authentic Texas BBQ, the cook applies a spice rub to the meat and then smokes the meat in a smoker for 10 hours. Thatâ€s what they cook ribs, pork and brisket at Smokin†Barrel. No cut corners, here.

Chef Otis Gordon, former chef at Harlem BBQ in New York City, and consultant Marc Bernstein, the owner of Harlem BBQ, have teamed up to oversee the BBQ meats process, while Chef Otis ensures orders are going out on a timely basis.

“We do brisket the Texas way and Carolina Pork,” Bernstein says. “The Texas way is the smoke and the rub; the Carolina way is a vinegar BBQ you add after you smoke the meat.”

 Smokin†Barrelâ€s menu is a hearty selection of Starters, Wings, Salads, Sandwiches, Burgers, Entrees and Sides and itâ€s all laid out on one page. Starters include Rib Tips, Smokin†Barrel Nachos, Short Rib Chili, Catfish Bites, Bacon Wedges, Pulled Pork Slider, Smoked Brisket Slider, Blackened Salmon Slider, and the Slider Sampler. ($7.95-$14.95) Thereâ€s one more specialty on the Starters menu: Fried Pickles, slices of kosher-dill pickles battered, deep fried, salted, and absolutely delicious. ($7.95)

Salads feature Caesar; Arugula; and Iceberg Wedge ($8.95-$9.95). (Add Grilled or Fried Chicken or Shrimp, Blackened Salmon or Grilled Steak for additional $3.95-$5.95.) Sandwiches and Burger selections are Angus Beef Burger, Turkey Burger, Hickory Smoked Veggie Burger, Smoked Beef Brisket, Smoked Pulled Pork, and Catfish Po-Boy Sandwich ($9.95-$11.95) (Add cheese or bacon for $1; add both for $2.)

Wings are served either boneless or traditional with your choice of Bar-B-Q, Honey Buffalo, Mango Jerk, Honey Mustard or Spicy Chipotle Bar-B-Q. (5 wings for $4.95; 10 for $8.95; 20 for $17.95.)

Entrees include Smoked Brontosaurus Short Ribs, Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Chicken & Ribs, Roasted Half Chicken, Brisket and Pork Platter, Blackened Salmon, Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Grilled Hanger Steak, and Grilled Porterhouse Pork Chop. ($15.95-$21.95)

Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm and the menu features Wings-n-Waffles, Steak & Eggs, Fried Chicken on a Biscuit, French toast, and Omelets with a choice of fillings). ($9.95-$14.95)

Sides are Grilled Corn, Cole Slaw, French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Pit Beans & Pork, Mashed Potatoes, Homemade Mac & Cheese with Bacon, Basket of Corn Bread, Collard Greens, and Baked Potato. ($2.95-$6.95)

“The menu may be minimal, but itâ€s a very big process,” Bernstein says. “Thereâ€s a lot of labor, a lot of prep time that goes into this.”

The beers are all domestic and thereâ€s a choice of 50 on tap and in bottles; and some old style Southern drinks with a choice of high-end bourbons.

BBQ meats; 23 flat screen TVs and a choice of 50 beers. Smokin†Barrel may not be the first BBQ restaurant to open in Hudson; but with the in-house smoker, itâ€s a stand-out.

And where else can you get battered Fried Pickles?

If you go:

Smokin†Barrel

Authentic Texas BBQ

1313 Willow Ave.

Hoboken

(201) 714-4222

www.smokinbarrelnj.com

The post Hoboken’s Smokin’ Barrel Serves Up House-Smoked Texas BBQ and 23 TVs for Sports Fans   first appeared on River View Observer.

It’s all up to the players now…The first lockout since 1987 could be over if the players agree now that the NFL owners approved a new collective bargaining agreement. The deal could end the four month lockout and allow and upcoming 2011-2012 season.

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 NFL CHEERLEADERS

source: rr.com

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 Today Spain became the eighth nation ever to win the World Cup, The win came over the Netherlands in a 1-0 extra time final score.

Spain’s game plan, and their relentless passing wore down the Dutch defense giving Spain the win in  Spain’s only World Cup Final.

Leaving  four minutes of extra time left, the goal that secured the World Cup win for Spain came in the 116th minute of play.  Fernando Torres shot rebounded off the head of a Dutch player and fell to the feet of Spain’s Cesc Fabregas, who passed it to Andres Iniesta. In the only goal of the match, Iniesta calmly took the ball and shot it past the Dutch goalie.

Now World Champions, Spain’s “Red Fury” has lived passed their reputation as underachievers in big tournaments to bring Spain and its people the World Cup Championship.

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 in  Cablevision Service Area

 MSG Varsity is kicking off a new contest open to all high schools in the Cablevision service area, MSG Varsity’s Mascot Dash to the Desk. Mascot Dash to the Desk offers schools the opportunity to submit a photo of their school mascot online at msgvarsity.com from April 14^–21 to be eligible for the grand prize – a brand new mascot costume for their high school (worth up to $6,000) and a guest appearance by the school’s mascot on MSG Varsity’s signature daily sports show, High School SportsDesk, on Cablevision’s iO TV (Channel 14).

 From the submissions, a maximum of 80 schools will be selected to compete in the contest. Over five weeks, the mascots will compete in “heats” for weekly prizes. Online voting will determine the 20 finalists that will go on to compete in the final sprint to win the grand prize. Online voting will also determine the Mascot Dash to the Desk Champion. The grand prize, 2^nd & 3^rd place winners will be announced on June 6^th.

 “Based on the success of our first contest School Spirit Mania, we wanted to find another interactive way for high school students to showcase their school spirit,” said Philip Summers, VP Marketing for MSG Varsity. “And a mascot race was the answer. We’re looking forward to getting the Dash to the Desk started to find out which school mascot will be voted champion and be receiving a make-over.”

 For more information on Dash to the Desk and to see the weekly prize packages please go to www.msgvarsity.com.

 

MSG Varsity includes a multi-platform suite of services, made up of a 24/7 television network that airs on Cablevision’s iO TV service, channel 14; a comprehensive online destination, msgvarsity.com; and a groundbreaking interactive service, channel 614 – all spotlighting extracurricular activities and events at local high schools. 

 

About MSG Varsity

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: a 24/7 television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area.  Content for these services includes MSG Varsity’s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves.  Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their school’s stories.  MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market.  For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

 

 

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The post DOES YOUR HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?ENTER MSG VARSITY’S MASCOT DASH TO THE DESK NOW first appeared on River View Observer.