THEJNSREPORT

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Day 4 of Detox Nutrition Plan Continued

After assembling my salad I dug in.

Hawhat!!!?  If ya smellllllllllllll what the Chef!!!!……Is Cookin’!!!

Taste I have to admit is absolutely phenomenal.  I was told that the consistency being so soft in the middle was because I over processed the chick peas.  Either way I love how they came out.

Salad was enjoyed with the fat free dressing as you can see and I was satisfied until dinner time. Honestly, there is nothing quite like the taste of a fresh healthy salad.  Dinner time I was very much looking forward to as it just so happened that it was my Mom’s birthday dinner celebration I’d be looking forward to later.  With all that being said and without further ado I give you dinner with the family at Freda’s Caribbean and Soul Cuisine.

We arrived at Freda’s mid evening and had a brief wait before being seated as it was filled to it’s capacity.  My first impression when I saw Freda’s was wow it’s pretty cozy in there.  Not a big place but definitely busy.  If I had to guess I’d say it’s size was comparable to that of Melba’s located off 114th and Frederick Douglas Blvd. Freda’s located at 993 W109th St. and Columbus Ave sits on a very nice corner in the neighborhood right next to Central Park and is easily accessible via subways that stop at 110th St. such as the C, and 2 trains although the closest is the C train by far.  We drove to the restaurant and found parking relatively quickly nearby.

First thing I have to say about this place is it met all the expectations I had for it after reading some reviews of it when my brother suggested that we take our mother there for dinner.  While the wait for the food took a little bit, it was well worth the wait in price, size, taste, and presentation.  There were six of us and we managed to get seated right in front of the window for a great view of the passersby, many of whom stopped to take a peak inside much as I had while looking to see how busy they were when we initially arrived.  Funny how things look when you get to see them from both perspectives.  At any rate here is their menu below.

Everything on their menu is more than reasonably priced when you see what’s to come.

We realized that Freda’s is a B.Y.O.B establishment so I quickly went across the street to Manhattan Valley Wines and Spirits and picked up 2 bottles of Lambrusco.  Yassum!!!!  I encountered Lambrusco for the first time several years ago while vacationing in Spain.  It has always been a sparkling wine I’ve looked for here in the states when out shopping for good inexpensive wines.  Freda’s doesn’t have wine glasses or any glassware really.  All drinks are either bottle or served in plastic cups.  We appreciated the smaller cups they gave us separate for the wine.  Again, for the size and price being paid this was a minor detail for me that pretty much we all accepted and overlooked.  Next we looked over our menu’s and started to think about what each of us would order.

When were ready our server a very pleasant young lady took our orders and explained to us that they were out of Oxtail and Callaloo.  I’d had Oxtail twice and didn’t really care for it so that was no problem for me that they were out.  The Callalloo I actually would have ordered had they had it but it was no biggie.  My father, began the ordering, followed by my mother and subsequently my siblings and myself.  So you will be getting six reviews of Freda’s for the price of none.  😉

Dad went with Curry Goat, Collard Greens and Fried Plantain which came with Rice and Peas.  Mom went with Jerk Shrimp with Candied Yams and String Beans over Rice and Peas.  My sisters went with the following: Veggie Plate with Candied Yams, Cabbage, Curried Chick peas and Rice and Peas.  Curry Chicken with Cabbage And Fried Plantain over Rice and Peas and Mac N Cheese.  My brother went with the Jerk Chicken and Collard Greens, Mac N Cheese, Over Rice and Peas.  And lastly, I went with Brown Stew Chicken with Curry Potatoes and Chick Peas over Rice and Peas and two I say two orders of Mac N Cheese as Foghorn Leghorn would say.  LOL! Yes…uh!!

While we waited for our orders the Host and Proprietor of the establishment a lovely woman by the name of Eleanor (she mentioned to us she’s of Trinidadian descent) came to our table and began to converse with us about the history of the neighborhood and how she came to open Freda’s which is named after her Mother.  I hope you get to travel and be a person of leisure as much as you’d like Ms. Eleanor.  Her coming over just to talk to my family and I was awesome and really just made us all feel very much at home and welcomed.

I wish they could handle a much larger volume because their food is excellent in my opinion and so reasonably priced when you combine that with the personal attention and warmth of the owner’s establishment it was truly an experience we’ll all never forget.  Now without further ado Ladies and Gentleman you’re about to witness the magnificence of Caribbean Soul Food at Freda’s.

This was what my dad’s plate looked like when it arrived at the table.  My mother’s plate below.

Several things stood out about this meal when i saw it arrive at the table making me want to have this next time I visit Freda’s.  The first thing was the clean presentation and abundance of the meal.  The second thing was the attention to detail.  The shrimps were thoroughly de-veined, and cooked to perfection.  The Candied yams I had to sadly pass on due to my choice for a second helping of Mac N Cheese.  And Thirdly, Value for my money.  Six entrees and some beverages came to just over $80 a very reasonable price for such excellent clean food and portion size.  

Look at those Yams!! That’s what the Veggie Plate one of my sister’s ordered above and the Jerk Chicken my brother ordered below.

The Curry Chicken, Cabbage, and Fried Plantain over Rice and Peas my younger sister ordered.

Lastly, my Brown Stew Chicken with Curry Potatoes N Chick Peas, and Mac N Cheese over Rice and Peas.  Say that three times fast.

We were given two cups of Scotch Bonnet pepper that had been freshly processed.  I poured it on without hesitation because why not?  I like Spicy!

Ahhh The Mac N Cheese what a glorious sight! I decided it too deserved a little something extra and so it got a dollop of the Scotch Bonnet as well.

Another glass of Lambrusco was in order to help wash down the fire added to my meal but it was a delicious flavored heat and definitely one of my favorite hot peppers to eat.

I will spare showing the plates of my siblings and show the completion of my plate which was savored from beginning to end.  I’m gonna have to try my hand at making the Brown Stew Chicken some time or perhaps the Jerk Chicken.  

Midway through my meal I began pondering whether I should order a plate to go for tomorrow but I thought better of it and didn’t.

With my meal completed and( unintentionally) my tool balanced on my plate signaling triumph my attention was turned to my other Mac N Cheese.  It too was not to be seen again.

Satiated with all that I’d consumed for dinner I had no room or desire for desert of any kind.  The same was true for pretty much everyone at the table. We got the check and headed out. The tip left was well deserved for the fantastic meal and time we had while there.  I know almost everyone left saying definitely we’ll be back!!

Stay tuned for the complete reviews.  To be continued…