Congrats!
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Just went to Amazon to check it out. Thought to myself who the F is DE? I thought Seal wrote that book. Duh!
Congratulations
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You have no idea how many times I have that exact same thought!
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I can only imagine.
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From the bookās back cover. As good a description as any. 
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This morning I heard that The Empanada Guyās place on old 33 in Freehold is closed?? Can anybody confirm?
I donāt know. I was a regular at The Empanada Guy for some time until he stopped making a homemade verde salsa in favor of commercially made stuff. I know his location in the Freehold Raceway Mall closed a while back. Perhaps his focus will be on his food trucks.
My only experience with him has been from the food trucks, perhaps Iāll get slammed for this but my opinion was fairly mehā¦
I was thinking about take out from Latin Bites today. When I checked their website I noticed that ALL their food is much more expensive than my usual go-to for this kind of cuisine, Don Pepe. I canāt imagine they are better than Don Pepe and if so, they canāt be that much better.
For example, for the price of an order of Peruvian fried rice at Latin Bites you can get a whole roasted chicken, a large salad with great house dressing, and a large order of fried rice at Don Pepe.
Anyone go yet?
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Having not heard of Don Pepe, I Googled and found the following: Don Pepe Peruvian I and II, in Jamesburg and Freehold; and Don Pepe Restaurant I and II, in Newark and Pine Brook. I presume you get your take-out from the one in Freehold?
Since Latin Bites is so close to our house, maybe weāll try it this week.
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Lol. You are right @RGR , Iāve let myself get lazy in my posting writing. After spending all summer editing my book maybe Iām jaded, but no excuse. I did indeed mean the one in Freehold. I get the Combo Don Pepe - a whole chicken, huge salad, and rice.
I think I posted somewhere about it, but I usually doctor the rice by adding pre-fried Chinese sausage to it. Fortunately, Asian Foods, on rt 79 carries a dozen brands of sausage, so I can keep it all local. 
I hope you read the book @RGR because if thereās anyone I trust to keep me honest, itās you.
Iāve been to the jamesburg Don Pepe awhile agoā¦I really enjoyed it. Will definitely try the Freehold one in near future. Just a heads upā¦ Costco Marlboro sells the Chinese sausage as well.
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@seal, When it comes to books I read, Iām very old-fashioned. I get them from the library. I checked the Monmouth County Library catalogue. Sadly, your book is not listed.
I guess we should try Don Pepe sometime.
So is there anything new and/or exciting in freehold/manalapan area? I will be out there later and I plan to dine out there.
Not so much. Best bet is to stick with Sichuan Cottage in Marlboro.
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The Chozhas on Rte 33 Manalapan is less than a year old and has very good Indian food in a nice setting.
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Not new, but have you been to Don Pepe on Main St? They put out big portions of solid food. I canāt tell you how many chickens I have had there and their seafood is surprisingly good as well. Get a combo if you are with at least one other person - plenty for two or even three.
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Thanks for the recommendations guys. Sichuan C is always a good call! I havenāt been there in a while either.
Spencer: I will check that out. However, I still havenāt been to aarzu. Yes I know, I am either trying a place out the first week itās open or I drag my feet for like 2 years lol.
Dave, let me look that over. I havenāt had Peruvian in probably over a year, so that is a possibility.
I was also thinking about going straight back to Fernandes for a lobster. Back to back Fernandes trips would be a first for me.
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That my friend is the stuff legends are made of.
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Their chicken is nice and smoky there! I feel bad for that place, itās ALWAYS empty.
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