All roads lead to Cupcakes

Summer is coming and the Wake and Bake truck loves to hit the road on a beautiful day. You have to get up early, to beat the heat and the people, but the early riser gets the freshest from the best bakers in the state. If you love finding the new view around the bend or the wind in your hair find the time to drive. There are so many great drives and bakeries to discover in our own state. Here are a few culinary and driving adventures to consider in our state.

There are many great country roads in New Jersey. Route 29 runs up the Delaware River from Trenton and passes through numerous riverfront towns like Lambertville and Frenchtown. Route 31 runs through farms and the Highlands, from Flemington to Washington, and passes Sweet Melissa’s in Lebanon. It is worth the drive to dine at Melissa’s and then get some best baked goods for the road from the highest rated bakery in the state. These were covered in an earlier Wake and Bake which is still available on the Substack app. Today let me turn you on to two lesser known rides.

Trip 1 starts in the historic borough of Peapack- Gladstone. There you can get your energy up with espresso, baguette, or fresh tortes. The French Bakery called CocoLuxe is a local legend for thirty years. There you will find the toniest and best looking people in the state. Bicycle gangs loiter on the sidewalk as they open the door for you and give you their latest stock tips. Yoga moms and moppy haired kids line up for cookies and cake. Every morning the Coco crew concocts another tasty treat for the beautiful people.

Head from there on Route 512 West or Fairmount Ave. You will pass the United States Equestrian training headquarters. The facility was built by James Brady in 1911 and spans over 5000 acres through three counties. Continue west on the gentle bends as you enjoy the open views to the rolling hills and green horizon. There will be old barns and massive modern farms. White clapboard churches, built in the 19th century, greet you as you pass from one small town to the next. Sometimes it is great to walk through one of these local cemeteries. There is a feeling of being connected to something that is bigger than yourself.

Head over to Califon and make a stop at Melick’s Town Farm on Califon-Chester Road. There you can pick up your favorite country pie for the next family occasion. The Melick farm has four country stores in the Somerset Hills. Turn south and head toward High Bridge on Route 513 south. After all the sweets you are going to need to walk off those calories. Did you know you could cut your sugar absorption significantly by walking after meals? When you get to High Bridge, park at the Columbia Trail parking lot. Go out onto the Columbia Trail, which is a crushed gravel trail and see the great view of Lake Solitude Waterfall. Afterwards, stop at Scout’s Coffee bar for the local scene and great Cortado. Or head over to Clinton for an afternoon of shopping and art in the historic Raritan river town.

Trip number two is a ride to escape the suburban squeeze on Saturday or Sunday. The beauty of living here is the incredible pace by which we live. Our culture is moving every day before 6 am. Check out the traffic at 6 am in New Jersey compared to anywhere. The weekends are no different. Baseball games and lacrosse tournaments start at 8 am. Our culture is conditioned to get moving to the beach, to the city or to the event and the “country roads” are an escape from that wave. This is my suburban freedom ride.

We can start at Joe’s Bakehouse in Berkely Heights, NJ. Try the chocolate croissant or the raspberry cheese croissant. Grab his famous Chocolate Blackout Cake for the party later that day. Head north out of town on South Street to Long Hill Road. This road travels on the most northern ridge of the Watchung Mountains. There are some wonderful views to the west as you look at the valley between the two ridges. This is also one of the great bike rides in Central New Jersey.

There are two stops along this ride that allows one’s self to escape the shackles of time and place. Both are places one can meditate on our place, our relationship with others and with the creator, in this incredible universe. At the top of Long Hill road is the Shrine of St. Joseph. On the grounds of St. Joseph is the 35-foot high Tower of Remembrance. The memorial is dedicated to the memory of all those who lost their lives on 9/11. The architecture combines steel from the North Tower of the World Trade Center and bells from the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity’s Seminary in Monroe, Virginia. There is something very special about being in this place at 8:45, each and every morning, when the bells ring, commemorating the moment of impact on September 11th.

Continue west on Long Hill into the small hamlet of Basking Ridge. There are numerous food shops and small eclectic shops to attract the consumer. We are going to head out of town on North Maple to find Lee’s Hill Road. Head east on Lee’s Hill which will wind its way to the entrance to the Great Swamp. There are easy hiking trails here which will bring you into one of the quietest places in the Metropolitan area. If you love looking at birds, bring your binoculars, you will enjoy the variety of wildlife in the swamp. This walk can be a gateway to quiet serenity in our twenty four hour world. Get your appetite going again and leave some room for an afternoon cupcake.

Head back to Lee’s Hill and turn right. That road becomes Blue Mill Road and rolls past the estates and farms of Harding Township. There is good reason New Jersey is the fourth richest state (per capita) in the Union. Follow that road all the way to Madison and find amazing culinary choices. Of course you can stop at Joe’s again as they have a second store in Madison or you can get those cute cupcakes at Crowley’s. And she has the best gluten cupcake in the state!

That is about five minutes. Brown eyed Susan says everyone loses attention after five minutes so that is your Wake and Bake this week.

Peace to Everyone. Happy Israel Independence Day!

Bakery of the Week: Red Barn in Irvington, New York. Best gluten bakery ever! The raspberry cheescake with the chocolate wafer was incredibly light and breezy. The brownie was thick and delicious . If you know the area, it is by the train station.

This report was brought to you by Go and the 1906 company .

Enjoy the spring in your step. George Benson. 1977