24 April 2012 Welcoming Osteria Morini to New Jersey

Welcoming Osteria Morini to New Jersey

April 24, 2012 By

Last week, I dined Osteria Morini in Bernardsville to try some of its dishes, post grand opening.

The restaurant, formerly occupied by Chef Michael White’s Due Terre, has been redesigned to offer a more casual atmosphere than its predecessor.

Polpettines

The food is simply outstanding.  Chef White, the 2011 James Beard Award for Best Chef in New York, along with Chef de Cuisine, Kevin Knevals, use ingredients from Emilia-Romagna and some locally-grown foods to prepare dishes that are both refined and rustic.

For starters, the cured meats board is a must and can be ordered in a choice of one ($7), three ($17) or five ($25) meats.  The calamari ($12) with herbed bread crumbs, tomato and kale is fork-tender and deliciously crunchy and my favorite starter. The Polpettines ($10) – prosciutto and mortadella meatballs baked in tomato sauce are moist and flavorful and should be ordered.

The individual pizzas baked in the kitchen’s brick oven, are great options ($11-$14).  The classic Margherita with tomato, bufalo mozzarella and basil and the Salsiccia with fennel sausage, pomodoro and mozzarella are tops.

Pastas are hand-made, cooked-to-order and should be what you order if a fan of perfectly al dente pastas dressed modestly with the very best of ingredients.  Each pasta can be ordered as a half or full dish.  Some favorites are the Lumache Verde ($19) – spinach pasta, lamb ragu, artichoke, fava and ricotta salata and the Garganelli ($20) – pasta quills, cream, radicchio, truffle butter, prosciutto and peas.

Entrées to try are the Branzino ($28) – grilled sea bass, salsa verde, wild arugula and lemon and the Anatra ($29) – crispy duck breast, lentils, braised red cabbage and saba.

The wine list is extensive and features Italian but also New World wines.  There are many wines served by the glass also.

Desserts ($10) are all solid and some good bets are the Panna Cotta with citrus cream and the Torta Barozzi, a rich chocolate almond torte.

This place puts forth one great meal and I look forward to my next visit,

 

Veronique

 

Osteria Morini

107 Morristown Road Bernardsville, NJ 07924

Telephone: 908-221-0040    

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (brunch) and 3 to 9 p.m. (dinner) Sundays.

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3 April 2012 Morris Tap & Grill – When You need 99 Beer Options

Morris Tap & Grill – When You need 99 Beer Options

April 3, 2012 By

Lobster Mac & Cheese

For my New Jersey friends and beer lovers, here’s my review of Morris Tap & Grill in Randolph, NJ as published by Jersey Bites.  How do you like these pictures!?

Duck Meatballs

Cheers,

Veronique

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26 March 2012 Adara – New Jewel in Montclair’s Upscale Restaurant Crown

Adara – New Jewel in Montclair’s Upscale Restaurant Crown

March 26, 2012 By

White Truffle Envelope

10/21/12 Update: After a visit on 10/20/12, I can no longer recommend Adara. The food is still delicious, but the new staff’s poor job and the 4-hour wait for three courses is not worth the food.

Adara, located in a secluded area off busy Bloomfield Avenue, offers perhaps the best culinary experience to be had in New Jersey.  The restaurant dubs its food as “Modernist” in style, and paired with top notch service and an elegant, understated space, it is simply fabulous.

Acqua di Gio

Wylie Dufresne, Grant Achatz and Ferran Adrià have popularized molecular gastronomy and have made it an exciting part of American culinary culture.  At Adara, Art Institute of New York City graduate and ACF certified Master Chef, Tre Ghoshal runs with the concept, flawlessly.

The menu at Adara offers a la carte options and three-course ($65), five-course ($85) and seven-course ($110) prix fixe tour menus.  Feeling adventurous?  There is also the grand tour, featuring 12 inventive courses ($175).

On a recent visit, General Manager, Philip Dowling and his attentive staff, eagerly guided our party through the 5-course menu that featured such dishes as the New England Clam Chowder – a bowl of complex flavors served with quail egg, masago, maple pancetta and tasty foam that Adara calls “deep sea wind”, the Campania – chef Ghoshal’s version of Caprese salad with vine ripe tomatoes, a mozzarella ‘balloon’, an extra virgin olive oil sorbet and basil, the White Truffle Envelope – a Hudson Valley foie gras-filled raviolo served with kumquat mostarda, cappuccino and pistachio, and the Acqua di Gio – dry sea scallop with baby squid, bacon, English pea and popcorn.

Adara is a BYO and is a perfect occasion for guests to dust off those great bottles and create their own wine pairings.

Adara is a must-try establishment with its creative, flavorful and breathtaking food.  It is participating in Montclair Restaurant Week with a $31, 3-course menu from March 19th through April 1st.

77 Walnut Street
Montclair, NJ 07042

973.783.0462
www.restaurantadara.com

Cheers,

Veronique

 

 

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7 February 2012 Smashburger East Hanover, NJ – Morris County Lucks Out Again

Smashburger East Hanover, NJ – Morris County Lucks Out Again

February 7, 2012 By

New Jersey Smashburger

By now, if you’ve read my posts, you know I’m a huge fan of Smashburger (http://bit.ly/bOgEKa and http://bit.ly/ahbqNg).  I’m excited about the latest opening in northern New Jersey of the East Hanover location.  Here are three things to note about the newest outpost:

First, the space is large and ideally located in the most prominent location of the Route 10 shopping center it’s housed in.

Second, the staff is beyond helpful and upbeat – something mostly unheard of at other chain restaurants in the USA.

Third, and most important, is that the food, even on the busy pre-opening night I visited, was fresh and tasty. Although the menu offers many delicious-sounding options, I went for the New Jersey Smashburger – we are after-all in New Jersey!  The burger had tons of beefy flavor and is topped with fried onion straws, applewood bacon and blue cheese crumbles.  Just an outstanding sandwich.  On the side, I opted for the perfectly-crisp fries tossed in garlic and rosemary olive oil – brilliant!  Smashburger offers freshly tossed salads and outstanding chicken sandwiches, but really, this place serves a truly outstanding burger and you should go in that direction.

These are truly the best fast food burgers around and perhaps the best burgers I’ve had.

Other New Jersey Smashburger locations are: Clifton, Florham Park, Hackensack, Montclair, Newark Liberty International Airport, new Providence and Paramus.  Coming soon:  Morris Plains and Ramsey.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a Smashburger location near you very soon. Visit www.smashburger.com for current and soon-to-open locations.

Disclaimer: I am not being paid to blog, Facebook and Twitter about Smashburger. I simply feel strongly about its product.

Veronique

 

 

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29 January 2012 Watching the Big Game While Feasting on 6 Courses

Watching the Big Game While Feasting on 6 Courses

January 29, 2012 By

This will be the second year that we catch the Big Game at NJ Bar & Grill in Mine Hill, NJ.  Not only is it a fun crowd, the staff of the popular Morris County bar feeds us a dish before the game, during halftime AND during each quarter!

$16.99/person – $8 pitchers of Bud or Bud Light

* Platter of chicken chips for the table at the start of the game
* 1st quarter: Choice of either homemade chili or soup of the day
* 2nd quarter: Choice of platter: spinach & artichoke dip, bacon-wrapped chicken with jalapeno and BBQ sauce, nachos (buffalo chicken or chili)
* 3rd quarter: Choice of one per person: penne a la vodka, fish n’ chips, blackened burger with blue cheese topping, pulled pork sliders
* 4th quarter: Assorted dessert platter (one per table)

PLUS – 6′ sub served at halftime

Reserve by February 1st at 973.989.1999 and join us for all the fun.

NJ Bar & Grill – Mine Hill, NJ (100 Randolph Ave., Mine Hill, NJ 07801)

Cheers,

Veronique

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25 January 2012 Restaurant Review – Nicole’s 10

Restaurant Review – Nicole’s 10

January 25, 2012 By

Nicole’s 10 is a restaurant in Randolph, NJ that offers casual dining in an upscale atmosphere.  Read my review as published by Jersey Bites.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

 

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12 December 2011 Locanda Verde – Bene for Brunch

Locanda Verde – Bene for Brunch

December 12, 2011 By

Shaved Porchetta Sandwich

I am an avid fan of Locanda Verde and its sublime food attentively prepared by Food and Wine Best New Chef award winner, Andrew Carmellini.  I have written about Locanda Verde in the past, but on a recent visit, I brunched and it is worth noting what a super job the staff does with this meal.

For me, a key component of brunch is a good cocktail.  I typically go for a spicy Bloody Mary and Locanda Verde does not disappoint with its fiery Bloody Mary Della Casa ($13) served with Italian hot peppers and Mortadella.

Our party began its meal with the Pastry Misty Del Giorno ($14), a basket of delectable pastries: cranberry muffins, olive oil coffee cake and apple breakfast pie.  I would not skip this starter expertly prepared by pastry chef Karen DeMasco; it is delicious with the dark roasted coffee served at this establishment.

Scampi and Grits

Some can’t miss brunch entrées are the soft scrambled farm egg crostino with leek, mushrooms and speck ($17) – the bread used to make the crostino might be the best I have had in New York City and the contrast of soft-cooked eggs over the crunchy bread is amazing.  The “Scampi and Grits” ($20) with organic polenta, tomato, sausage and coddled eggs is a winner – the polenta is creamy, the shrimp is cooked with the flavorful sausage and the soft-cooked eggs  create a yolky ‘sauce’ that helps marry all the flavors together.  Another stellar option, and perhaps one of the best sandwiches in town, is the shaved Porcetta sandwich ($16) with grilled onions and Provolone – the meat is juicy and cooked perfectly and the Provolone is especially sharp and a tremendous asset to this succulent sandwich.

Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10AM until 3PM.  Making the trek down to Tribeca is a small price to pay to be rewarded by fabulous food, a trendy, sexy space and a helpful staff.

377 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10013

212-925-3797

Cheers,

Veronique

 

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9 December 2011 Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink – Upscale Comforting Food in Miami

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink – Upscale Comforting Food in Miami

December 9, 2011 By

Pork Belly

Michael’s Genuine, in Miami’s up-and-coming Design District, is a foodie’s paradise dressed down as a casual neighborhood bistro.  Chef Michael Schwartz excels at what should be three basic restaurant concepts: the space, the staff, the food and wine.

The bistro, opened in 2007, can accommodate up to 100 diners both indoors in a comfortable dining room and outdoors in a bustling courtyard area.  The ambiance is relaxed, even with a roomful of some of Miami’s most beautiful people.

The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and its ingredients.  There is a palpable excitement amid the crew about the product being offered that is akin to being a kid in a candy store.

The food…is absolutely amazing.  Chef Schwartz masters New American cuisine and many of the ingredients used or served are housemade.  The pork belly over kimchee is succulent.  The short rib Panini is rich and delectable.  The beet, heirloom tomato and blue cheese salad is ultra-fresh and perfectly dressed.  A special of the day, the croque-madame sandwich is prepared with house-cured ham is comforting and completely old school perfect.  The restaurant’s wood fire oven also works miracles on the ultra-fresh fish sourced by Chef Schwartz and his team.

Croque-Madame

The wine list is eclectic, interesting and offers great value.  There are over twenty wines by the glass ranging from Austrian Gruner Veltliner to Krug Grande Cuvée and Piedmonte Barbera.  The list is smartly designed to be unintimidating to all fans of the grape.  The Chardonnays are categorized into ‘unoaked’, ‘light oak to moderate’ and ‘moderate to heavy oak’ and varietals are divided by region making it straight-forward to select the right wine for the occasion or dish.

Chef Michael Schwartz hits it out of the ballpark with this venue by offering unpretentious food in a casual atmosphere.  A must-try dining experience when in Miami.

130 N. 40th Street

Miami, FL 33137

305-573-5550

www.michaelsgenuine.com

Hours of operation:

Lunch: Monday – Friday 11:30AM – 3PM

Brunch: Sunday 11AM – 2:30PM

Dinner: Sunday 5:30PM – 10PM; Monday – Thursday 5:30PM – 11PM; Friday – Saturday 5:30PM – midnight

Happy hour: Monday – Friday 4:30PM – 6:30PM

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28 November 2011 Prime Meridian at Omni Hotel at CNN Center – One Great Breakfast

Prime Meridian at Omni Hotel at CNN Center – One Great Breakfast

November 28, 2011 By

I recently attended a conference in Atlanta and stayed at Omni Hotel at CNN Center.  The hotel has a few dining options, and on the first morning of my stay, I decided to try Prime Meridian for early breakfast.

The space is well-adorned in dark woods and plush upholstery and has a welcoming feel.  The staff offers southern hospitality to each guest and made me feel pampered, even at 6:30AM while in my gym clothes.

The food isn’t your typical hotel restaurant fare.  The ingredients are high quality, the food is hot, even on the buffet, and the selection is outstanding.

I’m an oatmeal connoisseur and was thrilled to see and sample McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oats ($5) on the menu.  It was cooked to perfection – with a bit of texture and nuttiness.  The perfectly-pillowy pancakes ($10) are light, delicious and served with 100% pure maple syrup.

Besides the a la carte menu, there is the “Chef’s Art of Breakfast” buffet ($22) which features an extensive array of top-quality foods.  The buffet offers a choice of juice and Starbucks coffee.  The buffet is truly a great option with tremendous variety.

I highly recommend starting your day at Prime Meridian if staying in downtown Atlanta.  It offers quality food, prepared expertly and served by a cordial staff.

Cheers,

Veronique

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2 November 2011 Kyo Ya – A Sublime Japanese Experience in Manhattan

Kyo Ya – A Sublime Japanese Experience in Manhattan

November 2, 2011 By

Fresh fig with Japanese pear lemon vinegar sauce

I always plan a special dinner out for my guy’s birthday, typically in Manhattan.  He’s crazy about Asian food, particularly Japanese, so when it came time to book this year’s evening out, I polled my Twitter foodie followers for recommendations.  Kyo Ya in the East Village made the short list and I promptly called to reserve a table.

When I called Kyo Ya, the hostess asked which tasting menu I wanted to opt for.  I selected the 10-course menu at $120 and had to secure the reservation with a credit card.  I didn’t mind the credit card guarantee since the place is small and purchases the required fish daily based on client reservations.

To say the restaurant doesn’t do sidewalk advertising is a major understatement.  There are no visible signs outside; the place is located downstairs in what looks like a residential building.  Even with the address in hand and knowing Kyo Ya has a non-descript facade, I still had doubts about it being the correct venue when we arrived.  We asked the hostess if we had the right place and she softly giggled and confirmed that it was, apparently not the first time this question has been posed to her.

We were seated at what I’ll describe as a sushi bar.  My guy was sat on the end, and me facing the chef.  It turns out he had the best seat in the house as he could see not only our chef preparing food, but all the way into the bustling kitchen.  The space is cozy, extremely neat and inviting.  The staff is there to create an experience and is very knowledgeable about the food and preparations.

Grilled lobster, corn with shuto sauce in potato

The sushi / sashimi chef is incredibly talented.  He works with the freshest, purest and rarest fish in Manhattan and it shows.  He’s so proud of the fish varieties being flown in from all parts of the world, that he even offered us a side-by-side comparison of Portland, Maine sea urchin vs. rare Japanese sea urchin.  What a treat!  Here are details of the ten courses we enjoyed:

First course: Zatsuki – stuffed lotus root with fish cake

Second course: Sakizuke – grilled eggplant and Goma tofu with sea urchin sauce

Third course: Oshinogi – seared Hamo pike conger sushi with seasoned cucumber

Fourth course: Owan – snapper mousse ball and mushroom clear soup

Fifth course: Otsukuri – sashimi of the day, seared Bonito PLUS, assorted sashimi and sea urchin

Sixth course: Yakimono – grilled lobster, corn with Shuto sauce in potato simmered Sanma pike mackerel with Arima Sansho

Seventh course: Nimono – steamed Guji sweet snapper and togan squash with Sudachi citrus thick sauce

Eight course: Tomezakana – fresh fig with Japanese pear lemon vinegar sauce

Ninth course: Oshokuji – rice cooked with organic chicken and assorted autumn mushrooms in clay pot Nameko Akadashi soup and pickles

Tenth course: Sweet potato crème brulée with Shio whipped cream honey dew melon sorbet

This isn’t the place for you if you’re looking for a celebrity TV chef or for touristy sushi.  This place is a museum where fish is proudly displayed.  I highly recommend it to serious fish lovers.

Cheers,

Veronique

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