Baristaville Chefs Win Big

Tuesday night hundreds of foodies gathered at the Wilshire Grand Hotel for the annual "Taste of Essex" in which dozens of local chefs compete for the local epicurean equivalent of the Grand Prix. Three Baristaville chefs won top honors: Gencarelli's Cucina, a newcomer on the Montclair restaurant scene, dazzled the food critics and won "Best Entree" for Chef Joe Frisari's Spinach Porcini Lasagne in a Brandy Porcini Sauce. Indeed, that sounds like a slice of heaven...Fortunately, we'll all be able to taste this dish - making it's debut as a menu special at Gencarelli's starting tonight, for a week.

Mardi Gras Caterers in Verona, who's name keeps popping up at Baristaville parties won "Best Appetizer" for a retro-sounding Savory Pepper Jelly Torta, which they describe as a savory cheesecake eaten with crackers. It's a regular item on their catering menu.

In the dessert world, creme brulee is passe -- cupcakes are what's rocking everyone's sweet tooth. Not ones to buck the trend, Montclair's Flour Patch Bakery's assortment of high-end cupcakes won the hearts of the judges. Flour Patch took home an award for "Best Dessert." We're already fans of Jeri Gottlieb's bakery which produces deliriously delicious cupcakes including chocolate dipped meringue-filled chocolate, lemon meringue, and raspberry buttercream topped. Did they just solve your weekend dessert dilemna?

Hats off to the winning chefs...!