Super Superbowl Parties

BY  |  Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 1:30pm  |  COMMENTS (5)

 

Have you ever found yourself at a Superbowl party unhinging your jaw and shoving anything salty, greasy, fried and over 45 grams of fat per serving in your gob? Well get a grip this year and knock that off. For the love of all that is sacred and holy we are lucky to live in a place with choices — and good ones at that.

I hail from a place where football is a way of life.  At the age of six my father taught me how to throw a football and take a hit so Super-Sunday (even though my Lions did not make it there this year) has always been a day full of fun mud-filled and snowy memories for me. Continue Reading

Cooking Up Romance

BY  |  Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 4:00pm  |  COMMENTS (1)

Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday — and area restaurants are offering special menus. Before the big day, you could work side by side with your sweetheart at a cooking class with molecular gastronomy chef Tre Goshal. Continue Reading

Southern Belle Closes, Coal Pizza Coming

BY  |  Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 11:12am  |  COMMENTS (8)

All I know about coal oven pizza is that it’s hot — 900 F hot, and that it’s coming to Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair soon as Mancinni’s. Opening date is uncertain, as last-minute construction takes place and town permits are awaited.

The restaurant is on the site of the former bead store next to the former Cafe Eclectic. Montclair is also losing its other bead store, Montclair Beadworks on Church Street.  Continue Reading

Name That Citrus Cocktail

BY  |  Friday, Jan 27, 2012 4:00pm  |  COMMENTS (28)

When life gives me Ponderosa, Meyer and Eureka lemons I make citrus cocktails (shocker, I know). When Baristaville’s stores are stocking varieties of citrus like Cara Cara, Temple, Mineola and Blood oranges,  sweet and sour limes, Pomelo fruits, and red, pink and white grapefruit–just to name a few–I have to try them all. Then I turn them into cocktails. Continue Reading

Take A Trip To Caldwell’s Taximi

BY  |  Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 1:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

My Greek grandfather would have loved Taximi, Caldwell’s tablecloth Greek taverna owned by the Apostolopoulos family who also own the Caldwell Diner. My pappou would have approved of Taximi’s decor, heavy on Greek cultural references including a tile mural of Santorini complete with a Greek goddess, and the menu, not nouveau Greek, but skewing more to traditional favorites and featuring charcoal-grilled whole fish (something his great grandson now loves, too, especially Taximi’s striped bass).

I’ve had several great meals at Taximi — thanks goes to Baristanet reader Conan for recommending. Here’s Conan’s review:

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Fascino Ryan DePersio on Today Show … Today!

BY  |  Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 8:41am  |  COMMENTS (4)

Ryan DePersio in the Kettle Kitchen with the baristas in 2010

Set your kitchen timers. Fascino chef Ryan DePersio, who cooked for the baristas in 2010,  is setting up now for his 10:45 a.m. appearance on the fourth hour of the Today Show. What will the Montclair chef be making for Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb? “Going old school with chicken caccitore recipe…” DePersio tweets. Yum.

Eclectic Barista’s New Plans

BY  |  Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 10:15am  |  COMMENTS (17)

Anthony Brinton plans a new cafe on Walnut Street.

When Cafe Eclectic closed in early December, its ubiquitous barista, Anthony Brinton, hinted that he would be starting a cafe of his own. Yesterday, when I bumped into him at Trend Coffee & Tea House, Brinton’s plan had progressed enough for him to share it with me. Continue Reading

Chinese Culinary Secrets in Baristaville: Zongzi

BY  |  Monday, Jan 23, 2012 1:30pm  |  COMMENTS (1)

The Inside of a Zongzi

In honor of the Chinese New Year and to honor just a tiny bit of the wonderful and vast Chinese cuisine we have right here in Baristaville, I will pass along a red envelope to you containing (not money) but a delicious secret : Zongzi. Zongzi is a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves containing anything from salted pork fat to peanuts. Although it is not a traditional food of the Chinese New Year, it is a staple of Duanwu also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, held in May or June. Continue Reading

Tutti Vous Closes and Mexicali Rose Reopens (Again)

BY  |  Friday, Jan 20, 2012 3:00pm  |  COMMENTS (10)

Another Montclair restaurant has mysteriously disappeared. Tutti Vous, which opened in 2010 to positive customer reviews, has shut its doors. A man named Solomon, who has posted ads about the empty space in the restaurant’s window and on Craigslist, says he has no connection to the restaurant but that he owns the lease and is trying to rent or sell the space.

According to an article in the Alternative Press a year ago, Michael Mancino, a photographer, opened the bistro with his friend, Executive Chef Margie King. The article reported that just before 2011 King “packed her bags and headed south” and that Mancino took over as chef.

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Snuggle Up: Sexy Winter Drinks

BY  |  Thursday, Jan 19, 2012 3:00pm  |  COMMENTS (5)

Mulled Cranberry Juice

If the old hot tea with lemon and the nasty package o’ cocoa with tiny pill sized “marshmallows” is getting old (I’m about 96% sure those marshmallows are made from mothballs), what do you say we try something new? Something hot and sexy or cozy and sleepy: you pick. Continue Reading

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