BY Bernadette Baum | Tuesday, Dec 20, 2011 1:02pm | COMMENTS (2)
Every year, my kids ask, “What do latkes have to do with Hanukkah?” And every year, (after some sneaky research to make sure I get the facts straight) I relate the story of the Miracle of the Oil in the Temple.
But faced with the eating of latkes and donuts all week, they forget the Miracle all over again. Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum | Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 11:30am | COMMENTS (8)
If you own one of the many Italian, or Italian-sounding, restaurants in Baristaville, something’s got to stand out to get a resident’s attention. At True North Osteria, which opened on Bloomfield Ave two months ago, it’s their pizza crust, grilled to mouthwatering perfection.
The restaurant was opened in October by owners Leah and David Moon, Bloomfield residents who are just past their mid-30s. Leah’s parents were in the food manufacturing business, which formed the basis of their inspiration to open an eatery.
Heading to True North recently with the lovely Debbie Galant, we were greeted outside by a sign saying, “This pizza will change your life!” An invitation (and challenge) that was hard to resist. Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum | Wednesday, Nov 30, 2011 1:15pm | COMMENTS (11)
First cousins Dardan Mati, Ben Husenaj and Naz Husenaj were singing a familiar business reprise when they opened Acappello on Bloomfield Ave a month ago. The restaurant, named with a nod to the Wellmont Theater next door, is their fifth restaurant in New Jersey, following Cara Mia in Millburn, La Campagna in Morristown, La Catena in Bridgewater and La Catena 22 in Roselle Park. Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum | Tuesday, Oct 11, 2011 10:15am | COMMENTS (17)
If you’ve longed for an upmarket patisserie in Montclair, look no further, for a delicious slice of Paris has served itself up on the eminently revisitable Church Street, the city’s only pedestrianized shopping area.
In a smart, minimalist space formerly occupied by Terra Tea Salon, a plethora of eye candy will greet you in the display case of Petit Paris French Pastry in the form of macarons, macarons, ooh, la la! macarons. Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum | Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 3:43pm | COMMENTS (18)
As other restaurants pack up and leave Baristaville, Taqueria Autentica, the former food truck and familiar sight at the Montclair Farmers’ Market, has gone up a gear by following in the tire tracks of some peers and finding itself a parking spot — on Broad St in Bloomfield.
Located near the junction of Watchung Ave and Broad St (and right opposite Boonsong Thai), the cosy restaurant is boldly painted a deep shade of teal. Copper-wrapped table tops, wooden chairs, unfinished-wood wainscotting, cheerful film posters and checkered black and white floor tiles round off a casual look at the restaurant, where one steps up and orders (and later pays) at the counter. Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum | Friday, Aug 12, 2011 10:30am | COMMENTS (4)
It isn’t summer if you haven’t had a ripe, juicy, Jersey peach.
Luckily, they’re much in abundance. And New Jersey, the 4th biggest peach producer in the States, has resources and an entire council devoted to making sure you get your peaches, and eat them, while they’re in season.
The council has organized a whole month of Peach Parties at restaurants, farmers’ markets and grocery stores. See their website for a full list of events and activities such as baking and cooking competitions (with peaches, of course), peach tastings, contests and raffles.
Montclair’s Farmers’ Market on Walnut St. hosts its Peach Party this Saturday, Aug. 13.
Here are some peachy facts to get your juices going, and I’ve shared a recipe further below: Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum | Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 11:33am | COMMENTS (30)
In the midst of the hottest week in recent memory on the eastern seaboard, residents gave Brick Lane, Montclair’s new and most eagerly awaited Indian restaurant, a fervent welcome.
BY Bernadette Baum | Tuesday, Jul 05, 2011 4:00pm | COMMENTS (9)
AMC Essex Green has divorced the food voucher from tickets for its relatively new dine-in cinema experience. Instead of forking out $20 to $25 per film ticket with a food voucher included, film buffs need only pay less than half that amount, with a nominal ‘experience’ charge added per ticket.
An attempt to book tickets online for Cars 2 today shows a ticket price of $9, and an additional service charge of $1. Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum | Tuesday, Jul 05, 2011 12:16pm | COMMENTS (2)
UPDATE: Katherine Carter, public information officer of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, told Baristanet that Khalid Khan will be arraigned at 9:00am on Wednesday before Judge Peter Vasquez for the death of his wife Shazmina Khan.
Carter said there had been no restraining order against Khalid Khan, and no active request for such an order. Shazmina and Khalid Khan’s daughter is in the care of the Division of Youth and Family Services. The Office is still waiting for autopsy results to give the cause of Shazmina Khan’s death, Carter said.
On Monday morning, as others celebrated the anniversary of the independence of their nation, a young mother’s life was violently snuffed out, along with her liberty and pursuit of, if not happiness, the safety of her 8-year-old daughter and herself.
Shazina Khan’s body was found in her apartment in Montclair early on Monday, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Later that night, the deceased woman’s estranged husband Khalid Khan, 41 (see photo below, just released by ECPO today), of Bloomfield, was arrested, the prosecutor’s office said, adding there was a history of domestic complaints. Continue Reading
BY Bernadette Baum, Debbie Galant | Tuesday, Jul 05, 2011 10:49am | COMMENTS (9)
UPDATE: Bernadette Baum has reached the scene and says that it appears the fire is under control. Fire chief Kevin Allen said the fire department was alerted by a passerby who saw smoke. Although there is some damage to the ceiling of the restaurant, he said, the fire was caught at early stage. Everybody was evacuated immediately and no one was hurt.
We have reports from a tipster and Breaking News Network that a fire has broken out at Nauna’s Bella Casa, 148 Valley Road in Montclair. Send pictures or information to tips@baristanet.com.
From BNN: “Fire is rolling thru the ceiling towards the front of the building.” Our tipster saw three fire trucks at the scene.
