Kiss Me, Hug Me, Win Me

BY  |  Monday, Feb 13, 2012 4:00pm  |  COMMENTS (21)

Cookies from Little Daisy Bake Shop

Have you ever reached a point in your day where you say to yourself,”You know what would really hit the spot? Some artificially-flavored-strawberry-marshmallow-creme.” Of course not because it is nasty crap. With just the smallest bit of planning you can avoid buying what comedian Jim Gaffigan calls the heart shaped box of “gamble chocolates”. Here are some of the best places in Baristaville to pick up sweets for your sweet (or the people in your office you never see unless there is food in the conference room). Continue Reading

Come Va la Vita Sentimentale?

BY  |  Friday, Feb 10, 2012 3:07pm  |  COMMENTS (25)

As the Cole porter song says. “When Italians meet a friend who’s been away,
Instead of sayin’ “How’s your health?”
They say–How’s your romance?”

Romance is without a doubt a very subjective topic. If you believe the goods they are peddling on the tube these days everyone should run to the mall and buy their special someone a trinket designed by Dr. Quinn (aka Jane Seymour). This year, her special design is in the shape of a….wait for it….. HEART.

What says romantic and heart-felt more than bobbles cranked out for the masses that you saw on the telly? (No thanks, I’ll pass.) The peddlers will even tell you what letter symbolizes love and how it begins. Thank you, TV, for always keeping me enlightened. Continue Reading

Super Superbowl Parties

BY  |  Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 1:30pm  |  COMMENTS (8)

 

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

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

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

The Best Kept Secret on Bloomfield Ave.

BY  |  Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012 1:53pm  |  COMMENTS (12)

Recently, I became addicted to the PBS series Downton Abbey. More than the scandal and intrigue, for me, it is all about the clothes. It seems attention to detail, fabric and line has become a lost art form in haute couture for the masses. Why any tee shirt should cost more than $30 is beyond me.

Thankfully we have a rare jewel right here in Baristaville that carries just this type of detailed clothing and accessories. Speakeasy Vintage is one of the most fantastic stores I have ever discovered and recently I met Baristanet fan and reader Jersey Girl at the store. I believe the first words out of her mouth were,” I want half of this store. Seriously I am not kidding!” Continue Reading

Beat the Winter Blues with Live Blues (and BBQ)

BY  |  Friday, Jan 13, 2012 1:56pm  |  COMMENTS (2)

Do you have the no-good-wind-blowing-bone-chillin’-not wanting-to-get-out-of-bed-cabin-fever-nose-blowin-icy-road-drivin’-no-good-winter blues? Well, brothers and sisters of Baristaville, you better snap out of it because winter is just getting her groove on. How does warm pizza and some of the best BBQ in the area at a funky, unpretentious neighborhood joint  while listening to live blues and jazz sound? Fantastic? Exactly. Continue Reading

We Will Miss U, ColorStoryHome

BY  |  Friday, Jan 06, 2012 1:30pm  |  COMMENTS (2)

Another one of Montclair’s beautiful unique stores is closing its doors. Barbara Lemley, owner of ColorStoryHome, said she was just not able to keep the store open in the slow economy. As always, Barbara, with her wonderful sense of humor and fantastic outlook on life, does not look at this closing as a “wrong turn” in life but “a beginning to a new story.” Continue Reading

Samba: Montclair’s Savory Southern Brazilian on Park Street

BY  |  Thursday, Jan 05, 2012 4:00pm  |  COMMENTS (8)

Bobo de Camarão

For those of us who have had truly authentic deep-down-from-the-roots-made-with-love Brazilian food, we have also, most likely, had a disappointing “Brazilian” dining experience in the Iron-bound section of Newark. When I saw the sign for Samba go up this fall (located in the Park Street Cafe) I thought,”Please, please don’t be another Churrascaria!” Well good news, it is not. True Southern Brazilian “Home-style” as owner Ilson Goncalves describes his menu, has come to Baristaville. Ilson is from the area of  Santa Catarina and told me he is trying to recreate the meals his mother would make, “She would make Feijoada* (a traditional black bean dish) on Thursday for Friday but it was even better on Saturday.”

Now summing “Brazilian food” as one type of cuisine is silly. Years ago I was fortunate enough to eat my way from Rio to Manaus and many, many places in between. The country is large and diverse in climate and culture.  Just because you fell in love with Acaraje in Bahia don’t expect to see them on the menu at Samba. “Many traditional Brazilian ingredients are very difficult to find here,” Ilson told me, but he is searching for the ingredients daily. Continue Reading

Name That Cocktail of Christmas Present

BY  |  Thursday, Dec 22, 2011 4:00pm  |  COMMENTS (11)

Tonight Baritavillagers you shall be visited by the Spirit of Christmas Present. What was old is now new and Sidecars are making a huge come back. So I will blend Charles Dickens with the 1958 smash hit “Auntie Mame” starring the fabulous Rosalind Russell and for those of you who have been working your tails off and need a little Christmas right this very minute, let’s haul out the Holly.  Now be a dear, and go make your Auntie Mame a Sidecar. Continue Reading

Featured Comment

Oh I get it now ....A meat and greet.
Posted by
johnqp

Tip, Follow, Friend, Subscribe

Links & Information

Baristanet on Flickr

Browse all photos...