Curlz

One of my good friends reminded me that she still 'owed' me a birthday dinner (it was 3 months ago), so five of us headed to Earth on Friday night. I was pleased to see the place about 1/3 full around 8pm, including one couple who was dining at the bar. We had drinks and wine at the bar while we waited for the rest of our friends to arrive, and then enjoyed another terrific dinner. Many items on the menu had changed in just over a week, and Spiro commented that Anthony has plans to change it weekly once the summer hits and the garden and farmer's markets are full. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I'm concerned! Apologies up front for not taking the camera. For apps, two of us had the 'Spring Soup' which would be better described as 'Spring in a Bowl,' imo. It had white (fava?) beans, English peas, carrots, and fresh herbs, but the great surprise for me was that I just expected it to be at least partially a puree, and that was not the case. Instead, the bowl was filled with perfectly al dente vegetables that were delicious and colorful, and you could actually taste them while also enjoying the light, buttery broth. It was sweet and savory, and just. SO. Springy. And at $6 a bowl, a generous serving to boot. We also shared a couple of orders of the calamari, which is lightly fried calamari mixed with baby greens and roasted nuts. Another unusual combination, but wonderful! $10, iirc, and again, plenty to share, or a hearty app for one person. For entrees, there was salmon (not my thing, but those who ate it loved it), the sea bass over asparagus (another bowl of Spring), and I had the duck in a red wine reduction with fingerling potatoes and spring onions. OMG. I said before that Anthony has a way with eggplant--now I know that he also has a way with duck, and since it's one of my favorite foods, that's a good thing. I actually took a little of it home as it was such a healthy portion! Plus that means I get to have it twice... The last of our group had the farfalle with braised artichokes for her entree, and she also had leftovers. For dessert, we shared a few sorbets/gelatos, the napoleon with grapefruit (!) and citrus cream, and the poached pear, which came with vanilla ice cream. I think each of them was $7. Coffee, cappucino, and port finished off another yummy dinner at Earth. ETA: They are no longer open for lunch; Anthony said they gave it a go, but have made the decision to stick to dinner only.

Definitely on the weekends (esp for brunch), but I've encountered the same thing at lunch on weekdays!

La Isla in Hoboken. Yes, REALLY!! No atmosphere, waiting lines, GREAT ropa vieja, soup, black beans, maduros... It's on Washington Street between 1st and 2nd.

I had lunch there today; first time I was there for lunch, and it's funny how different the 'vibe' of the place is. Not bad, just different. My friend thought the decor was gorgeous, and commented that "it's pretty swanky for a place that mainly does pizza," and I told him that I think the decor is even more striking at night. We arrived late (1:30), and there were only two other tables occupied, with another small 'rush' of 4-5 more tables by 2pm. Service was definitely better than it has been when I've had dinner, with water being refilled consistently throughout the meal. I hope that the crew is settling in and/or getting some more training, but my guess is that the wait staff is better at lunchtime because the night crew is at (high) school during the day. Most importantly, the pizza was wonderful. He ordered the Funghi, I had the Ortolana again, and we each loved our pizzas. I didn't need utensils, and the crust was done to perfection. Roberto wasn't at the oven, but he did come through the dining room at some point. When I busted him about taking a day off, he said "Hey--he's from Naples too!" as he gestured towards the pizzaola (sp?). All good in my book...

I finally got over to Earth last night, and am pleased to report that Chef LoPinto's cooking is as good as ever (not that I expected otherwise)! The space is lovely; the layout and decor are cozy and welcoming without being stuffy. We arrived late (after 8:30) and two other tables were occupied plus there was a couple sitting at the (lovely) bar having drinks. Anthony graciously sent over a few amuses for us, the first of which was eggplant caviar on toasted pita. The flavor of the 'caviar' is incredible--a bit of spice kick (cumin and black pepper, I think), and a fantastic thick texture, more than most traditional babaganous that I've had. He may also roast the eggplant--I'll have to ask. The next dish was an espresso cup of a stunning butternut squash soup. The dollop of creme fraiche on top had--ready for this? A hint of banana in it. It may sound strange, but the flavors worked beautifully together, and my friend (a vegetarian) couldn't stop oohing and ahhing. We were also treated to farfalle with artichokes, garlic and olives, a 'red sauce dish' that's nothing like most red sauces. It was chock full of flavor, yet I doubt that there were many ingredients in this simple, wonderful dish. Since it was on the late side, I decided to try two different apps for dinner; my friend just ordered an entree. After those amuses, I knew I had made a good decision! First I had the Farcito ($9), described on the menu as "crispy herbal goat cheese sandwiched with eggplant" and served over mesclun with tomato, bacon lardoons, basil and saba vinaigrette. Let's put it this way...Anthony knows his way around an eggplant! Next up for me was the Surf & Turf ($12), which was a split plate of three skewers of marinated beef, a wasabi aioli, and tuna tartare with pickled ginger. Both meats were wonderfully tender and exquisitely flavorful, and the portions were generous. My friend had the sesame crusted tuna ($23, iirc), which came with a stir-fry of soba noodles and fresh vegetables. Her comment after the first bite of the noodles was "WOW. I feel like I just walked in to a vegetable garden and took a bite!" Quite a rave indeed, imo! The tuna was perfectly cooked and delicious, and the portion large enough that she took some of it home, as she wanted room for dessert, which is her true interest in any restaurant. Suffice it to say that she wasn't disappointed; the terrine ($7) was a beautiful slice (slab?) of ganache, with mint syrup, raspberry and white chocolate drizzle on the plate, as well as some hearty drops of caramel. Simply delicious!This got a 100% approval rating from the chocoholic, and she also enjoyed chatting with Anthony about the types of dark chocolate he uses. Next time I'll bring the camera (headsmack)! Anthony's business partner Spiro then asked us to join him for some port at the bar. Who can say no to an offer like that? We greatly enjoyed chatting with him as well, and with other members of the staff. These folks have a great vibe going already, and I really look forward to their success, as they are passionate about the food, service and hospitality. ETA: Earth will be open for Mother's Day (I think we discussed that on another thread here). Anthony said he's just finalizing the menu and they expect it will be up on their web site by early next week.

Chef Cardoz's lecture/demo/tasting was one of the best I've been to at the Montclair Adult School. He was knowledgeable, funny, grounded, and more than happy to answer questions from the audience, including those about where he likes to eat/shop in the area. I took a few notes and will post those as soon as I put my hands on them. And the food was delicious, too! Best $20 I've spent on 'entertainment' in a while. Tabla and Bread Bar have been high on my list for a while now, and this just sealed the deal for me; the next time I'm able to plan a meal in the city, that's where I'm headed!

Earth thread

A few comments on places that Beer Gut listed: The Jefferson (Hoboken) is closed. Trattoria Fresco (Caldwell) has a lovely back patio, but it's BYO; no bar there. Iirc, Pazzo Pazzo's bar is inside, but they do have a big patio. I read the request as being for an outdoor bar. I don't think you'll find a ton of places north of the Jersey Shore with an actual BAR outside. Of course, my first thought was a place in Key West, with the ocean all of 10 feet away, but that's not going to help...

Didn't know that about the Lincoln Harbor ferry, so that show you how long it has been since I've used it over there! As I said, I do remember that great view, though...and that might be of interest since there won't be any bad baby shower games or the never-ending present opening!

Of course, the sun is coming out this weekend, so if you take a ride, by the time you leave AHD, you can eat again when you get to Raul's. Or vice-versa. Perhaps the next AHD location can have Raul's next door so we can get both fixes at once?!? Just a thought...

Prefacing this by saying that the food won't be as good as the Hoboken recs listed above, you might also think about the restaurants at Lincoln Harbor, where there is also a ferry--easy for folks from NYC. Iirc, there's a Chart House, a Ruth's Chris, and...and...what's the new place in the hotel? Harbor Brasserie, maybe? I was in a private room in the former restaurant there, and while I don't remember the food, I do remember that the view was spectacular. Add to the mix Arthur's Landing (a bit further up the water but still in Weehawken, also with a ferry stop) as well...

I was back at A Mano this week, and have to agree with Deldino; the pizza is simply WONDERFUL. I had the Ortolana this time (fresh mozz, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and artichokes--which I left off as I'm not that big a fan). You'd think that with all of that stuff it would get soggy in the middle, but that wasn't the case! It was FABULOUS. My friends also loved their pizzas (margherita and Regina margherita, respectively) and we shared the arugula/pear salad. I don't know where they're getting the arugula from, but it's stunning every time. For dessert, they brought us a sampling of three cakes, as my sugar freak friends couldn't decide what to get. There was a black forest cake, a flourless chocolate, and a chocolate/Grand Marnier cake with blood orange slices. As I've mentioned many times on these boards, in general, I'm not a huge dessert fan, but if they have the chocolate/Grand Marnier cake, GET IT! The other two were also delicious, but I just. Loved. This. As has been mentioned before, the service isn't what it could be, but it was better this time than on my last visit. Despite that, this is definitely my new favorite place for a casual meal. We met owners Jerry and Roberto as well as the pastry chef, and Roberto took us in to the deli after hours b/c I mentioned that it's always closed when I go. The folks who own this place are warm and welcoming, and obviously passionate about what they have created. Because we were there late, Roberto was able to spend time chatting with us; what a doll! Bottom line...A Mano is definitely worth the trip.

Thanks for that info, David! Next time I'll have to try one... I was at a party in Morristown last night and passed by Raul's a little after 1am on my way to Rt. 287. I was curious to see if they were busy at that hour (knowing that bars were still open)...it may be because today is Easter, but they were already closed. Interestingly enough, the Dunkin Donuts next door and the Morristown Diner (a few doors down) both looked busy.

Show off. But this does remind me that I've been meaning to ask about sour sop (sp?), as it's one of the flavors of 'shakes' that they offer... Anyone? Do tell!

Great. Thanks!

Funny--I was at Sushi Lounge (a rarity) last Fri night around 7:30 and we waited less than an hour. The place certainly was packed, though! Can you tell me where Ambrosia is? Is that near the train station in MP? Thanks!

Hang on a second. It's not as though David has a history of coming on this site to start rumors; he's saying he has inside information, but isn't revealing it. Rosie seems to know more too, but in her case, she's getting a pass (which I agree with) because she's a journalist. Why are the two different? David is in the same profession as Chef Shelton...

Thankfully, the empanadas I tried did NOT have olives (hate 'em!); I'm not sure, but I think those are usually in Spanish fillings...anyone know for sure?

Raul's Empanadas 63 Morris Street Morristown (973) 285-5555 Mon-Wed 7:30am-10pm, Thurs-Sat 7:30am-3am (yes, you read that correctly!)

Let's see if I remember how to post pics...it's been a while! Apologies in advance--these are from my cell, and are NOT great, but I said I'd share. Enjoy! Those last two shots are interiors of the beef and the 5 sausages w/lime--they obviously do NOT do the empanadas justice!!

Caught redhanded, 'bud! You know, I was sure that someone on here would admit to having been there already, but I never thought it would be YOU! And Matt.

If you're like me, your desk (or some other space in your home) is covered with paper, and in the mix are recipes you've cut out and restaurant reviews of places you want to try. I've had the NYT's Quick Bites review of Raul's Empanadas sitting on the desk since early February; finally got there for a YUMMY and ridiculously inexpensive lunch today. According to the article, these are Columbian-style empanadas, made with a cornmeal crust. I am definitely not an expert, but these were delicious! My first order of business was to order the five sausages and lime version. FIVE sausages--there just can't be anything wrong with that! Oh, and it was $2. My friend decided he needed one as well. As we discussed which other ones to try, the woman behind the counter suggested we try the cuban sandwich special, which comes with soup (and fries). We agreed, and she said she'd give us two soups so we didn't have to fight over it. We then asked what other (authentic) empanada we could try, and she suggested chicken or beef, so we went with beef. I'll eventually upload a few pics from my phone, but suffice it to say that these are gorgeous specimens and we devoured everything. The beef was shredded, with mellow spices and the texture of the meat against the dough was wonderful. The sausage was just a mouthful of great flavors, as you can imagine! The sandwich was tasty, but I would have preferred to have tried another type of empanada (or two)--next time! The chicken soup was terrific, and it tasted like it had been made this morning, which turns out to be the case. Chock full of chicken, potatoes and carrots, this would be welcome in any weather, imo. My pal bought an "Adam's Apple" dessert empanada to go; haven't heard the report yet, but when he looked in the bag, he grinned. It's filled with apples, caramel, and pecans. Again, $2! Total bill for all of the above with two bottles of water: $22. We had a chance to chat with Raul and his wife (?) before we left; Raul told us that he has worked for both Jean Georges and Daniel Boulud, and that's where he learned how to get creative with his recipes. He is obviously proud of what he is is doing, as well he should be. GO!! Raul's is on Morris Street, about a block down from the Morristown Green/Post Office, in between George and Martha's and Dunkin' Donuts. I parked across the street in the shopping center parking lot, but there are spots on the street as well as a town lot behind the restaurant. Raul's Empanadas 63 Morris Street Morristown (973) 285-5555 Mon-Wed 7:30am-10pm, Thurs-Sat 7:30am-3am (yes, you read that correctly!)

FYI, Baristanet reports that Pollo Tropical will open this Friday at 10am. The press release says they expect people to be "...lined up for hours before the 10am opening..." Prizes, gift certificates, salsa music, etc. I'll be busy trying to get John Mayer/Ben Folds tickets.

Nope...my brain was able to process having both options.

Finally made it to A Mano...in short, pizza was fantastic, service, not so much. Let's just say it's definitely not staffed by a seasoned group; hopefully that will change. But it won't keep me from returning! We shared the fried dough 'salad' for an app, which was unusual and very tasty. Next time, the salume and formaggio plate and/or the A Mano. I had the arugula and prosciutto pizza. My friends had the classic margherita and the margherita con salume, and we were all raving about them. None of us found the centers to be soggy; in fact, we were all able to pick up our slices and eat them. The crust was just the right combination of charred and chewable, and I loved the thickness of it. I thought the space was beautiful, although we were amused more than once by folks speaking a tad too loudly, as their comments ("SANDY! I'm ready to go!" sticks out) literally resonated through the entire place. That said, I didn't think this was a particularly loud space, so those random acoustic issues were odd. Bottom line--we loved the food, and it was a great way to spend a Sunday evening--with a good bottle of wine, of course!