Curlz

Can't believe I'm the first to post this, but...drumroll, please...the new WO Whole Foods is scheduled to open on November 1st! According to the WF web site, "...We are excited to offer hard-to-find traditional services and products alongside many exciting new dining options, including: A Seafood Shack featuring the freshest catch of the day prepared while you wait, a raw bar and restaurant-style sides. You can sit down to eat or take food to go. Our sizzling Cantina will offer special daily platos, tortillas made in-house, in addition to our daily Latin fare. It's an ideal spot for a family dinner or casual date. A Candy Island stocked with a decadent selection of chocolates and seasonal treats. A large selection of kosher foods. A full-service seafood counter with a robust selection of the freshest fish and shellfish availale, and knowledgeable team members to help you. An enormous selection of naturally raised meats, in an old-fashioned butcher shop setting, with real butchers who cut to order and answer cooking questions." GOOD STUFF!! Edit: I also think this is great, and am surprised they don't publicize this fact a lot more: "Whole Foods Market West Orange as well as all other stores, facilities, bake houses, distribution centers, regional offices and national headquarters in the United States and Canada, has offset 100% of the electricity we use with clean, sustainable wind energy. Whole Foods Market believes that companies, like individuals, must assume their share of responsibility as tenants of Planet Earth. The impact of Whole Foods Market's commitment to wind power in the State of New Jersey is equivalent to removing 1,800 cars from the road or 20 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution from the atmosphere."

Thanks, Jason! Had no idea.

Waaaaaaaaaaaitaminute. There's foodstuff at the Meadowlands? TELL!! TELL!! And if you know, I'd love details about the time/pkg situation...do they charge you to drive in? I've never been, but always assumed it's just a big flea market full of dry goods (clothes, tzotchkes, etc.) in terms of merchandise. Would love to hear otherwise, as it's close by. Thanks!

OhboyOhboyOhboyOhboyOhboy!!! Thanks for letting us in on this secret, xyz. And wasn't that Black Olive cake phenomenal? Had it last time I was there...

Ah, the joys of coordinating a group outing.

Can't wait 'til 4pm? Can you go to the craft show a tad later?

Have to admit that I don't understand the appeal of this place; in addition to the service issues I've read about and heard about over and over again, I think their prices are outrageously high for what you get. I far prefer Nauna's on Valley Road.

Also in Nutley is Petite Cafe, which is a cute spot...

Options nearby (all in Montclair unless noted, but all close to Brookdale Park): Joe Bartoni's Italian Market has parking on the street or in a small lot behind the place, and you can get some great sandwiches/paninis/soup (which you may need on Saturday!) and sit at the tables in the back--cute spot, nice people, YUMMY food. I'm always surprised there isn't more discussion of this place on eG. 151 Valley Road 973.746.6700 Raymond's on Church Street will have something for everyone, but you'll likely have a wait (almost always)--worth a call to see if they'd take a reservation for a group that size if you give them 20-30 mins notice, imo. BYO. 28 Church St 973.744.9263 Indigo Smoke for Q would be good with a big group. Indigo Smoke web site Assuming you can BYO, if you're so inclined. 381 Bloomfield Ave 973.744.3440 Amazing Hot Dog (waaaaaaaaaaaaaay casual) in Verona AHD web site Nauna's Bella Casa is right across the street from Joe Bartoni's, in the Quick Check strip mall, with a full parking lot. Classic red-sauce/pizza place, but I like their pizza and they have everything from salads to wraps to full entrees. And they're BYO. Nauna's web site 148 Valley Rd 973.744.3232 Egan's Pub has good burgers, fish 'n chips and a full menu of other things that don't always work, but the full bar does! 118 Walnut Street 973.744.1413 Cianci can be hit or miss depending on how you order (I think Raymond's is far better overall), but it would certainly fit the bill...salads, healthy/light sandwiches, smoothies. 15 Church St 973.509.3100 I'd suggest you check the hours for lunch at all of these if you're not going right at lunchtime. Oh, and parking is an issue 'downtown', but there is now a big parking deck right behind Church Street (follow the signs), so don't get discouraged by the few spots right on Church. There are also a few municipal lots and signs directing you to them; none are very far from the places I've mentioned. Hope those help!

Just found this thread, and had to say WOW, Bryan. WOW, WOW, WOW. You're doing what I suspect so many of us here on eG just dream of; you're passionate about something (cooking-related) and you're going for it. HOORAY for you! Really. I'm curious...did you ever get to StudioKitchen? I may have missed that, as I just crammed through 4 pages of this thread. I really hope you did. I was one of those nuts who drove 100 miles, stayed overnight in Philly, and am thrilled to have experienced SK. And it was just that--an experience--as I'm sure that dinner at your place is! Now that I see it's running $40 a person, I can honestly say that you have no excuse in terms of the students--they'd easily spend that in a weekend for crappy beer, wouldn't they?!? Get the word out quietly and I'm sure you'll have more time to experiment and your fan base will quickly grow. One thought from this former university administrator...when you're comfortable enough to do so, go talk to folks in the Dook (I love that, btw) alumni and/or foundation office. If they want to impress a donor/alum by having a student cook dinner for a SMALL group, could you do it off site (i.e., at the president's house)? If so, you'll have a CAPTIVE audience. The other thought is that you could donate your (student) service to an auction for one of the groups on campus, but again, you'll have to figure out if you can do it off site or if they'd have to come to you. For those who are agreeing that you don't have a built-in audience down there, I wholeheartedly disagree; the place is craaaaaawling with professors, and in my experience, many of them are very serious about food/wine, as it's often a favorite 'escape' from their area of expertise, even though they are usually as knowledgeable about these subjects as they are about those that they teach! I may be jumping ahead, but thought I'd throw in my $ .02. No matter what, you have my best wishes, and if I ever get down there, I'll be happy to make a reservation! Curlz P.S., your presentations are great--far better than the cafeteria plating, I'm guessing.

Interesting article about TJ's in today's Washington Post... It seems that most people draw the same conclusions about Trader Joe's (not that there's anything wrong with that)!

Kim O'Donnel discusses the show in her blog on the Washington Post site today...let's just say she isn't completely wowed. "...in spite of the mouth-watering, romantic imagery, the show's attempt to be a silky smooth puree has a few chunks to pass through the food mill one more time. The show's opening sequence, which is a collage of images with a narrated voiceover is a wee too preachy or perhaps self-proclaiming for my palate: "We are called foodies and the food world is where we live" sounds more like a mantra and more like something you'd hear at a religious service."

Buuuuuuump...since 'tis the season! Just thought I'd let y'all know that Nettie Ochs (Livingston) is closed. Permanently. Snif...

The NYC station (WNET, Ch. 13) is showing it on Sundays at 4pm. The web page for the show (not PBS) is here, and they are also offering podcasts... I caught the Mark Bittman/Jose Andres show quite by accident this week, but I'm not sure that it was DoaF. It was great, not only b/c I've been to the two restaurants they showed (Cafe Atlantico and Zaytinya), but b/c the two of them were a riot. I found myself laughing out loud on more than a few occasions; never realized what a 'character' Jose is! Good stuff.

I was going to recommend Cafe des Artistes, but a quick Google shows that there was a major renovation and it's now called Pisces Key West. Same owner for 20+ years, and the 'about' page leads me to believe that you can still have an excellent meal here. "The name change was a hard thought decision brought about by the fact that the restaurant, through the years, has been moving steadily away from being a true French Restaurant. Chef Andrew Berman and owner Timothy Ryan believe that the new changes will provide an opportunity for us to offer our patrons an expanded culinary experience." Oh, and there are Andy Warhols on the walls, if that matters to you...

Blu in Montclair

Another not-quite-BBQ, but this is a fantastic recipe. It doesn't sound like much, but everyone I've fed it to asks for it and actually makes it... Crock Pot Carnitas 2-2 1/2 lb. pork loin roast Juice and Zest of 1 lime Juice and Zest of 1 orange 2 T. ground cumin 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped (I used 4 salt pepper Turn crockpot to *high* and spray with cooking spray, add juices and seasonings. Put roast into crockpot. You may need to slice it in half to get it to fit. You can cut the temp to low after 3 hours or just leave on high; it works fine either way. It should take 4 to 5 hours for it to be done. Shred the meat and serve with rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, salsas or any other Latin-inspired sides! ENJOY...

For 300, you may need a hotel ballroom...Loews Glenpointe is in Teaneck, iirc, and there is a Hilton in Hackensack, right at the interstection of 17/80/Polifly Road...

Nope!

I know nothing about these, but a quick Google search brought up this site as well as this one. I will say that when I'm at an outdoor craft show or other festival, a crappy tent can scream crappy merchandise at a glance. That's a generalization, but having been to plenty of outdoor festivals, it's just nice to see a tent that looks as professional as the goods under it--know what I mean? I've also seen too many vendors scrambling to cover their stuff if the weather takes a turn for the worse, while others sit tight with few worries. And fwiw, this might be a decent time of year to buy one...one of those sites had end-of-summer sales, including one model with screened sides, which might be good to keep bugs/bees out.

GREAT story. I mean, date! Seriously, thanks for sharing! Now I'm waiting for FG to weigh in with a comment or three. hehe

Finally made it to the new store today...y'all weren't kidding about those spacious aisles! $35+ later...all in dry goods b/c I wasn't heading home for a couple of hours. Almonds, olive oil, chile/lime chips, pita chips (I was shopping hungry--BIG mistake), pb, lavash, and other stuff I probably didn't need! The place was BUSY.

What about Highlawn Pavillion?

Do enjoy, bgut! And yes, you're going to have to accept the Stelvin closures (screw caps) on your wine! But I swear you'll never have a bottle that's got cork taint! Just know that you shouldn't expect the same level of service at Blu that you'll find at a place like Nicholas. It has definitely improved, but this is still a local restaurant, and one without the pretensions of many others--yet another reason I love the place!

How did things go on Saturday?