Curlz

ABSOLUTELY! New Jersey's loss is NYC's gain--that's for sure. Bummer for CP's, but at least there's Los Tapatios nearby if I need my Latin food fix!

What he said. Seriously, I don't think I've ever had Mexican food like this in NJ, and I really enjoyed Los Tapatios. My brother, who moved back here from San Francisco last year, was thrilled to find real Mexican food again, as he's complained loudly since moving back that there isn't much to be had here. The food is simply prepared, but it's wonderful. The chorizo (made in-house) was spicy but I could still taste it. The octopus was tender, my pork was heavily spiced and delicious, and the garlic shrimp was some of the best I've ever tasted. And the desserts...were... HEAVENLY. For those familar with the area, the restaurant sits on the corner of Northfield Avenue and Main Street. You can enter the large parking lot on Valley Road. Great spot--thanks to Eric for the introduction! We'll definitely be back again SOON.

I forgot to mention that many of the stores around here have the detailed directories on the carts now (on the back of the 'seat' part)--very helpful for this issue!

Love this idea, and Katie's as well...that would take care of 6, then you could eat the others! I've never done the 12 grapes, but knew exactly what it was when I saw the title of your thread. Love the idea--maybe it will catch on over here.

Wow--I can't imagine my local Shop Rite doing this, and for that, I am eternally grateful! After all, it's a store where I have to tell the 15 year-old cashiers what zucchini is... This is a major peeve of mine when I go to places like Linens and Things--the useless hello at every turn, coupled with the useless employee when I actually need something. Interesting article, but I, too, am in the minority--I enter on the left (there is a right entrance as well), shop clockwise, and skip the aisles where I don't need anything. Unless it's a Wegman's, that is...

If you want a nice hotel, nothing in NJ beats the Hilton Short Hills, imo...

Giving this a weekend bump...is it really possible that nothing exists up here? Yeesh! Am I going to have to start my own? Sigh...

Where did he go, Rosie? I'll be sure to follow once you tell us...the dinner we had there was proof that the man can COOK!

Never meant to imply that you did, Paula--it was the other poster we're all referencing!

That may all be true, but the original posts just SCREAMS of someone with a vested interest in the place. It may not be/have been the GM, but it was certainly someone with a reason to promote Copeland--that was very obvious.

I completely agree-Egan & Sons IS always packed--but the food is just okay. I think you have to go there knowing that it's best to stick to the pub food, i.e. the wings, burgers, etc. I've been pretty disappointed by almost anything else I've had there. And I don't know if it's because the kitchen is downstairs and there's a time delay in getting the food upstairs, but they do seem to have a consistent issue with meat being overcooked. But it's a great bar, with great staff, and it's family-friendly, single-friendly, friend-friendly, and couple-friendly. That's a bigger reason why it's always packed, imo--everyone feels welcome there!

My s-i-l tells me that lunch at Osteria Giotto is terrific AND a bargain...

Okay...DEFINITELY have mint juleps. If I were going to a Louisville wedding, it's the first thing I'd expect! And how about mini Hot Browns as one of the apps? (For those unfamiliar with the HB here's the official recipe and history) What other foods are Alaskan? King crab? Moose (heaven forbid--see avatar)? I looooove the idea of using blueberries--why did you nix it?

UGH. I'm sorry, but the sub-title of your thread just makes me say GRRR. Here's the thing--it's YOUR wedding. Yours and your bride's, of course--NOT the bridesmaids'! I'm not suggesting that you serve fish heads and sweetbreads (unless the two of you love them), but I'm really sick of hearing about how people spend half of their wedding planning trying to accommodate the rest of the world. You're throwing the party, and you (or someone in your family) is paying for it. Serve what you want and unless people have severe allergies to certain foods, trust me--they'll find something to eat. I'm saying this not as a married person or as a vegetarian or a wedding planner, but as someone who was taught to be a gracious guest. (My mom grew up in Louisville--maybe I inherited some good southern manners? ) Rant over. Btw, I think the bourbon-glazed salmon is a great way to tie your backgrounds together! Something creative like that completely appeals to me as a guest--and I'm not even a salmon fan. Really.

To Glenn and any other interested entrepreneurs, please, please PLEASE consider the Rutgers-Newark campus/area when considering new locations! There are over 10,000 students on this campus every day, and when you add NJIT and Essex Cty College to the mix, the word is that there are 50,000 people every day on our campuses. We are DESPERATELY in need of new places to eat, and the few that come in and do it right (read: good food at reasonable prices) are so packed that they take their phones off the hook. Really. Melt would be perfect in this area, and I'd be happy to lead the parade on opening day. Just a thought...

Personally, I'd make a res at Blu in Montclair; it's all of about 6-8 miles away (less if you know the shortcuts), and well worth the trip. Lots of photos from our recent dinner there are on page 2 of the thread. Or, if you're looking for a completely different atmosphere and are going to dinner with a large group, there's Cuban Pete's. You may also want to check this thread...

VERY sad news, imo...this from an email I just received via the Melt email list: Melt will be putting up the “extremely closed forever” sign and its last day of operation, at least at 581 Jersey Avenue, will be Sunday, December 18th. The main reason for our closing is problems we have experienced with the space. For various reasons, I can’t be more specific than that. However, it is my hope to reopen elsewhere in the not too distant future. At the risk of sounding like a cliché, albeit a dead one, it’s been a long strange trip, one filled with lots of ups and downs, mostly ups. I will miss Melt dearly. Hopefully though, this is simply the end of the first incarnation of Melt. Effective immediately, we will be liquidating our inventory and many items will be marked down considerably. Call it an extremely going out of business sale, if you will. In addition to menu items, bulk food items and paper goods will be available at greatly discounted prices. First come first served. Any and all inquiries welcomed.

SO glad you shared these, Eric! Lookin' good...

Do any of you know of any dining groups or "underground" restaurants in northern NJ? I realize these are two different questions, but the (WARNING--this is pretty phenomenal) Studio Kitchen thread in the Philadelphia forum got me thinking...in restaurant-heavy northern NJ, is it really possible that none of these exist?!? I can only find info about stuff in NYC (including one eG member's idea about starting an underground place), but that's about it. Some of the groups I did find in NYC appear to be dormant, while others charge a bit too much for what they're doing, imo. I'm familiar with groups such as the Chaine des Rotisseurs (my dad's been a member for 40+ years) and Les Marmitons, but I'm trying to find something a little more casual. It can be connected to a natl/intl organization or not, as long as it’s in NJ. If it's a group that does some actual cooking (i.e. Les Marmitons) even on occasion, that's a great bonus, but certainly not a requirement. Knowing full well that some of them might be private or by invitation only, or that an “underground” place might not want to be ‘outed’ here on eG, feel free to PM me if you're not comfortable posting about them publicly. Thanks!

This place is truly a hidden gem in northern NJ...some of the most creative/innovative food I've had in a long time, and completely without pretention, which is a fantastic mix, imo. I have one word for the saffron tiramisu: STUNNING. Then again, the chicken broth emulsion in the amuse was amazing too. I loved the octopus and duck as well, although the octopus as a dish had a very spring/summer flavor profile, but I didn't care. The cod fish and cauliflower puree were just gorgeous--definitely the best cauliflower puree I've ever eaten! Every piece of fish I saw and tasted was pristine--clean and very fresh. Turns out that the only freezer in Blu's kitchen is for sorbet and ice cream. Finally, I never expected to love the lemongrass 'soup' as much as I did. One of the cleanest and best palate cleansers I've ever had, and it wasn't overly gelatinous, so I didn't have an issue with the texture. We were very generous in the sharing department last night, so we all had the opportunity to taste each others dishes, and I can honestly say there wasn't one miss in the bunch. And as Rosie has mentioned upthread, the prices are beyond reasonable. $45pp for everything Eric posted, and that was with an extremely generous (and well-deserved) tip. SICK, SICK, SICK!! The restaurant is easy to miss from the outside, as the only signage is etched in the window; it's next door to the Soda Shop, almost to the corner of Park St. and Bloomfield Avenue. Catch some of Chef Zod's cooking before the word really gets out. Edited to add that the chef changes the menu almost weekly, so you may find variations on the theme when you go. I also wanted to mention that the decor is tasteful and minimalist, and dress was all over the place, from people dressed up a bit to someone in jeans and a sweatshirt. Any/all were appropriate. It's the food that really matters here.

I love Mighty Leaf; discovered them through my s-i-l. Their tea bags are stunning; not sure what they're made of, but each bag is individually wrapped, and the material they use for the bag is like fabric. I have some of their peppermint, and it's definitely a favorite. Their standard shipping is fast, too. The other site I'd recommend is Stash Tea.

Just received the three Teasticks (see above) that I ordered directly from the manufacturer. They're LOVELY. Might just have to keep one for moi! Will let you know what the tea-drinkers think...

Chris, you MUST get back there! I'm heading to DC in January for a conference and can't wait to hit Zaytinya again--esp for those desserts! And I'm not a sugar freak. Trust me, you're really missing out if you don't go back for one. Many. Them.

AGREED. And I think we should be in said photo so we can demonstrate how beautiful and enormous they are while in use. I really need to get a set of those.