PicnicChef

The parking is a nightmare! That's why for the tasting dinners and private events (you'd be able to rent the space for showers, cocktail parties, etc!) we'll offer valet parking. Thanks for the suggestions so far...

A few people PMed me asking about what the cheeses were we tasted... A few included...Le Delice Bougoune...this is a triple creme from france. Melts like butter. Abondance - Raw cow milk Grand Cru from France Pratamagna - raw cow from the Venito "Once Upon a Time" - sheep's milk in ash from Emilga Romano (where reggiano is from) 5-County - a cheddar from Somerset The others are a little more mundane... On one other note, if Picnic could expand its space by 1200 feet, and have space to rent for Private parties, allow chef's tasting dinners, and offer a cozy spot for lunch, how do you guys think it would go over. I trust your judgement, and have started making these plans, but am hesitant... All comments, as always, appreciated!

I've got a little lake house near Vernon. I'm always cooking for friends up there, and, for all I've been there ten years, I've yet to find a great place to dine. Any suggestions?

cork and keg, not near bloomfield, but within a half-hour ride, are the keg kings of New JErsey. They actually sell more kegs than anyone and have a selection that would rock any beer lovers world. Cork and Keg, Emerson...

Heck, I'll take walk in space from any of you all... See you Tomorrow (that would be WEDNESDAY)! I'm doing a brand new raw sheep from italy wrapped in ash; a raw cow from Italy, another raw cow from France, a 80 percent butterfat from france, a great cheddar from England, two gouda-like cheeses from Germany, and from the good old usa a cheddar and a blue...just a hint of our tastes for tomorrow! Give a call if you can make it at 201-262-5505!

looks fabulous. I'm making a trip!

We still have a couple of spots for our cheese tasting tomorrow. Let me know if you want to join in the fun.

;-) Totally enjoyed Sakura Bana tonite and what a fantastic surprise to see PicnicChef as we were leaving! My current sushi fixation has me running around chasing salmon sashimi throughout Bergen county. If Sakura Bana was full, our next choice was Wasabi, also in Ridgewood. ← Whaddya have? WE had a peter roll, a glen rock roll, a few sweet shrimp, toro, negitoro, tons of salmon, dynamite roll, and a few surprises Ken made especially for Dawn's visit! I will contend this: best sushi in all of bergen county!

so tonight, my friend who just moved to San Fran in January, was in town...asked for Sakora Bana. They don't take reservations, but they held the sushi bar for me at request. Somebody came in at 6:30 so they gave them our seats for 7:15. Who was it? None other that White Truffle chick! She can have my seat and make me wait. Needless to say, perfection from Ken as always. what a great dinner! Sooooo much food!

Well, those bottles of wine have worn off, and I noticed all my typos of the evening before! Shows what a great time I had! I'll call Chef Gary tomorrow and let you know when we're going to do a little saute together. It's always great to cook with somebody...so much to learn, so much to do! I'm sure we'll work something really fun out...

Finally, finally...went to Silver Oak tonight. Brava. Met Chef Gary, a real doll. Toured the kichen. God bless him. Started wth hushpuppies. Nifty. Moved on to fried chicken, St. Lois Ribs. Lovely. A bottle of Savinerres to start, a bottle of cab to fishish; we were thrilled. Too much food for my frame. CAn't beat it for the dough. Glad I went. Normally I am difficult about restaurants. Not this. We sat outside so I can't speak to the door jam. Who cares? He cooks, really, really cooks. As a matter of fact we talked about cooking together. Fun, that. Go!

I understand your woes, as a former part-time Upper West Sider where Barney Greengrass was a skip away, as well as Fairway, Zabars, and the like. However, as you adjust to the joisey scene, you'll find that the adventure of a short drive and finding a hidden treasure has its own appeal. Really now, if we all agree there is good smoked fish in Glen Rock...well hey that's a 20 minute or so ride. No different than going down town to Union Square from the Upper East Side. As to restaurants open late, well, part of the whole suburban scene is that you, as Janice Joplin would say "get it while you can." You can eat late, sometimes, on weekends...pub fare works well on occasion. Good luck to you!

I pick what I think will work well...this time with wines available next door to me at Cork and Keg...

If anybody is interested, and if you are, let me know in some fashion, be it PM, e-mail or phone, Picnic is going to have a cheese and wine tasting (our second one) Wednesday May 24 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. We'll be tasting some interesting raw milk cheeses, some triple cremes from France, some nifty italians, and some wonderful British cheeses. Free. Must reserve. Limited to first 30 guests...so, just thought I'd mention it. Among those I want people to taste are Abondance - raw milk france grand cru - Delice 80 percent butter fat, france - grand cru - the rest are surprises...again, let me know in advance cause I don't have a lot of room and I'm letting e-gullet know before I let my clients know... Nifty, that! CN

Nope, you know me...don't want to toot a horn. But, I have Abondance right now...raw cow from France, and a few other goodies, including an 80 percent butterfat, Delice from France not to mention a few that I have that only I have in the tri-state area...just the luck of the draw.. I dig cheese in a big way.

Can't seem to find any posts, but I remember a couple of years back folks saying similar kudos about the Pork Store on Broadway in Hillsdale. As far as other states, well, NY State border is only about 8 miles... Edited to add: Isn't Hillsdale only 2 towns away from Emerson? ← Ah...yes, Hillsdale is...but I grew up and returned to the Radburn section of Fair Lawn...an easier visit at 6 a.m. before work!

How does the place in Hillsdale compare? That one is much closer to me... ← Haven't been to the Hillsdale location. All I can tell you is people come from other STATES to make it to our little Radburn pork store.

The Pork Store is in Fair Lawn, on Fair Lawn Avenue. In Radburn...across from the Plaza building.

That's the spot...just love it!

Made them today for a cocktail party in Ridgewood. (we make our own puff pastry to really make them special). They're also great as cocktail franks with a little homemade b-b-q sauce.

I believe you mean Old Hook Farm (on Old Hook Rd) in Emerson.Anyone else like C'est Cheese in Tenafly? Great spot to pick up lunch too. ← That's the farm. I like it!

can i assume that you're not stranger to the Parker or maybe even Lift the Latch? i found myself driving through the EP today and stopped into the River View East. i had 1 all the way, and sat outside to enjoy it. it was quite good. right up there with F&J, and just different enough to set it apart. i could have spent the whole afternoon out there, staring at the trees, pretending to have a view of the river. i didn't, but i could have. ← The Lift the Latch???? Okay, more history than most need. After leaving a Seven Sisters school that shall be nameless, I wound up spending one semester at Bergen. Across the street, Lift the Latch. The best way to study was with a pitcher of beer and a mound of fries. Glad you enjoyed the dog. Gee, I might have to make a trip this week for one!

Okay, a bunch of us keep mentioning the Swiss Pork Store; an old time shoppe in Fair Lawn. Homemade everything. Mommy walked me there in the pram. Homemade bologna that gives the forcemeat a new name. The best homemade salami I've ever had. Veal Loaf -- warm. A classic. Headcheese that makes you admit you like it. First off, if you go, tell Steve or Al, the owners, that Christine from Picnic (or Christine Nunn, the way they've known me for 41 years says hi!). Second off, ask for a taste of veal loaf. I get my prime meats and hams there as well for my place. You just have to visit!

Glad you like the pork store. It is my favorite, and actually, we frequently feature their items at Picnic. Their Salami, Veal loaf, bangers. But, back to Johnny and Hanges. I have to give a very STRONG opinion here. Okay, I grew up in Fair Lawn. midnight or later, after going to a bar called the copper penny (no, I was not of age), we'd stop next door to J and H. Nothing Beat It. "All the Way...still taste it the next day." When they opened in my town, I was thrilled. Not so, now. It was NOT the same. So, in search of the perfect dog, I discovered, in East Paterson (Elmwood Park) on River Street the best dogs with sauce...better than Rutts, Clixies, Goffle Grill, any of our Berge County famed dogs. RIVER VIEW EAST. Go. I love the nutmeg in the sauce, and the little drips of fat in the chili. Trust me. I wouldn't let you down!

You gotta live in my neck of the woods. Read above! Almost all the same. Piccola, I cant forgive for burning down the plaza building years ago...