The Nobel East: Duck Dynasty

by Melody Kettle


The Noble East, Montclair's newish Asian restaurant, boasts a  4.8 star rating from Google Reviews. I have ordered take-out from the restaurant several times, including Peking Duck, Ants on a Tree, Dan Dan noodles, and Pork Dumplings.

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Thing 1 is Hot From The Kettle

by Melody Kettle


Mothers Day of 2010 was the year I knew I loved food. It should be called the curse of a foodie, my mother, Melody Kettle, as most of you know is a known food blogger, she has formed me into the person that loves food and likes to blog about it.  

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Laurel & Sage: Opens Tomorrow in Former CulinAriane Space

by Melody Kettle


I still haven't adjusted. Driving past the corner of Walnut & Pine visions of tuna flowers and corn-meal crusted oysters flash before my hungry eyes. Excuse the post-mortem, but the absence of the CulinAriane awning at 33 Walnut St. is something of a foodie tragedy. But, to everything - particularly the Montclair food scene - there is a season.  And, now, we turn to embrace Chef Shawn Paul Dalziel, the new chef/owner of Laurel & Sage, located at - you guessed it - 33 Walnut Street in Montclair. 

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A New Mediterranean Home in Montclair: Mishmish

by Melody Kettle


Chef Meny Vaknin works about one hundred hours a week. You'll see him, almost any time, in the open kitchen at Mishmish. He jockeys pots and pans on burners behind him, and delicately plates, drizzling olive oil and sprinkling salt. A skull cap, set back on his head, reveals a dark hair line and accentuates eyes that are aware, it seems, of everything. He makes eye contact with servers, smiles to his new regulars, but, still, remains calmly focused and in the zone.

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Noches de Colombia: Basically, it's a Colombian Diner

by Melody Kettle


Until I dined at Noches de Colombia with Mr. Hot, I thought there was no such thing as too many chicaronnes (pork cracklings).  Noches de Colombia (with other locations in Englewood, Paterson, Clifton) opened it's doors in Montclair about three months ago. Essentially a BYOB Colombian diner, Noches serves three meals a day, seven days a week, and fits all the diner specs: large, laminated menu with thumbnail photos, enormous portions, reasonable prices, a bakery section, acceptable fare, and service that could never be criticized as overly precious. 

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