Kings Food Market in Livingston hosted a grand reopening this past Wednesday to unveil the newly renovated upscale store. The renovations came as part of a company-wide brand and website re-launch.

When I arrived, guests were invited to tour the market. I made a beeline for the seafood department, where I was wow’d by the selection (check out the soft shell crabs), and enjoyed one of the delightfully chunky, house made crab cakes.

I also sampled baby back ribs from Michelbob's, and nibbled on Landana 1000 Day Aged Gouda. I decided to follow this with something healthy and cleansing: Ciara’s Organic Kombucha.

I also had the opportunity to meet Chef Bill Zucosky, the acclaimed executive chef of Strip House, housed within Westminster Hotel in Livingston, who was grilling up beautifully marbleized strip steaks with a tangy marinated cherry tomato and grilled cabernet infused red onion salad (recipe follows).

The produce section at Kings is wide and bright, and will now offer a broader selection of organic and locally grown products as well as fresh-squeezed juice and freshly cut fruits and vegetables.

As part of the Livingston remodel, the store added a pizza oven by Marra Forni to create Neapolitan-style pizza. Priced at $7.99/$8.99 it’s a great option.

There’s also a vast selection of prepared foods, freshly rolled sushi, an olive and pickle bar, and most astoundingly, a cheese department with more than 400 international cheeses!

Kings also added a Greek Yogurt Bar with an assortment of gourmet toppings; a Grain Exchange bar with healthy, legume-based options and a Coffee House that serves custom espressos and cappuccinos as well as iced lattes, frappuccinos and fresh fruit smoothies. There’s even a cute little café area, with Wi-Fi to nosh in!

After my tour, a ribbon cutting ceremony with Kings Food Markets President and CEO, Judy Spires followed. Says Spires,

At Kings, we want customers to be inspired when they interact with our brand, and you can’t help but feel that inspiration when you enter our Livingston store. We listened to what our local Livingston customers want and need from their store, and created an experience filled with the freshest ingredients and highest-quality products to help them find that moment in the kitchen where inspiration strikes. Consumers have always relied on Kings for a unique shopping experience and best-in-class service, and the enhancements to our Livingston store deliver on our commitment to making every encounter with our brand a memorable one.

Kings donated a portion of the day’s proceeds to the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW).

 

Marinated Cherry Tomato and Grilled Cabernet infused Red Onion Salad

1-pint cherry tomatoes cut in half

1 shallot diced fine

Juice of 1 lemon

¼ cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 large red onion

1-cup cabernet or balsamic vinegar

 

PREPARATION

In a mixing bowl combine the tomatoes, lemon juice, shallots, olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Let this marinate in the refrigerator overnight. Take the red onion and slice it into ¼ inch thick slices. Brush them with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Now either using a grill or a grill pan, grill the onion slices on both sides. While the onion is still hot, place it in a shallow baking dish and add the vinegar. Let this also marinate in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, strain out the liquid from both items. Toss the strained tomatoes and onions together and serve.