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.
Read MoreEscape, Innovative Farm Dining, Opens in Montclair
A rectangular blackboard hangs on an exposed brick wall in the dining room of Escape. It's a bill of fare, of sorts; a white chalk roster of New Jersey farmers and artisans from which chef and owner, Bryan Gregg, sources proteins and produce. Gregg is source-centric.
There's a gastronomic school of thought that says, "farm-to-table isn’t a trend - it’s the way it should be," and therefore food writers shouldn't be impressed with a chef just because he uses farm fresh ingredients and local purveyors.
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