A Feast at Little Phil's

by Elizabeth Palmer Starnes


inside Little Phil's Phil Diou, the owner of the recently opened Little Phil’s Artisanal Delicatessen, wants you to feel at home in his restaurant. The space is furnished with pieces from Phil’s Sicilian grandmother and has a decidedly comfortable vibe. Some customers feel so at home at Little Phil’s that they clear their own plates from their table!

Phil laughs at this and explains that he grew up the only child in a family of women who loved to cook, and he spent a large part of his childhood in the kitchen with them. His first culinary foray was beef bourguignon and homemade Caesar salad- not too shabby for a ten year old! At fourteen he began casually working in his family’s restaurant, and from there branched out to other locations before opening his own.

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Sotto Zero's Lady Gaga Maple Walnut Cake!

by Melody Kettle


I indulge my children probably a little more than I should, so when my six year old daughter requested (read: demanded) a Lady Gaga maple walnut cake for her birthday, I was determined to get one.

But where?  So, in proper 2011 social media fashion, I put the question to my Facebook friends. 

Giorgio Klinar, owner of Sotto Zero in North Arlington came to the rescue. Giorgio created a 10” Maple Walnut and Vanilla Bean gelato cake filled with walnuts and caramel!  It was divine!

Take a look at the pics.

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Hot From The Kettle™: The Capicola Method

by Melody Kettle in , ,


Lou Palma's 2010 CapicolaOld homes are examples of inimitable craftsmanship and charm.  Similarly, old world foods – specifically cured pork- are characterized by flavors of authenticity, uncommon tenderness, and a rich palate.  More than this, old world food exhibits love.

But the  artisanal approach to curing meat is not all Romance.  There is an essential method.  An unerring, mechanical, calculated, recipe to creating a masterpiece of cured pork. 

I was lucky enough to learn how to create superb capicola from the gastro-mechanic himself, Lou Palma.  If you’re the type of foodie to swoon at the sight of  aged, cured pork hanging from your rafters, read on and follow these steps precisely, and watch the master at work in video that follows.

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Ryan DePersio & Dinner with the Baristas

by Melody Kettle


Ryan DePersio, owner of Fascino, 331 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, and Bar Cara, 1099 Broad St., Bloomfield, spent an evening giving the Baristas a cooking lesson.

We worked along side the Chopped Chef as he taught us how to make Ricotta Gnocchi, Sweet Sausage Bolognese and Tuscan Fish Stew.

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