Along with the newly updated dining room, Chef Ryan DePersio has amped up his "Italian without borders" cuisine his renown Montclair restaurant, Fascino.
Lunching At: Bar Cara in Bloomfield
There are a lot of really good restaurants in our area. Often times, many go overlooked – but not by Hot From The Kettle®. I recently had an awesome lunch at Ryan DePersio’s Bar Cara in Bloomfield.
I started out with a little antipasti of grilled octopus with shaved sunchokes, and tomato vinaigrette ($12). The crisp sunchoke, also referred to as Jerusalem artichoke – has a crisp texture of an apple, the color of gingerroot and a somewhat rooty, water chestnut flavor. Dressed with tangy, crisp vinaigrette, and laid on topped of charred octopus, it was a fresh and satisfying opening course.
For all those who didn’t know, take heed: Bar Cara makes great pizza! The dough at Bar Cara undergoes a 24-hour cold ferment – like any great pizza dough should – and has a nice flavor profile that is noticeable and a light lift. I enjoyed Ryan’s Pie which is topped with sauce, ricotta salata, house cured-pancetta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a sprinkle of chive. This pizza is everything a pie should be.
Montclair: Center of the (NJ) Food Universe
Michael Duarte and Ariane Duarte, Owners of CulinArianeAccording to Inside Jersey's 30 Best Meals in NJ, Montclair may well be the center of the food universe - at least in New Jersey.
Hot From The Kettle has had the pleasure of working with many of the renown chefs on the list - about eight of them actually.
At CulinAriane in Montclair, Top Chef and owner, Ariane Duarte, gave us a video demonstration of her famous Heirloom Tomato, Watermelon, and Feta Salad.
Ryan DePersio, of Montclair's Fascino and Bloomfield's Bara Cara, taught us how to make Crispy Zucchini Blossoms at Fascino, and also visited Casa Kettle to make Sweet Sausage Bolognese, Ricotta Gnocchi, and Tuscan Seafood Soup.
Grilled Peaches & Market Madness
Take a look at the video! For more photos visit the gallery!
Crispy Zucchini Blossoms at Fascino
Ryan DePersio, Melody KettleI grew up across the street from a cemetery. It was nice to have such quiet neighbors, but it was even nicer to have a source of spontaneously generated zucchini blossoms.
Every year, around June, my grandmother and I would cross the street, squeeze through an opening in the cemetery fence, and with brown bags in hand, we would head toward the southernmost hill in the cemetery that was magically covered with countless golden zucchini blossoms. And we would pick, and pick.
Ryan DePersio & Dinner with the Baristas
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.