Northern Hospitality: Montclair Restaurants in the Aftermath of Sandy

by Melody Kettle in


*Also published in the Montclair Times

Outside, the smell of wood burning fireplaces, the hum of generators and a haunting sense of déjà vu filled the damp air.  Trees stood shattered or lay uprooted across yards and roads, while phone and power lines hung dangerously low.  Inside, eighty percent of Montclair homes were dark and cold, while the refrigerators, ironically, were warm. 

In the aftermath of Frankenstorm, residents scrambled for blankets and batteries, while Montclair restaurateurs gathered staff, organized deliveries and opened their doors. In a food-town, like Montclair, it’s easy to take these open doors for granted. 

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Devil Gourmet: Award Winning Beer at Long Valley Pub & Brewery

by Devil Gourmet


Long Valley Pub and Brewery, Long Valley, New Jersey, Devil Gourmet, www.devilgourmet.comLike sports fiends—in my case, emphasis on the fiend, LOL—I get Olympic fever every two years. How I would love to compete for a shiny medal. I imagine myself in a smart team uniform, whirling on the rings or rocketing across the floor mats. Sadly, I do not have an aerodynamic build, and the hooves are a definite disadvantage. But do you know what I can do? I can go to the Long Valley Pub and Brewery and drink their exclusive medal-winning beers!

As its name indicates, the restaurant is in Long Valley, a section within Morris County’s Washington Township. If you’re not familiar with the area, Washington Township, on the southwest edge of the county, boasts nearly 3000 acres of farmland. Long Valley, shaped like a butterfly, occupies 4-plus miles within it, its center settled near the hub of the lush surrounding community. First established in the 18th century by German immigrants, Long Valley still has many wonderful examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture.

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