Left Wanting More at 32 Church

by Melody Kettle

Restaurants are like good friends – you could usually count the very best ones on a single hand. Based on the advice of a few good friends, I endeavored to broaden my dining network and give the still newish hot spot, 32 Church a bite.

The atmosphere at 32 Church, most specifically the lighting, is to be commended. The high ceiling drips with beautiful fixtures, exuding a warm glow complimented by a wall of lighted alcoves. The decor is sleek and chic, creating an upscale feel, but without uncomfortable pretension.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a beautiful, yet requisitely aloof hostess and were promptly seated. The server approached, opened our bottle of wine and poured. We sipped, and sipped some more. But wait, I thought, where’s the water? Now I know in some places water is not served, something about a shortage. But after all, it’s July, and we’re seated outside.

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Hot From The Kettle ™: Don't Let the Styrofoam Fool You - - at BonJour Montclair

by Melody Kettle

Riddle me this Baristaville: What tiny eatery, somewhat dark, partially obscured by trees, about thirty feet from a Decamp bus stop,  directly across the street from a gas station, and with virtually no advertising,  has successfully managed to serve Baristaville patrons three meals a day, on Styrofoam plates and with plastic cutlery for twenty years and counting?  If you’ve guessed Bon Jour Montclair Café and Creperie, at 254 Park Street, you’re correct.  And if you’re a regular patron, well then, you’re a prize winner.

Back when I was still new to Baristaville, I was walking through Watchung Plaza with my husband, who had lived in Baristaville since 1988.  I noticed a brown awning above a little space with a flashing coffee sign. Apparently, my husband had never been there, so we decided to walk in.  Just as quickly, we walked out.  We thought it too small, perhaps a bit dark, and, moreover, there was no seating available outside.  The next time we walked by, there were a few seats available outside.  So, we sat down, I ordered a fresh fruit crepe.

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Hot From The Kettle ™: Hangin' with Sharon at Egan & Sons of West Orange

by Melody Kettle

I'm a Big Red gal, red wines only - no whites, no beer, no champagne, definitely no frozen calorie bombs. But the oppressive summer heat has made my favorite libation somehow less enjoyable.

I nearly acquiesced to a summer of Perrier sipping, when Sharon Egan, owner of Egan & Sons, mixed me up a Huckleberry Lemonade Cocktail, a very simple concoction of pink lemonade, shaken with about one and half ounces of 44 Degrees North Huckleberry Vodka.

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Hot From The Kettle ™: Until Ah'Pizz, A Good Pie was Hard to Find

by Melody Kettle

My grandfather, a hard-boiled Italian-American, refused to eat "chewing gum." Therefore, we never ordered pizza - never. My grandmother, a Czech who could cook anything from tripe to tiramisu, made our pizza. So, unless you have a "Grandma" in your kitchen turning out crisp, fresh pizza, you know a good pie is hard to find.

My grandma would have applauded Mike LaMorte, who opened Ah'Pizz this past February at 7 N. Willow St., Montclair. Ah'Pizz, pronounced "ah-peetz" derives its name from the Italian-American slang term for pizza, "a'bizz." At Ah'Pizz, the mission is to keep their Neapolitan Pizza as authentic as possible. Behind the granite counter at the Ah'Pizz, you'll find "pizzaiolo" Robert Cino, serving up Neapolitan pizza from a wood burning stove in about 90 seconds.

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Hot From The Kettle ™: Montclair in Heat: How to get fixed.

by Melody Kettle

Montclair (a.k.a Baristaville, or Constantinople) is in heat!  Perhaps a cold shower is in order. Check out how these locals plan to keep it cool:

Hot From The Kettle ™: Montclair Independence Day Parade

by Melody Kettle

The annual Montclair Independence Day Parade rolled up Midland Avenue yesterday.  All the usual suspects were there, including a guest appearance by Spider-Man. Here's a snippet: