Hot From The Kettle ™: Farm to Table - Matarazzo Farm

by Melody Kettle

In August, New Jersey farm stands are a thing of beauty - colorful and fragrant. The eggplant are a deep, rich purple, the melons are sweet, the peaches perfect, and the tomatoes, oh, the tomatoes! Simply put - they're outstanding. But after all, we are the Garden State, aren't we? It wasn't too long ago when New Jersey was better known for its stellar produce, than it was for outrageously misbehaved Housewives and debauched Jersey Shore revelers.

In an effort to procure, and consume, some of our local earthly gems, I took a trip to the last real farm in Essex County. Surprisingly, I only had to travel four miles to get to Matarazzo Farm in North Caldwell. It is currently run by Jim Matarazzo and his wife, Jeannie. It takes but a few moments to realize that Jeannie is the driving force behind maintaining the daily operations on the farm and at the farm stand. Jim, former mayor of North Caldwell, seems to occupy the background with the air of a sage; observing and listening, letting Jeannie man the helm.

Want to learn about local vs. organic produce, or hear about the pseudo farmers market?

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Hot From The Kettle ™: Highlawn Pavilion - An Elevated Experience

by Melody Kettle

There's something in the air at Highlawn Pavilion - they call it amore. Perhaps it's the reverberation of marriage proposals past, or the remarkable Italianate aesthetics that have you at "hello," "Salve." Or maybe it's the gracious patio, lined with tropical Mandevillas and fluttering butterflies, that envelopes guests as they blithely gaze at a sweeping city skyline. Pardon my romantic waxing, but if I were a songwriter I'd be inspired to pen a ballad for Highlawn Pavilion. Alas, I am no songwriter, my gift is my review, and Highlawn, this one's for you.
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A Day Upstate: The Dalessio Family Circus

by Melody Kettle

 

Hot From The Kettle ™: The Divinest Sense of Chef Jesse Jone

by Melody Kettle

"It's Divine!" Those are the words Chef Jesse Jones, wants to hear each time you enjoy one of his meals. The chef's style of cooking, New Carolina Cuisine, is a French influenced interpretation of Southern heritage cooking that incorporates healthy alternatives into standard southern recipes, but without compromising the gastronomic comfort factor that makes southern fare so satisfying.

Jesse Jones was born in Newark and raised in North Carolina. He then returned to Newark where he followed his passion for cooking, encouraged by his mother's words, "[y]ou know what's best for yourself. Keep moving." And move he did. Jesse worked for ARAMARK, where he became Director of Food Services. He then honed his craft further under the tutelage of French Chef, Dennis Foy at Town Square in Chatham. Most recently, Jesse was crowned Ultimate Chef of Bergen County, at the annual Chef Central competition in Paramus.
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Hot From The Kettle ™: Joseph N. DiVincenzo Welcomes Gelato Guiliana

by Melody Kettle

This afternoon, Essex County Executive, (and ice cream aficionado) Joe DiVincenzo, Jr., along with Montclair mayor, Jerry Fried, councilwoman Renee Baskerville, and councilman Cary Africk, turned out at the grand opening of Baristaville's Gelato Giuliana to welcome the shop to the Montclair business community. For more, watch the video below:

 Have you been to Gelato Guiliana?  If so, do you think it has Montclair staying power?  What's your favorite flavor?

Talking Tomatoes with Ariane Duarte

by Melody Kettle

For me, there are few things more delicious than in-season Heirloom Tomatoes. When Ariane Duarte, owner and chef of CulinAriane, lends her Midas touch to these lutein packing beauties, their flavor exceeds even my palate's expectations - - it's gold.

Ariane and her husband, Michael, a fellow Culinary Institute of America graduate, and pastry chef, opened CulinAriane, initially as kitchen space for their catering business. The restaurant was very much secondary, with only ten small tables. Soon, however, popularity began to grow and CulinAriane became one of the stars of the Baristaville dining scene. Then Top Chef came calling and the rest was culinary (and reality tv) history.

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