Tapastry, Church Street’s New Tapas Restaurant

by Melody Kettle

This just in from Church Street:  The Honest Dog has run off and Tapastry, a restaurant that will feature a predominantly tapas menu is opening this weekend in the same space.

 Montclair residents and owners of Church Street Catering, Greg and Cheryl Spinelli, will resume operating responsibilities for the a la carte operations at 12 Church Street.  For the past eighteen months Greg has concentrated exclusively on Church Street Catering.

From what we hear, Gonzalo Fernandez, formerly chef and owner of La Xunta in New York City, will be manning the stoves in the restaurant (assisted by Greg). Greg will continue to run the catering kitchen (assisted by Gonzalo).

According to Spinelli, the plan is to open for dinner beginning on this Friday, brunch service will begin on this Saturday, and lunch will begin next Thursday.  Tapastry also plans to schedule outdoor music over the coming holiday weekend, Friday, Saturday & Sunday evening, as well as Memorial Day brunch. 

In Bloom! Fresh Memorial Day Recipes

by Melody Kettle

Spring is in full bloom in my yard! I'm so happy, for a moment I'll ignore the mud and the pollen, and adore my little baby beauties!

The Concord Grapes have formed little  clusters, and the plums and Asian pears are growing.  The "hot bed" - that's what my Grandfather called it - you may know it as a "raised bed,"  is full of micro greens and baby lettuce.  The raspberries are just starting, the peas are growing, and most importantly, I've got tomatoes.

For a foodie, this is a big deal. The freshest produce, available, right outside the door. What a luxury!

Here's a great spring recipe, that's perfect for Memorial Weekend, courtesy of Chef Michael Carrino, owner of Restaurant Passionne, 77 Walnut Street, Montclair.

Grilled Romaine Salad

Serves 4

2 heads romaine lettuce split in half

½  cup white balsamic vinegar

½  cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic minced

1 large shallot minced

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp chopped parsley

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Weigh In! Wieners & Wine!

by Melody Kettle in ,

About a year ago, I shot a tasteless - but somehow strangely flavorful - video known as "Weenie Fest." 

The anniversary of that infamous video got me thinking about Hot Dogs. New Jersey has lots of famous hot dog stands, locally, of course, there's Rutt's Hut and Jimmy Buff's. Then there's the Hot Grill in Clifton, and Hank's Franks in Bergen County, our buddy Maui at Maui's Dog House in Wildwood, and Bourdain's favorite, Hiram's.

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The Orange Squirrel

by Melody Kettle

Crispy Zucchini Blossoms at Fascino

by Melody Kettle

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.

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Richie's Place: Rita's Cheesesteaks & Summer Love in Wildwood

by Richie Cecere

For reasons beyond me, summer romances really do exist. When I was younger, the only vacation spot that my family visited was Wildwood Crest, NJ. We went every single summer. It’s nothing like the vacations parents take their kids on these days and looking back it probably crosses the line over to cheesiness, but it was all I knew and I loved it.

Now I’m not going to lie and pretend the following happened during the same summer, but two awesome things happened to me in Wildwood.  I fell in love and I discovered the best cheese steaks on the planet.

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