Ilson Goncalves, owner of Montclair’s hottest new restaurant, Samba Montclair, recently stopped into the Kettle Kitchen to demonstrate how to make traditional Brazilian Passion Fruit Mousse (Mousse de Maracuja).
According to llson, “all the Moms in Brazil make it.” I could see why: it’s totally easy! If you’re a little late on planning your Valentine’s Day meal, this recipe is the perfect option for something quick and delicious.
Watch the video to see how you can blend up Passion Fruit Mousse at home. All you need is a blender and a refrigerator. Ilson also suggests experimenting with your favorite flavors - pomegranate, peach, mango, guava, what ever you like! Go for it!
Michael and Ariane DuarteThe results of Hot From The Kettle's first annual Montclair's Sexiest Restaurant Poll are in!
After a total of 7,958 votes, Michael and Ariane Duarte's CulinAriane, located at 33 Walnut St., has been voted Montclair's Sexiest Restaurant garnering 4,141 votes!
Ilson Goncalves' Samba Montclair, located at 7 Park St., led the charge for most of the poll but fell short,coming in at a respectable second place with 3,646 votes.
So what does this mean to the restaurant patrons of Montclair? I'll improvise on one of my husband's favorite sayings: "Double your pleasure, double your fun. Dine at two sexy restaurants instead of just one." You know that's right!
Let us all be thankful to fan clubs and social media for this explosive poll. Happy Valentine's Day from Hot From The Kettle.
Click Here for CulinAriane's Valentine's Day menu.
"Sexy" could be very subjective. But there are certain objective cosiderations when defining what makes a restaurant sexy? Aesthetics are huge; lighting seems a natural criteria, as would the aroma of a restaurant. Interior design, decor, color scheme, and overall comfort may also be considered. Some patrons may be completely turned off if the chairs are too hard, or if the tables are too small or worse - wobbly.
And who could forget the staff! For some, the attentiveness, and even the attractiveness of the wait staff is a consideration. And, of course, there's always the quality of the fare.
I think balance is sexy; great lighting won't make bad food taste good. But, on the same note, great food eaten under flourescent lighting, just isn't sexy.
When trying to compile a list of Montclair's Sexiest Restaurants, Montclair's hottest newcomer, Samba, led the charge. At Samba, soft, golden lighting, flickering candles, and over-all charm, woo me. Then, of course, there is the acclaimed, restaurant Blu, whose food is as sexy as they dark lighting.
What do you think makes a restaurant sexy? Take the poll below and cast your vote for Montclair's Sexiest Restaurant:
Chef Ryan DePersio, Photo Credit: Amessé PhotographyOne of our favorite local chefs, Ryan DePersio, of Montclair’s Fascino, and Bloomfield’s Bar Cara, is bringing his acclaimed fare to Newark.
On February 21st, Chef Ryan will be opening NICO Kitchen + Bar at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. NICO, affectionately named after the chef’s 6 year-old son, will replace the former Theater Square Grill. Chef Ryan will be assisted in the kitchen by Chef de Cuisine Adam Rose.
The menu at NICO will feature food described as "Italian Without Borders: global influences and regional, seasonal ingredients.”
Co-Owner Christopher Delisio, Chef Greg Lampariello, Pizzaiolo Robert Cino, Co-Owner Michael LaMorte
Ah'Pizz, Montclair’s home of Pizza Napoletana, located at 7 N. Willow St., is taking their cuisine to the next level.
Ah'Pizz has brought on a new executive chef, Nutley native and resident, Greg Lampariello to broaden their quality Neopolitan menu. A graduate of New York Restaurant School, Lampariello, has been cooking professionally for over twenty years at restaurants like Terrazza in Nutley and the Forest Hill Field Club.
But have no fear Ah’Pizz loyalists, Robert Cino is still the pizzaiolo at the wood burning oven turning out those crispy, flavorful pies Montclair has come to love. According to co-owner, Michael LaMorte, the difference is “now, our food is just as good as our pizza."
As we reported last week, Gencarelli’s Cucina has changed its name to Mondo, and is serving up dishes inspired by world flavors.
What does that mean? Here’s an example: Fettuccine Ameritanea, a riff on the traditional southern Italian dish Amatriciana. Chef Joe Stivala amped up the classic recipe by adding a few flavor-packed twists.
According to Chef Zod Arifai, Blu and Next Door will be re-opening very soon. According to chef and owner, Arifai, Next Door will open on Tuesday, Jan. 24 with a few interior tweaks, as well as changes to the menu. Blu will then re-open the following week, on Thursday, Feb. 2.
As we reported earlier, Chef Zod Arifai had temporarily closed Next Door and Blu while he focused on re-opening the sleek restaurant, daryl, in New Brunswick.
Yesterday, Patch reported that Mexicali Rose had closed it’s doors. Today, in the on going saga that is The Montclair Restaurant Scene, we are sad to report that Lalezar, the Turkish and Mediterranean eatery at 720 Bloomfield Avenue, has also gone out of business.
The space appears to be cleared out, and a yellow sign in the window reads "Store For Rent." The circumstances surrounding the closing are unclear. The owner was unable to be reached for comment.
This just in from Montclair Patch: Mexicali Rose has closed it's doors.
The news of the closing doesn't come as much of a shock to locals. Since last year, Mexicali Rose has been plagued by a temporary closing, a redecorating (at left) and a reopening. For more on the closing, visit Montclair Patch.
It's hard to find good, authentic Mexican food in our area. Who do you think has the best Mexican in Montclair?
You may have noticed the sign above 381 Bloomfield Avenue no longer reads Gencarelli’s Cucina. The signage now bears the name: Mondo, and in sub text, “Eatery by Gencarelli’s Cucina.”
For the owners of Mondo, Debbie and Nicole Gencarelli, the name change isn’t simply superficial. The biggest part the story circulates around Chef Joe Stivala, the new executive chef at Mondo.
Do you know about the RidgeClair Food Share? Let me explain: In early December, we learned that Montclair’s favorite diner, Raymond’s, has plans to take it’s French Toast and seltzer-bottle-flare to Ridgewood. Then, later in December, we told you that our beloved Brick Lane Curry House was opening another location in Ridgewood. And now, in the new year, the RidgeClair Food Share continues. Cupcakes by Carousel, which operates a retail bake shop in Ridgewood, is opening an outpost in Montclair, which is their third location.
Where will the new sweet shop be? You guessed it! Church Street! Cupcakes by Carousel is setting up shop in the space at 25 Church Street, formerly occupied by Cupcakes Galore.
Montclair has barely entered 2012, and there's more news on the restaurant scene. Tutti Vous has closed it’s doors. The Italian eatery, known for it’s edgy, black, white and red decor has posted a sign in their window reading “Restaurant for Sale / Lease” 973-477-5297 Call Solo!”
Owner of Tutti Vous, Mike Mancino, was unable to be reached for comment.
On the opposite side of Bloomfield Avenue, approximately one block west, at 401 Bloomfield Avenue is Kei Kabob, a Persian cuisine eatery (located near the Wellmont, at the former site of Habanero's). There's been a bit of mystery surrounding the long opening of Kei Kebab.
According to owner, Ashkan Khalaj, Kei Kebab encountered a few "issues" early on, and is now waiting for PSE&G to connect their power and gas. Khalaj estimates the opening to take place in approximately four to five weeks. The business phone number of Keith Kebab, 973-746-4500, is currently disconnected but will soon be restored.
With the new year comes a new pizzeria! It appears that Mancinni’s Coal Oven Pizza is getting ready to unleash their unique brand of coal fired pizza upon Montclair.
Mancinni’s (with two n’s) has set up shop right next to the vacant, former site of Cafe Eclectic (could someone please call Mr. Lindy?).
Samba MontclairThere was hardly enough time for food bloggers to digest all the local restaurant news that was fed to us this year. So what’s the ever evolving Montclair restaurant scene going to look like in 2012? Here’s a peek at what looms on Montclair’s culinary horizon.
People always ask me what’s new on the Montclair restaurant scene. As I reflect on a very busy 2011, rather than recounting the copious closings, (like Tallmadge Cheese Market, Chef’s Lab, 32 Church, Cilantro, Passionne, Mei’s Café, QBA, Market, The Honest Dog, Charlie Brown’s, Table 8, and others) and openings (like Little Phil’s, Tapastry, Brick Lane, Tacqueria Autentica, Upstairs, True North Osteria, Adara, Fin, Casa Pequin, Little Daisy, Acappello, and Samba), I thought it would be more fun to countdown my Top 5 Most Talked About Restaurant Stories of 2011. Cheers!
It’s no secret: I like to eat. When I say something is “the best I’ve ever had,” it means a lot. In other words, superlative categorization is a pretty big meatball to hang out there. That said, I have no reservations going on record with this statement: The fresh mozzarella at Belgiovine’s Italian Delicatessen is by far the best I’ve ever had. Period.
This just in from Montclair Patch: The beloved Montclair Char-Broil, which has been closed since April 19, 2011, will be reopening tomorrow morning, December 11, 2011! For the full story, click here!
Ilson Goncalves, owner of Montclair’s hottest new restaurant, Samba Montclair, recently stopped into the Kettle Kitchen to demonstrate how to make traditional Brazilian Passion Fruit Mousse (Mousse de Maracuja).
