Restaurant News

Rosie is here with the latest restaurant news.

LAPRETE’S ITALIAN TABLE

The Budinich family (Kathryn, Richie, and Marc), along with Steven Minichiello, have opened LaPrete’s Italian Table, 369 Washington Avenue, Belleville, and judging from our recent visit they have a winner. The Budinichs are also owners of 15 Fox Place, the unique restaurant located in a home on a residential street in Jersey City.

LaPrete’s is fun. The large room, bar, and fixed-price menu option are conducive to sizeable groups and families looking for an evening of good food with generous portions and reasonable prices. Although there is an à la carte menu, the family-style meals, which are available for parties of two or more, are the way to go here. You get a choice of two salads, two pastas, two vegetables, and two entrées for the table, at $27.95 per person. (Desserts and coffee are separate.) Plan on bringing home leftovers. We had chopped garden salad; tomato and onion salad; gnocchi in arrabiata sauce; cappellini in vodka sauce (my favorite dish of the night); eggplant rollatini (also scrumptious); broccoli rabe; sausage, chicken, and potatoes; and Italian meat loaf. Yes, we were stuffed, but we managed to share a chocolate almond torte with fresh cream for dessert. If you have room, try the Festa di San Gennaro, which has a sampling of desserts.

The knowledgeable staff was friendly and attentive and seemed to be having as good a time as the diners. If possible, ask for Willie as your waiter. We couldn’t have had better service. For reservations call 973-450-1555.

Eggplant rollatini and broccoli rabe at LaPrete’s.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.

*************

WINE DINNER AT BLU, MONTCLAIR

On October 21, a six-course Bodegas R. López de Heredia wine dinner, with wines spanning more than 30 years, will be held at Restaurant Blu, 554 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair. The following menu will be presented:

  • Spiced butternut squash soup, duck cracklings, raisins, and almonds
    (1997 Viña Tondonia Rosado)
  • Warm scallops and pickled pumpkin with orange-cranberry emulsion and poppy seeds
    (1989 Viña Tondonia Reserva Blanco)
  • Risotto with apple and red-wine-braised walnuts
    (2002 Cubillo Rioja Crianza)
  • Lamb with caramelized Brussels sprouts, saffron, and chickpeas
    (2000 Viña Bosconia Reserva)
  • Hanger steak with truffled potato purée and wild mushrooms
    (1981 Viña Bosconia Gran Reserva)
  • Bavaroise of pumpkin with Gorgonzola, honey, and pear
    (Tastes of older vintages including 1970 Viña Bosconia Reserva)

7:30 PM; approximately $125, which includes $65 for food (plus tax and gratuity) and approximately $60 for wine (plus tax), with wines supplied by Amanti Vino, Montclair. For more information and reservations call Amanti Vino at 973-509-9463.

***********

THE CULINARY CAROUSEL

On October 20, a gourmet tasting, the Annual Culinary Carousel, will be held at Hawk Pointe Golf Club, 294 Route 31 South, Washington, to benefit the Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County. The following establishments will be in attendance: AngelFood, Antoinette Chocolatier, Charlie Brown’s, Glen Gardner Inn, Hawk Pointe, the Inn at Millrace Pond, the Madison Chocolatier, Mediterranean Bistro, Prickly Pear, Stella G’s, Teaberry’s, Thyme, Top of the Green, and Vintage.

Along with entertainment, there will also be a silent auction. 6 to 9:30 PM; $135. For tickets call Pam Farago at 908-453-4121 ext 102.

*********

A DINNER OF HOPE

On October 24, Zensation: A Dinner of Hope, a culinary extravaganza consisting of a six-course dinner paired with wines, will be held at Stone House at Stirling Ridge, 50 Stirling Road, Warren, to benefit Creative Heartwork, which utilizes the power of the arts to heal children who have experienced trauma, loss, serious illness, or disability. The event will also include dancing. The following chefs will be in attendance: Corey Heyer, the Bernards Inn, Bernardsville; Ryan DePersio, Fascino, Montclair; Tony Leung, Sushi Lounge, Morristown; Jason Merrill, Hanover Inn, Hanover, NH; Cyril Renaud, Fleur de Sel, NYC; Stefan Sabo, Oregon Grille, Hunt Valley, MD; and Jerry Villa, Stone House at Stirling Ridge. 6:30 PM; $1,000. Black tie or Asian attire is encouraged. For tickets call Karen at 973-889-0809.

****************

WINE, ANYONE?

Wine for Charity: On October 20, Gary’s Wine & Marketplace will hold its Annual Grand Tasting at the Madison Hotel, 1 Convent Road, Morristown, to benefit Atlantic Home Care and Hospice, Gagnon Heart Hospital at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Atlantic Neuroscience Institute at Overlook Hospital, and the Interfaith Food Pantry. In addition to the wine and food, this year’s seminars include a Dom Pérignon Vertical, a López de Heredia Three Decade Rioja Vertical, and Rediscovering Merlot Blends. 6 PM VIP admission $150; 7:30 PM general admission $75. Purchase tickets at any Gary’s store (Madison, Bernardsville, or Wayne) or online at www.garyswine.com.

Wine Tour: Restaurant Latour, Crystal Springs Country Club, 1 Wild Turkey Way, Hardyston, is offering guided tours of its newly expanded award-winning 50,000-plus-bottle wine cellar Thursdays through Sundays at 3 PM. Reservations, which are required, can be made by calling 973-827-1587 ext 223.

Wine Weekend: From October 24 to 26, have a spirited time at the Cape May Wine Weekend, which includes a wine tasting dinner and winery cellar tour. The event begins at 6 PM on Friday with a four-course dinner at the Washington Inn, with wines themed to the class that will be held on Sunday. On Saturday at 3 PM, guests will visit the Cape May Winery for a tour of the vineyard and a barrel tasting with cheese and fruit. On Sunday at 1 PM, guests will learn the finer points of fine wines at a wine school class at the Washington Inn. The complete package is $125 and does not include lodging. For more information call 609-884-5404.

**************

CRAZY ABOUT CURRY

On October 23, a Crazy About Curry cooking class with Raghavan Iyer, author of 660 Curries, will be taught at Viking Culinary Center, 4 Sperry Road, Fairfield. The following dishes will demonstrated: flame-toasted lentil wafers with mashed smoky eggplant with garlic and red chiles; pigeon pea fritters with yogurt-tomato sauce; wild salmon poached with scallions and tomatoes; chunky potatoes with buttermilk; basmati rice with spinach and onion; and pineapple stewed with raisins and chilies served over premium vanilla ice cream. 6:30 to 9 PM; $69. To register log on to www.vikingcookingschool.com or call 973-244-1311.

********

DOWN-HOME FLAVORS FOR SEAFOOD LOVERS

On October 21, a Down-Home Flavors for Seafood Lovers cooking class will be taught by Chef Jesse Jones at Kings Cooking Studio, 450 Route 206, Bedminster. The following menu will be demonstrated:  she-crab soup; voodoo shrimp with dirty rice; Chef Jesse’s down-home lobster pie; and crawfish Creole over creamy Cheddar grits. 6:30 to 9:30 PM; $55. To register call 973-463-6500.

********************

RESTAURANT SERENADE NEWS

Chef James Laird, owner of Restaurant Serenade, 6 Roosevelt Avenue, Chatham, will be teaching hour-long demonstration cooking classes in the Serenade kitchen, with each class concentrating on one technique or food group. The October 19 class will feature Sexy Comfort Food; on November 16, the theme will be Turkey, Et Al. Each class will start at 4 PM with a glass of wine or champagne, and printed copies of that day’s recipes will be handed out. After the class, guests will have a three-course meal in the dining room, and some menus will be based on the day’s recipes. $75 includes the class, the three-course dinner, a kitchen beverage, and the recipes; tax, tip, and additional beverages are not included.

On Sundays and Mondays through the end of October, a three-course 100 Mile Menu will be featured at Serenade, with produce and fish sourced within 100 miles of the restaurant. Sunday 5 to 9 PM, Monday 6 to 9 PM; $35. Call 973-701-0303 for more information and reservations.

***************

FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL IN ATLANTIC CITY

From October 17 to 19, the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Miss America Way, Atlantic City, and Resorts Hotel and Casino, 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. The festival will include celebrity chef presentations with Tyler Florence and Ace of Cakes star Duff Goldman, plus a gala dinner, culinary demonstrations, samplings of signature dishes, wine tastings, cookbook signings, a wine and spirits pavilion, and wine seminars. Tickets for individual festival events range from $15 to $55, and the Evening With Tyler Florence and Duff Goldman cocktail party and dinner at Resorts is $195. For more information and tickets call 609-398-4450 or log on to www.gourmetshows.com.

*********

ZA RESTAURANT

Za Restaurant, 147 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington, is now open seven days a week. For reservations call 609-737-4400; BYO.

**********

DINING DEALS

Every day through the month of October, David Burke Fromagerie, 26 Ridge Road, Rumson, is offering more than 70 bottles of wine at half price. For reservations call 732-842-8088.

Mondays through Fridays from 11 AM to 3 PM, Turkish Grill, 2775 Route 9, Howell, offers lunch specials, which include soup and dessert for $9. For more information and reservations call 732-367-6300.

On Wednesdays between 8 and 10 PM, a half-price bottle of wine is available (one per table) at Gusto Grill, 1050 Route 18, East Brunswick. For dinner reservations call 732-651-2737.

On Mondays after 5 PM, BYO is back with no corkage fee at Braddock’s, 39 South Main Street, Medford. For reservations call 609-654-1604.

***********

Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].

[justified_image_grid exclude="featured"]
Read more Table Hopping articles.

By submitting comments you grant permission for all or part of those comments to appear in the print edition of New Jersey Monthly.

Required
Required not shown
Required not shown