MADRE’S CUBAN CUISINE, TEANECK
We found the recently opened Madre’s Cuban Cuisine, 477B Cedar Lane, Teaneck, a welcome option in an area filled with kosher restaurants. The mood at this small BYO is set as soon as you’re seated, when a basket of plantain and yucca chips with a spicy tomato dip are brought to the table. (And it continues through the end of your meal, when mints and the bill are presented in a colorful Cuban cigar box.) The appetizer combo (chef’s choice) was ample enough for three or four people to share, or it could make a main course. Ours contained ham croquettes; Cuban corn tamale; fried mashed potato filled with ground beef; shrimp; and fried cassava with cilantro sauce. A bowl of smoky black bean soup was shared with four spoons, and we all fought for the last drop, as it was so delicious, both thick and creamy. A light salad of shredded lettuce and tomato, a pleasant palate cleanser, comes before the main courses. Our entrées were a whole red snapper, which we would have preferred to have been served with the head and tail rather than as a fillet; marinated bone-in chicken sautéed with Spanish olives (arroz con pollo); slow-cooked pulled roasted pork; and, our favorite dish, the tender ropa vieja (shredded flank steak), beautifully presented in an edible potato chip bowl with a sauce of tomato, bell pepper, onion, and white wine. For dessert we can recommend the flan or coconut flan, washed down with Cuban coffee. Be sure to make reservations, as Madre’s gets busy; there were people waiting for tables when we were there. For reservations call 201-530-5100.
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ZEINA, HIGHLAND PARK
Zeina, featuring Turkish and Lebanese cuisine, opened in July at 441 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, in the former location of Seven Hills of Istanbul. The large, colorfully decorated room is a visual delight, with plates, tiles, rugs, and furniture from the Middle East.
It’s easy to make a meal of just the hot and cold appetizers. We opted for the baba ghanouj, a spread made with baked eggplant, sesame sauce, and lemon juice; mucver, a fried zucchini pancake; grape leaves stuffed with rice, raisins, pine nuts, and spices; and a refreshing coban salad composed of tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, and red onions. There are meat, chicken, fish, and vegetarian entrées. We had a generous portion of baked lamb, the texture of which reminded us of pulled pork; fried breaded chicken breast, which was similar to chicken fingers; and a vegetarian entrée of stewed eggplant, potato, tomato, green beans, and carrots. Non-meat eaters can opt for salmon, orata, or branzino, all of which are served with green salad. Desserts were bypassed, as the only ones offered were from Bindi, not our favorite, although the take-out menu listed Turkish pastries, rice pudding, and custard. Zeina is open daily for lunch and dinner, and live music and belly dancing are featured on Friday and Saturday nights. For reservations call 732-543-1530; BYO.
Coban salad from Zeina in Highland Park.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
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TURNING WINE INTO WATER
On October 23, a four-course wine pairing dinner will be held at Soho on George, 335 George Street, New Brunswick, to benefit Water for People, a nonprofit organization that improves the quality of life for people in developing nations by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs. This fundraiser is a jacket-and-tie affair and also includes a silent auction. 8 to 11 PM; $100. For reservations call 732-590-4741.
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WINE GETAWAY AT THE SHORE
The shore is beautiful this time of year, and if you’re looking for a weekend getaway and you like Italian wine, a La Cucina Italiana & Vino wine getaway will be held at the Golden Inn Resort Hotel, Oceanfront at 78th Street, Avalon, from Friday, October 23, through Sunday, October 25. The package includes three days of events and two nights’ lodging. The weekend will feature a Friday-evening wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres reception, two breakfast buffets, a Saturday-afternoon seminar on wine and food pairings, two four-course à la carte themed dinners with wine pairings, and two nights of entertainment. $219 per person, double occupancy, plus tax and gratuities. Upgraded lodging is available for an additional fee. For reservations and more information call 609-368-5155.
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BISTRO 55, ROCHELLE PARK
Bistro 55 Seasonal Kitchen & Bar, 55 Route 17 South, Rochelle Park, has recently opened where South City Grill was located. The owners are the same (South City Group), the menu is different, Glenn Schwabik is the chef, and Ken Trickilo is the executive chef. Menu items include: split pea soup with smoked ham; stout-glazed chicken lollipops with blue cheese dipping sauce; pizzas; chicken potpie; slow-roasted all-natural pork chop with crispy German dumplings and caramelized apples; brioche-crusted Scottish salmon; pepper-rubbed rib eye; and cast iron seafood pan roast. For reservations call 201-845-3737.
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SANTA RITA WINE DINNER AT LEGAL SEAFOODS, PARAMUS
On October 21, a Santa Rita wine dinner will be held at Legal Seafoods, 1 Garden State Plaza, Paramus. The following menu will be served.
Clam duo: ceviche of littleneck clams, and crispy fried clams with chimichurri sauce
(2007 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Casablanca Valley)
Shrimp empanada with heart of palm, tomato, cream corn, and herb salad
(2007 Santa Rita Chardonnay “Medalla Real,” Limari Valley)
Roasted salmon with crispy pork belly, grilled plums au jus, and quinoa salad
(2007 Santa Rita Carmenere Reserve, Rapel Valley)
Seared rare tuna with merken spice rub, sweet potatoes, greens with raisins and garlic, and olive dressing
(2006 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon "Medalla Real," Maipo Valley; 2005 Santa Rita Casa Real, Maipo Valley)
Artisanal cheese course with traditional accompaniments
(2005 Santa Rita Pehuén, Colchagua and Maipo Valleys; 2005 Santa Rita Triple C, Maipo Valley)
6:30 to 9 PM; $75. For reservations call 201-843-8483.
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UPROOT COMING
Watch for the opening of Uproot, 9 Mount Bethel Road, Warren, this November, where Anthony Bucco, who was formerly at Stage Left and Catherine Lombardi in New Brunswick, will be the executive chef. Chef Bucco will feature contemporary American cuisine, using products sourced from small family farms. The space will have a full liquor license with a progressive, seasonally driven cocktail list and a strong wine program, both of which will complement the food.
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Congratulations to Dom and Toni Marino, owners of Casa Dante, 737 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, on the birth of their first grandchild, Francesca.
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DINING DEAL
Restaurant Lorena’s, 168 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, is offering a three-course prix-fixe menu for $29 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. For reservations call 973-763-4460; BYO.
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