BEST DISHES OF 2009
Here’s a list, in alphabetical order by restaurant, of some of the best dishes I had in 2009. What were yours?
ALICE’S RESTAURANT, LAKE HOPATCONG: Mushroom soup.
ARTURO’S OSTERIA & PIZZERIA COMPANY, MAPLEWOOD: Margherita pizza; pasta with wild boar ragù and mushrooms.
Arturo’s Margherita pizza.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
AVENUE, LONG BRANCH: Gratin Dauphinois; tuna carpaccio; onion tart with goat cheese, fresh anchovies, and olives; boeuf bourguignon with fresh papparadelle, red wine sauce, vegetables, and lardons.
BERNARDS INN, BERNARDSVILLE: Sweet potato ravioli with black truffle Pecorino, toasted pumpkin seeds, and sage brown butter; roasted butternut squash soup with crystallized ginger, Anjou pear, and brown butter croutons; crisp slow-cooked suckling pig with McIntosh apple purée, bacon-wrapped peanut-butter-stuffed dates, and black cardamom jus; Colorado rack of lamb with creamy rosemary polenta, garlic confit, braised baby fennel, pearl onions, and Kalamata olive jus; and cranberry baked Alaska with cranberry sorbet, pistachio cake, toasted meringue, cranberry compote, and passion fruit.
BIN 14 TRATTORIA & WINE BAR, HOBOKEN: Salmon tartare with ricotta, basil, and chili orange marmalade bruschetta; fig, prosciutto, and ricotta pizza.
BLU, MONTCLAIR: calamari salad with spicy ginger pineapple sauce, radishes, and crunchy peanuts; pumpkin ravioli with almonds, cranberries, and brown butter; charred octopus with white beans, roasted red peppers, and black olive oil; skate with forbidden black rice surrounded by spicy coconut broth and topped with peanuts and scallions; duck breast with braised red cabbage, caramelized turnips, and red wine fig emulsion; coconut tapioca pudding with mango; chocolate truffle terrine with peanut butter.
Blu’s calamari salad with spicy ginger pineapple sauce, radishes, and crunchy peanuts.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
BOULEVARD FIVE72, KENILWORTH: Shrimp corn chowder with apple smoked bacon, celery root, and turnips; fresh cavatelli with pulled braised short ribs, Portobello, and asparagus.
CAFE FIORE, RANDOLPH: Homemade ground beef and veal ravioli in a light tomato sauce surrounded by Bolognese sauce.
CASA DANTE, JERSEY CITY: Homemade fettuccine with buffalo Bolognese; herb-and-spice-coated salmon fillet topped with fig vincotto and served with Sicilian caponata; chocolate ricotta cheesecake with pecans.
CHEF LORYN’S CAFE AND CATERING, MADISON: Coconut chocolate chip cookie.
COPELAND, MORRISTOWN: Butternut squash soup with glazed chestnuts and duck prosciutto; Copeland Wagyu beef burger on a brioche bun with cheese, BLT, and homemade French fries; lobster brioche; seared tuna sashimi served open-faced on focaccia with marinated tomatoes and arugula.
CORSO 98, MONTCLAIR: Baked prosciutto-wrapped bocconcini mozzarella with arugula, roasted sweet peppers, toasted pignoli, and champagne vinaigrette.
CUCHARAMAMA, HOBOKEN: Beef empanadas with chimichurri sauce; braised duck tamale.
DI PALMA BROTHERS, NORTH BERGEN: Grandma’s meatballs.
Di Palma Brothers’ meatballs.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
DREW’S BAYSHORE BISTRO, KEYPORT: Shrimp with grits.
ELEMENTS, PRINCETON: Eggshell filled with bacon custard cream, topped with aerated maple syrup and salt, and served with French toast and maple-cured bacon; local chanterelles and morels with a poached egg and black truffles; 48-hour sous-vide short rib with chimichurri.
EQUUS, BERNARDSVILLE: Duck breast with five-spice marinade, wild rice johnnycake, pear blueberry ginger salad, and sour cherry jus.
FARM 2 BISTRO, NUTLEY: BBQ spare ribs with orange chipotle sauce.
GRATO, MORRIS PLAINS: Potato gnocchi and lamb Bolognese with al dente peas, tomato, and mint; warm house-made Nutella dip with cookies.
HIGHLAWN PAVILION, WEST ORANGE: Mahi-mahi with black rice and mango beurre blanc.
THE IRON MONKEY, JERSEY CITY: Mac and cheese.
LORENA’S, MAPLEWOOD: Cod with corn, bacon, leeks, fingerlings, and smoked butter emulsion; braised beef short ribs with melted onions, potato purée, Roquefort, and beef jus.
MORTON’S, HACKENSACK: Mac and cheese; center-cut iceberg lettuce; domestic double-rib lamb chops; bone-in prime rib and carrot cake.
NATIRAR, PEAPACK-GLADSTONE: Ricotta and kabocha ravioli with maitake mushrooms, duck confit, and broth; pumpernickel-crusted king salmon with winter radishes, organic mushrooms, and cardamom brown butter.
NISI ESTIATORIO, ENGLEWOOD: Ouzo-cured salmon; sea scallop wrapped in pastourma (highly seasoned, air-dried cured beef) and kataifi; whole fish; and Nisi sokofreta, a dark chocolate bar with dried fruit, pistachios, and Metaxa brandy.
THE ORANGE SQUIRREL, BLOOMFIELD: Gnudi with wild mushrooms and parsley salad in Parmesan consommé; Colorado lamb chops.
PARK AVENUE CLUB, FLORHAM PARK: Seared halibut with English pea purée, roasted sunchokes, yellow squash noodles, and lobster beurre blanc.
PETITE CAFE, NUTLEY: Red velvet cupcake filled with vanilla mousse and topped with cream cheese icing.
PLUCKEMIN INN, BEDMINSTER: Caramelized roasted day-boat sea scallops topped with a thin slice of cauliflower and surrounded by a carrot and black mustard seed sauce.
RESTAURANT SERENADE, CHATHAM: Lobster roll with hand-cut French fries; cheeseburger on an oversize English muffin with cheddar, French fries, tomatoes, and coleslaw.
RESTO, MADISON: Seared arctic char with lobster pearl pasta noir and sauce choron; day-boat scallops with salsify frites and red-wine-wilted frisée.
ROCCA, GLEN ROCK: Grilled salmon with spicy mango and pineapple salsa, grilled scallions, and shoestring potatoes.
Rocca’s grilled salmon with spicy mango and pineapple salsa, grilled scallions, and shoestring potatoes.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
SEGRETO, TENAFLY: Lobster risotto.
THE STRIP HOUSE, LIVINGSTON: Double-cut Colorado lamb chops; baked Alaska with milk chocolate ice cream on the outside and butter pecan ice cream in the middle, covered with Italian meringue, plated with vanilla crème anglaise, and garnished with chopped candied pecans.
SUBLIME, GLADSTONE: Fig tart on puff pastry with cinnamon lemon crème fraîche.
TABOR ROAD TAVERN, PARSIPPANY: Mini monkfish tacos.
UPROOT, WARREN: Roasted and confit Long Island duck with Brussels sprouts, cherries, and Israeli couscous.
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DINING DEAL
The Strip House, Westminster Hotel, 550 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, has introduced Cut of the Night, featuring a different specialty cut of steak selected each evening by Chef Bill Zucosky. The eight-ounce special cut will be served with garlic herb French fries for $29 and will vary depending on what crosses the chef’s cutting board. Strip steak will make frequent appearances, along with rib eye and other favorites. For reservations call 973-548-0050.
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Condolences to the family of Chef James Paul “Jimbo” Crowley, who passed away on December 12. Chef Jimbo was most recently chef instructor at West Side High School in Newark. A few of his many awards and recognitions include Chef of the Year of the American Culinary Association Northern NJ Chapter, the ACF National Presidential Medallion for Outstanding Service, and the Outstanding Service Award from the Culinary Arts Institute at Hudson County Community College. He was also past president of the Northern NJ chapter of the American Culinary Federation and chairman of the board of his ACF chapter.
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