EQUUS, BERNARDSVILLE
Equus, 1 Mill Street, Bernardsville, has recently been purchased by Scott Cutaneo, who owned the now-closed La Petite Chateau, Bernardsville, which we hear will become a family restaurant.
The Equus dining room is drop-dead gorgeous, with stone walls, striking chandeliers, and comfy seats. The service is attentive, the waitstaff well informed about the ingredients used in the dishes. Some appetizer items on the upscale contemporary American and European menu are: crab salad with mango, cucumber, and lemon vinaigrette, a light, well-balanced dish; a beautifully presented fresh corn waffle with shrimp and avocado salad and a spicy buttermilk drizzle; and tuna with cashew corn salsa and a spicy poppy seed syrup that was so good I mopped all of it up with my bread. The entrées are just as exciting as the appetizers. The tender duck breast with five-spice marinade and wild rice johnnycake also distinguished itself with a pear blueberry ginger salad and sour cherry jus—a memorable dish. Large pan-roasted scallops were perfectly caramelized and accompanied by braised snow peas, roasted almonds, and an orange ginger glaze. Blue cheese oozed from the top-quality filet mignon, which was enhanced with truffle demi-glace. The grilled caramelized pork was sliced and presented fanned out in a circle with apple salad and caramelized whiskey broth. The pork was served medium-rare as ordered, a welcome change from the tough, overcooked pork often found in restaurants. All of the ingredients were of high quality and were artfully presented.
Now that the weather is warm, you may want to sit outside and opt for the tavern and patio menu, which features comfort foods with flair, such as fish and chips, turkey chili, Kobe sliders, and duck pot pie.
House wines run about $8, while the wine list runs the gamut from $30 to $500. You won’t have any problem finding something in the $30 to $60 range, though.
Equus also has a private room that seats 65. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, and the tavern is open from noon to 2 AM. For reservations call 908-766-3737.
Tuna with cashew corn salsa and a spicy poppy seed syrup.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
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WHAT A CUPCAKE!
What can be better than a cupcake? How about a stuffed cupcake? How about having a choice of more than 100 varieties, each one filled with a delectable stuffing and topped with a very generous swirl of frosting. Bruce Springsteen even has a favorite, the vanilla and acai berry cupcake filled with blueberry mousse and topped with vanilla icing, which is sold at Sickles Market, Little Silver, near his hometown of Rumson. Gotcha yet? The Petite Cafe, 231 Franklin Avenue, Nutley, a restaurant for eight years, now specializes in making these stuffed cupcakes. My favorite? The red velvet cupcake filled with vanilla mousse and topped with cream cheese icing. I was sworn to secrecy as to what makes the cake red, but I can tell you that it’s a natural ingredient, not a synthetic food dye.
Since man does not live by cupcakes alone, Petite Cafe owners Maureen and Keith Jaret also sell breakfast scones and muffins and will create a wedding cake with cupcakes or a traditional one with any of their cupcake flavors. They also make double-stuffed and mini cupcakes. And if you need to send a special gift, there’s a Cupcakes of the Month Club, which ships a dozen cupcakes every month for three, six, or twelve months. The Petite Cafe is open daily. For more information and to place an order, log on to www.stuffedcupcakes.com or call 973-667-7778.
Red velvet cupcake filled with vanilla mousse and topped with cream cheese icing.
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FARM TO TABLE DINNER
On July 19, a five-course Farm to Table dinner to support local agriculture and to raise awareness about farms will take place in the green field of Griggstown Quail Farm, 986 Canal Road, Princeton. Farmers George Rude and Matthew Sytsema will host along with Sustenance, a green event-planning and programming business, and the Northern New Jersey Chapter of Slow Food. David C. Felton, former executive chef at the Pluckemin Inn, will prepare the dinner, with food sourced from Griggstown Quail Farm and artisans within a small radius of the farm. Organic/biodynamic wines will be paired with each course, and music will be supplied by a jazz duo. 4 to 5 PM guided farm tour, 5 to 7 PM dinner; $145. A portion of the proceeds will support Slow Food Northern New Jersey’s programs. Tickets can be purchased at www.sustenanceevents.com.
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BLACKFISH STONE HARBOR
Chef Charles “Chip” Roman and business partner John Sprandio have opened Blackfish Stone Harbor, 9628 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, and are serving a seasonal menu of progressive American dishes with a seafood focus. Some signature items are saffron-scented bouillabaisse, and surf and turf of glazed beef short ribs and day-boat scallops served with parsnip purée and horseradish. This 200-seat, white tablecloth restaurant, with a bar area that seats up to 75 people, is open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch and also has a late-night menu available from 10 PM to 2 AM.
Chef Roman was a James Beard semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year (2008 and 2009) and for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic (2009). For reservations call 609-967-9100.
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NERO’S MARKET
If you’re looking for barbecue items, Nero’s Market (part of Nero’s Bar and Grill), 618 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, features prime meat and seafood individually portioned, wrapped, and ready to go. For more information call 973-994-1410.
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BLUEPLATE, MULLICA HILL
Chef James Malaby of Blueplate, 47 South Main Street, Mullica Hill, will create a five-course tasting dinner using ingredients from local farms. There is a different menu each night. This upscale, casual, BYO restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch daily and dinner from 5 to 9 PM Tuesday through Sunday. Signature dishes include carrot-apple risotto with andouille sausage; oven-roasted mahi-mahi served with roasted tomato, dill, and fresh crabmeat; and, for dessert, warm chocolate “sex” on a blue plate. For reservations call 856-478-2112.
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GO NEWARK RESTAURANT WEEK
Go Newark Restaurant Week runs from July 6 through 16, with restaurants offering different discounts. The 30 participating restaurants include: 27 Mix, Adega Grill, Assaggini Di Roma, Brick City Bar & Grill, Chateau of Spain, Hobby’s Deli & Restaurant, Mompou Tapas Bar & Lounge, Seabra’s Rodizio, Spanish Tavern, and Casa Vasca. To see the deals go to www.gonewarkrestaurantweek.com.
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DINING DEALS
On July 4, Casa Dante, 737 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, will offer one-third off any bottle of wine. For reservations call 201-610-9610.
Kuzina by Sofia, Sawmill Shopping Center, 404 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill, has a $13.95 three-course plus beverage twilight menu, from 4 PM to close Sundays through Thursdays and from 4 to 6 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. For reservations call 856-429-1061.
Restaurant One 53, 153 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, offers 25 percent off wines by the bottle Mondays through Wednesdays. For reservations call 609-921-0153.
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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].