Restaurant News

This week Rosie tells us about Highlawn Pavilion and the Manor in West Orange, Skinny Jim’s Blends, the Italian Pantry Bistro in Cranford, and much more news about NJ dining.

FRESH PICKED DAILY

Fresh picked really means fresh picked at Highlawn Pavilion, Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange (973-731-3463), and the Manor, 111 Prospect Avenue, West Orange (973-731-2360), as executive chef Mitchell Altholz is now getting all of his herbs and many of his vegetables from the farm at Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange. Daily through August, Highlawn Pavilion is offering a three-course dinner in the tavern for $35. The Manor has some new menu items, which include a free-range Label Rouge chicken for two and a key lime ice cream and local blueberry sorbet baked Alaska.

 


Executive chef Mitchell Altholz.
Photo courtesy of Danny Muro.

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COPELAND, MORRISTOWN

Experience the aromas and tastes of the shore with the new seafood summer bake that is being offered by executive chef Thomas Ciszak of Copeland, 2 Whippany Road, Morristown. The $35 dinner includes lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams, duck sausage, heirloom tomatoes, corn, and fingerling potatoes served in a Dutch oven. Chef Ciszak has also introduced a new seasonal menu that features sweet corn soup with honey, lavender, and chanterelle mushrooms; grilled octopus with fava beans, artichoke, and rosemary smoke; seared Hudson Valley foie gras with cocoa nibs, candied beets, and fennel; Barnegat Light day-boat scallops; and hickory-grilled TC steak. For dessert, pastry chef Patrick Mueller presents familiar names in new shapes, such as a strawberry shortcake with vanilla chantilly, white chocolate ice cream, and 25-year-old balsamic vinegar; German cake with crème fraîche, Bing cherry sorbet, and kirsch foam; and, for adults only, a watermelon mojito with mint sorbet and 10 Cane Rum ice cream. For reservations call 973-451-2619.




Seafood bake at Copeland.

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IT’S PEACH MONTH

August is Jersey Fresh Peach Month, with restaurant participation, newly introduced farmers’ market involvement, and a peach and tomato tasting on August 18 at Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center Farm in Upper Deerfield near Bridgeton. Some of the restaurants that will be creating a special three- or four-course “Just Peachy” menu from August 4 to 6 are:

Andreotti’s Viennese Cafe, Cherry Hill (856-795-0172) www.andreottis.com
Barnsboro Inn, Sewell (856-468-3557) www.barnsboroinn.com
Bistro 44, Toms River (732-818-7644) www.bistro-44.com
Blackbird Dining Establishment, Collingswood (856-854-3444) www.blackbirdnj.com
Blueplate, Mullica Hill (856-478-2112) www.blueplatenj.com 
Boulevard Five 72, Kenilworth (908-709-1200) www.boulevardfive72.com
Castalia, West Paterson (973-785-8880) www.castaliatrattoria.com
Dinner on Irons, Toms River (732-281-2582) www.downtowntomsriver.com
The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick (732-846-3216) www.frogandpeach.com 
Girasole Ristorante, Atlantic City  (609-345-5554) www.girasoleac.com
Jesse’s Cafe & Catering, Long Branch (732-229-6999)
Joe Palombo’s Mirabella Cafe, Cherry Hill (856-354-1888) www.mirabellacafe.com 
Milford Oyster House, Milford (908-995-9411) www.milfordoysterhouse.com
Mix Lounge & Food Bar, Long Branch (732-923-9100)
The River Market, Toms River (732-505-8090) www.rivermarketcafe.com
Roselli's, Long Branch (732-923-9393) www.rosellisnj.com
The Tortilla Press, Collingswood (856-869-3345) www.thetortillapress.com
Tre Amici, Long Branch (732-571-8922) www.treamicinj.com
Trenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard, Trenton (609-656-4500) www.trentonmarriott.com

For more information, log on to www.jerseypeaches.com.




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SUMMER SALADS COOKING CLASS

If you’re looking for some healthy recipes to use with all of the wonderful vegetables that are in season, sign up for a cooking class, Summer Salad Spectacular, taught by Bernadette Armiento, owner of Shining Life Nutrition, at Kings Cooking Studio, 778 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills, on August 8 and at Kings Cooking Studio, 450 Route 206, Bedminster, on August 13. The following recipes will be demonstrated: quinoa salad with white beans, roasted peppers, and cumin dressing; shrimp and corn salad with jicama and tomatoes; colorful vegetable slaw with bok choy; steamed Chinese eggplant salad; Italian orange and olive salad; and cold soba noodles with miso-tahini dressing and broccoli. Each class runs from 6:30 to 9:30 PM and costs $50. To register call 973-258-4009 (Short Hills) or 908-719-4966 (Bedminster).

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SKINNY JIM’S BLENDS

Dimitrios “Skinny Jim” Komninos created Skinny Jim’s Blends, gourmet spice rubs that contain all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, coloring, or artificial flavors. Skinny Jim started cooking at an early age, as his father was a chef. Jim worked as GM at Bennigan’s and Chili’s and was regional culinary captain at LongHorn Steakhouse. He gave up his career in the restaurant business to care for his three children. As a stay-at-home dad, he put his culinary expertise to use by creating Skinny Jim’s Blends. A portion of the proceeds from every item sold is donated to the Children’s Therapy Center, where Jim’s daughter Zoey, who was born with cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, and seizure disorder, goes to school.

The choices are Original, Cajun, and Low Sodium. The Original blend is good with anything from protein to popcorn. We like it sprinkled on corn on the cob. The Cajun blend will add a little kick to your food, and the Low Sodium blend is similar to the Original blend but with less salt. Coming soon is Skinny Jim’s Volcano blend. To order log on to www.skinnyjimsblend.com (check out the recipe section as well) or call 800-350-9919.

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THE ITALIAN PANTRY BISTRO, CRANFORD

Cranford has quite a few interesting restaurant options, such as A Toute Heure, Cervantes of Spain, Cranford Hotel, Garlic Rose, and Marino Restaurant and Seafood Market. Recently we dined at the Italian Pantry Bistro, a small, easy-to-miss BYO restaurant at 13 Eastman Street. A summer menu is in place, which features fresh local ingredients. Dishes include chilled peach/Chambord soup; vegetable napoleon; wild greens salad; champanelle (bellflower) pasta with summer vegetables and tomato garlic broth; and blueberry shortcake. Many of the dishes coming out of the kitchen are head-turners. The stacked tomato and mozzarella presented with basil whipped cream looked luscious. A colorful appetizer of jumbo lump crab, avocado, hearts of palm, jicama, and tomato gazpacho was a very generous portion, easily shared by two; it could have been an entrée. A vibrant mango/lime BBQ-glazed free-range chicken breast was spicy and lip-smacking good. It was paired with a cold, refreshing ambrosia—entrée and dessert on one plate. House-made pappardelle was unusual in that it came with a balsamic sauce with chorizo, grapes, and manchego cheese, a combo that worked surprisingly well. The Italian Pantry gets busy even on weekdays, and a “heads up” on the menu states, “We are a scratch kitchen. Wait times may be increased during peak hours.” The restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday 5 to 10 PM. Reservations can be made at 908-272-7790.

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DINING DEALS

Do you like lobster? Avenue, Pier Village, 23 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch, has a three-course lobster dinner for $40 on Sundays. It also has a three-course prix-fixe menu daily from 4:30 to 6 PM (and all night on Tuesday) for $28.95. For reservations call 732-759-2900.

Through the end of August, Bonefish Grill locations in NJ are offering a dinner for two for $18. The deal includes a shared starter, two salads, and two entrées, with a seasonal vegetable and one side item.

All in Stimulus Mondays are celebrated at Salt Creek Grille, 4 Bingham Avenue, Rumson. Diners can order one dinner entrée at the regular price ($17.95 and up) and get the choice of chef’s soup or house salad and a chef’s special dessert. For reservations call 732-933-9272.

Throughout the summer, Aloha Mondays, featuring sushi specials and live music on the patio, are celebrated at Labrador Lounge, 3581 Route 35 North, Normandy Beach. On Tuesdays, a lobster bake with a whole steamed lobster is offered for $30. Call 732-830-5770 for reservations; BYO.

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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to rosie@njmonthly.com.