Restaurant News

This week Rosie tells us about Honey’s Kitchen in Fairfield, Bon Giovanni in Ramsey, Tutti Vous in Montclair, and much more news about NJ restaurants.

HONEY’S KITCHEN, FAIRFIELD
Based on the ovation he received when he entered the dining room, it was obvious that Chef Carlos Castro, owner of Honey’s Kitchen, already has a strong following. Located in a mixed residential and industrial area at 48 Clinton Road, Fairfield, this 36-seat BYO is open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. We were there for the chef’s five-course Saturday-night tasting dinner, which is offered twice monthly for $48 plus tax and tip. Chef Carlos previously worked under Scott Conant and Jean-Georges Vongerichten and was a sous chef at Le Cirque in New York City, and this dining concept allows him to show off his culinary talents. Reservations are a must and the menu is fixed, although it is e-mailed about two weeks before the tastings, and substitutions are available with prior notice. Even though flowers donned the tables, silverware was replaced, and cloth napkins and tablecloths were used, don’t expect polished service. But do expect very good, artistically presented food and a welcoming staff, and know that your table can be yours for the evening. On the night we were at Honey’s, a loud crowd enthusiastically enjoying the wine and food created a festive atmosphere.

Our dinner started with a crab cake amuse, a perfect hint of the quality of the food that was to come. Next was a rich mushroom soup with a touch of cream and truffle oil. A raft of bread floating atop the soup was sprinkled with chopped mushrooms. The salad was a refreshing and colorful mélange of balsamic-dressed greens, endive, walnuts, Roquefort, raspberries, and the smallest diced apples we have ever seen, served on a chilled plate. Our favorite dish, the fish course, consisted of perfectly cooked jumbo shrimp with farro, asparagus, and leeks, topped with a long slice of sweet fried carrot. Beurre blanc sauce with a touch of fresh tomatoes and basil oil added another layer of flavor to the fish. Beef tenderloin, served rare with a fried yucca chip, pepper medley, haricots verts, and red wine sauce, was another flavorful dish. Dessert was disappointing, though, considering that the meal had been flawless to that point; we didn’t find the chocolate éclair accompanied with a scoop of so-so ice cream worth the calories. Honey’s Kitchen will be offering a special dinner on Valentine’s Day. For reservations, and to be placed on the restaurant’s e-mail list, call 973-287-6749.



Shrimp with farro, asparagus, and leeks.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.

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BON GIOVANNI, RAMSEY
Sam Mussa, the jovial owner of Bon Giovanni (“Fine Italian Cuisine With a Brazilian Touch”), 61 East Main Street, Ramsey, makes you feel so welcome that it’s easy to see why this cozy restaurant is a favorite with the locals. Traditional Italian favorites, cold and hot appetizers, pastas, and chicken and fish dishes are found on the menu. Recommended items include fettuccine with broccoli rabe and sweet sausage (a special the night we were there); veal parmigiana; chicken Scarpariello on the bone with peppers, mushrooms, potatoes, and sausage; and Sam’s Chicken, a breast topped with ricotta, spinach, prosciutto, and mozzarella. A house salad of greens and sliced tomato served on a chilled plate comes with dinner. Mussa, who’s originally from South America, has kept most entrées under $20, except those in a higher-priced Brazilian section that includes grilled items such as veal chops, beef, chicken, and swordfish. Bon Giovanni is BYO, and you should expect to have leftovers for the next day. For reservations, call 201-825-1111.

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TUTTI VOUS, MONTCLAIR
Executive chef Margie King changes the eclectic menu every few weeks at Tutti Vous, which means “all you” (“all” in Italian and “you” in French). The motto at this small storefront BYO at 348 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair: “Here @ Tutti Vous there are no strangers, only friends we haven’t met yet.” We certainly found the staff to be friendly, and co-owner Michael Mancino was one of the most accommodating waiters we’ve encountered in a long time. When he saw that we were taking pictures of the food, he brought over other patrons’ dishes for us to shoot. He is also a professional photographer, and he took pictures of our table and gave us copies. Now to the food. If it’s available, try the crispy crab cake dressed with spicy lemon aioli and served with field greens. Large chunks of crabmeat were also the stars in a creamy baked crab and artichoke dip. Pumpkin ravioli surrounded by a brown butter and sage sauce could have been an entrée, and we loved this dish. Entrées included the tasty, substantial shrimp Santorini, or shrimp baked in tomato sauce with feta and served with linguine. Meat eaters as well as vegetarians would be pleased with the baked vegetable lasagna with fire-roasted red peppers, grilled eggplant, wild mushrooms, and pesto ricotta. And those who like heat will get plenty of it with the Caribbean jerk chicken. The only disappointment was the chicken alla vodka over linguini, a special, which was bland and made with overcooked pasta. Save room for dessert, and don’t miss Josie’s icebox cake, made with peanut butter, bananas, chocolate pudding, and a graham cracker crust. For reservations, call 973-707-7012.



Crab cake dressed with spicy lemon aioli.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.

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COOKED AND UNCORKED FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL
On January 24, the Cooked and Uncorked Food and Wine Festival will be held at Pines Manor, 2085 Route 27, Edison, to benefit the St. Barnabas Burn Foundation and the NJ State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association. This event will feature a cook-off between ten fire departments, and celebrity judges will include the ABC TV Eyewitness News team of Ken Rosato, Lori Stokes, and Bill Evans. Master of ceremonies will be Joe Nolan of 95.5 PLJ New York and WABC News. 5:30 to 8:30 PM; $45. For more information, log on to www.cookedanduncorked.com or call 732-499-9250.

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HUDSON RESTAURANT WEEK
Hudson Restaurant Week will be held from January 24 through February 4 with discounted prix-fixe meals at 40-plus restaurants from Jersey City to West New York. For more information, log on to www.hudsonrestaurantweek.com.

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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.