Restaurant News

This week Rosie tells us about 17 Summer in Lodi, J&K Steakhouse in Montclair, places to dine on Father’s Day and much more news about NJ restaurants.

17 SUMMER, LODI
Since we love unusual restaurant venues, 17 Summer Street in Lodi, located in a catering kitchen of Joseph Cuccia Catering Inc, beckoned us. Also, as chef/owner Joseph Cuccia, who has worked for Drew Nieporent at Mia House Vietnamese Restaurant in NYC and BarCara in Bloomfield under chef Ryan Depersio, was a participant in the Ultimate Chef of Bergen County this year. We were anxious to taste his cuisine. His sister Jenna is co-owner, director of public relations and acts as hostess and expeditor at the restaurant.

Chef Cuccia specializes in private dining and offers catering for everything from intimate dinner parties of four to large social gatherings of 500. Once a month, he offers a set menu with choices for about 28 people for $75, plus tax and tip; BYO. The space has the original 100-year-old ceiling, industrial-style lights, and modern pictures thar give the place a NY ambiance. Since you are sitting in the catering kitchen, everyone has a front-row seat of the chef and his assistants preparing your dinner.

We started with robust, house-made Italian sausage with warm, Chilean Alfonso olives over creamy polenta; house-made burrata with sopressata drizzled with extra virgin olive oil; and crispy, deep-fried quail and waffles with blueberries, a take on southern fried chicken. Both the unusual pea-and-artichoke soup with frizzled shallot, and the tangy ceviche of shrimp and scallops marinated in lime and olive oil were gobbled up and were well-balanced dishes. Our main entrees were a juicy, pan-roasted chicken with candy cane beets; perfectly grilled hanger steak, topped with seasoned breadcrumbs accompanied by Swiss chard and roasted cipollini onions; and creamy tagliatelle carbonara with pancetta and peas. We were full by this point and both desserts offered were light and satisfying: a poached Bosc pear stuffed with crème brulee mousse and almond praline, and a colorful citrus tart with basil pastry cream and mixed citrus. We were four very contented diners. Visit http://josephcucciacatering.com/ or e-mail [email protected] for information or to be put on their mailing list. The dinners sell out fast.

Tagliatelle carbonara
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein

17 Summer
17 Summer Street
Lodi, NJ 07664
973-928-4780
BYO

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J & K STEAKHOUSE, MONTCLAIR

Jarod Zelaya’s grandmother owned a restaurant in his home country of El Salvador and when he came to the U.S. at age 10 he knew that someday he’d open his own restaurant and continue the family tradition. In May 2008, he and his wife, Kathy, opened J&K Steakhouse in Dover, named with their initials. Since then, the Zelayas’ have opened two more restaurants, one in Morristown and the latest in Montclair.

The Montclair location is the prettiest of the bunch, with black walls and white decorative molding, it has a sleek modern ambiance. Waiters, who are well versed on menu items, provide attentive service.

Depending on how hungry you are and what you want to order, it may be worthwhile and less expensive to check out the three-course, pre-fixe menu for $50, or 4 courses for $56. Both have choices. We opted for the three courses, which was more than enough food for us.

Salads were served on chilled plates and all of them were big enough to be shared. The mixed-green salad had tomatoes, dried cranberries and shredded carrots providing color and contrast. A center cut of iceberg was piled high and surrounded by an abundance blue cheese dressing, bacon, onions and tomatoes. It was fabulous. Not as successful was the Caesar salad, as the dressing was overloaded with an anchovy taste that overwhelmed the romaine.

The 16-ounce, bone-in rib eye, as well as the 14-ounce New York strip, are listed as prime dry aged. While they were cooked perfectly, they were not as tender or tasty as we have had at other steakhouses. Additionally, too much kosher salt was sprinkled on them in the kitchen, making all of the steaks too salty for everyone. A side of string beans were al dente and enjoyed, as well as a side of French fries. Non-meat eaters can opt for shrimp, grilled eggplant gratin, fish, vegetarian or seafood linguine.

Desserts were visually impressive and we had no complaints about the crème brulee, brownie with vanilla ice cream, ice cream served in a pastry shell or the cheesecake.

Iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein

J & K Steakhouse
44 South Park Street
Montclair
973-746-7800
BYO

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Eat! Drink! Italy withVic Rallo
Watch the premier on public television of Eat! Drink! Italy withVic Rallo, a restaurateur, who owns Basil T’s Brewery and Italian Grill in Red Bank and Undici Taverna Rustica in Rumson. The show was filmed  throughout Italy and features the best in Italian food and wine. Rallo is the author of Napoleon Wasn’t Exiled: A Wine and Travel Journal and has a new book, 21 Wines, which he wrote with Italian wine and culture expert Anthony Verdoni. His latest book describes the 21 memorable wines that he and Verdoni encountered on their visits to Italy. For more information, visit http://www.eatdrinkitaly.org/.

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ELEMENTS, PRINCETON
On June 24, chef Dominique Crenn of the two Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, CA will work in conjunction with local New Jersey designer John Shedd to produce a seven-course tasting event at Elements, 163 Bayard Lane, Princeton. Based upon her personal sketches, Shedd is designing a service piece that will aesthetically complement one of chef Crenn’s dishes that evening. Each guests will receive hand-crafted artisan pottery to take home. 6 PM; $120, exclusive of tax and gratuity; $45 beverage pairing is optional. Reservations: 609-924-0078.

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FATHER’S DAY, JUNE 16
Here are a few places to celebrate with dad on Father’s Day:

Casa Dante, 737 Newark Ave, Jersey City is offering a full regular menu, plus a Specials Menu for the dad in your life. More information at www.casadante.com/events or call 201-795-2750.

A special Father’s Day Lunch will be held in the Chef’s Garden at Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg with three chefs each preparing a course that will be paired with a different craft beer. Noon to 4 PM; $70, inclusive of food and unlimited beer; lunch menus sans beer will be offered to those under 21. Reservations: 973-827-5996 ext 3.

The Strip House, Westminster Hotel, 550 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston has made the following additions to their a la carte menu for Father’s Day: jumbo lump crab cake with preserved lemon, baby arugula, and remoulade sauce; dry-aged prime rib with a sweet corn popover, and horseradish crème; and spiced rum cake with roasted pineapple and toasted almonds. Dads will receive chef Bill Zucosky’s “How to Grill the Prefect Steak” tips, just in time for Summer Grilling. Reservations: 973-548-0050.

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CHILDREN’S COOKING CLASSES AT THE POP SHOP, COLLINGSWOOD
Send your child to cooking school this summer at The Pop Shop, 729 Haddon Ave, Collingswood. The cooking class series begins Thursday, June 6 from 4:15 to 5 PM. Each week the series will feature a recipe inspired by children’s books; $60.

The following classes will be taught:
June 6: Fresh homemade salsa and guacamole.

June 13: Strawberry Short-Short-Short Cakes

June 20: Pasta salad concoctions

June 27: Blueberry dessert

Reservations required: 856-869-0111 ext. 5

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RAM’S HEAD INN, GALLOWAY
Visit the Ram’s Head Inn, 9 West White Horse Pike, Galloway now through June 20 and submit your name to be eligible for a chance to win two tickets to the Ram’s Head Inn VIP Chalet at the Atlantic City Airshow on Wednesday, June 26. Enjoy a complimentary lunch and refreshments while experiencing a front-row seat on the beach at the air show. A drawing of the lucky winners will be held on June 21st. Winners must be available to pick up their tickets at Ram’s Head Inn on June 22nd, 23rd, or 25th. For more information, call 609-652-1700.

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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].

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