NJRA AWARDS AT RESTAURANT OPERATORS CONFERENCE
Chef Peter Morris of Asbury Park’s Langosta Lounge recently won the Top New Chef award at the New Jersey Restaurant Association’s 2014 Restaurant Operators Conference, better known as ROC’14. The award-winning dish, Umami Filet Mignon with Prawns, was one of four entries created on the spot by New Jersey chefs and served to industry judges. Each competitor was required to use a 6 oz. filet mignon as the main ingredient. All four contestants were judged on taste, creativity, appearance and food safety.
Christopher James, head bartender at the Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station and winner of New Jersey Monthly’s Iron Shaker competition, shook the competition and won the New Jersey Restaurant Association’s Mixologist of the Year Competition. The winning cocktail creation, Ms. New Jersey, was inspired by the 1950s classic drink, The Pink Lady. Seven bartenders from around New Jersey who participated in the competition were required to use at least 1 ounce of Hendrick’s Gin in their cocktail.
Established in 1942, the New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) represents the Garden State’s 25,000 eating and drinking establishments—the State’s largest private sector employers, generating $14.2 billion in annual sales and employing over 318,000 people. Support, Education & Advocacy for its members is part of the NJRA’s recipe for success and why it has become an essential ingredient for the hospitality industry. Visit the website for more info.
CHEF ADAM WEISS AT DUE, RIDGEWOOD
Chef Adam Weiss, who won the 2013 and 2014 Ultimate Chef of Bergen County held at Chef Central in Paramus, and was previously executive chef at Esty Street in Park Ridge is the new executive chef at Due, 18 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood (201-857-3232); BYO. Chef Weiss expects to slowly incorporate a new modern-Italian menu with twists, turns and originality. The menu is written in Italian with an English translation underneath.
NEW CHEF DE CUISINE AT SATIS, JERSEY CITY
Chef de cuisine, Galice Ryan, of Satis, 212 Washington St, Jersey City (201-435-5151), has accepted a position with Keith McNally’s newest restaurant in New York City, Cherche Midi. Co-owner Michael Garcia wrote: “We are sad to see Galice go, but very proud of his accomplishments here at Satis over the last 3-1/2 years. Michael Fiorianti remains our executive chef, while the new chef de cuisine is David Werner, formally of Landmark Hospitality.” Werner worked for Landmark Hospitality at Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City, where he held the position of sous chef. Prior to joining Landmark Werner was executive chef at Mompou in Newark and Market Restaurant in Montclair.
CHEFS AT NEWLY OPENED LABORATORIO IN MONTCLAIR
Marco Brito is the executive chef/owner of Laboratorio, which recently opened at 615 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair (973-746-6100), serving new American cuisine; BYO. Working in the kitchen with him is chef de cuisine Todd Bencivenni, who has worked in various places throughout the U.S. His specialty is charcuterie. Marcos Rios is sous chef and Leticia Meneses, the pastry chef, was the executive pastry chef at Ora in Morristown, which closed in December 2007.
CARLOS AVELLANEDA AT FOGO IN MONTCLAIR
Carlos Avellaneda, who previously worked at Restaurant Lorena’s in Maplewood, is the chef at the newly opened tapas restaurant, Fogo, located at 19 Park St, Montclair; BYO. 973-744-3255.
EXECUTIVE CHEF MIKE D’ENNERY
Mike d’Ennery is the new executive chef at Lago, formerly known as Sir John’s, located at 230 Washington Place on Farrington Lake, North Brunswick. Chef d’Ennery previously worked at Maverick Kitchen, Atlantic Bar and Grill, and Trinity Restaurant. The restaurant and banquet facility offers New American cuisine (732-297-3803).
CHANGES AT MEMOIRE IN RIDGEWOOD
Executive chef Giacomo Mistretta, formerly of Esty Street and Napa Valley Grille, is no longer at Memoire, 16 Chestnut St, Ridgewood (201-857-8899). Restaurateur Thomas Finnelli has announced that the new executive chef is Jeremiah Buchanan Echeandra, who previously worked at Son Cubano in West New York and MK Valencia in Ridgefield Park.
EXECUTIVE CHEF FRANCO ROBAZETTI
Franco Robazetti is the new executive chef at Zeppelin Beer Hall, 88 Liberty View Drive, (201-721-8888) and Surf City, 1 Marin Blvd, (201-516-9000), both in Jersey City. He’s currently developing a whole new menu for Surf City, helping to convert the space into more of a sit down service restaurant rather than the fast food style that is currently at Zeppelin Hall. Chef Franco Robazetti is a native of Venezuela and a graduate of the Cordon Bleu Program in Caracas. He has also completed Master Baker Certification at the French Culinary Institute in New York. Previously, he was at Zylo in Hoboken as an executive sous chef and executive banquet chef.
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EDIBLE JERSEY LISTS 2014 LOCAL HEROS
Congratulations to the following people who were voted by the readers of Edible Jersey as having made an impact on local communities and food practices at large:
FOOD ARTISAN: Michael Sirchio, The Arctic Market & Butcher, Point Pleasant Beach
FOOD SHOP: Lucy’s Kitchen & Market, Princeton
BEVERAGE ARTISAN: OQ Coffee Co., Highland Park
FARM/FARMER: Jess Niederer, Chickadee Creek Farm, Pennington
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION: Franciscan Charities, Inc./ St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen, Newark
CHEF/RESTAURANT: Aishling Stevens, Americana Diner, East Windsor
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CHEFS’ TABLE AVAILABLE AT THE MONTCLAIR FOOD & WINE FEST
Tickets for the Montclair Food & Wine Festival Gala Dinner which will be held on Monday evening, June 2 at the Manor in West Orange are on now on sale. Amanti Vino, Montclair will be pairing the wines for the courses prepared by the gala chefs: Mitchell Altholz, Highlawn Pavilion; Michael Carrino, Pig & Prince; Ryan DePersio, Fascino & Battello; Ariane Duarte, CulinAriane; Francesco Palmieri, The Orange Squirrel and celebrity guest chef, Floyd Cardoz. In addition to the wines, there will also be two signature cocktails over the course of the evening from Busted Barrel Rum and Leaf Organic Vodka.
As a new twist this year, an exclusive Chefs’ Table for eight people at the gala dinner will be auctioned via eBay, live May 2 until May 15. Bids begin at $5,000. If you have already purchased a table, but participate in the auction and are the winner of the Chefs’ Table, your original table purchase can be refunded upon request.
For additional information about the Montclair Food & Wine Festival’s Grand Tasting (May 31, at the Montclair Art Museum) or the Seminar Series (June 1, at The Commonwealth Club and Designer Appliances) e-mail [email protected], or visit the event website.
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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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