In the 2007 film The Bucket List, Jersey’s own Jack Nicholson and newfound pal Morgan Freeman vow to do all the things they’ve dreamed of before they kick the proverbial bucket. Next thing you know, Nicholson convinces Freeman to skydive with him. “I hate your rotten guts,” screams a terrified Freeman as the two plunge earthward.
This month’s “Foodie Bucket List” does not suggest any such death-defying stunts—but we do take you to the wild and rewarding extremes of New Jersey dining. At the refined end of the spectrum, we savor such dishes as the sole meunière at Chez Catherine in Westfield, and the crab and mushroom crêpe at Lorena’s in Maplewood.
On the simpler side, we sample the sliders at White Manna in Hackensack, and the uber-flavorful fried chicken at Corinne’s Place in Camden. We slurp Jersey oysters and clams at Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen in Morristown; savor the pecan sticky buns from Balthazar Bakery in Englewood; and delight in the doughnuts at Schnackenberg’s in Hoboken and Curiosity Doughnuts in Stockton. We also guide you through the fresh and authentic South Asian culinary treasures of Oak Tree Road in Edison and Iselin, and the wondrous wine tour at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg.
We hope you’ll add a few of these Jersey pleasures to your personal bucket list. And perhaps like Nicholson diving through the sky in Hollywood’s Bucket List, you’ll cry out, “This is living!”