LORENA’S, MAPLEWOOD
All evening we kept saying, “This is the best _______ I’ve ever had.” No surprise, as Humberto Campos Jr., chef/owner of Lorena’s, 168 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, has a stellar reputation in NJ and has been receiving rave reviews since he opened in June 2005. Recently he was awarded the Best of the Best, Most Romantic, and Top 25 Restaurants in NJ by New Jersey Monthly. Zagat has rated Lorena’s an impressive 28. This small restaurant has recently been redecorated, giving it a soothing and sophisticated ambiance. The service is impeccable, and the ingredients are exemplary. You do want to dine here.
Starters included roasted organic beets, pistachios, Roquefort, balsamic, and orange emulsion, and an outrageously delicious warm crêpe of lump crab, mushrooms, fresh herb emulsion, and white truffle oil.
Lorena’s beet salad.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
Fish here tastes as if it was just plucked from the sea. Wreckfish, a new one for us, turned out to be a delicate, mild fish that was described to us as a bass. It’s caught off the coast of South Carolina, near shipwrecks. Chef Campos paired it with Israeli couscous, a fresh herb/cranberry jus, and almonds, creating a stellar dish. Long Island Crescent duck was so tender it could have been filet mignon. In a well-balanced dish, it was served with wild rice, braised fennel, and a currant-orange duck jus. Another absolute knockout was eighteen-hour braised beef short ribs, served with a polenta cake, mushroom fricassee, Roquefort, and a rich braising jus. Dynamite desserts included a warm pear, raisin, and almond brioche bread pudding with caramel sauce; a warm apple tart with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream; a bowl of mixed berries; and house-made coffee, vanilla, and raspberry ice cream.
Lorena’s is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday and for brunch on Sunday. A three-course prix-fixe menu is available daily from 5 to 6 PM for $29. For reservations, call 973-763-4460; BYO.
Wreckfish.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
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DI PALMA BROTHERS, NORTH BERGEN
We always feel as if we’re at Grandma’s house, only better, when dining at Di Palma Brothers, 8728 Boulevard, North Bergen. This BYO red-sauce Italian restaurant is filled with antiques, all of which are available for purchase. Shop and eat, or eat first and then shop among the furniture, vintage jewelry, china, and tchotchkes. It’s a hoot. Complimentary mixed green salad, bruschetta, and addictive crusty Italian bread are placed on the table when you’re seated. When ordering, be aware that you’ll be bringing home food, as portions are big. We had mussels in tomato sauce and Grandma’s meatballs for starters, followed by cheese-filled cannelloni, eggplant parm, and chicken saltimbocca. Everything was fabulous. I don’t know why we ordered dessert, as we were beyond stuffed, but the homemade apple pie beckoned. It was scrumptious, but three of us couldn’t finish the portion. For reservations, call 201-868-3005.
Di Palma cannelloni.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
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PICNIC, FAIR LAWN
On January 9, Picnic: The Restaurant, 14-25 Plaza Road North, Fair Lawn (BYO), will host a four-course Game Night with fresh game from D’Artagnan Gourmet Foods. Executive chef/owner Christine Nunn will present the following menu:
Hors d’oeuvres: foie gras kisses
Seared foie gras with poached pear and blackberry and fig balsamic reduction
Everything but the Oink: pulled wild boar shoulder and braised Berkshire pork belly with bacon mushroom bread pudding
Venison with Armagnac demi-glace and black truffles
Pastis Gascogne
Seatings are at 6 and 8:30 PM; $85 plus tip. Proceeds will benefit Rebuilding Together Bergen County. For reservations, call 201-796-2700.
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STAGE LEFT, NEW BRUNSWICK
Beginning January 13, Stage Left, 5 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, will be offering a four-week wine course on Friday evenings. Each class begins at 7 PM and will run 60 to 75 minutes. The following topics will be addressed: January 13, Serious Wines From Germany and Austria; January 20, Pinot Noir, Old World and New; January 27, The Killer B’s of Italy: Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello; and February 3, Cabernets You Never Expected: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Individual classes are $100, and a four-class package is $379. After each class, a special three-course prix-fixe dinner featuring that week’s wines will be available. Call 732-828-4444 to register.
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CHARITY DINNER AT LANGOSTA LOUNGE, ASBURY PARK
On January 11, a cooking class taught by chef/restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach, From Land to Sea: Cooking With Marilyn, will be held at Langosta Lounge, Third Avenue Pavilion, 1000 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, to benefit the Boys and Girls Club. 6:30 PM; $50 including dinner. For more information and reservations, call 732-455-3275 or e-mail [email protected].
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LOOKING AHEAD
On Saturday, January 28, a six-course South African wine dinner and tasting bar will be held at the Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, sponsored by Uncorked Consultants. 6:30 to 10:30 PM; $100 including tax and gratuity. For tickets, call 973-5-WINE-54.
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