LOCAL SEASONAL KITCHEN, RAMSEY
The last time we swooned over chef Steve Santoro’s food was sometime late 1998/early 1999, when he was at Dish in Passaic. He’s back in NJ now as the executive chef at the newly opened Local Seasonal Kitchen in Ramsey, and we were ecstatic to experience his cuisine again after all these years.
The products used at Local are “local,” the meats hormone- and antibiotic-free and farm-raised fish are not used. The Italian, French and Mediterranean menu is supplemented with specials, which are recited without the prices. A chef’s tasting menu is available (also offered without the price).
One app was a knockout, the other not so. A silky and seductive ravioli filled with ricotta and an egg yolk that oozed when cut was served with a brown butter and sage sauce—and was outstanding. Not as successful was the octopus, which was charred and properly cooked but, in our opinion, had mismatched accompaniments: bland mashed avocado, mozzarella and a caperberry.
A pristine serving of red snapper, along with Beluga lentils, cranberry beans, cauliflower, leeks, spinach and a winter truffle vinaigrette was colorful and tasted as wonderful as it looked. Another standout was the Defiant porter braised short ribs with whipped parsley potatoes, and winter vegetables—a stick to your ribs hardy dish we can highly recommend. Other entrees included a chicken breast, wild bass, sea scallops and rib eye. Kudos to the chef for also offering a vegan faro risotto with vegetables.
Pastry chef Jessica Marotta, who was featured on the second season of the Food Network’s Sweet Genius is a talent to watch. Her dessert menu, which changes frequently, is enticing and we had a hard time choosing which two desserts to try, as they all read so deliciously. We loved the warm pineapple-jam tart with mascarpone cream and black pepper-infused wildflower honey, as well as the goat cheesecake with preserved sugar-plum rhubarb, and a pine nut-lavender crackle. Both were attention-grabbing desserts, a refreshing end to our dinner, and we appreciated that they were not assertively sweet. Chef Marotta also works for Ooh La La Catering in Franklin Lakes.
Service was attentive and the restaurant is comfortable with banquettes as well as tables. Check out the ladies room; it has a beautiful painting as well as branches and leaves painted on the wall. Local Seasonal Kitchen is more upscale than your typical storefront BYO and although the prices are high, we paid about $80 a person, including tax and tip, the quality of the food, ambiance and overall experience was worth it. We’ll be back here and recommend that you try this restaurant, too.
Red snapper along with Beluga lentils, cranberry beans, cauliflower, leeks, spinach and a winter-truffle vinaigrette
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein
Local Seasonal Kitchen
41 W Main St
Ramsey
201-962-9400
BYO
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MONTCLAIR FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
The Montclair Food & Wine Festival, will be held on June 1 and 2 at the Women’s Club, 200 Cooper Ave, Upper Montclair with a portion of the proceeds going to a scholarship fund and two hospitals. A Grand Tasting on June 1 will offer tastings and wines; 7 to 10 PM, $95; VIP 6 PM, $120. On June 2, a special six-course Wine Pairing Gala dinner will be presented by the following chefs: Michael Carrino (Pig & Prince); Ariane Duarte (CulinAriane); Ryan DePersio (Fascino, Bar Cara and NICO Kitchen + Bar; Mitchell Altholz (Highlawn Pavilion); Francesco Palmieri (Orange Squirrel); and Zod Arifai (Blu, Next Door, and Daryl). Sharon Sevrens, owner of Amanti Vino in Montclair, will be pairing the wines and giving an explanation on the particular wines paired. 5 to 10 PM; $165; table of ten $150 per person. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.montclairfoodandwinefestival.org/
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CARRIAGE HOUSE CAFÉ & TEAROOM, CAPE MAY
The Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St, Cape May will reopen April 26 for the season. Menu includes salads, wraps, soups, quiche, and tea sandwiches, as well as a Classic Tea Luncheon and Elegant Afternoon Tea. Open daily, 11 AM to 4 PM. Reservations: 609-884-5111.
Join the Impromptu Players for a four-course Murder Mystery dinner, “Foul Weather Fiend” at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on April 27 and May 4 at 7 PM; $45. Visit www.capemaymac.org, or call 609-884-5404 for more information.
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RAT’S, HAMILTON
There are two interesting events at Rat’s, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton coming up soon. On April 24, a Wine Blending Party will be held with communal-style seating due to the interactive nature of this event.
On May 16, a Wild Mushroom and Burgundy dinner will be held at 6 PM. For information and reservations, call 609-584-7800.
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DINING DEAL
Guimarello’s, 329 Haddon Ave, Haddon Township, offers a three-course prix-fixe menu from 5 to 6:30 PM Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 4 to 5:30 PM. It includes a choice of cup of soup or house salad, entrée, coffee, decaf and homemade dessert. Reservations: 856-858-9400.
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