ARIANE TO LEAVE MONTCLAIR; OPEN IN VERONA
Ariane and Michael Duarte, the chef/owners of the highly regarded restaurant CulinAriane, are closing their Montclair location at the end of August and opening a new establishment in Verona. Construction already has started at the new Verona space at 706 Bloomfield Avenue, the former home of O’Neill’s Restaurant and Pub.
The new location, due to open in mid-October, will be called Ariane Kitchen + Bar. It will have a casual menu including small and large plates, burgers, salads, steaks and chicken dishes. “There will be something for everyone,” Ariane told me in a phone interview. And unlike CulinAriane, the new location will have a liquor license.
The new menu will include at least two CulinAriane favorites: The cornmeal crusted oysters with horseradish cream and micro greens, and the sashimi tuna flower, with crispy wontons, pickled cucumber and wasabi crème fraiche. Dishes will be priced under $30, and the restaurant will be open daily from 4 pm (closed Tuesdays).
The Duartes are CIA graduates. Ariane’s star has been rising since she appeared as a contestant on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and HLN Network’s “Cook Your Ass Off.” She has been featured on many other TV shows and at charity events. Read about our latest visit to CulinAriane here.
Executive Chef Ariane Duarte
CRAVINGS, RIDGEWOOD
You can hop around the world and sample a variety of cuisines at Cravings. There is a Spanish influence with crispy potato and chorizo croquettes filled with tetilla cheese, paella Valenciana or empanadas; Greece and Turkey are represented with hummus; Italian cuisine with veal meatballs in a tomato sauce and eggplant Parmigiana; New England with a lobster sandwich; Colombia and Venezuela with the ground maize dough arepa; France with French, dry-cured sausage and chevre; and a Japanese-influenced dish of teriyaki-glazed Scottish salmon is also on the menu.
Tapas rule here and we found the portions to be ample for two to share. We were advised that 3 dishes per person were recommended but were full after two each and one dessert.
Do not expect a leisurely or quiet dinner. When we were told that the dishes would be brought to the table as they are ready, we asked that the four items ordered be served two at a time and found the wait staff very accommodating. Our asparagus, fennel, apple, shaved pecorino and apple-basil vinaigrette was light and refreshing with crunch and tartness. The traditional empanadas with ground beef, potatoes, onion and olives got their gusto from a spicy chimichurri dipping sauce. Ethereal ricotta gnocchi with lamb ragu and peas were a knockout, while the eggplant parmigiana needed a more flavorful tomato sauce. While the chocolate bouchon on the dessert of that name was rich and could have stood on its own, the rest of the deconstructed items on this visually interesting dish were disappointing, with inferior tasting chocolate ice cream.
Executive chef/co-owner Michael Merida has an impressive resume. He previously worked at Mezza in Westwood and has had stints at the Fat Duck in London, El Bulli in Spain, Park Avenue Café, Vong, Le Bernadin and Mia Dona all in NYC.
Cravings is BYO but sells wines from Unionville Vineyards, as well as sangria using their wines. They are open for dinner Tuesday through Friday.
Ricotta gnocchi with lamb ragu and peas.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein
Cravings Tapas Bistro
8 Wilsey Square
Ridgewood
201-652 2120
BYO
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