Zod Arifai, previous owner of Blu and Next Door in Montclair, has teamed up with Ed Schoenfeld (Red Farm and Decoy, both in NYC) to open a bistro called The Mess, (it is a reference to mess hall) on 13th Street in New York City in early 2017.
MICHAEL CARRINO
Kudos to Pig & Prince chef/owner Mike Carrino who prepared 1,500 Thanksgiving meals for the Montclair Salvation Army’s annual community dinner. This is the 10th year chef Carrino has donated his time by roasting 1,500 pounds of turkey (donated by King’s Food Market in Verona) 300 lbs of potatoes, 200 lbs of vegetables, 300 lbs of stuffing, 60 gallons of gravy, 50 lbs of fresh, sorted greens, and 150 lbs of apples. According to Chef Carrino, 80 percent of the food was donated by local farms and purveyors. He and his restaurant covered the rest. Prep work started three to four days before Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving Day, he and his staff begin cooking before dawn. Pig & Prince is located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair (973-233-1006).
HEKTOR DAJO
Hektor Dajo, previously from Lithos Estiatorio, is the executive chef at Barka, a new restaurant that offers Mediterranean cuisine and fresh seafood, at 60 Rt 46, Mountain Lakes (973-917-3386).
RICHARD DRAKE
Richard Drake, previously chef at from Langosta Lounge (Asbury Park), is now at Russell & Bette’s, 21 West River Road, (732-842-6205). Both restaurants are owned by Marilyn Schlossbach.
KENNETH JOHNSON
Kenneth Johnson is the executive chef at Atlas Public House, an international gastropub, at 130 Newark Avenue, Jersey City (201-479-8353).
CARLO PIETRONIRO AND JOE-CARLO VALLECILLOS
Chef Carlo Pietroniro, formerly from La Scala in Hoboken and Manager Joe-Carlo Vallecillos, have opened L’Angolo Trattoria Italiana at 696 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park (201-941-0853).
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