Author: Eric Levin

Eric Levin, New Jersey Monthly’s deputy editor/dining editor, is an award-winning photographer whose work has been exhibited in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Texas. His most recent show, "Vehicular," took place at the Majestic Theater Condominium Gallery in Jersey City in 2019. His books of photography include Vehicular (2016), Unscheduled Stops (2014), Pink's Peak (2013) and Souls Have Shapes (2011).

Bobby Flay Steak

January 28, 2008

Throwdown with Bobby Flay—the brash, boyish star’s latest Food Network series—is all about one-upmanship.

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Does any celebrity chef spread him-self thinner than Wolfgang Puck? He commands an empire of four Spagos, eight other fine-dining restaurants, four Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafes, and thirteen Wolfgang Puck Express eateries, to say nothing of TV shows, cookbooks, cookware, frozen pizzas, soups, and catering.

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With its all-natural meats and gourmet, have-it-your-way burritos, Chipotle Mexican Grill sets out to win Jersey tastebuds and minds.

Seen in: Cheap Eats, Eat & Drink

Christopher’s

December 20, 2007

At Christopher’s, in the prime location of the Heldrich Hotel, chef Tom Drake shows he’s ready for prime-time, even if the restaurant must smooth a few rough edges.

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We asked you who makes the best French fries in NJ. Sports teams should only have fans as loyal as WindMill’s.

Seen in: Cheap Eats, Eat & Drink

Petula Clark had it right when she sang, “The lights are much brighter there, you can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares....” It was 1964, and everyone understood the allure of that one-word title, “Downtown.” It was a glamorous, skyscraping, urban beehive where “all the noise and the hurry seems to help.”

Seen in: Best Of Jersey

I can still taste the best blueberry I ever ate. It was big and squatly round and deep blue, with that periwinkle dusting that the ripest blueberries have. And it was stolen. It went directly from the bush to my mouth, never to be weighed at the shed a quarter mile across the blueberry farm.

Seen in: Best Of Jersey

Writer in Residence

December 19, 2007

Newsweek Columnist Jonathan Alter interprets history as it happens.At home,he steeps himself in the past ,including the edigree of his Victorian dream house.

Seen in: Best Of Jersey