The Rub On Rhubarb
With all due respect to baseball’s expressive word diet, spring’s eternal vegetal stalk reaches its apex in the gardens and kitchens of those who learned of its charms from family gardeners and cooks preceding them. LOTF columnist Kate Munning passes on her own traditions.
Tuckers Tavern
A mainstay on Long Beach Island fires on all cylinders – scene, setting, service and, especially, its wide-ranging yet well-edited menu. After, pop in for a scoop at another worthy island stalwart, Skipper Dipper.
Heavy Hitters 06-05-23
It was an especially fine-eating couple of weeks, so this quintet gets an extra pat on the back for emerging triumphant. Make sure to catch ’em while you can.
A Cheese That Doesn’t Stand Alone
Ingredient inspiration goes nutty, creamy, sour, bitter, peppery – and maybe more, in a dish starring escarole, lemon and a new Garden State Pecorino Romano from Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley.
BYOB Futures
Calculating the risks of being an unlicensed restaurant in the Garden State leads to a most unhappy conclusion: Without liquor reform, most independent chef-driven eateries won’t make enough profit to survive.
L’Acquario Seafood Italiano
Straddling The Sandbox, a bar true to its name at Seastreak Beach, is a small food truck pod with varying vendors. Whether you’re debarking from one of the ferry service’s boats or coming off Sandy Hook, check to see if this seafooder-on-wheels is docked.
One Fine Day
Cheese at noon, rhubarb to follow, herbs in the afternoon and the best smoked brisket ever, ever, ever in the evening: You’re gonna want all of this for your next day off.
Haht Stuff Coming Through
A most versatile beverage mix for the culinarily curious is a nuanced blend of fruits and chilies developed by an inquisitive talent.
Hainesville General Store
Food – and good food, to boot – is the focus at a thoroughly modern reincarnation of an old-school concept.
A Samaha Salad
Garden State romaine is the foundation of a produce-packed toss you can keep simple or ramp up as desired.
David Felton, Wonder
The newest inductee into TPW’s elite chefs-pick-chefs club of top toques in the Garden State has left his distinguished mark on some of New Jersey’s most acclaimed restaurants. Today, he’s also one of the anointed at Wonder, a food-tech enterprise looking to revolutionize dining.
Now In-Season
Get out your personal dine card and start making a list of where you want to eat this summer. We’re sharing our initial picks with you – and we’ll share lots more as the season meanders its way to leaf-peeping time.