Boom Boom Chicken, Meet Fresh and HeyTea
Korean fried chicken and its mates followed by a Taiwanese dessert and a cap-it-off beverage at a place that’s become a worldwide phenomenon: It’s all in an afternoon’s eat-around at Festival Plaza. But nothing’s finer than bumping into a favorite food pro behind a counter once again.
Ohsung Yes! Chips! (Garlic Shrimp)
These crispy little critters of shrimp and garlic plus tapioca flour and seasonings are making noise on our snack scene.
1785 FarmDog
Ho-ho-ho and a basket full of smothered burgers and hotdogs! If you’re in the market for a Hallmark movie-ready scene for shopping and a spot of something all-American, this farm-linked storefront in one of the Garden State’s prettiest villages will suit your mood.
Pomegranate Seeds
Ruby jewels of equal parts good nutrition and sweet-tart exuberance, the arils that spurt intensely fruity juices are natural partners for citrus. And lots more. Are they a splurge? Perhaps. But the myriad uses of pom seeds increase their value.
Pierogies House
Guess what’s on parade at this modest and modern storefront owned by its Poland-born chef who channels the dishes her babcia made and serves them forth with pride.
For the Host Who Has Cooked Everything
On the day before Thanksgiving, please accept these recommendations of what you can give in thanks to the cook that might either serve to supplement all that home-cooked fare or be something useful, thoughtful and/or delicious to indulge in at some point after the party’s over.
goodbeet
A decade-old plant-based eatery strikes notes of individuality in a bowl rallying around chickpeas, a serious take on a wrap-free burrito, and through orbs of eggplant in a sultry tomato sauce. Though there’s a bit of controversy afoot – read on – there’s reason aplenty on the menu to keep supporting what’s been a community favorite.
Big Bonuses
What do a chili-laden hot dog, jar of fig jam, head of Romanesco, big bowl of chickpeas and mates, and a skillet of ground beef Karachi-style have in common? Besides the fact that all hail from South Jersey, they’re also the favorite eats of the two weeks just past and they all benefit from big bonus flavors.
Freshen Thanksgiving
Scooping up a basket of produce from our Garden State farms is a sure-bet way to brighten the holiday table. Today, we take four vegetables from Savoie Organic Farm and turn them into Turkey Day sides with little effort. The result? A bushel of vivid flavors.
All’Assassina
An important dish that flourishes in Italy is defamed at a restaurant in Union County that purports to celebrate it. It’s the fault of improper execution and it’s not the only pasta (or pinsa or antipasto) that’s being mistreated.
The Taste-Maker’s Gift
There’s a No. 1 in preserves-making in the Garden State and it’s someone you’ve met before here at The Peasant Wife: Amanda Newman, of Spotted Horse Provisions. Grab her peerless preserves while you can, in time for gift-giving and your own holiday tables.
Miss Saigon
The menu at this decade-old storefront eatery showcases classics, but the execution of dishes fails to reflect the freshness, balance and respect for high-quality ingredients fundamental to Vietnamese cuisine. It’s neither comforting to the cautious nor the adventurous.