Shrimp & Beans
Well, what we’re actually talking about is the combo of Filipino shrimp paste and Chinese long beans. It’s a dish that sounds complex, and it is. But it’s fundamentally a two-ingredient dish that delivers astounding taste with minimal effort.
Pao da Casa
The eyes and ayes may be synced into the baked goods at this downtown bakery-cum-café, but if you read the fine print on the non-sandwich menu you’ll find Portugal’s national dish: Bacalhau com natas. There’s lots that’s lovely here, but the cod-and-cream savory specialty satisfies the soul in ways sweet stuff can’t.
Fresh, Young Ginger
Extend the life of this precious crop when it’s harvested during its super-short season by not only pickling, but freezing and even making it into syrup.
Denville Seafood & Codmother’s Café
A vibrant downtown in Central Morris County is home to eateries new and sporty as well as those that’ve been around for decades. One such elder statesman is this popular fish market/full-service café that’s earned loyalty from locals and destination diners, all drawn by a traditional menu and sincere service. N.B.: A post-meal stop at neighboring Denville Dairy provides the appropriate finale in a one-two meal punch.
Representative, Please
Each of this go-around’s favorites have their roots in well-defined cultures and speak clearly and respectfully to those cultures. There are a million ways each could go south. But instead they soar, exemplars of type that do proud by proxy.
Queen Mayonnaise
Master this indispensable and ubiquitous condiment with the help of Chef Andre de Waal and find yourself able to construct a regal BLT. Then ride his recipe’s coattails to myriad other uses.
Brunch by De Martino
A switch from night to daytime dining is proving such a hit in the county seat of Somerset that Chef Martino Linares will be bringing a sibling of this Latin-leaning hotspot north to Denville, where his carefully syncopated dishes will continue to embellish and upgrade classics.
Bom Dia Churrascaria
A Brazilian eatery takes its cues from a Costa Rica-born chef adept at fashioning high-toned classics from the canon of the larger country. While not solely focused on big meats, it is about respect for craft and a love of cooking for others.
The ‘Greening’ of Supper
Use this tart, green apple – or any other tart apple – as the key ingredient in a savory dish that can be served as the main event for dinner. In other words, re-think the fruit that too often is overshadowed by its sweet kin.
Fig Italian Rustic Kitchen
Problems in cooking and communication plague a newcomer to Long Valley that aims to serve hand-crafted Italian cuisine in a scene that’s “always vibing.” Rather than counting on vibes and branding to impress, old-fashioned focus is needed to bring thoughtfulness and care to the entire process.
Manila Café
Today a Filipino house of foods divided into a restaurant and a market located in the same shopping center, Arlyn Baker’s little empire flourishes with emphasis on authentic preparations that do its multicultural soul proud.
Give ’Em a Hand
This quintet of favorites are all hand-helds, proving that street-style eats, snacks and emerging, soon-to-be-classic foods can rise from ho-hum staples to thrills in casual form. OK, a couple of these may require two hands, but who will mind?