K-Towne Kitchen
A mom-and-pop shop lets well-turned-out staples of Korean street fare such as kim bop, kup bop, wings and ramen share menu space with American standards overplayed everywhere. Time to let the K in the name truly rule.
No Ordinary Loves
A stew, a salad, a burger, a bowl of noodles, a plate of fish – and nothing ordinary about any of these standards. That’s why they’ve risen to the top of the chart in the two weeks of eating just past.
A Stir-fry Story
No flash in any pan, this lickety-split vegetable mix is as durable and dear as the memories of an old friend.
Andre’s Lakeside Dining
Chef Andre deWaal and his wife Tracey pioneered a modern, globally influenced style of fine dining in Sussex County more than a quarter-century ago, gleaning inspiration from the seasons and also from travels that stock their personal pantry of ideas.
Quesa Burger
From the Fat Boyz Kitchen food truck, parked outside Mains Meat Market in Vineland, comes a burger whose innards seem destined to land in your lap. Summon dexterity and defy that destiny. You want to eat this monster, not toss even one particle of it in the wash.
Tony’s Lunch(eonette)
In the Deep South of the Garden State a breakfast-lunch spot within the region’s famed Produce Auction complex serves as an emblem of place, all the while capsulizing its marquee industry, most influential culture and the needs of locals on a proudly old-school menu.
Pickled Mustards
Readymade versions of an Asian staple can expand the scope of its use, absolutely, But don’t waste the time convenience provides: Experiment with a food that’s vivacious and versatile.
Chris Minikus, Salted Lime Bar & Kitchen
Classical training in the kitchen is put to good use by a chef at a restaurant in Somerville that many think is Mexican, was conceived to be Latin-leaning and stands today as melting pot of global influences. It’s home to TPW’s newest inductee into the chef-picks-chef society of top toques and the focus of Ed Sherry’s new profile.
The Inn at Glen Gardner
The 21st-century shows its rustic-modern side on the plates and in the welcoming scene created by a husband-and-wife team in a northern Hunterdon County borough. Tweaks? There could be a few. But much of what’s on tap is satisfying to a regular crowd of locals and day-trippers.
Chamoyz Snack Bar
Mexican bites and sips built on a foundation of produce come in all forms at this storefront in a food-filled downtown. N.B.: It’s one of an increasing number of pop-in spots statewide where the fueling is easy, varied and inevitably vivacious.
Rockin’ Around the State
Once again, the quintet of favorites takes in a world’s-eye view from Garden State restaurants. This time: South America, China, Italy, India and Mexico. And all without need of a passport.
Layered Like Lasagne
Take staples – bread, onions, beans, greens – and turn them into a bake that’s awfully sporting at this time of year. It’s light on effort, heavy on using what’s already on hand, and satisfying for solo eating or feeding a crowd.