Kanpachi Sushi
Much loved and resolutely patronized by its fans, this johnny-on-the-spot for all things sushi is the definition of what a local is in 21st-century New Jersey.
AwesomeYo’s Spiced Potato Chips
A chip that can make a snack into a meal is found at an eatery in Metuchen that sports savory fare and baked goods, as well as pure-gold finds such as these brashly seasoned homemade crisps.
Oasis
Moroccan classics may get the respect they’re due at this downtown storefront in a restaurant-rich town. Or they may not. Poor handling of what could be, what should be satisfying signature dishes results in failures too ignoble to dismiss.
Fajji’s Ice Cream
A fixture in Perth Amboy is this ice cream stand where the churner in charge pushes butterfat content to its limit even as he fully respects the flavor quotient. And there are quenching helados tropicales on board. Salud!
Flavor, Forward March
What’s ripe and ready at this moment of harvest and what comes from well-honed skills following tradition or riffing on old ways rise to the top in this round of favorites from the two weeks just past.
Colorful, Creamy and Crunchy
Watts Organic Farm’s Adirondack Blue and Pink potatoes inspire a salad built on unexpected textures and zesty elements.
Cap’n Cat Clam Bar
A stalwart for seafood in Gloucester County’s Franklin Township is this old-school spot with a lively bar and throwback vibes that vindicate those who favor the basics, particularly when it comes to shellfish.
In Good Company
Should beans of all stripes find their way into your kitchen, there’s a tie that can bind them into an entrée fit for right now.
Bombay Street Food Malvani Katta
Inside a humble food court on state Highway 27, the Garden State’s own Spice Route, is the equivalent of an immobile food truck in which a woman whips up what you might find in the home of a top-flight cook in Mumbai. Catch her if you can, adventurers, and heed her advice.
A Cheeky Proposition
We’re back with Cape May Captain Brady Lybarger, who this time has carved out of his jumbo tilefish catches a delicacy that might inspire us all to get on board with a little advocacy that’d help make an uncommon part of a fish a bit more accessible to aficionados.
AwesomeYo’s Kitchen
There’s more in store than celebrated baked goods at this downtown Indonesian hotspot piloted by a mother-and-daughter team who pay homage to grandma in the most delicious of ways.
G.O.A.T. Waffle
Lorena Cabra laces her made-on-the-spot waffles with a salty cheese from Colombia then drizzles them hot-off-the-griddle with a fruited sauce or dulce de leche. A more delightful breakfast at a farmers’ market you’d be hard-pressed to find.