7 Doors Down Ramen Co.
High-style, carefully composed ramen, meticulous ceviche and a bunch of well-crafted Nikkei-or-not dishes come out of a bullish kitchen that’s the spawn of a Detroit pizza spot. Only in New Jersey.
Stars Shining Brightly: 7-18-22
Five are here – and five got left on the cutting room floor. That’s how very fine the eats were in the fortnight just past. Blueberries, rich ramen, a beast of a bagel sandwich, gregarious giardiniera, and hale and hearty oysters are the honored best.
The Cucumber Cure
Hot and bothered? Nature’s very own remedy for high-heat days is being harvested in the Garden State right now.
Grana
Do formality and a culinary style steeped in tradition have a place at the Shore? Yes, if convened by a chef with the experience and focus on mission to see it all through.
Get Pickled
Carol Talarico’s condiments – think kimchi, giardiniera and gochujang – are in a league of their own in an ever-expanding field.
Basilico
Joey Trani is a chef who knows how to cook, and cook he does at this Ischia-inspired storefront that marries elegance and hominess and often hits one out of the ballpark. Joltin’ Joe may not have left and gone away after all.
Lemon Verbena
Look at it as aromatherapy in the kitchen, a thoroughly useful herb that comforts as it infuses everything from vinaigrettes to ice cream.
Al-Basha
The “dish of magic” that dates back centuries is one reason to come to the newer dine-in version of a beacon for Middle Eastern fare in this city of diverse eats. But stay, and return, for much else on its faithfully conceived, carefully executed menu.
Ceviche de Camarones
At La Tia Peruvian Cuisine, in the food hall in Linwood called The Exchange, lightning-bolt bites of citrus-cured shrimp positively electrify.
Hey Burger
Working inside a neighborhood tavern along a main artery to Sandy Hook is a practitioner of the craft of the Smashburger. When these burgers hit their mark, they’re all the trend is cracked up to be: juicy, crusty, beefy and rife with energizing accents.
Lemon Love: 7-4-22
Lifted by the sour-tart scent and taste of a seminal citrus fruit are several favorites from the past two weeks that include pie and pasta, a Palestinian classic and a perked-up berry sauce.
Blueberry Sauce, a la Julie Sahni
Rituals have their place, particularly on holidays. Making a seasonal sauce sparkle with an unexpected spice is a personal favorite at this berry-rich time of year.