Rosa’s Kitchen
Mini mofongo tarts! Bacalaitos that’ll put you in the mind of fricos! Pulled pork that’s a trip to Carolina! Rosa Sanchez and her merry band of collaborators mesh island cuisine with tastes of the South at a big-hearted BYOB.
Sunset Stew
Bright orange sweet potatoes, deep purple carrots that give way to a sunny interior, slivers of magenta onions and hunks of smoky blue-green kale: The colors of a sunset on a cold, cold winter’s night – and a warming stew.
Butter & Jam
New and needed, this downtown day café has solid ideas, but too many instances of flawed execution. Its namesakes, as well as its baked and cooked specialties, beg examination. And editing.
Sofra
Combine casual style with artful décor, thoughtful hospitality with spot-on interpretations of classics and you’ll come up with this Turkish haven that no doubt will be your cup of tea.
Wintertime Prime
Limited? Boring? Dull? If you think this is the season for monotonous eats, you need to have what we’ve been having: polenta, pastries, greens, golden beets and … chocolate.
Gold in Them Thar Fields
One of the many lessons learned on a legendary Garden State farm is that there’s magic in sun-colored beets. When you add sun to the sun, you get more magic.
Oats of Allegiance
Local as local gets are Garden State oats from Morganics and River Valley Community Grains. A bonus: They’re ready to roll three meals a day.
Chocolate Takeover
Proposition: Eat as much chocolate as you’d like in the next week and tell guilt to take a holiday. Start by popping into a chocolate shop or checking out one of our true-loves – and then indulge.
Game Changers
Build a better bowl with seafood and rice, a better dip with hearty greens, a better snacking bite with mini open-face meatloaf sandwiches. Chili, guac and wings might be Super Bowl traditions, but surprise plays lift a crowd to its feet.
Four Green Cats Café
Danish and doughnuts – of course. We’re visiting an outpost of the Cezch Republic, after all. But don’t miss the chlebicky, the star of the savory show at a very relaxed day café.
Rooted in the Season
Strange bedfellows? Ha! If you think parsnips, turnips, rutabagas and their kin have nothing to say to mandarins, Cara Caras, clementines and their mates, you’re missing out on some energizing winter eating.
Fortune Cookies
Not your grandma or grandpa’s local Chinese joint, this Hunan specialist is proudly authentic. There are dishes that hit the heights, and dishes that fall short, but there’s nothing that sidesteps sincerity.