The “Star” at the stove is Lorena’s Humberto Campos, Jr., while a “Chef to Watch” is Ariane Duarte, chef at Orange Lawn Tennis Club and Montclair’s Culinariane. So says Teresa Politano, whose book, Celebrity Chefs of New Jersey, was published by Rutgers University Press in November. To celebrate his selection as one of “The Stars,” Campos spoke and prepared salmon tartare at Words on Tuesday night. The timing was ideal, of course, as Maplewood marks Restaurant Week this week, and South Orange looks forward to its first-ever Restaurant Week starting Sunday. Lorena’s has participated in …
Nibble, graze, or nosh? Eat to live or love to eat? For those whose answer is “all of the above,” South Orange and Maplewood have a deal for you. For the first time, Maplewood and South Orange will hold consecutive Restaurant Weeks, making for two weeks of dining deals close to home. Maplewood eateries usher in Restaurant Week, March 21 -27, with offers from haute cuisine to the corner cafe. New to town, the Able Baker offers “Buy one baked treat, get the 2nd at half off,” while WokStar has a dinner option -- appetizer sample, entrée and dessert -- for $9.00. Cupcake Corral has a special …
Just in time for National Margarita Week, Patch visited Toro Loco. Long a South Orange destination, the restaurant and bar are known for their margaritas. However, there’s plenty to eat that brings patrons back week after week, for some 20 years now. Lunch and dinner are served at Toro Loco. Lunch is generally served in the large bar area, where tables line one side of the room. The bar, with round stools, lines another, and there are high tables in the middle. Televisions show the latest sports headlines and big games. Dinner is served in the same room, or across the hall in two larger …
As I made my way through the ice and sleet on a recent winter afternoon, I saw the familiar sight of three enormous brewing barrels in the window of Gaslight Brewery Restaurant and grew excited at the prospect of getting out of the rain and into a house stout. The pub was sparsely populated at 3:30 in the afternoon but the crowd was lively. Dan, the owner greeted me with a warm “Hello” and asked what I was drinking. “The house stout would be great, thanks.” I looked around at the few faces sitting at the bar and was glad to be here — and it wasn’t because I was drinking a beer at 3:30 p.m…
When owner of Arturo’s Osteria and Pizzeria, Dan Richer greeted me on Tuesday it was with a bowl of soup. Now, I won’t be greeted any other way. We sat down over locally grown butternut squash soup with bread Dan made earlier that day to discuss the progression of his restaurant over the past few years. The restaurant has evolved from a traditional pizzeria to an osteria and pizzeria dedicated to making food that is in season and locally grown. We’ve all heard the term “locavore” and — before you groan — don’t let hipster jargon turn you off to what’s at the heart of that word. You are …
