MAY 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY GLORIA GEANNETTE
MANAGING EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Times have certainly changed since waves of Italian immigrants first arrived in New Jersey in the 19th century, but there are still Romans searching for the American Dream and some of them have landed in the village.
Claudia Rovegno and her husband, Roberto Santagati, arrived in Ridgewood two years ago with big ideas and a commitment to build a brighter future for their children, Caterina, 11, and Filippo, 14.
The affable couple hit the ground running and opened an online business, FromScratchRidgewood.com, almost immediately. They feature authentic Italian cooking that can be ordered online and they’ve experienced quite a bit of success building up a network of loyal customers. They have just opened a grocery/bistro, Italia Di Gusto Ridgewood, at 44 E. Ridgewood Ave., that includes seating for 25 people and sells imported Italian foods in addition to delicious home cooking. A grand opening celebration is planned for 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
Ridgewood, N.J., Kings Food Markets (Kings) is excited to bring back its exclusive 24 Hour Just Picked Promise this summer, beginning on Friday, May 22. The program is designed to bring Kings’ customers locally grown, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs within 24 hours of being picked – giving shoppers the benefits of a local farm stand in the convenience of their neighborhood food markets.
“Each summer, we look forward to bringing the Just Picked Promise Program to our customers,” said Judy Spires, president and CEO of Kings Food Markets. “This exclusive program allows us to deliver the freshest produce available from our shoppers’ local community. As soon as customers see the Just Picked Promise seal, they know they are purchasing high quality products just like what they find at their local produce stand.”
Kings works with a network of more than 25 regional farmers – in towns such as Vineland, Mullica Township, Swedesboro, Landisville, Buena, Hammonton, Newfield, Medford, New Lisbon and Millmay, NJ – to deliver all of its Just Picked produce fresh to Kings stores within 24 hours of being hand-picked. Local farmers supplying the program select only the freshest, seasonal products in the morning, and through an expedited distribution process, they are delivered to Kings’ stores and prepared for sale the next day. The program is unique to Kings and was developed in partnership with Massachusetts-based Red Tomato, a non-profit organization committed to better connecting farmers and consumers.
“Freshness equals time,” said Paul Kneeland, vice president of Produce, Meat, Seafood and Floral for Kings Food Markets. “That’s why we are so proud to bring back our 24 hour Just Picked Promise. Our growers are committed to bringing the freshest, highest quality local produce to our stores every delivery.”
Kings customers looking to support local farmers and buy the freshest produce available can look for the 24 Hour Just Picked Promise seal in Kings’ stores. The items available at each store will vary daily; although, customers can expect to find such summer staples as arugula, basil, cilantro, lettuce, squash, mint, blueberries, cucumbers, kale and tomatoes with the Just Picked Promise. For the latest updates on which Just Picked products are available or for weekly recipes, customers can visit Kings’ website (www.kingsfoodmarkets.com), follow Kings on Twitter (@KingsFoodMkts) – using the hashtag #KingsJustPicked – or like Kings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kingsfoodmarkets).
The program will run in Kings stores Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Ridgewood NJ, “Can”struction at Old Paramus Church Needs Canned Food Donations On May 17th in the fellowship hall of Old Paramus Church, there will be a “Can”struction contest with the Sunday School participants acting as construction teams. To make their “can”struction possible they need cans of food in all sizes and shapes . Beginning now, you may drop off at the Education Building, any cans of food to be donated to the local food pantries. There is a box there, just inside the main door for your donation.
Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, or Sunday mornings. The more cans they have, the bigger and better the construction projects will be. To be a part of the team, just come to Sunday School if you are between the ages of 5 and 13, at 10:00 a.m any Sunday. To watch the contest, come to the Fellowship Hall, following the worship service, at 11:15 on May 17. The entire community is invited. Following the judging of the “can”struction projects, all the cans of food will be donated to the Center for Food Action in Mahwah to feed the hungry. The church is located at 660 E. Glen Ave., Ridgewood. There is ample free parking. If you have additional questions, visit the church website, www.oldparamus.org or call the church office 201 444-5933
MAY 15, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015, 7:49 AM
BY ELISA UNG
THE RECORD
What a delightful way to end a meal: a poached pear, turned burgundy from red wine and resplendent with cinnamon and cloves; a banana bread pudding dripping with caramel sauce; a custardy chocolate cake; a creamy crème brûlée singing notes of citrus.
These sweets at Finca, the new global small-plates restaurant in downtown Ridgewood, were also a much-welcomed surprise, having followed two disappointing dinners chosen from a vast, perhaps too wide-ranging menu.
With 98 seats in its spacious dining room with bare wooden tables and another 30 seats at sidewalk tables, Finca is one of Ridgewood’s most prominently located restaurants, occupying the busy corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street across from the Ridgewood train station.
Good News – the store has been re-opend by my husband and I. we have expanded the menu and now have, in addition to frozen yogurt, hot pressed flatbread sandwiches, wraps and salads. We also do Juicing and have an extensive juicing menu and we have some of the yummiest Smoothies around! Come on by and see us – 43 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.
MAY 13, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
Elie Kahlon
Novo, Ridgewood
Novo, a refined modern Mediterranean restaurant, may be the first restaurant that 28-year-old Elie Kahlon has ever been in charge of, but the Israeli native clearly knows what he’s doing. In January, The Record gave the elegantly subdued Ridgewood spot a 3 1/2 out of 4 star review. Novo has also won OpenTable Diners’ Choice award in 2014 and 2015.
Before becoming the opening executive chef of 8-month-old Novo, Kahlon worked at some of the most prominent restaurants in Tel Aviv and New York City, including one-Michelin-star Oceana and the now-closed two-Michelin-star Gordon Ramsay at The London.
Here, he discusses his favorite local restaurant, his favorite kitchen tool and what most annoys him about diners.
Dish I’m most proud of: There are two, actually. One is the appetizer called taboon cauliflower. Everyone talks about it. Everyone wants to know how I make it. Even people who don’t like cauliflower like this cauliflower dish. I bake a cauliflower dressed in a green tahini sauce in a taboon, a brick oven, making the cauliflower taste buttery, and then sprinkle black currants, pine nuts and fresh herbs over it to give it a sweet, crunchy, nutty flavor. And the most popular main course is our seafood couscous. The couscous is homemade; so is the seafood stock. It is a nice composed dish that is completed with chickpeas and homemade pickled kohlrabi, to give it crunch.
What annoys me most about diners: Last week, one diner asked that we cook grouper medium-rare. I said no. I know how to cook each and every fish, and I didn’t want the customer not to have an enjoyable experience. It wasn’t going to taste good. The manager had to talk to him, and he agreed to have me cook it exactly as it should be cooked. He enjoyed the grouper. He cleaned his plate.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Mitt Romney and Jets Flight Crew Cheerleaders watch a Jets game from owner Woody Johnson’s private box in December 2014.Photo: Michael Simon/startraksphoto.com
Sorry I missed the party !
By Chris Perez
May 11, 2015 | 12:16pm
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Mitt Romney and Jets Flight Crew Cheerleaders watch a Jets game from owner Woody Johnson’s private box in December 2014.Photo: Michael Simon/startraksphoto.com
Chris Christie shelled out $300,000 on food, alcohol and desserts during his five years as New Jersey governor — more than 80 percent of his state allowance, a report said.
The 52-year-old’s most noteworthy spending sprees came during Giants and Jets games at MetLife Stadium in 2010 and 2011, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of records released by the governor’s office on Monday.
Christie racked up $82,594 in concessions, which were paid for by debit card to Delaware North Sportservice. But the menu remains a mystery because the governor’s office did not provide any receipts, business reasons or names of individuals who were joining in on the feast, Watchdog reports.
“The official nature and business purpose of the event remains the case regardless of whether the event is at the State House, Drumthwacket or a sporting venue,” Christie press secretary Kevin Roberts explained in a prepared statement.
In the attempt to avoid a potential scandal which could shatter Christie’s dreams of becoming president, the New Jersey Republican State Committee chose to reimburse purchases from “DNS Sports” to the state Treasury in March 2012. The governor has stopped using his expense account at MetLife ever since.
On Monday, Christie’s camp was quick to explain the alleged spending — claiming he never made any purchases for his own use.
APRIL 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
Michael Pereira , Roots Steakhouse, Ridgewood NJ
Trinidad-born Michael Pereira settled in Hoboken with his family when he was 5 years old and, for the most part, hasn’t strayed too far since. While earning a science engineering degree at NJIT, Pereira worked as a line cook at the Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Weehawken. When he graduated and was offered a full-time job as a sous-chef, Pereira made the nerve-wracking decision to abandon a career in engineering before it could even begin and pursue what he was passionate about: cooking.
It’s something he grew up doing with his mother and grandmother, making traditional Trinidadian dishes, including stews, curry chicken and rice with peas.
For 21 years he worked for different Ruth’s Chris locations as a sous-chef, executive corporate chef for the northeast region and general manager. In 2011 he joined the Harvest Group (the company that owns Roots and a slew of other restaurants) as front-of-house manager, and soon after was offered the opportunity to return to the kitchen.
Today, Pereira, who lives in Cedar Knolls, is the 44-year-old married father of two. He is also the distinguished winner of a recent contest between the chefs at all three Roots locations (Summit, Morristown and Ridgewood); his recipe was selected to be Roots’ signature steak sauce.
Here, he shares his best tip for cooking steak at home, his proudest moment as a chef and whether or not a dry-aged steak is superior.
Photo credit: Village of Ridgewood Tax Assessor’s web site
MAY 1, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The First National Bank and Trust Company building is a Ridgewood landmark, one of the most recognizable sites of the downtown landscape. Erected in the early 1930s, its Classical Revival-inspired exterior is iconic to this day, while the indoor architecture and distinct features continue to stand the test of time.
But existing sans tenants for the past five years, the massive structure has become an unofficial symbol of the Central Business District’s (CBD) plights: several longstanding vacant storefronts, the struggle for adequate parking, underused properties and a drawn-out permitting process.
The building in the heart of the village’s downtown has been without an occupant since Bank of America closed its branch there in January 2010.
Real estate investment and development firm Onyx Equities, however, wants to return the building back to its heyday.
Onyx acquired the bank and property in April 2013; its principals paying nearly $2 million for the deed to the land.
According to the Village of Ridgewood website, the combined property and improvements were most recently assessed at more than $3.9 million.
Chef Elie Kahlon of Novo puts the finishing touch on a salmon dish.
April 29, 2015
By Curt Schleier
Diners at Novo, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, likely appreciate the spices, imported from the Middle East, that accent their meals. Some might even be aware that their food was cooked on an open-flame oven called a taboon or that a special Arabic steamer was used to prepare the couscous.
But will they get that every dish comes with a heavy dollop of memory, forged in the Israeli-born chef’s upbringing? Hard to say. But the chef in question, Elie Kahlon, certainly hopes so.
But for the Middle Eastern music that’s piped into the dining room at Novo, the restaurant/s look and feel seem less Mediterranean than American contemporary, with modern fixtures lighting chic wooden tables. Yet it all works quite well, thank you.
In fact, the Record, the local paper, recently called Novo “arguably North Jersey’s best new restaurant.” It had been In business less than half a year when it earned 3½ out of 4 stars from the paper’s restaurant critic last January.
APRIL 8, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
Vaughn Crenshaw
Pearl Restaurant, Ridgewood
When he was 13, Vaughn Crenshaw was living out of a car in the streets of Paterson. Today, the 29-year-old is executive chef at Pearl Restaurant in Ridgewood.
Crenshaw has an associate’s degree in culinary arts and a bachelor’s in food service management, both from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. He has cooked at the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, the Brick House Inn in Wyckoff, Jacksonville in Paterson, Mocha Bleu in Teaneck, and Fort Lee’s Khloe Bistrot before arriving at Pearl in January 2013.
The Hackensack resident also appeared on the Food Network show “Chopped” in 2012; he made it to the entrée round before he was “chopped.”
Here, he tells how he evaluates a restaurant, and the strangest customer request ever.
How I evaluate a restaurant: I evaluate them on a 1-10 scale that has to do with the greeting, the curb appeal and the setting in the dining room; that’s what’s going to tell me if I’m going into another typical old-world restaurant where there’s no lively, electric energy. I also evaluate it by the clientele — the clients become a reflection of ownership.
On NJTV cooking show, New Jersey governor keeps presidential plans to himself
By HEATHER HADDON
April 7, 2015 9:36 p.m. ET
Gov. Chris Christie calls his pasta sauce “gravy,” once cooked many of his family’s meals, and believes garlic should be browned before being tossed into the skillet.
These tidbits were revealed in a new show marrying cooking and politics that debuts on New Jersey public television Wednesday. Whether the New Jersey Republican will run for president, however, wasn’t disclosed.
“Good try, though,” Mr. Christie quipped at host Nick Acocella when he tried to get the governor to divulge if he’s running for higher office.
A longtime New Jersey political analyst, Mr. Acocella featured Mr. Christie as his first guest on the “Pasta & Politics” show, to air on NJTV. The men converse about state politics as they cook a meal together, and then sit down to clink wine glasses and have a taste.
April 3, 2015, 5:05 PM Last updated: Friday, April 3, 2015, 5:08 PM
By CHRIS HARRIS
Staff Writer |
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — Village officials have shut the doors over at Finca, a tapas restaurant that opened along East Ridgewood Avenue a little less than three months ago.
A notice adorning Finca’s front door Friday claims the eatery will remain closed “until further notice due to fire code violations.” The notice further says the restaurant will “reopen as soon as possible” while inviting patrons to visit its nearby sister restaurant, Cravings Tapas Bistro.
Ridgewood Fire Chief James Van Goor said on Friday that Finca was cited Thursday evening for nine violations to both the fire and building codes.
Kings Food Markets : Easter & Passover Catering
March 30,2015
Ridgewood NJ, Kings Food Markets offers a full range of catering services tailored to fit each family’s needs – and this Easter and Passover is no different. To get you started with your menu, we’ve hand-selected the following dishes to serve:
Kings Easter Catering Menu
1. Savory Starters
· Fig and Almond Baked Brie
· Spinach and Artichoke Poppers
2. Extraordinary Entrees
· Kings Herb Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast
· Hardwood Smoked ½ Spiral Ham
3. Sensational Sides
· Wheatberry and Dried Fruit Salad
· Potato and Leek Torta
Kings Passover Catering Menu
1. Keeping it Kosher
· Stuffed Cabbage
· Kings Antibiotic-free Rotisserie Chicken
2. Seafood Staples
· Fresh Pack Whitefish
· Black Pear Salmon
3. Additions to Accent Any Meal
· Home-style Matzo Balls
· Kings Traditional Potato Latkes
Kings’ catering services extend beyond the kitchen, though, offering an array of floral arrangements, such as locally grown tulips, and hostess gifts that will surely bring added life to your gatherings.
Of course, however, if you prefer to cook yourself, Kings offers a great assortment of inspirational recipes for both Easter and Passover – including all of the necessary ingredients to make your holiday a memorable one. And if your meal is in need of just one more dish, we offer a great assortment of side dishes that will surely complement your mea
Raymond’s in Ridgewood, Montclair to pay $345K in back wages
March 30, 2015 Last updated: Monday, March 30, 2015, 2:50 PM
By MELANIE ANZIDEI
A Ridgewood restaurant chain and its owners must pay $325,534 in back wages to 160 workers for overtime and minimum wage violations, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday.
Raymond’s Ridgewood LLC did not pay members of its kitchen staff for overtime and failed to pay tipped workers the proper wage rate, an investigation by the department’s Northern New Jersey Wage and Hour District Office found.
Employees at two locations were affected. At Raymond’s in Ridgewood, 84 employees are due $100,048 in back wages, said the department. This includes overtime back wages to its kitchen staff and tipped employees. The employer also failed to pay tipped workers in Ridgewood the proper wage rate from the beginning of their employment, the department said. At Raymond’s in Montclair, 76 workers are due $225,486 in overtime back wages, the agency said.
The restaurant chain agreed to make the payments, which are in the process of being paid, according to Department of Labor spokeswoman Leni Uddyback-Fortson. The back wages cover employee compensations from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014.
Raymond Badach and Joanne Ricci, owners of the restaurant chain, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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