food with a view

latest posts

• Jerusalem: A Cookbook, and why cookbooks still matter
  Why do we still bother with cookbooks? It is a question I am asked from time to time, and one I know Gary wishes I would revisit. They take up space, and most of the content is readily available online. Will a dash of history and culture make the meal that more flavorful? Can a physical collection of recipes inspire community in a way a website never will? Does the tactile experience of a book in your hands and on your kitchen counter impact the outcome of the recipe? Every once in a while, a cookbook comes along that reaffirms our faith: cookbooks still matter....
• seasonal fare, exceptional service: summit house
  Summit House, in Summit, NJ, is one of the latest additions to the long-awaited restaurant overhaul so desperately needed in the area. I like to give new restaurants some space before jumping to form a view. Even the best sometimes need time to find their rhythm. Not needed here: from my first visit, I knew Summit House was different. Right from the start, the team delivered the delicious food and excellent service I have now come to enjoy time and again. Whether it is a casual lunch, date night, or a meal with friends, Summit House makes every meal feel special....
• cream of wild mushroom soup
  It is definitely winter in the northeast, and I know a lot of people are not too thrilled. I personally kind of like the cold, and in particular, I love soup season. Soup is perfect for make-ahead dinners and healthy lunches, a major necessity this time of year in my house. In light of my 2018 food goals, I tried my hand at converting one of my favorite Barefoot Contessa recipes soups into a ketogenic-friendly Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup. It is packed with rich mushroom flavor, deeply rich and creamy, and has all the gluten and most of the carbohydrates eliminated....
• common lot: a corner turned in north jersey dining
  Common Lot arrived over 18 months ago, challenging the area restaurant mold with its elegant irreverence. Early reviews from established critics were excellent. Some locals may have whispered about the “unusual” menu and wondered where the pasta and bread went. But in my view, Common Lot began what is [hopefully] a journey towards higher quality, more diverse restaurant options for the food-savvy northern NJ diner.  We will perhaps, one day, look back on the arrival of Common Lot as the crest of the new wave of better dining, and graciously thank the husband and wife team that ushered in a new era of eating out....
• meal planning 101
  January. For many of us, it is the season of renewal. A time to start fresh on something that did not go as well as we wanted it to last year. I am right there with you. I wrote earlier this month on my food goals for 2018, and one of them included sticking with a change in eating habits I started last year. I am personally choosing to follow a ketogenic diet (more on that here), but it doesn’t matter what you want to change. No matter the flavor, changing how you eat is hard....
• tasting menus: NYC under $100 and the best of northern NJ
  My favorite dining out experience: the tasting menu. It is not for everyone, but for me, it is the perfect culinary experience. The tasting menu hits all the right notes: I don’t have to make any decisions, I am assured I am sampling the best the chef has to offer, and I get to try lots of different dishes. Bonus points awarded for sommelier-selected wine pairings. Add a romantic inn or luxurious hotel room and you have the perfect mini-getaway for any occasion, or no reason at all....