WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? TINY SPACE, HUGE FLAVOR

Mar 31, 2017

Meatballs in a perfect Sunday-style sauce with grilled pesto shrimp. (Photo by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)

By SUSAN ERICSON

Found at the end of a short strip mall on White Road in Shrewsbury, the onetime My Sister’s Kitchen space is now home to a venture called Two Cousins Catering under new owners who are, indeed, cousins.

Stopping in on a weekend afternoon, PieHole finds Sue DellaGatta and Rob Klingebiel — whose mothers are sisters — working in a pint-sized kitchen. But the dishes they’re preparing are titanic in flavor.

More →

March 31, 2017 - 11:17 am |

RUMSON: SAVOURY FARE BIDS GOODBYE

Oct 12, 2016

Patricia Mink in the kitchen of Savoury Fare on Tuesday. The takeout restaurant will close at the end of the month. (Photo above by John T. Ward, below by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

For 31 years, Savoury Fare has been a go-to for prepared meals in Rumson. And for the past week, its customers have started to get the news that that their backstop for home cooking is closing.

“Oh no, what will we do?” said Marian Wattenbarger of Fair Haven, when she heard the news while ordering quiche Tuesday. “Whenever I don’t feel like cooking, I come to see Pat.”

More →

October 12, 2016 - 6:20 am |

RED BANK: BUONA SERA, JIMMY JOHN’S OK’D

Feb 2, 2016

The former Wayne’s Market on West Front Street is slated to open as a Jimmy John’s franchise owned by Gaslight Anthem bassist Alex Levine, at left below, and Matt Schaffert, right. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The owners of two Red Bank restaurants left Monday night’s planning board meeting with unanimous approvals, one to expand and the other to open.

Buona Sera, at Maple Avenue and Monmouth Street, won an OK for a plan for a 1,200-square foot addition that might accommodate up to 50 standing customers. And Jimmy John’s Deli, a sandwich franchise co-owned by a member of the rock band Gaslight Anthem, got a thumbs-up to open in the former Wayne’s Market space on West Front Street.

More →

February 2, 2016 - 7:54 am |

LINCROFT: ALEO’S MOVEABLE FEAST

Dec 30, 2015

The helpful employees at Aleo Italian Specialties get customer orders out quickly. Below, some of the many gourmet takeout options. (Photos by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)

By SUSAN ERICSON

Stepping into Aleo Italian Specialties in the Acme shopping center on Newman Springs Road in Lincroft, PieHole was immediately hit with a feeling of deja vu.

The aroma of cheese and garlic surrounds you, calling to mind Arthur Avenue, the famous Little Italy shopping area in the Bronx. Then there’s the sight of food — everywhere. Hanging salami and cheese; shelves filled with rustic fresh breads from Brooklyn; imported dry pasta; and deli counters teeming with house-made delicacies. Your mouth waters and you forget what you came in for.

More →

December 30, 2015 - 11:01 am |

RED BANK: A WANDERING CHEF SETTLES DOWN

Oct 22, 2015

Lauren Van Liew in the kitchen of her new catering business. Dishes include a classic fresh spinach salad, below. (Photos by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)

By SUSAN ERICSON

In the warehouse that formerly housed Adam Sobel’s Cinnamon Snail kitchen on River Street in Red Bank, chef Lauren Van Liew, a 32-year-old Middletown native has opened Chef Covas Catering.

Cooking in kitchens from Boston to Vegas to Boca Raton, Van Liew has been around the culinary butcher’s block more times than many of her much older contemporaries.

With her history and experience, she says “I want to bring families together at the dinner table.” She also says, “I want to conquer the central Jersey catering world.”

More →

October 22, 2015 - 10:48 am |

SHREWSBURY: SHADOWBROOK PLAN ON DECK

Sep 29, 2015

The opulent Shadowbrook facility, which is not visible from any public street, is surrounded by homes and accessed via a single, long driveway, below. (Photo above from the Shadowbrook website; below by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A plan to more than double the size of the Shadowbrook catering facility in Shrewsbury has neighbors concerned about added traffic, spillover parking and noise.

More →

September 29, 2015 - 11:15 am |

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? MEETUP AT DELFINI

Jul 24, 2015

A Buffalo shrimp salad from Delfini, above. The Big Lou sandwich shown, below. (Photos by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)

By SUSAN ERICSON

Keeping lunch hour social, PieHole joined Red Bank Lunch Meet at Delfini Gourmet Catering, at the corner of West Front Street and Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, on a recent outing.

What’s Lunch Meet? Created by borough resident and redbankgreen webmaster Kenny Katzgrau, it’s a loose assemblage of epicures in which any member can suggest a get-together, whether it be for lunch, happy hour or dinner. It’s all coordinated through the group’s Facebook page.

This meetup was called by another Red Banker, Tom Musumeci. No one attending had eaten at Delfini before, but everyone came away impressed by the fresh ingredients and array of choices.

More →

July 24, 2015 - 10:00 am |

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? PICK A # @ BRENNAN’S

Nov 7, 2014

The smoked-salmon on sesame-seed bagel from Brennan’s. Below, the menu board behind the deli counter. (Photo by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)

By SUSAN ERICSON

Brennan’s Deli in Rumson is all about the numbers. The board hanging above the deli counter lists 26 sandwich options – and those are just the regular suggestions; a daily special that can also be found on the website.

Having no time for a leisurely lunch this week, the takeout option brought PieHole to this old West River Road favorite. And while we ordered a number 17, a quick chat with owners Caryn McCann and John Yurish brought some of these numbers into perspective.

More →

November 7, 2014 - 11:56 am |

RED BANK: WEDDING WALKERS BRAVE CHILL

Mar 31, 2014

Some 215 soon-to-be-married couples and their attendants endured a wet, chilly few hours Sunday for the latest edition Red Bank Wedding Walk, which puts the services of several dozen wedding vendors on display. A trolly and a hot beverage made the going a bit easier for one participant, above.

The event, the first since a Superior Court ruled last October that New Jersey must recognize same-sex marriage, attracted a number of same-sex couples, including a set of grooms-to-be who won one of the event’s prizes, according to officials at Red Bank RiverCenter, the organizer. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

March 31, 2014 - 3:51 pm |

Red Bank Green

Serving Red Bank and Greater Red Bank, NJ

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? TINY SPACE, HUGE FLAVOR

RUMSON: SAVOURY FARE BIDS GOODBYE

RED BANK: BUONA SERA, JIMMY JOHN’S OK’D

LINCROFT: ALEO’S MOVEABLE FEAST

RED BANK: A WANDERING CHEF SETTLES DOWN

SHREWSBURY: SHADOWBROOK PLAN ON DECK

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? MEETUP AT DELFINI

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? PICK A # @ BRENNAN’S

RED BANK: WEDDING WALKERS BRAVE CHILL