Mama Giolas in Montclair

I had been passing this place for months and was really wondering wether or not this place was a decent Italian restaurant. I have read some good reviews and some not so good reviews. But of course I want to find out for myself! We walked all around Church Street and the rest of the town reading menus. There was a lot of outside dining b/c it was so nice and every menu we looked at had items that were interesting. It was a hard choice but I was craving Italian. But I can't wait to back and try another place in the area. Its nice because everyone is on the street and there is a stage where differen musicians play into the night. Really cool vibe.

So anyway we end up eating outside at Mama Giolas. Inside it looked really empty but for some reason it didn't deter me it just made me feel bad for whomever Mama Giola is! But the inside is pretty with all cherry wood and dim lighting. Owner/Chef Sarah Gazawie is who came out to our table more frequent than our waitress. Everything she heard I say even if it wasn't to her was that she will "go make it right away." I of course went for Mozzarella and Tomatoes its so simple and I can make it for myself anytime. But for some reason I have to order it everywhere I go. But they totally did not skimp on the Mozzarella as some places do. I swear they were the thickest slices ever and I did appreciate that. We then saw someone at the table behind us order a fig special and we jumped all over that! It was figs wrapped in prosciutto with blue cheese crumbles inside. The figs were very soft and sweet. The prosciutto was cut thin the only way I like it! Also there were 8 on a plate which was surprising! There were many things on the menu I wanted try but for some reason my stomach was pulling me towards a traditional shrimp parm. It came breaded and covered with cheese and sauce. I could see some people not liking it, but I think your being picky and boring if you don't like something smothered in cheese. You can never have to much!

It was a very satisfying meal and I would definitley go back to try some more menu items. But it seems like Montclair is just brimming with awesome restaurants waiting to be discovered! Well by me at least!

Cool Gadget

<
HOW COOL IS THIS?!?! Don't get me wrong, I love cherrys, but I make so many recipes that involve Kalamata Olives. Pitting olives is a horrid experience and adds like an hour onto recipe time. I know your thinking why doesn't this girl just buy pitted olives? Well they don't always sell them. And now I don't have to worry about that with this new gadget

OXO Olive & Cherry Pitter

Pitting cherries so the fruit remains whole is child’s play with this invaluable tool. An integral splatter guard – a practical new feature – keeps cherry juice from spraying the unsuspecting cook, and the tool’s ergonomic design offers a comfortable hold. Equally effective with olives, the pitter is constructed of rugged zinc with a nonslip santoprene overcoat. The handle locks for compact storage. Dishwasher safe. 5 3/4" long.

This was taken from the Williams and Sonoma Web Site.

Events

Just an FYI!

NYC Restaurant Week is here! Go to Opentable.com for reservations!


In Hoboken St. Ann's Feast is going on!


Go get some Zeppoles and listen to The Nerds play Monday night!

Check out your local Williams-Sonoma store they are offering free demonstrations and cooking class that cost about $60.

The Manor, West Orange

I know the Manor in West Orange in infamous in New Jersey for their Seafood Buffet. Most people rave this and there is so much hype surrounding it. That I almost feel liek I don't want to write this post because I don't want to discourage anyone from going. But lets be real, who is reading this anyway and taking it that seriously?

I will say its an experience, its one of those things you definitley have to check for yourself once. The Manor is a very pretty place with waterfalls,gardens, and very ornate rooms. The best way to describe the dining room we ate in is I felt like I was eating in Titanic. Usually gaudy decor doesn't do it for me but this place truly has an antique feel that I am okay with. It is a VERY romantic place and a very nice special occasion spot no doubt!

The buffet I think is good for the money. To be able to eat Lobster and Seafood all you want for 55 dollars a person I think is pretty good. If you love Lobster then this is the place for you and I can see why there are raves. Also there is a ton of shrimp done different ways. And it is good quality. The service is very attentive as well. The rest of the food was not to exciting. It tasted like run of the mill catering hall food, nothing out of the ordinary. The dessert offerings werent very impressive and the colder items melting.

It seems the options and recipes used on the buffet have not been changed since the Titanic days either. Which to some may be part of the charm. But I say the food can be modified without losing the effect.

Even though this post may leave you not running to try the manor I still think its an excellent place to take a date and deserves a try. Plus their a la carte menu might be better. The Manor is a part of the group of restaurants owned by the Knowles family who also own The Rams Head Inn, The Pleasantdale Chateau, and the Highlawn Pavillion all which are highly rated.

Toast in Montclair

Okay, so I have A LOT of catching up to do. I am such a delinquent blogger! See, I get intimidated by blogging. Its a big world out there and I feel so small! But if I keep displaying this type of behavior I know no one will read it! I mean how can I expect people to read if I don't write?!

So anyway heres a quick post to urge you to visit Toast in Montclair. I kept passing this place on Bloomfield Ave, on my way to acting class. Which is another post for another time! I finally found it on the Web and checked out the menu. I saw Lobster Rolls and Bananas Foster French Toast and was SOLD! I shared it with my obsessive breakfast/pastry eating boyfriend and knew we would be there that weekend.

So after working up an appetite at the best concert ever the night before, Billy Joel last play at Shea!!! Yes it was the greatest concert I have ever been to, so legendary in so many ways. After freaking out for Tony Bennett, Stephen Tyler, and Paul McCartney to name a few we needed some refueling.

The menu has so many great creations from Nutella stuffed French Toast, Crab Cake Benedict, to a Tuscan Scramble that it made brunch exciting. There are so many options not excluding the old fashioned staples. Its going to take me a couple of trips to try it all. But our first effort was definitely admirable.

The place is really cute its a cross between a diner and Southren Kitchen. They serve some of the drinks in Mason Jars which I love. And it seems all the servers are friendly local high school girls and boys. We decided to order and share. We ordered Eggs Benedict, Bananas Foster French Toast, and the lobster roll. Now up here in North Jersey we don't see many Lobster Rolls so we figured we could give it a whirl. The Eggs Benedict came with a side of well seasoned potatoes. It was my first time trying it and it sold me. Brian has a love for Eggs Benedict and is usually very particular but he ate in less than 2 seconds so I take it was acceptable. Then we tried the Lobster Roll which came on a toasted piece of white bread-good call! I was very impressed. The chunks of lobster were fresh and it wasn't drowned in mayo which I believe constitutes a decent lobster roll. Then we headed for the Bananas Foster French Toast. Awesome! The Bananas Foster was like a thick syrup that had chunks of bananas in it. It tasted just like real thing minus the ice cream.

I am so looking forward to trying the Island Girl Waffle and the Nutella Stuffed French Toast! But FYI- Toast is only open from 7am-3pm, 7 days a week!