Ani Ramen Soul of Sake 1 Year Anniversary

Ani Ramen regularly has ticketed events, including their Soul of Sake 1 year anniversary party, which I attended on September 17th at District Kitchen Harborside, 210 Hudson Street in Jersey City. Over 200+ people turned up for dinner, drinks and dancing. Guests enjoyed bowls of ramen and shrimp and pork buns all night, along with sake, beer, whisky tastings. My favorite drink of the night was the Rose Petals cocktail at the Fun Luge ice station, made with Tchiko, rose water, lavender syrup and fresh lemon juice. 

Ani Ramen is one of my favorite Ramen houses ever, and the best I know of in New Jersey. Aside from this event, I've only dined at the Ani Ramen in Montclair, but they also have additional locations in Jersey City, Summit and Maplewood. My favorites dishes at Ani Ramen include the Chicken Wings Two Ways appetizer, Pork Buns and Miso Ramen with classic chicken broth, miso tare with chashu pork, kakuni, bean sprouts, spinach & scallions.

- Kim Weling

Bergen County Food & Wine Festival 2017

Mighty Quinn's BBQ

Slow Smoked Burnt Ends w/ pickled cucumber & fresno chile

Last month, the first-ever Bergen County Food & Wine Festival, benefitting the 200 Club of Bergen County, took place in a tented section in the western parking lot of Garden State Plaza in Paramus, NJ. While September 16th focused on Burgers & Brews, I attended the Tasting Village on September 17th, featuring over 70 Bergen County restaurants, complete with beer, wine and spirit tastings. Check out my favorite tasting plates served up at the festival.

Varka Estiatorio, Ramsey NJ

Cenzino's, Oakland, NJ

Stella Artisan, Ridgewood, NJ

Reilly's Ribcage

Inserra Supermarkets ShopRite Catering

Herb Marinated Flank Steak 

with broccoli rabe, loaded twiced baked potatoes & wine reduction

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza

Slovenia Vodka

Espolòn

Glaze Donuts

- Kim Weling

New Taste of the Upper West Side: Best of the West 2016

Tessa

Seared Octopus Caponata with green olive tapenade, 

fennel salad, old balsamic

Earlier this month on June 3rd and 4th, I attended the annual New Taste of the Upper West Side under the grand tent on Columbus Avenue between 76th and 77th Streets. Best of the West, which  is my favorite of the culinary two-night tasting, was hosted by Sara Gore of NBC's New York Live and Open House. 

New Taste of the Upper West Side celebrated the crème de la crème of UWS cuisine for its 9th year, featuring over 46 fabulous Upper West Side restaurants preparing unique and delectable dishes.

It was a downpour of rain that night, but it didn't stop foodies from enjoying some seriously good eats. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of dishes that centered around octopus or salmon, which I both loved. Tessa, Bustan, Nice Matin, and Caffè Storico featured octopus and Atlantic, The Milling Room and Crave Fishbar made salmon creations. Desserts included Voila Chocolat, Jacques Torres, Alice's Tea Cup, Treat House and Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe.

Check out highlights of my favorite dishes. Best of the West gets better every year, with my go-to UWS restaurants mixed in with some new ones I got to sample. Taste of the Upper West Side still remains to be my favorite celebration of gourmet cuisine. 

Atlantic Grill

Faroe Island Salmon Crudo 

with pastrami spice, pickled mustard seeds, pumpernickel crisp

Candle Cafe West

Grilled Vegetable Salad 

with crispy kale, poblano vinaigrette & avocado mousse

Cafe Luxembourg

Escargots Braised in Parsley Cream with Garlic & Smoked Bread Crumbs

Burke & Wills

Kangaroo Ham with Homemade Sesame Bread, Lemon Yogurt & Pickled Onions

The Smith

Toasted Ricotta Gnocchi with Truffle Cream

The Milling Room

Citrus Cured Salmon with marinated cucumbers & chives

Naked Cold Pressed Juice in 5 flavors:

Cool Pineapple, Bold Beet, Lively Carrot, Hearty Greens and Bright Greens

Bar Boulud

Veal & Foie Gras Pâté en croûte morels & spring pea salad

Bustan

Taboon Charred Spanish Octopus

with white bean masabaha, spiced tomatoes, herb labane, 

shaved fennel & sumac pickled onion salad & cilantro oil

Nice Matin

Grilled Octopus with sweet pea, cucumber & red onion salad

Caffè Storico

Insalata di Polpo with braised octopus, potato, celery and olive

Jean-Georges

Main Lobster Summer Roll with sriracha emulsion & dill

Ed's Chowder House

Fluke Poke with sriracha, crispy garlic, red onions & scallions

Crave Fishbar

Faroe Island Salmon Crudo with sun gold tomatoes, fava beans, kaffir lime & yuzu

Henry's

Henry's Summer Picnic

Fried Chicken "Chicharrones", Henry's Shredded Kale Salad,

Guavade Summer Cooler lemonade, guava juice

Roscato Prosecco, Sparkling Moscato and Sparkling Sweet Red

Voila Chocolat

Alice's Tea Cup

Buttermilk Mixed Berry Scones and Oreo Cupcakes

Magnolia Bakery

Jacques Torres

Jacques Torres Chocolate

Rum Raisin Ice Cream with Caramelized Popcorn

Treat House

Mini Crispie Treats

Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe

Caramel Cognac Flavor Macarons

Cake Truffles

Bottega White Gold Moscato

- Kim Weling