Tag Archives: Dining in Hudson County

Dining, Sally Deering

Cooking with Heart at Carmela’s Piccola Cucina in Bayonne

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From her Tiny Kitchen, Chef Carmela Suppa Serves Tasty, Traditional Italian Fare

 By Sally Deering

Ave C in Bayonne Carmela's Piccola Cucina Nestled among the storefronts on Avenue “C” between 25th and 26th Streets in Bayonne is Carmela’s Piccola Cucina, a cozy little Italian restaurant that serves hearty, home-style dishes from Northern and Southern Italy.

Suppa at her restauant Carmela's in Bayonne
Chef and Owner
Carmela Suppa

In Italian, Carmela’s Piccola Cucina means “tiny kitchen” but that’s the only thing small about the place. Owner and Chef Carmela Suppa cooks serves up hearty portions of homestyle dishes that are delicious and seasoned just right.

“You know when you do something you enjoy, you don’t think about anything else,” Suppa says, taking a break from her work at the stove. “Everything I make is cooked to order.”

 

Dining room at Carmela's in Bayonne  Carmela’s Piccola Cucina’s menu includes Antipasti like the tasty Calamari served tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside and with a choice of mild or hot sauce; Caprese Stacks, which is Roasted Eggplant, Fresh Mozzarella and Tomatoes; Stuffed Mushrooms with Roasted Peppers; and Antipasto Rustico, a Selection of Dry Meats and Sharp Provolone cheese. ($6.50-$8.95)

Continue reading Cooking with Heart at Carmela’s Piccola Cucina in Bayonne →

Dining

Lot 13 Gives Bayonne New Hip

18 Taps, a Great Whiskey Selection and Upscale Comfort Food

   By Sally Deering

Jean and Charles Stewart first met at a bar; she was serving drinks at an establishment in the East Village and he was a member of the Coast Guard stationed in Bayonne out for a night on the town. The two fell in love, married and started a family and now they’re raising a son and building a new career as restaurateurs and owners of Lot 13 in Bayonne.

Lot 13 opened in 2011 and both husband and wife share all the responsibilities of running a restaurant and busy bar.

Continue reading Lot 13 Gives Bayonne New Hip →

Dining

15 Fox Place in Jersey City Puts the Home in Home Cooking

Pictured (r) Kathryn Budinich and her friend and Co-worker Mary Lou Roche
Pictured (r) Kathryn Budinich and her friend and Co-worker Mary Lou Roche

Kathryn Budinich Transforms her Jersey City One-Family into Supper Club

By Sally Deering

 15 fox place inside dining roomLike many other houses in the Marion Section of Jersey City (west of Journal Square) Kathryn Budinich’s humble little home has a screen door, cozy rooms and a backyard – and that’s about all it has in common with the other houses on the block.

 In 1999, Budinich, her husband Richie and son Mark transformed the family’s modest one-family into an exclusive dining club where Budinich and her staff, including her long-time friend Mary Lou Roche serve guests in two floors of rooms decorated in Victoriana frills, figurines and frou-frou and formal table-settings in crystal and porcelain. The lighting is low, intimate and perfect for the six-course dinner Budinich serves over the course of three luxurious hours.

 A self-taught chef, Budinich learned to make Italian dishes and desserts listening to her mother, aunts and neighbors who brought in suppers when Budinich and her family worked the feasts sponsored by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church and school their children attended. Years later, Budinich opened Word of Mouth caterers and in 1999 she turned her 15 Fox Place home into a supper club. Fourteen years later, business is so good customers have to make reservations two months in advance and Budinich only opens Friday, Saturday and one other night during the week. She also had to move out of her home to accommodate the demand for reservations.  Continue reading 15 Fox Place in Jersey City Puts the Home in Home Cooking →