By Sally Deering

On Palisade Avenue in the Jersey City Heights, a colorful neighborhood pub “Fox & Crow” serves all-American burgers, cocktails shaken & stirred and a root beer float that could land Junior in the principalâ€s office. On weekends, the backroom “Parlour” with its own bar, and family-style tables becomes a small club with a dazzling array of singer-songwriters, bands, and spoken-wordsmiths.

More hippie than dippy, Fox & Crow (named for the owners, Arthur and Sarah Johnsonâ€s daughter Rebecca who loved the nursery rhyme) Fox & Crow opened in February 2015, and has since become a cool neighborhood go-to place for tasty American dishes, knee-bending cocktails like the Sly Fox and the Shy Fox and lively entertainment. On a recent Saturday night, Vicky Cristina Barcelona – a three piece all-girl group that performs Tom Waits†songs knocked the socks off the audience.

“Our family loves to eat and drink, and have a good time,” Rebecca says. “We wanted to create an atmosphere that was warm and welcoming, serving wholesome food at decent portions without pretensions. We also wanted to replicate the pub atmosphere you find in Europe, where the entire family is welcome, from babies to dogs. We wish we could also welcome dogs, waiting for New Jersey to change its ways!”

 Fox & Crowâ€s pub menu is tasty and minimal with several appetizers and a dozen or so sandwiches (and a salad) to choose from. Starter/Munchies include Hand Cut Pub Fries, and Wings served Chili, BBQ, Buffalo, and Jabanero & Honey-style, and Artâ€s Nachos with a choice of cheese, jalapeno peppers, pico de gallo, sour cream or black beans.  ($6-$8)

Burgers take center stage and come in lots of variations including Old Blue (blue cheese), California Club, and Black Bean. For seafood lovers thereâ€s the Krabby Patty with Asian slaw; the Spicy Crow, fried chicken with chipotle mayo and avocado; and the Cheese Me Please Me grilled cheese with Gouda, Gruyere-Cheddar on sourdough bread. The Mariner, sesame-crusted pan-seared tuna with ginger soy sauce is also a popular dish.  ($11-$15). Thereâ€s a beet salad, too. ($12)

For those looking for something sweet with a little kick, the (alcoholic) Root Beer Float is made with “Not Your Fatherâ€s Root Beer”, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream ($10).

“The menu has grown with us,” Rebecca says. “We have had input from talented chefs, friends, and family. Brunch is the collaborative product of my mother, and local resident and New York chef Ben Kurst and expertly prepared by our in-house chef Marcos Mendoza. Brunch is special as Sunday breakfast has always held a special place in my family’s week. When home for holidays, we all gather at the kitchen table and dad will make his signature eggs, bacon and home-fries. The dish ‘Artie’s Breakfast†on the brunch menu is a nod to him.”

Weekend Brunch also features Locals Only pork roll, egg, cheese, and home-fries; Fox & Crow Burger with fried egg, bacon, cheddar; Smoked Salmon Hash; Savory or Sweet Ricotta Toast, Avocado Toast; and, French Toast ($8-$14). Modcup Coffee is the house coffee ($2); and Mimosa, Bellini or Bloody Mary cocktails keep things fizzy. ($4-$6)
The kitchen stays open late; Sunday through Wednesday till 11:30 pm; and Thursday through Saturday till Midnight. The bar has a huge choice of beers and cocktails. The Parlour presents live entertainment, and a monthly Spoken Word series hosted by James Ruggia and RNA. Curator Margo Parks of Jersey City scouts the talent and books the performers.

 Itâ€s been two years since Fox & Crow first opened and in those two years, itâ€s grown a lot, Rebecca says. When her family decided to become restaurateurs, the whole thing came together without much maneuvering.

“We did not spend months scouting a space, the F&C albeit a tremendous amount of work, was quite a serendipitous venture,” Rebecca says. “My father acquired the property and had the option to lease the bar or take the business on himself. I have experience in branding and interiors, my partner Rowen works in hospitality, and my mother and father possess an innately hospitable spirit having come from large families and raising their own. The majority of people we knew from the neighborhood we had met in Modcup coffee, the market, or venues downtown. We felt at home surrounded by bohemian and ingenious spirits. We decided to take a chance, combine our efforts and create the Fox & Crow.”

 If you go

FOX & CROW Pub & Parlor

594 Palisade Ave, JC

(201) 984-2775

www.foxandcrowjc.com

Mon- Wed, 5pm-12am; Thurs-Fri 5pm-3am

Sat 11am-3am; Sun 11am-1am

Sat & Sun Brunch starts at noon

Read another story about Fox & Crow

The post BOHEMIAN, INGENIOUS SPIRITS  Fox & Crow– JC Gastropub for Cool Foodies first appeared on River View Observer.

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We publish bi-weekly in print and cover a wide range of topics on  our website we have celebrity interviews, Dining articles by our award winining writer Sally Deering.

We appreciate your comments and ideas for 2017 to helping us grow and become better to serve you.

The post River View Observer see happenings for January 2017 first appeared on River View Observer.

By Sally Deering

Chef Alana Puentes takes pride in her Cuban-American heritage, but when she gets behind the stove and turns on the heat, Puentes transforms her saucepan into a “melting pot” of international flavors.

After spending several years raising her son Vincent as a single mom, and working long hours cooking for large conglomerates, Puentes traded her corporate chefâ€s coat, recently, for her own label, Most Wanted Chef LLC. Puentes ventured out on her own to cook her cuisine, her way, and it seems to be working to her advantage. These days, her phone rings a lot more frequently; incoming calls from potential patrons craving Puentes†unique cuisine for their special events.

No party is too small for Puentes to cater, she says. She can cook dinner for two, a corporate cocktail party, a six-course wedding reception, and a fundraiser for a thousand guests.

“Special events are my passion,” Puentes says. “I make events memorable; and for the first time in my career, every event Iâ€ve been doing, the people tell me theyâ€ve never had food like this. I did a Cuban party a couple of weeks ago, and last night I did an office party for 25 people. I made Mini Lamb Meatballs where you used the pita as a spoon.”

Born and raised in Queens, New York – the Howard Beach section – Puentes started out in a public relations career until one day, she decided to live her dream.

“I used to do other peopleâ€s press kits,” Puentes says, “and all I wanted to do was cook. I woke up one day and decided I wanted to be a chef. I was in restaurants for many years. I learned every single station in the restaurant. To be on top in the restaurant business, you have to be there all the time.”

Puentes says that when her business really begins to cook, she plans to help other single moms struggling to balance work and motherhood.

“When I get to be where I want to be, I want to hire single mothers who are aspiring chefs,” Puentes says. “Single mothers need help; itâ€s hard being a single parent. I had to find a way to do what I loved and still be the mother I wanted to be. I wanted to be more of a stay-at-home mom, see every play; have dinner on the table. I have to be able to be a part of my sonâ€s life.”

Raising her son as a single mom has kept Puentes on her toes and sometimes when work conflicts with child-rearing, sheâ€s grateful she has her mom and friends to take on emergency babysitting duties.

“This neighborhood has helped me grow,” Puentes says. “I have met the most amazing people.”

And being a proud mom, Puentes likes to trumpet young Vincentâ€s accomplishments.

“Heâ€s bright, an ‘A†student,” Puentes says, glowing. “And heâ€s got the most sophisticated palate. He tries everything.”

Building on the success of Most Wanted Chef LLC, Puentes plans to write a cookbook but first, she really want to put a Most Wanted Chef food truck on the road, bringing her international cuisine to people throughout Jersey City.

“Iâ€m looking for an investor,” Puentes says. “I need to raise $100,000, and Iâ€m not worried about paying it back. I know it will be a huge success because my food is so cultural, so different, and people want to try new things. I already have the name: Iâ€ll call it the ‘Most Wanted Food Truckâ€.”

For more info
Chef Alana Puentes
Most Wanted Chef LLC
www.mostwantedchef.com

Chef Alana Puentes†Lamb Meatballs

EASY LAMB MEATBALL RECIPE WITH TZATZIKI
(Can be served as a beautiful hors d’oeuvres or for dinner)

Meatballs
1-1/2 lb. ground lamb
3 cloves garlic (minced)
3 shallots (minced)
1/2 cup panko
3 tbsp. parsley (minced)
1 tbsp. fresh oregano
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1 egg (lightly beaten)

Tzatziki
1 hot house cucumber (seeded and grated)
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup plain Greek all fat yogurt
2 cloves garlic (grated)
1 lemon squeezed
2 tbsp. fresh dill (minced)
2 tbsp. fresh mint (minced)

Garnish- toasted pita bread and get crumbles
Mix all ingredients being careful not to over mix. Let stand in the refrigerator for at least an hour or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Make meatballs any size you like.
In a large sauté pan heat 3 tbsp. olive oil
Gently roll pan around to get a nice color on the meatballs (3-5 minutes depending on the size).
Let them finish in the oven. 8 minutes for bite size, 15 minutes for a larger size.

Tzatziki
Slice cucumber in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds with a spoon.
Grate on a box cutter. Using a clean towel squeeze all the excess water from the cucumbers.
Mix the rest of the ingredients, let sit for at least an hour.
Top meatballs with feta and enjoy!

The post MOST WANTED CHEF ALANA PUENTES RAISES STAKES IN JC first appeared on River View Observer.

 By Sally Deering   

Jersey Cityâ€s “Restaurant Row” starts at Grove Street and moves west along Newark Avenue where bistros offer foods of many cultures. Now, thereâ€s a new kid on the block – Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge – where guests are invited to enjoy flavors of Spain.

Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge recently opened on Newark Avenue with Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop cutting the ribbon at a Grand Opening ceremony and friends gathering for champagne and finger foods to welcome Raval to the neighborhood. Cuisine from Spain is the latest concept from the owners, the Restaurant Development Group (RDG), which also owns the Lucky 7 Tavern, and Satis Bistro in Jersey City.

The Raval team includes Executive Chef Michael Fiorianti, Chef de Cuisine Ed Radich, General Manager Oz Kolar, Assistant Manager, Ryan McEnerney and RDG Partners, Michael Garcia, Geza Gulas and Andrew Siegel. The team named Raval as an homage to the trendy Barcelona neighborhood that is its namesake, and the restaurant/lounge invites guests to enjoy stylish cocktails and tapas in an ambience of hip urban design laid out on two floors.

The menu by Chef Fiorianti features modern Spanish cuisine inspired by his trip to Barcelona this past fall where he immersed himself in the food and culture. The origin of Tapas, Chef Fiorianti says, goes back to when people ordered small plates of food to go with their drinks and the waiters put the plates right on top of the drink glasses.

“Here at Raval, we try to create a Tapas experience: a lot of the classics with a twist,” Chef Fiorianti says. “We make it our own.”

The menu features Tapas in a variety of ways: Pan con Tomate, Toasted Stirato Bread, Fresh Tomato and Garlic; Boquerones, White and Red Anchovies, Pickled Shallots and Mangalitsa Lardo; Tortilla Española, Omelette of Onion, Garlic and Chorizo with Pan Tomate; Patatas Bravas, Crisp Potatoes, Spicy Bravas Sauce and Roasted Garlic Aioli; Espinaca, Sautéed Spinach, Dried Figs and Toasted Almonds; Albóndigas, Lamb Meatballs, Toasted Pine Nuts with Saffron Tomato Sauce; Padron Fritos, Fried Padron Peppers with Maldon Sea Salt; Almendras , Warm Spiced Marcona Almonds and Chipped Manchego; Espárrago, Grilled Asparagus, Preserved Lemon and Piquillo Peppers, Aceitunas Citrus And Chili Marinated Olives; Plato De Queso, Chef Selection of Cheeses; Plato De Embutidos, Chef Selection Of Traditional Spanish Sausages and Jamón, Bellota Spainâ€s Famed Fermin Iberico Ham.

Media Raciones on the menu include Salpicón, Seafood Salad of Octopus, Prawns, Mussels and Citrus Olive Vinaigrette; Gambas, Head On Prawns Cooked A La Plancha with Garlic Saffron Vinaigrette; Escalivada, Crisp Cana De Cabra Goat Cheese, Roasted Eggplant, Grilled Onions and Peppers; Croquetas De Bacalao, Salt Cod Fritters with Spicy Pepper Jelly; Croquetas Cremosa De Setas, Porcini Béchamel Croquettes and Wild Mushroom; Rabo De Toro, Madeira Braised Oxtail and Parsnip; and Costillas Ala Miel, Sherry and Honey Glazed Berkshire Pork Belly, Pickled Chiles and Marcona Almonds.

Raciones include Fabada, Braised Pork Cheek, Asturian Beans, Chorizo and Morcilla Stew; Bellota Con Vieiras, Seared Sea Scallop, Grilled Bellota Pork, Cauliflower and Cured Tuna with Salsa Verde; Pescado a la Plancha, Seared Market Fish, Hazelnut Romesco, Radish and Snap Pea Slaw; and Secreto Iberico de Bellota, famous Bellota Pork Secret Steak a la Plancha with Salsa Verde.

Raval has two full bars where bartenders serve more than 80 Spanish wines covering over 20 regions of Spain; hand-crafted signature cocktails developed by mixologist Joe Donohue (Kolo Klub), and house-made Sangrias.

Opening Raval on Jersey Cityâ€s “Restaurant Row” seems to be the right decision at the right time, RDG partner Michael Garcia says. Newark Avenue is experiencing a restaurant boon that has made downtown Jersey City a popular dining destination

“The energy on this street is powerful,” Garcia says. “And with so many more to come, weâ€ve only just scratched the surface. Weâ€re happy to be a part of it.”

The RDG partners decided to open a tapas restaurant because they saw a niche, Garcia says.   “We were thinking Italian, but there are a lot of Italian places in Jersey City,” Garcia says.

“We felt Tapas was underserved, and itâ€s hip. Tapas is a culture. In Spain, everything is meant to be shared.”

If you go Raval Tapas & Cocktail Lounge 136 Newark Ave, JC (201) 209-1099 www.ravaljc.com Hours: Mon-Thurs, 3 pm-2 am Fri, 3 pm-3 am; Sat, 11 am-3 am & Sun, 11 am-2 am

The post A TASTE OF SPAIN IN JERSEY CITY- Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge first appeared on River View Observer.