Photo: Lafayette Interior Fashions
Our Local Culinary Creations!
Welcome fall! With the changing seasons comes a change in what we are craving, and with fall that often means comfort food. October is our most delectable issue of the year, filled with some of our favorite dishes and beverages around town. We had the pleasure of sitting down with some of our favorite local restaurants and learned about their fall menus—so get your tastebuds ready, you are in for a treat.
October to me brings the warm seasonal scents of fall and with that, memories to my mind of sitting in my mom’s kitchen, and the aroma of cinnamon, apple, pumpkin, and soups of any kind brings me right back to her table. Today, one of my favorite fall activities with the kids is going to our local farms for freshly made apple pies from their orchards! What are some of yours?
There is an art to creating a flavorful dish that not only satisfies our taste buds but evokes memories. The aroma of certain spices and foods can bring us right back to our childhood, which can be incredibly powerful and comforting. Food brings us all together, and whether we are sharing a meal with loved ones or enjoying a night out on the town, the time spent while enjoying food is invaluable.
We encourage you to try the places we have featured in our October issue and build new memories of your own enjoying our “Local Culinary Creations”!
If you have interesting, fun, and meaningful stories to share or are a business looking to grow within the ten communities we serve, we would love to hear from you. Email John.Meyer@citylifestyle.com for advertising opportunities or Ana. Meyer@citylifestyle.com for editorials or just call us at 973-944-1440.
We look forward to seeing you around town!
ANA AND JOHN MEYER, PUBLISHERS @CHATHAMSHORTHILLS
October 2024
PUBLISHERS
Ana Meyer | ana.meyer@citylifestyle.com
John Meyer | john.meyer@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Ana Meyer | ana.meyer@citylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Ben Meyer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sue Baldani, Ben Meyer
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Chris Jorda Photography
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
1-2: Dr. Sallusto and Dr. Azizian, Smiles By Specialists, Prosthodontics new Madison office. 3: Big turnout at the open house, Dr. Azizian and Dr. Sallusto's, Prosthodontics new Madison office. 4: Celebrating, Dr. Azizian and Dr. Sallusto's, Smiles By Specialists, Prosthodontics new Madison office. 5-7: Fun night had by all at Portofino's, Morristown Italian Restaurants Limoncello dinner and event.
The Taste of Chatham 2024
Join us for The Taste of Chatham on Monday, October 7th, from 6 PM to 9 PM at The Madison Hotel. Explore global flavors from 40+ local food and beverage purveyors, enjoy live music, and participate in our silent auction. Proceeds benefit the Chatham Community Food Distribution. Interested in sponsorship or donations? Contact Allison Slater at info@chathamnjchamber. org. Don’t miss this evening of delicious bites and community support!
PORTOFINO’S PREMIER ITALIAN RESTAURANT
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY
EXPERIENCE AUTHENTIC ITALIAN-AMERICAN DISHES WITH A UNIQUE AND RUSTIC FLARE
Portofino’s, a premier Italian restaurant in Morristown, proves to be a local culinary staple as it boasts a fine reputation for serving first-class Italian cuisine and fostering a warm and welcoming environment. As each dish is prepared with loving attention to detail, and perhaps best known for its family recipe “Our Famous Meatballs”, Portofino’s has been welcoming both locals and visitors since the early 90’s as a pizzeria. Since then, it has evolved into a white tablecloth establishment, celebrating the very best of the Italian dining experience. Whether guests are looking to meet for a casual meal, host a business luncheon, or honor a special occasion, Portofino’s elegant yet comfortable vibe provides the perfect setting.
Lisa Vitiello, owner of Portofino’s since 2015, has created a menu which showcases the perfect blend of Italian classics, including an array of pastas tossed in a Grana Padano cheese wheel, delectable meat and CONTINUED >
seafood dishes, and of course, the renowned Sunday Gravy. With this, a variety of weekly specials are also offered. Portofino’s uses the freshest of ingredients to create dishes of distinguished flavor and caliber your palette will remember! Portofino’s operates on a B.Y.O. policy, and guests are encouraged to bring their favorite wine to pair and enjoy with their meals. And every Sunday Portofino’s offers a Sunday special that includes a Caesar salad, Rigatoni with sausage, ribs and meatballs, Chicken Parm and Cannoli for dessert for only $35 per person plus tax, dine in or take out.
Portofino’s is also well-known for its outstanding catering services with its sister company “Simply Lisa’s Catering”. From providing meals on-site for private parties of up to 80 guests in their designated function room, to large off-site events such as corporate and weddings, Portofino’s has been serving guests at events big and small for almost a decade. Along with any of the items from the full menu, guests may order pizzas to-go, a tasty and beloved treat exclusive to the takeout menu.
Portofino’s sets itself apart with its delicious chef-prepared dishes, exceptional personal service, inviting ambiance and decor, beautiful outdoor dining area and of course, Cinnabon - the restaurant’s very own “brand ambassador” a loveable French bulldog. If you are lucky, you may occasionally run into her welcoming guests at the receptionist desk! Grab your favorite bottle of wine and visit Portofino’s for a true authentic Italian experience! https://portofinosrestaurant.com/
Entry Doors
Roofing
THESE OYSTERTAINERS WILL MAKE YOUR GUESTS FEEL SPECIAL
At your next event, why not treat your guests to Oystertainment®, a unique and fun service offered by Red Oyster? Instead of a stationary raw bar, Oystertainers, clad in their signature oyster-shucking uniform and bucket, will individually shuck oysters for each guest.
“It’s a unique experience that someone personally opens a fresh oyster for you; it makes you feel very special,” says Angelique van der Made, owner of Red
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY
Oyster, a boutique oyster catering company based in New York and New Jersey that has been making people happy for over 22 years. The company also has offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and since this year London.
These professional and personable Oystertainers don’t only shuck oysters, they also educate. They explain where an oyster is from, and why a particular oyster from Maine tastes different than one from Prince Edward Island. They can
also recommend how to eat these delicacies and the condiments that go well with them. For example, hot sauce can be too overpowering and cover up the taste of the oyster, plus you should never just slurp one down. “Chewing it a few times brings out all the flavors - the salinity, the sweetness, the brininess, and the umami taste,” she says.
Red Oyster prefers to serve oysters from Northeastern waters, such as those found in Massachusetts and Maine and up to
“IT’S A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL VERY SPECIAL.”
Prince Edward Island in Canada. Oysters from these regions have a strong shell and a nice combination of salinity and brininess, which gives them a lot more flavor.
“The oyster farmers ship to New York every night to a supplier in Brooklyn, and we get our oysters from there so they are always fresh,” says Angelique. The sooner they are eaten after being caught, the better they will taste.
Although many people equate oysters with summertime, they can be enjoyed
year round, and most raw oysters actually have the best flavor in fall and early winter. When the waters get colder, oysters eat more and thus are plumper and sweeter. And unlike some other party foods, oysters are also good for you and promote a healthy immune system. These nutritious little mollusks include 59 trace elements, 12 vitamins, 19 amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids. As a matter of fact, oysters contain more zinc than any other food. A medium-sized oyster provides at
least 55 percent of your daily requirement for zinc and selenium.
Red Oyster provides oyster catering and oyster shuckers in New Jersey and New York, and has also served at parties in Philadelphia, Boston, Cape Cod and in other locations. You’ll also see Oystertainers at pop-up oyster bars and high end art fairs like those hosted by The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) and Art Basel.
In addition to oysters, Red Oyster offers another flavorful treat from the oceancaviar – served on an oyster or with blini and sour cream. Just the word “caviar” adds a bit of elegance to any party. It can be served along with the oysters, or just on its own.
Have Oystertainers come to your next wedding, cocktail party, backyard get-together, and/or corporate event to give your guests a truly unique and interesting experience. These small shellfish are an absolute indulgence that promote an upscale feel to any party.
Even those who have never tried an oyster, or think they don’t like them, will come to appreciate this delicious delicacy. And who doesn’t like to indulge in some delicious caviar? Your guests will thank you long after the party is over.
Red-Oyster.com
•
NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS OPTIONS FOR ALL
The Toast of the Town
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY & PROVIDED
Michele Wardius and her family have always followed a healthy lifestyle, so when she found a franchise opportunity to share delicious and nutritious food and drinks with others, she took it. Toastique, a gourmet toast & juice bar, opened in Chatham last June.
Her daughter, Macey, manages the business on a dayto-day basis. “There’s always something to do and each day brings something new,” says Macey. “It’s fun seeing the progress our employees make and how excited they get when they make a pretty toast or latte.”
Some of the most popular toasts are the Avocado Smash and the Tomato Buratta. The Green Machine smoothie is always a hit, and the Metabolize, a coldpressed juice, is often requested. High-quality coffees are also served.
For the fall, Toastique will have some seasonal offerings including a juice, oatmeal bowl, soup and an October toast of the month. “Soups are made fresh in house and will switch from day to day throughout the colder months,” says Macey.
Michele and Macey live in Madison and love running a business in Chatham. “We try to get many of our ingredients from local growers,” says Michele. “We do our best to stay organic as much as possible, and
we can accommodate vegans, those with nut allergies and other dietary needs or preferences. It’s a quick and healthy option for many people.” Customers often comment that they can taste the fresh ingredients in every bite.
In addition to Michele and Macey, Michele’s son, Robbi, helps out when he’s home from college, and her eldest daughter, Mariah, handles most of the social media and emails. It’s been such a great experience that Michele would like to open two more Toastique locations so when her grandchildren get a little older, they can become involved in the family business as well.
“The feedback we get is so positive and a lot of people actually take the time to tell us that they’re really happy we’re here,” says Michele. “We’re very thankful.”
Adds Macey, “I love the customer relationships we’ve developed and seeing our regulars day in and day out as well as newcomers coming up to us amazed after having their first Toastique experience. It really is a place that leaves you feeling good and energized and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
To see the entire menu and try these healthy and delicious food items and beverages for yourself, go to Toastique.com/Chatham
We do our best to stay organic as much as possible.
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY
Made From Scratch Fresh, Authentic Food
ENJOY FLAVORFUL MEXICO CITY CUISINE CLOSE TO HOME
When Jennifer Teutli began offering authentic and delicious Mexican food in 2014, she did it from a small stand at local farmer’s market. “I was born and raised in Mexico City, so the flavors and seasoning are very important” says Jennifer. “Being at the market was a great way for people to get to know us and our food.”
The demand for her cuisine kept growing, and so did the business. “People started asking us to cater their parties, and it was very exciting because in Mexico, a typical luncheon, or “Taquiza,” would have beautiful Mexican pots and baskets and a lot of colorful decor and flowers. I really wanted to present our catering services that way because it was definitely new and original.”
She rented a commercial kitchen and then designed and added on a taco truck. “We participated in food festivals, farmers markets, and did lots of catering,” she says. “We also sold our packaged food out of wine stores in Chatham and Summit.”
Chef James Laird from Serenade restaurant in Chatham was an avid customer of the farmer’s market and of Jennifer’s offerings. Later, he had Mexican Spice cater his staff’s holiday parties and they all became friends.
Everything was going so well, then COVID hit. “Our catering and wine store business evaporated. We were not set up to be open to the public. I figured the most fun people were going to have in those days was getting take-out.”
Jennifer and her sister Andrea, who had just arrived from Mexico City, ran a fundraiser on a cool crowdsourcing platform that supports women (ifundwomen.com) so Mexican Spice could move to a new location where they could provide takeout and delivery. People were incredibly supportive, and in just three days, they raised enough money.
CONTINUED >
“We opened our restaurant on Main Street in Chatham two months later in September in a little place on Main St. that I’d always loved, and it turned out amazing,” says Jennifer. “We honor our donors with beautiful hand-pounded metal hearts made by artisans in Mexico City that hang on our Miracle Wall.”
Today, Mexican Spice has an additional taco truck and a mobile margarita/cantina truck. Although Andrea is no longer involved in the day-to-day business, Jennifer has a lot of help from her staff.
“They’re like my family,” she says. “They’re very hardworking. I don’t consider this my business, but our business.”
Mexican Spice caters many private events such as corporate meetings, high school graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries. “It’s not just about providing food – our clients trust us with their most special celebrations, and Mexican Spice becomes part of their memory. That’s a big honor and responsibility.”
All the food is fresh, flavorful and healthy. “The salsa chipotle we make is inspired from my husband’s grandmother,” she says. “Our zucchini soup is very traditional for a homemade lunch. Our salsa Verde is iconic of Mexico. The guacamole recipe comes from my mother.”
She and her staff cook from scratch every day. “I’m very particular about keeping the authenticity of the flavors, colors, textures and presentation.”
“I'm very particular about keeping the authenticity of the flavors, colors, textures and presentation.”
Jennifer is also on the Board of the Chatham Chamber of Commerce, helping coordinate events like A Taste of Chatham, which includes all the restaurants in The Chathams and beyond.
Recently, she and Chef Laird came together for a special Collaborative Fusion Dinner using Mexican ingredients and French techniques. Held on March 6th, it was a huge success, and it also raised $1200 for the Chatham Methodist United Church Food Pantry.
Jennifer and her husband Eugenio have raised their three kids, Rodrigo, Nico and Diego in Chatham, and absolutely love the town. Nico, who’s 20, works in the restaurant and Jeronimo, the father of her niece and nephew who recently moved from Mexico City and has ample experience in the food and beverage industry, is now the manager at Mexican Spice. At one time or another, many family members including her mother, father, sisters, kids, nieces, nephews, aunts, and even her grandmother, helped in the restaurant. It’s truly a family business!
Stop in and enjoy some incredible Mexican food. You’ll keep coming back for more.
www.MexicanSpice.net.
INDULGE IN THE COZY FLAVORS OF FALL WITH THIS CREAMY, NUTRIENT-PACKED PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE.
Pumpkin Spice Bliss Smoothie
As the leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, savor the essence of fall with this creamy Pumpkin
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 small banana, frozen
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (optional for extra creaminess and protein)
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp chia seeds or flaxseeds (optional for added fiber)
• A handful of ice cubes (optional for a thicker smoothie)
Spice Bliss Smoothie—a comforting blend of autumnal flavors in every sip.
DIRECTIONS
1. Blend Base: In a high-speed blender, combine the almond milk, pumpkin purée, and frozen banana. Blend on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
2. Add Flavor: Add the Greek yogurt, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla extract. Blend again until all the ingredients are well incorporated, and the smoothie is rich and creamy.
3. Boost Nutrition: If desired, add chia seeds or flaxseeds for an extra nutritional boost. Blend on high speed until the seeds are fully integrated.
4. Adjust Consistency: Add ice cubes if you prefer a thicker smoothie, blending until the ice is crushed and the smoothie reaches your desired consistency.
5. Serve: Pour the smoothie into a glass and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a dollop of whipped cream (optional).
Enjoy this delicious and healthy pumpkin smoothie as a perfect autumn treat or a nutritious breakfast on the go!
“This creamy, nutrient-packed pumpkin smoothie is a comforting blend of autumnal flavors in every sip.”
EXCEPTIONAL DENTISTRY BY SPECIALIZED DENTISTS
Dr. Azizian, DDS & Dr. Sallustio, DDS
Dr. Sallustio and Dr. Azizian practice a full scope of prosthetic and cosmetic dentistry. With a focus on implants, crowns, bridges and porcelain veneers, Dr. Sallustio and Azizian help patients regain confidence in their smile. The doctors also provide life changing treatments includng same day All-on-4 implants and bridges, prosthetics for oral cancer, trauma and congenital defects including cleft lip and palate. Consider a consultation with Drs. Sallustio and Azizian to analyze your smile.