Bergen Buzz

OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTY.

5 IDEAS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY FEAST

The bird is the main attraction of any Thanksgiving dinner; you want to make sure to do it right. But never fear—advice from Joseph Silvestri, owner of Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff, can help make sure yours is perfect. Here are his five tips:

Place your order early. Goffle has been taking Thanksgiving orders since midSeptember due to—what else?— supply-chain issues. Silvestri recommends stocking up ASAP on your condiments and sauces too, such as canned cranberry jelly and yams. Always buy more than you need. Fun fact: The first 6 pounds of a turkey is skin and bones, not meat. For this reason, for a 10-person Thanksgiving meal, Silvestri recommends a 20-pound bird, which will leave enough for turkey-sandwich leftovers on Black Friday. Fridge storage will suffice. If you bring your bird home a few days before Nov. 24, no need to do anything special to preserve its freshness. “All birds are deepchilled, which keeps them fresh longer,” says Silvestri. He also says most of them are aged just the right amount of time so the meat melts in your mouth when you eat it, which is why buying a turkey that was killed just a day or two ago isn’t typically your best option. Consider frying. Roasting is the way to go for most of us, but putting your turkey in the deep fryer gives it a delicious, crispy taste. “Just keep in mind that a bird that’s more than 14 to 16 pounds won’t cook all the way through in a deep fryer,” says Silvestri. And be careful with the hot oil! Think about an alternative to turkey. Silvestri says capon is a good option despite its not-so-cute description. It’s “a castrated male chicken that grows bigger and plumper,” he notes. Other alternatives, he says, include duck, goose and Cornish hens, the last of which also works well for Christmas.

DID YOU KNOW? More than 141 million cards are sent for Mother’s Day in the U.S., according to the folks at Hallmark. But the holiday only ranks third on the list of top greeting card holidays. Christmas tops the list with 1.6 billion cards, followed by Valentine’s Day (151 million). DID YOU KNOW? Wild turkeys tend to be more agressive during their mating season, typically from March through June. The animals’ behavior—mostly the males—can include hostile actions toward reflective and shiny objects such as automobile wheels and mirrors, according to the U.S. Humane Society.

TURKEY DAY TROT

You might as well get some exercise before you stuff yourself on Thanksgiving, right? Held the morning of the big feast, these Bergen County runs are about two things: burning off calories before you indulge, and spending extra time with family and friends on the morning of the day of thanks:

• Racefaster Thanskgiving Day Run,

Glen Rock. This run features something for everyone: a 5K run starting at 9 a.m., and a Kid Fun Run that’s just under a mile starting at 9:45 a.m. Tickets are $35 and $20, respectively. Sign up at racefaster.net/ thanksgiving-day-run. • Be Grateful 5K, Rochelle Park. iLearnSchools, a Fair Lawn-based nonprofit that offers support for schools in Bergen and Passaic counties, sponsors a Turkey Day 5K that kicks off at 152 Howard Ave. in Rochelle Park. The race begins at 9 a.m., and all proceeds go toward a scholarship fund for high school seniors. Get pricing and more info at runsignup.com/Race/NJ/RochellePark/ BeGrateful5K. • Upper Saddle River 5K Run, Upper Saddle River. One of the state’s largest Thanksgiving Day races returns for its 23rd year. Proceeds from this community event go toward many deserving organizations, from Mahwah’s Center for Food Action to Social Discovery Autism. Sign up and learn more a usr5k.org.

BE A DEAR, VOLUNTEER

Trying to get your kids off their devices and out into the world? A great way to start is by volunteering. Nov. 19 is Family Volunteer Day—coincidentally timed with the start of the season of giving—and there are many ways to get involved and help out. “Nonprofits can’t do the lifesaving and impactful work that they do without the help of volunteers,” says Aubrey Durenberger, operations manager at Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge Inc. (RBARI). “Volunteers work side-by-side with staff to save lives.” Opportunities to help out in Bergen are legion—here are four: • RBARI, Oakland, is a shelter that attempts to find loving homes for abandoned animals.

“Our volunteers assist with all aspects of the rescue, from cleaning and caring for the animals to fostering and transporting them to appointments,” says Durenberger. Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old and commit to a minimum requirement of six months. To learn more: rbari.org/volunteer • Bergen Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Hackensack, speaks up for children in foster care. A CASA volunteer undergoes 36 hours of pre-service training before he or she can be sworn in by the family court judge and then appointed to a foster child about whom the volunteers will help make informed decisions. Bergen CASA collaborates with other local nonprofits such as the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and Flames of Giving, which “enabled us to distribute over 500 fully stuffed backpacks this fall to our foster children and the children from this county’s poor and stressed families,” says Lucy Rosen, executive director. “We are now gearing up for our holiday gift drive.” To learn more: bergencasa.org • Family Promise, Ridgewood, offers temporary shelter and support services to homeless working families. Its Walk-in Dinner Program in Hackensack feeds homeless people seven days a week; meals are donated through local volunteer groups as well as through individual families. On-site volunteers must be at least 18 years old, says Margo Heller, director of volunteers, but anyone can help out with its donation drives, its Hike for Hope spring fundraiser and the Family Promise Youth Council for teens. To learn more: bergenfamilypromise.org • Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County, Westwood, takes volunteers for two of their current initiatives. Those 18 and up can help out with construction on a current single-family home project in Hillsdale. Kids 14 and up with an adult or 16 and up without parental supervision can help out at ReStore, the financial arm of Habitat Bergen, with tasks such as “customer service, merchandising and support,” says Gloria Bello, volunteer coordinator. The construction site requires a full-day shift, whereas ReStore requires just two hours at a time. To learn more: habitatbergen.org

CULINARY CORNER

When it’s takeout time…

Consider ordering from Rafaella’s in Bergenfield. What previously operated as a ghost kitchen (a facility used only for deliveries) is now a full-on storefront owned by a husband and wife. It offers takeout and catering (but no sit-down dining yet). Menu items include salads, sandwiches, burgers, burrito bowls and a signature dish: a cheese hot dog with house-made chili. Pro tip: Lunch specials here change weekly and are posted to the Instagram account @rafaellasfood, where you’ll also find dessert specials such as red velvet baby cakes and s’mores cookies.

• Rafaella’s, 56 S. Washington Ave., Bergenfield, 631.507.8818

Another kind of Seoul food

JJ Dak translates to “wood-fired chicken” in Korean, and this specialty dish, cooked with a special wood-firing method, is served on a sizzling stone atop Korean-style baked rice. This establishment also features an in-house wine bar, and the soju, beer, wine and whiskey pair perfectly with the entrées. What also goes well with the chicken? The Okinawan purple yam sweet potato fries, about which customers rave.

• JJ Dak, 144 Main St., Fort Lee, 201.592.0450; jj-dak.com

Tacos and much more

Like Casual Habana in Hackensack? You’ll get that same warm and welcoming feeling at Pop Taco & Bar in Dumont, probably because it’s owned by the same guys. This new spot has a metropolitan feel, with yummy margaritas and daiquiris and a vast taco menu. It offers “happy hour” weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. (who’s counting?), as well as food and drink specials on Sundays—and yes, there are complimentary chips and salsa while you wait for your order to arrive.

• Pop Taco & Bar, 20 E. Madison Ave., Dumont, 201.385. 2689; poptaconj.com

FOOD PANTRIES NEED YOU

Each year, as the holidays approach with their prospect of bountiful feasts, they’re a reminder that some of our neighbors don’t enjoy similar bounty. Food pantries try to help, and they’re always open to donations—especially in this season.

Food pantries typically accept only nonperishable items, such as canned fruits, veggies and beans, canned proteins such as tuna and soup, packaged foods like pasta, rice, nuts, granola bars and cereal, as well as foods in plastic (not glass) jars like peanut butter and olive oil. At this time of year, other things are in high demand, such as boxed stuffing, canned cranberry sauce, dried yams, instant mashed potatoes and cornbread mix. Some local food banks may also accept household and personal care items like detergent, diapers, feminine care products and hand sanitizer.

The food pantries listed below welcome your donations. Check out their websites for specific items they’re in need of as well as drop-off (or pickup) locations, as both are subject to change. • American Eagle Food Pantry of NNJ, Lodi; sites. google.com/view/aefoodpantrynj/ • Center for Food Action, Englewood, Hackensack, Mahwah and Saddle Brook; cfanj.org • Helping Hand Food Pantry, Hillsdale and Teaneck; helpinghandfoodpantry.com • The Food Brigade, Paramus; foodbrigade.org • The Tri-boro Food Pantry, Park Ridge; triborofoodpantry.org • Social Service Association of Ridgewood, Ridgewood; ssaridgewood.org

A BIG BENDIX BIRTHDAY

You know that shiny, old-school eatery you’ve passed a million times on Route 17 in Hasbrouck Heights? It’s the Bendix Diner, a neighborhood staple (and pop-culture icon, appearing in the 1982 movie Diner) that’s celebrating its 75th birthday this year. That’s no easy feat given that so many similar establishments have closed in recent years. But the Bendix is thrilled to still be serving the community standard diner fare. Blind owner John Diakakis and his three sons, Tony, Dimitri and Michael, were the subject of two documentaries that premiered this summer at the New Jersey International Film Festival. P.S.: The Bendix is open 24 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays.

HIGH SCHOOL KUDOS

• On a service trip to Botswana just before the pandemic, Straus Daniel, a high school freshman from Saddle River, witnessed schoolchildren sharing one pencil to a class. That’s how he was inspired to found Pencils for Pula, a local charity that works with schools, churches and local businesses to donate school supplies to underserved teachers and students. Ahead of the 2022–23 academic year, Pencils for Pula and Landmark Athletics and Fitness in Ramsey collected over 5,000 items (notebooks, pencils, markers, etc.) that were then donated through the Kids in Need Foundation. Straus’ group has another drive coming up later this fall in partnership with the Brotherhood Lacrosse Team—with more to come! To get involved or learn more, follow PFP on Instagram @pencils_for_pula. • Celine Hong, a senior at Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, has qualified as a 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalist based on her excellent performance on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The Englewood Cliffs resident is one of 16,000 American high school seniors to receive this honor. A well-rounded student, Celine is a math tutor, a talented flutist, founder of Lights On, a nonprofit that helps underprivileged communities, and a participant in many clubs at AHA including Model United Nations, Red Cross Club, Dean’s Council and the Asian Cultural Society.

SNACK SMARTER

What’s a football game without the grub to go with it? Not something we want to think about, that’s for sure. But there’s a way to snack smarter during tailgate/football season—a few quick swaps can make a difference to your waistline. Consider these substitutions:

Instead of: Hot dog, about 150 calories

Try: Chicken sausage dog, about 100 calories. Chicken sausage is generally lower in fat, calories and unhealthy additives. You can up the flavor profile with all the same fixings as you’d put on a beef hot dog (ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, etc.), and think about swapping a bun for a lettuce wrap (or at least a whole wheat bun instead of white bread). Don’t knock it ’til you try it! Another pro tip: Put ’em on a skewer with grilled veggies.

Instead of: Chicken wings, about 400 calories for six wings

Try: Turkey meatballs, about 250 calories for six meatballs. Lean ground turkey with no more than 10 percent fat is a better option here, and meatballs can be just as munchable as chicken wings when served individually on toothpicks. (They’re a lot less messy than wings too!) Instead of a heavy blue cheese dip, opt for a marinara sauce, or even a sweet BBQ sauce to parallel the flavor profile of the wings.

Instead of: Potato salad, about 350 calories per cup

Try: Cauliflower salad, about 60 calories per cup. Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it’s high in fiber, plus it has a lower glycemic index than potatoes. Instead of a mayo dressing, try making one with Greek yogurt or even olive oil and mashed avocado to increase the healthy fat content in the dish.

IN PRAISE OF 3 POP-UPS

Some of the best Bergen eats aren’t found in traditional restaurants. Sometimes chefs do their own thing on the go via mobile ordering or pop-ups in spaces shared with other businesses. • Founded by Matt Borgersen, former chef at Caffe Anello in Westwood,

EightyTwentySmash

(pictured) has become a smashing success with its “smash-ups,” pop-up events hosted at various restaurants around New Jersey where customers can indulge in its “smasher”—an all-beef blend smashed on a griddle with cheese, the pop-up’s specialty sauce and a bun. It also appears at festivals and does catering and private parties. • Ramen more your speed? Try the best-of-the-best from Tenmomi, the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef KC Gonzalez, who offers noodles and bowls every Monday for takeout only out of Café Matisse in Rutherford. It’s first-come, first-served (the chef makes a limited number of bowls every week), and is perhaps one of the county’s best-kept secrets. Try a sesame pancit, the miso spicy ramen or porkys, a collaboration with EightyTwentySmash featuring pork confit sandwiched between two Martin’s potato rolls. • Finally, there’s Holy Grail Burgers, an artisan burger delivery service led by Jonathan De La Cruz. They’re based in Englewood and use Instagram to promote menu items and sales. “The original” is as good as it gets: angus beef topped with bacon, cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and the special holy grail sauce, all on a buttered brioche bun. Or try the “Heisenberger,” the PB&J and the bacon cheesy fries.

KITTY LOVE

Cat: Keeper, 5-yearold domestic shorthair Owner: Debbie Jameson-Calin of Fort Lee Have you and your pets ever stepped foot or paw into Miss Molly’s Lap of Luxury Grooming Salon in Englewood Cliffs? If so, you undoubtedly recognize the cat in this photo. That’s Keeper (as in shopkeeper), who was rehoused in the salon from a family that was allergic to him when he was a wee kitty.

He’s a friendly cat with a “big purrsonality,” says his owner, adding that he loves attention, people and getting into clients’ purses and packets to hunt for snacks.

“If you sit in my waiting area, Keeper will either sit next to you or jump onto your lap for more petting and attention,” says Jameson-Calin. Dogs don’t faze him, he feels at home in the salon, and even non-cat-lovers are crazy about Keeper. “He’s not at all finicky with food and even cuts in front of dogs to get a biscuit!”

Want to see your dog or cat in a future issue of BERGEN? Submit his or her photo and a brief description to rita.guarna@ wainscotmedia.com.