Morris/Essex Buzz

{ BUZZ } OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTIES.

WHAT’S HOT IN THE KITCHEN

Before you tear down cabinets and put a sledgehammer to the wall, upgrading a kitchen takes plenty of thought and planning. Colors or neutrals? Traditional or smart appliances? Morris/Essex Health & Life asked Jenn Klaus, a marketing manager and showroom builder for the Northeast District of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, for some insider info on the latest in kitchen design. Experiment with color. White is still the it choice for kitchens, a number of homeowners are adding accent colors. “Many are going the two-tone route with their cabinets, often installing white upper cabinetry with colored bottom cabinetry,” Klaus says. “The most popular colors we are seeing right now are navy blue, hunter green and gray.” She adds that accent lights in bright colors or those with natural elements such as rattan or crystal are also trending. Smarter kitchens. Many vendors are syncing their appliances with smartphone apps, with ovens—which were used so often during the quarantine—leading the way. “And to extend the life of appliances, many manufacturers are including technology that alerts homeowners when it is time for routine maintenance or when there is a potential problem,” Klaus notes. “And some appliances can communicate directly with the manufacturer to help diagnose performance issues,” which can spare a costly visit from a repair person. Water…from above. Another growing trend that Klaus has noticed is a suspended faucet in lieu of countertop- or wall-mounted fixtures. “Why not free up some space and install a ceiling-mount faucet?” she says. “A suspended faucet can be adjusted to any preferred ceiling and hanging height. It’s a great option for those homeowners looking for a sleek, modern and smart kitchen faucet.” See it in person. While consumers may shop for items such as faucets online, Klaus warns customers to do all their homework or visit a showroom first. “Online shopping may be a good option for small items or to replace a similar item, but when purchasing large items online, such as an appliance or new bathtub, many consumers don’t purchase all of the additional parts needed to complete the installation,” she says. “This means they may not know what they are missing until it’s too late and, in the end, they spend more money and time correcting problems.”

KUDOS

Best station in the nation: We’ve got the best pizza— turns out we have the top college radio station too. Montclair State University’s station, 90.3 WMSC, was named the country’s best college radio station for colleges with more than 10,000 students at the Annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Conference for collegiate broadcasters. MSU also took home the award for Best Use of Sound Effects. Skillful hands: Also scoring big in a national contest is Belle Schwartz, a crafter from Succasunna who’s been named one of the winners in Joann’s Fabrics Handmade Heroes competition. Schwartz used her knitting and sewing skills to help others during the pandemic, making and donating fabric face masks, mask extenders, pillowcases and knit hats for babies and preemies to local hospitals, first responders and soup kitchens. Help for the homeless: Finally, there’s Jenny DePaul, who in early March drove homeless folks in Newark to her “Kindness Closet” in Rockaway. The closet was a place for them to escape the cold and choose whatever garments they needed, along with sandwiches and nonperishable food items all donated and put together by volunteers. This is in affiliation with DePaul’s nonprofit, Project Kind. If you’d like to donate money, clothing, blankets, toiletries or packaged food, you can do so at projectkind123.org/how-to-help.

TREAT MOM ON HER DAY

Breakfast in bed is always a hit, but spilled coffee and burnt pancakes aren’t— so why take the risk? This Mother’s Day, treat the lady in your life to a special brunch at one of many restaurants in our counties. Our local eateries are open and are following all safety guidelines (and the meals are expertly prepared), so a midday meal with Mom will go exactly as you planned—and will be exactly what she deserves. Here are six places that go out of their way to make every mom feel special.

• Calandra’s, 118 Rte. 46 East, Fairfield, 973.575.6500; calandras medgrill.com • Jockey Hollow Bar & Grill, 110 South St., Morristown, 973.644.3180; jockeyhollow barandkitchen.com • Il Vecchio, 234 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, 973.226.8889; ilvecchiocafe .com • The Office Tavern & Grill, 3 South St., Morristown, 973.285.0220; 240 Rte. 10, East Hanover, 973.386.5850; officetaverngrill.com • Restaurant Serenade, 6 Roosevelt Ave., Chatham, 973.701.0303; restaurant serenade.com • Samba Montclair, 7 Park St., Montclair, 973.744.6764; sambamontclair.com

DELHI FLAVOR

In February, the owners of Delhi Accent in Ridgewood, a popular Indian restaurant in Bergen County, opened a sister spot in Montclair called Tamasha, offering what they call “modern Indian dining.” Online reviews already rave about the service, the atmosphere and the food. Soy burnt garlic cauliflower is a vegan favorite, and one look at the slow-braised lamb shank in onion-tomato sauce featured on its Instagram page (@tamashamontclair) will make you want to book a table.

• Tamasha, 215 Glenridge Ave., Montclair, 973.250.6364; tamashanj.com

A TASTE OF NAWLINS

Crave Cajun and creole food but can’t make it down to NOLA? This new West Orange seafood hot pot will hit the spot. The Boiling Palace specializes in authentic Southern comfort food and seafood such as fried soft-shell crab, hush puppies and shrimp sandwiches. It’s an eat-with-yourhands type of place (which adds to the authenticity of the experience), but it’s following all COVID precautions and has hand sanitizer, gloves and wet towelettes to keep things sanitary and safe.

• The Boiling Palace, 288 Main St., West Orange, 973.736.7925; boilingpalacewo.com

GO KABOB-CRAZY!

Iranians just celebrated Nowruz, the new year, on the first day of spring, but it’s never too late in the season for a good kabob. Halal restaurant Kabul Kabob & Gyro opened earlier this year in Parsippany; its menu is stocked with kabobs made of spiced lamb, beef, chicken or chapli and all the fixings, whether you prefer your meat in a gyro, on a rice platter or with a salad on the side.

• Kabul Kabob & Gyro, 77 New Rd., Parsippany-Troy Hills, 973.227.0946; kabulkabobgyro.com

A BOOST FOR LOCAL BIZ

As local restaurants felt the economic impact of the coronavirus, they also discovered people’s generosity. Local businesses such as Jack’s Café in Verona and Just Jake’s in Montclair were teetering financially during the height of the pandemic when they received aid from the Barstool Fund, the charitable arm of the pop-culture blog Barstool Sports, which has extended financial assistance to more than 300 businesses across the country since the coronavirus outbreak began.

But sometimes it’s not just money that helps a business get back on its feet. Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports’ founder and president, also recently reviewed slices at two popular pizza spots in our area—Reservoir Restaurant in South Orange and Calabria’s in Livingston—and the latter credited Portnoy and his favorable 8.9/10 review for keeping it afloat.

“The week before Dave’s visit, we weren’t sure if we could make ends meet,” Calabria owner Gabriella Ottaiano told Fox News. “Since his review, we were able to catch up on all of our bills and save my family’s business.”

FAREWELL TO A RULE?

The state is considering an official end to a long-time requirement for how a customer must consume alcohol at a brewery or distillery. No, the legal drinking age isn’t changing. Instead, the state Senate and Assembly will decide on a bill that would eliminate the need for an individual to tour a brewery or distillery before he or she drinks on site.

“Requiring customers to take a tour every time they frequent their favorite brewery is very redundant,” says state Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt.

Unnecessarily repetitive and a turnoff, according to some locals. Don’t we have better things to do these days than listen to the same spiel over and over? State legislators have been discussing similar bills for years but have never passed a decisive one. A potential vote, however, has gained traction in recent months as a result of the impact of the coronavirus. Most Cinco de Mayo bashes were put on hold a year ago—something about a worldwide quarantine. But in 2021 we’re ready to safely enjoy the big fiesta on May 5. With many restaurants now reopened and following recommended guidelines, it’s time to celebrate with a margarita and a few tacos. These five Mexican eateries feature tasty food and drinks as well as that south-of-the-border holiday vibe;

• El Matador Mexican Restaurant, 418 Broad St., Bloomfield, 973.748.1707; orderelmatadormexicanrestaurant.com • El Mejicano Tex-Mex Grill, 36 First Ave., Denville, 973.586.7000; mejicanorestaurant.com • Folklore Artisanal Tacos, 57 Harrison Ave., West Orange, 973.324.2208; folkloretaco.com • Riviera Maya Mexican Restaurant, 116 Rte. 46, Rockaway, 862.209.1999; rivieramayanj.com • Tacoria, 52 South St., Morristown, 973.455.7089; 367 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.893.5220; tacoria.com

PUPPY LOVE

Dog: Skylie, 6-anda-half-year-old miniature Australian Labradoodle Owner: Lauren Huston of Harding Township This little gal is a canine star—her 93,000-plus Instagram followers prove it. Skylie’s owner lauds the “good-natured, fun-loving” pup she got from a breeder in South Carolina— and her happy-go-lucky disposition.

The mini-Australian Labradoodle loves the great outdoors, whether she’s hiking in the woods, fetching a ball in her yard or racing up and down the Jersey Shore beaches. In fact, Skylie can’t seem to be photographed without making it an action shot—it’s often difficult to get a clear photo for the ’Gram. “She is a mover and a shaker!” Huston says.

As for her diet, Skylie is a carnivore through and through who loves a good burger or a prosciutto/ mozzarella roll-up. “Just don’t try to feed her fluff food like french fries or a burger bun,” says Huston. “She always passes on empty carbs.” To see Skylie’s daily adventures (and smiles!), check her out on Instagram @skyliedoodle.