CULINARY CORNER

Get reeled in

When you think of great seafood, Croatia may not be the first place that comes to mind. But Fish Delish, a Croatian-inspired fastcasual seafood eatery, is now open in Montclair with a variety of salads, hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, pasta etc. (even fish dogs)—and fresh fish is the star of every meal. We can’t wait to try the tuna burger, a medium-rare tuna steak on a brioche bagel.

• Fish Delish, 590 Valley Rd. Montclair, 973.434.0810; fish-delish.com

Burke is back—in South Orange

Most New Jersey diners have heard of The Fox & Falcon in South Orange, but here’s what’s new: It recently reopened as The Fox & Falcon by David Burke, with the celebrity chef taking over the menu and management. Updated offerings include some of his signature dishes: lobster dumplings, clothesline bacon (!) and his pink Himalayan salt-aged beef.

• The Fox & Falcon by David Burke, 19 Valley St., South Orange, 973.419.6773; thefoxandfalconbydb.com

Taste the Mediterranean

Whether you’re interested in a Mediterranean diet or not, you’ll find healthy and delicious food inspired from that culinary region at Taim Mediterranean Kitchen. The new eatery in Florham Park lets you fully customize a pita wrap or bowl from scratch. We’re talking fresh ingredients for carnivores and herbivores alike, including roasted meatballs, traditional and spicy falafel, chicken and cauliflower and impossible kebabs.

• Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, 176 Columbia Tpke., Florham Park, 973.295.6966; taimkitchen.com

Embrace The Earth

Mother Nature deserves a hug, and there’s no better time to throw your arms around the world than Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. Whether you’re picking up trash at your neighborhood park or recycling old materials in your home (see below), there are plenty of ways to show that you care for the environment. To help “invest in our planet”—the theme of this year’s Earth Day celebration—bring the family to one of these events:

• Earth Day Celebration, April 15, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Crane Park, Montclair. Join the Northeast Earth Coalition and other community groups for a pollinator garden tour and park cleanup.

• Earth Day Celebration, April 22, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Crane Park, Montclair. Volunteers will be cleaning local public grounds, including Erie, Brookdale and Glenfield parks.

• Earth Day 2023, April 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland. The free outdoor festival includes crafts, games, demonstrations and a chance to enjoy canoeing and hiking.

A Place For Pets

We always knew our counties were friendly toward cats, dogs and other furry (and scaly and feathered) friends, but Montclair is one town that can make an official claim. It’s the first municipality in our area and the second in New Jersey to receive a pet-friendly town designation through Mars PetCare’s Better Cities for Pets program. Animal welfare group Humane Montclair submitted an application to Mars, highlighting the township’s public and private initiatives geared toward pets.

“We take animal welfare seriously here as just one of many values we espouse on behalf of our wonderful constituents—the furry ones too,” Montclair township council member Peter Yacobellis declared.

In another move demonstrating the town’s dedication to pets, the Montclair council this past winter put an ordinance on the books outlawing the retail sale of cats and dogs. The new law is intended to curb the poor conditions these animals may endure before they are sent to pet stores for sale. If you’re interested in a new furry friend, consider adopting from one of these local animal shelters:

• Montclair Township Animal Shelter, 77 N. Willow St., Montclair, 973.744.8600; montclairnjusa.org

• PAWS Montclair, Montclair, 973.746.5212; pawsmontclair.org

• Randolph Regional Animal Shelter, 97 Ironia Rd., Mendham, 973.543.9333; randolphregionalanimal shelter.org

More In Store For Morris

Who says brick-and-mortar is moribund? At presstime, the brand-new, squeaky-clean Morris Marketplace in Morristown was set to open, giving residents nearly two dozen more options for shopping, dining and personal services. The 140,000-square-foot destination is anchored by a Burlington department store and a Lidl grocery store. Tenants that have signed on (some are already open) include Taco Bell, European WaxCenter, Habit Burger, Jersey Mike’s, Orangetheory Fitness, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, AT&T and Optimum. But that’s not all: Finishing touches are being added to electric car charging stations, interactive play areas for kids and outdoor seating areas. Stay tuned!