Bakehouse by Joe Murphy
By Sherry Kevoe
Get ready for a great treat in N.J. without going to New York in a casual, comfortable farmhouse setting. Chef Joe Murphy has decided to give our towns the opportunity to be recipients of his many talents as a world-renowned chef for over 25 years right here in New Providence. Chef Joe Murphy is a Brooklyn native and a life-long New York City chef who has been through many of the great kitchens in the city, including LaCote Basque, Lespinasse, Park Avenue Café, Gotham Bar and Grill, Jean-Georges, and has traveled the world with Dean and Deluca as a global pastry chef. While working for Jean-Georges Restaurant he received 3 Michelin stars and 4 stars in the New York Times. In 2006 Chef Murphy was awarded Top Ten pastry chefs in America and won the Chopped Sweets Contest on the Food Network.
Chef Joe Murphy
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with a degree in baking and pastry, Joe honed his professional skills gaining experiences needed to further his cooking and baking techniques. After traveling the world with many fine restaurants, Joe has been planning this new venture for over two years. At a time when the pastry/bakery business has been struggling, Chef Joe Murphy saw a need in our local community that was not being met. The concept is a local American bakery offering only fresh ingredients every day. Bakehouse by Joe Murphy will feature sandwiches, seasonal soups, quiche, pastries, and more all with a healthy twist using products from local N.J farmers. Items such as vegetables, herbs, apples, honey, and more are brought in on a daily basis. Vegan options will be available in addition to specialty coffees from New York.
Chef Murphy is excited to be presenting an “American bakery” which promises to be something our area has been missing for a long time. Examples of flavorful menu items are whole wheat croissants with toasted baked grains, the best brownies one has ever experienced, and strawberry shortcakes with “real” whipped cream. Vegan options such as a Vegan chocolate donut, warm butternut squash, and goat cheese tartine. Steel-cut oatmeal and avocado toast with sesame and feta topped with olive tapenade on fresh-baked ciabatta bread made by Joe makes this dish a real favorite! Joe’s goal as always is to make foods as delicious as possible using actual fresh ingredients. He believes, “in maintaining a balance of elements in whatever you are making using naturally sweetened foods”. This concept will serve to reduce the amount of sugars in the food. Birthday, wedding cakes, and other specialty items will be available to order. Bakehouse by Joe Murphy will welcome local students as well as professionally trained chefs as employees. A sous chef with over 12 years of experience as well as a former head pastry chef will be on board to assist Joe with training personnel.
Joe has helped raise money for various organizations such as Autism Speaks, The Wounded Warriors Foundation, City Meals, and The James Beard Foundation. He was awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award by the U.S. Pastry Competition recognized for being a Mentor, Educator, and Promoter in the pastry field. Joe lives in Scotch Plains with his supportive wife and two children. Stop into Bakehouse by Joe Murphy, 1253 Springfield Ave., New Providence, 7 am-6 pm Tuesday-Sunday, www.bakehousebyjm.com or call for information at 908-955-8496. You are promised not to be disappointed!