The Connections Bernards Ridge Edition Sept 2020

theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 35 DINING OUT John Paul Andronici always knew he wanted to work in the food industry. The owner and chef of New Vernon’s eatery, The Country Fox Café , worked his way up from his early days in a pizzeria to later attending culinary school. “I knew I want- ed to cook since day one,” he said, add- ing that both sides of his family are Italian so he knew all about the importance of a good meal from a young age. He opened the café in August 2019, and has included his family in his new adventure. His father works there too, running the finances and making the pizzas. Open every day except Tuesday, The Country Fox Café offers live music which draws customers in during the weekday dinner rush, and once a month on Saturdays. With breakfast items served all day long, the Mixed Berry Pancakes are super dense and a very popular option, as are the Ha- waiian Pancakes, with a pineapple topping and side of Canadian bacon. In the mood for protein? Try the Zorro Omelet, which customers love due to the chorizo and pep- per jack cheese combination. Eggs Bene- dict has the biggest wow factor because of the garlic butter used on the brioche buns. Andronici is proud to mix American fare with Italian flavor. Not in the mood for breakfast? No wor- ries! Even the pickiest eaters can find some- thing delectable on the menu that will ex- cite them. With weekly specials and a lunch and dinner menu that includes everything from a Chicken Milanese Salad to a Brie and Berry Burger, Andronici’s favorites are his dinner items because “there’s more of a chance to be creative and room for dif- ferent items.” A “fox” symbol on the menu symbolizes a specialty item, such as the trendy Burrata Ravioli. Andronici has an impressive culinary background, having spent time working at The Ryland Inn. Growing up in Branch- burg, he stumbled upon the “hidden gem” in New Vernon and it was renamed The Country Fox Café by his wife. Cus- tomers often refer to the cafe as “The Fox.” The homey living room area of his cafe features dark leather couches, resembling a log cabin, where customers can order an espresso made from his very own machine he purchased in Italy, and just unwind. Catering also keeps him on his toes, and customers enjoy renting out the loca- tion for parties. Andronici loves mingling with new customers, but especially gets a kick out of the loyalty of his regulars. “We get some customers who come in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” Now that’s dedication! Andronici is proud to mix American fare with Italian flavor. Andronici has an impressive culinary background, having spent time working at The Ryland Inn. THE COUNTRY FOX CAFÉ 12 Village Road, New Vernon, NJ 07976 973-984-2110 By Katrina Musto John Paul Andronici (Not to be combined with other offers. Exp. Date 11/15/20) O U T D O O R D I N I N G A V A I L A B L E C a l l f o r R e s e r v a t i o n s T O D A Y !