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Dining Out
www.theconnectionsnj.com LUMI ZI RESTAURANT 252 Somerville Road Bedminster By: Keli Gabinelli Since its grand opening in November of last year, Lumi Zi has been serving fine seafood dining to residents of the Historic Somerset County Society. Located in Bedmin- ster, Lumi Zi is in prime proximity to Basking Ridge, Far Hills, Warren, Watchung, Bernardsville, centrally located near all of the major highways in the area. With the charm- ing allure of Bedminster, and the quaint cot- tage where the restaurant is located, Lumi Zi is a beautiful boutique restaurant whose seafood menu is out of this world. With fresh deliveries daily, they primarily source products from local fisheries in the tri-state area as well as having fresh fish flown in from all over the world for the complete “Water to Table Din- ing Experience.” At Lumi Zi , they keep every- thing simple, not overwhelming the dish with too many ingredients. In this way, they let the flavor and freshness of the fish speak for itself, sourced from the finest markets, and never weighed down with too many tastes. On Thursdays, they run their Dover Sole special, which is outstanding. Garnished with fresh herbs and lightly pan-seared on each side, and de-boned table side, flown in fresh and available at market price. This is just one example of how they let the menu stand on its own feet…or rather, its fins! Another fab- ulous special that Lumi Zi offers is a full, three course meal on Monday nights for an unbeat- able price point: $33 per person! Be sure to keep an eye out for their monthly wine din- ners, where they offer various meals paired with fine wine from local wineries, 56 Degrees in Bernardsville and Peapack Wines in Gladstone. Lumi Zi offers private on-site parties as well as their Upstream Catering Service, directed by Greg Gibbs, who’s been in the business for thirty years. Ranging in events as small as ten people, or parties with over a hundred guests, Lumi Zi can make you feel like a guest at your own party. They’ve done numerous corporate events and luncheons as well as various themed parties like Sweet 16’s, Bar or Bat Mitzvah’s, Anniversaries, Birth- days… you name it! Whatever the event is, Lumi Zi will take care of your needs, “A to Zi.” Upstream Catering Service offers options not typically available on the regular menu, like a raw bar or a sushi bar, bringing in the finest sushi chefs in the area, of course. Its owners, Antonio Berisha and Chef Roy Marin, have been in business together for over twenty years, Lumi Zi is their third ven- ture. Over a twenty-five-year long career in the kitchen, Marin is a self taught chef with a background in Italian and Mediterranean food, who now features primarily seafood. His diverse expertise is a driving force behind Lumi Zi’s creative menu as he brings an exot- ic signature spice to classic traditional dishes. Antonio is a respected New Jersey restauran- teur affiliated with ten popular names all over the state for the past thirty years. After multi- ple ventures throughout their respective careers, they paired together as a dynamic duo to open a boutique seafood restaurant that prioritizes local ingredients and reflects the heart of the Somerset County historic area. The name, “Lumi Zi,” which translates to Black River in Albanian, captures this essence. Native Americans living in the Somerset County area referred to the ten mile long stretch of the river running from Hacklebar- ney State Park, through Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon County as the “Black River.” It was called the Black River because of its deep spo- radic black holes and the black soil in the river bed. Rivers in Flanders, Chester and Tewks- bury eventually connect with the Black River, flowing down to the Raritan River and even- tually down to the Delaware. The large wall in Lumi Zi is set with real stones pulled from the river bed. This connectivity of New Jersey’s free flowing rivers represents Lumi Zi’s mis- sion to connect local historic places and small businesses around the state. Antonio Berisha left Albania as a child, seeking refuge with his family in Italy and finally settling on Arthur Ave. in the Bronx, New York. He sees his story as a refugee and immigrant as parallel to the story of the entre- preneur. In both cases, you must leave your comfort zone and take a major risk, especial- ly in the restaurant industry. Berisha feels for- tunate to have been a part of so many endeavors with family and close friends over his thirty-year career, and is thankful for all the things his personal life and childhood has taught him. For starters, he attributes his incli- nation toward hospitality as absolutely rooted in his Albanian culture. Having moved all over the world, he has always found comfort in creating a home environment by serving peo- ple, making delicious meals, and creating an atmosphere of love and friendship in his restaurants. Lumi Zi is open for lunch Monday to Friday, and dinner Monday to Saturday, while offering private on and off-site catering services. Visit their website, LumiZiRestaurant.com for the full menu and additional details about Upstream Catering. We can’t wait to see you there! Restaurant Fish House 252 Somerville Road • Bedminster, NJ 908-470-0400 lumizirestaurant.com Accepting Mother’s Day Reservations Now – A La Carte Menu or Let Lumi Zi cater your Mother’s Day at your home – Full Service Catering Monday - Saturday | Lunch & Dinner Sundays | Private parties for up to 50 Happy Mother’s Day! Water to Table Dining New Spring Menu Patio Dining Open 7 Days: Mon-Fri. 6:30 am - 5 pm, Sat. 7 am - 5 pm, Sun. 7 am - 3 pm 161 Main Street • Peapack, NJ • 908.781.5554 www.cocoluxepastry.com Serving European Style Pastries, Housemade Croissants & Breakfast Pastries, Wedding Cakes, Tarts, Cookies, Soups, Sandwiches, Quiches. All Cakes and Pastries Made from Scratch Menu Available OnlinePAGE 37