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Dining Out
www.theconnectionsnj.com Experience the best of Cuisine and Service at Peapack’s Exceptional Dining Restaurant FEATURING OUTDOOR DINING Private Rooms Available for Parties Up to 80 People 3 Star Rating - “The Star Ledger” 141 Main Street • Peapack, NJ www.cafeazzurronj.com 908-470-1470 Open 7 Days a Week for Dinner 5 -10pm • Mon.- Fri. for Lunch 11:30-2:30pm an Italian Bistro Cafe Azzurro BYOB Zagat Rated 12 Village Road, New Vernon, NJ 07976 973.984.4040 info@villagebistro.net www.villagebistro.net Visit our website for menu, daily specials and special events. Offering Brunch & Dinner B.Y.O.B. & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Lunch: Tues-Fri 11-3 • Dinner: Tues-Sat 4-9 Brunch: Sat & Sun 10-3 What's new at Village Bistro ... A Sneak Peak into What’s Coming in September: - New Fall Menu - Chef Tasting Events - Express Business Lunches and more! “Your Neighborhood Bistro and Caterer” GLADSTONE TAVERN 273 Main Street Gladstone 908-234-9055 www.GladstoneTavern.com Tom Carlin, Chef/Owner Chef Tom Carlin opened Gladstone Tavern ten years ago - a milestone for the restaurant business. Carlin is proud that he has retained some of his original employees. That says a lot about his management style and the success of the Tavern. Carlin explains “People feel at home here and they are comfortable seeing familiar faces in the dining room, behind the bar and in the kitchen. This is a close knit community and we are proud to be part of it.” Carlin studied fine art in college. While at school he worked as line cook in a small French Bistro. He loved the creative energy that he found in the kitchen and began his transformation from a music loving art student to chef. After graduating, Carlin moved to one of New Jersey’s top restaurants at the time where he met future celebrity chef Tom Colic- chio. It was Colicchio who urged Carlin to join him in cooking in New York City. His first job in New York was at Chef Jonathan Waxman’s “Jam’s.” This was probably the first farm-to- table concept on the east coast. Waxman brought this to New York after working in California at Chez Panisse with the legendary Alice Waters. A year later Carlin moved to “Gotham Bar & Grill” to train with the great chef Alfred Portale. At Gotham, Carlin advanced through the kitchen to become sous chef. Three years later Carlin moved to the ground breaking “Quilted Giraffe,” one of the top restaurants in the country at the time. Next, Carlin joined Tom Colicchio’s “Mondrian” restaurant to study pastries. It was there that Carlin had a chance to work with one of the top chefs in the world today Thomas Keller, who was preparing to open his “French Laun- dry” restaurant. In 2005 Carlin took possession of a historic former farmhouse in Glad- stone and transformed it into the modern classic now known as Glad- stone Tavern. He restored the exteri- or back to its original charm, but the interior was transformed into a con- temporary restaurant experience with a long concrete bar, working fire- places, outdoor dining terrace, chef’s herb garden and a large private din- ing room on the second floor. His menu focuses on seasonal American cuisine and everything is made in-house from scratch. Start with their house-made bread brushed with rosemary, sea salt and olive oil. Try one of their crafted cocktails made with fresh herbs, house bitters or tonics. The dinner menu offers something for every taste from grass-fed hamburgers with hand cut fries to the best skillet roasted chicken you will ever taste. End your meal with one of their house made desserts, many served with one of their own ice cream. The food is healthy, fresh, satisfying and creative – but it is the Tavern’s warm personal service that inspires return visits. The Tavern’s numerous menu events have become local traditions. Visit this fall for their “Local Apple Menu,” “Pumpkin Week” or just join their Thanksgiving Eve party. Bringing family and friends together for holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve turn meals into memories. A guest aptly described their experience as a “Norman Rockwell moment.” LIFE LONG PASSIONPAGE 56