Words We Love : Bravado

Bravado –noun,

 from Spanish bravada (modern bravata ), from Old Italian bravare to challenge, provoke, from bravo wild, brave ]

 a pretentious, swaggering display of courage.

Perhaps best known for guarding the Forbidden City, Foo Dogs are actually lions. Jeero being the epitome of bravado jumped at the chance to have his picture taken with this lion at the entrance to the Asian section at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange NJ.

Words We Love : Luddite

Luddite

– noun a member of any of various bands of workers in England (1811–16) organized to destroy manufacturing machinery, under the belief that its use diminished employment.

1811, from name taken by an organized band of weavers who destroyed machinery in Midlands and northern England 1811-16 for fear it would deprive them of work. Supposedly from Ned Ludd, a Leicestershire worker who in 1779 had done the same before through insanity (but the story was first told in 1847). Applied to modern rejecters of automation and technology from at least 1961.

This is the old Silk Machinery Exchange building in Paterson NJ. Paterson was one of the first planned industrial cities in the United States, with much of the planning done by Alexander Hamilton. Power for the factories came from the Great Falls of Paterson. This picture was taken in the summer of 2009.

Herbes de Provence #foodporn

Herbes de Provence is a mixture of dried herbs typical of the Provence region of Southern France.

The standard mixture typically contains savory, fennel, basil, and thyme. Lavender flowers are often found in mixtures sold in the United States. Lavender is not found in the original French version, but as Americans associate lavender fields with Provence liberty is taken to create a unique North American blend.

But here's where it gets interesting. Herbes de Provence as we know it really didn't exist until the 1970's. Sure the herbs themselves were used in various ways, sometimes all together, sometimes a few of them in various combinations, but a name wasn't associated with the blend until the 1970's.

For starters try Herbes de Provence under the skin of a chicken before roasting. How about ditching the colonel's eleven herbs and spices for this blend in fried chicken? It even works wonders with plain bread to make an interesting stuffing.

One whiff and most of us are taken away to a far off place. So why not take ordinary weeknight dinners to new places with Herbes de Provence?

Jeero And The Upper West Side Of Manhattan

Drive By : The Tick Tock Diner, Clifton NJ

Made famous by the FoodNetwork Programme Diners, Drive-Thrus, and Dives; the Tick Tock Diner is famous for its Cheese Fries with Gravy that the locals call Disco Fries

Chorizo Flambe at J&K Steakhouse Montclair

Chorizo Flambe : Chorizo, the spicy latin sausage, cooked in merlot at J&K Steakhouse Montclair NJ.

I had the pleasure of being there opening night, as well as being their first customer and loved every bite.

For this story I was the photographer and the Devil's Companion was the writer. Read more about J & K on Devil Gourmet

Underpass Art in Clifton NJ bring a sense of LA to New Jersey

Looking more like something one would expect to find in Los Angeles this bit of Freeway Art was spotted on Broad Street in Clifton NJ where the roadway passes under an ramp connecting the Garden State Parkway to Route 3.

Simple stencils were used to create the umbrellas and raindrops - adding a bit of whimsy to an otherwise mundane piece of infrastucture.

Jeero Ponders American Individualism

Jeero wonders,

 if America is all about individual freedom,

 and Americans live for their cars,

 why are all the cars the same dull colours?

. @DevilGourmet Discovers LeSalbuen on Walnut Street Montclair

Le Salbuen  has been an integral part of the Restaurant Renaissance on Walnut St. in Montclair. Owned by the husband and wife team of John and Christina Salierno, Le Salbuen is part bistro, part neighbor’s kitchen. The menu is a travelogue of international flavors and influences that have been passed along and shared like heirloom china at a family dinner table. And don’t get me started on the food because the editors will probably scold me for using too many exclamation points!

Just as the café contains old things presented in new ways, so does the menu. A stand out on the menu is the DBLT : the Duck Bacon Lettuce Tomato, a new take on the American classic.


Check out the watermelon radishes on this salad! Lemon aioli, more radishes, and cauliflower take a back row seat to these gems.

Of course there is a whole lot more to Le Salbuen including World Cuisine and Fusion Dishes inspired by the travels of John and Christina. Read more on Devil Gourmet

Le Salbuen

97 Walnut St

Montclair NJ 07042

201-622-8473

Make sure you speak to the Devil when you visit his favourite haunts.

 And be sure follow Devil Gourmet   on Facebook    and Twitter

Words I Love : Garconanokin

Words I Love : Garconanokin ( it's the precise moment when dog doo turns white )

#MeatlessMonday Killer Vegan Pop-Up via @DevilGourmet

Meatless Monday: Killer Vegan Pop-Up Brunch | South Orange (via Devil Gourmet)

Killer Vegan Diner and Delicatessen is destined to be the first of it’s kind in New Jersey – an all-vegan eatery serving up Latin, Italian and American comfort food made with organic and fair trade ingredients. But for now, Killer Vegan is a pop-up café serving Sunday brunch at Lalibela restaurant…

Jeero Discovers White Castle #foodiefriday

Jeero Discovers White Castle on Main Avenue in Clifton NJ.

Did Dr. Seuss Inspire This Mosaic At Montclair's Bay Street Station

As a child I loved the world of Theodore Geisel (Dr Seuss) - those incredbile places and stories that, unknown to us, inspired children of all ages to ask the big moral questions about our place in the world and among others. Okay, as a kid I didn't know they were morality tales, I just liked the stories and the pictures.

Doesn't the green portion of this mosaic remind you of one of those landscapes? Can't you just see one of his characters standing atop the upswung portion?

Wisdom From Madiba

Heeding Madiba's Words : Play Large

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

 - Nelson Mandela

Tomorrow is Mandela Day - how are you going to Play Large?

Lactose Free Restoration Project

I am often amazed at the discards I discover,

 exposed to the elements,

rusting away.

 I see great potential in this milk can

- perhaps something argyle?

An Empire Love Affair

The 1939 romantic drama film Love Affair involves a couple who plan to meet atop the Empire State Building, a rendezvous that is averted by an automobile accident. The film was remade in 1957 (as An Affair to Remember) and in 1994 (again as Love Affair). It's easy to understand why they chose that location.

Words That Should Be In The Dictionary : Mumanem

Mumanem : an idiomatic expression originating in the rural Southeastern United States, Mumanem refers to the family of another person, for instance instead of asking “And how are your mother, father, sister and brother” or even "Mom and them" one asks “How are Mumanem?”

43 Photographs of Lions : Corrado's Garden Center Clifton NJ

Spotted at Corrado's in Clifton NJ,

 this Lion stands guard at the Garden Center

 which is also where I found Basil

 plants for 99 cents each.

Jersey Bites Editor Has Sexually Charged Meltdown On Facebook

Devil Gourmet is New Jersey's hot new Food and Restaurant website. Conceived in 2012, the first blog posts went live in early 2013. The site and team are growing exponentially. I am proud to be the editor and as such have had an open door regarding welcoming some of New Jersey's best food writing talent to join the fun.

I've been a fan of a particular writer for quite some time and invited them to join our team. They're an incredible writer, and like any good person with the authority to hire, I look for the best and brightest talent around. This particular writer had their own food blog that showcased their work. And man oh man, their food photography left me in envy, so of course I invited that person to join us. Companies hire good talent all the time, and I know that someday Bon Apetit or Food Network will hire this writer because they are that good.

So imagine my surprise when, upon turning on my computer this morning I discovered the following message from Deborah Smith, the editor of JerseyBites:

A scum bag (actually the term is spelled "scumbag", which any real editor would know) is a semen filled used condom. Pretty disgusting reference from a food writer if you ask me.

Anyway, without any provocation Deborah Smith has created a ruckus and many in the food community have seen her meltdown. For the record the concept of non-compete contracts is totally bogus. Additionally, many of her advertisers would probably be surprised that she doesn't pay any of her writers, she just uses their talent to line her own pockets.

Given how far this "editor" has taken this I feel compelled to share what she is writing about Devil Gourmet, and as someone with a  major role at Devil Gourmet, and the person responsible for recruiting the writer, I take the "Scum Bag" reference as a personal attack.

On a tangent, Traffic Bites, A Fender Bender Bites, Sunburn Bites, But JerseyBites? Never. I love the Garden State, I don't think Deborah does or she wouldn't have names her site that.