Church Street Gala

Because the Barista was busy networking her brains out at a Women in Communications function — two Barista latte mugs as door prizes! Or was she at the big debate? Who knows? — the Executive Barista got to go to the hot party in town Tuesday night: the Gala Reception to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Church Street Caf√ɬ©. He filed this report. It doesn’t quite have the smart-aleck touch of a real Barista post, but he did take pictures.

You just have to marvel at the transformation from the old Midtown Diner. Owner Greg Spinelli, who describes the menu as “new American cuisine,” told me that he was very pleased with the reception his new venture has received, and that patronage has been even better than he could have expected. Executive Chef Jamie Knott, formerly the sous chef at Fascino, served-up great food, and we all had a great time. My prediction: The Church Street Caf√ɬ© will be a fixture in the center of Montclair for many years to come.