Looking for a change of pace from Baristaville’s abundant Italian eateries and yogurt shops? The food and ambiance of Comfort Food Kitchen, Watchung Plaza’s latest lunch spot, will delight your taste buds and satisfy your soul.
Comfort Food Kitchen, a cozy, light-filled space located next to Watchung Booksellers, is more than a gourmet cafe and takeaway shop. Founder and Executive Chef, Suzanne Michaud is kicking off her subscription dinner service today. Order online by 8pm and you won’t have to worry about dinner tomorrow. Michaud will also teach cooking classes, bake her signature heirloom cookies (including her famous Florentine biscotti) and run her successful catering business from the new location.
Michaud is passionate about cooking with the freshest seasonal, organic and local ingredients possible. “I want to connect people to where the food is coming from,” says Michaud, a French Culinary Institute-trained chef. That commitment is evident in her many fragrant, mouth-watering dishes. Last week, my husband and I found seats at one of the two broad, wooden communal tables (there are a few tables outside as well) and tried several of Michaud’s healthy soups, salads and artisanal sandwiches, which are made fresh daily.
My husband’s favorite item was the skirt steak on baguette. The flavorful marinade–not too spicy–permeated the meat. I enjoyed the tasty combination of spices on the curried chicken sandwich–the most popular offering, says Michaud. Both dishes were served with a side of “haricot vert.” I’m not a green beans lover, but these were crisp and delicious.
We both loved the chilled carrot ginger soup. So creamy–but with no dairy. We got a bowl to share, but after tasting it, wished we each had our own. Michaud says the soup is basically made from fresh carrots, ginger and her own vegetable stock. That’s some stock! For dessert: blessedly rich brownies, and moist, cake-like blueberry squares.
There were many bite-sized samples of food arranged on a tiered serving dish at the counter for patrons to try before ordering their meal. I’ve often wondered why more restaurants don’t do that. The variety of tasty morsels certainly inspired me to return for more.
Comfort Food Kitchen
54 Fairfield Street at Watchung Plaza in Montclair
973-744-2244
www.comfortfoodkitchen.com
Store hours: Tues.-Fri. 11am-7:30pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, closed Sun. and Mon.
I can’t wait to try the subscription dinners! I love the offerings, especially the kid’s menu.
Not at all bored. How could you be in this town? I could never be bored at Osteria Giotto, Corso 98 and Let’s Yo.
Now we just need to blast a hole through the wall of Watchung Booksellers and bring the two together and I will be a happy girl! Good luck Suzanne the place looks fantastic.
I can’t wait to try it. Looks great. And Holly has a great idea too. Connect the bookstore with the restaurant and it’s perfection.