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Truth in gourmet advertising - page 3 continued Lightly curried chicken salad ($9.99) is sweet and creamy, with a slight kick of curry powder, toasted almonds, cilantro, raisins, scallions and mayo. I didn't try the crab cakes ($3.99 each), the pepper-crusted roast loin of pork, the grilled lemon chicken ($8.99 per pound) or the tabbouleh ($5.99 per pound) but the spaghetti squash primavera was spunky and fun, and the ratatouille of garden vegetables ($7.99) would be a great accompaniment to anything from portabellos to beef. On my second visit, the veggie of the day was excellent roasted cauliflower tossed with a little olive oil, garlic and curry ($5.99 per pound) another day it was creamy spinach gratin. I was too busy with real food to try a sandwich, but you can choose from about 20, like Baja chicken ($6.50, with avocado, romaine lettuce, grilled onions, tomatoes, chipotle mayo on ciabatta) or smoked salmon stack ($6.95, with dill havarti, cucumber, red onion, lettuce, tomatoes and caper mayo on black bread). Soups to go ($6.95 per quart) come in about 40 flavors, including roasted cauliflower, Cajun white bean and andouille sausage, cream of spaghetti squash, gingered sweet potatoes and leeks, and roasted fennel and cannellini beans. The Gabbes do a lot of catering at The Fruited Plain, and my mouth waters when I think my next dinner party could include Sicilian chicken and veal osso bucco. While I was there, two customers came in to pick up large orders, including Wendy Sefcik of Towaco, who assured me, "people are raving about this place." No doubt. With Lent here and St. Patrick's Day coming up fast, there are lots of reasons to serve your guests great food. Some of it from The Fruited Plain will no doubt be green, but all of it will probably be wonderful. I've eaten at almost all the restaurants where Rosemary and Drew Gabbe have worked, and I can tell you that the food at The Fruited Plain is as inventive and exciting as it was at Le Bernadin, Lepinnasse and the Four Seasons hotel. The fact that you can have it on your table for dinner tonight is nothing short of a gift - a true gourmet gift, that is. - Brooke Tarabour, Taste of NJ - Star Ledger |
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The Fruited Plain | 48 Stiles Lane Pine Brook, New Jersey 07058 | 973-808-8862 |
