Jersey Exploration: A Toute Heure - Lovely Gift from a Fan

One of our biggest fans, Mel's brother, and his wife thoughtfully sent us a gift card for Local Roots Cranford as a lovely Christmas present in 2014.  Local Roots - a collaborative of local restaurants, gardens, and farms - believes in fostering sustainable food experiences for the community.  Love that!  A Toute Heure is their main restaurant, so we ventured over there to check things out.

First and foremost, the vibe is very friendly.  The staff were all very welcoming and pleasant to chat with, and one of the owners came by several times to ask if we were enjoying our meal.  And indeed we were!

The complimentary fresh bread was absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD!  We took one bite and wanted to scarf it all down at once, though we knew we must exercise restraint since more food was on the way.  We almost asked if they sold individual loaves for folks to bring home, but we refrained. 

The rest of our meal was tapas-style small bites so we could try a variety.  A Toute Heure, true to its name of French origin, actually changes the menu daily based on the freshest ingredients available.  So you won't necessarily see any of these items should you go.  But feast your eyes nonetheless since any food they prepare promises to be as fantastic as these dishes.

 oyster slider and scallop salad

 blackened octopus and grilled skirt steak

 mussels in pork ragu

molten chocolate with baked pear

Every bite was delectable, every dish clearly prepared with appreciation and respect for the seasonal items available.  We're always so impressed with the ability of chefs to create dishes that are unexpected and fun by combining just the right spices and ingredients.  A Toute Heure is a wonderful foodie adventure because you never know what to expect on the menu, but you can be sure it'll be delicious.  One thing to note: it is a bit pricey.  Had we not had the gift card, it would definitely have had to wait for a splurge occasion.  But for a cool farm-to-table experience, it's worth it!  We'll certainly be back - especially to see what they do with warm weather crops!