Manny Adeleye The Dancing Blender 121 South Orange Avenue South Orange, NJ thedancingblender.com 973-821-5707 MY FOOD PHILOSPHY IS? Use the freshest and purest ingredients and cook them simply so the flavors shine. WHAT DISHES I'M BEST KNOWN FOR? Smoothies, acai and our world famous veggie burger. I CAN’T COOK WITHOUT? Cumin, turmeric, salt and black pepper. WHY I'M A CHEF? I used to follow my mother around the kitchen and decided when I was 7 years old I wanted to cook. She told me to learn to cook well so that the woman I date won't starve. WHO I WOULD LOVE TO COOK FOR? Ina Garten. She models simplicity while using the best ingredients. I'd make her the quinoa kale salad because I think she'd appreciate the synergistic combination of vegetables, roots and seasonings. MY FAVORITE MOMENT IN THE KITCHEN? When the restaurant is full and people are happy and enjoying themselves. That means I've delivered on my goal of giving customers the best food or drink in a comfortable, zen atmosphere. MY FOOD STYLE IS? Family-style food that's not too fussy. MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY IS? I want everything to be fresh and as good as it can be. The key is consistency so that customers come back time after time and help spread the word. FAVORITE DISHES ON THE MENU? I love the salmon, mac & cheese, and the reuben. For beer, it's Guinness – we sell three times more of it than any other beer. And the Irish Coffee is great – we've elevated it to an art form. WHY DID I OPEN THE RESTAURANT? I was in the beer industry for 30 years and saw lots of restaurants – some good, some bad. I took the good things, created a restaurant and it's become exactly what I wanted: a neighborhood watering hole where you can bring the family for a good meal. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HAVING A LOCAL BUSINESS? I can get involved with the community for things like building the nativity scene, hosting breakfast with Santa and putting OysterFest together. John Meade St. James's Gate 167 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ stjamesgatepublickhouse.com 973-378-2222 Matt Wonski Town Hall Deli 74 First Street South Orange, NJ townhalldeli.com 973-762-4900 MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY IS? K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple Stupid. I picked it up from a math teacher at South Orange Middle School and later applied it to the culinary world. Our food is straightforward. WHY I'M A CHEF? I started working here as a kid after my dad bought the deli and eventually got a degree in food management. I worked here throughout college and decided this is where I wanted to be. I CAN’T COOK WITHOUT? Chicken broth. I use it in everything. WHAT DISH IS THE DELI BEST KNOWN FOR? The Sloppy Joe, of course! THE CRAFT BEER I PAIR WITH THE SLOPPY JOE? Exit 4 – Jersey beer, Jersey sandwich! We sell it at Morgan's, our store in Seton Village, South Orange. MY FAVORITE DISH IS? The Smokin' Joe. It has nova, swiss, egg salad and cream cheese.