was crucial on what to do when, where, and
how to help maximize engagement and grow
our online community.
Have restaurants ever reached out to
offer free meals? They would all the time.
We loved showing support to local small
businesses. However, whether we were invited
by the restaurant or not, we would prefer to
visit places unannounced so our posts and the
information we share on our social media and
website can be an authentic representation of
what our followers can expect.
How has the coronavirus changed your
dining habits? We have been doing our
best to help support local small businesses
by ordering take out and/or curbside pickup
of meals, groceries, and even gift cards from
many of our local favorite restaurants. People
can see updates on who is open, menus, and
changes in hours on our online platforms. A lot
of restaurants created special take out menus
for Easter. We are sharing these special holiday
menus on our social media as well.
What are your favorite meals in Montclair
that you miss the most? Currently, it’s
a tie between just about any three-course
combination on the ever-changing Turtle & the
Wolf’s menu in Upper Montclair and the newly
opened Faubourg on Bloomfield Ave. in the
heart of town. I look forward to getting a glass
of Lulumi Pinot Noir and Tarte Flambee to start,
followed by the Orecchiette & Lamb Ragout. If
you haven’t found your way over to them yet,
it’s a must once it’s safe to eat out again.
Favorite things to do in and around
Montclair? I loved the free wine tastings
on Saturday afternoons at Amanti Vino on
Church Street.
What does a typical day in your week
look like? I am also a full-time local realtor,
so my typical day before the virus was spent
in my “travel office” responding to emails and
calls (from a table at any given local favorite
spot in town). Currently, I am still showing
properties in and around Montclair, though per
state guidelines, they are on a one-on-one basis
and/or via video tours at the moment.
I miss my regular routine, which included a
good rotation between breakfast at Toast,
matcha latte from Crazy Mocha, or tea time
at Vanillamore. ■
A FOODIE’S
DREAM
COME TRUE
Montcair has
no shortage of
places to dine.
A few of Barnes’
favorites include
(clockwise from
top) the beef
bourguignon from
Faubourg; chicken
and waffles from
Turtle and the
Wolf; French
toast from
Faubourg; and
eggplant stack
from Fiamella.
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