Montclair Magazine Spring 2019 | Page 14

BUZZWORTHY Montclair DA PEPO PARTNERS WITH WATCHUNG BOOKSELLERS Montclair MONTCLAIR’S JOSH ALLEN GETS READY FOR THE NFL This year’s NFL Draft, taking place on April 25, is sure to be highly-anticipated by Montclair football players and fans because JOSH ALLEN, a Montclair High School class of ’15 graduate, is projected to be a top pick. Last season, as a mem- ber of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, Allen won several awards including the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the top defensive player in college football. Allen is expected to be one of the top five players selected in the draft, with a chance to return home and play for the New York Jets, who hold the third overall pick. Wishful thinking? We’ll find out the day our May issue arrives in homes. Montclair A TASTE OF MONTCLAIR’S HISTORY The joint space that WATCHUNG BOOKSELLERS shares with its in-house restaurant still holds cookbooks. But the recipes coming out of the kitchen are different. DA PEPO: LA CUCINA DEL NONNO, a casual grab-and-go and cozy eatery has opened in the space formerly occupied by Tiny Elephant. Its owner, Carlo Orrico, is a lifelong chef whose pasta, meatballs with whipped ricotta, paninis and salads are examples of unpretentious Italian family din- ing, according to his son, Carlo Jr. Da Pepo also serves cappuccino, machiatto and teas as well as tiramisu and gelato. “We wanted an experience that’s between cooking at home and going out,” he says, noting that it’s easier to park, pop out of the car and grab a meal in Watchung Plaza than other business areas in town. • 54 Fairfield St., (973) 655-8825, dapepo.com APRIL 14 The MONTCLAIR HISTORY CENTER presents the best kind of walking tour: 2 P.M. the catered kind. Discover the food and stories that make Montclair unique on this three-hour food tasting and historical walking tour of the downtown area. A half-dozen or so local restaurants provide the provisions. Registration is required; space limited. • $45, $40 for MHC members. Begins at 2 p.m. in front of Lackawanna Station, 294 Bloomfield Ave., (973) 744-1796, [email protected], montclairhistory.org. 12 SPRING 2019 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE COURTESY To be considered for Buzzworthy, contact Cindy Schweich Handler at [email protected]