Heirloom Kitchen: Pizza, Pizza, Pizza Class

 

Heirloom Kitchen:

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza Class

with Jimmy Esposito of Esposito’s Pizzeria

            First off, hello again….I have returned and am alive! There’s been much going on since we last chatted…..the snow has melted, the days are longer and well, I’ve reached my 30s! With that said, some things haven’t changed though…..I’m still waiting for summer, I’m still a brunette and duh, I’m still cooking away…..

 

 

            Most recently, I attended a cooking class at Heirloom Kitchen in Old Bridge, NJ as a guest blogger along with a great friend of mine, Stephanie of Stephanie Cooks. Let’s start with the space: oh my goodness gracious- what a looker! The décor is a hybrid of Williams-Sonoma and Anthropologie.  I was obsessed with every little nook and cranny. Correction: I am obsessed and will be going back very soon because of this. But beyond the shopping areas, there is a pick-up-your-jaw kitchen studio where they regularly hold cooking classes. The set-up is one that took much thought and creativity. One area is an enlarged rectangular kitchen island where customers prep, cook, mingle, watch the pros and get comfy. Another area is where customers can sit and eat in a dining room-like atmosphere. This area is seamlessly chic and rustic and makes me want to devote more time to finishing my own dining room so that it could perhaps be more like this. One can dream, right?!? Anyway, back to the third area where more prep work takes place: the peninsula. Although we didn’t make use of this on our night, it stands as an open and bright countertop where stations can get right to business.

 

            So now on to the cooking…..I can’t believe I am writing this but yes, it has to do with pizza. I am beginning to think my mother consumed an unthinkable amount of slices while I was in the womb. Seriously, I can’t get away from the stuff. Maybe I should be writing a book or something?!? Haha, na- I’ll spare you the cheesiness! ;)

 

            Okay so the class…..Pizza, Pizza, Pizza with Jimmy Esposito of Esposito’s in Matawan, NJ. My friend Stephanie and I are huge fans of not only Mr. E, but his pizzeria as well. As locals, we both frequent his counter more than I’d like to say and can be caught discussing (and drooling over) what we got the next day at work. With that, taking this class with Jimmy was a no-brainer for us: We love to cook, love to eat, love to learn and well, love to gossip yip-yap and relax while doing so.

            Jimmy took us through some of his popular recipes. We made pizza doughs, watched him make a few sauces, and designed our own little pies. Although the ovens weren’t commercially-made pizza ovens where the temps get sky high and the bottoms are stone, they did do a nice job cooking our creations. Dancing between multiple wall ovens, Jimmy rattled off many tips and answered any questions we had. What I thought to be one of the best parts of the night was learning how to make his signature sesame-crusted pizza. Being a lover of this version, I had all my focus on his lesson. What I thought was going to be complicated was way easy and approachable. All it takes is coating your entire dough with seeds very heavily. I will soon be attempting this….stay tuned.

 

            Because every dinner needs dessert, we most naturally finished the night with Nutella pizza. Topped with fresh strawberry and banana slices, this sweet treat was just the slice to hit the spot. Before Stephanie and I took our goody bags to head home, we did what we'd been itching to do since we arrived: shop. After 20 minutes of perusing, we purchased new goodies for our own kitchens that might wishfully make them a bit more like Heirloom’s.

 

Heirloom Kitchen is located at 3853 Route 516, Old Bridge, NJ. Visit them at their website to view upcoming classes and further information.

Esposito's Pizza & Pasta

Esposito’s Pizza & Pasta

Matawan, NJ

Final Grade: A-

           

            For those of you who know me really well, you know my experience with pizza. For those of you who aren’t as educated in my past culinary adventures, let me quickly enlightened you….About 2 years ago, I was chosen to be part of the NJ Star-Ledger’s Pizza Patrol. The patrol, led by Peter Genovese, traveled the state in search of NJ’s best pizzas. After around 6 months, we completed our task and named winners in various categories.  Check out www.nj.com to find out who came out on top. Needless to say, I’ve eaten a lot, and I mean A LOT, of pizza. And although some would expect me to be sick of the cheesy delight, I am far from it! I absolutely love pizza and enjoy it even more than I ever did prior to my “patrolling.” In fact, because I learned so much about the intricacies of pizza-the crust, sauce, cheese, seasonings, baking times, etc., I am always looking to find a great slice and discuss what could make it so good.

            That being said, I recently dined at a local pizzeria/pasta establishment that had delicious pizza. Esposito’s Pizza & Pasta in Matawan is the sort of place that, if you weren’t looking for it, you would unfortunately pass it by. Situated by many traffic lights and busy Route 34, it is a small, unassuming eatery that offers eat-in and delivery services. The dining area is cozy and casual, with red and white checkered tablecloths and a glass-cased pizza counter that will definitely be catching your eye. Pizzas go from the oven to boxes and the oven to tables quite frequently, providing an appetizing aroma of pepperoni, sausage, and bubbly mozzarella.

           

            Hubby and I did want we love to do when ordering pizza; order fried calamari ($9.95) to start. Honestly, it is one of our favorite combinations and one that is very hard to come by. Meaning both the calamari and pizza could stand by themselves as the star. Esposito’s conquered the challenge by serving us quality calamari and an outstanding pie.

            The calamari quickly joined our table after placing our order. The rings and tentacles were plump, tender and perfectly fried. The coating was just right; making for a crunch yet also being light enough to let the seafood flavor shine. The accompanying marinara was noteworthy as well: piping hot and simmering with chunky tomatoes. With a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of sauce, each bite was ever so satisfying.

           

            As for our pizza selection, we went with the sesame-crusted margherita ($19.50: $14.50 + $3.00 for sesame seeds + $2.00 for ½ sausage). Both being sausage-lovers, we ordered the pie half sausage too. When it arrived at our table, it was a beauty. The fresh mozzarella was glistening and nicely browned, while the fresh basil leaves garnished each slice amidst the vast amount of plum tomatoes. After taking some well-deserved photos, we discovered it tasted better than it looked! The crust maintained a nice crunch in due part to the baking process and sesame seeds spread throughout. The cheese was creamy and mild enough to allow the plum tomatoes and basil to dominate. The sausage was full of fennel and offered a nice balance to the tart sauce. One of the best parts of the pie though was the crust around the edges, well-coated with sesame seeds, each bite was crispy on the outside yet so light and airy on the inside. It was just a great slice from beginning to end!

            All in all, Esposito’s was a great casual dining experience. The staff were helpful and courteous, the setting was relaxed and comfortable, the bill was short and inexpensive, and last but certainly not least, the food was excellent.

           

            Esposito’s Pizza & Pasta is can be found at 930 Highway 34, Matawan, NJ 07747.

Total score 21/25

Final Grade: A-

A: 21-25    B: 16-20    C: 11-15   D: 6-10    F: 0-5

Restaurant Rubric

	1	2	3	4	5
Food Taste	Bland, boring, overcooked, underdone	Very little flavor, not much aroma	Flavors apparent, basic ability to please palates	Flavor worth discussing, chef’s use of ingredients impressive	Great flavor, taste lingers and leaves diner wanting more
Restaurant service	disrespectful	Inattentive staff, no regard for wait time	Staff average in helpfulness, timing alright, either more/less needed	Staff knowledgeable and attentive to needs without asking, timing very well executed	Remarkable and noteworthy, service so good you forget it is ever an issue elsewhere
Food Presentation	Cover it up please	Sloppy and the eater can tell little thought went into it	Descent presentation: looks alright, not worth a picture but enough to make you hungry	Admirable, it is apparent the chef plated with a consideration for presentation	Presentational talents are here. Looks beautiful and too good to dig in
Prices match quality	Prices are too high for quality	Prices are still too high but not outrageously	Some items are priced accordingly but not all	Most items are priced accordingly	All items are matched accordingly
Would I go back?	Not a chance ever	Nope	Maybe	Looking forward to it	What time should I arrive?!?