November 29th, 2016

Which Garden State eateries made the list of top places to dine?​

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​TERRE A TERRE We won't reveal the secret to chef Todd Villani's gravy (or, as you may call it, red sauce). Here, for publication, you'll get a coy answer: "We owe it to Mom."
Chef Todd Villani, in the dining room of Terre a Terre Cathy Miller But if you want the full story, collar Villani during one of his supper club events — when his guard is down, when he's laughing and joking — and maybe, maybe, he'll share.Those who attended last summer's "Godfather" event already know the answer and it's not a secret you'd expect

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Villani is not typically a red sauce guy; he will astonish you with his grandiose, often opulent, cuisine — jewelry on a plate — made with a religious adherence to local ingredients. (He has a 300-mile limit.)
The menu at Terre a Terre is ever-changing, but scallops are outrageous, polenta decadent and the short-ribs a beloved signature. Yet the setting is country French, so it never feels too froufrou.
Short ribs are a signature dish at the restaurant.Facebook page The supper club events offer a chance for a more intimate connection with the chef, says Villani's publicist (and sister) Lisa Meyer. Plus, a chance to meet the farmers, the winemakers, the food artisans (including pasta-maker Sfoglini, from Brooklyn, a company that uses organic, local ingredients).
Should you attend one of these events, you'll be astonished, too, by the chef's humility.

​Terre À Terre | 312 Hackensack St., Carlstadt | (201) 507-0500 |terreaterre.biz

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