EATING OUT: An appetizer of crispy, fried falafel ($3) at Aleppo Restaurant in Paterson's Middle Eastern and Turkish shopping district. |
I improvised a falafel sandwich with hummus, muhammara and Arabic Salad. |
-- HACKENSACK, N.J.
By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR
In stressful times, eating well and eating healthy is the best revenge.
I can't think of a better way to flip off America's industrial farms than to enjoy a hearty breakfast of organic eggs over organic whole wheat pasta in a red sauce with wild-caught sardines.
Our environment may be going to hell under President Trump, but in my small corner of the world, there is plenty of naturally raised or grown food to enjoy, and we buy and prepare as much of it as possible.
Fresh, wild-caught fish and Gulf Shrimp are widely available at stores big and small -- Costco Wholesale, Whole Foods Market and The Fish Dock in Closter, to name just a few -- so no one has to eat artificially colored farmed salmon or other farmed fish raised on harmful antibiotics.
When eating out, I take the most comfort from the small plates of Syrian specialties served at Aleppo Restaurant in Paterson, the closest I can get to the food my Sephardic Jewish mother (who was born in Aleppo) prepared when I was growing up in Brooklyn.
In second place is a Korean meal, but definitely not one with low-quality barbecued meat.
Instead, we go for a comforting soft-tofu soup surrounded by small dishes of spicy cabbage kimchi and other free sides.
A simple plate of tasty Hummus ($5) was beautifully composed. |
The Arabic Salad ($5) -- chopped tomatoes and peeled cucumbers -- was dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, parsley and fresh mint.
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We started with a small bowl of Aleppo Restaurant's Lentil Soup ($3), which is served with a wedge of lemon.
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Mohamed K. Jello, the chef-owner of the halal restaurant, is a devout Muslim, and customers are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages with them. Aleppo Restaurant is at 939 Main St., at Thomas Street, in Paterson's South Paterson section, below. Phone: 1-973-977-2244.
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TAKE-OUT: At Fattal's, 975 Main St. in Paterson, we picked up a package of the bakery's medium pocket bread ($1.50), Bulgur with Vermicelli ($2.99), Crushed Red Aleppo Pepper ($6.99 a pound), a large package of Bay Leaves ($1.60), and Fattal's Spinach and Cheese Pies ($10.19), below. Fattal's has its own parking lot. Website: Don't miss the cafe
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No visit to Paterson is complete without seeing the Great Falls, but Overlook Park, the traditional viewing spot, was closed. We strained to see what little water was falling on Thursday.
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You can order your soft tofu soup without hot red pepper or as spicy as you want. My wife chose medium spicy.
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We also shared a grilled Seafood Pancake made with rice flour, squid and other seafood, cut into wedges ($10.29). If you go to BCD Tofu House for a late lunch on a Saturday, as we did, try to arrive around 3:30 p.m. to avoid screaming children on top of the usual din of chattering customers and clattering plates, below. Website: Belly busting tofu lunch
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Cod & Vegetable Medley. Fresh wild Atlantic cod from Iceland usually sells for $7.99 a pound at Costco Wholesale in Teterboro.
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Organic Whole Wheat Linguine from ShopRite in Paramus in organic red pasta sauce with wild-caught sardines and anchovies.
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Two organic brown eggs from Costco Wholesale (2 dozen for $5.99) over leftover organic whole wheat fusilli in bottled pasta sauce with sardines and anchovies.
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Also from Costco Wholesale, Fresh Wild Sockeye Salmon ($9.99 a pound) with prepared Basil Pesto, and fresh herbs from my garden, above and below.
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A filet of about 2 pounds yields 7 or 8 serving pieces. |
I use spray oil on a stovetop grill placed over two burners turned to a medium flame. I start the serving pieces skin side down for about 5 minutes, then flip them over for the remaining 3 minutes.
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The week before, I served crisp-skin wild salmon over a Honey Mustard Sauce made with non-fat Greek Yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
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Two organic eggs prepared with smoked wild salmon over leftover organic whole wheat pasta shells with sardines. A 1-pound box of the pasta, from Whole Foods Market in Paramus, sells for $1.49.
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I added Costco's Basil Pesto and fresh chopped herbs from my garden after I plated the shells.
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I buy Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix at Costco Wholesale in Teterboro, where a 1-pound package has been selling for as little as $3.69.
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Like the cod, the shrimp were ready in 15 minutes after I placed the pan in a preheated 400-degree oven.
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