A new baking show to binge with North Jersey contestants + more!

Rebecca King, NorthJersey.com
·3 min read
Cristal Paredes is leading kid, teen and adult baking classes out of her Ridgefield Park bakery, It's Delicious.
Cristal Paredes is leading kid, teen and adult baking classes out of her Ridgefield Park bakery, It's Delicious.

Hi, friends!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day. I spent it with my family in South Jersey where there's hardly any traffic and we say "pork roll." But now, it's back to work, making sure you are equipped with everything you need to know before/during the holiday season! (Very much more to come.)

For now, here are some openings, closures and news you should know about.

Openings

Taverna Veranda, Edgewater

The three owners of Taverna Veranda: Constantine Youssis, Moutaz Ali and Aldo Abdallah
The three owners of Taverna Veranda: Constantine Youssis, Moutaz Ali and Aldo Abdallah

The shuttered Chase Bank on the waterfront in Edgewater has been transformed into a 94-seat Mediterranean restaurant called Taverna Veranda that is set to open on Dec. 4.

Co-owner Constantine Youssis, who had owned Greek restaurant Nerai in Manhattan, said he plans to make it a fun, lively place with a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. His partners in the venture are Moutaz Ali, who owns Pergola in Manhattan, and Aldo Abdallah. His mom and brother-in-law own Sofia's Mediterranean Grill, a popular restaurant in Hasbrouck Heights.

Openings: From a rustic gourmet American to a low-cal bar and grill, new openings in North Jersey

ESO Artisanal Pasta, Morristown

Aj Sankofa, one of the three owners, laminating pasta at ESO Artisinal Pasta in Morristown on 07/22/20.
Aj Sankofa, one of the three owners, laminating pasta at ESO Artisinal Pasta in Morristown on 07/22/20.

It opened, then it closed, now it's open again. And thank goodness, because I love ESO's fresh pasta. After a legal battle and a GoFundMe that raised thousands of dollars, ESO has landed on its feet. It's set to open soon in Morristown. Click the link below for the full story.

Fresh pasta: ESO Artisanal Pasta in Morristown coming back soon after legal battle

Closures

Cocina Candela, Montclair

Cocina Candela's pork chop is served with plantains
Cocina Candela's pork chop is served with plantains

Cocina Candela, a popular Puerto Rican restaurant in Montclair, is closing in December with hopes of opening elsewhere. Owner and chef Kenny Candelaria said that his lease expires in December and he and his landlord "did not "see eye to eye."

"He said that someone else wants the location," said Candelaria, who was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Brooklyn; he is currently a Hackensack resident. "I've been here for six years. I built this place."

More: Cocina Candela, popular Puerto Rican restaurant in Montclair to close in December

News bites

Joelle (left) and Jordan (right) Hernandez, twin sisters from Hoboken, will appear on the Peacock baking competition "Baking It."
Joelle (left) and Jordan (right) Hernandez, twin sisters from Hoboken, will appear on the Peacock baking competition "Baking It."

Twin sisters Joelle and Jordan Hernandez went from home baking in their Hoboken apartment for friends and family to competing for a $50,000 prize in a cozy cabin in Los Angeles for the show “Baking It.” It comes to Peacock TODAY and I genuinely can't wait to watch! It has Great British Bake Off vibes.

Baking It: Hoboken sisters to appear on cozy new competition 'Baking It'

Cristal Paredes, owner of It’s Delicious, has begun offering baking classes out of her Ridgefield Park bakery. You'll be learning from an expert pastry chef. (Makes a good gift... eh?)

Classes: CIA-trained pastry chef offering baking classes for the holidays and beyond

Cristal Paredes is leading kid, teen and adult baking classes out of her Ridgefield Park bakery, It's Delicious.
Cristal Paredes is leading kid, teen and adult baking classes out of her Ridgefield Park bakery, It's Delicious.

In case you haven't heard, kugel is the best Hanukkah food. Disagree? Take it up with Esther!

An ode to kugel: The best Jewish comfort food ever

That's it from me! Until we meet again, here's where to find more dining news:

NorthJersey.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Rebecca King is a food writer for NorthJersey.com. For more on where to dine and drink, please subscribe today and sign up for our North Jersey Eats newsletter.

Email: kingr@northjersey.com

Twitter: @rebeccakingnj

Instagram: @northjerseyeats

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Cooking classes, openings, closures and a new show to binge