Pics from Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul's visit to Bottle King & more

Hi, friends!

I hope everyone has enjoyed this beautiful weather over the past couple of days (though today is a bit drizzly). Last Thursday I made the hour-long trek over to Ironbound Farm in Asbury for its Rampfeast dinner. It was so worth it! The food was delicious — five courses (plus appetizers and cocktail pairings) all made with ramps foraged around the farm.

A visit to Ironbound is a wonderful little escape. Rampfeast is over, but you can go to ironboundhardcider.com to learn about the upcoming dinner series.

One more thing before we get to our openings: if you haven't downloaded the NorthJersey.com app yet, what are you waiting for? The app will send you news alerts relevant to you and make finding up-to-date dining news a lot simpler. Click here to download.

Openings

XO Taco & Bar, Dumont

Benny Rivero, owner of Casual Habana Restaurant in Hackensack and New Milford, has opened a non-traditional Mexican taco bar in Dumont called XO Taco & Bar. Expect plenty of tacos (including birria!) and dishes like sisig, the Filipino national dish of sizzling pork belly, and the yardbird, a Southern inspiration that features fried chicken glazed in a hot honey sauce with Mexican spices.

XO has a full 15-seat bar serving tequila as well as mezcal drinks. Among the more unusual drinks is a chipotle mezcal paloma. $$ 20 E. Madison Ave., Dumont; 201-385-2689, xotacoandbar.com.

New restaurants: A low-cal grill bar, global kitchen and a cool gastropub: New restaurants to try now

The Franklin, Secaucus

The Franklin offers brunch — and dinner — every day of the week. The Secaucus location is the second for this Italian restaurant; the first is in Jersey City.

The restaurant is known for its eggs Benedicts, French toast and huevos rancheros at brunch. As for dinner, popular dishes include octopus in a brown butter with smashed garlic; The Franklin Burger with burrata on a brioche bun; and pasta (made in-house) with lamb ragu. The two most popular desserts are the banana foster and tiramisu. $$. 780 5th St., Secaucus; 201-777-1188, thefranklinsc.com.

Tojo's Restaurant, Ho-Ho-Kus

Japanese restaurant Tojo's only has four entrees on the menu so far. Those entrees include shio ramen made with a pork and chicken broth cooked for 72 hours and housemade shio truffle sauce; shoyu whiskey ramen topped with pork belly, nori and egg; chicken donburi, chicken fried rice with Japanese-style omelette; and beef curry with rice. Appetizers include tofu buns, edamame and pork buns. $$ 5 N. Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus; 551-210-3584, tojokitchen.com.

More new: Gold-flecked ramen, vegan donuts, kosher Peruvian and more: 6 new restaurants in North Jersey

News bites

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad" fame stopped by the Glen Rock Bottle King on Tuesday to promote their mezcal brand, Dos Hombres.

Take a look: 'Breaking Bad' stars Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul visit Glen Rock Bottle King

After a mere four months, Klaus Kronsteiner has left Luna Stella, a spacious 200-seat restaurant in Maplewood. The sous chef is now heading the kitchen, said general manager Adam Greer.

Luna Stella: After a mere 4 months, chef Klaus Kronsteiner is no longer at Luna Stella in Maplewood

Jaleesa Mason, a professional baker who co-owns, with her husband, Mohamad Al-Kassem, Mo & Jay Pastry in Little Falls, won Food Network's Spring Baking Championship, which came with a $25,000 prize.

Jaleesa Mason: From Spanish Harlem to Food Network champion: NJ pastry chef wins baking show

Nicholas Gatti, one of New Jersey's most revered chefs, who worked for 19 years at the Alpine Country Club, bringing it ahead-of-its-time haute cuisine, needs a new kidney. His kidneys, wrecked by diabetes, have lost 90% of their function. Gatti is diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease.

Basically in prison waiting for a kidney: Pioneering chef Nicholas Gatti is housebound

Subscribers were treated to a roundup of the iconic ice cream shops that are now open for business. Places like Conrad's and Van Dyk's are back selling ice cream for the season.

For subscribers: Iconic ice cream shops in North Jersey that are now open for the season

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

NorthJersey.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Cost key:

• $ Affordable (can get a filling meal for under $15 per person)

• $$ Average (can get a filling meal for $15 to $25 per person)

• $$$ Pricey (can get a filling meal for $30 to $40)

• $$$$ Treat yours

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 'Breaking Bad' in NJ, new restaurants & more