Last Saturday before Sandy hit (was it really just a week ago? ... it seems so much longer), my husband and I were able to celebrate our 15th anniversary with a wonderful meal at Brothers Moon restaurant in Hopewell, NJ. (Between losing power for several days and catching up I just haven't had a chance to blog about it)!
It was one of the best meals I've had in awhile. I was very optimistic even before we arrived as I loved the way the restaurant was described on the website: "a seasonally changing menu as well as daily specials.... Health-conscious and vegetarian foods are always available."
A Culinary Institute of America—CIA graduate, Chef Will Mooney is co-owner and Executive Chef - hence the name. I appreciate and admire his philosophies, including a pledge to use the finest ingredients and support of local products and sustainable farming. The ambiance was pleasant with its moon and star theme, and the waiter was cheerful and knowledgeable. We were started with a complimentary custardy timbale topped with fresh sweet corn (not sure the other ingredients) - but was very good. My salad was just ok - baby arugula with beets, and was supposed to have goat cheese, but did not - I could have said something but it really was no big deal. My husband liked his appetizer - it was on the extensive specials menu with the intriguing name "chicken of the forest" (really locally foraged mushrooms) in a barbecue sauce. It was very tasty - the mushrooms really did have a similar taste and consistency to chicken. I was also intrigued by this ingredient and got the main dish that had these gems - but mine was adorably packaged in the sweet pumpkin (see above), mixed into a risotto with pumpkin puree and some greens on the side. I simply adore pumpkin in any shape or form (to me it is one of the best parts of autumn), so this was perfection. My husband also liked his main dish- mussels in a creamy sauce.
For dessert I got the Nutella and Chocolate Bombe (Crisp chocolate shell, filled with creamy chocolate mousse and nutella and chocolate chip cookie with whipped cream & marinated berries) - so many of my favorites all together in one dish - who could ask for more? I was "over the moon" for this! My husband isn't really a dessert person unless it is chocolate ice cream or occasionally apple pie, so he didn't order anything. Brothers Moon does offer ice creams and sorbets from the Bent Spoon in Princeton, but chocolate wasn't one of them that evening. I told the waiter he would have ordered it if it had been available. When he brought out my coffee, he also gave us each a spoon, which I just assumed he meant for us to share my dessert. However, when my dessert came, the waiter also brought my husband a dish of chocolate ice cream (which must have mysteriously materialized in the kitchen) - Very Nice!!! Can't wait for a return visit. I wish we lived closer to Brothers Moon - on one side of the restaurant a daily take-out section of salads, soups, sandwiches/panini, desserts/pastries, cheeses, specialty meats, olives, and bread is offered, as well as coffee, tea and espresso drinks. Maybe next time I'll just come for lunch or a coffee break. So many options!
It was one of the best meals I've had in awhile. I was very optimistic even before we arrived as I loved the way the restaurant was described on the website: "a seasonally changing menu as well as daily specials.... Health-conscious and vegetarian foods are always available."
A Culinary Institute of America—CIA graduate, Chef Will Mooney is co-owner and Executive Chef - hence the name. I appreciate and admire his philosophies, including a pledge to use the finest ingredients and support of local products and sustainable farming. The ambiance was pleasant with its moon and star theme, and the waiter was cheerful and knowledgeable. We were started with a complimentary custardy timbale topped with fresh sweet corn (not sure the other ingredients) - but was very good. My salad was just ok - baby arugula with beets, and was supposed to have goat cheese, but did not - I could have said something but it really was no big deal. My husband liked his appetizer - it was on the extensive specials menu with the intriguing name "chicken of the forest" (really locally foraged mushrooms) in a barbecue sauce. It was very tasty - the mushrooms really did have a similar taste and consistency to chicken. I was also intrigued by this ingredient and got the main dish that had these gems - but mine was adorably packaged in the sweet pumpkin (see above), mixed into a risotto with pumpkin puree and some greens on the side. I simply adore pumpkin in any shape or form (to me it is one of the best parts of autumn), so this was perfection. My husband also liked his main dish- mussels in a creamy sauce.
For dessert I got the Nutella and Chocolate Bombe (Crisp chocolate shell, filled with creamy chocolate mousse and nutella and chocolate chip cookie with whipped cream & marinated berries) - so many of my favorites all together in one dish - who could ask for more? I was "over the moon" for this! My husband isn't really a dessert person unless it is chocolate ice cream or occasionally apple pie, so he didn't order anything. Brothers Moon does offer ice creams and sorbets from the Bent Spoon in Princeton, but chocolate wasn't one of them that evening. I told the waiter he would have ordered it if it had been available. When he brought out my coffee, he also gave us each a spoon, which I just assumed he meant for us to share my dessert. However, when my dessert came, the waiter also brought my husband a dish of chocolate ice cream (which must have mysteriously materialized in the kitchen) - Very Nice!!! Can't wait for a return visit. I wish we lived closer to Brothers Moon - on one side of the restaurant a daily take-out section of salads, soups, sandwiches/panini, desserts/pastries, cheeses, specialty meats, olives, and bread is offered, as well as coffee, tea and espresso drinks. Maybe next time I'll just come for lunch or a coffee break. So many options!
Nutella and Chocolate Bombe
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