~The Savory Garden~: The Italian Riviera and Riviera Market part one

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Italian Riviera and Riviera Market part one

I thought since we weren't at the Chatham Farmer's Market this past week I thought I would write about where the veggie burgers got started. Theresa's sister and brother- in-law own The Italian Riviera in Waldwick NJ. Theresa would sometimes help out in the kitchen. In fact it was because of her that their salad bar now carries the Asian Napa Cabbage Salad and the Beet Salad that we have sold at the Farmers Market. We in turn got our Corn Salad recipe from Jose who does the cooking on the Riviera Market side of The Italian Riviera.

Fresh Produce

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Let me explain about the Italian Riviera, it is actually two stores. Besides the Italian Deli there is The Riviera Market which was formally known as Fish, Fruits and Fancy Market....when Mike had owned the Italian Riviera for a few years he took over the Market thus changing it's name. The Market is like a small gourmet food store. It has an incredible salad bar that wins raves from it's customers. There is also fresh fish and a butcher. The fish is awesome....I love when a whole salmon comes in and Jose fillets it himself. It really is an art. The Market is known not only for the salad bar but for it's fresh vegetables and really wonderful shrimp cocktail.....around the holidays the shrimp is pretty much cooked around the clock just to fill orders. People come from far and wide just for the shrimp. Another highly requested item is the chocolate covered strawberries (see above)....I met a guy who travelled the length of NJ so that he could get them for his wife's birthday. He had moved from the area but always made a trip back just for the strawberries.