The Connections Bernards Ridge Edition April 2020

PAGE 50 Dining Out SPECIALIZING IN EVENTS OF ALL SIZES Home Parties • Weddings • Reunions • Christenings • Birthdays Holidays • Theme Events/Tailgate Parties • Corporate Events Traditional B-B-Q Menus • Tent Rentals and Setups 1-888-BBQ-FUNN | WWW.AMERICANBBQCO.COM 94-1 FORD ROAD | DENVILLE, NJ 07834 email: americanbbqco@americanbbqco.com WE CAN PROVIDE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR EVENT! New Jersey’s Premier Outdoor and Indoor Gourmet Catering Company Open 7 Days: Mon-Fri. 6:30 am - 5 pm, Sat. 7 am - 5 pm, Sun. 7 am - 3 pm 161 Main Street • Peapack, NJ • 908.781.5554 www.cocoluxepastry.com Serving European Style Pastries, Housemade Croissants & Breakfast Pastries, Wedding Cakes, Tarts, Cookies, Assorted Truffles & Confections, Soups, Sandwiches, Quiches. All Cakes and Pastries Made from Scratch. THE COUNTRY FOX CAFÉ 12 Village Road New Vernon, NJ 07976 973-984-2110 By Katrina Musto John Paul Andronici always knew he wanted to work in the food indus- try. The owner and chef of New Vernon’s eatery, The Country Fox Café , worked his way up from his early days in a pizzeria to later attending culinary school. “I knew I wanted to cook since day one,” he said, adding that both sides of his family are Ital- ian so he knew all about the impor- tance of a good meal from a young age. He opened the café in August 2019, and has included his family in his new adventure. His father works there too, running the finances and making the pizzas. Open every day except Tuesday, The Country Fox Café offers live music which draws customers in during the weekday dinner rush, and once a month on Saturdays. With breakfast items served all day long, the Mixed Berry Pancakes are super dense and a very popular option, as are the Hawaiian Pan- cakes, with a pineapple topping and side of Canadian bacon. In the mood for protein? Try the Zorro Omelet, which customers love due to the chorizo and pepper jack cheese com- bination. Eggs Benedict has the biggest wow factor because of the garlic butter used on the brioche buns. Andronici is proud to mix American fare with Italian flavor. Not in the mood for breakfast? No worries! Even the pickiest eaters can find something delectable on the menu that will excite them. With weekly spe- cials and a lunch and din- ner menu that includes everything from a Chicken Milanese Salad to a Brie and Berry Burger, Andronici’s favorites are his dinner items because “there’s more of a chance to be creative and room for different items.” A “fox” symbol on the menu symbolizes a specialty item, such as the trendy Burrata Ravioli. Andronici has an impressive culi- nary background, having spent time working at The Ryland Inn. Growing up in Branchburg, he stumbled upon the “hidden gem” in New Vernon and it was renamed The Country Fox Café by his wife. Customers often refer to the cafe as “The Fox.” The homey living room area of his cafe features dark leather couches, resembling a log cabin, where cus- tomers can order an espresso made from his very own machine he pur- chased in Italy, and just unwind. Catering also keeps him on his toes, and customers enjoy renting out the location for parties. Androni- ci loves mingling with new cus- tomers, but especially gets a kick out of the loyalty of his regulars. “We get some customers who come in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” Now that’s dedication! Andronici is proud to mix American fare with Italian flavor. Andronici has an impressive culinary background, having spent time working at The Ryland Inn. John Paul Andronici theconnectionsnj.com