{ BERGEN BUZZ }
YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE’S FUTURE
Decorating a tree for the holidays is a joyful occasion; taking it down, that’s more of a mournful hassle. But what if your Christmas tree could be put to constructive use? Try one of these ideas (and remember to take all the decorations off first): • Turn it into firewood. Your tree is perfect fuel for your outdoor firepit. Use smaller branches as kindling and chop the trunk into longer-burning logs. Avoid lighting it indoors, however, as the amount of moisture in the tree will create smoke and sooty fireplaces. • Create a sanctuary. Whether they’re rooted in the ground or secured in a stand, trees are great shelters for birds. So take your old Christmas tree into the yard and stand it in a secure spot for winter. Decorate it with a bird feeder, then watch as new aviary acquaintances drop by. • Compost it. Towns that collect Christmas trees at the end of the season turn them into mulch. You can use your tree similarly and simply toss it into the compost heap in your yard—the browns and greens will ultimately break down into soil and feed your garden. • Donate it. That’s right, several organizations—namely zoos and animal sanctuaries—will accept old Christmas trees. The Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, for instance, uses them as décor in their exhibits. Some animals, such as goats, chow down on the greens too, so it’s imperative that all tinsel and ornaments are removed.
THOSE NUTTY CAKES
What have you planned for National Fruitcake Day, Dec. 27? Yes, this classic holiday goodie is often a culinary outcast—a booze-soaked loaf with clusters of red and green candied fruit—and when a stale one arrives in the mail you ache to re-gift it. But fruitcake can be delicious when it’s fresh, and five Bergen bakeries are ready to prove it. Stop by and open your mind (and mouth) for a taste. • A Little Cake, 176 Kinderkamack Rd., Park Ridge, 201.391.6300; alittlecake.com • Balthazar Bakery, 214 S. Dean St., Englewood, 201.503.9717; balthazarbakery.com • Hackensack Pastry Shop, 184 Hudson St., Hackensack, 201.880.4200 • Ho-Ho-Kus Bakery, 187 Franklin Tpke., Ho-Ho-Kus, 201.652.2376; hohokusbakery.com • Sook Pastry, 24 S. Broad St., Ridgewood, 201.493.2500; sookpastry.com
CULINARY CORNER: FROM FLORENCE WITH LOVE Rutherford’s restaurant scene will get a boost when Fiorentini opens this month. The farm-to-table eatery specializes in traditional Italian cuisine (with modern twists) and an emphasis on fresh and seasonal ingredients—we’re talking high-quality vegetables and sustainable seafood. If you can’t make it to an actual Florence bistro, this is the next best thing. • Fiorentini, 98 Park Ave., Rutherford, 973.721.3404; fiorentinirest.com
WELCOME HOME Also opening this fall is O Lar, a Spanish-Mediterranean restaurant that has moved to Northvale following a decade in Piermont, N.Y. Its homey atmosphere (o lar is Portuguese for “hearth” or “home”) and helpful service are topped only by delicious dishes, which include beef and lamb plates, fresh seafood (the grilled octopus is a must!) and delightful desserts. • O Lar, 493 Tappan Rd., Northvale, 845.848.2207
IN ’DA HOUSE We’re also excited about the debut of Yard House at the American Dream Mall. The opening marks the chain’s first Bergen location (it has spots in nearby Wayne and West Nyack, N.Y.), giving diners here a chance to sample the elevated bar menu—poke nachos, Korean beef tacos and rib-eye and shrimp plates. Vegetarians also welcome: Filling soups, salads and artisan pizzas grace the menu as well. • Yard House, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, 201.528.2875; yardhouse.com
BERGENMAG.COM
BERG.1221.buzz.indd 22
22
DECEMBER 2021
11/16/21 12:24 PM
