In a press release from A Toute Heure:

    A Toute Heure, the little local bistro in Cranford, NJ celebrated 5 years of connecting with the local community and producing award winning cuisine this past weekend with a star studded series of local dinners.

A Toute Heure was opened in 2007 by Andrea & Jim Carbine as a community bistro dedicated to showcasing the finest seasonal ingredients of the local region. Just 5 years later, the bistro has been named an Edible Hero and a “local treasure.”

The food community on which the bistro is based - the local farmers, artisans, and local merchants who have been a part of its success for five years - were in full attendance at the weekend’s celebrations. Special guests - including Anne Saxelby of Saxelby Cheesemongers, John Martini of Anthony Road Vineyards, Fishmonger Vince Bruns, Nancy Painter of Edible Jersey, Lisa Ossiboff of Phillips Farms, the Dreyer Farms family, Mikey Azzara of Zone 7, and many more - not only provided the night’s impressive fare but were in attendance to celebrate as well! The two nights’ menus highlighted local mangalista pig in a “nose-to-tail feast”, and local fishes in a fishmonger curated “feast of local fishes”.

The bistro continues to be run by the Carbines, who also built a 4,000 square foot kitchen farm right down the street, Jack’s Run Gardens. Ms. Carbine, a two-time James Beard Award nominee was the opening chef of the bistro, and continues to be a local presence with her farm work and advocacy for farmland preservation. The effect of the Carbine’s daily presence at the bistro was evident in the abundance of regular customers in attendance at the events, most long-time customers since its opening celebrating their role in the local community.

Executive Chef Kara Decker, with the bistro since late 2007, was responsible for the amazing creations on the menu, in conjunction with new Pastry Chef Jessica Knik’s sweet creations!

For more information on this and other events at A Toute Heure, visit their website at www.atouteheure.com, click on their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/atouteheure) for photos and updates or contact Andrea J. Carbine at atotueheure@me.com, or call 908-635-1934.