I have an unfortunate tendency to take Appetite Deli & Bakery for granted. Located just a short walk or drive from the office, it is often our "go to" - such that I seldom grab my camera. And when I looked, and realized how long it has been since I wrote about them - well, shame on me! Because Appetite is a true gem of a breakfast and lunch joint.
As noted on their website, "Bennett & William Davis, both alums of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, launched Appetite on October 23, 2006." Since then, Bennett has been providing savory breads and amazing sweets, and William has shined as the Deli Lama - coming up with daily sandwich creations and soups that show off his love of playing with food.
I've got a collection of photos going back many months - so without a lot of explanation - here's some of the food we've played with at Appetite!
Caprese Grill on Bennett's Sourdough
Fresh mozzarella, spinach, tomatoes, pesto, grilled. This is one of my "go-tos" in summer, when the tomatoes are grand.
Turkey BLT on Bennett's Baguette
Egg Salad & Cheese on Bennett's Rye
I love the egg salad - first, because there is no celery in it, and second, because there is red onion!
Cobb Salad
Mixed greens, tomato, avacado, bacon, Blue cheese, turkey - yum!
The Brieze
Well - not exactly - instead of smoked ham, I had turkey. Brie, apple slices, mayonnaise, mustard, spinach and onions completed this sandwich, which looks to be on Bennett's rye.
Cobb Salad - with house made roast beef this time
Vegetable Soup w/Posole
This was an inspired creation!
Roast Beast
House made roast beef, cheddar, onions, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and horseradish on Bennett's whole wheat bread - yum!
Lenten Friday Fish Lunch
During the Lenten season, Will does a fish sandwich on Friday - I was very impressed with this (and I really didn't expect to be impressed, because these kinds of fish dishes usually don't do much for me).
Will made this the Daily Sandwich Special. Every day, Will offers a great lunch special: full sized sandwich, deli side (or chips or cup of soup) and dessert (though I usually get a fresh brewed ice tea instead) for $6.50. That is a lunch value that can't be beat!
My deli side here was the broccoli salad, which is one of my favorites.
Instead of the ubiquitous fry, Will cooked the fish to order in a saute pan, with seasonings instead of breading. A lovely house-made relish was under the fish, and tomato and cheese on top. I enjoyed mine on Bennett's fabulous baguette.
Another soup - probably split pea.
Another Will-creation
House made corned beef, turkey, tomato, cheese, and a custom dressing all grilled down on rye. MMMmmm.
House Made Macaroni Salad
Cupcakes!
Chicken Salad with Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato on Wheat
An inspired improvement on the BLT.
During Passover, I enjoyed this lovely salad, topped with tuna and chicken salad, and accompanied by Will's Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Anna had no bread restrictions, and enjoyed this sandwich special with ham, turkey cheese, apple, and a side of broccoli salad.
Macaroons
Bennett made the most fabulous Macaroons this year! They can now be found in the pastry case most of the time.
I didn't take the camera again until June 15!
Corned Beef & Turkey on Bennett's Croissant
They let Bernie do his own variation on the Daily Sandwich Special (he mostly left things off). I, of course, had to try it the way the Chef intended it:
Daily Special
Corned Beef, Turkey, Tomato, Red Onion, Havarti Cheese, Thousand Island Dressing grilled on Bennett's rye. Yummers! Even though I would normally never consider eating cheese with corned beef - I gotta say that this combination really won me over.
Pasta Pesto Side Salad
House made, of course. And most delicious.
Thank goodness I hadn't looked down at the pastry case before ordering lunch (and taking Iced Tea instead of a sweet). But Bernie insisted I taste his - we both agree - Bennett makes the best darn cupcakes, period. And he samples them wherever he goes, and this is his opinion.
Finally, to wrap this post up, lunch from Thursday June 18. I was craving pizza, but sort of in a hurry, and I wanted something I could get quickly and eat at my desk. As I started my car, it hit me - Bennett's foccacia bread! I hadn't had that in months - and it would slake the pizza need.
Cheese and Caramelized Tomato Foccacia Bread
William cut my loaf in quarters and warmed it in the oven for me. Together with freshly brewed Tazo ice tea, this made a perfect on-the-run lunch!
I marveled at the incredible texture and mouthfeel of the tomatoes - lets face it, really good tomatoes are still some weeks away. But these had gotten wonderfully chewy and sweet. And the crust was delightful - crisp on the bottom, but fluffy and toothy in the middle.
We are truly lucky to have some wonderful lunch places in and near Lyndhurst - but my go to remains Appetite, where much is made from scratch (no - not everything - but if that matters to you and you ask - Will and Bennett will steer you in the right direction), and all is made with care. Now, if I could just remember to bring my camera, and keep track of how often I've written about them!
As noted on their website, "Bennett & William Davis, both alums of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, launched Appetite on October 23, 2006." Since then, Bennett has been providing savory breads and amazing sweets, and William has shined as the Deli Lama - coming up with daily sandwich creations and soups that show off his love of playing with food.
I've got a collection of photos going back many months - so without a lot of explanation - here's some of the food we've played with at Appetite!
Caprese Grill on Bennett's Sourdough
Fresh mozzarella, spinach, tomatoes, pesto, grilled. This is one of my "go-tos" in summer, when the tomatoes are grand.
Turkey BLT on Bennett's Baguette
Egg Salad & Cheese on Bennett's Rye
I love the egg salad - first, because there is no celery in it, and second, because there is red onion!
Cobb Salad
Mixed greens, tomato, avacado, bacon, Blue cheese, turkey - yum!
The Brieze
Well - not exactly - instead of smoked ham, I had turkey. Brie, apple slices, mayonnaise, mustard, spinach and onions completed this sandwich, which looks to be on Bennett's rye.
Cobb Salad - with house made roast beef this time
Vegetable Soup w/Posole
This was an inspired creation!
Roast Beast
House made roast beef, cheddar, onions, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and horseradish on Bennett's whole wheat bread - yum!
Lenten Friday Fish Lunch
During the Lenten season, Will does a fish sandwich on Friday - I was very impressed with this (and I really didn't expect to be impressed, because these kinds of fish dishes usually don't do much for me).
Will made this the Daily Sandwich Special. Every day, Will offers a great lunch special: full sized sandwich, deli side (or chips or cup of soup) and dessert (though I usually get a fresh brewed ice tea instead) for $6.50. That is a lunch value that can't be beat!
My deli side here was the broccoli salad, which is one of my favorites.
Instead of the ubiquitous fry, Will cooked the fish to order in a saute pan, with seasonings instead of breading. A lovely house-made relish was under the fish, and tomato and cheese on top. I enjoyed mine on Bennett's fabulous baguette.
Another soup - probably split pea.
Another Will-creation
House made corned beef, turkey, tomato, cheese, and a custom dressing all grilled down on rye. MMMmmm.
House Made Macaroni Salad
Cupcakes!
Chicken Salad with Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato on Wheat
An inspired improvement on the BLT.
During Passover, I enjoyed this lovely salad, topped with tuna and chicken salad, and accompanied by Will's Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Anna had no bread restrictions, and enjoyed this sandwich special with ham, turkey cheese, apple, and a side of broccoli salad.
Macaroons
Bennett made the most fabulous Macaroons this year! They can now be found in the pastry case most of the time.
I didn't take the camera again until June 15!
Corned Beef & Turkey on Bennett's Croissant
They let Bernie do his own variation on the Daily Sandwich Special (he mostly left things off). I, of course, had to try it the way the Chef intended it:
Daily Special
Corned Beef, Turkey, Tomato, Red Onion, Havarti Cheese, Thousand Island Dressing grilled on Bennett's rye. Yummers! Even though I would normally never consider eating cheese with corned beef - I gotta say that this combination really won me over.
Pasta Pesto Side Salad
House made, of course. And most delicious.
Thank goodness I hadn't looked down at the pastry case before ordering lunch (and taking Iced Tea instead of a sweet). But Bernie insisted I taste his - we both agree - Bennett makes the best darn cupcakes, period. And he samples them wherever he goes, and this is his opinion.
Finally, to wrap this post up, lunch from Thursday June 18. I was craving pizza, but sort of in a hurry, and I wanted something I could get quickly and eat at my desk. As I started my car, it hit me - Bennett's foccacia bread! I hadn't had that in months - and it would slake the pizza need.
Cheese and Caramelized Tomato Foccacia Bread
William cut my loaf in quarters and warmed it in the oven for me. Together with freshly brewed Tazo ice tea, this made a perfect on-the-run lunch!
I marveled at the incredible texture and mouthfeel of the tomatoes - lets face it, really good tomatoes are still some weeks away. But these had gotten wonderfully chewy and sweet. And the crust was delightful - crisp on the bottom, but fluffy and toothy in the middle.
We are truly lucky to have some wonderful lunch places in and near Lyndhurst - but my go to remains Appetite, where much is made from scratch (no - not everything - but if that matters to you and you ask - Will and Bennett will steer you in the right direction), and all is made with care. Now, if I could just remember to bring my camera, and keep track of how often I've written about them!
