I found Cucina 98 in Montclair soon after moving here, but I never had the guts to walk through the slim door to browse. Every Saturday, before or after visiting the farmer’s market, I’d walk down Walnut Street and glance (gape?) through the open door to see a working kitchen – attached to Corso 98 – bustling with various kitchen activities. Even though there was always someone busy inside, I never wanted to intrude. Lucky for my overly cautious self, my husband’s stomach has no such reservation.
So this past Saturday, together with our kids, instead of passing the welcoming red-framed sign that reads “Fresh Ravioli and Italian Cookies,” we decided to crowd into the cozy space to check out what was on offer. We had two goals: to find something special for my husband’s dinner (he’d be home alone with the kids) and to find a delicious something or other to bring to a pot-luck for that night.
What greeted us? An order to BITE ME. The catchphrase turned logo was everywhere – the decor, the packages of cookies, the ravioli. And boy did everything look fantastic. We decided that yes, we would bite what Cucina 98 had to offer. After chatting with an energetic and passionate Lisa Marie (owner/chef) about all the offerings – enough to satisfy vegetarians and hearty carnivores alike – and how she finds the time (fresh ravioli by Mama!), I walked out of the tiny space with a tray of pork ravioli and a box of the most incredible pignoli cookies I’ve ever had. And I know a bit about pignoli cookies. Lisa Marie makes sure to import her pignoli from Europe instead of the less expensive nuts from Asia; she told me she found the Asian nuts were sometimes overly bitter.
I was tempted to also purchase some biscotti, but Lisa Marie assured me that she has them regularly. Items like the lasagne and some special sauces (both vegetarian and with meat) are on offer when she gets a large order. But the regular items are consistent, so I’ll pick-up the biscotti for another gathering.
My husband was very happy with his pork ravioli. He prepared it according to the directions on the box, and because the pork is in a marinade, there is no need for additional sauce. It was a quick, easy, and delicious meal for my beloved carnivore. Happily, next time around, I’ll be picking up one of their vegetarian ravioli offerings, but which one? There is spinach, vegetable, or the classic five (maybe six?) cheese regularly on offer. Lisa Marie told us that we should freeze any extra by the day after purchase, and that they can be frozen right in the sturdy box. I shared the pignoli cookies with a grateful gathering of women, and everyone commented on how amazing and moist and perfect they were. I saved a few cookies for my family, and they were gobbled up by the time I came home.
So if you are yearning for some truly exemplary Italian cooking, but want to stay in, you must stop in on some Saturday to 98 Walnut Street. Soups, sauces, ravioli, biscotti, pignoli cookies, apple cakes, and an assortment of what Lisa-Marie created the night before is for sale. Naturally, if you want to be treated to a night out, you can have the same delicious food served to you with a smile at Corso 98.
See the offerings in the pdf menu for Cucina 98. Lisa-Marie warned that the most popular items (like the seven-layer cookies) go early! For more background on Cucina 98, see a long-ago post about when it began.
Cucina 98
98 Walnut St (Saturdays from 9-5)
Montclair, NJ 07042
973.746.0789
Another bonus to using pine nuts from Europe instead of Asia is avoiding potential pine mouth syndrome from the cheaper pine nuts. I still shy away from them after having a metallic taste in my mouth for a week after getting a salad with pine nuts at Nauna’s.
I love the pasta there and the fact that the raviolis are handmade!