Today Luis and I got up early after a long night of amazing food and seeing Wicked on Broadway to go see my girl Alycia’s new apartment and have brunch.  She had been raving about this place since she moved in, so I was excited to try it out!

 

MishMish is located in what I believe is the center of town, pretty close to the train station. I am not too familiar with Montclair, but it seems like a pretty central area. It is a Mediterranean restaurant that serves food made with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Their executive chef and owner, Meny Vaknin, worked with Daniel Boulud to open the restaurant Boulud Sud. I have never been there, but I have been to Bar Boulud a few times and I bet Boulud Sud is of the same caliber, so I can’t wait to check it out now. Maybe for Restaurant Week?

 

We all got the same thing – The cow-shuka, and it was SO amazing.  Luis actually exclaimed that he wishes and would eat this for breakfast everyday.  I am not a huge fan of the name being that it says the name of the animal you are eating in the title lol, but it was delicious all the same.

 

Cow-Shuka is pretty much typical shakshuka with hanger steak added.  Now that sentence may lead you to believe that I have had shakshuka previously… but this was my first time haha. I have just seen so many pictures of it that I am pretty familiar with it.  I hope they all taste like this one did though!

 

 

If you aren’t familiar shakshuka is basically baked stewed tomatoes with eggs baked into it until still runny inside with cheese melted on top.  At MishMish it is just that – topped with feta and the addition of hanger steak added in this version.

 

This was just so flavorful and satisfying. Everything is seasoned perfectly. The balance from the acidity and sweetness in the tomatoes, the saltiness from the cheese, the silkiness from the egg yolk all with the texture from the steak is pretty divine. I really recommend you try it here.

 

They also have very strong, very delicious coffee, served on super cute blue dishes.  Yum.  I needed some extra cream myself since it was so strong, but I loved it.

 

 

MishMish is located at 215 Glenridge Ave Montclair, NJ 07042. Reach them by phone at 973-337-5648 or visit their website for more information and their menu. http://mishmishcafe.com/

 

*** Update!!! Added 01.23.16 (Jonas blizzard)

 

Last Sunday, January 16th, Luis, Craig and I went back again 🙂  This time I got the Israeli Breakfast. Amazing. This dish was SO perfect for me.

 

The sunny side up eggs were cooked perfectly.  The seared haloumi was obviously delicious, because: fried cheese. Enough said. The pita was excellent. I almost feel like they make their own pita because it was just so fluffy. Would’ve loved an entire pita though, instead of just half of one. I feel like everyone would. The pickles were very good, so sour and salty, just how I like them. The labneh was some of the best I have every had. It was so rich and seasoned perfectly. I just wish I could’ve wiped the plate clean with a little pita at the end. With the 2 tiny triangles I was given that was pretty impossible to accomplish.

 

This meal was so perfect to me. So many complex, salty and savory flavors and different textures, all with runny eggs?! It was and is directly right up my ally. I can’t wait to go have it again. As much as the cow/shakshuka is AMAZING, this is just really more me.

 

 

 

*** Update!!! Added 02.09.16

 

Their saffron crème brûlée is DELICIOUS.  That is all.

 

 

 

*** Update!!! Added 04.10.16

 

Had brunch with Melanie, Luis and Craig. We decided to try out the Open Face Sabich, since seeing other people getting it all the time was making us drool. It was amazing!  The flavor and textures of each item on this put together are indescribable. It is so fresh and also beautiful to look at. It is an open faced sandwich smeared with smoked eggplant, tahini, then topped with chopped mesulin lettuce tomato, feta and hardboiled egg. YUM.

 

 

 

*** Update!!! Added 05.22.16

 

Made this beautiful scene with Angel, Renée, Alycia Melanie and Luis.

 

 

 

 

*** Update!!! Added 06.26.16

 

Luis and I got back from Curaçao last night, and being that we are going to Vermont for another week I really wanted to see my girls! So Luis, Craig, Renée, Alycia and I had brunch at the Mish today.

 

After eating on an Island for a week I was looking to keep the freshness going, and this salad was just calling my name. I am glad I tried out something other than my usual Israeli Breakfast, not that it ever, ever disappointed me, of course, but this was so good. The shrimp is expertly grilled to perfection. The combination of the texture and flavors of the black beans, the saltiness and bite of the parmesan, the crunch of the pumpkin seeds and cucumber, the acidity from the romesco and tomato, the smooth, fresh flavor of the avocado and the caramelized deliciousness of the shrimp are a match made in heaven.  And you know I love kale! I was already craving this salad again minutes after we just left the restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alycia’s adorable doggies made it into this post since I met them for the first time this day ❤ <3<3