East Meets West: Fort Lee Born Chef Lives Out Dream

As a young boy growing up in Fort Lee, Christopher Holland watched as his father, a chef, worked his magic in the kitchen and knew that someday he wanted to grow up to do just that.

His father, knowing just how hard the restaurant business is financially, physically and emotionally, encouraged young Chris to graduate from college and work in an office. Christopher took his father’s advice, but no matter where he went, his dream followed.

When he faced turning 30, he decided that if he didn’t pursue his dream he’d live to regret it. So he handed in his tie for an apron; paper cuts for calluses and burns. He hasn’t looked back, and he’s never been happier.

The road from Fort Lee to being a partner in his own restaurant took Chris through lots of cooking for family, catering, the kitchen of Chakra Restaurant, and ultimately led him to that eventful day when he answered Joe Troy Dagdagan’s call on Craigslist for a chef/partner in a new restaurant he wanted to open in Maywood called Session Bistro.

When Chris and Troy met, it was evident that both young men had the passion and drive to make Session Bistro a success. Chris was also the only chef Troy had met who really knew how to cook fusion.

Troy’s journey into the restaurant business took him from Hawaii to the Philippines to California and, eventually, to New Jersey, where he arrived with $1,200 and a dream to open his own place, which he did when he opened Troy’s Grill in Union City. (Troy has since relocated the restaurant to Pearl River New York—Troy’s Grill @ The Parkside.)

Every day while traveling from his home in Fair Lawn to his restaurant in Union City, Troy would slow down as he approached Maywood’s Historic Train Station on Maywood Avenue, because adjacent to the station was a commercial building as old as the train station with a very large parking lot.

After much persistence and negotiation, Troy and the landlord came to terms and in early June Session Bistro opened its doors.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Session Bistro seats 24 indoors and an additional 20 outside. The interior design is reminiscent of those hole-in-the-wall restaurants you stumble across in the East Village. Small, intimate, but filled with the indefinable, eye-catching charm of another century.

For breakfast and lunch Session Bistro is an ideal place for moms to meet, friends to get together, and a serene place to bring your laptop and work because they offer free Wi-Fi.

The restaurant’s mood perceptibly changes for the dinner crowd, and so does the food. White tablecloths, candles, wine. (Session Bistro does not have a liquor license, but you can bring your own bottle.)

Troy and Chris want to offer dinner guests fine food made with only the freshest ingredients in a casual setting at affordable prices. And they’ve done just that.

The Ancho New York Strip, rubbed with Ancho Chili, topped with herb butter and served with mashed potatoes and Shitake mushrooms, is priced at $15.95. Coriander Crusted Baby Lamb Chops, crusted with fresh ground coriander, served with mashed potatoes and curried carrot puree is priced at $15.95. The Chef’s family recipe Pollo di Viola, sautéed chicken breast with fresh tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil deglazed in white wine and finished with butter, served over rice, is priced at $14.95.

For those of you looking for great tasting sushi at an affordable price, Session Bistro offers a variety of freshly made sushi. 

Session Bistro also has an extensive Tapas Menu that continues to grow as Chef Holland creates more signature dishes. We were treated to a tasting of the Chef’s original recipe Smoked Salmon Mock Sushi--smoked salmon, capers, and shallots served atop a crispy potato cake with a drizzle of dill cream sauce.

The components of the dish were fresh in both taste and preparation; the texture and flavors delicately fused resulting in a subtle, pleasurable, and memorable taste sensation. All that was missing was a succulent glass of chilled Pinot Grigio that would pair well with the flavors of this dish.

Reminiscent of a favorite tapas bar that we used to frequent on Second Avenue in New York City, Session Bistro is well on its way to being that type of gathering place. Tapas and wine—there’s no better night out. Hear that girlfriends?

To attract clients, Session Bistro will be offering:

• Beer and Sushi Mondays
• Wine and Tapas Tuesdays
• Mingling Sundays

Currently, Session Bistro is offering: 

• Early Bird Sundays: $2 off each entrée ordered from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Nursing Wednesday’s: 30% off dinner entrees for nurses and their families.
• 15% off entrees if you print a coupon from Session Bistro’s Facebook page.  

Session Bistro also offers live entertainment every Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to closing. Visit their website for a complete listing of their menu, hours and specials.

With these deals, why not try someplace new and support a local boy as he lives out his dream. One thing you can be sure of--he’ll cook his heart out for you. (Session bistro is closed 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to prepare the restaurant for dinner.)

Session Bistro is located right next door to the Historic Train Station at 245 Maywood Ave., Maywood; 201-880-7810.