Peers Say 5 Ridgewood/Glen Rock Chefs Among the Best in America

Several Ridgewood and Glen Rock-based chefs have been named by peers as being among the nation's most skilled in the kitchen, according to NJ Monthly Magazine.

Among the 196 New Jersey chefs listed in the new peer-reviewed book Best Chefs America are John Halligan of Park West Tavern/Park West Steakhouse, Kevin Portscher of Village Green, Craig Levy of RoCCA, and the duo of Orlando Carlo and Fred Mortati at A Mano. 

Other local notables on the list include Andrew Rodriguez of the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn, Steve Christianson of St. Eve's in Ho-Ho-Kus, Thomas Ciszac of Chakra in Paramus, Peter Angelakos of Bacari Grill in Washington Township, Alex Gorant of Axia Taverna in Tenafly (the owners of Ridgewood Fare), John Marsano of Wyckoff-based Brick House, Kevin Kohler of Cafe Panache in Ramsey, and George Georgiades of Ramsey's Varka Estiator.

The book publishers explained the chef nomination process on its website, writing, "Our analysts speak to nominated chefs across the country by way of appointment and telephone interview. Chefs are asked a series of proprietary questions that score their peers on a numerical scale and identify veterans and up-and-coming talent. The process is calculated to accurately record the opinions of leading chefs about the talent of their colleagues both within the same geographical area and nationwide."