Stretch's Chicken Savoy

[Monello]

Elegant in it's simplicity. Good story. It's the state dish of New Jersey.

Celebrity customers are just one part of the Belmont's repute. A far greater part is evidenced by a sign visible from the sidewalk: Stretch's Chicken Savoy. There are plenty of dishes available on the Italian-American menu, but this is the one people come for, from near and far. It's a simple dish: Cut-up chicken rubbed down with a fat handful of garlic, hard cheese, and herbs, then roasted in a screaming-hot oven and splashed with vinegar, which sends aromas of schmaltz and spice right up to your nose.
It's now a dish found all over—but only in—northern New Jersey, and as with most hyper-regional foods, its devotees are as idiosyncratic as its birthplace.

story 1

 

[lucky_bee]

Elegant in it's simplicity. Good story. It's the state dish of New Jersey.



story 1

I didn't realize this had a name. In my house...we called this Sunday Dinner. This is exactly how my mother always does her chicken. And she's from north Jersey.

 

[Monello]

she's from north Jersey.

What exit?

 

[Monello]

Belmont tavern chicken savoy facebook picture. Sure has a lot of likes and fanatics of this dish.

FB link

 

[lucky_bee]

What exit?

Paterson... Off I-80. I couldn't tell you what part, haven't been back in years since all family left when the Puerto Ricans took over I think the east side off Broadway by the park.

 

[Monello]

Asking What Exit is a NJ joke.

 

[lucky_bee]

Asking What Exit is a NJ joke.

View attachment 107952

I know...but in Paterson, my family always said the answer was "why would you want to go to Paterson" :shrug: