MORRIS COUNTY — Have a craving for Asian food, but the family cannot agree on what kind? Someone wants Chinese, another wants Thai, and then someone else is really in the mood for Sushi. Dilemma solved!

Joining the eclectic Parsippany culinary scene this past November 29, despite all the unpredictable and challenging issues facing small businesses, was a very welcomed new addition to our community, Ai Sakae Asian Cuisine. Ai Sakae, an attractive, classy-looking, glass-fronted building nestled in the Tabor Road Plaza, a small strip mall on Tabor Road, also known as Route 53. Ai Sakae’s cordial manager, Lynnsie, who was kind enough to spend time answering my many questions, explained that the name comes from “Ai,” a Chinese word for love, and “Sakae” a Japanese word for prosperity. And despite its Morris Plains address, this great new venue is in fact situated in the Township of Parsippany.

This family-owned and operated eatery, owned by Ken and Cindy Chen, is not an Asian fusion restaurant, nor is it strictly a sushi restaurant, even though their sushi and sashimi selections are excellent. Ai Sakae’s menu interestingly consists of a wide variety of authentic selections and modern interpretations of classic dishes from China, Japan, and Thailand. Not to forget a wide selection of sushi and sashimi choices artfully prepared and presented by the restaurant’s extraordinarily talented and skilled sushi chef, Ai Sakae’s owner Ken.

Ken Chen’s culinary journey includes many years in the restaurant industry, sharpening his skills and mastering the different food preparation styles, cooking techniques, and various nuances common to the three diverse cultures to ensure authentic dishes, before he and his wife, Cindy, opened their former restaurant, Mintea in Cedar Knolls, an Asian eatery utilizing the same multi-Asian menu concept that we now find in Ai Sakae.

Ai Sakae is small in size, with only 10 or 12 tables and a standalone sushi bar with several seats, but it gives the impression of being welcoming, cozy, comfortably spacious, and airy once inside. Newly renovated (formerly part of a neighboring business) the atmosphere and ambiance provide a comfortable, casual (with a touch of semi-elegance), well lighted, and thoughtfully decorated dining room. The warm orange walls adorned with a few tasteful paintings, offset with brown leather wall accents, and tiled walls, all work well together to create the proper mood. Immaculately clean, small wood-grained laminated tables, soft black leather chairs, and well-appointed tables set with chopsticks, soy sauce, and Ai Sakae’s extensive menu, complete the initial introduction to Ai Sakae.

I arrived with several friends, and we were immediately greeted and seated by our attentive and well-humored waiter, Stanley. We never felt rushed and were able to enjoy some of our culturally appropriate BYOB while we perused the menu. Since Ai Sakae is a BYOB, I brought along some Orion, a Japanese lager with a bit of a punch and a depth of flavor. Mike F. went with Japan’s most popular beer, Sapporo, while Mike Z. went Thai with Chang, a full-flavored subtle lager. Dennis preferred a non-alcoholic house Thai Iced Tea.  As a special treat, the restaurant sent over a well-appreciated complimentary plate of delicious sushi pizza, a crispy, yet chewy, fried rice patty topped with avocado, salmon, tuna, or crab meat, and drizzled with blended mayonnaise and wasabi mix.  First time I have had it and it was a treat. Great start!

Our group decided to start off with some shared appetizers. First to arrive at our table was one of the Sakae Special Rolls, the Ridgedale Roll.  Filled with crunchy spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, and cucumber with soy paper, topped with avocado, caviar rice, and crunchy yellowtail, and then topped with five diverse kinds of fish and special sauce. It was as good as it sounds.

For first-timers, or those not familiar with these cuisines, there are a lot of unfamiliar words, flavor combinations, and ingredients to wrap your head around, but no fear, the staff at Ai Sakae will be more than happy to answer any questions and/or offer recommendations if requested. Remember that while it is true that China, Japan, and Thailand share some ingredients, some methods, and some ideas about food (like using an abundance of fresh ingredients), their cuisines are distinctly different, and Asian cuisine is unique in comparison to various parts of the world.

Tempura Shrimp and Tempura Vegetables arrived next. The deep-fried tempura batter covering the elongated shrimp, and veggies, had a super crispy texture and was full of flavor, and perfectly complemented with an accompanying dipping sauce.

The “Love Boat” sailed in next. Ten pieces of sushi, six kinds of sashimi, and a love roll. The fish was so fresh it could have just come out of the Ocean. As we dabbed the wasabi with our chopsticks and quickly devoured the abundant assortment of spicy tuna, salmon, striped bass, yellowtail, roe, fluke, white fish, and more, we were beginning to wonder if our mouths were bigger than our stomachs, but we soldiered on.

Mike F. enjoyed an aromatic bowl of sour, salty, and spicy Tom Yum Seafood Soup as we pondered over our choice of entrees. This went on for a while, as one might expect based on the vast selection of mouth-watering choices listed on the menu.

I finally settled on Mongolian Beef, which came with a choice of white or brown rice (I went with brown), and a side of Miso Soup. The beef had a mild taste, as Mongolian beef should have, and came with those trademark green onions and sauce. Mongolian beef has a complicated sweet and spicy taste and can or cannot be spicy hot. The dish was scrumptious, but the next time I will ask them to punch up the heat index, as I tend to prefer very spicy food. The Miso Soup was savory with a nice umami flavor. You could taste the fresh ingredients in every bite.

Others in the group, for their entrees, went with the Hunan Style Chicken; a favorite Chinese American stir fry made with juicy, thinly sliced chicken breasts and veggies, in a dynamic savory sauce; and the Teriyaki Chicken, grilled chicken lacquered with a sweet soy teriyaki sauce; and a specially made order of Shrimp with Garlic Sauce. You have to love the healthy and light appearance that dominates Japanese cuisine. I should mention that the presentation of every dish was artistic and tantalizing. You could clearly see the effort put into the careful preparation of every serving. As they say, “food presentation is the key to pulling all five senses into the experience of eating.” The consensus was that everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals, as well as the sincerely warm hospitality and truly professional service by the entire restaurant team. Very pleasant culinary experience, but unfortunately, not one of us had any room left for their tempting, decadent desserts.

So, when that craving for Asian food kicks in, I would highly recommend giving Ai Sakae a visit. I am confident you will enjoy it as much as I did. And please remember to continue to support all our local businesses. It is appreciated!

Quote from Ai Sakae Asian Cuisine’s Website:

“The key to our success is simple: providing quality consistent food that tastes great every single time,”

“I think it’s important to be open-minded and expand. Be adventurous with your palate and you’ll come across a lot of good people, good food, remarkably interesting cultures.” Vietnamese Chef, Vy Nguyen.
Dine-In, Take-Out, Contact Free Delivery (Grubhub), BYOB, and Catering. Special Requests Taken for Food Allergies. Off-Street Parking Lot, Open 7 Days a Week.

Ai Sakae Asian Cuisine is located at  970B Tabor Road, Parsippany. (Morris Plains, NJ 07050) – (973) 998-8818 www.aisakae.com

MORRIS COUNTY —  Hyatt Regency Morristown, one of the area’s premier downtown hotels for business and leisure travelers, unveils a reimagined hotel experience following a multimillion-dollar renovation. Designed by Gensler, a global architecture and design firm with a Morristown office, the hotel debuts today a complete transformation of the property’s guestrooms, lobby, food, and beverage offerings, and indoor meeting spaces. The property is located in the center of Headquarters Plaza, which is a multifaceted mixed-use development comprised of the hotel, three office towers, a gym, restaurants, and covered parking, owned by the Olnick Organization and Fisher Development Associates.

“We are thrilled to announce the completion of an extensive renovation project at our downtown hotel,” said Jeff Babcock, general manager of Hyatt Regency Morristown. “The renovation was thoughtfully designed by Gensler, our neighbors here in downtown Morristown, to incorporate the unique and rich history of our local area. The newly renovated property features a modern colonial theme, which can be observed throughout all aspects of the property. We can’t wait to introduce the reimagined Hyatt Regency Morristown experience to both travelers and the local community.”

Lobby and Public Spaces
The hotel’s lobby has been redesigned to incorporate distinctive elements of Morristown’s unique history. Two Mediterranean-inspired trees are the focal points upon arrival inside the hotel’s main entrance, which is backdropped by a dramatic fireplace fixture and lush greenery. The public spaces have also been outfitted with modern furnishings that feature brass tones and various shades of blue, symbolic of officer uniforms from the American Revolution. The refreshed lobby area also includes new carpeting, lighting, and artwork.

Food and Beverage Offerings
Hyatt Regency Morristown’s revamped dining experience includes an updated lounge with evening food service and a new grab-n-go food market and café offering a variety of healthy and hearty snacks. The lounge has been completely transformed to provide an open and spacious seating area featuring 30-foot windows that provide expansive views of downtown. In addition, the hotel bar has been reoriented to face the entryway and offers updated seating and lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere.

“To create an accessible, hospitality-driven destination for both guests and the Morristown community, we reimagined how the lobby can be experienced and enjoyed throughout the day,” said Siobhan Barry, design director at Gensler. “The café is now part of a new grab-n-go food market, and the lobby bar is relocated closer to the street for better visibility and ample natural light. The interior reflects Morristown’s revolutionary ties with a modern colonial aesthetic.”

Guestrooms and Corridors
Distinctive hallway carpeting designed to mimic the topography of New Jersey farmlands leads guests to their rooms. The hotel’s double rooms have been converted to queen rooms with two queen beds, and king bedrooms have been outfitted with modern glass showers. The guestrooms also feature a “show closet,” a luxury, open concept closet with concealed lighting, in addition to contemporized bathrooms.  The hotel’s 50 studio suites were redesigned to provide more spacious accommodations with comfortable and well-appointed seating areas including sleeper sofas.

Meeting and Event Spaces
The property’s 31,000-square feet of conference space has also been updated, including flexible meeting rooms and the Terrace and Plaza Ballrooms. Groups will also have the availability to host events at a brand-new outdoor venue at the adjacent Pioneer Park courtyard beginning in April 2022. The hotel’s former restaurant was also converted into a new meeting venue and all spaces include updated lighting, new furniture, and modern artwork.

Nearby Proximity to Premier Attractions
In addition to the updated accommodations and guest experiences available at Hyatt Regency Morristown, the hotel is in close proximity to more than 40 restaurants, shopping, and entertainment venues.  The hotel also offers guests complimentary access to the adjacent Crunch Fitness, one of the largest fitness facilities in Morristown, with state-of-the-art cardio and weight equipment.

Several nearby attractions also showcase the area’s history. Travelers can experience Fosterfields Living Historical Farms, a 200-acre farm that produces a historical reenactment of farm life as it was done more than 100 years ago. Just a short drive away is the Schuyler-Hamilton House, the Historical Speedwell, and the Morristown National Historical Park, which features George Washington’s headquarters and more than 24 miles of hiking trails that explore the area. The property is only a 30-minute drive from Newark Liberty International Airport and a one-hour train ride to New York City.

For more information or to book a stay at Hyatt Regency Morristown, click here, or call (973) 647-1234.

MORRIS COUNTY — Andrea Martone, a top New Jersey Realtor® and the owner of Realty Executives Platinum Agents, has an unquenchable passion for real estate combined with compassion for her community… and both of those qualities are evident through her dedication to both her clients and community service.

Martone was raised in Parsippany, as was her partner, Paul Cristelli. She has called Rockaway home in the past and currently resides in Denville. Today, she proudly boasts that she has been a Morris County resident for over 45 years. To Martone, real estate is more than helping clients buy and sell homes – it is about cultivating thriving communities and forming relationships with thousands of neighbors that call these communities home.

Martone began her real estate career 21 years ago and immediately began sponsoring charity events to promote her new business and expand her contacts. Her participation in Morris County events quickly led to invites to food drives, fundraisers for animal shelters, and more. She discovered that charity events were a great way to authentically connect with various members of the community and saying ‘no’ was not an option. The deep ties Martone developed with the community helped her become a true neighborhood expert and advocate.

“I believe that when you put out positive, positive things come back. These communities have been so supportive of me, my family, and my business over the years; the communities trust us. I want to do anything and everything I can to reciprocate that,” says Martone.

While Martone’s career has evolved over the years from agent to top producer to brokerage owner, her commitment to growing the community has not waivered. She is a longtime active member of the Elks Club in Parsippany, participating in the Ladies Auxiliary. The auxiliary hosts fish fry dinners, garage sales, raffles, and social events to raise money for initiatives such as Camp Moore, a vacation away from home for children with special needs.

Recently, both Martone and Cristelli joined the Kiwanis Club of Denville. Their work with the club helps raise money for various children’s initiatives through awards dinners, pancake breakfasts, paper shreds, and more. They also participate in the Denville library’s trunk or treat, safe and fun activity for local children.

But Martone and Cristelli cannot stop with one or two clubs when there are more communities to serve.  The team sponsors trick-or-treat trails in Boonton and Rockaway and volunteer in the Parsippany Food Truck Festival supporting Parsippany Kiwanis.  They participate in the Denville Fall Festival benefitting the fire department, and Parsippany’s trunk or treat. They have become the local go-to Realtors® when it comes to service, filling nearly all their non-business hours with events to benefit the neighborhoods they love. “We have so much fun that time truly flies by at each of these outings. We love catching up with everyone, seeing their kids grow, and having a great time together,” says Martone.

The project nearest and dearest to Martone is the Pink Witches Night Out. This Denville-based fundraiser occurs annually in October and supports breast cancer awareness. Deemed “New Jersey’s best girls’ night out for a great cause,” this year’s event benefited a 29-year-old local woman with stage three breast cancer. Attendees don witch hats with pink ribbons to honor cancer survivors, current warriors, and family members.

“The importance of giving back to the communities where you live, work, and play cannot be understated,” says Patrick van den Bossche, president of Realty Executives International. “Our Executives are attracted to real estate because it provides a tremendous opportunity to serve others, especially beyond a transaction. The Martone Team recognizes and understands that charitable service strengthens the community from the inside out, making a lasting impact.”

Stay tuned for Martone’s upcoming community activities, including Platinum Agents’ fundraiser for a local food pantry, complete with pictures with Santa.  To learn more, visit MartoneTeam.com or connect with her on Facebook.

A Note About Andrea Martone
Andrea Martone is a top-quality real estate professional who possesses a high level of integrity and knowledge of the community to serve all your real estate needs. Her market awareness, coupled with marketing savvy, effective negotiation skills, and personal guidance, are exactly what is needed to navigate the real estate market. Andrea provides top-quality customer service by putting her clients first. She keeps herself accessible, response to her client’s needs, is an effective communicator and is an excellent listener. She also provides real estate information and listings on her Twitter page and her Facebook page.

This “client first” philosophy has always been Andrea’s approach and requires her to continually improve her skills and ways of doing business. Additionally, she has found that the latest technologies enable her to provide efficient service to buyers and sellers.

Martone has earned the Circle of Excellence Award each year for the past 20 years and has achieved the Platinum Circle of Excellence Award, the pinnacle accolade for Realtors® in New Jersey, for the past four years.  She has been in the top one percent of New Jersey Realtors® since 2005. For more information, visit martoneteam.com.

Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, January 2022. Click here to view the article.