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Anton’s Chef Comes Out of the Closet and Introduces Mini Culinary Adventures

By Susan Sandor
Chris Connors, owner of Anton’s at the Swan in Lambertville, New Jersey is going public with the fact that he has been the chef at Anton’s for over a decade. He began as sous chef in 1999 working alongside Anton Dodel the restaurant’s namesake founder and purchased the business in September of 2001 without fanfare or formal announcement. “My plans were to stay in the kitchen and continue operating in the same fashion as the restaurant was originally styled so it didn’t seem important to tell the world that the business changed hands. But recently, I’ve been taking the time to step into the dining room to become more acquainted with our patrons and discovered there are rewards in getting to know the people dining at my restaurant and having them get to know me. Listening to feedback is enlightening and allows me to better maintain and excel in all I do in the kitchen, and it sometimes presents a new culinary challenge which is stimulating,” said Connors.
Although Connors continues the successful formulas long established at his restaurant, such as the thoughtfully crafted menu that changes weekly in the fine dining room, desserts made on premises, and a bar menu offering eclectic pizzas and burgers, he is consistently developing new ideas to attract attention and please his clientele. Recently introduced theme dining seems to carry weight with the locals who are gathering at Anton’s barroom on Tuesdays for Customer Appreciation Nights where a two-course dinner is served with a complimentary glass of wine for $19. Pasta Nights are held on Wednesdays with five pasta dishes presented with a salad for $15. Thursdays are Vegetarian Nights attracting vegetarians and meat eaters alike with a choice of seven diverse dishes priced according to complexity and market. “These small dining events are being staged to mix things up and make it fun to step out any night of the week without having to carry a fat wallet,” Connors ventured.
Another new event is a monthly wine tasting dinner held on the last Friday of each month at 7 p.m. with guest oenophile and wine educator, Phil Ward, who pairs wines with a special four course menu prepared exclusively for that evening for $95. The March 27th tasting is themed “Italy, Not Your Normal Tour,” and will feature wines of Tuscany, Umbria, and Bolgheri paired with tuna carpaccio with arugula, potato gnocchi with a parsley walnut pesto, medallions of veal with porcini and carrot, and ricotta cheesecake.
Reservations are recommended. For more information please call 609-397-1960 or visit www.antons-at-the-swan.com and click on the Wine Tasting button to see a complete list of the wines and foods being paired for the month. You are also welcome to visit Chris Connors’ blog at lambertvillechef.blogspot.com where you can pick up cooking tips and information from the chef himself. Anton’s is located at Main and Swan Streets in Lambertville, New Jersey.