MORRIS PLAINS — There is a new player in the downtown Morris Plains dining scene, and it’s certainly a winner. This past September 10th Woodam Korean BBQ opened its doors to the public with a grand opening celebration. The restaurant is located at 650 Speedwell Avenue, a few doors down from the iconic Arthur’s Tavern. The building had been dormant for the past ten years, previously the home of Cocoa Pazzo. During the past couple of years, I have had the privilege to visit a couple of outstanding Korean BBQ venues in the Parsippany area and I was anxious to check out this newest addition to what has become one of my favorite culinary treats.

My usual group of hungry epicures and I arrived at Woodam BBQ, an appealing, aesthetically pleasing colonial revival style building, in a busy, vibrant downtown neighborhood. An attractive two-story brick structure, with multiple, stylishly large, white wooden framed arched windows, decorative dental molding, ornate metal gratings, and symmetrical columns supporting an overhanging canopy. Architecturally beautiful building, and one that clearly reflects an equally impressive interior design.

Being the first from my group to arrive, I was warmly greeted by the smiling, pleasant, and genial David Oh, one of the co-owners of Woodam BBQ. Mr. Oh, who insisted I call him David, showed me to a comfortably situated table, sharply appointed along with the appropriate chopsticks, sealed in a paper wrapper displaying the restaurant’s name. As my group arrived a few minutes later, our personable, helpful, and friendly server, Suany, expeditiously addressed our needs. Water, menus, and wine glasses immediately appeared, and wine was uncorked. Both Mr. Oh and Suany could not have been more attentive or professional making sure we were comfortable, and any questions we had about the menu politely answered.

While the group perused the menu, it gave me the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the restaurant. The décor was a tasteful blending of an older, more traditional Asian ambiance mixed in with a modern, upscale vibe. The soft cream-colored walls, adorned with tasteful Asian artifacts, were offset by the hues of the soft and comfortable chocolate brown paneling, wood beam floor, and ceiling tiles. The high vaulted ceilings, with a modernistic lighted globe hanging from the rafters, are an impressive feature. The room is bright, airy, and comfortably lit by the floor-to-ceiling windows, which perfectly accentuate the rest of the dining area, which can seat 80 guests. The atmosphere is sophisticated and elegant, yet casual, comfortable, and homey. Assorted Asian artifacts, such as assorted statues of Buddha, teapots, and artwork are carefully and tastefully placed throughout the room, along with calming, live potted, and flowering plants, which are all nurtured by the restaurant staff. The meticulous attention given to even the smallest detail was evident and brilliantly done.

Granite-topped tables, each equipped with a flaming, smokeless grill in the center, are comfortably situated around the room. The polished chocolate brown woodwork, distressed flooring, and cushioned black leather seats help ensure a comfortable and relaxing dining experience. Woodam does not possess a liquor license, and guests are welcome to BYOB; plus, there is a 12-seat standalone bar at the rear of the house, where you can sit, eat, or just relax if you prefer. Interestingly Woodam BBQ does offer wine by the bottle that you can purchase at the restaurant. New Jersey State law now allows restaurants that do not have a liquor license to partner with a New Jersey winery to serve their wines at their restaurant. So, you may still bring along your own bottle, but if you forget or prefer, wines from Villa Milagro Vineyards, a Warren County Vineyard, are available to enjoy with your meal.

The second floor of the two-storied restaurant offers a private party room that can accommodate 50 guests. The room provides the same polished elegance and aesthetics as downstairs. There is also an elevator available to accommodate guests who may have trouble navigating stairs, as well as restrooms available on each floor.

While my friends debated over the appetizers, I took the opportunity to chat with both co-owners of Woodam BBQ, David Oh, and Chef Eleazar Martinez (aka Chef Eli). Theirs is a friendship that goes back 23 years, a friendship which brings experience and expertise to this, their newest venture, which is a combination hard to find. David Oh, who has opened about a half dozen restaurants in NYC, claims Woodam BBQ as his first venture into New Jersey. Mr. Oh explained that it was the pandemic that brought himself and Chef Eli together with a vision to open the now-renovated and reimagined Woodam BBQ. As for “Chef Eli” Martinez, he has a storied thirty-year-plus background in the culinary world. Somewhat of a celebrity Chef, he has been noted in such publications as the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, and Forbes. A Honduran native, whose resume includes working at several distinguished Michelin-rated NYC restaurants, including Jean-Georges, Daniel, Bann, and for the past decade, Executive Chef of Woo Lae Oak, in SoHo. Chef Eli’s commitment to his craft is evident, as he even spent time living in Korea to perfect the knowledge and skills that now enable him to create those authentic flavors that are true to traditional Korean cuisine, while still reflecting a modern aesthetic and sensibility. According to their website, Woodam embraces a unique and fresh approach to Korean cuisine by fusing the highest quality traditional and contemporary ingredients to their dishes, and that was obvious in the quality of the dishes we tried.

We began this dining adventure with an assortment of shared appetizers. Our apps included Mandu (pan-fried, house-made, beef short rib dumplings), Pa Jun (traditional sizzling pancake, with scallion and mixed peppers), O Jing Aw Ti Kim (tempura calamari, shitake, and chayote, tossed in a sweet and soy glaze), and Korean Fried Chicken (spicy honey chili and sesame, glazed with sweet and sour pickled daikon). All the beautifully plated dishes came with perfect accompanying dipping sauces that further elevated each dish. Every app was perfectly prepared, delicious, and quickly devoured by our group as we discussed our entrée. As I have found typical in this cuisine, the balance of intense flavors and textures hit all the taste receptors; sweet, sour, tangy, umami, and spicy.

The diverse menu, included many tempting and expected Korean dishes, including several rice standards, such as Bi Bim Bap (rice topped with carrot, zucchini, spinach, beansprouts, royal fern, daikon, crisp lettuce greens, and spicy gochujang mixed sauce is always a favorite). The selection of mouth-watering traditional entrees, as well as their soups and stews, were also hard to resist, but we agreed to share the traditional Korean Barbecue selections of Kal Bi (sweet and savory boneless beef short ribs) and Sam Gyup Sal (high-quality pork belly – an immensely popular, amazingly delicious Korean dish). All the barbeque entrees come marinated in the restaurant’s signature soy, sesame, and garlic sauce, and are served with fresh lettuce wraps and miso paste, kimchi, shredded pickle daikon, namul with white or brown rice.

The arrival of our Kal bi and Sam Gyup Sal provided us the opportunity to try out Woodam’s tabletop flaming smokeless grills. (No exhaust vents are needed here) If you have not yet tried dining at a Korean Barbeque, you are missing out on a fun and exciting communal dining experience. This is a memorable way for family and/or friends to come together and participate in the cooking and sharing of a meal. And yes, if you prefer the staff will either assist you with the cooking or do it for you. Just relax and enjoy it. With some assistance and advice from our knowledgeable server, Suany, we chose to cook our own healthy (did I mention, Korean food is extremely healthy and nutritious) meats and vegetables.

Savoring our now perfectly cooked meats and veggies, while wrapping them in accompanying crispy lettuce wraps, along with some of that miso paste, kimchi, daikon, namul, and rice, was not only delectable but a truly pleasurable way to enjoy a meal. A burst of flavor in every bite!

We closed out our meal with a nice, enticing, treat of three large scoops of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry) placed atop an ice mold. Perfect ending to a great meal!

My recommendation: if you have not yet stopped in at the recently opened Woodam Korean Barbeque, put it on your calendar for the next time you are looking for that special dining experience, or to celebrate that special occasion. I am confident you will have a great time and a great meal. Thank you to Woodam Korean BBQ, Chef Eli, David Oh, and their staff for the cordial hospitality.

Woodam Korean BBQ is located at 650 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains. (973) 330-9112. Menu: www.woodamnj.com. Dine In – Curbside Pickup – No Contact Delivery. Street Parking and Municipal Parking Lot. Elevator Availability. Closed Monday.

PARSIPPANY — Seven tenants have leased a combined 90,000 square feet at a Parsippany office campus, in a series of newly announced transactions by Cushman & Wakefield.

The brokerage team, which represents P3 Properties at 300 Interpace Parkway and One Upper Pond Road, said the deals include commitments by RF Industries, a manufacturer of electronic hardware used in wired and wireless communications networks, and Extremity Medical, a medical device manufacturer. They will occupy a combined 60,000 square feet at what’s known as The Grand, a two-building, 550,000-square-foot complex less than a mile from Interstate 80, Route 46, and Route 202 and a mile and a half from Interstate 287.

C&W’s Charles Parmelli, William O’Keefe, and Bill Brown completed the transactions, plus an additional 30,000 square feet of new deals and renewals by five other tenants.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new tenants to The Grand, which recently completed major capital improvements resulting in the addition of new state-of-the-art amenities both inside and outside the property,” Parmelli said. “The Grand’s extensive renovations have cemented the property as not only a best-in-class headquarters office location but also a space for emerging technology companies with lab and R&D operations like RF Industries. The building’s flexible zoning, freight elevators, and loading docks combined with top-tier amenities create a high-quality and functional environment that exists in very few office locations.”

Recent updates include a new tenant lounge dubbed GRAND Central, which contains gaming areas, a café, shared conferencing and training rooms, and collaborative meeting spaces, C&W said. The property also has a large fitness center, an outdoor dining terrace, a new waterside deck known as The Grove, and a two-tiered pond with a pergola and seating.

“We recently concluded a multimillion-dollar modernization program to provide our tenants with a best-in-class office experience,” said Harvey Rosenblatt, CEO of P3 Properties. “With the addition of our new tenants and our commitment to emerging technology and lab companies, The Grand remains at the forefront of innovation.”

PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Key Club Members from Parsippany High School served Thanksgiving Dinner to Senior Citizens and people in need at IHOP, 792 Route 46, Parsippany. This year, Table of Hope, coordinated the guest list.

Every year, IHOP Parsippany hosts the senior citizens and residents in need on Monday evening for a complimentary “Thanksgiving Dinner.” The dinner included delicious turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

The key club members first started seating the guests, then took their beverage orders and delivered them a home-cooked meal. After the seniors were done with their dinner, the Key Club members cleaned the dining room and set the tables.

Key Club is a student-led, high school organization. The members make the world a better place through service. In doing so, they grow as individuals and as leaders by answering the call to lead, summoning the courage to engage, and developing the heart to serve. The Parsippany Hills High School Key Club is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany. Lt. Governor Frank Cahill is the liaison of the club.

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills is participating in “Extra Mile Day” celebrating the work of two township residents.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio presented Gourmet Cafe’s Chef Matthew Pierone and Parsippany Supporting Our Town creator Chris Mazzarella with a proclamation for “Go The Extra Mile” at Tuesday, November 22 Township Council meeting.

Both honorees were recognized for their personal, community-minded contributions through the pandemic crisis.

Chef Matt Pierone, the owner of Gourmet Café, was honored as an Extra Mile Hero, for his efforts in supporting the community with his unwavering support and donations to the community of Parsippany. Matt has continuously donated both meals and money to Parsippany residents in need, even during Covid when his own business was dealing with uncertainty and loss of income.

Chris Mazzarella was praised for his work as one of the creators of the Facebook page, “Parsippany Supporting Our Town”. His personal time and commitment to the site opened an important source of local information that assisted a large portion of our community.

Mayor Barberio described both men as local heroes.

Extra Mile America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers individuals, organizations, and cities to “go the extra mile.” According to their website, their work is inspired by the belief that “going the extra mile” opens doors to new possibilities.

PARSIPPANY — Another $15,000 Morris County Small Business Grant was delivered today by the Morris County Commissioners, who were joined by Parsippany Township’s Mayor and Council President and the Morris County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in highlighting the importance of shopping locally when the nation recognizes Small Business Saturday.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Morris County. They are the backbone of the entire economy in New Jersey, which is why my fellow Commissioners developed the Morris County Small Business Grant Program earlier this year. We need to support our local entrepreneurs, and this weekend everyone can join in by shopping locally during for the annual Small Business Saturday,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.

He joined Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus and Commissioner Stephen Shaw today in delivering a $15,000 grant to Rajeev Chopra at Chopra Auto Care in Parsippany. Joining them were Parsippany Mayor Jamie Barberio, Council President Michael dePierro,  Ed Ramirez, Director of Business Resources and Professional Development for the EDC, and businessman Mickey Chopra, the shop owner’s brother.

“During the pandemic, I had no business at all. People were not driving, so they did not bring in their cars. This is going to help me a lot. I have some machines that are going to be updated. My tire machine is very old, and my balance machine is going to cost a lot. So, I am very thankful,” said Rajeev Chopra, who was surrounded by his family when he received the grant.

Morris County launched its Small Business Grant Program on Valentine’s Day with $10 million in American Rescue Act Plan funds, and the Commissioners have approved 782 applications to date.

“I know the Parsippany mayor, the council president, myself and other Commissioners, we were passing out application forms for this grant program all over the place, and we hosted events here in Parsippany and Dover and Morristown and elsewhere to get the word out – and we were successful, so much so that we not only put $10 million into the program but had to add another $1.3 million,” said Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus.

The added funds were approved last month because of a surge of applications filed just before the program closed on September 30. The Commissioners wanted to insure those businesses that applied late, and who may ultimately qualify, would be covered. Morris County is still processing about 85 additional applications.

“Parsippany is filled with small businesses. They make up a big portion of our economy, and we are very thankful to the Commissioner for this grant program. It has helped many of our local businesses, and I hope everyone will get out there this weekend to shop locally for Small Business Saturday,” said Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James arberio.

The Morris County Commissioners adopted a resolution Monday night declaring this Saturday, November 26, to be Small Business Saturday in Morris County. Since 2010, the Saturday after Thanksgiving has been recognized nationwide as “Small Business Saturday” after it was launched by American Express. The national campaign encourages holiday shoppers to patronize local businesses.

The Morris County Chamber of Commerce and EDC helped Morris County this year promote the Morris County Small Business Grant Program.

Frank Cahill, Chairman Parsippany Economic Development Advisory Committee and the creator of the Morris Now APP, designed the app to help the economy of small businesses in Morris County. Many small businesses had. a rough time during COVID-19, and the APP helps the residents of Morris County find local businesses within their community.  The APP currently has over 15,000 small mom-and-pop businesses listed absolutely free.  If your business is not listed, submit it by clicking here. Morris Now received a similar grant in August from Morris County Small Business Grant Program.

The APP is totally FREE for any consumer to download and is available on Google Play and the Apple Store by searching for “MORRIS NOW.”

From now until December 31, every newly registered user will automatically receive a $10.00 Gift Card to IHOP locations in Parsippany, Kenvil, or Cedar Knolls. In addition, you have an opportunity to win a $50.00 gift card from a Morris. County rertailer.

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our downtowns and an essential part of our economy,” stated Craig Schlosser, Managing Director of the Morris County Economic Development Corporation. “We are proud that New Jersey ranks 11th in the United States, with over 861,000 small businesses.”Meghan Hunscher, President of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce in Florham Park, added, “We are glad to promote all of the ‘Shop Local’ initiatives that will benefit Morris County business owners.”

According to the United States Small Business Administration, there are 32.5 million small businesses in the United States, which account for 99.9 percent of all businesses in the United States and they are responsible for creating 1.5 million jobs annually and account for 64 percent of new jobs created in the U.S.

Despite lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. consumers reported spending a record-high total of $23.3 billion at independent retailers and restaurants on “Small Business Saturday 2021.”

PARSIPPANY — ENVY Sports Club & Pools held a Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Parsippany Food Pantry.

New guests received a Free Day Pass and Existing Members received a Free Guest Pass for just bringing in non-perishable foods to be donated.

Scott Donnelly, Sales Manager of ENVY Sports Club, explained that “As a Family and Veteran owned business one of our top priorities is to give back to our local community. Our faithful resort members and passionate staff are proud to make a positive impact on people’s lives and bring joy to those around them. Giving back, especially during the holiday season, is a noble cause and we are eager to help those in need any way we can.”

“ENVY Sports Club & Pools understands the importance of our members’ and guests’ experiences. Our team has created a well-rounded multifaceted health and fitness environment for all ages.” ENVY offers a Year-Round Indoor Pool, Seasonal Outdoor Pool, Pool Parties & Events, Heated Sauna, Swim Lessons, Cold & Hot Tubs, Personal Training, Holistic Spa & Masseuse, Weight Machines, Free Weights, Cardio Equipment, Racquetball Court, Group Fitness Classes, and more.”

ENVY Sports Club and Pools is located under the Sheraton Castle at 199 Smith Road, Parsippany. For more information call (973) 560-5410 and visit their Website, Instagram, or Facebook. ENVY’s hours are Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Monday to Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Parsippany Food Pantry is located in the Parsippany Community Center at 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha. For more information call (973) 263-7163 or visit their Website. The Food Pantry hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

ENVY Sports Club & Pools is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.