Dinner Party Starters
’Tis the season to serve up something great to begin your evening meal

Set the mood this holiday season with first courses from three of Bergen County’s top restaurants. These succulent starters from Café Panache in Ramsey, Ridgewood’s Latour Restaurant and Chakra Restaurant in Paramus will fire up the festivities with delicious flavor.
(Click through for full recipes)

Seafood “Hot Pot” with Butternut Squash and Cinnamon
from Chakra in Paramus
“I love this one-pot recipe because of the multiple layers of flavors and complexity.” —Executive chef and partner Thomas Ciszak

Shrimp in Paprika Garlic Sauce
from Café Panache in Ramsey
“This is a great holiday party appetizer because it is not time-consuming and is perfect for serving to guests. The dish is simple, looks fantastic and has a great, rich winter taste.” —Chef Kevin Kohler

Ratatouille and Goat Cheese Napoleon
from Latour in Ridgewood
“The Ratatouille Napoleon is a wonderful way to display the style and flavors of cuisine in the south of France with fresh vegetables and creamy goat cheese.” —Chef and owner Michael Latour