BARD OF THE BACK ROOM
THE END OF CIVILIZATION BY PETER WALDOR
MORE MEX , LESS TEX
Buzz
the
WRITTEN BY
DEBORAH SCHAPIRO
To be considered for THE BUZZ , contact Millburn @ Northjersey . com
PETER
WALDOR Waldor ’ s new book of poems is available on Amazon . His previous books are available at Words Bookstore , 179 Maplewood Avenue , Maplewood , 973-763-9500 , www . wordsbookstore . com .
BARD OF THE BACK ROOM
Local insurance broker and award-winning poet , PETER WALDOR , won a2013 National Jewish Book Award for Who Touches Everything , acollection of poems about children and families . His new volume of verse , STATE OFTHE UNION , was published in January . Currently available on Amazon , it deals with a vastly different subject but one that is equally familiar to Garden State residents : corruption . “ In my business activities , I haveencounteredencountered lots of strange situations at the intersection of business and politics ,” Waldor says .“ A friend suggested I write a book of poetry about New Jersey ’ s pay-toplay culture . I told him he was crazy , but over the next few years , the poems startedtoto come out .”
Waldor grew up in South Orangeandand has lived in ShortHills forthe past 15 years and is well-versed in NewJersey ’ s political culture . The poems are state-specific , with references to landmarks such as Newark ’ sBelmont Tavern and the late Pal ’ sCabin in West Orange . Several poems areset in Atlantic City , and at least one local politician is mentioned by name . “ It ’ svery challenging to write lyric poetry about corruption in business and politics ,” Peter says . For more information , email Peteratpwaldor @ pwains . com .
THE END OF CIVILIZATION BY PETER WALDOR
is just the sound of awhiteenvelope sliding across whitetablecloth
at Pal ’ sCabin – bycoincidence , two old governors at other tables …
the glue un-licked , the counting will happen afterwards ,
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Summit ROSALITA
MEXICAN 10 Maple St ., Summit 908-598-9200 www . rosalitamexican . com
After 20-plus visits to Mexico , longtime Millburn resident Allan Luftig learned the difference between authentic Mexican cuisine and the food that is offered in fast-food chains . His Summit restaurant ROSALITA MEXICAN reflects his knowledge : “ We serve the kind of food my wife and IenjoyedinMexico – traditional dishes made with fresh ingredients .”
Open sinceJanuary 2016 , Rosalita Mexican ( the name is anod to Bruce Springsteen ’ s song , “ Rosalita ”) is not Luftig ’ sfirst restaurant ; he owned and operated Monster Sushi , also inSummit , from 2002 until it closed in2015 . “ The last couple of years at Monster Sushi , we added some Mexican touches , such as spicy tuna tacos and alayered shrimp-tomato-guacamole dish ,” Luftig says .
Both dishes are onthe Rosalita Mexican menu , along with native dishes such as TacosalPastor , slow-cooked pork marinated insalsa and pineapple juice and served with pineapple ; and chicken mole poblano , cooked inablend of spices and ahint of chocolate . Tex-Mex fans need not worry , though : the restaurant also serves avariety of burritos and quesadillas . “ Burritos are great ,” Luftig says .“ But we also want to show our customers that not all Mexican food needs tobeserved with rice and beans .”
in the SUV , hoping for the best . Bracelet
beyond cuff and appraised Roman pinkie ring .
Whiteonwhite , a polar bear crossing snow .
Even the waiter gets modestly lucky this morn .
Inside , hundreds tight as pages Of a closedbook , enough to stop abullet .
The conversation , of course , boring . After the contract is let the one
without the envelope must now perform withthe skill of any true winner .
PETER WALDOR COURTESY OF GINNY TWERSKY ; ROSALIA MEXICAN : COURTESY OF ALLAN LUFTIG
12 SPRING 2017 MILLBURN & SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE