SIDE WAYS

Daylight savings has come and gone, which means Thanksgiving's right around the corner. You'd love to get into the kitchen and prepare a spectacular meal from soup to nuts, but your schedule's insane.

It's no crime to get an assist from a pro when it comes to the holidays. And thanks to Chef Loryn's Café & Catering in Madison, help is on the way. You make the bird, they'll take care of sides and dessert.

From Herb Stuffing with Sausage ($7.99/lb.) or Fresh Oyster Stuffing ($9.99/lb.) to Creamed Spinach ($6.99/lb.), Sweet Potatoes with or without Marshmallows ($7.99/lb.) and Pumpkin Pie ($10.99 each), Chef Loryn Dagon makes Thanksgiving dining simple, scrumptious, and a heckuva lot easier.

Housed in a cheery storefront on Main Street, Chef Loryn's features homey décor, a breakfast bar with stools, and value-oriented breakfast and lunch specials. Plus they do catering for everything from weddings to wine tastings, bridal showers to birthday parties.

Says the former executive chef at Gary's Wine & Marketplace, "I always wanted my own café, I just had to wait till I found the perfect space." It's an area she knows well: after growing up in Madison, Loryn returned there to raise her daughter, Isabel, after living in Maine for several years.

Display cases showcase an array of appealing dishes, from succulent flank steak to bright green asparagus glistening with olive oil + lemon. There's spicy salsa, crunchy coleslaw, and chicken pot pie that's so good, she can't take it off the menu. Save room for dessert!

Chef Loryn’s Chocolate Chip Cookies are customer faves, though Banana Bread runs a close second. Notes Loryn proudly, "Everything here is made from scratch."

This dedicated e-mail was written for NJ My Way readers by Diaz-Schloss Communications, food and restaurant marketers based in Montclair.