Plate to Date: Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern’s Cold Smoked Duck and Sweet Potato Gumbo
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
You could say the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern has withstood the test of time – more specifically, over two centuries worth of time. Constructed in 1796 as a residential home, the beautiful Dutch Colonial became a tavern in 1890, until it underwent a seven-month, $1.5 million renovation in 2009 in order to become the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern. On the National Register of Historic Places, it’s become a coveted North Jersey landmark and a highly sought after destination for fine dining and events. Under the direction of Executive Chef Hank Barrett, the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn offers a diverse array of flavorful tavern fare featuring seasonal ingredients. For this week’s “Plate to Date,” we give you an entrée fresh off the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn’s fall menu: cold smoked duck and sweet potato gumbo served with Andouille sausage, dirty rice, and cornbread madeleines. Pair this with their Indian Summer cocktail that combines Figenza vodka, tangerine juice, and fresh brewed earl gray tea, and you have yourself a meal worth falling for.