Blackbird in Collingswood, NJ

Collingswood, NJ is a quick 20-minute ride (sans traffic) from my house and over the river that separates NJ and PA.  It is a dry town that reminds me of Bedford Falls (the town in Its a Wonderful Life) in the winter.  Simply put, it's a quaint, old town that has experienced a renaissance.  It is filled with restaurants for all budgets, and has quite a few good ones.  Blackbird was the most recent experience.

Blackbird is in a charming setting.  Big windows let in great light that makes the golden walls of the restaurant warm and glowing.  But what first grabs your attention is the way the table is set - the knives are set on their edges (cutting-side down) and they stay there easily because of their unique shape.  What was really special was that we dined there during Farm to Fork Week, an effort to "buy local" and support the farmers of the Garden State.  (For those of you who think "New Jersey" and see heavy industry and a jammed-packed turnpike in your mind, think again. Get down to South Jersey - home of the Pine Barrens, the largest open space between Boston and Richmond.)

Farm to Fork Week features either 3 or 4 courses (for $25 or $35, respectively), depending on the restaurant.  Blackbird had 4 courses with good selection in each.  There was - in no particular course order - the "Best of Philly 2009" gnocchi, soft-shelled crabs, scallops, veal, chicken, thai veggie rolls, great and creative salads, etc.  The food was presented beautifully and each course was good. 

I recently went to the Blackbird website and saw they also have a special Sunday - Thursday that is dinner for 4 for $59 (plus tax and tip).  I didn't investigate the menu but I made a mental note of it for future reference.  (Good food and BYOB - definitely worth a mental file entry.)

The chef, Alex Capasso is a young, bearded, sleeve-tattooed guy who came out to greet us and ask how everything was.  (He seemed very pleasant.)  This prompted a friend to mention Capasso recently opened another restaurant in Collingswood called West Side Gravy.  According to Philadelphia Magazine, this restaurant is

in the old Woolworth’s. The 3,000-square foot space, which has original elements like tin ceilings and schoolhouse lights, (seats) about 100...

There is also a deck out back.  The magazine went on to say that West Side Gravy serves

comfort food that is contemporary — like veal meatloaf with chanterelle mushrooms, truffled chicken pot pie, mac ‘n’ cheese, burgers — 'but a little gritty,' says Capasso. Most items (hover) in the $12-$15 range.

On the way home from Blackbird I kept humming "Mmmmm, mmmm, blackbird."  I couldn't keep the song out of my head but I still can't remember exactly what it is.  It's not the Beatles' or Sarah McLaughlin's Blackbird.  Maybe the next time I make my way over the river to Collingswood - maybe to West Side Gravy? -  it'll come back to me.