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Claremont Diner Cheesecake


The Claremont was a most famous diner in New Jersey, the "Diner State". Besides its sweet, chunky, crunchy Claremont Salad it was widely renowned for its Cheesecake.

There is a wonderful back story that you should read entitled How the Claremont Diner Got Its Cheesecake by Virginia Citrano in MyVeronaNJ.com. The story travels from father to son and settles now at the Carnegie Deli in New York City, where Jeffrey J. Jensen fils is the custodian of the original recipe. Here is the recipe as shown currently on the Carnegie Deli website.



Claremont Diner Salad


Claremont Salad Recipe

The once famous Claremont Diner in Verona, New Jersey was known for its eponymous Claremont Salad. (Also its Cheesecake.)

This is a sweet, chunky, crunchy vegetable salad. Think cole slaw on steroids. The keys are the sugar in the dressing and letting the preparation rest a bit to mellow the textures before serving. We found this recipe at Aunt Ruth’s Kitchen  and you can modify the ingredients as you will. Suggestions: Cauliflower, scallions, red and yellow bell peppers, hot chilies. But the original is the gold standard. Try it first. Then go nuts. (We don't recommend nuts in the salad. Silly!)

"Aunt Ruth got this recipe from the Claremont Diner in Verona, New Jersey. They are no longer in business, so we don't think we'll get in trouble for passing along this favorite recipe."

2 tablespoons sugar 

3 tablespoons vinegar 

2 tablespoons of salad oil 

1 tablespoon of water 

1 teaspoon of salt 

Shake the sugar, vinegar, salad oil, water, and salt together in a large jar and pour the mixture over the vegetables.  

1 Cucumber (sliced) 

1 Carrot (sliced) 

1 Green Pepper (sliced) 

1 Bermuda onion (sliced) 

¾ Head of Cabbage (shredded) 

Leave the vegetables and mix at room temperature for two (2) hours. TIP: For a slightly more tender texture, parboil lightly the cabbage, pepper, onion, and carrot. (That's what we do. Think "tender".)

Put it in the refrigerator overnight. Done, enjoy!!