Happy Halloween Biters,
The pulled pork is ready for our annual front lawn fiesta at a friend’s house in Point Pleasant later today. She lives on a street that resembles Bourbon Street on Halloween. I kid you not. I think the neighborhood parents look forward to the day more than the kids. Whole families come themed out to trick or treat. The kids collect candy and the grownups a beer or a bowl of whatever is on the stove. It is a fairy tale Halloween every year that I am sure my kids are going to look back on with fond, fond memories. I know I will.
I’m coming to you a day early with my monthly update, because tomorrow we are holding a “blog burst” on behalf of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. What the heck is a blog burst you ask? Basically, it is an organized effort among us bloggers to get the word out collectively about the Foodbank’s Check Out Hunger Campaign, going on in grocery stores and online in November and December. Please check back tomorrow. We will be providing a list of blogs here who are participating in the campaign. And, remember to look for the “Check Out Hunger” campaign signs at your local store. It is the 20th anniversary of Check out Hunger and we want to make it the most successful year yet.
We will be welcoming a new contributor to the Biter family and a new column this month with our first edition of “Beer Bites” by Pete Culos. Pete will be covering the exciting things going on with craft beer here in New Jersey. His first post will be an interview with Gretchen Schmidhausler, Head Brewer of Basil T’s in Red Bank. Gretchen is an award winning Brewer and Past President of the Garden State Craft Brewer’s Guild. We are so excited about this new feature for Jersey Bites and are looking forward to Pete’s picks for the best places in the Garden State. And, if you have some tips on great beer spots to visit, please put it on Pete’s radar for a future trip by leaving a comment.
We have some great reviews coming up this month, including our new Editor from Sussex County, Danielle Kohler, with her first post on Milano Restaurante in Hardyston and Beverly Beveridge’s Beach-side wedding review at the Breakers in Spring Lake. Tom Kovacevich our resident produce guy will be spotlighting Jersey cranberries just in time for Thanksgiving. And, speaking of Thanksgiving, we’ve got lots of yummy plans in store. For starters, this month’s “Jersey’s Best” contest will be in search of the best Pies in New Jersey. Just like last month’s best pizza contest (which if you missed here are the winners) we will be looking for your nominations through our Facebook page. We will also be launching an exciting giveaway this month sponsored by Emile Henry Gourmet Housewares. One lucky winner will walk away with a prize worth up to $250, so stay tuned for that.
And finally, don’t forget that Jersey Shore Restaurant Week starts on November 5th and runs through the 14th. Visit their website and get out and support some of your local eateries during the off season at the Jersey Shore.
Happy Halloween from the Jersey Bites crew. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to “Like” our Facebook page so you can participate in our “Jersey’s Best Pies” competition this month. Just go to http://www.Facebook.com/Jerseybites. After you “Like” the page, go to the Discussions Tab and nominate your favorite Pie Place.
