Butterfly and Peaches Celebration, Little Silver, Saturday, August 13th, Sickles Market 2 to 5pm. The celebration’s mission is to create awareness about the very special, delicious New Jersey peach, its many varieties, preparations made with fresh peaches and products made from peaches such as preserves jams and salsas. Several activities are scheduled including the highly anticipated annual butterfly release. All activities are free and the times are as follows: Butterfly Viewing 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Grilling and food tastings Noon – 4:30 p.m. Kids’ face painting 2 – 4:30 p.m. Corn-shucking contest 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Butterfly release 4 p.m. Big sales throughout the store 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
BBQ fans are invited to join Fairway in Paramus for its Second Annual Firefighters Food Face–Off held Sunday, August 14 at 1pm in Fairway’s parking lot at the Fashion Center Mall, Route 17 in Paramus. There will be music, gift card giveaways and samples of BBQ fare prepared by returning champions Park Ridge Fire Department, Woodcliff Lake Fire Department, Paramus Fire Department, Ridgewood Fire Department and Oradell Fire Department. Rain or Shine.
The NJ State Fair starts today thru the 14th at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. Visitors enjoy the tremendous agricultural exhibits for which the Fair is famous. Animals are everywhere you look – from a bee and honey display to the barns at the livestock exhibitions, in the horticultural exhibits and contests, and in the Horse Show Ring. You’ll taste food whose recipes hail from the heart of rural New Jersey or from just about anywhere in the world. All of the various waves of immigrations that have built the state of New Jersey bring good things to these tables! Every member of the family will love this remarkable event. Groups and motor coaches are welcome. Parking is free. Adults $11, Children $5, Under 5 free. Reduced advance tickets are available.
Ocean Township Italian Festival, August 10 – 14, Joe Palaia Park, Corner of Deal and Whalepond Roads, Ocean Twp. Sample the great tastes of Italy’s food. Also, rides, games, music, and fireworks.
La Fiesta Italiana August 10 Through August 14 4-11pm Holy Rosary Church – 344 6th Street (betw Brunswick & Monmouth); Jersey City Featuring Italian food specialties, an outdoor garden cafe, fresh zeppoles, rice balls and other traditional Italian street food. http://www.lafestaitalianajc.com/
Peach, Princess and Pirate Party Family Festival at the Camden Children’s Garden (3 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ) Saturday and Sunday 1-4pm. $6person, under 2 free. Kids encouraged to dress the part. Themed crafts and peach products for everyone.
A Mid-Summer Crab Feast August 18th, at the Elan, 111 Rt 46 W, Lodi, to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Lodi. The all-you-can-eat, sit-down, family-style menu includes appetizers, Dungeness crab, roasted potato salad, grilled corn on the cob, coleslaw, jalapeno cornbread, homemade doughnuts, seasonal fruit salad, wine, and beer. 6 to 8 PM; adults $54.95, teenagers $44.95, children ages five to twelve $39.95; plus tax and 20 percent gratuity. For reservations, call 973-777-0503.
STELLEKAYA South African Wine Dinner. Friday, August 19, 2011 – 7:00pm at Branches Catering in West Long Branch. About Stellekaya…Stellekaya means “home of the stars” and is a privately owned boutique wine producer situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands. The cellar is located in the famous town of Stellenbosch and all grapes are sourced from producers in this appellation. South African cuisine is very diverse with English, Dutch, Indian and other Southern Asian influences not to mention the rich food culture of the indigenous people of Africa. This dinner reflects the diversity of the culture. Click Here to view full Menu.
A five-course dinner, Culinary Classic III: Jersey Fresh Seafood and Produce, will be held at Renault Winery, August 19th. 72 North Bremen Ave, Egg Harbor City. 6:30 PM; $75. For reservations, call 609-965-2111.
The Fifth Annual Crab Cake Festival & Shore Chef Cook-Off August 20th and 21st. Monmouth Park, 175 Oceanport Ave, Oceanport. The event will feature New Jersey crab cakes and seafood from NJ restaurants, with chefs competing for Best Crab Cake and Best of the Rest. Along with thoroughbred racing there will be live entertainment and crafts to buy. Noon to 5 PM; $3 grandstand admission allows admission to the Cook-Off area. Advance tickets are not required, and food prices will range from $5 to $15. Check out the fun on YouTube.
A five-course Farm to Table Dinner sponsored by Slow Food Northern NJAugust 21st, will be held at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Rd, Morristown. Chef Andrea Carbine from A Toute Heure in Cranford will prepare a dinner centered on Fosterfields’ heirloom vegetables, grass-fed meat, and poultry. Chef Diane Pinder of Donna & Company Artisan Chocolates will present dessert. Sustainable and organic wines will be paired with each course. Live music will be provided by the Cabin Jazz All-Stars, and farmer Rob Kibbe will conduct a horse-drawn hayride tour. The proceeds from this Sustenance on the Farm Dinner will benefit Fosterfields’ educational farm programs for schoolchildren and the Slow Food Northern NJ School Garden Program. For more information, call 908-451-0051, and for tickets log on to www.sustenanceevents.com.
Grape Stomping Festival at Renault Winery. Saturday August 27 and Sunday August 28. Come enjoy the time honored tradition of grape stomping and welcome in the harvest season.This is your chance to make your own wine the old fashion way and take home the fruits of your labor!! Meet Lucy, bring a camera, bring the whole family! Beer and wine garden, wonderful food including our world famous sausage and peppers, Jersey fresh seafood and much, much more…call 609.965.2111 for more information. Noon – 4 PM RAIN or SHINE. FREE admission – FREE Parking.
Summer Farm Fest, August 28th, will be held at Hlubik Farms, 92 Georgetown-Chesterfield Rd, Chesterfield. 5 to 9 PM; $30 in advance, $35 at the door; includes all food, entertainment, and soft drinks. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Tickets are available at the farm and at High Street Grill, 64 High St, Mount Holly.
Rib Rock at PNC Bank Arts Center August 28th. Headliners: The J. Geils Band, B. B. King and Gary Clarke Jr. Action on the Festival Stage starts at 3 p.m., In between acts, emcee Chef James Conroy, from QVC, will be entertaining the crowd with “low and slow” barbecue techniques and cooking demonstrations, interviews with the chefs, and audience participation contests and activities. Among a wide array of crafters and vendors, Jersey Shore-centric attractions in the festival arena include fortune telling by Madame Marie, meet and greet with the team from Weird NJ, and trims by the Shore’s Bikini Barbers, “Where it’s Summer All Year Round.”
Taste of the Quarter benefiting the United Way, August 29th will be held at the Tropicana Casino and Resort, 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, featuring dishes from more than fifteen restaurants throughout the Quarter and Tropicana. 6 to 9 PM; $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at the IMAX box office on the third floor of the Quarter and at www.ticketmaster.com, via phone at 800-745-3000, or at the United Way office. Ages 21 and up.
