Foodie Things to Do This Weekend and Beyond

Get ready to don your ponchos and set out to enjoy some foodie fun. Stop by the Fordcast Booth on Sunday and say hello to some of the Jersey Biters at the 12th Annual Mercer County Italian American Festival, September 23, 24 and 25th. Mercer County Park. Food Piazza Italian restaurants, wine and beer, Enjoy Italian specialties from many of the area’s best Italian restaurants and vendors. Italian Market Tent Numerous vendors with Italian and Italian-American hand crafted articles for sale.

Westwood Restaurant Week 2011. Starting on Sunday, September 18th and ending on Sunday, September 25th Enjoy Westwood’s finest dining establishments at a reasonable price fix of $20.11.

New Jersey Restaurant Week. Governor Christie and Lt. Governor Guadagno have declared the week of September 18-25, 2011 as NJ Restaurant Week, and New Jersey Restaurant Association, the statewide business organization representing NJ’s eating & drinking establishments is proud to sponsor this statewide event with restaurants in every corner of the State offering multi-course lunch and dinner specials for $19.00 or less and $35.00 or less respectively. Thank you for supporting NJ restaurants this week and everyday!. Follow the link for participating restaurants.

Blooming Hill Farm Fund-Raising Dinner:  September 24th,  A special dinner, drinks, and dancing to beat-back the losses Blooming Hill Farm suffered at the hand of hurricane Irene. Nearly 40 acres of their crops were completely submerged, and thier farm stand and greenhouse areas were decimated. To help offset some of the economic losses, they will be  hosting a special dinner to include a silent auction, drinking, and dancing. Blooming Hill Farm, 1251 Route 208, Blooming Grove, New York 10914.  The dinner will be prepared by celebrated chef Amanda Freitag. For those of you unfamiliar with Amanda, she has worked with some of the world’s most prestigious chefs. Reservations are required may be made at the farm stand on weekends. Please note that seating is extremely limited.

Jersey Shore Culinary Classic to benefit The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. September 19th at the Mill at Spring Lake Heights. Introduced in 1992 to help sustain the FoodBank’s mission, 20 years later it is still considered the original, largest and most widely known tasting event at the Jersey Shore. Big Joe Henry of NJ 101.5 will be the Master of Ceremonies. Tickets are only $75.00… please call 732-918-2600 or click here to purchase online.

Mary's Place By The SeaMary’s Place by the Sea is Celebrating their New Home with Paella and Entertainment after a tour. September 24, 2011 Time: 6:30pm-10:00pm Location: 25 Ocean Avenue Ocean Grove, NJ 07756 Featuring an authentic taste of Spain: tapas, paella, sangria and beer Steve Reilly Band and Flamenco Dancing. Rain or Shine, Tickets are Limited, Purchase Today! Tickets: $100 per person. Purchase tickets online at the link below or call 732.455.5345

Farm to Table Wine Tasting Event, Saturday, September 24 Eat and Drink For a Reason is a nonprofit organization that merges the foodie and the philanthropist in us all. Adam & Alicia Winters invite you into their Scotch Plains home for a unique culinary fundraiser to benefit the Children’s Specialized Hospital. Food & Wine to be donated by Savory Spice Shop, Cool Vines and Bayberry Caterers and Alan’s Orchard. Visit website for ticket purchases and information.

The Margate Fall Funfest By The Bay,to be held on September 24 and 25 of 2011, has become Margate’s signature event. The Funfest draws tens of thousands of people to Margate from all over the region. The Funfest provides two full days of excitement and features a variety of entertainment activities, including a juried show of fine arts and crafts, fabulous gourmet foods, live musical entertainment, educational exhibits, carnival games, Ray Scott’s Dock ‘Wetlands Wonderland’and the 14th Annual Dog Show held at Steve and Cookies By The Bay. Last but not least, relax and enjoy a scenic boat ride through the back bays and sandy beaches provided by the Jessie O fishing fleet. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday.http://www.marvelousmargate.com/funfest.html

Bloomfield Harvestfest, September 24 & 25th, Bloomfield’s biggest celebration. Two food courts serving festival and ethnic food favorites. For more information click here.

Baykeeper’s Annual Clambake September 25th, Fort Hancock Chapel on Sandy Hook in New Jersey. Festivities run from noon to 4pm with registration beginning at 11:30am. Fun in the sun, good food, good friends, music, seining and a toast to some of Baykeeper’s hardest working friends and allies. Click for more info.

Red Bank Guinness Oyster Fest: Sunday, September 25, 2011 Noon – 7PM. White Street Parking Lot.  The event will also be a culinary feast! There will be tons of GUINNESS and fresh OYSTERS plusm25 of Red Bank’s favorite restaurants will be serving a variety of specialty menu items including everything from Mini-Ruebens to Lobster Rolls.  Wine and lighter beers will also be available for purchase.  The after-party begins at 7PM at THE DUBLIN HOUSE 30 Monmouth Street, adjacent to the festival site. The Guinness Oyster Festival is a fundraiser for the Jane H. Booker Cancer Center at Riverview Medical Center, The Cancer Institute of NJ Foundation and Red Bank River Center.

WRAT’s Asbury Park Beerfest Saturday, October 8th. Conventional Hall, Session 1 -12:00PM-4:0PM Session 2 – 6:00PM-10:0PM $25 In Advance $30 At The Door Ticket. $10 Designated Driver Ticket. Click for more information.

Organized Crime, Fine Dining, Baseball and Laughs at Trenton Thunder Stadium. “The Falsetto’s Murder” dinner theater on October 15 at 7:00 pm in the Yankee Club & Conference Center at Waterfront Park. Tickets are $49 each and include a gourmet dinner menu and a performance of the regionally-renowned show. Seating is limited and can be reserved by contacting the Thunder 609-394-3300 ext 116 or tickets can be purchased online right here. LIMITED SEATS REMAIN
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