Foodie Things to Do This Weekend and Beyond

Photo By Scott O’Donnell

28th Annual Chatsworth Cranberry Festival, Saturday & Sunday, October 15th & 16th from 9am-4pm. Celebrate New Jersey’s cranberry harvest with great food and tons of artists and craftsmen. For more information: Cranberry Fest

Oktoberfest at Bar Majestic, Jersey City, Friday, October 14th from 4pm-Midnight. Celebrate a 2-block event and all night party (until midnight of course). For more information: Bar Majestic

Italian Dinner at Laurita Winery, New Egypt. Friday, October 14th at 7pm. A gourmet food experience and an extraordinary night at the vineyard. The cost is $24.95 per person and $21.95 for kids ages 12 to 21. For more information: Laurita Winery

Specialty Food Showcase, McCaffrey’s Supermarket (Princeton), Friday & Saturday, October 14th & 15th from 11am-5pm. Attendees may sample organic, gourmet, and specialty meats, sauces, cheeses, breads, pastas and more. Many visiting vendors are local like GRIGGSTOWN FARMS PRODUCTS, CURLY’S CREATIONS BBQ SAUCES & RUBS and MONTANA RANCH BRAND NATURAL BEEF. McCaffrey’s Bakery Department will feature their award winning special occasion cake designs. All items will be available for sale. Attendees will also enjoy live music. A $5 admission charge will benefit The Crisis Ministry of Princeton & Trenton and Canine Support Teams, as well as entitle admitted to $5 Off at McCaffrey’s Market. For more information: Specialty Food Showcase

Smithville Italian Festival, Saturday October 15th from 10am-5pm. Enjoy fine New Jersey wine tasting, live music and entertainment, great food and desserts, artisan vendors, bocce ball, kids events and Italian classic cars. For more information: Smithville

Matawan Day & Food Festival, Saturday October 15th from 2pm- 8pm. Presented by the Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, this is a day where families enjoy the experience of tasting the wonderful variety of foods offered by the local restaurants, seeing the talents of local crafters and artisans. The event will be held on Main Street from the Library to Maloney’s Pub. For more information: M-A Chamber of Commerce

Saints Peter & Paul Oktoberfest 2011, Saturday, October 15th from 12pm -10pm located at 404 Hudson Street, Hoboken. Featured will be a beer garden, food vendors, live music and a kid’s village with Polka Dot. For more information: hobokenoktoberfest@gmail.com

Grand Harvest Wine Festival at Fosterfields Historical Living Farm, Saturday & Sunday, October 15th & 16th from 12pm-5pm. The festival will feature twenty wineries offering nearly 250 locally-produced wines, food, crafts vendors, live bands and the opportunity to experience one of New Jersey’s significant historic farms. For more information: Grand Harvest Wine Fest

Harvest Festival at Peaceful Valley Orchards, Saturday, October 15th from 10am-4pm. Pick your own apples and pumpkins, enjoy a nice clam bake, hayrides, kids activities, and live music. For more information: Peaceful Valley Orchards

Harvest Wine Festival at Natali Vineyards, Cape May Courthouse, Saturday, October 15th from 12pm-5pm. Free admission, $5 wine tastings, live band, free vineyard/barrel room tour at 2pm, and lots of Sangria. For more information call 609-465-0075.

Applefest, Greenfield, Saturday, October 15th from 10am-4pm. Everything apple, live music, children’s games, food, craft artisans and more. For more information call (609) 390-5656.

Flo’s 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off, Saturday, October 15th from 11am-5pm. Flo’s Annual Chili Cook-Off benefiting the Brain Tumor Center at the JFK Neuroscience Institute (Edison, NJ), will be held at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park. There will be a kids tent, arts & crafts, eco-friendly products, local produce and of course chili! For more information: Flo’s Chili Cook-Off

Mercer County Cultural Festival, Saturday, October 15th from 11am-6pm. Celebrate the diverse cultures of Mercer County through traditional food, live cultural music and dance performances, visual arts and crafts.  For more information: Mercer County Cultural Fest

Giant Pumpkin Carve, Saturday, October 15th from 5-9:30pm at the Salem County Fair Grounds. Pumpkin bake-off, musical entertainment, kids activities, hay rides, straw maze, and more. For more information: Giant Pumpkin Carve

Children’s Open Hearth Cooking, Hancock House State Historic Site, Saturday, October 15th from 10am-3pm. Introduce children to open hearth cooking by showing them how to prepare and make food in an open fireplace. For ages 8 and up. Reservations required. Please call Joan Pancoast 856-935-4221.

Rea’s Harvest Country Fair on October 15, 2011 at Rea’s Farm, Bayshore & Stevens Streets, West Cape May. Rea’s Country Harvest Fair offers a unique setting on a down to earth working farm that was once one of the largest farms in Cape May county. County fair atmosphere with pony rides, family hayrides, contests and games for kids and adults. Unique food vendors, antiques, art and crafts and high quality flea market dealers. The fun begins at 10:00AM till 5:00PM. Rain date October 16. Vendors and visitors call 609-884-4522 or 609-408-3219 for 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

Oktoberfest at the Stockton Inn, Sunday, October 16th from 12pm- 6pm. Enjoy some great brews, German food and live entertainment. For more information: Stockton Inn

Beyond…

An Evening of Hope: A Taste of the Jersey Shore, Woodlake Country Club. Monday, October 17th. A number of local restaurants (Capone’s, Kyoto, and Shut Up and Eat! just to name a few) will be there preparing the food. The cost is $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Proceeds benefit The HOPE Center, which helps the homeless in Ocean County. For more information please call 732.341.4447.

The Fantastic Fall Hot Pepper Harvest On Friday Oct 21, the EARTH Center will offer a garden/cooking workshop entitled, The Fantastic Fall Hot Pepper Harvest from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave. South Brunswick. The workshop aims to introduce attendees to the love of hot peppers and will feature some great recipes.. growing considerations and of course, ways to cool the burn…Registration is required by Wednesday Oct. 19. The program fee is $20. The size of the class will be limited, so register early to insure a space. For more information contact the Ag office at 732-398-5262.

Tour CHEESE ROOM AND TASTE SOME RAW CHEESES… Saturday, October 22nd from 10-11:30 am Take a walk into our cheese room, visit our caves, meet our cheese maker Kelly Harding and sample grass-fed raw milk cheeses while discussing the health benefits of using grass-fed raw milk in cheese making. We will taste each one of the raw cheeses we make here at the farm as well as cheeses from around the world. $20 to register, please email cherrygroveeducation@gmail.com. The Class will end just in time for lunch and this is when you can stop by the stand out front and enjoy a farmstead grilled cheese prepared on the spot by Chef Sacchitello. Taste the flavors of our raw milk cheese straight from the cave and see how the depth of flavor changes with the addition of a little heat.

Locals Feeding Locals – a Taste of Autumn Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 5:00 – 10:00PM Giamano’s Restaurant, 301 Main Street in Bradley Beach 07720 Locals Feeding Locals is the third event Giamano’s has sponsored to raise funds for the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. This taste of autumn will be an evening to experience the finest Italian dining on the Jersey Shore. Ticket cost is $50 per guest and may be reserved by calling 732-918-2600. Seats are limited.

Wine and Cheese Tasting Fundraiser to Benefit Holiday Express will be held in the Sickles Market greenhouse, Little Silver, New Jersey, on Friday, November 4, 7-10 p.m. Once again Sickles Market will dress up its greenhouse in magical holiday style, serve spectacular gourmet foods, artisanal cheeses and pour premium wines. The event – which is denim casual – will offer live entertainment by some of the best talent from the Holiday Express band; a silent auction brimming with rare, collectible wines; and a live auction that includes the hugely popular Wine Crawls – progressive tours of some of the Jersey Shore’s best private wine cellars. Plus so much more! Last year’s event was sold out so attendees are urged to reserve tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are $125 and sponsorships are available. To reserve tickets or make a sponsorship please call Tori Sickles at 732.741.9563. Or, purchase online at www.sicklesmarket.com/holidayexpress

For event details and tickets on the below events, please visit: www.jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com

“The Kick-off Party” The Breakers Hotel, Spring Lake. Thursday, November 3rd. Great Jersey Shore chefs prepare their favorite “Comfort Foods” including: Wine Bar, Cheese Station, Pate Bar, Desset Bar.

Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest, Saturday, November 5th at Bar A, Belmar. Taste and Vote for the Shore’s Best Burger.

“Great Chefs Cook Italian” Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake Heights, Monday, November 7th. “Chopped” champ Matthew Zappoli of Tre Amici, Top 25 Zagat rated Piccola italia chef/owner Brian Gualtieri and legendary Joe Leone prepare a 5 course meal paired with Italian Wines.

Sushi and Sake Night at 709, Point Pleasant Tuesday, November 8th. A sushi, sake and white wine tasting.

“Souper Happy Hour” The Mill, Spring Lake Heights. Wednesday, November 9th. “Soup and Sammy”….delicious harvest soups paired with savory mini sandwiches.

The After Party “Cocktails and Cupcakes” Watermark, Asbury Park. Thursday, November 10th. Killer after dinner cocktails, make your own cupcakes and dance the night away.

Charley’s Craft Beer & Comedy Night Charley’s Ocean Grill, Long Branch. Friday, November 11th. Sample craft beers and delicious appetizers and enjoy some of the Shore’s top comedians.

“Burgers, Bloodies and Brews” at Harpoon Willy’s, Manasquan. Saturday, November 12th. Enjoy your choice of burger with a Bloody Mary or Shinerboch Beer.

A Taste of Italy at Undici. Sunday, November 13th. This popular event features tastings of over 50 Italian wines paired with delicious cheeses, meats and pastas from the regions of Italy. Spirits table.