Holiday Dinner & Gingerbread Showcase, Friday, December 2nd at 6pm. Seaview Resort in Galloway will host its inaugural festive night to benefit the Community FoodBank of NJ’s Southern Branch. The night will include holiday cheer, entertainment and a seasonal dinner buffet. The evening will conclude with the first-ever “Gingerbread Showcase Showdown” in which gingerbread-house displays submitted by local professional chefs will be judged the “most magical of them all.” To make reservations, and for more information: Seaview Holiday Dinner
Harvest Spirits Wine Tasting, Friday, December 2nd from 7pm-10pm. Trinity Episcopal Church, Eighth and Wood streets, will hold a wine tasting. The cost is $30 per person and include hor d’oeuvres, desserts , and wine. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. For more information and tickets, call: 856-691-1589
Discussion and Cooking Demonstration, Saturday, December 3rd from 11am-1pm. Bestselling cookbook author and food columnist for the New York Times Melissa Clark and cooking instructor Rick Rodgers will hold a discussion and cooking demo at Kings Cooking Studio, 778 Morris Tpk, Short Hills. Two recipes from Clark’s latest cookbook, Cook This Now, will be demonstrated. Tickets are $100. Registration includes a copy of the book, and a signing will be held from 2 to 3:30 PM. To register, call: 973-258-4009
Wine & Dine, Saturday, December 3rd at 7pm. As part of the Best of New Jersey Wine & Dine Series, Ocean Place Resort & Spa will hold a night of great food and wine. Featuring: 5 NJ chefs, 5 courses, and 5 Robert Mondavi wines. For more information: Ocean Place – Wine & Dine Series
Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 3rd from 8am-9:45am. Hamilton Mall Food Court. The chefs and students at The Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College will prepare pancakes, bacon, sausage, muffins and Danish. In addition to meeting Santa, Mrs. Claus and other favorite holiday characters, children can enjoy the magic of award-winning magician Chad Juros. Tickets are $5 (available at the customer service desk in the Hamilton Mall). All proceeds benefit the Spread the Magic Foundation.
Gingerbread Wonderland & Craft Show, Saturday, December 3rd – Sunday, December 11th from 9:30am-5pm. Guests young and old marvel at the creativity, skills, and sense of optimism that characterizes this charming exhibit of over 200 editable structures. Held on weekends in conjunction with the Gingerbread Wonderland exhibit, the Holiday Craft Show is a great place to find hand-made holiday gifts from local crafters. For more information: Gingerbread Wonderland
Candy Making Demonstration, Saturday, December 3rd at 1pm. Longstreet Farm, 62 Longstreet Rd, Holmdel, NJ, FREE! Jerry Smith will be visiting Longstreet Farm’s out-kitchen to demonstrate the art of candy making. Using molds passed down from his family, Smith will create tasty chocolate delicacies. For more information: 732-946-3758
Candy Making Tours, Saturday December 3rd – Saturday, December 31st. Reily’s Candy in Medford will be hosting their annual Saturday candy-making tours beginning Saturday, December 3rd and continuing through Saturday, December 31st. Reily’s will be open for free tours from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, call 609-953-0040 or visit www.reilyscandy.com.
Holiday Open House, Saturday & Sunday, December 3rd & 4th from 11am-5pm. Cream Ridge Winery. Celebrate the season with wine tasting while listening to Christmas Carolers. Tours will be given all day. Sample some of our gourmet products and browse our Christmas shop. Admission is free. www.creamridgewinery.com
Chocolate World Expo, Sunday, December 4th from 11am-6pm at the Meadowlands Expo Center. Gourmet chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, gelato, wines and much more! For just about everything chocolate and to see Buddy from Cake Boss, you should go to the CWE. For tickets, and more information: Chocolate World Expo
And Beyond…
Battle of Tequilas, Tuesday, December 6th. The event will include appetizers, cocktails, dinner, dessert, tasting and presentation of 5 brands and tequila favors bag. There will also be prizes. For more information: La Esperanza
Cape May Wine Week: Sparkling Wines, Friday-Sunday, December 9th-11th. Triple your enjoyment by combining a wine tasting dinner, winery cellar tour & tasting, and a wine school class. This weekend-long event is sure to leave you feeling relaxed and well. For more information: CM Wine Week
Christkindlmarkt, Saturday & Sunday, December 10th & 11th from 10am-4pm. Tuckerton Seaport. An old-fashioned Christmas featuring holiday crafts and gifts under huge heated tents. Sip hot mulled cider, enjoy chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sing-a-long with strolling carolers, children’s rides, horse drawn cart, entertainment, decoy carvers, quilt making, crafters, vendors, food, refreshments plus wine tasting by Valenzano Winery. “Gingerbread Contest!” For more information: Tuckerton Seaport
Feast of the Seven Fishes, Saturday, December 10th & 17th at 11:30am. A cooking class will be held at Phillips Seafood, Pier Shops at Caesars, 1 Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City. Tickets are $65 including a chef demo, wine, and lunch. Call 609-348-2273 for reservations, or log on to www.phillipsseafood.com.
Holiday Cheer Wine Festival (Rock & Blues Fest), Saturday & Sunday, December 10th & 11th from 12pm-5pm. Do some holiday shopping with a glass of wine in your hand, and great live music in the all at Natali Vineyards. There will be over 25 local vendors selling all kinds of unique LOCAL holiday gift items. Enjoy a wine tasting of 5 wines for $5, or just purchase wines by the bottle and sit under the heated tent and enjoy another great local band. Natali will have some great holiday wine baskets on display for sale. Free Vineyard and barrel room tour at 2:30pm both days. For more information: Natali Vineyards
Land to Sea: Cooking with Marilyn, Wednesday, December 14th. Join Marilyn Schlossbach for a demonstration and dinner at Langosta Lounge. Take a culinary journey inspired by the vacation cuisine featured at her restaurants. Following the demonstration and Q&A session, enjoy the exquisite meal side by side with the restaurateur. “Land to Sea” will benefit the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Tickets are $50. For more info or to make reservations, please call 732-455-3275.
Sparkling Holidays at Four Sisters Winery, Saturday & Sunday, December 17th & 18th from 11am-6pm. Sparkling wine punch will be served with holiday cookies. Many holiday gift baskets and other items will be available for purchase. Enjoy a complimentary wine tasting and wine cellar tour. www.foursisterswinery.com