Event details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm directly before heading out!
THIS WEEKEND:
April 17: The Shannon Rose hosts a night of great food and craft brews during the Ommegang Tap Takeover at 5 p.m. Brewery Ommegang, a leading Belgian-style craft brewery located in Cooperstown, NY, will be tapping kegs of Ommegang’s limited, Belgian-style seasonal and year-round releases at The Shannon Rose locations in Clifton, Ramsey and Woodbridge. Craft brews that will be available include Rare Vos, Hennepin and Abbey Ale. Call 732-636-6100 for more details.
Through April 18: Make your reservations for Bordentown’s Restaurant Week. Sample the fine eateries of Restaurant Row, all for a fixed price of $19.95 to $29.95. Click here for a list of participating restaurants and to make reservations.
April 19: Come to the Jack DiSalvo Charity Baseball Game at 2 p.m. to help raise money for a scholarship fund for New Jersey student athletes who demonstrate strong athletic abilities as well as academic excellence and are fueled by the motivation and determination to succeed. The game is open to the public and with a donation of any amount, participants will receive two free tickets with a meal voucher (suggested donation: $25). Celebrity Chef Anton Testino of Hell’s Kitchen will be preparing a special Ball Park Style menu and will also be at the game taking photos and signing autographs. Tickets can be purchased here. 160 Parmelee Ave, Hawthorne.
AND BEYOND:
April 22: Jenks Club in Point Pleasant hosts its annual red gravy competition, Boss of the Sauce, from 6 to 9 p.m. Restaurants from Ocean and Monmouth counties will be participating, and a portion of proceeds will go to Ocean County Hunger Relief. The cost is $10 per person at the door ($8 in advance). 300 Ocean Ave, Point Pleasant Beach.
April 22: To help celebrate Earth Day, A Toute Heure in Cranford will feature a three-course tasting menu dinner with a portion of the proceeds going to Chefs Collaborative and its programs supporting and promoting sustainability. The Earth Day menu will be designed based on the freshest seasonal ingredients available from local farmers. Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling 908-276-6600. 232 Centennial Ave, Cranford.
April 22: A Toute Heure’s sister restaurant, 100 Steps Supper Club + Raw Bar, will hold an Earth Day Happy Hour featuring Cape May Salts oysters. Sample local favorites at the oyster bars, as well as mocktails and a selection of small plates. A portion of happy hour proceeds will benefit Chefs Collaborative. Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling 908-276-6600. 215 Centennial Ave, Cranford.
April 22 and 23: Chefs Corey Heyer and Ryan Depersio swap kitchens to bring distinctive dining experiences to guests. Guest Chef Dinners will be hosted at Bernards Inn on April 22 and at Fascino on April 23. For more information and full menus, click here. The dinners begin at 7 p.m. and are priced at $75 per person, excluding wine and beverages, taxes and gratuities. Reservations can be made by calling The Bernards Inn at 908-766-0002 (27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville) or Fascino at 973-233-0350 (331 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair).
April 24: More than 150 restaurants in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley will be participating in Dining Out for Life, an annual event to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. One-third of the proceeds will be donated to the cause. Click here for a list of participating restaurants, and all you have to do is dine at your favorite one!
April 25 to May 4: Celebrate springtime at the shore during the Cape May Spring Festival. Events include the Cape May Wine Trail, the Chocolate Championship Tour & Tasting, and a Pork & Pints pig roast. Contact the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts at 609-884-5404 or check their website for the schedule of events.
April 28 to May 4: The Montclair Film Festival will open on the 28th at 7 p.m. with Chef, the new comedy directed by and starring Jon Favreau . In the film, Favreau changes pace from his blockbusters like Iron Man, portraying a chef who gets fired by his restaurant’s owner (Dustin Hoffman) after running afoul of an influential critic (Oliver Platt). Party ticket holders are invited to an Opening Night Reception after the screening to enjoy free-flowing drinks and food. The festival will host more than 90 films and special events. Ticket prices range from $25 to $125. Tickets can be purchased here.
April 30: Westminster Hotel and Strip House Restaurant have been named the 2014 Businesses of the Year by the Livingston Area Chamber of Commerce. An awards reception and dinner will take place on Wednesday at 6 p.m. for town notables, members of the Chamber of Commerce, fellow award winners and enthusiastic fans of good food and drink. The evening will showcase the establishment’s music, décor and special touches. With the purchase of an $80 ticket, attendees will receive a weekend overnight stay followed by morning brunch for two at Strip House ($200 value). To purchase tickets for the Awards Reception, call 732-992-4343 or visit the Livingston Chamber of Commerce website. 550 W Mt Pleasant Ave, Livingston.
April 30: Escape Chef and Owner, Bryan Gregg, will cohost a five-course wine-paired dinner with acclaimed Chef James Laird of Restaurant Serenade. Cost is $95 per person with 50 percent of the proceeds being donated to benefit cancer research and treatment in New Jersey. Menu, wines and details can be found on Facebook and reservations can be made at 973-744-0712. Escape Montclair, 345 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair.
May 2: The Grand Café in Morristown will host its Qupé Leap Wine Dinner at 7 p.m. The Grapeful Palate continues its popular wine dinner series with a five-course meal accompanied by Qupé wine, named one of the Top 100 Wineries in America. Courses include Chef Quang’s Spring Roll with Hoisin Sauce, Soft Shell Crab with Ramps and Beurre Blanc and Garlic Sausage with Warm Green Lentil Salad. Cost is $88 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call Walter at 973-540-9444. Click here for more information. 42 Washington St, Morristown.
May 6: A Toute Heure opens its doors earlier for guests to enjoy a “community hour” menu from Tuesday through Friday. This will include a special dinner menu which will include ATH’s burger. The restaurant will donate $1 from the sale of every burger to support community organizations. 232 Centennial Ave, Cranford.
May 10: Pay a visit to America’s Grow-a-Row’s Farm-to-Fork Fundraiser from 5 to 10:30 p.m. at the Life Camp in Pottersville. Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman will make an appearance as the guest speaker. This unique fundraiser features local food artisans, a farm-fresh dinner and fine auctions. To participate or attend, visit americasgrowarow.org. LifeCamp, 67 McCann Mill Road, Pottersville.
May 10: Unionville Vineyards’ Spring Wine Festival. Speakers tent will feature Jersey Bites’ own Deb Smith, mozzarella demonstrations from Fulper Family Farms, worldwide wine trivia, and career reflections from winemaker Cameron Stark. Bring chairs or a blanket, enjoy 90 acres of sprawling New Jersey farmland. Tickets include a wine tasting flight and Unionville logo wine glass. General admission: $20. Youth, 13-20 years old, and designated drivers: $10. 12 and under: free. Click here for tickets. Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes. 908-788-0400.
May 10: Spirit of the Jerseys History Fair will take place at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are partnering with I Run New Jersey to bring food trucks to the event, along with a 5k race in the morning. Participating food trucks include ahh! Le Cart, Chimney Cake Factor, Empanada Guy, Zinna’s Bistro and many more. Visitors will find a wide selection of foods from hot dogs to lobster to ice cream and cupcakes.
May 24 – 26: Food Trucks Showdown returns to Monmouth Park Racetrack, featuring 26 of the best trucks in the NJ-NY-PA area. The event begins at 11:30 a.m., and admission is $3, parking $4 and children under 12 enter for free. Join “Party Marty” from Rockin’ Country Thunder 107.1 on Saturday and then Sunday is Family Fun Day. Oceanport Avenue, Oceanport.
May 31: The Montclair Food & Wine Festival kicks off with a Grand Tasting at the Montclair Art Museum. Event tickets are $95 (general admission) from 7-9 p.m. VIP tickets are offered at $120 (6 p.m. early admission). The museum’s stunning galleries will be open to attendees for viewing. Approximately 30 restaurants from Montclair (and beyond) will be on hand with samples of choice bites. Tickets and details can be found here. Use promo code JerseyBites (case sensitive) for 10% off admission into any session!
