Event details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm directly before heading out!
THIS WEEKEND:
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 26: The Best of Downtown Jersey City Food Tour takes a group of up to 16 guests to six restaurants in Jersey City every Saturday. In honor of Earth Day, this Saturday is $10 off the regular price of $45 per person. Aside from food tastings, guests get an insider look into how select items are made. The tour is ‘grab-and-go,’ meaning the group hops from one location to the next, sampling the food at award-winning restaurants and meeting locals and tourists. Click here to see available dates and to purchase tickets.
April 26: Kings Food Markets hosts a cooking class with Sara Moulton from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. She will cook up smoked salmon rillettes, open faced zucchini omelets with spicy tomato sauce and feta, falafel salad with creamy garlic dressing, Korean-style burgers and cannoli stuffed strawberries. The class is $100 per person. Call 973-258-4000 with any questions. Kings Food Markets, 778 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills.
April 26 and 27: Six Flags Great Adventure hosts its first-ever Fast Tracks and Food Trucks Festival from 12 to 7 p.m. There will be more than 20 trucks as well as award-winning wines to sample and purchase from seven New Jersey wineries from 1 to 6 p.m. Entrance to the festival is included with theme park admission, wine sampling and food is extra. Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd. Jackson.
AND BEYOND:
April 28 to May 4: The Montclair Film Festival kicks off Monday, April 28, 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 29 to May 1: Chakra Executive Chef Thomas Ciszak puts his spin on some old Chakra favorites for three days only. Each dish will be $20.04 and include selections like coconut shrimp with mango chili sauce, skate wings with fennel, capers and lemon vinaigrette, and short ribs of beef with glazed cipollini onions and mousseline potatoes. Both appetizers and the dark chocolate tartuffo with black Perigord truffle will be served. The full regular menu will be available as well. Also during the anniversary celebration, General Manager and Beverage Director Evelyn Ciszak has will pull some special older wines from the cellar (that would not otherwise be poured by the glass), many from the 2004 vintage, to serve by the glass for $20.04. All wines by the bottle from the 2004 vintage will be 20.04% off. Seating is limited so call 201-556-1530 for a reservation. Chakra, 144 W. Rt 4, Paramus.
April 30: The 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 973-992-4343 or visit the Livingston Chamber of Commerce website. The Westminster Hotel and Strip House Restaurant, 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 in Chatham. Cost is $95 per person with 50% 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. The Grand Café, 42 Washington St, Morristown.
May 4: April 30 marks the one-year anniversary of Escape, and to celebrate, Escape host a casual BBQ with a ton of delicious, a la carte comfort food, prizes and festivities. To reserve a table, call 973-744-0712. Escape Montclair, 345 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair.
May 7: A Toute Heure opens its doors earlier for guests to enjoy a “community hour” menu from Wednesday 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. A Toute Heure, 232 Centennial Ave, Cranford.
May 7: Chef Eric LeVine (Chopped), and Morris Tap & Grill host Savoring the Shore to benefit ongoing New Jersey Shore Sandy recovery efforts. In addition to their regular menu, the evening will feature special dishes and a ‘tap takeover’ by Flying Fish Brewing Company, NJ’s largest craft brewing company. Call 973-891-1776 with any questions. Morris Tap & Grill, 500 New Jersey 10, Randolph.
May 8: Terre à Terre hosts a farm-to-table Spring Foraging Dinner from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Chef Todd Villani and his culinary team have crafted an innovative multi-course dinner inspired by the vibrant flavors of spring. Anthony Bracco of Bracco Farms and Rob Nicolosi of Nicolosi Berkshire Pork will mingle with guests so they can meet their farmers. The dinner is $49 per person for a four-course meal. Terre à Terre, 312 Hackensack St, Carlstadt.
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. Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road,
Titusville.
May 24 to 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. Monmouth Park Racetrack, 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! Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair.
