Important announcement: Jersey Bites readers receive a special $50 discount for the Evening Gala, including the Wine Ed seminar, cocktail hour, and Bruce Lefebvre dinner. $300 for a twosome ticket, $150 for single ticket. That’s a savings of $50 per person. Deadline to get this price is Noon, Friday, September 15.
The Garden State Culinary Arts Foundation Presents “Got Cow?”
“Got Cow?” is a unique event propelled by New Jersey’s top culinary superstars on behalf of The Garden State Culinary Arts Foundation. The event takes place in two parts on Saturday, September 16, 2017, to benefit Oasis TLC Farms, where adults with autism live, work, and study.
Oasis TLC (TLC stands for Therapeutic Life Centers) created its first farm on Sleepy Hollow Road in Middletown. Stroll around the property and you’ll see goats grazing, fields flush with vegetables and fruits, and hens racing around plucking leaves from greens. You’ll also find a wood-burning oven where pizzas and breads are baked, artwork and fine crafts are on display and in progress – and students everywhere, tending to farm chores and practicing the life arts.
What is Oasis?
Oasis is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote inclusion and acceptance of autistic individuals into their local communities by establishing environmentally exemplary farm centers that provide meaningful work, peaceful and healthy residences, and community interaction.
Though this farm’s success is evidenced by the accomplishments of its resident students, it is missing something important: cows for the students to milk.
The kind of cow appropriate for Oasis students is a miniature Jersey cow. Easier to handle than larger standard breeds, the mini Jerseys nonetheless deliver milk aplenty for making not only milk, but butter, cheeses and other cow’s-milk products.
The less common mini Jerseys cost considerably more than standard cows, according to Oasis founder Mai Cleary.
And that’s where the culinary pros come in. In the two-part event presented by The Garden State Culinary Arts Foundation (GSCAF) on Saturday, September 16, the culinarians aim to raise the funds needed to purchase the first cows for Oasis.
“Got Cow?” will feature the talents and products of GSCAF partners:
* Nick Pizzonia, Court Liquors and Court Wine Club, Long Branch; finalist Garden State Culinary Arts Awards (GSCAA) 2017 Outstanding Wine Professional category
* Bruce Lefebvre, The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick; winner GSCAA 2017 Best Restaurant
* Dan Richer, Razza Pizza Artigianale, Jersey City; multiple James Beard Award candidate and nominee GSCAA 2017 Best Chef
* Jonathan and Nina White, Bobolink Dairy and Bakehouse, Milford; finalist GSCAA 2017 Outstanding Food Artisan
* Drew Araneo, Drew’s Bayshore Bistro, Keyport; winner GSCAA 2017 Best Chef
* Russell Lewis and Michael Johannesen, Watermark, Asbury Park; winner GSCAA 2017 Outstanding Spirits Professional
Supporting the culinary professionals are designer Elizabeth England; singer Audra Mariel and guitarist Doug Clarke; artist Sarah Hilton, and the student body of Oasis Farms, who will be staging and staffing both afternoon and evening events.
“Got Cow?” Afternoon Open House
An event for the entire family at Oasis Farm, 89 Sleepy Hollow Road, Middletown; for Google mapping purposes, please use Red Bank in the address.
From 1 to 3:30 p.m.:
* Pizza from the Oasis wood-burning oven made to order by Chef and Pizzaiola Dan Richer of Razza
* Snacks from Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse and Oasis Farms
* Farm tours (at 1:30 p.m. and again at 2:30 p.m.), demonstrations
* Arts and crafts on display
All proceeds go to Oasis Farms.
$25 per adult; $12.50 ages 12 to 18; under 12, free
“Got Cow?” Evening Gala
Wine Seminar, Cocktail Hour, Farm Dinner at the new Oasis Farm, 911 Navesink River Road at the corner of Deep Hollow Drive, Locust; for Google mapping purposes, please use 4 Deep Hollow Drive, Middletown, as the address.
Wine Seminar
6 to 7 p.m. in the upstairs Grand Ballroom (starts promptly at 6 p.m.)
Partnerships in wine and food with Nick Pizzonia of Court (Liquors) Wine Club
and Andy Clurfeld, founder of the Garden State Culinary Arts Foundation and its awards program.
In this conducted tasting, artisan, organic wines will be paired with specially prepared seasoned popcorn from Drew Araneo of Drew’s Bayshore Bistro.
Cocktail Hour
7 to 8 p.m., on the first floor
Oasis cocktail created for “Got Cow?” gala by Russell Lewis and Michael Johannesen of Watermark.
Performance by Audra Mariel and Doug Clarke.
Farm Dinner
8 to 10 p.m., on the first floor
Multi-course dinner featuring produce from Oasis Farms, prepared by Chef Bruce Lefebvre, owner of The Frog and the Peach.
Each course paired with wines selected by Nick Pizzonia and Andy Clurfeld.
All proceeds go to Oasis Farms.
$200 per person; $350 for two
NOTE: Cost for the evening’s events include the wine seminar, cocktail hour and farm dinner. Reservations required. Seating is limited.
To purchase tickets for the “Got Cow?” Afternoon Open House and the “Got Cow?” Evening Gala (which includes the Wine Seminar, Cocktail Hour and Farm Dinner), email Laurie Medoro at lauriemoasis@gmail.com.
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Specify the following: – The event you wish to attend: Afternoon Open House and/or Evening Gala. If attending the Evening Gala, note that you must pre-register for the Wine Seminar, which is included in the cost. – The number of tickets to each you wish to purchase (prices above). – Your contact phone number. Laurie will call or email you to complete your reservation. Questions? Please call Laurie between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 908-601-6363. |
