After shopping for the candy, finding the perfect costumes for the kids, decorating the house and spending the evening dispensing treats, adults goblins with a trick of their own can uncork a bottle of wine with a devilish, ghoulish or scary label to unwind with.
Here are ten spooky Halloween wines to uncork on October 31st:
2012 Charles Smith The Velvet Devil Merlot ($12) – Columbia Valley, Washington.
2010 Bogle Phantom ($14) – Yolo County, California.
2010 7 Deadly Zins ($15) – Central Valley, California.
2012 Ghost Hill Cellars “The Spirit of Pinot Noir” Dry Rosé ($18) – Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Ash Hollow Legends Headless Red NV ($18) – Walla Walla Valley, Washington.
2012 Owen Roe Sinister Hand ($28) – Columbia Valley, Washington.
2010 Twisted Oaks River of Skulls ($39) – Calaveras County, California.
2007 Slaughterhouse Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) – Napa Valley, California.
2011 Black Cat Cabernet Sauvignon ($55) – Napa Valley, California.
Here are some of our favorite New Jersey wine shops selling some of these Halloween wines:
Gary’s Wine – Bernardsville, Madison and Wayne
Heights Beer & Wine Emporium – Hasbrouck Heights
ShopRite Liquors – Rockaway, Lincoln Park
Bottle King – Hillsborough
Buy Rite Liquor – Milltown, Pompton Plains
Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie: Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.
Do you grab a chance to dine on Indian cuisine and tumble into its unique mix of spices and textures whenever you can? Do you love Asian food that’s several steps beyond standard takeout fare? Do you enjoy settling into a quiet table with subtle but lush décor catching your eye from every angle? Do you like a wildly lovely cocktail served in a bar so dark and mysterious that the bartender shines a miniature light into your glass to demonstrate the color of your libation before delivering it into your eager hands?
If your answers to the above are yes, yes, yes, and take me there now, you’ll certainly enjoy the array of options offered by the Mehtani Restaurant Group. With properties in Morristown and Edison, there is much to explore. Here are 23 reasons to consider doing so:
1. Mehndi, housed in Morristown’s Headquarters Plaza, serves authentic Punjabi and Mughalai dishes that range from classic tandooris and biryanis to modern creations like Paneer ke Sholay, which combines homemade Indian cottage cheese (baked rather than fried) celery, carrot, and cabbage stuffing.
2. Six varieties of naan include rosemary naan, a chili-inflected paneer naan, and a deliciously seed-packed masala naan. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
3. The restaurant is gorgeous, balancing spaciousness with an intimate feel. Admire the traditional elements paired with modern textures, and gaze up to enjoy the 23 cream-colored Murano glass chandeliers that give the room its warm feel.
4. A henna tattoo artist offers complimentary temporary adornment to patrons every Friday and Saturday throughout dinner.
Henna tattoos provided by an on-site artist at Mehndi. Photo (c) Igor Alovert, 2013
5. Mehndi offers a lunch buffet that lets you sample a range of delicious dishes.
6. Ming II, also in Headquarters Plaza, offers “reinvented” pan-Asian cuisine, drawing from Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, and other Eastern influences. Curry, garlic, chili, hoisin, ginger, sesame, coconut, and soy are everywhere on the menu of small plates, soups, salads, entrees, and noodle dishes.
7. The menu combines classic dishes like Pad Thai, MaPo Tofu, and Chinese Fried Shrimp with inventive new ones like Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger, Sliced Lamb Massaman, and Eggplant, Potato, and Beans with Red Curry.
8. Stepping inside this restaurant is like sliding into a smooth wooden cave. Soothingly quiet and gently lit, it’s a modern twist on the typical crowd-filled Chinese restaurant.
9. A daily lunch special at Ming II is geared toward the office lunch-break crowd, offering an appetizer, entrée, and accompaniment served without delay for $15.
10. Between Mehndi and Ming II, and servicing each, is SM23 Bar & Lounge. If you haven’t been to SM23 before, stop now and check out the photos on their site.
11. The head bartender is brilliant. Knowledgeable, engaging, and talented. Peruse the cocktail menu and enjoy something truly different – but ask for an explanation first. Listening to the enthusiastic description is half the fun.
12. Need privacy for a tête-à-tête? SM23 is the answer. It’s like the physical embodiment of a secret.
13. The menu here offers small plates from Mehndi and Ming II so you can make an evening of it if you don’t care to give up your shadowy hideaway.
14. Cocktail selections change with the seasons, but signature drinks made with all fresh ingredients include Grilled Pineapple & Cracked Pepper Martini, SM23Bellini; Pink Grapefruit Mojito made with Ten Cane rum, and Mint & Ginger (Farmer’s gin, fresh mint, ginger beer, lime juice, simple syrup). An extensive wine list, draft beer, sake, and spirits are also available.
15. Parking is validated for the Headquarters Plaza lot when visiting any of the three venues here. ““
16. The Mehtani Group’s presence in Edison is equally impressive, having served as the starting point in New Jersey for the family-owned venture. Moghul, serving classic Northern Indian cuisine, opened on Oak Tree Road in 1991 as a spin-off from its namesake location in NYC.
17. Ming, offering Far Eastern/Asian fusion, both inspired its Morristown counterpart and yielded its outstanding chef, Michael Chu.
18. A completely different atmosphere than Ming II, Ming is open, bright, and visually enticing with antique kimonos mounted as artwork.
19. Moghul’s menu of traditional Indian food requires multiple visits to try it all. Slow-cooked meats, marvelous spices, beautifully crafted rice dishes, fresh breads, and fragrant tea. Go ahead, try to stop eating.
20. Mirage is the company’s private banquet hall that can host weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and more, with dinner seating for 450 or cocktails for up to 750 guests in its 7,000-square-foot ballroom. It features a marble dance floor, projectors, drop-down screens, and wi-fi access. Catering from any of the Mehtani Group’s restaurants is available, and outside catering is allowed if preferred.
21. Sneh Mehtani, the trailblazing founder of this regional empire, was named Restaurateur of the Year in 2013 by the New Jersey Restaurant Association. She is the first Asian to win the award.
22. Mrs. Mehtani, in partnership with her husband, Satish Mehtani, has shared the success of the family business by supporting Jersey Battered Women’s Service; Manavi, the Women’s Rehabilitation Group; and the International Mission of Mercy, founded by Mr. Mehtani.
23. Shaun Mehtani, trained since childhood by his parents’ example, conceptualized and brought to life the entire Morristown project at age 23. Today, he is managing director of the group and promises a refined, eclectic, and delicious experience at any of the Mehtani locations. He is a very gracious host and will gladly recount the company’s history, the menu’s highlights, the allure of henna tattoos, or any details you wish to inquire of him. Be sure to ask after his lucky number while you’re at it.
Deanna Quinones is the Jersey Bites Regional Editor for Morris County. A freelance writer, blogger, and unrepentant chocolate addict, Deanna spent 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area where life was good and the burritos even better. She recently returned to the Garden State and now resides in Morristown, where she and her Texas-born/Jersey-raised/California-found husband are raising two wild and wonderful kids. An experienced book marketer, award-winning greeting card writer, and entertainment writing dabbler, Deanna can be reached at [email protected]. (photo credit Pete Genovese/The Star-Ledger)
Held on Crystal Springs’ own organic farm in partnership with the Sparta Famer’s Market, the Harvest Festival will welcome more than 35 local farmersand producers with everything from fruit and vegetables to handicrafts to artisanal cheese and meats. Shoppers can pick up fresh produce from Rogowski Farm in Pine Island, NY, mangalitsa pork from Mosefund Farm, poultry from Churatabis Farm, artisan cheese from Calkins Creamery, Crystal Spring’s own wild thyme honey produced by bees living on the farm and much more. Local wineryVentimiglia Vineyards will be on hand pouring tastes of their wines.
Chefs from Crystal Springs will fire up the grill and serve a variety of Fossil Farm sausages (smoked duck, venison, chicken apple) and burgers, including Mangalitsa pig, lamb and grass-fed beef, Rifle Ranch lamb on a spit, smoked turkey legs, bbq pulled pork sandwiches, grilled “pick your own corn,” and more. For the full Menu: http://www.crystalgolfresort.com/images/pdf/HarvestFestivalFood.pdf)
Fun fall activities for the entire family ages will include pumpkin picking and painting, pony rides, hay rides and a petting zoo. Live bands will play throughout the day. Admission is free.
October 12th, Unionville VineyardsFall Harvest Festival will be their biggest and best festival yet, with more areas to taste wine and food, two exciting regional rock’n’roll talents, new demonstrations and pairing classes, the return of the grape stomp, opportunities to interact with the winemakers, and plenty to keep kids of all ages happy and interested. Tickets available at www.unionvillevineyards.com/fallfestival
October 12th: Point Pleasant Beach Chowder Fest. Located on Inlet Drive overlooking our beautiful Manasquan Inlet from 12-6pm. Food, Live Music, Beer Garden, Arts & Crafts, and of course Chowda! Rain Date 10/13/2013. For more Information 732-899-2424. Presented by The Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce.
October 12th: Kirby’s Mill Apple Festival 275 Church Road Medford 9 to 4- fresh apple cider donuts while you wait:
October 17th: Cru vs. Brew is the brainchild of Sharon Sevrens and Amanti Vino (her acclaimed boutique wine, spirits and craft brew store). Present at the event: three superstars of the wine + beer world: Robert Sinskey, Steve Matthiasson, and Garrett Oliver. The 5-course menu is from Ariane Duarte of CulinAriane. Best of all? It’s a benefit for Intensive Therapeutics, a Scotch Plains, NJ nonprofit organization that provides occupational therapy services to children with special needs.
October 17th: “A Taste of the Good Life” Food and Wine Tasting Featuring more than 20 restaurants from Hudson, Essex and Passaic Counties At the People Who Make a Difference Gala Celebrating Planned Parenthood of New Jersey’s 85th Anniversary Gala from 6-9 pm At the Newark Museum. For more information on purchasing tickets, check out their Facebook event page.
October 19th & 20th: The Chili & Beer Challenge at the Last Fling Pumpkin Sling After all that slingin’, you’re likely to be hungry and thirsty. Here’s the perfect event to whet your whistle and your appetite – the Chili & Beer Challenge. This friendly competition offers those inspired to cook with savor and spice, or brew lagers, ales, wheats and ryes a chance to shine. And those wanting to do more than just savor the flavors, you’ll be able to get into the action by sampling the offerings and then helping to select the “People’s Choice” winners.
October 19th & 20th: Chatsworth Cranberry Festival. The Cranberry Festival is a celebration of New Jersey’s cranberry harvest, the 3rd largest in the United States, and offers a tribute to the Pine Barrens & Local Culture. The main attraction is the diverse showing of many artists & craftsmen, some of which will also be demonstrating their crafts as well as displaying them for sale. Admission to the festival is FREE.
October 24th: An Evening of Hot Chili & Cool Brew at the Newark Museum Taste the finest local, domestic and international beers from more than 25 breweries and sample 12 varieties of meat and vegetarian chili, along with other delicious treats. For a donation of $125 (Pint Level Individual Sponsorship) or $50 for a general admission (all but $15 of each ticket is tax deductible), guests can sample unlimited beers and chili, hot dogs, cornbread and desserts. Participants will have exclusive access to the historic Ballantine House – once home of the famed beer and ale brewing family – and the exhibition Ming to Modern: Elevating the Everyday in Chinese Art. Tickets (restricted to purchasers 21 and older) may be purchased by calling (973) 596-6559; visitingnewarkmuseum.org
October 26th: Fall Foodtruck Festival at Raceway Park. Monster trucks, drag races, BMX exhibitions, classic cars, boulder climbing, live entertainment, and of course FOOD TRUCKS in Englishtown, NJ!
October 28th:Signature Chefs Auction Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club, 20 Shore Oaks Drive, Farmingdale. Bring together top local chefs showcasing their culinary masterpieces, a generous sampling of fine wines and spirits, fabulous entertainment and a lively auction featuring one-of-a-kind packages, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for a Signature Chefs Auction. This event, which helps raise much needed revenue for the March of Dimes, pays tribute to the culinary excellence of local chefs and caterers in the Central Jersey area.
November 18th: Jersey Bites Presents Forks & Corks to benefit the Algonquin Arts Theatre at the Mill, Spring Lake Heights from 6 to 9pm. This event will showcase deliciously diverse cuisine from the area’s most popular restaurants along with a cast of renowned wines and beers. $65 per person. Entertainment: The Paul Marino Band Dress: Business Attire Sponsorship Opportunities contact Teresa Staub Development Director, 732-528-4336or [email protected]
It’s part lesson in engineering, part fall harvest celebration, and part crazy fun. And, unfortunately, we cannot say that no pumpkins will be hurt during this event.
But what the hay! It’s the last Fling of the harvest season for many of our farmers. Pumpkins, apples, hay mazes are all coming to an end and farmers will soon start preparing for the Christmas season. But not before some pumpkins get airborne!!! Oh, and this event comes with an official warning “Spectators and participants should always watch for flying pumpkins, and enter or participate at own risk.” Ooooh, gotta love an event with an inherent risk factor.
While watching pumpkins fly is way cool, it’s not the only fun to be had. Clucas Farms West (who donates the pumpkins for slinging) will have a variety of pumpkins at their tent to cook, along with information on storage, preparation and a lot of great recipes. Ask Tammie for her tips on Planting, Picking, and Freezing.
Broadway United Methodist Church will have a booth serving all things pumpkin – Pumpkin Coffee, Cookies, Pies and more.
Lots of craft vendors. Time to start shopping for Christmas!
This year the Pumpkin sling will also feature its first ever Beer Challeng on October 19. Home brewers can submit their entries in 4 different categories and win prize money. Click here to access the rules and form for entry.
Attendees will have the opportunity to sample beers from East Coast Brewery Company who will be serving their Beach Haus Pils and Cruiser IPA, 3 Beards Brewery with their Black Lager, and Lakefront Brewerywill be serving their IPA, Fix Grear red Ale, and their New Grist Gulten Free
Guests can purchase a six pack of tickets for tasting this includes six tickets to use forthe beer tasting (21 years plus) – each six pack costs $4.00 ( one six pack equals 1 beer).
And, remember, eyes in the sky people – eyes in the sky!
Órale Mexican Kitchen offers fresh, elevated Mexican cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients, exclusively. Owners Louis Alvarez and Alex Mendelsohn, former executives with Rosa Mexicano Restaurants, bring a new level of vibrancy to a Jersey City neighborhood already studded with culinary jewels.
Guacamole Trio
Órale’s Consulting Chef, James Muir, has crafted a menu that’s both traditional Mexican and New Jersey fresh with its ingredients. Muir, who’s worked in the United States and Europe with world renowned chefs like Alain Ducasse, now owns his own catering company and not only consults on the Órale menu, but offers guidance in the kitchen.
One the evening we visited, a Friday night, the front doors, spanning the width of the restaurant, were completely open providing a perfect vantage point from which to take all the action at Órale. Before entering the place, we knew it was going to be a fun evening.
Dining Room
The spacious bar is situated at the entrance of the restaurant and it was busy with the happy hour crowd from nearby businesses. Classic Margaritas range from $7 to $13 and I had the pleasure of trying a frozen strawberry special of the evening and the Aumentar ($8) made with 1800 Silver, lemon, lime and agave. I don’t typically veer away from the classic, on-the-rocks with salt version, but the fun frozen special with muddled strawberries was also nice. Beyond the Tequila being used in mixed cocktails, Órale offers an extensive portfolio of ‘sipping’ Tequilas that dwarfs other lists I’ve seen in the area. For the designated drivers, there are specialty homemade sodas, daily Aguas Frescas and real Mexican Coca Cola and Sprite.
Tacos al Pastor
At the suggestion of our friendly and helpful waiter, we selected the Trio of Guacamole ($12), the Tuna Tacos ($12) and the Al Pastor Tacos ($9). There are six different guacamoles to select from for the trio and one sounds better than the next. We opted for the Blue Demon – Cabrales Blue Cheese, Toasted Pepitas, the Mananitas – Guajillo Shrimp and the El Bombero – Chipotle, Chile de Arbol. I love guacamole with blue cheese in it so my favorite by a slight advantage was the Blue Demon. The shrimp topping the Mananitas was perfectly cooked and flavorful and the perfect level of heat on the El Bombero made us dip for more. The tuna in the taco is sashimi grade and served raw with a pear chili slaw, pumpkin pesto and cilantro then served in a crisp leaf of iceberg lettuce in lieu of a tortilla. The Al Pastor was outstanding with tender marinated roasted pork and topped with caramelized pineapple, Chile de Arbol and cilantro. I could make a meal out of a couple orders of those A Pastor tacos – delectable.
Tuna Tacos
Since we’d loaded up on amazing starters, we opted to share one entrée, the Dinosaurio ($24) – Ancho Chipotle Marinated Bone-In Short Rib grilled with Tamal de Olla and a tomatillo chipotle compote. The massive piece of meat is sliced and presented on the bone for easy serving. The dish is served over Tamal de Olla which is what I’d equate as typical tamale ‘filling’ baked in a dish then spooned much like mashed potatoes would, but super flavorful. That delicious concoction topped with the smoky tomatillo compote somewhat eclipsed the meat in this dish.
Short Rib
As if our party saved room for dessert, we were presented with two fabulous desserts, Vanilla Flan and Tres Leches -one of my favorite desserts. The flan is served with Cajeta sauce and whipped cream. It’s velvety smooth and the caramel sauce is a true indulgence. The three milks cake is melt-in-your-mouth and served with a strawberry sauce and whipped cream. All the desserts are $6.
Some of the house specialties I’ll be sure to try on my next visit are the Taco Machin – roasted bone marrow topped with crispy pork belly and shredded cabbage and to end things on a sweet note, the Morenitas – three freshly-baked Mexican pecan brownies.
Late Night Happy Hour – Tuesday – Saturday: 9:30PM – Close.
Cheers,
Veronique Deblois is a food and wine blogger based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.
If you are a cookware junkie like I am, you are going to love this Giveaway and the upcoming Sale at Emile Henry’s New Castle, Delaware location. From now until Thursday, Oct. 10th, we are going to be running this exciting Giveaway, for not 1 prize but 5.
Several weeks ago, I visited Maryanne Pastry Shoppe. While Maryanne’s has been in the bakery business for almost 70 years, this corner store is new to Stone Harbor and is “shore” serving up some great treats.
Maryanne’s is already known in towns such as Sea Isle, NJ and Doylestown, PA but was a new summer delight for Cape May County. Enjoyed by residents, visitors and employees of this quaint seashore town, Maryanne’s is starting to appear on everyone’s “must stop in” list.
Maryanne’s makes their cakes daily with all baking being done in Sea Isle. They then bring the cakes to the Stone Harbor location for decorating. Maryanne’s makes everything from scratch and takes great pride in their quality donuts, cakes, and flavored coffee bar.
Rachel Pacifico who works in Stone Harbor shared, “I love the family atmosphere and the pride and quality that each and every customer gets to see in their baked goods. My favorite part of the day is seeing the returning customers enjoy their favorite breakfast treats.”
They make famous sticky buns and traditional bakery items that can be hard to find in every day bakeries. Trolley buns and butter cake are customer favorites. Anyone who has stopped into Maryanne’s is sure to have made some wonderful, tasty memories this summer season.
108 44th St Sea Isle City, NJ 08243
499 East Street, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
9501 Third Ave. Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
Elizabeth Norton is the Jersey Bites Regional Editor for Cape May County and is a Jersey lover at heart. She loves Jersey Products, Jersey People, and Jersey Food. She runs a digital network for online moms who live in, you guessed it, New Jersey. She is a baker and sweet connoisseur and is on a personal mission to find the best place to eat brunch at the Jersey Shore. Her mantra is “Keep the Kitchen Clean. Eat Out!” She loves a good party and loves being a mom of 3. Her favorite night of the week is date night where her and her husband take turns trying out the newest restaurants Jersey has to offer.
The popular food truck, The Taco Truck, has opened a store-front restaurant in the heart of Morristown. The environmentally-friendly brand founded in 2009 has seen significant growth with trucks now in Jersey City, Newark and Boston, a kiosk at Manhattan’s The High Line and another store-front in Hoboken (LEED-Certified). Since I’ve yet to find a decent taqueria-style taco in Morris County, I was thrilled to read about The Taco Truck making its way west.
Chilaquiles El Guero
Morristown’s flagship store seats 70 guests and there are plans for an outdoor sitting area accommodating 40 additional taco fans. The look and feel of the place is reminiscent of an outdoor food truck with two windows for ordering and picking up complete with the flipped doors much like a typical truck would have. There’s a wall of recycled skateboards, fun signs, counter and table seating, large screen televisions and an environmentally-conscious garbage and recycling area. The Taco Truck features biodegradable materials, trash composting and water-conserving bathrooms and rainwater collection system for plant watering. The space put a smile on our faces.
Ordering Windows
During a recent visit, I was pleased to learn that the food is locally-sourced and organic. We walked up to the curved “truck” ordering window and ordered what felt like one of each of the menu items. The staff member taking our order was courteous, professional and explained our wait for the food would be 5 – 10 minutes. With that clear timeframe in mind, we made our way in the dining area with our drinks to wait. There is so much to take in within the dining room that the 5 or so minutes flew by.
Skateboard Wall
We ordered the Chilaquiles El Guero ($7), Taco Pescado ($5), Tacos Al Pastor ($6.75) and the Torta Carnitas Michoacan ($6.50). The Chilaquiles are The Taco Truck’s version of elevated nachos and we ordered the dish at the recommendation of the staff member who assisted us. The shareable portion is served in a metal bowl and at first, looked more like a salad than nachos. As we dug into the crisp lettuce and crema topping, we found flavorful Guajillo grilled chicken, black beans, Queso Cotija and crisp corn chips. It’s a fun and tasty dish that we’ll order again. We love fish tacos and the Pescado with its crispy catfish, red cabbage, Mexican tartare sauce and pico de gallo is a nice rendition. The Tacos Al Pastor feature the marinated pork we often crave, and are adorned with sweet pineapple. Combined with a generous topping of fresh cilantro and green salsa, these are the tacos one “requires” after a long night of over-indulging (the place closes at 2AM on the weekends). The item we feel felt short was the Torta. The ratio of slow-braised sweet pork to bread was just off and we ended up removing the top bun to eat the filling with a fork. Great flavors, just too much bread.
Taco Pescado
We’ll be coming back to The Taco Truck for flavorful, fresh tacos and accompaniments. There’s even ‘real’ Mexican Coca Cola!
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11am to 10pm (Delivery 11am to 10pm). Friday – Saturday: 11am to 2am (Delivery: 11am to 11pm).
Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie: Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.
October 5th & 6th: LBI Chowderfest – 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of the annual LBI Chowderfest. There will be unlimited chowder tasting, live music, a food court, a merchant market, and beautiful views of the bay! General admission tickets are $20 ($10 for kids) and may be purchased online.
October 6 to 10th: (201) Restaurant Week planned for Oct. 6 to 10 and again Oct. 13 to 17, 2013. This year, 46 participating restaurants spanning four counties will offer a three-course prix fixé menu ($12.95 to $19.95 for lunch and $19.95 to $39.95 for dinner). See the complete list of participating restaurants at bergen.com/restaurantweek. To purchase tickets to DISH, visit bergen.com/dish.
AND BEYOND:
October 9th: Escape Montclair – Holds its first co-hosted farm-to-table dinner benefiting the Cancer Center at Morristown Medical Center. Joining Chef Bryan Gregg in the kitchen is Michael Weisshaupt. Bracco Farms and Heights Beer & Wine Emporium also part of the event – just a few seats left! http://on.fb.me/17DMvKt
October 12th, Unionville VineyardsFall Harvest Festival will be their biggest and best festival yet, with more areas to taste wine and food, two exciting regional rock’n’roll talents, new demonstrations and pairing classes, the return of the grape stomp, opportunities to interact with the winemakers, and plenty to keep kids of all ages happy and interested. Tickets available at www.unionvillevineyards.com/fallfestival
October 12th: Point Pleasant Beach Chowder Fest. Located on Inlet Drive overlooking our beautiful Manasquan Inlet from 12-6pm. Food, Live Music, Beer Garden, Arts & Crafts, and of course Chowda! Rain Date 10/13/2013. For more Information 732-899-2424. Presented by The Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce.
October 17th: “A Taste of the Good Life” Food and Wine Tasting Featuring more than 20 restaurants from Hudson, Essex and Passaic Counties At the People Who Make a Difference Gala Celebrating Planned Parenthood of New Jersey’s 85th Anniversary Gala from 6-9 pm At the Newark Museum. For more information on purchasing tickets, check out their Facebook event page. https://www.facebook.com/events/601130886586217/
October 19th & 20th: The Chili & Beer Challenge at the Last Fling Pumpkin Sling After all that slingin’, you’re likely to be hungry and thirsty. Here’s the perfect event to whet your whistle and your appetite – the Chili & Beer Challenge. This friendly competition offers those inspired to cook with savor and spice, or brew lagers, ales, wheats and ryes a chance to shine. And those wanting to do more than just savor the flavors, you’ll be able to get into the action by sampling the offerings and then helping to select the “People’s Choice” winners.
October 24th: An Evening of Hot Chili & Cool Brew at the Newark Museum Taste the finest local, domestic and international beers from more than 25 breweries and sample 12 varieties of meat and vegetarian chili, along with other delicious treats. For a donation of $125 (Pint Level Individual Sponsorship) or $50 for a general admission (all but $15 of each ticket is tax deductible), guests can sample unlimited beers and chili, hot dogs, cornbread and desserts. Participants will have exclusive access to the historic Ballantine House – once home of the famed beer and ale brewing family – and the exhibition Ming to Modern: Elevating the Everyday in Chinese Art. Tickets (restricted to purchasers 21 and older) may be purchased by calling (973) 596-6559; visitingnewarkmuseum.org
October 26th: Fall Foodtruck Festival at Raceway Park. Monster trucks, drag races, BMX exhibitions, classic cars, boulder climbing, live entertainment, and of course FOOD TRUCKS in Englishtown, NJ!
October 28th:Signature Chefs Auction Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club, 20 Shore Oaks Drive, Farmingdale. Bring together top local chefs showcasing their culinary masterpieces, a generous sampling of fine wines and spirits, fabulous entertainment and a lively auction featuring one-of-a-kind packages, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for a Signature Chefs Auction. This event, which helps raise much needed revenue for the March of Dimes, pays tribute to the culinary excellence of local chefs and caterers in the Central Jersey area.
November 18th: Jersey Bites Presents Forks & Corks to benefit the Algonquin Arts Theatre at the Mill, Spring Lake Heights from 6 to 9pm. This event will showcase deliciously diverse cuisine from the area’s most popular restaurants along with a cast of renowned wines and beers. $65 per person. Entertainment: The Paul Marino Band Dress: Business Attire Sponsorship Opportunities contact Teresa Staub Development Director, 732-528-4336or [email protected]
From the typical neighborhood diner to the upscale fine dining establishments, it’s clear there’s a movement towards creating the very best burger among the Garden State’s cook and chefs.
We’ve done our share of burger munching and here are some of the best the state has to offer.
Down to the Bone Barbecue & Company – 172 Lackawanna Drive, Byram, NJ. (973) 347-2663. www.downtothebonebarbecuecompany.com
The Bone! ($24) – Two 1-lb. burgers, 5 pieces of cheddar, Monterey Jack and Swiss cheese, 5 pieces of thick-cut bacon, fried onion straws, brioche bun, served with an oversized bowl of chili-cheese fries and coleslaw.
The One ($14) – 10-ounce Burger, White Sharp Cheddar, Caramelized Onion.
Pilsener Haus – 1422 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ. (201) 683-5465. www.pilsenerhaus.com
Sterling Beef Burger ($10) – Lettuce, tomato, onions with fries or salad.
VB3 Burger
Rare The Steak House – 440 Main Street, Little Falls, NJ. (973) 256-6699. www.rarestk.com
10 oz. Prime Beef Burger ($10) – Prime beef, frizzled onions, fried jalapeno, cheddar cheese, chipotle mayo, ketchup, lettuce, tomato on brioche bun. Served with rare fries.
Rob’s Bistro – 75 Main Street, Madison, NJ. (973-377-0067). www.robsbistro.com
Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie: Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.
Fifty million people in the U.S.—one in four children—don’t know where their next meal is coming from. And that’s why Directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush created the film “A Place at the Table.” It is also why her husband, Tom Colicchio, Chef and restaurateur and Governor Christie, sat down with Today Show co-host, Willie Geist, yesterday to talk about hunger in New Jersey at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank.
As you may know, I am a passionate advocate for hunger relief. I’m the one taking notes and pictures at these events, embarrassingly wiping tears on my sleeve.
Daily living after hurricane Sandy was the first time I actually worried about where we were going to find food for the day. And, I can remember how all-consuming that was. I can’t imagine feeling that way on a regular basis. Evidently fifty million people do.
The event started with an all-woman panel who are recipients of some form of State or Federal assistance. Their stories were sad, and hard to hear, and more people need to hear them. The woman who was told her 10 year old car was worth $2000, so she doesn’t qualify for benefits. The American Vet who now can’t drive or work, is caring for her 6 year old with double kidney failure and is finding very little help. The single mom with five kids who is working full time as an OR nurse and relies on food assistance while her house is being embarrassingly on. These are the real faces of hunger in our community.
As Kathleen DiChiara the Founder of the Community Foodbank of New Jersey said in her opening remarks. We on the front lines see who is coming for assistance, many are the working poor.
Obviously, no solutions to the hunger crisis were developed during these few hours but the education that the audience received was a big start. I think we all need to remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the very bottom of the pyramid is food security. It is our most basic need. We all need this very basic need met, in order to focus on developing as humans and contributing to society. It is incredibly shortsighted to believe that it is their problem, not our problem.
If you get the opportunity, please watch A Place at the Table and share it with as many people as you can.
To volunteer or donate to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, The Community Foodbank of New Jersey or the Foodbank of South Jersey or a local pantry just follow the links. We must urge lawmakers to continue to fund the SNAP program (formerly food stamps) and urge businesses to start getting involved. It will take all of us, Government, Non-profit and businesses to put an end to hunger and move our society to the next level.
Deborah Smith , Founder and Executive Editor of jerseybites.com. Launched in 2007 as a home for her growing collection of recipes, Jersey Bites soon grew into a hub for all things edible in the Garden State. In her spare time, (Ha) she works as a Social Media consultant and speaker. You can learn more about her services and marketing through social media on her blog www.DeborahLSmith.com
Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie: Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.
Several weeks ago, I visited Maryanne Pastry Shoppe. While Maryanne’s has been in the bakery business for almost 70 years, this corner store is new to Stone Harbor and is “shore” serving up some great treats.
Rachel Pacifico who works in Stone Harbor shared, “I love the family atmosphere and the pride and quality that each and every customer gets to see in their baked goods. My favorite part of the day is seeing the returning customers enjoy their favorite breakfast treats.”
