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Foodie Things to Do This Weekend and Beyond

THIS WEEKEND:

October 12thUnionville Vineyards Fall 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 13thCrystal Springs Resort will host its first Harvest Festival at Green Valley Farms at Crystal Springs. Held on Crystal Springs’ own organic farm in partnership with the Sparta Famer’s Market, the Harvest Festival will welcome more than 35 local farmers and producers with everything from fruit and vegetables to handicrafts to artisanal cheese and meats. http://crystalgolfresort.com/About/HarvestFestival.aspx?src=flash for more details. (135 Route 94, Vernon, NJ).- 11AM – 4PM

AND BEYOND:

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.

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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 FestivalThe 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.

Forks & Corks to benefit the Algonquin Arts TheartreNovember 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]

http://njenvironmentnews.com/2013/09/19/farm-table-dinner-benefit-hunterdon-land-trust/

Pumpkins, Chili and Beer at Annual Pumpkin Fling

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.

DSCN1248While 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.

applesBroadway 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.

Pumpkin Sling Warren County NJAttendees 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 Brewery will 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!

Last Fling Pumpkin Sling

538 Montana Road, Harmony Twp., NJ

 Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Admission For General Public:
Adults: $6
Children 5-12: $4
Children 4 & Under: Free
Parking: $2 per car

Orale Mexican Kitchen – A Jersey City Fiesta

 

Strawberry Margarita
Strawberry Margarita

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
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
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
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
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
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.

Flan
Flan

341 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ. 201-333-0001.

Monday: Closed, Tuesday-Thursday 12PM-10PM, Friday-Saturday: 12PM-11PM, Sunday: 12PM-9PM

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.

Emile Henry Warehouse Sale & Giveaway

Emile Henry Warehouse SaleIf 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.

AMBI LE PAIN_001*Bread Cloche by Emile Henry

*Steam Case by Lekue

*Msteel fry pan by Mauviel

*Rosle 12″ tongs

*Duralex 3 PC square bowl set

Click on Over to Jersey Bites’ Facebook page to Enter.

Learn more about Emile Henry products on their Facebook page.

Maryanne Pastry Shoppe: New to Stone Harbor

Maryanne Pastry ShoppeSeveral 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.

Maryanne Pastry Shoppe rolls and danishRachel 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 NortonElizabeth 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 Taco Truck – The Truck-to-Mortar Restaurant

Tacos Al Pastor
Tacos Al Pastor

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
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
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
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
Taco Pescado

We’ll be coming back to The Taco Truck for flavorful, fresh tacos and accompaniments. There’s even ‘real’ Mexican Coca Cola!

50 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ 07960. 862-260-9300.

Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11am to 10pm (Delivery 11am to 10pm). Friday – Saturday: 11am to 2am (Delivery: 11am to 11pm).

Veronique DebloisFood & 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.

Foodie Things to Do This Weekend and Beyond

THIS WEEKEND:

October 5th & 6thLBI 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 9thEscape 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 12thUnionville Vineyards Fall 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/

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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.

Forks & Corks to benefit the Algonquin Arts TheartreNovember 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]

http://njenvironmentnews.com/2013/09/19/farm-table-dinner-benefit-hunterdon-land-trust/

10 Top (Over the Top) New Jersey Burgers

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.

Agricola – 11 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ. (609) 921-2798. www.agricolaeatery.com

Agricola Beef Burger ($14) – Toasted potato bun, aioli, highway one cheese, house-made pickles, hand-cut potato fries, red beet ketchup (brunch only).

Next Door The One
Next Door The One

Bin 14 – 1314 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ. (201) 963-9463. www.bin14.com 

Bin 14 Burger ($15) – Roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella and pancetta on a toasted brioche bun (for Lunch or Brunch).

Crystal Tavern at Crystal Springs Resort – Three Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, NJ. (973) 827-5996. www.crystalgolfresort.com

American Kobe Beef Burger ($19) – Brie Cheese, Truffle Aioli, Arugula, Caramelized Onions, Steak Sauce.

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.

Morris Tap & Grill Baconeator
Morris Tap & Grill Baconeator

Escape – 345 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ (973-744-0712).  www.escapemontclair.com

EM Burger ($11) – Local Cheddar, Bacon Onion Jam on a house-made bun. Add $15 and get a sizable slice of foie gras on the burger.

Kobe Burger Crystal Tavern
Kobe Burger Crystal Tavern

Morris Tap & Grill – 500 Route 10 West, Randolph, NJ. (973-891-8776). www.morristapandgrill.com

MTG Baconeator ($16.00) – Triple Grind Burger, Applewood Bacon, Onion Marmalade, Crumbled Blue Cheese on Brioche.

Next Door – 556 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ. (973-744-3600). www.restaurantblu.com/nextdoor

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
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

Rob’s Bistro Burger ($14) – Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Brie and Roasted Garlic Aioli.

VB3 – 475 Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ. (201-420-4823). http://vb3restaurant.com

VB3 Burger ($13) – Applewood Smoked Bacon, Provolone, Egg, Ramp Aioli and Herbed Fries.

Veronique DebloisFood & 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.

A Talk on Hunger with Governor Christie

Gov Christie panel discussionFifty 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.

panel of photographersThe 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, Executive Editor jerseybites.comDeborah 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

Meatless Monday and A Shot of Liquid Sunshine

Juicing has become all the rage recently, but it has been around for a long time. Most people associate the juicing movement to the Hippie Generation of the 60’s and 70’s. Juicing is mentioned in biblical times in the Dead Sea Scrolls and is practiced in Ayurvedic medicine for it’s  restorative properties. Wheatgrass is like the mother of all juice. It’s because of the high level of chlorophyll who’s green pigment harnesses the sun’s energy. The grass is harvested young when the nutrients and minerals such as selenium, phosphorus, manganese and chlorophyll are at their peak. One to two ounces can cost you anywhere from $3 to $5 dollars at a juice bar!

wheatgrass packageTo make a glass it takes about two bunches, sold at places like Whole Foods and other markets that carry organic produce or you can grow your own. You add pure water to the green liquid gold after you juice. You can use a Vitamix style blender or a masticator juicer that separates the fiber, which is inedible to humans. Although I have heard of the fiber being added to other foods and eaten. A shot of 2 ounces a day is a great way to start incorporating this wonderful tonic to your diet. It is a detoxifier as well and helps the body cleanse.  The taste is fresh and somewhat sweet and can be combined with other greens and fruit to create an antioxidant power smoothie too. Juicing is a powerful way to have your veggies and fruit and your body will thank you for it!

Juicer Don’t take my word for it, check out some books on juicing like the Juicing Bible and search the internet for legitimate juicing sites for more in depth recipes and information. There is even a documentary called Fat, Sick and Almost Dead. Powerful! Not to mention it all tastes great and you can adjust it to your own tastebuds!

Ingredients

2 bunches of wheatgrass

1  4 ounce glass of pure water

1 cheesecloth or nut bag or stocking filter

Juicer

Cutting wheatgrassDirections

Cut the wheatgrass into a bowl and add to your juicer till liquid. Use filter on glass to remove fiber. Add the pure water and drink up! Next time you can add any number of green veggies like kale or spinach and some carrots and maybe an apple, well you get the idea!

Michele Errichetti is from South Jersey born and fed. She comes from an Italian family where they eat, live, and breathe FOOD. Michele was cooking and eating under her grandmom’s feet every Sunday for “gravy” and at home with her mother (a Medigan or American) during the week. Nowadays, she cooks for her two sons, husband, and father most days of the week. She takes “Girl Road Trips” with her friends at least once a month that always culminate with you guessed it, FOOD. She hopes fresh, local, organic, and free range will become the norm. Michele is searching Atlantic County for everything that has anything to do with good food and she’s taking you along for the ride.

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A Night of Forks & Corks for the Algonquin Theatre

Chef Michael Thompson of Chef Michael's CafeThis is the first in a weekly series of posts about the participants of Forks & Corks to benefit the Algonquin Arts Theater in Manasquan on November 18th. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to sample artful dishes from area restaurants as you sip a delightful array of premiere wines, beers and inventive cocktails from local distributors. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 732-528-9211 or at algonquinarts.org.

We are so excited and honored to be sponsoring the upcoming Forks & Corks event that we wanted to tell you a little bit about the amazing chefs, food and beveridges you will have the opportunity to sample during this 3 hour event.

Chef Michael’s Cafe. California native, Chef Michael Thompson has been cooking for over 28 years. Starting his education at The California Culinary Academy, he has had the good fortune to work in some of San Francisco’s most legendary restaurants including Stars, La Folie, and MASAS. He has also traveled to Europe, India, and Trinidad to learn how to incorporate native spices and traditional techniques into his culinary palette. Since relocating to the Jersey Shore in 2005, Chef Michael has worked as Executive Chef at Scarborough Fair Restaurant in Sea Girt and Chef Du Cuisine at Whispers in Spring Lake. Now after starting a successful catering and personal chef business, Michael has grown to open Chef Michaels Cafe in Wall, NJ.

McLoone's Restaurants. Executive Chef, Joe RacioppiMcLoone’s Restaurants. Executive Chef, Joe Racioppi, will be preparing their legendary McLoone’s Crab Cakes.  McLoone’s Restaurants, celebrating 26 years in business this Fall, has multiple locations throughout New Jersey and Maryland.  McLoone’s offers classic American cuisine with a modern flare.  McLoone’s locations offer beautiful views for ala carte dining, as well as banquet and wedding facilities for all occasions.

Love Potion #9Love Potion #9: Stop by and sample  Love Potion #9®  in some of your favorite cocktail recipes. They will be sampling their White & Red Sangrias, along with some of their most popular cocktails: Pom 9 and Tiki Tea along with some of their favorite Chocolate Cocktails. Love Potion #9® is a sugar cane based cocktail elixir infused with a mix of 20 tropical fruit flavors  including mango, peach, chocolate, vanilla, pear, apple, cherry, almond and many others, 60-proof, incredibly smooth simply because it contains no grain alcohol. So come and Experience the excitement!

Spirit of 76: Established in 1994 by the DiRenna family, Spirit of ’76 Wines & Liquors has Spirit of 76 Wines & Liquorsbeen the Jersey Shore’s “Only Wine Source” for almost twenty years.  Located on the corner of Stockton Lake Blvd and Highway 71 in Manasquan we have the best selection of imported and domestic wines (specializing in California) and the area’s largest craft beer supply, we are the only store you need. We will be excited to be participating in Corks & Forks and will be presenting some of our favorite Organic wines from around the world.  Organic wines are some of the most popular products at Spirit of ’76.

Unionville Vineyards Sample award winning Wines from New Jersey’s Unionville Vineyards from acclaimed winemaker, Cameron Stark, who is formally trained at UC Davis and spent his early career under the tutelage of Napa Valley wine experts perfecting his skills and mastering his unique, creative style of winemaking. Cameron’s wines have earned him respect and recognition in the wine establishment including Wine Enthusiast ratings of 90+ points.

Look for upcoming articles featuring the rest of our participating restaurants and beveridge providers including:

Beach Haus Beer

Brandl

Carton Brewery

Chocolate Bar, Manasquan

The Committed Pig, Manasquan

Exclusiv Vodka

Fins! A TropiCali Grill,  Bradley Beach, Sea Girt & Brick

Fratello’s Restaurant & Lounge, Sea Girt

Kaya’s Kitchen, Belmar

Krave Spirits, Matawan

Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park

The Mill, Spring Lake Heights

Ragin’ Cajun, Belmar

Scarborough Fair,  Sea Girt

Shore Point Distributing Company

Sweet Tease, Manasquan

Taka, Asbury Park

Woodchuck’s BBQ, Pt. Pleasant

If you would like to participate as a vendor or sponsor, please contact Teresa Staub [email protected]

Sure to sell out, FORKS & CORKS promises to be an epic evening for anyone who is a fan of the edible arts – and offers an exciting glimpse of the delectable options that abound at the Jersey Shore! All attendees must be 21 years or older.

· Tickets – $65 per person

· After November 1,2013 – $75 per person

· VIP Table Sponsor – $700 – Includes reserved table seating for 10 and special commemorative gift for each guest (limited to 10 tables in ballroom)

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 732-528-9211 or at algonquinarts.org

Location: The Mill, 101 Old Mill Rd, Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762
Date: Monday, Nov. 18
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Entertainment: The Paul Marino Band
Dress: Business Attire

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