On a recent visit to Crystal Springs Resort for a tour of their 135,000 bottle wine cellar, it occured to me, I know nothing about wine. I’m famous for saying “I know what I like.” Raise your hand if you use that lame cover. Knowing one wine that you drink every time you drink wine, is not “knowing what you like.” It’s not knowing anything else.
So, when the folks from Club W reached out to me and told me about their “palate profile” I was very intrigued. It sounded like an E-Harmony for my perfect wine match and I was ready to commit. Club W’s team of curators taste hundreds of boutique wines and choose a select group each month for their members. One of the cool features of the website is that every wine has an accompanying video to give a little back story on the wine. If you’re a wine lover, you could spend a lot of time on their website.
Before they get their first bottles, members fill out an online Palate Profile that helps hone in on wines that you will like. You’ll answer questions like “How do you like your coffee?” “How do you feel about salt?” “Do you like citrus?” and more.
After you finish your profile quiz, the website offers its suggestions for the perfect match to your palate and then you are free to explore their suggestions and make your choices. Choose three bottles for $39 plus $6 flat shipping. I chose two whites and a red.
They came delivered in a carboard suitcase right to my door and I have to say after sampling them, Club W. did a very good job on my behalf. My favorite was one that I would never have selected on my own, a 2009, South African Chenin Blanc.
I was also introduced to an Argentinean Malbec and Big Vine Chardonnay from California. All three wines were enjoyable and came with the added excitement of having wines selected for me based on my personal profile. It’s just the first step in what I hope will be an ongoing education in the wine world.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary first shipment from ClubW. All opinions are my own.
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
Friday, May 17th: at Historic Speedwell; Food to Faces (2-4pm) is a program for kids ages six and older learn the basics of portraiture and create a self-portrait using images of food. See and discuss artwork from the fam0ouns 16th century, Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo who used pictures of food to create portraits of people. Bring a small mirror. Snack and Learn. (6-8pm) Learn about making healthy choices in the grocery store and the kitchen. Enjoy your food while listening to a selection of talks covering Genetically Modified Organisms, decoding food labeling, and the tools for combating childhood obesity. Share a healthy snack and recipe.
MAY 18th: Atlantic City: 3rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge
MAY 18th-19th: Glassboro: Glassboro Vintage South Jersey Wine Festival
MAY 23rd: Red Bank: Party on the Promenade at Molly Pitcher Inn, 6-9pm.
A partnership of the Meadowlands Racetrack and North Jersey Media Group, the festival will showcase businesses with a New Jersey connection. During the afternoon and into the evening there will be local, family-appropriate entertainment featuring Kimmy Schwimmy and local performing arts students and lots of fun stuff for the kids. Once the races begin, there will be live music sponsored by classic rock station WDHA-FM, craft beer sampling, barbecue and harness racing!
JUNE 1st: Oldwick: The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event
JUNE 6th: Holmdel: Italian Essentials: Wine & Entertaining with Victor Rallo
JUNE 7th-9th: Belmar: 27th Annual Belmar Seafood Festival
JUNE 8th: Allendale: Nosher-Rye Deli Fundraiser
Author Tenaya Darlington’s new book about DiBruno Bros., the cheese mongers extraordinaire located just over the bridge in Philadelphia, and one of the ” go to” places for anything cheese in South Jersey has graciously allowed JerseyBites readers first dibs on an all-about-cheese interview. Tenaya A.K.A. Madame Fromage 
I finally made the trip a few weeks ago, and I was as happy as a pig in… well you get the point. From the moment you walk through the door the tantalizing aroma of luscious meat and smoldering wood fill your nostrils. The restaurant itself has a refreshing “no frills just food” atmosphere; adorned with a communal counter, small tables covered with red checkered tablecloths, a chalkboard with featured menu items, and food served up hot and fresh in a red basket. Don’t let the décor fool you though, there is nothing ordinary about their menu selections. Naturally, they serve all of the standard BBQ fare, St. Louis Ribs that are hand rubbed, slow smoked, and smothered in tangy sauce and melt-in-your mouth Texas Brisket that is rendered for 14 hours. If you like your barbecue with a side of inspiration, they also offer unique “Jerseyfied” comfort food creations with a bold twist. For a sweet and spicy snack try the Slow Smoked Jalapeno Poppers; cream cheese and pulled pork stuffed jalapenos that are wrapped in bacon and slow smoked or the crispy hand-battered fried pickles served with a BBQ ranch dipping sauce.
With so many enticing choices it was hard to pick just one. Of course, being the kind of girl who likes things stacked and juicy, I had to go for the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Talk about heaven between two buns! Atop a crispy white country roll was a pile of slow cooked pulled pork so high that could rival Snooki’s poof. The tender pork was enveloped in a delicious blanket of subtle smoke and doused in just the right amount of their Carolina Sauce. On top of the pork was a tangy homemade coleslaw that provided the perfect complement to the sweetness of the pork. That was definitely “some pig;” the perfect combination of texture and flavors. The slaw gave it a nice pop of crunch and the zesty vinegar based Carolina Sauce paired perfectly with the rich taste of the pork.
Mr. Green Tea Ice Cream is a premium ice cream company specializing in the exotic flavors typically found at your favorite high-end restaurants, such as green tea, red bean, and ginger. Founded in 1972, the company has been manufacturing and distributing some of the finest ice cream using the highest quality natural ingredients for more than four decades. Mr. Green Tea is the brand behind the ice cream at thousands of restaurants in NYC and the tri-state area. It is now also available in pints at supermarkets across NY, NJ, CT, and PA, as well as nationally through its recently launched online store.
Karen Jaffe is a health and weight loss coach, having lost 25 pounds in 1985 by revamping her comfort-food lifestyle and adding in regular physical activity. After a 20-year stint at Weight Watchers, where she created her own online forum as a way to share healthy recipes with her members, Karen set out on her own as a Take Shape for Life Coach, guiding and supporting clients on the Medifast weight loss program. As a result of her diagnosis of gluten sensitivity in 2009, Karen continues to seek out healthy and satisfying ways to eliminate gluten from her diet. You can usually find her in the kitchen on Sunday mornings, planning and preparing healthy, but simple gluten-free meals for the week. Karen has a passion for proving that a healthy weight is possible for everyone regardless of their lifestyle or cooking ability. She lives in Long Branch with her husband Glenn. She can be reached at 
When these dishes arrived I was taken aback by their exquisiteness. I hear you sighing, and I understand your apprehension. I am spouting off adjectives that are usually reserved for revered pieces of art, not food, but I assure you each and every descriptive phrase that I am attaching to these dishes are both warranted and justified.
There aren’t many restaurants in north Jersey where you can have a luxurious steak dinner, enjoy a perfectly made Pomegranate Martini, and then dance the night away if you’re so inclined. And just in time for summer, on June 4th, CUT will open its 5,000 square foot patio to enjoy small bites and cool drinks. Pretend you’re on South Beach in one of the dozen Miami-style cabanas surrounded by palm trees.
All their steaks are aged 28-32 days, but what I think makes them unique are the sauce combination accompaniments. For instance, I had the 18 oz Tomahawk steak with a black lava salt crust and served with creamy horseradish. The Porterhouse is served with melted butter, sea salt, and cracked peppercorns. The nice thing about this steak is that it can be ordered for one or two people. Most steakhouses only offer the Porterhouse cut for two. Additionally, CUT offers a14 oz Skirt, which is charred with Roquefort crust, and served with a chimichurri sauce, and roasted marrow. Hmmmmm!
If steak isn’t your thing, try the delicious Double CUT Rack of Lamb, which is herb crusted, and served with goat cheese polenta crouton, braised red cabbage, and rosemary sauce. Or, something you don’t see very often, Braised Organic Veal Cheeks, with grilled fresh corn salsa, Meyer lemon gremolata, with natural veal jus. I wish I had sampled this because it sounds divine. Next time!
May 3rd-May 21st: Hoboken: Pilsener Haus: Maifest at the Biergarten
May 4th & 5th: Atlantic City: The Do AC Boardwalk Wine Promenade
Hillary Irwin is a registered dietitian and the founder of 
