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Our Favorite Mexican Restaurants for Cinco de Mayo

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Our Favorite Mexican Restaurants for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is upon us and you might be looking for a new place to celebrate. We asked our writers for their favorite places to help you get your fiesta fix.

Las Lomas Fresh Mexican Grille, Landis Marketplace, 631 E. Landis Avenue, Vineland. 856-238-4445

http://www.laslomasgrille.net/

Fresh, traditional flavors in the Northern Mexican-style. Menu includes quesadillas, burritos, fajitas, tacos, tortas and more. Features 9 homemade salsas and sauces!

 

Taqueria Downtown, 236 Grove St, Jersey City; 201-333-3220

A menu filled with outstanding tacos of every variety (pork, cactus, fish, lamb, beef) as well as sizzling huevos ranchero, bean-rich sopes, guacamole and much more, is complemented by margaritas and a decent Mexican beer selection. Taqueria Downtown is a neighborhood treasure and has recently re-opened after extensive repairs from Sandy damage. Go show them some love this Cinco de Mayo!

 

Taqueria Pancho Villa and Taqueria Brenda Lee, both in Dover, are very authentic, inexpensive taco joints. There are no tablecloths and waitstaff at these places. Just order at the register, grab a stack of napkins, and dig in. Go to Brenda Lee on Saturdays for the amazing house special “tacos al pastor” made with bbq pork & fresh pineapple.

Pancho Villa: 7 N. Essex St., Dover 973-361-4003

Brenda Lee: 7 N. Warren St., Dover 973-328-6262

La Estacion (also known as Raul’s Taco Town), 94 Elm St, Morristown

973-538-1111

This cozy, vibrant cantina offers a winning combination of fresh, flavorful dishes, friendly service, BYO convenience (they’ll stir up a pitcher of sangria for you with your own bottle of wine), and a regular side of live music. Don’t miss the excellent fish tacos, chunky guacamole, and hearty entree specials. The same owners run Raul’s Empanada Town nearby, offering a delicious selection of fresh empanadas to pick up on the way home for tomorrow’s lunch.

 

Los Amigos, 1926 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City, 609-344-2293

Los Amigos has been around since my college days ( let’s just say awhile) and was “The Mexican Restaurant” to eat and still is. Their nachos are the best around anywhere! They have a special sauce and the cheese combination is perfecto or perfecta in my case.The Fish Tacos with tuna and salmon are scrumptious as are the Filet Serrano and the Crab and Shrimp Enchiladas! You can’t go wrong. They offer small plates too! They have a full bar with special House Sangria and Margarita’s and many Beer selections. Happy Hour is Sunday’s thru Friday’s from 4pm to 7pm with lots of drink specials. Celebrate Cinco De Mayo on Sunday, May 5th starting at 11:30 am with live music by Beth Tinnon, three time award winning lounge act in AC from 5pm-8pm as well as outdoor patio seating, giveaways and prizes!  check out their website for hours, menus, and special events. www.losamigosrest.com

 

Sol Mexican Cantina, 3366 Route 22 West, North Branch, 908-526-4SOL

If you are in the Bridgewater area, I highly recommend Sol Mexican Cantina for drinks and a bite. They have an extensive Mexican menu and you can find something for everyone. They also have full bar but I recommend you have one of their Mojitos or Margaritas. They have a sunshine brunch every weekend from 12-4pm. Find out more information: http://www.solmexicancantina.com/

 

Mexico Lindo, 1135 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick, 732-202-1930

Mexico Lindo is bringing traditional Mexican fare to the Brick area. They serve homemade Mexican fare from quesadillas to chimichangas. A cute BYO, perfect on your way down the shore.

 

Tinga Taqueria, 215 Bellevue Ave., Montclair, NJ, 973-509-TACO

Tinga Taqueria in Upper Montclair is in a heavily trafficked area that sometimes makes it hard to find a parking spot. Luckily, these guys deliver! Solid, no frills tacos with some creative twists—try the BBQ Brisket taco for the perfect it’s-almost-summer snack. Also love their low carb options. Their five day Cinco de Mayo celebration already started, including bring-your-own-tequilla frozen drink specials. Find other Tinga locations in Millburn (321 Millburn Ave.) and Westfield (110 Central Ave.).

http://www.tingausa.com

 

Blue Moon, 42 Kinderkamack Road, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677,  201.782.9500

Blue Moon is not as “authentic” as some of the other Mexican Restaurants in the area, but it makes up for its somewhat Americanized feel, with bold flavor and generous portions.  First timers should try the, bigger than your arm, burritos which made me fall in love with this establishment.  Their full service bar will assist you in celebrating Cinco De Mayo the proper way, with a Margarita in one hand and a shot of tequila in the other.  http://www.bluemoonmexicancafe.com  

 

Picante, 263 Morris Avenue, Springfield, NJ

Whenever my husband and I are in the mood for real Mexican food we head to Picante in Springfield.  The flavors are bold and authentic and the service always makes us feel welcome.  Our favorite dishes include the Cecina tacos (cured salty steak), Camarones A La Diabla, and anything that’s covered in their delicious mole sauce.  The restaurant is byo, so pop open a couple of cold beers, start with some guacamole, and find yourself transported to Mexico.

http://www.picantethetasteofmexico.com/

 

The Tortilla Press, 703 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108

Mexican “influenced” — which makes them very different. The offer meats and accompanying side dishes familiar to the American palate, but seasoned with the clean, savory flavors of Mexican herbs and sauces.  Everything is fresh and elegantly prepared.

http://www.thetortillapress.com/

10th Ave. Burrito Co., 801 Belmar Plaza, Belmar, New Jersey 07719 (732) 280-1515 –

Featured on Guy Fieri’s Diner’s, Drive-ins and Dives, 10th Ave. Burrito serves “Mexi-cali style food.” Diners can choose from an extensive list of burritos, Tacos, Soups, Salads, Quesadillas,  With dishes like their Black Bean Cakes over sauteed spinach or Blackened Catfish burrito, even diners on a diet can find something healthy to enjoy. Open for lunch and dinner.

http://tenthaveburrito.com/

Foodie Things to Do, This Weekend and Beyond

aaccardo
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Foodie Things to Do, This Weekend and Beyond
THIS WEEKEND:
May 4th: Hamburg:  Kentucky Derby Party at Crystal Springs Resort

To celebrate the running of the Kentucky Derby, Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ will let guests get in on the action with a live “horse” race, derby hat contest, large screen broadcast of the race, a buffet of Derby-inspired treats and signature cocktails.

 The Kentucky Derby Party kicks off at 4pm on Saturday May 4th in the Rotunda in the Grand Cascade Lodge Clubhouse with a buffet and signature drinks – every guest will receive a complimentary Mint Julep with a virgin version for kids. Guests are encouraged to come in their finest Derby Day hats – prizes will be awarded for “most creative” and “most fashionable” hats.

 Before the race starts, attendees can get in on the action. Two adult wooden horse races will take place at 4:30pm and 5:30pm – participants each mount a wooden horse and move it the number of spaces they roll on a dice. The winners of each race receive prizes and Jim Beam will also provide fun giveaways during the event. (The actual Derby race will be broadcast live on a large screen.)

 The food will pay homage to the traditions of Kentucky with Hot Brown Mac and Cheese, Andouille Sausage and Kentucky Derby Fried Chicken, Shrimp Dip, and customized sliders from a build-it-yourself slider station. Desserts include Bourbon Pecan Pie, Mint Julep Cheesecake, and Run for the Roses Cupcakes.

The Kentucky Derby Party is $28 (plus tax and gratuity) for the buffet, and $18 for kids 5 – 12.  Ages 4 and under celebrate for free!  The cash bar includes signature drinks Millionaires Row Mint Julep with Knob Creek Kentucky Bourbon, fresh mint and sugar served over crushed ice; The Run for the Roses Race Day Tini with Makers Mark, lemonade, pomegranate juice; and Winners Circle Sweet Tea with Jim Beam, triple sec, sweet & sour mix with a splash of coke ($12 each)

The event takes place at the Rotunda at Grand Cascades Lodge Clubhouse. Reservations can be made by calling 973-827-5996 ext 3.

May 5th: Hamburg:  Cinco de Mayo at Crystal Springs Resort

Come celebreate Cinco de Mayo with a free tequila tasting, a special Mexican-inspired menu, and signature cocktails at Crystal Tavern (1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, NJ,973-827-5996 ext 3).  All day, Crystal Tavern will serve special cocktails and a menu of Mexican favorites, in addition to the regular a la carte menu.  From 1pm – 4pm, representatives from Patron tequila will be pouring free samples of Patron Silver, Reposado, Anejo, XO Café and Citronge, and giving away free gifts.  No reservations necessary to sample the spirits!

May 5th: Cranford: Cranford Street Festival

The Cranford Spring Festival is this Sunday from 10 AM – 5 PM in downtown Cranford.  The festival will have crafts, artists, a petting zoo, and plenty of great food vendors.  Stop by and bring the family!

Call 908.272.6114 or email [email protected] for more info.

maifestMay 3rd-May 21st: Hoboken: Pilsener Haus: Maifest at the Biergarten

Maifest is an annual celebration throughout Germany to welcome the arrival of Spring!  Pilsener Haus, NJ’s most traditional biergarten, observes Maifest with and Opening Ceremony and Barrel Tapping on Friday, May 3, at 8:00pm.  There will also be a selection of seasonal NJ craft and import Maibock beers (beer list here).  They are also offering an authentic Maifest Menu; you can enjoty an Austro-Hungarian feast all month, prepared bu acclaimed Chef Thomas Ferlesch.  (View the menu here.)  On top of that, there will be a lively roster of traditional music, jazz, and rock for your enjoyment.
For more information, visit the Pilsener Haus’s website or call 201-683-5465.
doac wineMay 4th & 5th: Atlantic City: The Do AC Boardwalk Wine Promenade
Atlantic City’s outdoor wine festival featuring 150 wines presented at seven destinations along the city’s famous Boardwalk, takes place Saturday May 4 and Sunday, May 5.  Guests will sample a broad spectrum of wines from fabulous quality value wines to highly-prized specialty wines. Signature tastes from AC restaurants, including gourmet bites and Boardwalk fare, will be paired with the wines.
 Tickets can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at www.doatlanticcity.com/wine, or by calling (800) 736-1420. One-day tickets are $75 in advance and $85 on the day of the event. Great overnight hotel packages are available.
AND BEYOND:
May 8th: Atlantic City: The 16th Annual Atlantic City Host Awards will take place on May 8th in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom of Boardwalk Hall. Presented by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA) and the ACCVA Foundation, the program salutes and encourages excellent customer service industry-wide.
In addition to honoring award winners in 26 categories ranging from various food service, bar and hotel personnel to retail, visitor information, spa and casino positions, the prestigious Spirit of Hospitality Award will be presented to the Dougherty family, which has owned and operated some of the city’s most famous restaurants for generations. The Doughertys currently own and operate Dock’s Oyster House, Knife and Fork Inn, and Harry’s Oyster Bar. Dock’s has been in the family’s control since it opened in 1897.
Scholarships for students attending hospitality programs at area colleges will also be presented during the banquet. The scholarships are awarded by the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association and the ACCVA Foundation.
Tickets for the Host Awards banquet are $65.00 each and are available by calling Jacqui Carole at 609-449-7174.  More information on sponsorship, nominations, and the ACCVA Foundation can be found by visiting their website.
May 15th: Wildwood: Wildwoods Restaurant Showcase
Enjoy a sampling of mouth-watering dishes and decadent desserts from dozens of the Wildwoods’ finest restaurants and specialty shops, held at the Bolero Resort & Conference Center, 3320 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood from 5:30-8:30 PM.  All proceeds benefit the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Foundation and scholarships for area high school students.  An auction of fantastic prizes will be held.
Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Office in advance, or at the door the night of the event. For more information call 609.729.4000 or visit http://www.gwcoc.com.
May 12th-18th: Atlantic City:  Tropicana Bacon Week

Tropicana is changing the way you look at bacon with its first ever Bacon Week Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th. These dining and retail specials are guaranteed to make your mouth water. They are mixing bacon in your martini, wrapping your steak in it, dipping it in chocolate and even making a bouquet of roses with it! It’s all about the “B” word at Tropicana… BACON!

Receive a bacon tour card at any of our participating outlets and collect stamps with qualifying bacon purchases. Fill your card and submit it for a chance to win an overnight stay at Tropicana Atlantic City and a gift basket by Bacon Bites Inc.! For more information, contact Tropicana at 1-800-THE- TROP.

gnsvhosesMay 18th: Atlantic City: 3rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge

 The Chelsea, Atlantic City’s chic non-gaming hotel on the Boardwalk, will host the 3rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The Atlantic City Fire Department will face off with the Atlantic City Police Department and compete to be the first to clear their plates of the mega 4-pound Big Teplitzky breakfast of pancakes, stuffed French toast, eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, pork roll, hash browns, grilled tomato, toast, a bagel, along with orange juice and coffee to wash it all down! While competing for fun, both departments are partnering for a serious cause-to raise community support and awareness of suicide prevention particularly among first responders.

All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit The Andrew Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund and Cop2Cop. Andrew’s Scholarship Fund is a tribute to Captain James’ son who was a brilliant chemical engineering student at Northeastern University in Boston at the time of his tragic death. Cop2Cop is a New Jersey based phone counseling service for law enforcement. Law enforcement officers, some of who have faced their own struggles with depression or seen colleagues suffer, volunteer their time to staff the service.

Individuals or businesses interested in becoming sponsors of The Big Teplitzky Challenge should contact the Atlantic City Firemen’s Federal Credit Union at (609) 272-1000. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 each through ACPD (Jane Tayoun: [email protected]/ 609-271-2500) or ACFD (Christine Parker: [email protected]/609-576-4084) or purchased at the door.                                                                                                                                                                       

For more information on the Chelsea hotel, please call 1-800-548-5030 or visit www.thechelsea-ac.com.


2013-wine-logoMay 18th-19th: Glassboro: Glassboro Vintage South Jersey Wine Festival

 Come to the 2nd Annual Wine Festival where fifteen southern New Jersey wineries will be on hand for tastings and purchases.  Live musical entertainment and gourmet food selections will also be featured in this two-day event, expected to draw more than 5,000 guests.  Tickets are now available for the event which runs 12:00-5:00 p.m. each day on Rowan Boulevard as part of the Glassboro Marketplace series of large-scale community activities.

Participating wineries include Amalthea Winery, Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery, Bellview Winery, Cedarvale Winery, Chestnut Run Farm, Coda Rossa Winery, DiBella Winery, DiMatteo Vineyards, Heritage Vineyards, Monroeville Winery, Natali Vineyards, Plagido’s Winery, Sharrott Winery, Valenzano Winery and Wagonhouse Winery.

Local restaurants including Landmark Americana, Bomb Bomb BBQ and Sandwich Grille, Think Greek Grill and Yogurt Bar, Little Beef’s, Carolina Blue, Liscio’s and Green Zebra will offer gourmet and pre-packaged food selections.  Glassboro artisans including Second Look Mosaic and the Glassboro Honey Company will join more than two dozen vendors offering specialty items for wine lovers.

The festival will be alive with musical entertainment.  Appearing from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Saturday is Cold Blue Electric, featuring their brand of Jazz fusion.  Enjoy classic rock from Love Alive on Saturday from 2:30-5:00 p.m.  Singer/songwriter Dan Bell kicks off Sunday’s entertainment from 12:00-2:00 p.m., followed by Mike Dugan and the Blues Mission from 2:30-5:00 p.m.

Advance tickets are available at www.glassboromarketplace.com.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Admission includes a souvenir glass and parking is free.

The Wine Festival will take place rain or shine.  Additional tents will be used in case of inclement weather.

manestreamJune 1st:  Oldwick: The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event

Equine meets epicurean when a Hunterdon County non-profit hosts an evening of charitable giving this June called The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event. Mane Stream is an organization that provides equine therapy to over 200 riders with physical, developmental, emotional, and medical challenges. In keeping with the hottest trends in food and drink, The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event will feature six gourmet food trucks from the tri-state area plus beer pairings from the tri-state’s finest microbreweries, full open bar, dancing, and two raffles. This will all take place in a fantastic lounge atmosphere on Saturday June 1, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. at 14 Holland Brook Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ.

The featured food trucks are sure to satisfy adventurous eaters and picky eaters alike. The evening will begin with The Cow and the Curd’s battered and fried cheese curds, plus Rickshaw Dumplings will feature all of their most sought after dumplings and dipping sauces.  Next to roll up are the main course trucks. Amped up comfort food from Lil Dan’s, Foo Truck’s Asian-fusion flavors and Indian cuisine from Mausam Curry & Bites will not disappoint. End the evening on a sweet note with Belgian waffles piled high with Wafels & Dinges’ gourmet ice cream, fresh fruit, and toppings galore —everything homemade and everything delicious. These food trucks may call NYC and Philadelphia home, but they are coming to the country to satisfy hungry Mane Stream supporters.

Additionally, New Jersey Craft Beer has carefully paired each truck’s cuisine with amazing local brews. It’s the perfect opportunity to taste test the best of New Jersey’s pint-sized selections. These nine different breweries will be serving up cold ones: Weyerbacher, Smuttynose, Troegs, River Horse, Flying Dog, Yards, Boulder, Breckenridge and Sly Fox.

There will be a riding demonstration (weather permitting), so festival participants will be able to see how Mane Stream’s clients benefit from equine assisted therapy and other equestrian activities. Music and dancing will provide additional entertainment well into the night.

All-inclusive tickets are $150 and must be purchased online via manestreaminc.org, under Special Events.

Vic Rallo's 21 WinesJune 6th:  Holmdel: Italian Essentials: Wine & Entertaining with Victor Rallo

Dearborn Market is thrilled to include an evening with Victor Rallo in their new series of Home & Garden Workshops for the months of May and June. “Italian Essentials: Wine & Entertaining with Victor Rallo” will take place on Thursday, June 6th from 7pm- 9pm in their garden center. To coincide with the launch of a new book, restaurateur, wine connoisseur, and television personality Vic Rallo, along with his co-author, Anthony Verdoni, will discuss their favorite Italian Wines and how best to enjoy and entertain with them. Guests will sample rosé, white, & red wines, an assortment of authentic Dearborn antipasti & cheeses, and purchase their brand new book, 21 Wines. Beautiful Italian Specialty baskets will be raffled throughout the evening.

The cost of the evening is $20 and space is limited, so guests are encouraged to purchase spots by calling 732.264.0256 or online at www.dearbornmarket.com. Copies of Vic and Anthony’s new book, 21 Wines ($45), will be available for purchase at Dearborn prior to and during the event.  To purchase tickets, click here.

June 7th: Morristown: Five Course Tasting Dinner at The Artist Baker

A five course tasting menu of locally sourced foods will be prepared by Chef Andrea Lekberg at her boutique bakery located in downtown Morristown to raise funds for Slow Food Northern New Jersey‘s School Vegetable Garden Program.  Gary Tonucci, the chapter’s wine enthusiast, has selected the New Jersey wines to pair with each course.  Gary will provide information about the wines being served and viniculture in the state.

Please note that both vegetarian and vegan options will be available upon request.   Tickets are $80 for Slow Food Members and $85 for non-members.  Please book soon as space is limited by purchasing tickets online.

LOGOJune 8th: Allendale: Nosher-Rye Deli Fundraiser

Nosher-Rye, the New York-Style deli, will be hosting a series of Borscht Belt comedy and trivia nights to be hosted by stand-up comic Esther Goodhart, a.k.a. Oriental Beauty.  The series will kick off on Saturday, June 8th at the 51 West Allendale Ave. eatery with two shows:  6-8PM and 9-11PM.

Patrons pay $20 as a cover and may choose from a price fixe menu ranging from $15.95-$17.95 for three courses.  Nosher-Rye’s over-stuffed sandwiches have a cult-like following among deli enthusiasts who clamor for their house-prepared pastrami, corned beef and chopped live,r and other traditional kosher-style favorites.  Goodhart promises to have guests laughing “their tuchases off” with her schtick (she’s a Korean who converted to Judaism, and her humor blends Asian and Jewish/Yiddish flavor) to salute Catskill’s greatest comics.

The event will raise funds for Pascack Valley Meals on Wheels.  Reservations are required:  201-784-1818.

June 23rd: Holmdel:  Italian Food Festival

Sunday, June 23rd from 11am – 7pm, Dearborn Market’s first-ever Italian Food Festival will take place tented outside in the garden center. Enjoy delicious, Italian-American cuisine like homemade sausage, peppers & onions, porchetta, cured meats, cheeses, gelato, cannoli, zeppoles, and samplings from some of our favorite Italian Specialty vendors. Enjoy good food & family fun with live music, face painting and pony rides.

More information is available by calling 732.264.0256, or online at www.dearbornmarket.com

Recipe: Crustless Swiss Chard Quiche

Hillary Irwin
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Recipe: Crustless Swiss Chard Quiche

What better way to celebrate mom than with a delicious and healthy brunch.  Our family gets together around the table, and I love to provide creative dishes that are full of flavor and nutritional value.

Swiss chard is one of my favorite greens.  It’s not as commonly used as typical lettuces or spinach, so its flavors really stand out.  Swiss chard has beautiful, bright leaves and a rainbow of colors in its stalks.  Each color represents different health-promoting nutrients. It is packed with vitamins A, C and K, which help maintain good vision, strengthen your immune system and keep your bones healthy.   It’s truly a nutritional powerhouse!

This recipe combines farm fresh chard with mild Swiss cheese to create a mouthwatering dish that is so easy to make.  Even the most reluctant chefs can whip this up in less than 1 hour.  Serve it with a tossed green salad and fresh fruit and you’ll make your mother proud!

Crustless Swiss Chard Quiche

1 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound Swiss chard (2-3 large bunches), ribs removed and leaves roughly chopped

1/2 medium onion, minced

1/2 cup grated low-fat Swiss cheese (2 ounces)

4 large eggs

1 cup low-fat milk

1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 pinch ground mustard powder

Kosher salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5-7 minutes. Add chard to skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Transfer chard mixture to a 9-inch pie plate and top with cheese; place on rimmed baking sheet.  In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, nutmeg, mustard powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Pour custard over chard mixture. Bake until custard is set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Hillary cropHillary Irwin is a registered dietitian and the founder of Simply Beautiful Mom, a nutrition counseling and consulting practice based in New Jersey. In her practice, Hillary counsels children, adolescents and adults on many nutrition issues, with a focus on clean, balanced eating and weight management.  She is an expert at teaching clients how to fit proper eating and healthful cooking into a frantic lifestyle, taking the busiest of the busy and teaching how simple changes can create fantastic results.  Hillary holds a B.S in Nutritional Sciences with a concentration in Dietetics from Cornell University and a Masters Degree in Applied Anatomy and Physiology from Boston University.  She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND; formerly the American Dietetic Association), the New Jersey Dietetic Association, and various Dietetic Practice Groups of the AND, including Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition and Weight Management.  Hillary lives in Westfield, New Jersey with her husband Greg, her two children (Oscar, 4 and Lola, 2) and their dog Willard. She loves food, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family.

Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner Spots In NJ

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie
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Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner Spots In NJ

May 12th is Mother’s Day – have you made plans for the special moms in your lives? Here’s a compilation of some of our Biters’ recommendations for Mother’s Day brunch and dinner across the Garden State.

Amanda’s, Hudson County

BRUNCH – 10:30AM – 1:00PM: $35 for three-course, prix-fixe menu + tax, gratuity & beverages.

DINNER – 3:00PM – 7:00PM: $49.50 for three-course prix-fixe menu + tax, gratuity & beverages.

908 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. http://amandasrestaurant.com  201-798-0101.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

Bibi’z Restaurant | Lounge, Bergen County

Bibi’z in Westwood is hosting its annual Mother’s Day brunch, Sunday May 12th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and a fixed price dinner from 5:00 -7:00 pm.  Beloved for its Mediterranean fare, Bibi’z is offering brunch with a carving of lamb and turkey, a pasta station, made to order eggs,  a selection of salads, appetizers, specialty dishes, a variety of house-made desserts, and unlimited Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.   Brunch will be $35 for adults and $15 for children.  Dinner will be a fixed price of $30 per person.  There will be outdoor seating available on the patio.  Bibi’z, which combines an edgy, refined decor with warmth exuded by co-owner Ida Assaf, who visits each table, is a fine choice for families with children in tow along with mature couples who are empty nesters.  Service is polished and food is locally sourced and organic when possible.

284 Center Ave, Westwood, NJ, www.bibizlounge.com 201-722-8600

Submitted by Heidi Raker, Bergen County Editor

Bin 14, Hudson County

Offering a “make your own Mimosa” Bar $8 with fresh fruits/juices.

1314 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ. www.bin14.com  201-963- 9463.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

Café Panache, Bergen County

In addition to its normal menu, Café Panache will be offering lobster, wild salmon and soft shell crab specials on Mother’s Day.

130 East Main Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446. www.cafepanachenj.com (201) 934-0030.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

Chakra Restaurant, Bergen County

1PM to 8PM – Three-Course Prix-Fixe $54 Per Person plus tax and gratuity.

144 W. State Rt. 4, Paramus, NJ  07652. www.chakrarestaurant.com 201-556-1530.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

Escape Montclair

This newly-opened restaurant will serve a 3-course, pork-filled brunch from 11:30AM to 3:00PM. Cost is $35 per person.

345 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ. http://www.escapemontclair.com/  973-744-0712.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

Pairings Palate + Plate, Union County

The restaurant that celebrates togetherness is offering up a special Mother’s Day brunch menu from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m.  The menu includes omelets, steak and eggs benedict, strawberry stuffed french toast, crab cake sliders, and cheddar potato pancakes.  All of the food is made from scratch because doesn’t Mom deserve the very best?

1 S Ave E, Cranford http://pairingscranford.com (908) 276-4026

Submitted by Michelle Stavrou, Union County Editor

Restaurant Latour at Crystal Springs, Sussex County

2pm-7pm – Grand Cascades Lodge:  Special 5-Course Menu (French American Cuisine) $95++ Per Person; $130++ Per Person Paired With Wine.

One Wild Turkey Way, Hardyston, NJ 07419. http://crystalgolfresort.com 973.827.5996, Ext. 3.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

RARE The Steakhouse, Passaic County

Will be serving its a la carte menu from 1pm to 6:30pm.

440 Main Street, Little Falls, NJ. www.rarestk.com  973-256-6699.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

Tavro13,  Salem County

Mothers’ Day Brunch from Noon – 2:00 p.m. featuring entertainment by Hotsy Totsy singing three-part-harmony with retro flair. The hardest thing Mom will have to do on her special day is choose from among all the amazing offerings on Tavro13’s seasonally inspired menu.

Enjoy a three-course brunch starting with bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas. For more information and for descriptions of all the mouth-watering options prepared by renowned chef Terence Feury visit their website.

1301 Kings Highway, Swedesboro  www.tavro13.com  856-467-8413,

Submitted by Kerry Brown

The Dining Room at Anthony David’s, Hudson County

Brunch:  $22.95 includes fruit & donuts, entree, & coffee/tea.

111 Tenth Street, Hoboken, NJ. www.anthonydavids.com  201-222-8359.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

The Gables, Ocean County

11 am – 7:00 pm Special menu featuring 4 courses with 3 choices of entrée. $48 per person Children’s Menu Available. Reservations Suggested. If you are unable to celebrate with Mom on Mother’s Day, Gables’ Gift Certificates Are Available by Phone or Online.  

212 Centre Street Beach Haven, NJ 609.492.3553   www.gableslbi.com

The Orange Squirrel, Essex County

Mother’s Day Brunch with 3 seatings at 11am, 12:30pm and 2pm.  Brunch includes choice of a main dish, a dessert and one complimentary cocktail or beverage for $35/adult or $30/child.

412 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ. www.theorangesquirrel.com  973-337-6421.

Submitted by Veronique Deblois

Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic County

Looking for a little excitement this Mother’s Day? Get your groove on and stay in AC at one of the exciting hotel casinos starting on Saturday to make it a Weekend Mom’s Day with style and get tickets to the Atlantic City Mother’s Day Music Festival at the Historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. This year’s line-up features El Debarge, Freddie Jackson, Jaheim, and Charlie Wilson. Showtime: 7:30pm. Ticket Cost: $55. Call 1-866-881-2999 for more info. and tickets.

And if you want the party to continue there is the Mother’s Day After Party at Trump at 11pm  in the Imperial Ballroom hosted by Lady B and Parry P with DJ’s Gary O/ Cory DST and Touch Tone. Must be 21 years or older. $25 per person.

Trump Plaza continues the music on Sunday with their Jazz Brunch located on the 6th floor with an all you can eat buffet with all the delicious traditional breakfast and brunch items and drinks from 11am to 2pm (last seating at 1:30pm) Enjoy a live jazz band while you dine. $40 per person.

2500 Boardwalk, 609-441-6000 for info.

Submitted by Michele Errichetti, AC Editor

Getting Up to Speed on Gluten

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Getting Up to Speed on Gluten
Getting Up to Speed on Gluten (via http://drproodian.com)

“Gluten-free” products are becoming more and more popular. In fact, it’s a growing business. You’ve probably noticed gluten-free choices at grocery stores and restaurants. Celebrities like Lady Gaga have switched to a gluten-free diet. A few years ago, Chelsea Clinton made headlines for…

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Gluten Free WildFlour Bakery & Café in Lawrenceville

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Gluten Free WildFlour Bakery & Café in Lawrenceville

gluten free cookiesWhet your appetite and prepare to follow your nose: A new artisan bakery and daytime café is flinging its doors open in Lawrenceville on Saturday, May 11, at 9 a.m.

Serving quick breakfasts and brunch and lunches of made-to-order savory crepes, house-made soups, salads and smoothies, as well as a line of classic breads and desserts, WildFlour Bakery & Café nails delicious. And it nails nutritious too – all the offerings are gluten-free.

“I saw a real need for freshly made, fabulous gluten-free foods right here in central New Jersey,” said Marilyn Besner, a veteran baker and cook whose longtime dream of opening her own place is being realized as she transforms the Lawrenceville Inn into a community gathering spot and computer hot spot with free WIFI. “WildFlour’s baking and cooking will certainly be good for you, but its emphasis is deliciousness.”

WildFlour’s secret begins with the grains themselves. “Our bakers use the kitchen as their laboratory,” said Besner, who worked for some time at Whole Earth Center and also trained at The Natural Gourmet and the French Culinary Institute. “Drawing on a wide array of flours – everything from amaranth to quinoa, each with different protein or starch content, the bakers experimented until they found the best blends for baguettes, pumpernickel, cheese sticks, biscotti, and even cream puffs; everything we sell has the right crust and crumb combination. Our cookies have a balanced ratio of crunch to moistness. Our muffins are loaded with flavor.”

Cakes are particularly interesting, she said. The bakers spike them with fruit fillings and mellow them with old-fashioned buttercream frostings. Our Genoise cake with apricot puree filling and swiss buttercream, and our german chocolate cake with sour cherries and chocolate ganache to name a couple.

WildFlour tartlettes, breads and other desserts are available for takeout; birthday cakes or family-size pies or tarts will be available by special order. WildFlour Café offers self serve breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11a.m. on weekdays. Lunch hours are from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. On weekends, brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WildFlour is closed on Mondays. WildFlour is at 2691 Main Street (also known as Route 206) near the corner of Gordon Avenue in Lawrenceville, NJ. Parking is available in the back of the building and is accessible from Main Street.

Lidia’s Cuban Kitchen Opens in Downtown Cranford

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Lidia’s Cuban Kitchen Opens in Downtown Cranford

lidia ribbonlidia logoLidia Galvaz has brought a new cuisine and a whole lot of authentic Cuban atmosphere to downtown Cranford. Step inside Lidia’s Cuban Kitchen and you are immediately swept away to her native country.

After her Highlands restaurant was destroyed by Super Storm Sandy, Lidia and her husband, Joe DelleFave, decided that Cranford with its growing restaurant scene was the perfect place for their new restaurant.  Lidia’s specialties include Vaca Frita, Paella Cubana, empanadas filled with chicken, picadillo or spinach and manchego cheese, Cuban sandwiches, Pollo Criollo and Churrasco. There is an extensive menu, including desserts.

Lidia’s Cuban Kitchen is located at 117 N. Union Avenue. www.lidiascubankitchen.com and www.facebook.com/lidiascubankitchen 908-272-8228.

Foodie Things to Do, This Weekend and Beyond

aaccardo
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Foodie Things to Do, This Weekend and Beyond
April 27th: Kitchen Tour Through Interlaken

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School will host a kitchen tour through Interlaken on April 27, 2013 from 11 AM – 3 PM.  Six houses with seven caterers will be showcased.  Caterers include et al fine foods, Cravings, the Caramel Shop, Chef Michael Thompson, Falco Brothers Catering, Joe Leone’s, and Mike’s Deli.

Tickets, $35 prepaid and $40 on the day of the tour, are available at the Allenhurst Cleaners, 530 Main St., Allenhurst or by calling Vicki at 732-531-9609.

Participants must pick up brochures at the Interlaken Boro hall, 100 Main St, Interlaken at 11 am on the day of the tour.

April 28th: Red Bank: Red Bank International Flavour Festival
Twenty-five of Red Bank’s finest restaurants will be serving international favorites outdoors a the event.  We will also feature international beers, wines, and great entertainment on two different stages.  Come join us for the fun, family-friendly event!  This really unbelievable event is a fundraiser.   The proceeds will benefit Red Bank RiverCenter and the Red Bank Regional Buccaneers Athletic Foundation, a non-profit group raising funds to install lighting on their football field to allow the kids to play evening games of football, lacrosse, soccer, etc.$5.00 donation for anyone over the age of 10.  For more information, visit their website or contact Ruthanne Harrison at (732) 829-1104, or email her at [email protected].
April 28th: Summit: Summit Spring Street Fair
Join the fun on Sunday, April 28 with family and friends to enjoy music, games, rides, a variety of food and more!  The Street Fair will start at 11 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.  The location is 374 Springfield Avenue.  For more information, call (908) 277-6100 or email [email protected]
nyctasteofnationApril 29th: New York City: Taste of the Nation NYC
Where can you sample over 65 of New York’s most notable restaurants, over a dozen impossible-to-get-into cocktail bars, rub elbows with your favorite culinary personalities, and bid on priceless experiential auction packages in one evening? Share Our Strength’s 26th annual Taste of the Nation® NYC will bring the city’s finest chefs and mixologists together to donate their time, talent, and passion to end childhood hunger in America.
This year’s event includes support from our chef chairs Marc Murphy and Alex Guarnaschelli and our host committee members, fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, interior designer Athena Calderone and nightlife maven Simonez Wolf.  The evening will also include book signings from top toques and food personalities as well as exclusive culinary and travel packages offered during the famed live auction.
Where: 82 Mercer Street, NYC
When: April 29th, 6:30-9:30 PM VIP, 7:30-9:30 PM General Admission
Tickets: VIP-$425, General-$225
Buy tickets online here.  100% of ticket sales go toward ending childhood hunger.
May 1st: Bergen County:  Wednesday Bingo Night at Schlotzsky’s in Englewood
Come join the fun this Wednesday between 5:30 and 8:30PM at Schlotzsky’s (39 Nathaniel Place in the ShopRite Plaza) as they kicks of Wednesday Bingo Night.  This national brand has just put down roots in the Garden State and is building a following with its New Orleans-style pressed sandwiches (buns made fresh daily and bun humor abounds), soups and loaded up-salads.  This franchise also offers Cinnabon and Carvel.  While sandwich varieties on the menu are rotated every couple months, their signature classics are always offered and include festive plays on the Nawlin’s Muffaletta which is traditionally sliced meats, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mustard and chopped olive spread, all encased in a soft round bun.   Bingo enthusiasts receive a free bingo board with entrée purchase and an additional board free with purchase of soda and chips.  Bingo winner prizes range from ice cream to gift certificates and Bergen PAC theater tickets.
May 4th: Hamburg:  Kentucky Derby Party at Crystal Springs Resort

To celebrate the running of the Kentucky Derby, Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ will let guests get in on the action with a live “horse” race, derby hat contest, large screen broadcast of the race, a buffet of Derby-inspired treats and signature cocktails.

 The Kentucky Derby Party kicks off at 4pm on Saturday May 4th in the Rotunda in the Grand Cascade Lodge Clubhouse with a buffet and signature drinks – every guest will receive a complimentary Mint Julep with a virgin version for kids. Guests are encouraged to come in their finest Derby Day hats – prizes will be awarded for “most creative” and “most fashionable” hats.

 Before the race starts, attendees can get in on the action. Two adult wooden horse races will take place at 4:30pm and 5:30pm – participants each mount a wooden horse and move it the number of spaces they roll on a dice. The winners of each race receive prizes and Jim Beam will also provide fun giveaways during the event. (The actual Derby race will be broadcast live on a large screen.)

 The food will pay homage to the traditions of Kentucky with Hot Brown Mac and Cheese, Andouille Sausage and Kentucky Derby Fried Chicken, Shrimp Dip, and customized sliders from a build-it-yourself slider station. Desserts include Bourbon Pecan Pie, Mint Julep Cheesecake, and Run for the Roses Cupcakes.

The Kentucky Derby Party is $28 (plus tax and gratuity) for the buffet, and $18 for kids 5 – 12.  Ages 4 and under celebrate for free!  The cash bar includes signature drinks Millionaires Row Mint Julep with Knob Creek Kentucky Bourbon, fresh mint and sugar served over crushed ice; The Run for the Roses Race Day Tini with Makers Mark, lemonade, pomegranate juice; and Winners Circle Sweet Tea with Jim Beam, triple sec, sweet & sour mix with a splash of coke ($12 each)

The event takes place at the Rotunda at Grand Cascades Lodge Clubhouse. Reservations can be made by calling 973-827-5996 ext 3.

doac wineMay 4th & 5th: Atlantic City: The Do AC Boardwalk Wine Promenade
Atlantic City’s outdoor wine festival featuring 150 wines presented at seven destinations along the city’s famous Boardwalk, takes place Saturday May 4 and Sunday, May 5.  Guests will sample a broad spectrum of wines from fabulous quality value wines to highly-prized specialty wines. Signature tastes from AC restaurants, including gourmet bites and Boardwalk fare, will be paired with the wines.
 Tickets can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at www.doatlanticcity.com/wine, or by calling (800) 736-1420. One-day tickets are $75 in advance and $85 on the day of the event. Great overnight hotel packages are available.
May 8th: Atlantic City: The 16th Annual Atlantic City Host Awards will take place on May 8th in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom of Boardwalk Hall. Presented by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA) and the ACCVA Foundation, the program salutes and encourages excellent customer service industry-wide.
In addition to honoring award winners in 26 categories ranging from various food service, bar and hotel personnel to retail, visitor information, spa and casino positions, the prestigious Spirit of Hospitality Award will be presented to the Dougherty family, which has owned and operated some of the city’s most famous restaurants for generations. The Doughertys currently own and operate Dock’s Oyster House, Knife and Fork Inn, and Harry’s Oyster Bar. Dock’s has been in the family’s control since it opened in 1897.
Scholarships for students attending hospitality programs at area colleges will also be presented during the banquet. The scholarships are awarded by the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association and the ACCVA Foundation.
Tickets for the Host Awards banquet are $65.00 each and are available by calling Jacqui Carole at 609-449-7174.  More information on sponsorship, nominations, and the ACCVA Foundation can be found by visiting their website.
May 12th-18th: Atlantic City:  Tropicana Bacon Week

Tropicana is changing the way you look at bacon with its first ever Bacon Week Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th.  These dining and retail specials are guaranteed to make your mouth water.  They are mixing bacon in your martini, wrapping your steak in it, dipping it in chocolate and even making a bouquet of roses with it!  It’s all about the “B” word at Tropicana… BACON!

Receive a bacon tour card at any of our participating outlets and collect stamps with qualifying bacon purchases. Fill your card and submit it for a chance to win an overnight stay at Tropicana Atlantic City and a gift basket by Bacon Bites Inc.!

For more information, contact Tropicana at 1-800-THE- TROP.

gnsvhosesMay 18th: Atlantic City: 3rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge

 The Chelsea, Atlantic City’s chic non-gaming hotel on the Boardwalk, will host the 3rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The Atlantic City Fire Department will face off with the Atlantic City Police Department and compete to be the first to clear their plates of the mega 4-pound Big Teplitzky breakfast of pancakes, stuffed French toast, eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, pork roll, hash browns, grilled tomato, toast, a bagel, along with orange juice and coffee to wash it all down! While competing for fun, both departments are partnering for a serious cause-to raise community support and awareness of suicide prevention particularly among first responders.

All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit The Andrew Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund and Cop2Cop. Andrew’s Scholarship Fund is a tribute to Captain James’ son who was a brilliant chemical engineering student at Northeastern University in Boston at the time of his tragic death. Cop2Cop is a New Jersey based phone counseling service for law enforcement. Law enforcement officers, some of who have faced their own struggles with depression or seen colleagues suffer, volunteer their time to staff the service.

Individuals or businesses interested in becoming sponsors of The Big Teplitzky Challenge should contact the Atlantic City Firemen’s Federal Credit Union at (609) 272-1000. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 each through ACPD (Jane Tayoun: [email protected]/ 609-271-2500) or ACFD (Christine Parker: [email protected]/609-576-4084) or purchased at the door.                                                                                                                                                                       

For more information on the Chelsea hotel, please call 1-800-548-5030 or visit www.thechelsea-ac.com.


2013-wine-logoMay 18th-19th: Glassboro: Glassboro Vintage South Jersey Wine Festival

 Come to the 2nd Annual Wine Festival where fifteen southern New Jersey wineries will be on hand for tastings and purchases.  Live musical entertainment and gourmet food selections will also be featured in this two-day event, expected to draw more than 5,000 guests.  Tickets are now available for the event which runs 12:00-5:00 p.m. each day on Rowan Boulevard as part of the Glassboro Marketplace series of large-scale community activities.

Participating wineries include Amalthea Winery, Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery, Bellview Winery, Cedarvale Winery, Chestnut Run Farm, Coda Rossa Winery, DiBella Winery, DiMatteo Vineyards, Heritage Vineyards, Monroeville Winery, Natali Vineyards, Plagido’s Winery, Sharrott Winery, Valenzano Winery and Wagonhouse Winery.

Local restaurants including Landmark Americana, Bomb Bomb BBQ and Sandwich Grille, Think Greek Grill and Yogurt Bar, Little Beef’s, Carolina Blue, Liscio’s and Green Zebra will offer gourmet and pre-packaged food selections.  Glassboro artisans including Second Look Mosaic and the Glassboro Honey Company will join more than two dozen vendors offering specialty items for wine lovers.

The festival will be alive with musical entertainment.  Appearing from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Saturday is Cold Blue Electric, featuring their brand of Jazz fusion.  Enjoy classic rock from Love Alive on Saturday from 2:30-5:00 p.m.  Singer/songwriter Dan Bell kicks off Sunday’s entertainment from 12:00-2:00 p.m., followed by Mike Dugan and the Blues Mission from 2:30-5:00 p.m.

Advance tickets are available at www.glassboromarketplace.com.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Admission includes a souvenir glass and parking is free.

The Wine Festival will take place rain or shine.  Additional tents will be used in case of inclement weather.

manestreamJune 1st:  Oldwick: The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event

Equine meets epicurean when a Hunterdon County non-profit hosts an evening of charitable giving this June called The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event. Mane Stream is an organization that provides equine therapy to over 200 riders with physical, developmental, emotional, and medical challenges. In keeping with the hottest trends in food and drink, The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event will feature six gourmet food trucks from the tri-state area plus beer pairings from the tri-state’s finest microbreweries, full open bar, dancing, and two raffles. This will all take place in a fantastic lounge atmosphere on Saturday June 1, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. at 14 Holland Brook Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ.

The featured food trucks are sure to satisfy adventurous eaters and picky eaters alike. The evening will begin with The Cow and the Curd’s battered and fried cheese curds, plus Rickshaw Dumplings will feature all of their most sought after dumplings and dipping sauces.  Next to roll up are the main course trucks. Amped up comfort food from Lil Dan’s, Foo Truck’s Asian-fusion flavors and Indian cuisine from Mausam Curry & Bites will not disappoint. End the evening on a sweet note with Belgian waffles piled high with Wafels & Dinges’ gourmet ice cream, fresh fruit, and toppings galore —everything homemade and everything delicious. These food trucks may call NYC and Philadelphia home, but they are coming to the country to satisfy hungry Mane Stream supporters.

Additionally, New Jersey Craft Beer has carefully paired each truck’s cuisine with amazing local brews. It’s the perfect opportunity to taste test the best of New Jersey’s pint-sized selections. These nine different breweries will be serving up cold ones: Weyerbacher, Smuttynose, Troegs, River Horse, Flying Dog, Yards, Boulder, Breckenridge and Sly Fox.

There will be a riding demonstration (weather permitting), so festival participants will be able to see how Mane Stream’s clients benefit from equine assisted therapy and other equestrian activities. Music and dancing will provide additional entertainment well into the night.

All-inclusive tickets are $150 and must be purchased online via manestreaminc.org, under Special Events.

June 7th: Morristown: Five Course Tasting Dinner at The Artist Baker

A five course tasting menu of locally sourced foods will be prepared by Chef Andrea Lekberg at her boutique bakery located in downtown Morristown to raise funds for Slow Food Northern New Jersey‘s School Vegetable Garden Program.  Gary Tonucci, the chapter’s wine enthusiast, has selected the New Jersey wines to pair with each course.  Gary will provide information about the wines being served and viniculture in the state.

Please note that both vegetarian and vegan options will be available upon request.   Tickets are $80 for Slow Food Members and $85 for non-members.  Please book soon as space is limited by purchasing tickets online.

LOGOJune 8th: Allendale: Nosher-Rye Deli Fundraiser

Nosher-Rye, the New York-Style deli, will be hosting a series of Borscht Belt comedy and trivia nights to be hosted by stand-up comic Esther Goodhart, a.k.a. Oriental Beauty.  The series will kick off on Saturday, June 8th at the 51 West Allendale Ave. eatery with two shows:  6-8PM and 9-11PM.

Patrons pay $20 as a cover and may choose from a price fixe menu ranging from $15.95-$17.95 for three courses.  Nosher-Rye’s over-stuffed sandwiches have a cult-like following among deli enthusiasts who clamor for their house-prepared pastrami, corned beef and chopped live,r and other traditional kosher-style favorites.  Goodhart promises to have guests laughing “their tuchases off” with her schtick (she’s a Korean who converted to Judaism, and her humor blends Asian and Jewish/Yiddish flavor) to salute Catskill’s greatest comics.

The event will raise funds for Pascack Valley Meals on Wheels.  Reservations are required:  201-784-1818.

Grilled Chorizo, Black Bean & Rice Cone topped with Avocado Mousse & Chorizo Crisp

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Grilled Chorizo, Black Bean & Rice Cone topped with Avocado Mousse & Chorizo Crisp
Sponsored Content by Morris Tap & Grill

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and thanks to Chef Eric LeVine, of Morris Tap & Grill in Randolph, your guests are in for a very special treat. Now, if you really want to Wow your guests, order the Rice Cones for serving or this dish can be served in indivual bowls, wraps or decorative glasses.

Ingredients

1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
2 chorizo sausages, sliced

1 cup Alessio Black Bean and Rice Mix

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup low-sodium broth (chicken or vegetable) or water

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Method
1. Prep the onions, peppers, beans and sausages. Cook the rice according to the package directions.
2. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot and shimmering, add the sausage. Leave it alone to brown, 2 minutes.


3. Stir the sausage and toss in the onions and peppers. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring once or twice, until the onions and peppers turn soft, 3-5 minutes.
4. Add the broth and beans to the skillet, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Reduce the heat, uncover, and stir until much of the liquid evaporates, another 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the parsley.
Avocado Mousse
1 med. ripe avocado

1 c. sour cream

1 tbsp. lemon juice
In food processor, blend avocado with sour cream, and lemon juice until smooth. Transfer to small bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap
Refrigerate until serving time.
Chorizo Crisp
Ingredients
1 ea Chorizo
slice cooked chorizo into thin pieces and bake in oven at 350F for 20 minutes or until Chorizo is crisp as a potato chip, almost brittle
Assembly
Spoon rice mixture into cone, top with piece of crispy chorizo and pipe avocado mousse.
Chef Eric Levine of Morris Tap & GrillChef Eric LeVine
While most kids were playing with action figures, Eric was in the kitchen testing and tasting recipes. As a youngster growing up in Brooklyn, Eric found excitement, challenges and passion in his favorite place – the kitchen. His childhood love became his career path and purpose. He studied at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and soon after graduation, worked under celebrity chef David Burke at the River Café. He credits this experience with sparking his creative artistry with food.
Follow Chef Eric on Twitter@ChefEricL.

Agricola – Farm to Table Comes to Princeton

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie
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Agricola – Farm to Table Comes to Princeton


The following is a two part interview and review by Vikki Hurley-Schubert and Veronique Deblois

About the Chef and the Concept

By Vikki Hurley-Schubert

Agricola has only been open for a little more than a month and the menu has already been updated. Something to get used to when the owner also lives on the farm–four miles door-to-door–from where the produce is grown.

Agricola Owner Jim NawnEven though the menu reflects the first spring bounty from the 112-acre Great Road farm where owner Jim Nawn lives, the entire restaurant revolves around the chef, the farmer and the local ingredients.

The menu focuses on fresh, local ingredients centered on delivering the best tasting food.

“I’m looking for food that I cook at home – simple, wholesome, seasonal,” said Executive Chef and Partner Josh Thomsen. “If I put a pineapple or a lobster on the menu, it’s not coming from five minutes away from here; golden pineapples come from Maui and lobster comes from Maine. I just put Cape May scallops on the menu, which are so exciting because having cooked in California all these years, scallops were flown 3,000 miles for me.”

The farm vegetables play a key role not only on the menu, but in the decor. The walls of the restaurant are lined with large mason jars of pickled vegetables of all colors, shapes and sizes that act like stained glass, reflecting colored light on the rooms. The vegetables also play key roles at the bar, both in the signature cocktail, the Great ‘Dirt’ Road Farm Martini, which comes with a sidecar of pickled vegetables and a pickle plate on the Small Bites menu.

Chef Thomsen’s impressive resume shows time at the French Laundry in the Napa Valley under Thomas Keller and opening chef of Tao in Las Vegas, which became the highest grossing restaurant in the country during his two-year tenure.

To help him in the kitchen, Chef Thomsen, who in his sixth grade yearbook listed chef as his career choice, brought his Chef de Cuisine of four years, Manlee Siu, with him from California and hired pastry chef Sarah Hecksteden from the Little Inn at Washington.

Chef Thomsen inherited his love of cooking from his father, whom he calls a closet chef. “He worked in finance, my mother is a great cook in her own right, but it just wasn’t her thing,” he said. “I remember growing up where it would be 10 o’clock at night and she’d be doing dishes. Dad made a mess, he just destroyed the kitchen. He loved to cook, he got done with work in the finance business and then ripped out pages of Bon Appetit or Gourmet, went shopping and came home and cooked a gourmet meal for us. I fell in love with it.”

Restauranteur Jim Nawn, a culinary school graduate who used to own more than 35 Panera Bread locations, always wanted to be in hospitality and was excited about the challenge the historic space of the former Lahiere’s posed. Lahiere’s was a family-owned French and contemporary American restaurant that had been in business for 91 years at the 5-13 Witherspoon Street location.

“A lot of small things came together, I sold my Panera business (in September 2010),” said Mr. Nawn, who originally bought the farm to supply his local Panera locations with fresh produce. “I came to the conclusion that getting back into hospitality was for me.”

To get back into the hospitality business, he went to culinary school at the Institute for Culinary Education in New York City, and while there, the Lahiere’s space became available. “The thought crossed my mind, but I wanted to finish culinary school,” he said. “While I was doing that, this space remained available.”

Since Lahiere’s space seemed to be waiting for him and he wanted to open a local restaurant, Mr. Nawn took on the challenge.

“This space was intriguing, it’s a big bet,” said Mr. Nawn. “It’s on center stage (in the heart of downtown Princeton on Witherspoon Street), it’s costly to be here and the space is large.”

The star of the kitchen stage is Chef Thomsen, who performs every night in the open kitchen for people to watch from the restaurant or the windows on Witherspoon Street. Both he and Mr. Nawn are respectful of what their historic space means for the community and patrons, who had been sitting at the tables for almost a century before they took it over.

“This space means a lot, not just to Jim, but the community at large,” said Chef Thomsen. “I’ve met so many people who are in their eighties, seventies and sixties and fifties and forties who have all eaten here at one time or another when it was Lahiere’s. I had one couple in their eighties that sat in the kitchen, they were sitting in the area where they always sat when they came in for years.”

Mr. Nawn hired Chef Thomsen seven months before the restaurant opened and the chef was instrumental in the design of the restaurant.

“I even moved the kitchen,” said Chef Thomsen. “When I came out (for a weekend) to meet Jim, he opened up the front door and said ‘don’t walk in,’ if I had walked in, I would have fallen 20 feet to the basement, there was nothing here. The kitchen was designed much like the old kitchen was. Everything was torn out and it was a blank canvas, but it was being rebuilt with exactly the same structure the way it was.”

Not officially hired yet, he didn’t think anything of the kitchen design, which was a French brigade system. After visits to New York and California by both parties, they reached an agreement and Chef Thomsen requested to move the kitchen.

“I don’t think the kitchen should be in the back,” he said, noting with the total gutting of the space they had the chance to put it anywhere they wanted. “I wanted to move it to the front, which was originally one of the dining rooms. I’ve been doing this so long I’m tired of working in a dark room, but I want to see. I’m going to live here, I want to see light, and on top of it, you’re going to get to show people things they’ve never seen. People love to look in a kitchen.”

The kitchen design evolved into an L-shape and a wood-fired oven was added in addition to a chef’s table.

“It’s been a blast, people get the biggest kick out of it!” said Chef Thomsen, who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. “We have people takings pictures, it’s crazy!”

Atlantic Cod Fritters
Atlantic Cod Fritters

Agricola – About the Food

By Veronique Deblois

I recently had the opportunity to dine at the then thirteen day-old Agricola in lovely Princeton.

I follow Agricola on Facebook and saw the step-by-step creation of the beautiful space. By the time the doors opened, I felt like I had been part of the process and was eager to make my way down to Princeton.

The design is simple, comfortable and welcoming. After sampling Chef/Partner Josh Thomsen’s dishes, I find the food mirrors the décor. The New Jersey native returns to his home state to wow diners with the skills and techniques he has amassed along the way.

The 160-seat restaurant features five distinct dining areas. To my delight, my party and I were seated in the room right off the kitchen where I enjoyed watching Chef Thomsen and his staff work in unison to create memorable meals. With less than two weeks under its belt, Agricola’s kitchen appears to be running like a well-oiled machine.

The menu at Agricola is seasonal, local and flavorful.

Octopus a La Plancha
Octopus a La Plancha

Our meal began with Atlantic Cod Fritters ($12), the Coach Farm Goat Cheese – Potato Terrine ($12) and the Octopus “A La Plancha” ($13). The fritters are expertly fried to a perfectly crunchy exterior and a moist interior. The dish is served with oven-dried tomatoes, shaved fennel and flat leaf parsley. The terrine showcases roasted beets, micro arugula and balsamic syrup was as delicious as it was beautiful. The ultra-tender octopus is served with pickled cauliflower, bell pepper, black garlic and toasted almonds – a real winner.

Our entrée selections were the Lancaster County Roasted Chicken ($23), the Creekstone Farms Braised Beef Short Rib ($29) and the House-Made Sausage Flatbread ($16).

Lancaster County Roasted Chicken
Lancaster County Roasted Chicken

The chicken was a gorgeous golden brown and served with Tuscan fried potatoes, sautéed farm greens and green olive-fennel tapenade. The melt-in-your-mouth short ribs are smartly paired with spring vegetables and arrowleaf spinach. The flatbread we ordered was topped with spring onion, pea tendrils and Mozzarella. There is another flatbread that I would like to order on my next visit that is topped with wild mushrooms and a farm-fresh egg.

Mixed Berry Cobbler Skillet Cake
Mixed Berry Cobbler Skillet Cake

Desserts we enjoyed were the Meyer Lemon Cheesecake ($9), the Mixed Berry Cobbler Skillet Cake ($9) and an Artisan Cheeseboard ($15) featuring the amazing cheeses of Valley Sheppard Creamery and served with Tassot Farms honeycomb, pear-pepper chutney and house-made crackers. The cheesecake is served with huckleberries and sprinkled with vanilla salt. The cobbler is presented in a cast iron pan topped with crème fraîche ice cream.

The “libations” list offers an extensive array of whiskeys, craft beers and wines, both by the glass and bottle. I appreciate and tip my hat to whoever created the wine list. It is eclectic and interesting with affordable options and unusual gems.

The restaurant describes what it aims to be as “a community eatery where friends gather over dinner, where wine glasses toast to milestones, and where families savor Sunday brunch and time together”. In the short time it has been opened, Agricola provided this type of experience.

Agricola 

11 Witherspoon Street, Princeton NJ 08542

www.agricolaeatery.com

(609) 921-2798

Dinner: 7 Days a week, 5:00pm – 11:00pm

Brunch and Lunch: To Begin in April

VikkiVictoria Hurley-Schubert, Regional Editor Ocean County, is a true Jersey girl. Raised in Marlboro, Vikki  has lived in the area her whole life. She loves to experiment in the kitchen and is happiest when feeding a houseful of friends and family. A journalist for 10 years, she now serves as media coordinator at the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Vikki is happiest on the road, so it should be no Surprise she is a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations.   Follow her on Twitter @vikkihs.

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.

 

Foodie Things to Do, this Weekend and Beyond

aaccardo
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Foodie Things to Do, this Weekend and Beyond
seafoodweektropicanaApril 14th-20th: Atlantic City: Tropicana Seafood Week will debut for the first time April! Celebrate everything under the sea with property-wide seafood specials, drink specials and discounted retail shopping.  Enjoy fresh seafood at FIN, shop nautical fashions and accessories in The Quarter, or even unwind with a sea salt scrub at bluemercury spa.  Tropicana is serving up seafood every which way, and there are plenty of ways to get your fix with various specials throughout the week.

The official Seafood Week Kickoff will take place Monday, April 15th at 12:30pm in Palm Walk where guests can sample Fin’s famous lobster bisque, share the wonder of the Atlantic City Aquarium’s touch tank, and catch a special “Under the Sea” themed Zumba demo by Tilton Fitness.

For more info, see Seafood Week at the Tropicana online!

amadaApril 18th: Atlantic City: Chef Jose Garces Hosts “THE LATIN ROAD HOME” Multi-Course Meal

At 7:00 p.m., join Chef Jose Garces at his gorgeous tapas bar and restaurant, Amada (609-225-9900) at Revel (500 Boardwalk, 855-348-0500) for a decadent, multi-course meal celebrating the publication of his second cookbook, The Latin Road Home. 

The show-stopping menu will include:  Tiradito de Lubina, black bass ceviche with yuzu (Peru); Pan de Yuca, yuca bread with queso fresco, served with guava-chile butter (Ecuador); Crema de Quinoa de Zuleta, quinoa chowder with sweet corn (Ecuador); Enchilado de Langosta, lobster in spicy tomato sauce (Cuba); Carne Asada a la Tampiqueña con Arroz Rojo y Refritos, grilled marinated skirt steak with red rice and refried beans (Mexico); and Crema Catalana, chocolate custard with vanilla berries (Spain).

For $85 per person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity, guests will enjoy dishes from each of the book’s five chapters:  Ecuador; Spain; Cuba; Mexico; and Peru.  An optional wine pairing will also be available for $40. Reservations required, please call 609.225.9900 for more information.

April 22nd: West Long Branch: The Red Bank Rotary’s Thirteenth Annual Two Rivers Food and Wine Tasting

Come join the Red Bank Rotary on April 22nd from 6-9 Pm to benefit Lunch Break! For many local families who are struggling with poverty, Lunch Break is their only option for a healthy, well-balanced meal and for many other much needed services.

For the past 12 years The Rotary Club has organized The Two Rivers Food and Wine Tasting event with proceeds going to local charities. This event is a huge culinary and social success and gives people the opportunity to meet friends and make new ones while sampling delicious food and a great selection of wines and other beverages from leading restaurants in the area.

Tickets for $65.00 each may be purchased by sending a check payable to Red Bank Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 8444, Red Bank, NJ 07701 or through paypal on the Red Bank Rotary website: www.redbankrotary.org

For additional information, please call 732-979-4459.

April 22nd: Red Bank: A Conversation with Bobby Flay. Are you obsessed with barbecue?  Bobby Flay?  Well we have a treat for you!  Bobby Flay will be at Count Basie Theatre to share his approach to food.  Don’t miss hearing tips, stories, and recipes from his new book, Bobby Flay’s Barbeque Addiction.  All tickets include a signed copy of the book (a $35 value), available exlusively at this event before it’s official public release the following day.

Bobby Flay, a New York Times bestselling author, is the chef-owner of six fine-dining restaurants, including Mesa Grill, Bar Americain, and Bobby Flay Steak, and numerous Bobby’s Burger Palaces. He is the host of many popular cooking shows on Food Network, from the Emmy-winning Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction, Grill It! with Bobby Flay, and Boy Meets Grill, to the Iron Chef America series, Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, and Food Network Star.
Long known and beloved for his skills at the grill, Bobby now expands his cooking horizons to include slow and low with his Food Network cooking show Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction and in this book. Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction presents Bobby’s secrets for cooking anything and everything on the grill—from quickly grilled steaks and seafood to smoky barbecued ribs and fork-tender pulled pork.  This is his only area appearance; don’t miss out!

Tickets are $49.75, and a limited number of Gold Circle tickets are available at $79.75.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Count Basie Theatre’s website.

 TasteApril 23rd: The 13th Annual Taste of Weehawken will be held on Tuesday, April 23 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Food Court at Lincoln Harbor. Proceeds from the event, which has historically been used to support Library programming, will instead be donated by the Library to the Weehawken & You Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.
Hundreds of food enthusiasts gather at the Taste for a splendid evening of food, fun and fundraising. The Taste has something for everyone; samplings of signature dishes and unique fare from high profile and emerging local restaurants, caterers, bakers, along with fine wines, and mouthwatering desserts. Giannone Wine will once again be hosting wine tasting stations at the Taste; new this year will be the tastings of specialty beers.
If you are a chef, restaurant owner or other food business proprietor and would like to participate in Taste please call the Library at 201-863-7823, visit our website, like Taste of Weehawken ’13 on Facebook or follow on Twitter @weehawkennj.
April 27th: Kitchen Tour Through Interlaken

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School will host a kitchen tour through Interlaken on April 27, 2013 from 11 AM – 3 PM.  Six houses with seven caterers will be showcased.  Caterers include et al fine foods, Cravings, the Caramel Shop, Chef Michael Thompson, Falco Brothers Catering, Joe Leone’s, and Mike’s Deli.

Tickets, $35 prepaid and $40 on the day of the tour, are available at the Allenhurst Cleaners, 530 Main St., Allenhurst or by calling Vicki at 732-531-9609.

Participants must pick up brochures at the Interlaken Boro hall, 100 Main St, Interlaken at 11 am on the day of the tour.

nyctasteofnationApril 29th: New York City: Taste of the Nation NYC
Where can you sample over 65 of New York’s most notable restaurants, over a dozen impossible-to-get-into cocktail bars, rub elbows with your favorite culinary personalities, and bid on priceless experiential auction packages in one evening? Share Our Strength’s 26th annual Taste of the Nation® NYC will bring the city’s finest chefs and mixologists together to donate their time, talent, and passion to end childhood hunger in America.
This year’s event includes support from our chef chairs Marc Murphy and Alex Guarnaschelli and our host committee members, fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, interior designer Athena Calderone and nightlife maven Simonez Wolf.  The evening will also include book signings from top toques and food personalities as well as exclusive culinary and travel packages offered during the famed live auction.
Where: 82 Mercer Street, NYC
When: April 29th, 6:30-9:30 PM VIP, 7:30-9:30 PM General Admission
Tickets: VIP-$425, General-$225
Buy tickets online here.  100% of ticket sales go toward ending childhood hunger.
May 8th: Atlantic City: The 16th Annual Atlantic City Host Awards will take place on May 8th in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom of Boardwalk Hall. Presented by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA) and the ACCVA Foundation, the program salutes and encourages excellent customer service industry-wide.
In addition to honoring award winners in 26 categories ranging from various food service, bar and hotel personnel to retail, visitor information, spa and casino positions, the prestigious Spirit of Hospitality Award will be presented to the Dougherty family, which has owned and operated some of the city’s most famous restaurants for generations. The Doughertys currently own and operate Dock’s Oyster House, Knife and Fork Inn, and Harry’s Oyster Bar. Dock’s has been in the family’s control since it opened in 1897.
Scholarships for students attending hospitality programs at area colleges will also be presented during the banquet. The scholarships are awarded by the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association and the ACCVA Foundation.
Tickets for the Host Awards banquet are $65.00 each and are available by calling Jacqui Carole at 609-449-7174.  More information on sponsorship, nominations, and the ACCVA Foundation can be found by visiting their website.
May 12th-18th: Atlantic City:  Tropicana Bacon Week

Tropicana is changing the way you look at bacon with its first ever Bacon Week Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th.  These dining and retail specials are guaranteed to make your mouth water.  They are mixing bacon in your martini, wrapping your steak in it, dipping it in chocolate and even making a bouquet of roses with it!  It’s all about the “B” word at Tropicana… BACON!

Receive a bacon tour card at any of our participating outlets and collect stamps with qualifying bacon purchases. Fill your card and submit it for a chance to win an overnight stay at Tropicana Atlantic City and a gift basket by Bacon Bites Inc.!

For more information, contact Tropicana at 1-800-THE- TROP.

gnsvhosesMay 18th: Atlantic City: 3rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge

 The Chelsea, Atlantic City’s chic non-gaming hotel on the Boardwalk, will host the 3rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The Atlantic City Fire Department will face off with the Atlantic City Police Department and compete to be the first to clear their plates of the mega 4-pound Big Teplitzky breakfast of pancakes, stuffed French toast, eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, pork roll, hash browns, grilled tomato, toast, a bagel, along with orange juice and coffee to wash it all down! While competing for fun, both departments are partnering for a serious cause-to raise community support and awareness of suicide prevention particularly among first responders.

All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit The Andrew Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund and Cop2Cop. Andrew’s Scholarship Fund is a tribute to Captain James’ son who was a brilliant chemical engineering student at Northeastern University in Boston at the time of his tragic death. Cop2Cop is a New Jersey based phone counseling service for law enforcement. Law enforcement officers, some of who have faced their own struggles with depression or seen colleagues suffer, volunteer their time to staff the service.

Individuals or businesses interested in becoming sponsors of The Big Teplitzky Challenge should contact the Atlantic City Firemen’s Federal Credit Union at (609) 272-1000. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 each through ACPD (Jane Tayoun: [email protected]/ 609-271-2500) or ACFD (Christine Parker: [email protected]/609-576-4084) or purchased at the door.                                                                                                                                                                       

For more information on the Chelsea hotel, please call 1-800-548-5030 or visit www.thechelsea-ac.com.


2013-wine-logoMay 18th-19th: Glassboro: Glassboro Vintage South Jersey Wine Festival

 Come to the 2nd Annual Wine Festival where fifteen southern New Jersey wineries will be on hand for tastings and purchases.  Live musical entertainment and gourmet food selections will also be featured in this two-day event, expected to draw more than 5,000 guests.  Tickets are now available for the event which runs 12:00-5:00 p.m. each day on Rowan Boulevard as part of the Glassboro Marketplace series of large-scale community activities.

Participating wineries include Amalthea Winery, Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery, Bellview Winery, Cedarvale Winery, Chestnut Run Farm, Coda Rossa Winery, DiBella Winery, DiMatteo Vineyards, Heritage Vineyards, Monroeville Winery, Natali Vineyards, Plagido’s Winery, Sharrott Winery, Valenzano Winery and Wagonhouse Winery.

Local restaurants including Landmark Americana, Bomb Bomb BBQ and Sandwich Grille, Think Greek Grill and Yogurt Bar, Little Beef’s, Carolina Blue, Liscio’s and Green Zebra will offer gourmet and pre-packaged food selections.  Glassboro artisans including Second Look Mosaic and the Glassboro Honey Company will join more than two dozen vendors offering specialty items for wine lovers.

The festival will be alive with musical entertainment.  Appearing from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Saturday is Cold Blue Electric, featuring their brand of Jazz fusion.  Enjoy classic rock from Love Alive on Saturday from 2:30-5:00 p.m.  Singer/songwriter Dan Bell kicks off Sunday’s entertainment from 12:00-2:00 p.m., followed by Mike Dugan and the Blues Mission from 2:30-5:00 p.m.

Advance tickets are available at www.glassboromarketplace.com.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Admission includes a souvenir glass and parking is free.

The Wine Festival will take place rain or shine.  Additional tents will be used in case of inclement weather.

manestreamJune 1st:  Oldwick: The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event

Equine meets epicurean when a Hunterdon County non-profit hosts an evening of charitable giving this June called The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event. Mane Stream is an organization that provides equine therapy to over 200 riders with physical, developmental, emotional, and medical challenges. In keeping with the hottest trends in food and drink, The Food Truck Festival: A Moving Culinary Event will feature six gourmet food trucks from the tri-state area plus beer pairings from the tri-state’s finest microbreweries, full open bar, dancing, and two raffles. This will all take place in a fantastic lounge atmosphere on Saturday June 1, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. at 14 Holland Brook Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ.

The featured food trucks are sure to satisfy adventurous eaters and picky eaters alike. The evening will begin with The Cow and the Curd’s battered and fried cheese curds, plus Rickshaw Dumplings will feature all of their most sought after dumplings and dipping sauces.  Next to roll up are the main course trucks. Amped up comfort food from Lil Dan’s, Foo Truck’s Asian-fusion flavors and Indian cuisine from Mausam Curry & Bites will not disappoint. End the evening on a sweet note with Belgian waffles piled high with Wafels & Dinges’ gourmet ice cream, fresh fruit, and toppings galore —everything homemade and everything delicious. These food trucks may call NYC and Philadelphia home, but they are coming to the country to satisfy hungry Mane Stream supporters.

Additionally, New Jersey Craft Beer has carefully paired each truck’s cuisine with amazing local brews. It’s the perfect opportunity to taste test the best of New Jersey’s pint-sized selections. These nine different breweries will be serving up cold ones: Weyerbacher, Smuttynose, Troegs, River Horse, Flying Dog, Yards, Boulder, Breckenridge and Sly Fox.

There will be a riding demonstration (weather permitting), so festival participants will be able to see how Mane Stream’s clients benefit from equine assisted therapy and other equestrian activities. Music and dancing will provide additional entertainment well into the night.

All-inclusive tickets are $150 and must be purchased online via manestreaminc.org, under Special Events.

June 7th: Morristown: Five Course Tasting Dinner at The Artist Baker

A five course tasting menu of locally sourced foods will be prepared by Chef Andrea Lekberg at her boutique bakery located in downtown Morristown to raise funds for Slow Food Northern New Jersey‘s School Vegetable Garden Program.  Gary Tonucci, the chapter’s wine enthusiast, has selected the New Jersey wines to pair with each course.  Gary will provide information about the wines being served and viniculture in the state.

Please note that both vegetarian and vegan options will be available upon request.   Tickets are $80 for Slow Food Members and $85 for non-members.  Please book soon as space is limited by purchasing tickets online.

Chef Jose Garces’ Latin Road Home

Jennifer Miller
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Chef Jose Garces’ Latin Road Home

Chef Jose Garces of Amada, Village Whiskey and Distrito Cantina at the Revel Hotel and Casino in AC has written his first cookbook The Latin Road Home which takes the reader for a ride into his personal culinary experiences and influences throughout his life. It is a beautiful jouney filled with delicious recipes and wonderful pictures of the many countries that helped shape his culinary style. Cuba, Spain, Equador, Peru and Mexico play a tremendous role in this exciting cookbook filled with intimate stories of the people and places in Chef Jose Garces’ education and exposure to Latin food.

The reader is instantly transported into his world of flavors, sights and sounds. Written with love and respect for all he met along the way which only adds to the desire to recreate some of the wonderful recipes that make up the fabric of Jose Garces’ Latin roots and heritage. He has included a recipe for Fritada, fried pork from his childhood that his mother made for him which he loves to this day.

Last week I was able to speak to Chef Garces about his book and his upcoming event at Amada.

Was there a single recipe that inspired you to write the book?

“This is a difficult question to answer; so many of these recipes are personal to me, and the fact that I get to share them, and people will cook them, is so thrilling.  I think, as readers explore each chapter, they’ll understand how personal all of these dishes are and how each of them has shaped me and contributed to the chef that I am today.”

What’s next on your plate? Any more books in your future?

“I would say: never say never.  The life and career path I’m on now, I never would have predicted.  At this stage, I hope I have learned enough not to try and to just work hard, learn as much as I can, and share it with the people I care about.  Stay tuned!”

Favorite recipe from the new book.

“I’ll always have a soft spot for my mom’s Fritada, or fried pork, which is in the Ecuador chapter.  My mom is a great cook and it’s a brilliant technique she uses – the meat is slowly cooked in a mixture of stock and oil, making it next-level tender, and then once all the stock has evaporated, the oil fries it in the same pan for texture and tons of flavor.  The taste and smell of this dish will always remind me of home.”

Tonight, Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m., join Chef Jose Garces at his gorgeous tapas bar and restaurant, Amada (609-225-9900) at Revel(500 Boardwalk, 855-348-0500) for a decadent, multi-course meal celebrating the publication of  The Latin Road Home.  For $110 (includes tax and gratuity) or $150 (includes tax, gratuity and wine pairing)  guests will enjoy dishes from each of the book’s five chapters:  Ecuador; Spain; Cuba; Mexico; and Peru.  A copy of the book, which is a cookbook, travelogue and memoir all at once, is included in the price and Chef Garces will be available after dinner to sign copies.

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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