Page 154 ⋆ Jersey Bites

Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner Spots In NJ

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie

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April 30, 2013

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

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Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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April 30, 2013

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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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April 29, 2013

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Gluten Free WildFlour Bakery & Café in Lawrenceville

Whet 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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April 26, 2013

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Lidia’s Cuban Kitchen Opens in Downtown Cranford

Lidia 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

Events

aaccardo

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April 25, 2013

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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]

April 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 4^th 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 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 12^th through Saturday, May 18^th. 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.

May 18th: Atlantic City: 3^rd Annual Big Teplitzky Challenge

The Chelsea, Atlantic City’s chic non-gaming hotel on the Boardwalk, will host the 3^rd 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.

May 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.

June 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.

June 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 8^th 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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April 24, 2013

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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
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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April 22, 2013

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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.

Even 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!”

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.

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).

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.

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

Victoria 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

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April 18, 2013

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April 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 15^th 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!

April 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.

April 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.