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Salt Creek Grille Offering Free Gift Cards To Those Who Make a Donation to Red Cross

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Salt Creek Grille in Princeton, NJ is rallying the community to support those impacted by Hurricane Sandy, offering free gift cards to anyone who makes a donation to the American Red Cross while at the restaurant. Diners simply text REDCROSS to 90999 in any amount, show their server, and they’ll get a gift card to match the donation up to $50 – good at any Salt Creek Grille restaurant.

The promotion will be running at all Salt Creek Grille restaurants for the next month, including its 3 California locations, the Princeton location and the Rumson, NJ location, which was directly impacted by the storm – making this a mission very near and dear to the Salt Creek family’s hearts.

 

Lights Out Butternut Squash Pasta

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Lights Out Butternut Squash Pasta

By Melissa Beveridge

 

This last week has been tough on New Jersey residents: flooding, no power, no heat, lack of food. Everyone knows someone who has lost everything and I, along with everyone on the Jersey Bites team, have been doing their part to help our neighbors. This is just one way to bring back some hope and smiles around the dinner table. The more the merrier!

Over the last week, I was on a mission to not waste any food. I donated frozen meat to shelters who could cook it and then looked for creative ways to use the food I had in my fridge and pantry without throwing anything away. The first couple of days were rather easy as my fridge was pretty well stocked, however as the days passed there were less “fresh” ingredients to use and I resorted to eating oatmeal. After my fourth bowl of oatmeal my inspiration kicked back in when I realized I still had one of my favorite vegetables available to me sitting on my counter, butternut squash. So I put my oatmeal back in the cabinet and made this pasta with just the ingredients in my pantry. I still had some butter in my fridge, along with some sage however the goat cheese I added to the dish courtesy of a friend. The results were a nutritious pasta dish that won’t make you feel like you’re cooking out of your pantry, whether it’s during a storm or when you’ve just been too busy to go food shopping.

Serves 4 Adults

1 Medium Butternut Squash

1 handful of sundried tomatoes (in olive oil or not)

1 box pasta of your choice (I prefer rigatoni for this dish)

1 tablespoon olive oil plus 2 tablespoons more

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence

Optional Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons goat cheese

1 teaspoon chopped sage leaves

–  Cut the two ends of the butternut squash off, then cut the squash in half (between the bulb and stem portion). Hold the pieces and use a knife to cut off the skin. For the bulb portion, cut lengthwise and scoop out the seeds, before chopping up the squash into bite size pieces. (The smaller the pieces the quicker the cooking time!)

–  Add some olive oil to the bottom of a dutch oven and place the butternut squash into the pan on medium heat. Be sure to do this in batches if you have a smaller pan. You want to be sure to brown up the pieces of butternut squash to mimic what the oven would do to them.

–  Optional: If you do have access to an oven, you can also put the squash on a baking sheet into a 400 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes. Season the squash with the Herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper.

–  While the squash cooks, add the pasta to boiling water (be sure to salt the water for more flavor!)

–  Once the butternut squash is cooked, place aside. Put the two tablespoons of olive oil into the dutch oven with the chopped sundried tomatoes and cook on low heat until fragrant.

–  Optional: If you do have butter, replace the two tablespoons of olive oil with two tablespoons of butter and add the chopped sage leaves. Melt the butter until brown and nutty.

–  Toss the cooked pasta and butternut squash into the olive oil or butter sauce.

–  Optional: Crumble two tablespoons of goat cheese over top.

Enjoy!

Melissa Beveridge was raised in Monmouth County, and has been hunting, gathering, and tasting different shore foods for as long as she could eat, while creating unique dishes in her home. She earned her Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Public Policy at Monmouth University where she wrote her thesis on childhood obesity. She is an ESL professor, designer, cook, and editorial writer for the Greenwich Village Gazette (nycny.com). Traveling to various locales, Melissa has a taste for spicy foods and a flare for finding those hidden gems.

Greetings from Point Pleasant Beach

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Greetings from Point Pleasant Beach

I guess you’ve noticed that it has been a little quiet around here. Or, if you are like me and situated right in the heart of Sandy’s path, you have been more concerned with putting all of your belongings on the front lawn for the garbage truck, staying warm and figuring out what you are going to feed your family, where will you get a shower today and who might have power so you can wash some clothes.

I was actually extremely fortunate and have decided my house is a hurricane hero after withstanding Sandy with no damage or flooding. My best friend and her family were not as fortunate. When the river rushed into their home at high tide on Monday night, they fled to my house and have been here since. We’ve been cleaning out her house by day and huddling around our fire pit by night.

And I’ve been employing my go-to coping mechanism, cooking, which is not easy when you have an electric stovetop and no power. Our Weber charcoal grill and our propane grill with the lone side burner have been life savers. This morning it was boiled water for instant coffee, then scrambled eggs on the burner and toast on the grill. Yes, we’re camping here. My best friend said to me yesterday, “If you weren’t here, I’d be dead.” I don’t think that’s true, but I’m so happy to be able to make them feel safe, well fed, and as warm as we can possibly be with no heat.

There are many people here who need help, so if you have the ability, please donate what you can. Some may think that this area is all wealthy people who can afford a second home and repairs on their homes, but the truth is our town is a working class town. We live here year round, these are not our vacation homes.

Some updates about events. Jersey Shore Restaurant Week has been moved to November 30th. These restaurants will really need our support after they re-open so I hope we’ll get lots of out-of-towners coming down to show their support. We will resume the regularly scheduled programming here on JerseyBites just as soon as I get power. I’m typing this on my Ipad, and praying I don’t run out of juice before I’m done.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone coping with the aftermath of Sandy. For the restaurants, if we can be of help in notifying the public when you are re-opened, we are happy to do that. Just send an email to [email protected].

Deb Smith, Executive Editor, jerseybites.com

Thank you all for reading and for your support. I’ve had some very kind readers reach out to see how I am and I appreciate that more than you know.

A Ghoulish Green Halloween with Avocados

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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A Ghoulish Green Halloween with Avocados

Halloween is an opportunity not only to get creative with costumes and decorations, but with creative—and delicious—food for partygoers and families alike to enjoy.

For your Halloween festivities, turn your guacamole into Monster Dip and your deviled eggs into Spooky Eyes. You betcha!

Avocados are at their peak in the autumn and winter seasons in Mexico, ready to make ghoulishly and naturally green dishes.

Monster Dip

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons raw shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

½ teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt, divided

¼ teaspoon each cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper

4 fully ripened avocados from Mexico, halved, pitted and peeled

¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

¼ cup finely chopped white onion

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, combine pumpkin seeds, oil, ¼ teaspoon of the salt, cumin, paprika and cayenne.
  2. Mix well until seeds are coated.
  3. In a skillet over medium heat, cook coated pumpkin seeds, stirring frequently, until seeds begin to pop and are puffy and golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. To make guacamole, in a large bowl combine avocados, lime juice onion, cilantro and remaining salt. With a spatula or potato masher, coarsely mash mixture until well-combined and chunky. Sprinkle with reserved pumpkin seeds. Serve with warm tortillas or chips.

Calling all Amateur Chefs!

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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Calling all Amateur Chefs!

Are you at your best in the kitchen with one hand manning the stove while the other cradles a glass of your favorite tipple? Is your ideal meal as likely to get you drunk as it is fed? Do you keep a case of wine on hand specifically for braising lamb shanks? Maybe you religiously select beers based on their compatibility with whatever is on the menu for the evening.  Or the only cake you know is one that is drowning in rum. Are you a daring soul who thirsts for culinary glory almost as much as you thirst for a nice, hard spirit? Then pop open the bottle and get your courage up with a quick shot, because The Food Experiments is coming to Jersey and we’re looking for dedicated amateur chefs to award cash, prizes and glory! On November 11th at the Maxwell’s from 1 – 4 pm, amateur chefs from all over town will be throwing down in a booze theme cookoff of epic proportions! Haven’t won you over yet? Check out some of these fantastic judges you might just have a chance to impress:

Did I mention every competitor gets $50 from a local supermarket to offset the cost of ingredients? Did I also mention that craft brews from Brooklyn Brewery will be served abound? Did I also mention the winner gets a free stay in Brooklyn (amid prizes from Le Creuset, Anolon, Microplane) to compete in the National Championships? It’s almost too good to be true, right? Almost.

Quit begging for glory and enter here.

Not bold enough to enter but still into boozey deliciousness and free beer (ok –the first one is free), get your ticket here.

Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond

Jon Faronea
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Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond

Montclair Fall Food Classic, Friday, October 26th from 12pm-2pm. A seasonal light lunch will be served from a menu devised by two of NJ’s finest restaurants, the Orange Squirrel and Osteria Giotto, to benefit The Salvation Army hot meal program at the Citadel in Montclair. Admission will be by ticket only. Tickets available from The Salvation Army, 13 Trinity Place, Montclair NJ 07042; contact Michele Kroeze telephone 973-744-3312 ext. 4651 or email [email protected].

Haunt for the Hungry, Friday -Sunday, October 26th-28th and October 31st. Wharton, NJ. If you are looking for a great Halloween thrill, this “haunted” attraction is it. We are including this event in our list because the proceeds will benefit The Interfaith Food Pantry of Morris County. Click for details.

Spoon-a-Thon: A Food Day Celebration, Saturday, October 27th from 12pm-4pm. Montclair. Taste soups from Montclair restaurants, tour the house, visit the historic kitchen where soups will be prepared the way our ancestors did, meet the newest members of the Montclair Historical Society (the chickens!), visit the up-and-coming farm. Live music and lots of fun. Click for more information.

Fall Wine & Beer Festival | Vintage South Jersey, Saturday & Sunday, October 27th & 28th from 1pm-6pm at Cambell’s Field on the Camden Waterfront. This event will showcase some of the best wines on the east coast, as well as great local craft beer, gourmet foods and live music by The Funktion and Motor City Revue. Click for more details.

Crantoberfest, Sunday, October 28th from 11am-5pm at the Cranbury Buy Rite. Enjoy 40+ beers, wine and liquor to sample, live music, local food vendors and more. This event is also charitable. Click here for more information.

Chocolate Lovers | Grand Opening Celebration, Sunday, October 28th from 1pm-5pm. Princeton. Enjoy free chocolate tastings, refreshments, and treats. This is a good event for kids, if they dress up they get a free goodie bag. Click for location.

Tropicana’s Restaurant Week, Sunday, October 28th – Thursday, November 1st. Indulge in Atlantic City’s finest dining options! Click for a list of participating restaurants and their restaurant week specials.

And Beyond…

13th Annual YCS Festival of Flavors, Monday, October 29th from 6pm-9pm. Held at the Park Ridge Marriott. Over 35 restaurants will showcase their signature dishes. Wine, beer and spirit samples will be served by vendors. You will hear the sounds of soothing live music by John Moultrie Jazz Trio while sampling tastings and taking chance at our elegant raffle of over 50 baskets and live auction. All proceeds benefit the children in the care of Youth Consultation Service. For more information, please call Kathy at 201-678-1312 x128.

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week, Thursday – Sunday, November 1st – 11th. This is a wonderful opportunity to re-visit your favorite restaurants and try new ones. Scheduled for November, it’s the perfect time to gather your friends and enjoy the Jersey Shore’s great restaurants. Participating restaurants will offer a three course menu for $20.12 or $30.12 with three appetizer, three entrée and three dessert choices. From November 2nd-11th you can enjoy the special menu at participating restaurants. Click for details on the below events.

Thursday, November 1st: “From Gourmet to Homemade” | Kick Off Party

Saturday, November 3rd: The Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest

Monday, November 5th: Black Trumpet Wine Dinner

Wednesday, November 7th: Sushi & Saki

Saturday, November 10th: Burgers, Bloodies & Brews

Sunday, November 11th: The Wines, Cheeses and Pastas of Italy

Wine & Chefs Tasting, Thursday, November 1st from 6pm-9pm. The Mill, Spring Lake Heights. Enjoy a variety of wines and spirits, and sample tastings from some the area’s best restaurants and caterers! Bring friends and enjoy the great atmosphere and music. This event benefits Michael’s Feat. Click for tickets and more information.

Spooky Spirits Cocktail Class, Thursday, November 1st at 7pm. This holiday themed cocktail class with complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be held at Liberty House, Liberty State Park, 78 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City. Tickets are $40. RSVP at 866-683-3586.

Wine & Cheese Tasting, Friday, November 2nd at 7pm. Sickles Market in Little Silver will dress up their greenhouse in magical holiday style, serve spectacular gourmet foods, artisanal cheeses and premium wines and present live entertainment by some of the best talent of Holiday Express. Don’t miss a better-than-ever silent auction and much more. This event benefits Holiday Express. Click to learn more.

Chef Wars II, Friday, November 2nd. Egg Harbor City. You can be the judge as the Renault Winery chefs compete against the Joseph’s/ Tuscany chefs. Both teams will create award winning cuisine as they vie for your votes. For more information, call Renault Winery Resort & Golf at 609-965-2111.

Harvest Wine Festival, Friday, November 2nd from 7pm-10pm. Held at Short Hills Hotel & Spa. With over 150 wines to taste, this is an event not to miss. There will also be delicious hors d’oeuvres, tips from expert wine connoisseurs, live music and more.

3nd Annual Wine & Food Classic, Friday, November 2nd from 5pm-9:30pm. Join the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties for the 3rd Annual event. This year’s event benefits the Y’s Community Support Campaign that provides services to children and families in Burlington and Camden counties regardless of their ability to pay. Guests will enjoy more than 700 of South Jersey’s finest selection of wines and dishes prepared by premium chefs. A limited number of tickets will be sold for a V.I.P. reception, featuring premium wine and menu selections. For tickets, click here.

Beers on the Boards, Saturday, November 3rd. There will be two sessions: 12:30pm-4pm and 6pm-9:30pm at Martell’s Tiki Bar, Point Pleasant Beach. A craft beer tasting festival on the boardwalk! With over 25 breweries and an all day buffet. Local NJ breweries like East Coast, Kane, Carton and Cricket Hill will join regional favorites like Yards (PA) and Sixpoint (NY) and breweries from across the country (along with a handful of unique imports) to offer a tremendous variety of beer flavors. Buffet to include some cool beer inspired fare and different beer/food pairings to sample. Click for tickets and more info.

Coffee & Tea Festival Atlantic City, Saturday & Sunday, November 3rd and 4th. The event will offer two days of programming including tastings, classes, lectures and demonstrations from well-known industry professionals and pioneers. Chocolates and other sweet treats will offer a wonderful compliment to the spectacular collection of coffees and teas. Click for more info.

Six Flags Grape Adventure, Saturday & Sunday, November 3rd & 4th. Jackson. The event will feature NJ wineries offering nearly 150 locally produced wines for sampling and music. Schedule a time for the Safari Tasting Tour which includes a private tour and stop in the Wild Safari. (Theme park is not open during this event.) Click for tickets and more info.

Presidential Wine Tasting, Sunday, November 4th from 4pm-6pm. Montclair. Set politics aside and taste some of the wines our past presidents favored. JoAnn LoGiurato of Dancing on Grapes leads this 2-hour event. $55 per person for the general public; $50 for members. Click for more information and to make reservations.

Savor Borgata Restaurant Week, November 4th- 9th. Atlantic City. Enjoy special three-course prix-fixe menus at Borgata’s finest restaurants.

Savor Borgata, Saturday, November 10th from 8pm-10pm. Atlantic City. Sip, savor and celebrate with world-class chefs Wolfgang Puck (Wolfgang Puck American Grille), Bobby Flay (Bobby Flay Steak), Michael Mina (SEABLUE), Michael Schulson (Izakaya), Stephen Kalt (Fornelletto), Geoffrey Zakarian (The Water Club), Thaddeus DuBois (Borgata Executive Pastry Chef), and restaurateurs Greg and Marc Sherry with Chef Romeo DiBona (Old Homestead Steak House). Taste an array of all the cuisine they do best, paired with some of the finest wines the country has to offer. Click for tickets and more info.

Savor Borgata Day Events, Saturday, November 10th. Atlantic City. There are seven culinary events happening throughout Borgata on the 10th. From tastings to demonstrations from some of the best chefs you’re sure to find something you’ll like. Click for tickets and more information.

Kosherfest | Tradeshow, Tuesday & Wednesday, November 13th & 14th. Secaucus. The perfect platform to connect with buyers and sellers from across the globe to find what your business needs to succeed. See hundreds of new certified-kosher products first-hand and meet thousands of qualified buyers face-to-face, all under one roof. Click for more information.

Queen of Hops Awards Ceremony, Thursday, November 15th at 6pm at The Copper Mine Pub in North Arlington. Taste the homebrews, meet other women home brewers and celebrate women in craft beer. You’ll also have the chance to get free swag and meet the judges. For more information about the Queen of Hops contest, click here.

Buddy Valastro Live | Homemade for the Holidays Tour, Monday, November 26th at 7:30pm. Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank. Candy canes, carols, and the Cake Boss. Celebrate the holidays this season Buddy style! TLC’s Cake Boss Buddy Valastro brings a special holiday show the entire family will enjoy. Sharing the holiday traditions and stories from his family at Carlo’s Bakery, Buddy presents an all new show full of holiday spirit and jingle bell rock, demonstrating the techniques that have made him the most famous cake artist in the country. Click for more details and tickets.

Love at First Bite, Wednesday, December 5th from 6:45pm-8:15pm. Held at WannaBee Chef’s cooking studio in Cresskill, NJ. This special cooking class/mixer is for singles over 40. The cost is $60 per person and will include a winter inspired menu with cooking demonstration and hands-on instruction from Culinary Institute of America-trained Chef Rama Ginde. Participants will have an opportunity to speak directly with relationship and matchmaking expert Julianne Cantarella to have their burning relationship questions answered. The event is BYOB and will be limited to the first 15 men and 15 women who register. Click or call 201-503-0335.

The Big Brew Beer Festival, Saturday, December 8th. Somerset. VIP session available, general admission is from 4:30pm-8:30pm. This is a fun-filled event with over 100 craft beers, live music, games, beer pong tournament, entertainment and more.

An Evening with Paula Deen, Saturday, December 8th at 6pm. Atlantic City. Everyone can agree there is just one name that comes to mind when you think of down home Southern cooking and that is Paula Deen. The American icon will host an Evening with Paula Deen at Tropicana Casino & Resort. Click for tickets and more information.

The Serenity Café Brings Exciting Eats to Toms River

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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I recently had the opportunity to have dinner at The Serenity Café in Toms River, and was smitten the moment I walked in the door. This warm and inviting nook of a restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall on Rt. 37. It’s unassuming from the outside, but the cozy lighting, leather chairs and savory aromas that greet you upon arrival let you know you’re in for a great evening.

Serenity serves American gourmet fare. You’ll find many familiar dishes on the menu, but most are elevated with a unique twist or the use of incredibly fresh and seasonal ingredients.

After nibbling on crusty hot rolls dipped in olive oil, our group ordered a few starters to share, including Buffalo Calamari with Gorgonzola Dipping Sauce, “Nachos” served with hot, hand cut potato chips with blue cheese and bacon, and Lobster Sliders. All were good, but the entrees were the favorites of the night.

Serenity’s menu is seasonal and changes often based on the produce, seafood and meats available. Several of us ordered Halibut Wellington, which was stuffed with a spinach goat cheese puree, cooked inside puff pastry and then topped with garlic sautéed spinach and a sweet corn beurre blanc. The sauce made the dish – it was light and flavorful with a hint of sweet Jersey corn.

While the fish dishes were good, the meat dishes were the real stars at our table. Several diners ordered filet mignon and pork chops, which all agreed were cooked to perfection. The Braised Short Rib Pot pie, a special of the night, was a show stopper presented in a giant cast iron skillet and overflowing with flaky crust. This was easily a meal for three.

The dessert menu doesn’t include traditional favorites, but features unique shareable dishes like Chocolate and Pistachio Crepes, Chocolate Fried Raviolis and Poached Plum Cobbler. The fried raviolis were piping hot, crunchy,  and filled with gooey dark chocolate and melting vanilla ice cream – they were perfection.

The Serenity Café is a gem in the Toms River area; it offers elegant yet comfortable dining with unique dishes and friendly service. Our group stayed for nearly three hours chatting, and the servers were attentive and warm the entire time. It’s BYOB, and the restaurant provides nice stemware, which clinched it for us wine drinking guests! The café is great for intimate dinners, but also accommodates larger parties for birthdays and other events. We’ll definitely be back!

Melissa Baratta: Melissa has been cooking and exploring the restaurant scene since the age of 12 when she first discovered the Food Network. Originally from Vermont, she is passionate about healthy and sustainable living, and loves to experience new flavors from around the world. She is a pescatarian with a love of fresh seafood, but is married to a full blown omnivore, so her recipes range from unique salads, homemade pastas and grain dishes to grilled fish and curried chicken. She lives in Ocean County with her husband and young son, and when she’s not working at her Manhattan-based PR agency, she can be found cooking, gardening, and checking out local eateries. Melissa blogs about food and healthy living at www.SomeSugarAdded.com.

Coming soon to Riverton: brick-oven spot with Starr ties

Kerry Brown
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A new restaurant with ties to Philadelphia restaurant mogul Stephen Starr is coming to Riverton. District 611  is set to open within weeks in a shopping center at 710 Broad Street.

Three Starr alum, Brian Baglin, Catherine Piotrowski and executive chef  David Perrini have teamed up with building owner Jim Brandenburger to create District 611.

The menu will feature contemporary New American cuisine and brick-oven baked Neapolitan style pizza. The ambience will be a mix of  ‘city’ style dining in a cool, rustic community-centric space according to District 611’s Facebook page.

For more information visit www.district611.com.

House of Shandy and a Chat with Alan Newman

Peter Culos
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House of Shandy and a Chat with Alan Newman

Shandy?  Really?  My first experience with the stuff was in the UK many years ago.  It was a mass produced lager mixed with a mass produced lemon-lime soda.  Umm, no thanks, I’ll take a pint of bitter please.  Unlike my dismal first experience, Alan Newman has a fonder memory of his first shandy.  His was in a small pub on a hot day and featured real ingredients.  It packed plenty of flavor and was refreshing too.  Now his concoction is available in New Jersey.

Who is Alan Newman?  We’ll get to that in a minute.  Let’s check out the beer first.

Right now, House of  Shandy offers two flavors: Curious Traveler and Tenacious Traveler.  I was convinced I wouldn’t like them.  I did.  Both shandys are based on a wheat ale.  Curious Traveler  is laden with lemon.  Think bitter lemon or lemon rind, not sweet lemonade.  It’s a bit cloudy which gives it a more “home made” feel than that lager and lemon-lime soda I mentioned earlier.  So is Tenacious, but it’s darker and laced with ginger and honey.  If you’ve ever had ginger beer and liked it, you’ll be right at home with this one.  The odd thing is that, as refreshing as they are, these aren’t just summer seasonals but translate well to autumn for me.   Especially Tenacious Traveler which reminds me of an old recipe for Ale Cup that I used to make at this time of year.  Indulge your curiosity!

One of the current trends on the craft scene is session beer.  Session beers are still flavorful but offer a lower alcohol content than your geeked out Double this or Imperial that.  At about 4%, shandy is a perfect session beer.  As Alan put it, “beer guys like to hang out in bars and socialize and you can’t hang out for 4 hours with 90 IBU IPA’s.”  Too true.  It’s also a nice entry point for the craft beer curious.  But Alan’s biggest surprise was how real beer geeks reacted to it.  “I thought they’d ‘bleep’ all over us”, he said “but they seem to love it.”  It looks like the timing was right.

Ok, back to this Alan Newman character.  He may have the coolest beer job in the country.  He’s a serial entrepreneur and the man at the helm of Alchemy and Science.  If you haven’t heard of it, Alchemy and Science is on a mission to “increase awareness of craft brewed beers by exploring and managing a broad range of opportunities, from creating and/or incubating new breweries to providing legacy solutions to craft beer/brewery founders.”  Kind of a beer think tank funded and backed by The Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) and owner Jim Koch.  Sounds like fun doesn’t it?

So how do you get a sweet gig like that?  You become friends with Jim Koch, that’s how.  Ok, so how do you do that?  Simple.  You call him up and ask him if he’d like to go out and have a beer with you.   When Alan co-founded the pioneer craft beer brand, Magic Hat, they had some problems in the brewery.  Who better to seek for advice than the largest craft brewer in the country?  So he called Jim, talked for 5 hours over beers and they became friends.  Easy.  He kind of stumbled on to the beer business in the first place.  A good friend and trained French chef, Bob Johnson, was prone to throwing parties featuring top notch chow.  He also had a curious 3rd tap handle on his sink.  It was hooked up to a keg of home brew in his basement!  Turns out Bob was a talented brewer too.  So, Alan the serial entrepreneur built Bob a brewery to make his beer.  They’ve since sold Magic Hat and Bob is in the baking business now.  Alan was ready to open a potato chip factory when Mr. Koch called.  I guess it’s all about knowing the right people!

And now the Travelers have come to New Jersey.  Their names are Curious and Tenacious.  Get to know them because there are more coming this spring.  Get to know Alchemy and Science too.  More projects are in the works from them as well.  As I once said to a friend who was in a leadership position, “I’d follow you anywhere, if only out of curiosity.”  There’s nothing wrong with curiosity, unless you’re a cat.

And cats don’t drink beer.

Peter Culos is the editor of “Beer Bites,” a new monthly feature about breweries, bars and good beer in the garden state.  A graphic designer by day, and a life long New Jersey resident,  Peter was first introduced to the novel idea that beer could actually have flavor during several visits to the UK.  He’s been riding the craft beer bus ever since.  It has been called the ultimate social lubricant and Peter’s philosophy on beer is, “I’d rather split my last good beer with a friend than drink the whole thing by myself.”  Besides beer he also likes history, dogs, Jeeps and painting.  In the past, he has written a History and Art blog for the Weider History Group and occasionally contributes to his own blog, history-geek.com.  Life is short.  Drink good beer.

 

Halloween Decorating with Food!

JMalme
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I love Halloween! The candy, the costumes, the parties, pumpkins and spooky black cats – did I mention the candy – take me right back to my childhood. Back then, the most important question during the month of October was “What are you going to be for Halloween?”

For a child, Halloween is a time of possibilities – you can be anything you want to be for one night, and your neighbors will give you treats for doing it!

But for us adults, Halloween has become a major expense. In fact, the average consumer will spend nearly $80 on candy, costumes, and decorations according to the National Retail Federation. Halloween is an $8 million industry that just keeps growing.

It’s enough to make you scream with fright!

But never fear, when it comes to decorating for Halloween on a budget, I’ve got you covered.

Here are a few fun, easy and affordable ways to stay festive without breaking the bank. And when November 1st rolls around, you can eat (most of) your decorations!

Candy corn is one of my favorite candies when it comes to decorating. Simply pour into a clean canning jar, top with a tealight candle, and you have a colorful centerpiece for your dining room table. And since this seasonal candy is usually on sale right now, you can’t beat the price!

Note: this is one time when you don’t want to eat the candy when you are done – wax doesn’t taste very good!

Yard sales and flea markets are loaded with Halloween decorations during the fall months. This bowl was a yard sale find for just 75 cents! Add peanuts and you have a bowl full of thumbs. Spooky…

Save glass jars during the year for your witches brew. Affix free labels (found on the internet) to clean dry jars and fill with “creepy” foods. Who knew that Twizzlers, raisins and dried cranberries could be so dreadful?

Did you think I would forget pumpkins? Fresh pumpkins are still one of the best bargains in Halloween decorating. And when you’re done with them, you can roast the seeds!

Have you tried any of these decorating ideas? Do you use food to decorate for Halloween? Tell us in the comments below.

Jennifer Malme is a full-time mother, sometime substitute teacher, avid locavore, and enthusiastic supporter of New Jersey wines. Her lifestyle blog, Down-Home South Jersey, explores ways to live simply and eat well in and around Cumberland County. When she is not blogging, she enjoys cooking, touring local wineries, and reading. She has never met a cheese that she doesn’t like, and she especially enjoys finding new, authentic ethnic restaurants in her area. Jennifer lives in Vineland with her husband, teenage son, and very smart Siamese cat.

Enza’s in Hawthorne: A Family Affair

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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It is not often that you find a special little restaurant like Enza’s.  What makes their fans like us who have been going for 25 years love it so much, is the owner/chef Santo Occurso who is always busy in the kitchen cooking everything to order with passion and dedication.  From the minute you walk in you will feel like you have stepped into a special little trattoria on a side alley in Italy.

Even though I make many Italian dishes at home, I often crave Enza’s because no matter how hard  I try to make a red sauce , nothing comes close to Santo’s.  His sauces alone, are reason to go to his restaurant.  He gets special tomatoes from Italy and uses an ancient food mill  to make the sauces the perfect consistency.  Each of  them vary depending on the entrée.  His simple marinara is not to be missed, nor is his light but flavorful meat sauce.

You will be greeted by a pleasant family member and seated.  His daughter and his sisters wait the tables and make the experience even more fun.  The room has maybe 20 tables and is immaculate.   Be prepared for the experience.  Bring some friends and a couple of bottles of wine, sit back and relax, everything is made to order.

We usually start with either the fish salad, which is a nice combo of shrimp, calamari and scungilli over romaine with some olives and roasted peppers. The seafood is still slightly warm because it is made right then and there for you.  Very fresh with just the right amount of herbs and lemon.

If you like fried calamari, you’ll love it here. Try the mild , medium or hot , take your pick.   All of your favorite appetizers are here, pick a few and share.

Next,  the entrees.  His many parmagiano dishes whether its chicken, eggplant, or shrimp are delicious, and perfectly portioned. Most entrees are served with a side of pasta.  His shrimp and fish dishes are excellent quality. The shimp marinara and the spicier shrimp fra diavalo with clams are winners.  His flavorful shrimp scampi is not what you expect, made with mushrooms and sherry.

I recommend you get a plate of  broccoli rabe, broccoli, or amazing escarole.  There are daily specials.  My personal faves are the chicken rollatine with red or white mushroom sauce or the cavatelli with shrimp and escarole or broccoli rabe.

He also offers many pasta dishes, the homemade lasagna, manicotti, stuffed rigatoni or baked ziti with eggplant are all popular choices.

Then try either his homemade cheesecake or cannolis for dessert.

Take a look at the slide show and see for yourself what the food looks like.  But keep in mind that Santo is in the kitchen, doing what he does best  with a smile, six days a week for lunch and dinner.

Going to Enza’s is like going home, to your little Italian family.

If you go on Tuesday night you will get a free vegetable or appetizer.

Mangia!

Enza’s Family Restaurant

266 Warburton Av.

Hawthorne, NJ

973-423-4080

LauriLee has been passionate about food her whole life. She spent many years in the travel business and always enjoyed dining out at many ethnic restaurants here and abroad. She is a self motivated foodie who has been cooking for over 30 years. Her recipes are based on fruits, vegetables, herbs, vinegars, various healthy oils, citrus , seafood and organic chicken and turkey.  LauriLee also cooks for her daughter who is a Vegan, so we can look forward to some healthy vegan/vegetarian dishes from her kitchen. To learn more about LauriLee’s cooking classes and personal chef service, visit her website at LauriLeesHealthyCooking.net and Like her page on Facebook for great recipes and cooking tips.

Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond

Jon Faronea
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Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond

Harvest on the Hudson, Thursday, October 18th from 6pm-10pm. Jersey City. This event focuses on the farm-to-table dining experience and the benefits of choosing produce and seafood selections from local providers. In addition to tasting dishes from Michael Anthony’s famed chef, Bryan Gregg and sipping on delicious cocktails Harvest on the Hudson will exclusively benefit Share Our Strength’s® No Kid Hungry® campaign. Click for more information.

A Savory Evening | Wine and Beer Tasting, Thursday, October 18th from 7pm-10pm at McLoone’s Boathouse in West Orange. This tasting event benefits the Arc of Essex County, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and adults with intellectual and development disabilities. For tickets and more info, click here.

Hot Chili & Cool Brew, Thursday, October 18th at 6pm. Newark, NJ. Enjoy a wide variety of the finest domestic and international beers and sample meat and vegetarian chilis and other tantalizing treats in the setting of the beautiful Newark Museum. Click for more information.

Amanti Vino’s Oktoberfest, Friday, October 19th from 7:30pm-11pm. Held at the Wellmont Theatre, Montclair. All you can eat food, wine and beer plus live entertainment. Click for more information.

Unbeerable | Cooking With Beer, Friday, October 19th from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Taught by Chef Cardie Mortimer at King’s Cooking Studio, 778 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills. You will get “drunk” with happiness as Chef Cardie shows you how to make his fabulous recipes using beer. For more information and to register, click or call 973-258-4009.

HarvestFest, Saturday, October 20th from 11:30am-5pm. Downtown Toms River. There will be lots of kids activities, live entertainment, pumpkin decorating, fall dessert contest, a beer garden, football games on large screen TVs, food and merchandise vendors and more.

Shark River Beer Fest, Saturday, October 20th from 3pm-6pm at Sunsets in Neptune. Enjoy beers from 30+ breweries on a waterfront setting with a full buffet and live entertainment. Click for tickets and more information.

Laurita Winery Harvest Festival, Saturday & Sunday, October 20th & 21st. New Egypt. Bring the family and friends. Enjoy live music, fine wines, good food, and shopping for handmade items from over 50 different artisans. Kids will enjoy pony rides, REX the pumpkin eating dinosaur and the playground. Vineyard wagon tours starting at 1:00pm. Click for more info.

Autumn Wine Festival, Saturday and Sunday, October 20th-21st from 12pm-5pm. Held at Manahawkin Lake. Sample over 250 varietals and blends from ten of New Jersey’s finest wineries. There will be live entertainment, crafts, local cuisine, pumpkin carving, scarecrow making, hayrides and more.

Italian Festival, Saturday & Sunday, October 20th & 21st from 11am-5pm. Bellview Winery in Landisville, NJ. Celebrate Italian heritage with a festival of delicious Italian foods and live Italian music. Other activities and attractions include wine tasting; winery and vineyard tours at noon, 1, and 3 PM; crafters; bocce ball and much more. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a great fall afternoon! Click for more information.

Cranberry Festival, Saturday & Sunday, October 20th & 21st from 9am-4pm. Chatsworth. Paying tribute to the 3rd largest cranberry harvest in the United States, this annual festival is filled with lots of great food, baked goods, crafts, vendors, and more.

Oktoberfest at Revel, Saturday & Sunday, October 20th & 21st. Atlantic City. The tent is up. The barrel is tapped. The sausages are on the grill. It’s not a code, just some good old Bavarian fun—complete with live music and tasty treats like pretzels, frankfurter, bratwursts, potato salad, spaetzle beer and more.


And Beyond…

CPC’s 9th Culinary Adventure, Monday, October 22nd from 6pm-9pm. Deal Golf & Country Club. A gourmet food, wine, beer and spirits tasting to benefit CPC Behavioral Healthcare. There will also be silent and gift auctions, raffles and a 50/50. Click for more info.

Locals Feeding Locals, Wednesday, October 24th at 5pm. An evening of delicious food, fine wine, and great entertainment. Giamano’s is graciously hosting the 4th annual LOCALS FEEDING LOCALS event to benefit The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Hearty Italian fall specialties will be served, including appetizers, salad, entrees, dessert, coffee, and a glass of wine-compliments of Montcalm. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to win beautiful prizes at a gift auction. Click for more info.

Montclair Fall Food Classic, Friday, October 26th from 12pm-2pm. A seasonal light lunch will be served from a menu devised by two of NJ’s finest restaurants, the Orange Squirrel and Osteria Giotto, to benefit The Salvation Army hot meal program at the Citadel in Montclair. Admission will be by ticket only. Tickets available from The Salvation Army, 13 Trinity Place, Montclair NJ 07042; contact Michele Kroeze telephone 973-744-3312 ext. 4651 or email [email protected].

Crantoberfest, Sunday, October 28th from 11am-5pm at the Cranbury Buy Rite. Enjoy 40+ beers, wine and liquor to sample, live music, local food vendors and more. This event is also charitable. Click here for more information.

Chocolate Lovers | Grand Opening Celebration, Sunday, October 28th from 1pm-5pm. Princeton. Enjoy free chocolate tastings, refreshments, and treats. This is a good event for kids, if they dress up they get a free goodie bag. Click for location.

Wine & Chefs Tasting, Thursday, November 1st from 6pm-9pm. The Mill, Spring Lake Heights. Enjoy a variety of wines and spirits, and sample tastings from some the area’s best restaurants and caterers! Bring friends and enjoy the great atmosphere and music. This event benefits Michael’s Feat. Click for tickets and more information.

Chef Wars II, Friday, November 2nd. Egg Harbor City. You can be the judge as the Renault Winery chefs compete against the Joseph’s/ Tuscany chefs. Both teams will create award winning cuisine as they vie for your votes. For more information, call Renault Winery Resort & Golf at 609-965-2111.

3nd Annual Wine & Food Classic, Friday, November 2nd from 5pm-9:30pm. Join the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties for the 3rd Annual event. This year’s event benefits the Y’s Community Support Campaign that provides services to children and families in Burlington and Camden counties regardless of their ability to pay. Guests will enjoy more than 700 of South Jersey’s finest selection of wines and dishes prepared by premium chefs. A limited number of tickets will be sold for a V.I.P. reception, featuring premium wine and menu selections. For tickets, click here.

Beers on the Boards, Saturday, November 3rd. There will be two sessions: 12:30pm-4pm and 6pm-9:30pm at Martell’s Tiki Bar, Point Pleasant Beach. A craft beer tasting festival on the boardwalk! With over 25 breweries and an all day buffet. Local NJ breweries like East Coast, Kane, Carton and Cricket Hill will join regional favorites like Yards (PA) and Sixpoint (NY) and breweries from across the country (along with a handful of unique imports) to offer a tremendous variety of beer flavors. Buffet to include some cool beer inspired fare and different beer/food pairings to sample. Click for tickets and more info.

Coffee & Tea Festival Atlantic City, Saturday & Sunday, November 3rd and 4th. The event will offer two days of programming including tastings, classes, lectures and demonstrations from well-known industry professionals and pioneers. Chocolates and other sweet treats will offer a wonderful compliment to the spectacular collection of coffees and teas. Click for more info.

Six Flags Grape Adventure, Saturday & Sunday, November 3rd & 4th. Jackson. The event will feature NJ wineries offering nearly 150 locally produced wines for sampling and music. Schedule a time for the Safari Tasting Tour which includes a private tour and stop in the Wild Safari. (Theme park is not open during this event.) Click for tickets and more info.

Savor Borgata Restaurant Week, November 4th- 9th. Atlantic City. Enjoy special three-course prix-fixe menus at Borgata’s finest restaurants.

Savor Borgata, Saturday, November 10th from 8pm-10pm. Atlantic City. Sip, savor and celebrate with world-class chefs Wolfgang Puck (Wolfgang Puck American Grille), Bobby Flay (Bobby Flay Steak), Michael Mina (SEABLUE), Michael Schulson (Izakaya), Stephen Kalt (Fornelletto), Geoffrey Zakarian (The Water Club), Thaddeus DuBois (Borgata Executive Pastry Chef), and restaurateurs Greg and Marc Sherry with Chef Romeo DiBona (Old Homestead Steak House). Taste an array of all the cuisine they do best, paired with some of the finest wines the country has to offer. Click for tickets and more info.

Savor Borgata Day Events, Saturday, November 10th. Atlantic City. There are seven culinary events happening throughout Borgata on the 10th. From tastings to demonstrations from some of the best chefs you’re sure to find something you’ll like. Click for tickets and more information.

Kosherfest | Tradeshow, Tuesday & Wednesday, November 13th & 14th. Secaucus. The perfect platform to connect with buyers and sellers from across the globe to find what your business needs to succeed. See hundreds of new certified-kosher products first-hand and meet thousands of qualified buyers face-to-face, all under one roof. Click for more information.

Queen of Hops Awards Ceremony, Thursday, November 15th at 6pm at The Copper Mine Pub in North Arlington. Taste the homebrews, meet other women home brewers and celebrate women in craft beer. You’ll also have the chance to get free swag and meet the judges. For more information about the Queen of Hops contest, click here.

Buddy Valastro Live | Homemade for the Holidays Tour, Monday, November 26th at 7:30pm. Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank. Candy canes, carols, and the Cake Boss. Celebrate the holidays this season Buddy style! TLC’s Cake Boss Buddy Valastro brings a special holiday show the entire family will enjoy. Sharing the holiday traditions and stories from his family at Carlo’s Bakery, Buddy presents an all new show full of holiday spirit and jingle bell rock, demonstrating the techniques that have made him the most famous cake artist in the country. Click for more details and tickets.

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