Babies, Bratwurst and Oompah! Oktoberfest at Crystal Springs Resort, Sussex County proved to be more than a culinary vacation taking us to classic German regions serving up homespun favorites.
The vast property with its scenic autumn hillsides, coupled with the crisp September air conjured up a glimpse of what life must have been like in the ‘Old Country’: spits of whole suckling pigs, calves and lambs on traditional iron grids over open wood-burning fires in a semi-circle, flanked by tents and tables where platters of savory roasted meats and lean wursts were generously plated alongside the creamiest German Potato Salad we’ve ever tasted.
Rustic and robust menu items celebrated family life, good health, and the onset of harvest by filling our bellies with crisp and oniony Potato Pancakes and Roasted Ears of Corn in their husks. Braised Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage punctuated every dish with bright color, delivering a buttery goodness in each bite.
What a treat to see young families, multi-generations, attending and sharing picnic tables with newly made friends who were going solo or in pairs, enjoying time honored camaraderie. They perfected the art of straddling the bench with precariously balanced plates overflowing; trying not to spill from their huge tankards filled with any one of eight Harvest Time and German Biers, while the children chowed down on salty, soft pretzels and Fried Oreos.
Brass Band Music, Bavarian Dancing, and a variety of Kid’s Attractions like Sumo Wrestling, Magicians and Face Painting broke up the eating frenzy before adults enjoyed wrapping up their day with triangles of decadent Black Forest Cake, German Chocolate and Funnel Cakes. As a result…many a Fraulein was seen loosening up her vest on the way out of the Park! This is one event you will want to put on your calendar for next year, so here are the dates. September 21-22, 2013 and we’ll see you there.
Wayne and Anne Galya learned how exciting food could be back in Junior High, when the Wood Shop class elective was completely filled and his guidance counselor encouraged the guys who didn’t make the cut to take Cooking, instead. “Why would I want take a cooking class? Wait a minute…cooking = girls! Heck yeah, sign me up!” And there began his love affair with all things relating to food, making it, serving it, eating it…. Back in those days (the 70s) Culinary Art Careers had not yet become the rage, so I didn’t consider it an option and when I graduated from high school, I began a 39 year career as an Industrial Electrician. But, I never lost my passion for the Art, and even produced my own CIA chef, my son Wayne! One of the greatest joys I have is seeing what other chefs are doing, as it challenges me in my own kitchen. Many friends and family have enjoyed the re-creation of dishes that I have savored in France Italy and the Caribbean, as well as regional dishes from across the US.
Lunch Break’s Fall Gala, Friday, October 5th from 6pm-10pm at Two River Theater in Red Bank. Enjoy wine and beer tastings, food by Red Bank Flavour, a special guest entertainer, live and silent auctions, raffles, and a presentation. Click for more info and tickets.
RHO Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 6th at 3pm. This is a cultural event that will be held at Rho Waterfront in Trenton celebrating the German culture with authentic German food, German beers, live entertainment, and more! Click here for more info and tickets.
Lima Bean Festival, Saturday, October 6th in West Cape May. Get your bean on with lima bean t-shirts from Flying Fish, lima bean chili, lima bean taco soup, lima bean jewelry, lima bean stained glass, lima bean birdhouses, lima bean pottery and this year a special treat- lima bean ice cream from Bliss of Cape May. Almost 100 vendors will also sell barbeque, turkey legs, crab cakes, smoothies, flowers, produce, collectibles, antiques and art… and of course fresh lima beans! 
Avalon Seafood Festival, Saturday & Sunday, October 6th & 7th. Taste delectable treats from the sea at the Chamber’s Annual Seafood Festival. Featuring fresh seafood vendors, chowder contest, live music, vendors and 
Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival, Thursday – Sunday, October 11th – 14th. The sister festival to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. The festival will bring together the world’s greatest chefs, winemakers, spirits producers and personalities to educate palates and entertain patrons in high style—all while helping to fight hunger. For event information, 
9th Annual SJ Pumpkin Show, Friday – Sunday, October 12th-14th. Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown. The South Jersey Pumpkin Show and Festival is one of the largest and best in New Jersey. Come out and enjoy live bands, great food, contests, Fall Home Show, over 150 craftsmen, NJ Largest Baked Pumpkin Pie, Amusement Rides and Pumpkin Baking Contest and 
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.
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 
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.
Ahhh, the Jersey Shore in the fall. A slight chill is in the night air, the crowds are gone, you can get a restaurant reservation for a Saturday night, and the traffic on the Garden State Parkway is bearable. These reasons are what drove me to Rumson last Saturday for dinner at 
I had read that Francesco makes pasta every day, and even though there were many wonderful sounding entrees offered, I was not passing up fresh, house-made pasta. I chose the tagliatelle Bolognese. Pure delight on every level. A hearty, savory meat sauce clung to the pasta like it was emotionally involved.
My husband’s standard test meal at every new Italian restaurant is veal saltimbocca alla Romana. And he’s disappointed 9 out of 10 times. Happily, the 10th time was the charm. Tender veal scaloppini topped with prosciutto, sage, and sautéed with white wine and served over spinach, but my husband asked for escarole instead and they were happy to accommodate his request. What makes this stand out from other saltimboccas (besides the ethereal veal) was the lack of cheese, which usually tops this dish. Hands down, this was the best veal saltimbocca we’ve tasted in years.
All the desserts are homemade (other than the gelato) and I’m sure you would not go wrong with any of them. However, I am a biscotti girl through and through and Francesco’s right-out-of-the-village Italian cookies served with exquisite cannoli cream called me. And, as Snoopy says, when a cookie calls, you answer. Nary was a crumb or drop of cream left when we got done. I managed to snag two cookies from the quick hands around the table and counted myself lucky!
It’s always great to get together with friends as the weather cools down and our thoughts turn to indoor entertaining. Recently, I was engaged in a bit of creative head-scratching as I tried to come up with ideas for a dessert gathering with a twist. The old potluck idea just wasn’t doing it for me. Luckily, I was offered the opportunity to try a new type of candy at a chocolate sampling party sponsored by the makers of UNREAL Candy ™. Since several of my friends share the same mad passion for chocolate that I do, I eagerly signed up for this tantalizing tasting task.
To make the tasting experience more sensual, I decided to serve the candy bars naked and unadorned. Since Unreal Candy ™ is similar to other well known confections (such as those multicolored plain and peanut treats), I did a blind tasting. I put the “original” candy on one side, and the similar tasting UNREAL Candy ™ right next to it. Aren’t my tiny tasting plates cute?
I thought that a wine and chocolate combination sounded interesting, so I served the chocolate confections with a “Diva” sparkling wine from Buttonwood Winery in New York’s Finger Lakes, as well as “Alycone,” a red wine with chocolate undertones from Uruguay that I picked up at Passion Vines in Princeton. The sparkling wine paired wonderfully with the chocolate, while my guests enjoyed the red wine after chocolate.
New Jersey has received an $816,127 Specialty Crop Block Grant to fund 13 initiatives to benefit Garden State crops such as fruits, vegetables, as well as horticulture and nursery. The grants are part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to promote specialty crops in the nation. Most of New Jersey agriculture falls into the specialty crop category. Specialty crops account for $882.4 million in sales annually in the Garden State.
It’s never too early to start planning for Thanksgiving and this 
Bergenfest 2012 Party & Expo, Thursday, September 27th from 5pm-9pm. Held at the Sheraton in Mahwah. Over 30 Bergen restaurants will be providing samples of signature dishes. There will also be live music, belly dancers and giveaways. 
Golden Nugget Beer Festival:
Le Taste of France Show + La Soiree, Saturday & Sunday, September 29th & 30th at Pier 54, New York. The most renowned French food personalities and skilled chefs from New York’s top restaurants will join forces and prepare a comprehensive guide to the diverse offerings. Besides French food & drink the show will have a French flea market, live music by popular French musicians, wine tastings, the classic French game of pétanque, artwork by modern French artists, and even a French bulldog show and contest to choose the cutest French bulldog! Le Soiré will be the best chance for attendees to meet and interact with the participating chefs and personalities. A portion of the proceeds from Le Taste of France will go to benefit Action Against Hunger. 
Chowderfest, Sunday, September 30th from 11am-4pm in Beach Haven, LBI. This family fun festival features live music, activities and unlimited Chowder tasting with the opportunity for each ticket holder to vote for their favorite red and white chowder. The event is nestled in Beach Haven surrounded by beautiful views of the bay and plenty of year end discounted shopping. It has become a tradition for family and friends to gather together to say good bye to summer and welcome in the fall.
Oktoberfest at Jersey Boys Grill, Sunday, October 7th from 12pm-8pm. New Milford, NJ. This year’s event will be the biggest Oktoberfest in Bergen County. Enjoy all you can eat and drink. Beer, wine, sangria and authentic German food, as well as live music. Click for tickets and more info.
Directions:
Italian Mac and Cheese
Italian Green Salad with Vinegar Peppers
Shore Fresh Seafood Market, 57 Channel Drive, Point Pleasant Beach
