Page 173 ⋆ Jersey Bites

Breakfast with a View at Alice’s on Lake Hopatcong

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie

-

July 25, 2012

Alice Szigethy opened her Lake Hopatcong restaurant, Alice’s, in 2009 to the pleasure of lake residents and weekenders. The establishment overlooks New Jersey’s largest lake and offers gorgeous views from inside the restaurant and on its expansive patio area.

Chef David Drake, a known name in popular kitchens like The Frog and The Peach, Daryl and Stage House, has constructed a creative menu that features both modern dishes and comforting foods.

: Eggs Benedict

Breakfast is a popular meal at Alice’s. In non-winter months, guests gravitate to the patio area where there are tables and where guests can also eat at a counter overlooking the water.

Eggs Benedict ($11) are simply delicious and feature a tomato Hollandaise sauce that offers a nice twist on a familiar favorite. Blueberry Pancakes ($9) get an extra dose of the tasty little blue guys with a blueberry sauce on the side. A nice perk is the serving of pure maple syrup to pour over the powder-sugared cakes.

Other solid options are the outstanding Alice’s Breakfast Sandwich ($8) – two fried eggs with cheese topped with either ham or bacon, the Steak and Eggs ($13) – a strip steak paired with fried eggs and home fries and the Cheddar Cheese Omelet ($9), also served with home fries.

Diners can add bacon or ham to any entree for an additional $4.

For the more health-conscious eaters, there is Granola and Greek Yogurt with berries and honey ($8). The serving is generous and the tangy Greek yogurt is a nice contrast to the sweet berries.

Coffee is strong and dark-roasted and Alice’s serves brunch-worthy cocktails like the classic Bloody Mary and Mimosa.

For a relaxing breakfast with a view that cannot be beat, take a scenic ride over to Alice’s. You will not be disappointed.

Alice’s

24 Nolan’s Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ.

(973) 663-9600

www.alicesrestaurantnj.com

Cheers,

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.

Recipe: Summer Corn Chowder

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

-

July 24, 2012

0

If you think gazpacho is the only soup you can have in mid-summer, ladies and gents, this chowder is going to change your mind. The sweetness of fresh summer Jersey corn is a perfect counter-balance to the richness of the cream and the starchiness of the potatoes. For this recipe, I traveled into Morris County to obtain fresh veggies from Pine Brook’s Bader Farms, which has been around since 1892.

Ingredients:

1 cup diced carrots

2 diced onions

1 large peeled potato, diced small

Mince 3 cloves garlic

1.5 lbs. corn, either thawed or from 4 ears of fresh sweet corn

4 thick bacon strips

1 cup Half & Half

4 cups chicken stock

1½ tsp. fresh thyme, about 5 large sprigs

Couple squirts of hot sauce

Salt & Pepper

Chopped fresh tomato (optional)

First, prep the veggies. Shuck and de-silk the corn. The easiest way to take the kernels off is to stand the cob up in a big bowl, stump-side down. Using a smaller paring knife, cut down the side of the cob as deep as you can. You know you’ve gone too deep into the cob when it’s hard to run the knife down. Do one side, then twist the cob and cut down the next side. Rinse, repeat. When done, dice the onions and carrots and mince the garlic.

Brown the bacon over medium-low heat to render out most of the fat. When crispy, scoop out the bacon with a slotted spoon, put it on a plate, and try not to eat it. Dump the onions, carrots and garlic into the bacon fat, and cook until the vegetables start sweating and the onions become slightly clear, usually around 10 minutes. Peel and dice the potato while you wait. When the onion mix is ready, add in the chicken stock. If you’re using stock in a large tetrapak, it’s the whole box you want to use – 32 fluid ounces. Bring the stock to a boil, then add in the corn and the diced potatoes as well as some salt and freshly ground pepper.

Boil then simmer this until the potatoes are tender, but not falling apart, about another 10 minutes. In the last few minutes of the simmering period, throw in the fresh chopped thyme. When the potatoes are cooked through, pour in the half & half, and make sure the mixture doesn’t boil – keep it at a gentle simmer until slightly thickened.

You can finish the chowder 2 ways: super-chunky, or puree it into something slightly smoother. If you like chunks, just serve the soup as-is. If you want to go the smoother route, use a blender (or stick blender) to puree a portion of the chowder, then add it back into the main section. You can either add whatever’s left of the bacon into the soup itself, or use it to top individual bowls. The chopped fresh tomatoes can also be used to keep the chowder even lighter.

Enjoy your summer in a bowl!

Megan Myers is an aspiring blogger, cook and “food enthusiast” that has spent all of her years in the awesome Garden State. Her all-encompassing love for all things Jersey has lead to her obsession with eating as locally as possible to give back to the state that has formed her into the person she is today – only in New Jersey could you live close to a mall, but also be 10 minutes away from a cider mill that was built in 1896. She adores all things food, and works for a non-profit food trade association in Northern Jersey. Living in Passaic County, she loves dragging her husband, family and friends to find farmers markets and little-known restaurants alike. Her greatest food weakness? Pork belly. Hands down.

George & Martha’s American Grille

Restaurants

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

-

July 23, 2012

0

I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. Washington would have served in their heyday a nice roasted chicken, maybe some homemade chicken soup and of course, a Cherry Pie for dessert. I’m pretty sure Charred Peach Salad or Crab Asparagus Ravioli was not on the menu. Lucky for us, at George & Martha’s American Grille in Morristown all the bases are covered. This restaurant offers traditional items (sometimes with a twist) while also presenting visitors with innovative and new dishes to try.

At a recent media dinner, we were presented with a slew of bite-sized appetizers and dinner options to truly get the full experience of what Executive Chef Michel Desjardins has in store. While the restaurant is owned by Villa Enterprises, who also owns The Office Beer Bar & Grill, this location definitely strives for individuality. Chef Desjardins talked his guests through each dish with pride and expertise.

Appetizers started off with a Country Chicken Vegetable Soup ($6) that was simply delicious with it’s homemade chicken stock and in-house prepared spinach dumplings. A crispy Baby Iceberg Wedge ($7) salad was next and, although pretty basic, it shined with the addition of a pickled onion topping. Although we both enjoyed the Iceberg salad, the Charred Peach ($11) salad was our “greens” winner. The browned peaches that were oh-so sweet complimented the bitter arugula bed perfectly. Fried sweet potatoes covered the salad and became a clever mimic to croutons.

Some attendees around us were already talking about the Crispy Crab Cake ($10) that followed our salads and right away I knew why. The panko-crusted pan-seared patty was full of tender lump crab that was seasoned slightly enough to let the flavor flair. The meat fell right apart when forked which did make eating them a bit difficult. However, with the accompanying corn jalapeno salad, each forkful was quickly recovered and devoured. Last, but certainly not least, was the Fresh Spinach Artichoke Dip ($7). If I could have jarred this and taken some for later that night or the next day I would have! Note that Chef Michel uses fresh, not frozen, spinach here while emulsifying it in a fontina, parmigiano and roasted garlic béchamel sauce. And if that alone wasn’t enough to make you grab a spoon, he serves it along side crispy homemade potato chips that were salted and fried to glistening greatness. What a way to end the starters line up.

For our first sampling of dinner entrees, we were given George’s Grilled 14 oz. Pork Chop ($21). Although the meat was a touch too tough for me, I did enjoy the spinach risotto that was served with. It showed kitchen skill in that it was both al dente and creamy. Another spark here was the roasted peaches placed beside the chop for they sweetened and lightened up such a hearty dish. The 8 oz Hanger Steak ($18) soon came out and this was cooked much more to my liking. The grilled tomato gratin and mashed potatoes that surrounded the meat were good enough to stand alone yet truly accentuated the beef. A moist Roasted Goffle Farms Chicken ($13) was the next entrée for us to try. The summer succotash of white beans, tomatoes and fresh herbs, was a thoughtful partner for the protein as it was dressed just enough to let the chicken take the leading role. The next entrée was my favorite of the night: Crab Asparagus Ravioli ($19). The pasta rounds came doused in a roasted corn and leek cream sauce that I couldn’t get enough of. It was almost pure silk in texture and coated each ravioli beautifully so. I found it difficult to find the crab in the ravioli but enjoyed the asparagus filling immensely. The final dish for us to taste was the Pan Roasted Barnegat Sound Scallops ($23). Underneath the seafood was a tart and crunchy apple celery salad that was tossed in olive oil. It was clean and bright in both flavor and appearance but most importantly provided a stage for the scallop to star. And boy was it the star; plump, juicy and seared to impress.

Desserts were included in our take-home bag and before we even hit Rt. 287, we were fighting over the last bite. The individually wrapped chocolate brownie served with cherry compote was just as I like my brownies to be: dense, chewy, filled with walnuts, and moist enough to leave your fingers a little greasy! I opted to eat the brownie sans compote since my chocolate frenzy began after the first bite!

As you can clearly see, dinner was enjoyed here at George & Martha’s American Grille. They paid attention to almost all details and provided us with great service, ambiance, and of course, cuisine. I particularly admired their dedication to using local ingredients and was all-ears when they spoke of their “mobile garden” of fresh herbs and vegetables. So after trying an insane number of dishes, being educated by Chef Desjardins, and looking over their menu online, I can assure you I’ll be back to George & Martha’s soon and my only request is to see you there!

George & Martha’s American Grille
67 Morris Street
Morristown, NJ 07960.

They are open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. More information included dining specials and information about hosting private parties can be found at www.georgeandmarthas.com

Disclosure: Food and beverages were provided to all media attendees free of charge. All opinions and ideas for this post are my own. No reviews or mentions are ever promised in exchange for invitations to media events.

Gina Glazier is a born and raised Jersey Girl. She recently earned her Master’s degree in Reading & Literacy and currently teaches 5th grade. Gina lives with her husband Matt who is her number one fan and shares in her passion for the culinary arts, minus the cooking part! Her “culinary life” became a reality a few years back when she was chosen to be a guest ofThe Star Ledger’s Munchmobile. This ignited Gina’s desire to be around food and all its counterparts all the time, meaning restaurants, cookbooks, TV shows, cooking, etc. Gina says her “biggest and most monumental experience” was being a part of The Star Ledger’s Pizza Patrol two years ago where she traveled the entire state, eating at 3, 4, sometimes 5 pizzerias a night for just about 6 months! You can check out her Hungry Teacher adventures, on her blogwww.ahungryteacher.blogspot.com.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is Official Charity of Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival

Atlantic County

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

-

July 22, 2012

0

The Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival 2012 The general public can support the FoodBank’s efforts and receive 10% off tickets to three areas of the festival: Grand Market, Define Cheese Steak, & Sweet & Stylish. The discount code is: CFBNJ. Chefs and students from the Community FoodBank’s Food Service Training Academy will play active roles in the Define Cheese Steak, & Sweet & Stylish events during the festival. Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City is proud to present the fourth annual festival, which will feature a collection of the world’s most renowned chefs, icons, TV personalities and experts. Included are Anne Burrell, Tom Colicchio, Robert Irvine, Aaron Sanchez, Buddy Valastro, Andrew Zimmern and Paula Deen.

Tickets for the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival are on sale at www.acfoodandwine.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420.

Cheese Making Made Easy with Caputo Brothers Creamery and A Toute Heure

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie

-

July 20, 2012

0

Rynn Stretching Cheese — Rynn Caputo Stretching Cheese

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a fresh Mozzarella-making class hosted by Rynn Caputo, President of Caputo Brothers Creamery. The 2-hour class took place at one of my favorite restaurants in northern New Jersey, A Toute Heure.

The class was small, less than 25 cheese enthusiasts, and everyone who wished had a chance to work at making cheese along with Rynn, who patiently tutored us in her craft.

Working from frozen then thawed curd base, hot water and salt were added and gooey cheese began forming. It is an art to know when to stop stirring the hot water and curd mixture and when to begin stretching the cheese to make it silky, smooth. “I think the most important thing about our cheese is that it gives people the ability to experience these Pasta Filata-style cheese in the manner they were intended: fresh, the day they were made, with the flavors they would expect from these cheeses in Italy”, says Caputo.

The fresh cheese was molded into the familiar balls, but also torn into long shreds for Burrata and flattened, pizza dough-style, for pesto-stuffed pinwheels. This is by far the best fresh Mozzarella cheese I have had, and I am a passionate fan. “Mozzarella should taste like something, and so we are out to show people how simple it is to stretch and make it yourself so that you can experience these flavors anytime you want”, continues Caputo.

A Toute Heure, the farm-to-table gastronome’s paradise, showcases Caputo Brothers Creamery cheeses at its establishment to the delight of its cult following clientele. “I’ve made a lot of Mozzarella over the years but wanted to learn how to make Burrata and Burino so I could put them on my summer menu”, states Executive Chef Kara Decker.

Here is an easy way to use fresh Mozzarella for a simple, yet tasty dish:

Chorizo, Mozzarella Penne with Yellow Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

3 cups, yellow cherry tomatoes (could use red)
10 fresh basil leaves
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp. each red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper
½ pound dry penne pasta, cooked one minute less than recommended on the box
4 fresh Chorizo links, cooked on the grill then cut into bite-size slices
1 cup fresh Mozzarella, cubed
Parmesan cheese, for grating

Directions:

Add the tomatoes and basil to a food processor and pulse for 15 seconds, until a chunky salsa is created.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil for 30 seconds. Add the spices and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring.
Pour the salsa mixture into saucepan with the oil and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir gently to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the Chorizo slices and the Mozzarella to the pasta and stir to combine. Cook an additional minute.
Serve with a grating of Parmesan cheese.

Serves two generously.

For details on future events hosted by A Toute Heure, access its Events Page.

To learn about Caputo Brothers Creamery and its future classes, access its website.

Cheers,

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. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.

Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond

Events

Jon Faronea

-

July 19, 2012

0

Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond

New Brunswick Restaurant Week, Now – Saturday, July 28th. TWO full weeks of local restaurants offering special deals to participants. Get out and explore downtown New Brunswick. Click for a list of participating restaurants and their offers.

Cape May County Chicken Barbecue, Thursday-Saturday, July 19th-21st. 4-H Fair and delicious BBQ Chicken! Held in Cape May Court House. Click for more information.

Meet the Winemakers | Cocktail Reception, Friday, July 20th from 6pm-9pm. Held at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City. 10 local New Jersey wineries will have their premium vintages for tasting, meet and talk with each winemaker and gain insight to their secrets to wine making. Their will be hors d’oeuvres, carving station, pasta station and much more. Click for more info.

Ice Cream Festival, Saturday, July 21st from 11am-5pm. The 10th Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival held in Downtown Toms River hosts ice cream eating contests, ice cream tasting and voting, games, rides, vendors, and food. For more information, click here.

NJ Crab Festival, Saturday, July 21st at 11am. Ice House Restaurant, Wildwood. There will be crabs, a beer garden, crabs, kids activities, crabs, live music, and more crabs. Click for more details.

Northern NJ Wine MeetUp | Swine & Wine III, Saturday, July 21st from 6pm-9pm at The Tree Tavern, Wanaque, NJ. Join the Northern NJ Wine Meetup Group and their annual pig roast. The menu includes roasted pork, hamburgers, salads, desserts, side dishes and of course WINE! Click for more details.

Barefoot Grape Stomp, Saturday, July 21st from 6pm-9pm. Four Sisters Winery. The barefoot massage of a lifetime! Dress like Lucy and receive a free glass of wine with your dinner.
Formal wine tasting, buffet style dinner, wine cellar tour, barefoot grape stomping and concludes with a dessert wine tasting. $57.50 per person includes tax and gratuity. Reservations required.

The Tastes of New Jersey | NJ Farm to School Network, Sunday, July 22nd, from 12pm-4pm. Two opportunities to learn about and savor the foods on New Jersey. Tula Restaurant in New Brunswick will host a five course tasting menu featuring locally grown foods. Evelyn’s Restaurant in New Brunswick will host an outdoor garden a la carte selection of food drinks, local community groups, farmer’s markets and more. Click for more details.

South Jersey Farm to Form Week, Sunday, July 22nd- Saturday, July 28th. More than 30 South Jersey restaurants converge to present a week-long showcase of local farms and their freshest ingredients. Check out our article here.

Farm Fresh Collingswood | Restaurant Week, Sunday, July 22nd – Friday, July 27th. his event includes Collingswood restaurants that choose to offer a farm fresh theme during this week—a prix fixe menu event incorporating local items from the Collingswood Farmers’ Market and the local agricultural region. Click for more details.

And Beyond…

Women on the Move Luncheon & Tasting, Monday, July 23rd from 12pm-3pm. Celebrating New Jersey women of achievement at Branches, West Long Branch. Guests will enjoy the best of area restaurants and bakeries including Dauphin Grille; Park 33; Readies Café, and Bake Cupcakery and the opportunity to sample wine courtesy of The Wine Group and hand-crafted beers and sodas from The Brewer’s Apprentice. The event also includes an auction of luxury goods and services. For more information or reservations, call the Arthritis Foundation, New Jersey Chapter, 732-283-4300, extension 306.

Corn in all it’s Glory | A cooking demo, Thursday, July 26th from 11am-1pm. Taught by Chef Carol Maxwell of Sickles Market, Little Silver, will be held at the Taste & Technique Cooking Studio, 597 River Rd, Fair Haven. Tickets are $55, or $99 for two. Demo includes goodie bag and lunch. For tickets, call Sickles Market at 732-741-9563.

New Jersey Peach Festival, Thursday – Sunday, July 26th-29th. Mullica Hill, NJ. A peach bake-off, educational displays, the sale of fresh juicy peaches & peach products. It’s so peachy, you just have to be there! Also enjoy live music and carnival rides. Features the crowning of the New Jersey Peach Queen and the awarding of the New Jersey Governors Cup for the best box of peaches.

Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival, Thursday- Sunday, July 26th-29th. Festival will enjoy four days of events, tastings and celebrity chef appearances that showcase the city’s abundant culinary offerings. www.acfoodandwine.com

Merchants in Venice Seafood Festival, Friday, July 27th from 5pm-9pm between 6th and 9th streets on Asbury Ave, Ocean City, NJ. Enjoy all the delicious seafood you love while enjoying live entertainment. There will also be rides for kids. For more info. please call 609-525-9300.

Hot Air Balloon Festival, Friday- Sunday, July 27th-29th. The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America. From twice daily mass ascensions of over 100 special shape and sport hot air balloons, to headlining concerts, non-stop family entertainment, hundreds of crafters and vendors, great food, fireworks, a balloon glow, a 5k run and more, the festival is jam-packed with stuff to do. This year there will be a special Breakfast with the Balloons VIP ticket available for Sunday. Click for more info.

Cluck n’ Claw | Wenonah Lake Association, Saturday, July 28th from 4pm-8pm. All you can eat crabs and chicken. We will also have corn on the cob and birch beer. Please bring a family sized side dish or dessert to share. Click for more info.

Herbertsville Honey Harvest, Saturday, July 28th at 11am. Hamilton, NJ. Join the award-winning beekeepers of Herbertsville Honey as they extract honey from a hive at Grounds For Sculpture! You too will be able to jar your own honey to take home (for a small fee)! The company is a family owned business, providing central New Jersey with delicious raw honey and handcrafted hive-related products, available for purchase at our honey harvest event.

Soulsational Music & Wellness Festival, Saturday, July 28th from 11am-8pm, Veterans Park, Bayville. This event is dedicated to honor, learn, teach, share and explore the many healthy modalities, practitioners, organizations and businesses devoted to health and wellness. Food, great vendors and wonderful music. Learn more here.

Rutgers Gardens | Open House Festival & Wine Tasting, Saturday, July 28th from 10am-4pm. New Brunswick. Enjoy lively and informative tours of the Rutgers Gardens, a Wine Garden, Culinary Garden, Ask the Expert clinics, Farmers Market, Vendors, and Children’s Activities. Click here for more information.

Tomato Hoedown, Saturday, July 28th from 11am-4pm. Sunset Farm in Andover Township. Fun family day full of live entertainment, food, and shopping. There will be barn dancing, tomato toss/fight, raw food demo and music. There will also be vendors featuring: antiques, arts and country type crafts, food and resellers. There is something for everyone. Free entry.

Sunset Lobster Bake, Saturday, July 28th at 6pm. Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes NJ. The event promises to be a night of great music, food and wine! The cost is $85.00 a person which includes appetizers, dinner, a selection of Unionville wines and sangria and a Unionville logo wine glass! Live music all night performed by Brian Erickon. Register online.

Farm to Feast | Bordentown City Restaurant Week, Sunday, July 29th- Thursday, August 2nd. Bordentown City’s “Farm to Feast” Restaurant Week brings local produce from local farmers to local restaurants. Click for more details.

Wine and A-PAW-tizers | Fundraiser, Sunday, July 29th from 6pm-9pm. It’s a “Paws for Celebration,” Flirt for a great cause and enjoy wine and sushi! A fundraiser dinner will be held at Flirt Sushi Lounge in Allendale to support the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge. Click for more details.

28th Annual Peach Festival, Saturday, August 4th from 10am-4pm, Dutch Neck Village, Bridgeton. There will be lots of crafters, live entertainment, pony rides, food, fresh peaches, peach desserts and more.

Peach Party, Saturday, August 4th from 11am-2pm. Collingswood Community Center. Join the Food Bank of South Jersey for the debut of our first-ever food-rescue product, Just Peachy Salsa! You’ll get to taste it, buy it, and hear how we did it. This salsa comes with chunks of real Jersey peaches and packs a little heat. During the event, local chefs will also be serving up tastings that showcase the Jersey peach. Then you be the judge and cast your vote for the best recipe on your way out! More info.

An Evening in Our South Jersey Garden, Culinary Workshop, Tuesday, August 7th from 6pm-9pm. Culinary Workshops Offer Taste of Global Cuisine at Atlantic Cape. Learn how to get the most out of your farmers market or garden co-op. Receive tips on preparing locally grown eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes, and end the night by making strawberry-rhubarb pies and blueberry desserts. To register, call 609-343-4829 or visit www.atlantic.edu/conted.

South Jersey Food Swap, Tuesday, August 7th from 7pm-9pm. The August food swap will be held at Bellview Winery. Swap local food with the community and enjoy wine samplings at the winery. Click for more info.

Chocolate Fair, Thursday, August 9th from 6pm-8pm at the Long Beach Island Historical Association’s Museum. Many stations of luscious chocolate treats- Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream of Beach Haven, Country Kettle Fudge of Bay Village, Cand Treats from Kapler’s, Home-baked Chocolate Delights, Layer Cakes, Cupcakes, Brownies, Cookies, etc. Beautiful Chocolate Fountain for dipping Bananas, Marshmallows, & Pound Cake. Tickets sold at Door. Proceeds go to Maintenance of Museum. 609-492-0700

Cape May Craft Beer & Crab Fest, Saturday, August 11th from 11am-8pm. Held at the beautiful grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, an all-day festival featuring local and regional craft beers to wash down favorite summer picnic foods. Click for more details.

Rock Hops, Saturday, August 11th starting at 1:30pm. Mercer County Park, NJ. A beer & music festival celebrating grass roots Americana, music and craft beer. Click here for more information.

Shore Chef Crab Cake Cook-Off, Saturday & Sunday, August 18th & 19th from 12pm-5pm. Monmouth Park. Shore Chefs compete for the best crab cake award and the coveted People’s Choice Award. Taste fare from your favorite local restaurants. Crab cakes, fried catfish, and clam chowder bread bowls are just a few of the favorites. More information.

10th Annual Seafood Festival, Saturday & Sunday, August 18th & 19th from 11am-5pm. Bellview Winery, Landisville, NJ. Delicious seafood prepared fresh by local vendors along with great live music. Attractions include selected crafters and gourmet food vendors, cigars, massages and of course, wine tasting under the wine tent! Saturday also features an extensive American Car Show. Click for details.

Red Bank Food & Wine Walk, Sunday, August 19th from 2pm-6pm. * LAST RB food & wine walk for this summer! Purchase a wristband for $25/person and spend the afternoon strolling through the beautiful riverfront town while sampling food and wine from Red Bank’s fine food establishments. Click here for details.

Buffalo’s 2012 Spicy Wing Challenge, Saturday, August 25th at 3pm. Buffalo’s Chicken Shack, Wood Ridge, NJ. They’re back and the challenge is expected to be bigger, better and if you can believe it, Hotter this year. As always, they issue the challenge to those that can both stand the heat and eat some wings. Winning is just as easy this year as it’s been every other year, just eat more than person next to you! Click for registration and details.

Bridgeton Crabfest and Beer Garden | Cohansey RiverFest, Saturday, August 25th from 10am-8pm. An all day event in conjunction with the Cohansey RiverFest. Food vendors, crab dinner, beer garden, cooking demonstrations, craft vendors, music and much more.

Chili Cooks Against Cancer, Saturday, August 25th from 11am-6pm. West Windsor. The ICS Sanctioned contest includes three chili categories – Red Chili, Verde (green) Chili and Salsa ICS Sanctioned contest includes three chili categories – Red Chili, Verde (green) Chili and Salsa. Chili Lovers? Come out and taste Chili or volunteer to be a judge, either way you’ll have a wonderful time. Kids Activities and Live Entertainment as well as beer! Click for details.

Wildwood Restaurant Week, Sunday – Friday, August 26th-31st. Enjoy delicious courses from local Wildwood restaurants fro just $30. Click here for more information.

Great Tomato Tasting, Wednesday, August 29th from 3pm-dusk, Pittstown, NJ. This event includes the very popular tasting of over 60 heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties, chef demonstrations, guided educational wagon tours of the farm’s research plots, tastings of honey, basil, apples and peaches, professional advice offered by the Hunterdon County Board of Health Staff on stink bugs, mosquitoes and black flies – pesky insects near and dear to local residents, and “square foot” gardening demonstrations for those interested in small, productive gardens. Click for more info.

BBQ & Craft Beer Festival, Saturday & Sunday, September 1st & 2nd. Monmouth Park. Ribs, pulled pork, brisket – it’s all back and better than ever, served up by some of the Garden State’s best BBQ joints. In addition, cool off with a cold one in the beer garden. More information.

Perfect Pizza At Porta in Asbury Park

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

-

July 17, 2012

0

For months now I’ve been hearing about Porta in Asbury Park. Every time the topic of new restaurants pops up, people can’t stop raving about Porta. Have you been to Porta? Oh, you have to try Porta. Porta, Porta, Porta.

So, finally I made it to Porta. And, you know what, you have to try Porta.

We sauntered in at our usual early bird arrival time (I hate crowds, and natural light makes for the best food photos. And, yes, I saunter, got a problem with that?)

Truthfully, I had no idea what to expect. On their website (which is one of the coolest restaurant websites I’ve ever seen and wins big kudos from me for the lack of auto-load music.) I read about this mysterious “Porta National Park.” At first I thought it was some park in Italy that they had adopted as a charity or something. But no, nothing that altruistic is going on here. Porta National Park is what they call the sandy picnic area where casual groups gather to listen to bands, play Jenga (as I witnessed) enjoy great pizza and drinks from the park bars.

Inside, the casual atmosphere continues with more picnic style tables, rustic cement floors, and old wooden doors (Porta means door in Italian if you haven’t figured that out.) of varying shapes and sizes covering the far wall of the main dining room. The pizza ovens which came all the way from Italy to serve up their perfect pizza, are open to the room and tended by a flurry of mostly men who are very entertaining to watch. There was one female, however, braving the fiery heat, Fredrica Vilardi, Porta’s Head Pizzaiola.

As is my usual modus operandi, I set up camp at the bar with my back to the three garage doors which were open wide that day delivering a glorious breeze and aforementioned natural light for my photos. The bartender, Chris, was a very helpful young man whom we came to rely on for information about the food, the drinks, and the building. My first question was “Where’s the Kale salad I’ve been hearing so much about?” It was one of those tips that I couldn’t wait to follow up on, and then nothing, nada, no Kale anywhere. Chris explained that Yes, it is delicious and No, its not on the menu again until the Fall. Boo.

So, upon his recommendation we ordered the Three Trees salad (radicchio, Belgian endive and arugula with roasted prosciutto, toasted almonds, pear, rosemary-shallot vinaigrette) and in this case, the salad tastes a lot like the name implies. Let’s just say, its very healthy. As my dining companion said, “tastes like someone did a bit of foraging for the ingredients.” I don’t think that is the case, but it was a tad too rustic for me. Didn’t you say 3 Cheese Salad? I needed to sprinkle some parmesan cheese on it because as we all know trees taste better with Parmesan cheese. Doesn’t everything?

After we finished chewing (and chewing) our greens, we were on to choosing which pizza to order. While they have a few tantalizing pasta dishes on the menu, we were there for one purpose, Porta’s pizza. Again, back to Chris for his recommendation since we couldn’t order one of everything, right? His first suggestion was the Betty Pie with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, sliced heirloom tomatoes,extra virgin olive oil, garlic, thyme. Since I think goat cheese makes everything better (even trees mind you) the Betty Pie was a very easy sell. But, I didn’t want to stop at just one pizza. In the name of next day leftovers I can rationalize anything, but the next pizza sugestion didn’t “Wow” me. Chris was telling us that the Pesto Pizza was his favorite. Basil pesto, potatoes, green beans, fresh mozzarella, and coarse sea salt. “Really? potatoes and green beans?” I asked with a face that looked like it just ate a lemon. I was met with a “trust me, you’ll love it.” So, being the typical sucker for young, cute guys who say “trust me” we ordered the Pesto Pizza.

While we waited for our pizza to get built and then baked in the 900 degree oven, (I honestly have no idea how hot the ovens are, and I’m enjoying a cocktail, so work with me.) I decided to try one of their signature cocktails. I’m not much of a cocktail lover. Most of them are too sweet for my liking, but the Limoncello caught my eye with fresh squeezed lemon juice, Absolut vodka, and simple syrup. Very little simple syrup, it was quite tart and deliciously fresh. As we sipped our drinks we watched all the entertaining scenes unfold in front of us; pizza bakers, patrons piling in to gather at the long communal tables, the bar filling up with sun bathers filtering in off the beach and the band starting to crank up in the park, and that fabulous breeze wafting in through the open doors. “Wow, I could sit here all night.” The bar is a large U shaped structure made from the wood they removed from the ceiling during renovations. It’s very rustic and “beachy,” white washed and worn. Porta is a very casual place, but you can come in dressed up for a night on the town without feeling strange. I imagine the place has a night life of its own as it had been a number of different night clubs before Porta moved in.

And then the pizza arrived.

All I have to say is that I feel sorry for the guy who has to slice tomatoes with a Mandoline.

And Potatoes.

As you can see from the pictures, these babies are beautiful. Surprisingly, the pizza I had turned my nose up to turned out to the be the favorite of the night. The potatoes are shaved so thinly you can see through them and the green beans add the crunch that the pizza crust does not offer. But, lets talk about the crust. Chewy, a little sweet and oh so satisfying. You will not be leaving this crust on the plate. It is obvious that Porta invests in its ingredients. Both pies were just dreamy, and I can’t wait to go back to try the rest.

Oh, did I mention I could sit there all night? But, dammit, we had to go. We were headed to an opening of an art show around the corner so it was time to leave. (not without our leftovers of course). As we sauntered out (there I go again) through Porta National Park, we stopped to take it all in. Just then, a group of hungry marauders descended on the park. You never know what is going to happen at Porta. Turns out Pirates like pizza too.

Porta

911 Kingsley Street

Asbury Park, NJ

732-776-7661

NJ’s King Crab Contest: Who Will Be Crowned?

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

-

July 16, 2012

0

Trinchero Family Estates and R & R Marketing, a premier distributor of fine wine & spirits, have partnered with JerseyBites to uncover the best Crab Cake in New Jersey. Over 30 chefs/restaurants from all over the state have entered NJ’s King Crab competition, with voting happening during the months of July & August. For the latest list of participating chefs/restaurants and to cast your vote, click http://www.jerseybites.com/njkingcrab/.

On July 2^nd, the voting poll went live and is scheduled to run through September 8^th, 2012. At the conclusion of the voting period, the top three restaurants with the most consumer votes will be asked to participate in a professional cook-off held at the Viking Cooking School in Harrah’s Casino, Atlantic City. In addition to posting streaming video of the event on jerseybites.com, NJDiscover.com and social media, the cook-off will be aired live on NJ Discover TV. The panel of judges will be 3 industry professionals and includes jerseybites.com’s own, Deborah Smith, Founder and Executive Editor.

For the 2^nd year in a row, Trinchero Family Estates, one of the world’s leading producers of fine wines, is supporting R&R Marketing’s local concept for promoting the “winning combination”. Previously, the supplier-distributor duo marketed NJ’s Big Cheese, featuring Terra D’Oro Zinfandel paired with gourmet burgers. The winning chef of that program, Chef Tony Saboti from Gaslight Bar & Grill in South Orange, was featured as a guest chef at The 4^th Annual New Jersey Wine & Food Festival in March 2012. After much success with this program, along with the highly anticipated NJ’s King Crab competition, there are long term plans to continue developing these creative concepts for years to come.

Details of NJ’s King Crab Competition:

Monday, 7/2 – Saturday, 9/8: Online voting poll open to consumer voting

1 vote per registered consumer:

Monday, 9/10: Announcement of top 3 restaurants/chefs with the most consumer votes

Posted on jerseybites.com and email blasted to all consumers that voted

Monday, 9/24: Cook-Off held at Viking Cooking School, Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City

This is a closed event but will be aired/streamed live on NJ Discover TV, jerseybites.com, NJDiscover.com and social media.

Voting is open to the public.

Hot From The Kettle Buzz

Restaurants

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

-

July 14, 2012

0

The big news out of Montclair surrounds the long-awaited Montclair Food & Wine Festival. The two-day event is now confirmed for May 4th and 5th, 2013 at the historic Woman’s Club of Upper Montclair.

Here are the specs of the festival: On the evening of May 4th, guests will gather for the Grand Tasting, where they will sample the culinary offerings of many of the state’s finest restaurants. Gary’s Wine & Marketplace (Bernardsville, Madison, Wayne) will be presenting wines from around the world and Halcyon’s Seafood Brasserie will be offering outstanding spirits. On day two — May 5th, 2013 — guests will experience a tour-de-force of collaborative culinary wizardry: Michael Carrino of the soon-to-open Pig & Prince in Lackawanna Plaza; Ariane Duarte of CulinAriane; Ryan DePersio of Fascino, Bar Cara and NICO Kitchen + Bar; Mitchell Altholz of Highlawn Pavilion; Francesco Palmieri of the Orange Squirrel; and Zod Arifai of Blu, Next Door, and daryl, will all join forces on an extraordinary dinner for attendees. Montclair’s Amanti Vino will be pairing/coordinating the wines and proprietor Sharon Sevrens will give explanations on the particular wines paired.

But back to dining – as any food writer knows, it’s always more fun to dine with “food geeks.” But it’s especially fulfilling when those fellow gastronomes happen to be Rosie Saferstein and Jason Perlow, two pillars of the NJ food writing community, whose collective knowledge of cuisine is as broad as the globe itself. We dined together at Gourmet Chopsticks in Fairfield, NJ. Really? Not Ninety Acres? Not Elements? Not daryl? No – Gourmet Chopsticks, formerly Hunan Cottage. The restaurant came highly recommended from Rosie, and if she says it good – I’m going to give it a go! Gourmet Chopsticks serves Taiwanese and Shanghai style cuisine. Read all about our meal on Hot From The Kettle.

I’ve eaten my fair share of Indian cuisine over the years – Northern, southern, British-style curry, you name it. But my latest dinner with Jason Perlow at Mausam Indian Cuisine Bar and Banquet in Secaucus taught me that India has more than good food – they’ve got good beer – damn good beer! Read about the Live Chaat and Northern Indian cuisine on Hot From The Kettle.

HFTK contributor, Elizabeth Palmer Starnes, recently enjoyed dinner at Luce in Caldwell. Here’s a taste of her evening:

I knew I’d taste amazing pasta at Luce, and I was not disappointed. The homemade pappardelle pasta tossed with wild boar was tender and savory, and the ricotta gnocchi gnudi were like fluffy pillows, light as air and swathed in a buttery tomato sauce. The rock shrimp arrabiatta came crispy and light, in a kicky sauce spiked with chili flakes and roasted garlic, and the roasted garlic crostini with a white bean puree hit all the right notes. Read all about her eclectic Italian dining experience on Hot From The Kettle.

We wrap up Hot From The Kettle’s Buzz with a little urban legend from Nutley, NJ.

Back in April, John Lee visited Mark Conca co-owner and managing partner at the Old Canal Inn, and learned all about legend and lure of the Death Seat Burger. I was intrigued by the story and had to see how this deep-fried behemoth of burger is actually made. So, last week the Hot From The Kettle crew sojourned to the OCI. Check out the video on Hot From The Kettle!

Melody Kettle, owner and executive editor of Hot From The Kettle LLC, currently resides in Montclair with her husband and two children. She grew up in Bergen county, and spent most of her time beside her grandmother in the kitchen, where she developed a love for cooking, food, and entertaining. After receiving a B.A. in English from Rutgers University, Melody attended Rutgers Law School where she earned a Juris Doctorate. In 2010 Melody began blogging and “vlogging” (video blogging), and in March of 2011she launched Hot From The Kettle®, One Steamy Wine & Food Destination. Hot From The Kettle has established itself as the definitive on-line source for restaurant news and reviews in Montclair and surrounding areas. Hot From The Kettle also publishes content such as culinary demonstrations, recipes, and methods that have attracted national and international interest.

Foodie Things To Do This Weekend & Beyond

Events

Jon Faronea

-

July 12, 2012

0

Italian-American Festival, Thursday- Saturday, July 12th-14th from 6pm-11pm. Freehold Raceway. Enjoy major rides, games, crafters, entertainment and of course great food, hosted by the Italian-American Association of Monmouth County. For information, contact Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.

137th Feast of Our Lady Mount Carmel | Italian Festival, Thursday- Monday, July 12th-16th. Hammonton, NJ. The longest running Italian festival in the United States features Italian food stands, gardens, concerts, fireworks, live entertainment, carnival and more! Click for more details.

The Feast of Mount Carmel, Thursday-Monday, July 12th-16th. Berkeley Heights. Several days packed full of international foods, top musical entertainment, amusements and fun for family and friends. The feast day promises a variety of fun, with a midday parade through Plainfield Avenue to the Church of the Little Flower! The event will also culminate with an impressive fireworks display.

NJ State Barbeque Championship, Friday – Sunday, July 13th-15th. Wildwood, NJ. Come witness barbecue teams from around the country show off their skills in a quest for the best. Don’t miss the live cooking demonstrations, special displays, and much more. The Anglesea Blues Festival is held in conjunction with the NJ State BBQ Championship.

Pour-a-Palooza, Saturday, July 14th from 12pm-4pm. Held at the Pour House in Westmont. An Outdoor Craft Beer Festival with 30-plus breweries and music. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Click or call 856-869-4600.

South Jersey Caribbean Festival, Saturday, July 14th from 12pm- 8pm. Experience the crafts, sounds, and flavors of the region’s Caribbean community. Enjoy a day of Steel Drum music, Jerk Chicken and fun on the Camden Waterfront. Click for details.

4th Annual Lobster Fest, Saturday & Sunday, July 14th & 15th. Held at the boardwalk in Bradley Beach between Fourth and Brinley Avenues on Ocean Avenue. Hosted by the Bradley Beach Chamber of Commerce, this two-day event features seafood galore, children’s entertainment, music, beer and wine, and crafts. Come early, stay late on both days. Call 732-897-1111 for details.

New Brunswick Restaurant Week, Saturday, July 14th- Saturday, July 28th. TWO full weeks of local restaurants offering special deals to participants. Get out and explore downtown New Brunswick. Click for a list of participating restaurants and their offers.

Red Bank Food & Wine Walk, Sunday, July 15th from 2pm-6pm. Purchase a wristband for $25/person and spend the afternoon strolling through the beautiful riverfront town while sampling food and wine from Red Bank’s fine food establishments. Click here for details.

Summer Walk-Around Wine Tasting, Sunday, July 15th from 3:30pm-5pm. Pluckemin Inn, Bedminister, NJ. Come enjoy 40-50 wines with the refreshing flavors and textures that are perfect for Summer. You’ll enjoy hors d’oeuvres from our culinary team, the opportunity to purchase wines on a first-come, first-served basis, and special offers to stay and enjoy dinner. Just $30 per person!

Sundaes on Sunday, Sunday, July 15th from 12pm-6pm. Kennedy Park, Somers Point. An all-you-can-eat ice cream festival featuring kids activities, crafters, food vendors, live entertainment, and more. Click for more information.

Latin-American Festival of Folklore Raices de America, Sunday, July 15th at 10am. Held at Exchange Place in Jersey City. A multicultural event with dance, music and food from different countries of Latin America. Dances like Caporales, Morenada, Tinkus, Tobas, Bol; San Jaunito, Ecu; Mariachis, Mex; Cumbia, Col; Shajchas, Baile de las tijeras, Marinera, Peru; Cueca, Chile; salsa, Puerto Rico and more. Several groups of Folk music.

And Beyond…

Cooking Demo, Wednesday, July 18th from 11am-1pm. Bob Sickles Sr.’s Blackberries, taught by Chef Carol Maxwell of Sickles Market, Little Silver, will be held at the Taste & Technique Cooking Studio, 597 River Rd, Fair Haven. Tickets are $55, or $99 for two. Demo includes goodie bag and lunch. For tickets, call Sickles Market at 732-741-9563.