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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
We know everyone is busy and we understand that you may not have time to visit JerseyBites every day. (No matter how amazing it is.) So, we decided to create this weekly newsletter to keep you up-to-date on the highlights for the week and to also fill you in on some breaking dining news. Moving forward, we hope you will become part of the fun and fill us in on new restaurants you see popping up, or sadly ones that have closed up shop. Send your tips to 
MORE THAN 30 SOUTH JERSEY RESTAURANTS CONVERGE TO PRESENT A WEEK-LONG SHOWCASE OF LOCAL FARMS AND THEIR FRESHEST INGREDIENTS
Imagine being a starting quarterback going against the ranks of Joe Montana, Payton Manning, or perhaps Tom Brady. You’d most likely feel intimidated, nervous, but without a doubt, determined to give it your all to make a name for yourself like your opponents have. Such is the case of Executive Chef Michael Antony Bell of Tula Restaurant/Lounge in New Brunswick. To him, the opposing forces include such notables as The Frog & Peach, Due Mari, Stage Left, and Daryl. All of these are not only competing with him, they are in the same 5 miles radius. Luckily, America loves an underdog and Tula is just the type that we will root for.
On the evening my husband and I were invited to dine, we were both intrigued and delighted by the menu and specials. We were offered a complimentary cheese and meat board to start, which combined aspects of both the Fromaggi ($18) and Charceuterie ($18) ‘plates to share’ selections. Our board consisted of aged blue, brie, and manchango cheeses along with hot soppresatta and prosciutto, olive tapenade, a few gala apple slices, and a dipping bowl of honey. The cheeses, by themselves, were outstanding. Not normally blue cheese-eaters, my husband and I surprisingly found Tula’s offering extremely creamy, almost silky, with just a hint of the sour bite we feared. Additionally, our pieces of crostini soon became vehicles for a shmear of tapenade, a piece of prosciutto and a hunk of manchengo. Needless to say, the platter was devoured before we realized we still had many dishes coming our way.
For appetizers, we decided to split a salad and the ravioli of the day special. The spinach stuffed raviolis were without a doubt a veggie-lovers’ delight. Being one of those myself, I truly enjoyed the pronounced spinach flavor as well as the wonton-like dough of the pasta. And although some might feel the dough was too delicate, I found it refreshingly light for such a usually heavy dish. As for our salad, the Avocado and Roasted Beets ($10) option was quite the looker! Fortunately, looks matched flavor and we both had great things to say. I, myself, found the meaty beets to be a perfect partner against the soft avocado. The complimentary clash between the tangy goat cheese and modest beets was what Matt found to be nothing short of satisfying.
As for entrees, we both went in different directions. I went with the Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop ($24) while Matt ordered the Applewood Smoked Bacon Burger ($13). And just as the cheese and appetizer courses shined, so did dinner. My pork chop was sizingly fitted for a king, yet plated minimally with just a few of the rosemary potato gnocchi and cherry tomatoes. The pasta pieces, made in-house, were sautéed with a ridiculous amount of thick-cut bacon bites. No complaints here: if you want to plate my pork with more pork, by all means, go ahead! And although I tend to like my pork chops more on the pink side, I found the meat to be tremendously tender and seasoned just enough to allow the pork flavor to standout. As for the burger, with its aged white cheddar and house made barbeque sauce, it was executed well. The accompanying lightly-dressed organic salad countered the fatty-nature of the beef respectively. Salty, not the crispiest we’ve ever had, fries also came with and rounded out the sandwich entrée.
The dessert course was also compliments of the Chef and we went with the Mexican Chocolate Sponge Cake. It was paired with a dulce de leche ice cream, sourced from neighboring ice cream shop Thomas Sweets. Each triangle of cake was deliciously moist yet feather-light. A spoon carrying a piece of cake, some ice cream and a touch of the raspberry drizzle was the perfect note to end our meal on.
Recently, I went on a much needed vacation with my family to the beautiful Florida Gulf Coast town of Sarasota. We decided on Sarasota to visit a good friend who recently moved to the area permanently. I wanted to see Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island this time around. They are connected to the Lido Beach area of Sarasota called St. Armand Circle, named in honor of John Ringling of the Ringling Brother’s Circus family. I was told that Longboat Key was owned by John Ringling and that he brought wealthy guests to his magnificent mansion on the bay built to resemble the homes on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Once there, they would be taken outside on the expansive marble veranda overlooking Longboat Key, probably with a good Cuban cigar, nibbling a smorgasborg of hors d’oeuvres with expensive Cognac in hand only to be whisked off in the Ringling yacht to stake out their own piece of paradise! While we were in Sarasota we toured the Ringling grounds and mansion, a must see when in Sarasota to really get a real feel for what the area was like and how it evolved into the vibrant arts center it is today.
As soon as we were seated we were served a wonderful spiced bread, so moist it ate like cake. Yum! The menu offerings were very attractive to my family with lots of oohs and ahhs. The Classic Caesar Salad table-side grabbed us, so reminiscent of fine dining back in the day. We weren’t disappointed. Both the performance and the dish were just as I remembered. The entrees we chose were the Famous Roast Duck, Pistachio Encrusted Red Snapper, and Homemade Gnocci’s with Gorgonzola Cheese.
We decided to order vegetable sides for the table, Creamed Spinach and Old Fashioned Mashed Potatoes. The duck was perfection, crispy skin, juicy and oh so rich with a perfect bread stuffing and fruit compote. My son ate everything and even asked if he could chew on the leg bone! My huband’s fish had skin beautifully crisped with tender moist fillet. The pistachio crust gave the fish a wonderful nutty crunch. My handmade gnocchi were light as a feather caressed by a creamy, flavorful Gorgonzola sauce. The side veggies were sheer heaven! Mashed potatoes pureed with cream and butter and just the right amount of seasoning and the creamed spinach braised in cream and perfectly seasoned were the best I have ever tasted anywhere! When the main meal was over, our plates were embarrassingly clean. Our server discreetly removed our dishes and thankfully made no comment.
We were so full when the dessert menu came we opted out. However, when we heard you had to go upstairs to see all of the options we made a beeline just in case. They bake their own pies and cakes and they were gorgeous! We ordered some to take back with us for later! The pictures are great, but do not do them the justice they deserve. We ate the apple and cranberry and the peach crumble at the condo within the next two days! A wonderful restaurant not to be missed when visiting the Sarasota area! It is always nice to back home in New Jersey! Back on the road to find my next great food find.
By now, most hard core BBQ fans have probably heard that 
When was the last time you saw Deviled Eggs on a menu? Um, I’m thinking maybe never. Well, Dinosaur’s version have a delicious Creole spice to them.
The Newark location has 160 employees, including two pit masters. They have 12 people just in the finishing kitchen on the main floor. The three smokers are in the basement and they go through at least two cords of wood each week. That’s hickory wood. They do all their own butchering, and all the BBQ gets inspected and approved by a manager before it gets served. This is a very hands-on operation. The managers must learn every aspect of the restaurant and learn to make all the food, even the sausage.Finishing up the first course, Dinosaur’s famous Jumbo BBQ Chicken Wings. Their wings are spice rubbed, pit smoked, then finished on the grill. They come in four varieties: Mild (honey BBQ or sesame hoisin), Hot (Wango Tango with a Jerk glaze), Hotter (garlic chipotle), and hottest (Devil’s Duel). These babies were finger-lickin’ good! The Wango Tango was my favorite.
But maybe you’re not a rib eater. Not to worry, Dinosaur has probably the best BBQ chicken I’ve ever had. Just to be clear, I almost never order chicken out because it’s usually dry and boring. Not here. The BBQ Chicken is apple brined and pit smoked. It was moist, juicy, and melted in your mouth. The texture was like velvet.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, which is adjacent to the 
There are certain food pairings that seem born for one another. Alone they are delicious, but together their unique flavor profiles meld together to create the perfect, well balanced bite. These classic combinations include staples like peanut butter and jelly, tomato soup and grilled cheese, and of course pizza and beer. Put a unique twist on them and you’ve arrived somewhere between childhood and heaven.
When I arrived at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza in Edison I was met with a warm and inviting interior and friendly service. The space was well decorated with a modern feel; sort of Italian restaurant meets sports bar. If Al Capone and Joe DiMaggio opened a pizza place it would probably look something like Anthony’s. Aside from the décor, one of the first things I noticed was the atmosphere. I was greeted by smiling faces welcoming me to the restaurant. The staff really made an effort to make you feel like family; definitely a great way to start the evening.
After a surprise salad course, they brought out Anthony’s signature coal fired wings and ribs paired with an IPA. I know right, coal fired ribs, not something you find at a pizza place every day. Nonetheless, both the wings and the ribs were surprisingly delightful. They were definitely far from your run of the mill pizza place fare; you know wings that are sloppily fried and then smothered in hot sauce and dry ribs covered in sugary sauce. The juicy chicken had a subtle smoky flavor; sporting a tasty mix of blackened seasoning. The ribs had a rosemary note that when paired with the juicy pork and citrus of the beer created a taste sensation good enough to make you believe pigs really can fly.
They threw a curveball in the menu with a meatball course, and then served the pie-za de resistance. The sauce, which any Italian will tell you is the foundation of every good pizza, had a zesty but sweet flavor. You could really taste the tomato, a refreshing change from the over-seasoned sugary sauce you find on a lot of pizza. The crust, which can often be burnt or mushy, was light and flaky with just the right amount of char on the outside. The cheese was fresh and slightly salty; providing the gooey richness we all love about pizza without the grease we all hate. I was already enjoying the pizza, but when paired with the Flying Fish ESP; I was floating on cloud ten. The sugar in the sauce really pulled out the sweet caramel undertones of the beer. Holy deliciousness batman; what a dynamic duo!
Middletown Jazz & Blues Festival, Saturday, July 7th from 12pm-8pm. The Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation presents a free day of music and festivities as part of our three-event Jersey Shore Festival. There will be lots of great food too! More info here.
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. 
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 
Growlers. Love ‘em or hate ‘em? 64 ounces of freshly tapped beer in an awkward bottle that you pretty much have to drink in a day or two isn’t always the most convenient way to enjoy your favorite libation. Yet growler stations are popping up all over the Garden State. Even I have a growler that I get filled from time to time. But why?
The growler station promotes conversation which leads to interest, then to a sample and finally, epiphany. When I mentioned his ample sample policy, Frank explained, “I don’t want someone to walk out of here with a growler of beer that they don’t like and end up thinking about me the whole time they’re drinking it.” A quotable quote if ever there was one.
What to do with all that Zucchini. Produce in the Garden State is early this year. The strawberries came and went before I could get out to pick them! And local blueberries are already showing up in markets across the state.
Oven Fried Zucchini Chips, Michele Errichetti, Atlantic County
Fourth of July is an American tradition of family, friends, food and libations. When it comes to which wine to select for your backyard barbeque, there are many opinions.
