Big Brew Beer Festival, Friday & Saturday, May 4th & 5th. 3 Sessions: Friday, 7-11pm. Saturday, 12-4pm & 6-10pm. Held at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset. Enjoy great food, music, live entertainment, games, and of course, BEER! There will also be a mechanical bull and a mariachi band. For tickets and more information, click here.
Carol’s Creative Chocolatez, Saturday, May 5th from 2pm-4pm. Bound brook Memorial Library. If you love chocolate join us for this fun and tasty presentation. Carol Freedman, an award winning chocolatier, will discuss the history of chocolate and talk about where it comes from, where it grows, and how it is processed into what we call ‘chocolate.’ Carol will also be making some delicious chocolate nut bark and other delectable delights that attendees will be able to sample. Call 732-356-0043 to register.
Spring Craft Beer Fest, Saturday, May 5th from 2:30pm-6:30pm. High Street Grill, Mount Holly. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican food, live music and great craft beer. For more information, click here.
Wines of the World Fundraiser, Saturday, May 5th at 7pm. South Orange, NJ. A wine tasting fundraiser for the Kindersmile Foundation. A silent auction will take place along with entertainment from Hunter Hayes. For more information, click here.
Chocolate Championship Tour & Tasting, Saturday, May 5th at 1pm. Taste, Tour, Vote! Historic properties and B&B inns are vying for Cape May’s Chocolate Champion title and you’re the judge. Visit each competitor’s property, sample their signature chocolate dessert and vote for your favorites. For tickets and more information, click here.
Beer, Cheese and Chocolate Party, Saturday & Sunday, May 5th & 6th. Chocolate Lovers’ Club, Princeton. Come all you beer lovers, cheese lovers and chocolate lovers. We’ve included everyone’s favorite food groups in this 2 hour tasting extravaganza. Delicious appetizers provided and a cooking demo is included. This event is BYOB, so please bring some beer (prefera
bly local) to pair with our cheese and chocolate. This is a great opportunity to support New Jersey breweries. Here is a great list of New Jersey breweries and brewpubs from New Jersey Craft Beer. To purchase your tickets call 609-851-0660.
Red Bank International Flavour Festival, Sunday, May 6th from 12pm-7pm. Twenty-five of Red Banks finest restaurants will be serving international favorites outdoors at the event. They will also feature international beer, wine and great entertainment on two stages. Family Friendly! For more information, click here.
And Beyond…
Beer Sommelier Basic Training Event, Monday, May 7th. Morris Tap & Grill , New Jersey Craft Beer and Civilization Of Beer education consulting are teaming up to hold a one day intensive workshop for beer servers, sellers and bartenders, and others who have an interest in learning about beer across the state. Great opportunity! For more information, click here.
Garden State Brewfest, Saturday, May 12th from 2pm-6pm. Support your local community! Come on out to sample great beers from local breweries while supporting charities. Enjoy music from live local bands. For more information and tickets: Garden State Brewfest
Riverfront Food & Wine Festival, Saturday, May 12th from 1pm-8pm. Riverfront Park, Pt. Pleasant Borough. Enjoy great food, wine tastings, cooking demos, live entertainment and more.
Spring Wine Festival at Unionville Vineyards, Saturday, May 12th from 12pm-5pm. Delicious food, cheese tasting, chocolate tasting, wine tasting, sangria tasting, complimentary wine seminars, vineyard tours, winery tours, children’s train rides, pony rides, craft vendors, local product artisans, flower pot painting, live music with Meatloaf’s CC Coletti and Anthony Krizan of the Spin Doctors. For more information about this event click here.
Mother’s Day Wine Trail Weekend, Saturday & Sunday, May 12th & 13th. At participating wineries across the state. Many New Jersey wineries will offer a special wine tasting during this trail weekend; a perfect way to spend time with Mom. For trail maps, click here.
Forks & Corks: A Culinary Experience, Monday, May 14th at 7pm (6pm for VIP). Jersey City. This exciting new culinary event with Host Chef Chris Siversen, will include some of New Jersey’s most popular restaurants preparing delicious bites alongside unique wine and cocktail pairings. Proceeds from the event will go to support critical programs and services for people living locally affected by multiple sclerosis and to help fund research to find a cure for MS. For tickets and more information, click here.
Green Solutions Conference for the Restaurant Industry, Tuesday, May 15th from 9am-12pm (Breakfast at 8am). Informative conference where industry experts will discuss how to make sustainability part of your culture, the cost of doing nothing, practical green solutions for small and large operations, and how to implement a “buy local” produce plan and green-influenced kitchen design. For more information, click here.
Winemaker’s Dinner, Wednesday, May 16th. Enjoy a five-course meal paired with wines from Ramey Wine Cellars. Please call for reservations and more information; 609-921-0153.
Wine and Whiskers, Thursday, May 17th from 7pm-9:30pm. Join Companion Animal Advocates for an evening of wine tasting, fabulous food, great prizes and more at the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes. You will have the opportunity to order your favorite wines from the evening at the event discounted price, and CAA will receive a generous donation for each bottle ordere, courtesy of Carlo Russo’s Wine & Spirit World. For tickets or more information, click here
Pig Roast at the Vineyard, Friday, May 18th from 6pm-9pm. Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes, NJ. Succulent portly roasted pig with hors d’ oeuvres and a buffet provided by Ol’ West BBQ. Dinner includes an assortment of Unionville’s classic wines. A walk in the vineyard will be guided by acclaimed winemaker, Cameron Stark. He will explain how vine are nurtured and tended throughout the year. Live entertainment will be provided by singer, song writer John Sonntag.Tickets are $75 per guest and must be purchased in advance.For more information click or call the winery at 908-788-0400.
Taste of Revel, Friday-Sunday, May 18th-20th. Revel Resorts, Atlantic City. Presented by FOOD & WINE and created in partnership with TRAVEL + LEISURE. This three-day epicurean extravaganza will feature exclusive experiences developed specifically for the 6.3-million-square-foot beachfront destination. For more information, click here.
Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, Saturday, May 19th from 11am-5pm. Come to one of the biggest events in Downtown Toms River to taste tons of chili and salsa. There will be live entertainment, vendors and crafts. For more information: Chili & Salsa Cook-Off
Beer vs. Wine, Saturday, May 19th from 7pm-11pm. Held at Atlantic City’s famous Boardwalk Hall, this one of a kind event is a concept created to solve that age old question: Beer or Wine, which is the ultimate beverage and how do they pair with delicious foods? 15 American craft breweries and 15 American wineries will be showcased, all complementing Atlantic City’s finest restaurants. For more information, click here.
Glassboro Vintage South Jersey Wine Festival, Saturday & Sunday, May 19th & 20th from 12pm-5pm. The South Jersey Tourism Corp. and Glassboro Marketplace are proud to present the first ever wine festival featuring Outer Coastal Plain wines exclusively! This event is held on Rowan Boulevard. For more information and tickets, click here.
6th Annual Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival, Sunday, May 20th from 11am-5pm. Tuckerton Seaport. Kick off the summer with the down home sounds of bluegrass and the sweet smell of barbecue. Crafters, vendors, food, refreshments, family activities, demonstrations, decoy carvers, boat building and boat rides. For more information, call 609-296-8868.
An Evening in Memphis, Tuesday, May 22nd from 6pm-9pm. The Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape offers amateur chefs and food enthusiasts alike the opportunity to learn how to prepare three- and four-course dinners. Explore different sauces for pork, chicken and assorted sides, including slaws, biscuits and desserts. Savor the flavors of historic Beale Street BBQ joints with a sampling of dry and wet rub ribs. For fees and to register, call 609-343-4829, or visit www.atlantic.edu/conted.
Balls with Attitude Competition, Thursday, May 24th from 6pm-8:30pm. Greater New Jersey Society for Healthcare Food Service culinary competition. Savory meat, vegetarian, futuristic, all balls qualify. For more information, click here.
Jersey Shore Food Truck Wars, Sunday, May 27th. Join us for the first ever Jersey Shore Food Truck Wars! The top food trucks in town (and out of town) will be rolling in to serve up their delicious dishes and try to earn your vote for People’s Choice. JS Food Truck Wars
Wine Tasting Benefit, Friday, June 1st from 7pm-11pm. Stafford Township PBA and Rt. 72 Buy Rite Liquors present their annual wine tasting fundraiser, all proceeds benefit the Southern Regional Scholarship fund. There will be over 100 wines to taste, a buffet style dinner and unlimited draft beer. For more information, click here.
Garden State Beer Expo, Saturday, June 2nd. Two sessions: 12pm-3:30pm & 5:30pm-9pm. Come sample some of the best brews available in the great Garden State at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Tickets are available online or at Spirits Unlimited locations. Click here for more information.
22nd Annual SummerFest, Saturday, June 2nd from 11am-7pm. Point Pleasant Borough. Enjoy five bands and a huge childrens section. For adults there will be a beer and wine diamond complete with waitress service! More than 30 food vendors and 100 craft vendors will fill the park. Plus special performances by the local dance academy, boot camp instructor, childrens parade and more!
Jersey Shore Wine Festival, Saturday & Sunday, June 2nd & 3rd from 12pm-5pm. The BlueClaws host the annual wine fest at FirstEnergy Park. Sample a variety of award-winning wines from throughout New Jersey. Enjoy live musical entertainment throughout both days, crafters, vendors, and food, plus a play area for the kids. For more information, click here.
Farm-to-Fork Fundraiser, Saturday, June 9th from 5pm-10:30pm. Brady Life Camp in Pottersville, NJ. There will be a farm fresh meal catered, live entertainment, 50/50 and live and silent auctions. Proceeds go towards America’s Grow-a-Row’s mission to positively impact as many lives as possible through a volunteer effort of planting, picking, rescuing, and delivering free fresh produce. For more information and to be a sponsor, please visit: America’s Grow a Row
42nd Annual New Jersey Irish Festival, Sunday, June 10th. Join us for live entertainment on two different stages, Pipe & Drum Band Competition, Catholic Mass, Food Vendors, Craft Vendors, Irish Step Dancing, Family Activities, 50/50 Raffle and a full day of live Thoroughbred racing. Irish Festival
Chef’s At The Shore, Thursday, June 21st from 5:30pm-9pm. Historic Gardner’s Basin. In conjunction with Professional Chefs Week, the fundraiser attracts local chefs from casino and regional restaurants. Enjoy some of the area’s finest foods. Proceeds from Chefs at the Shore benefit the Atlantic City Aquarium and the Professional Chefs Association (PCA), the latter of which uses the funds to support its education and scholarship programs. For more information, click here.
BrewFest at the Ballpark, Saturday, June 23rd. Two sessions: 12pm-4pm & 6pm-10pm. Held at the Lakewood BlueClaws Stadium. There will be over 100 styles of beers to taste. There will be local, regional, national, and international brews. There will also be giveaways and a live broad casting from the WRAT. For more information and tickets, click here.
“Rythm at the Shore” Music Festival, Saturday & Sunday, June 23rd & 24th. Formerly the Jazz and Blues Festival, this Point Pleasant Beach festival features great music, food and wine. This is an admission FREE event. Wine tasting at a nominal fee. For more information, click here.
Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival, 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
Michelle Stavrou
Don’t blink! If you do, you may miss this hidden gem tucked away in an industrial park in Manasquan. Trust me—the food is not to be missed. In an area where breakfast joints are a dime a dozen, you’ve got to set your restaurant apart from the masses. The Blue Peach Café does just that.
children’s menu, but chocolate chip pancakes, as well as classic French toast and pancakes, are kid-friendly options. Blue Peach also offers several types of muffins, including a pineapple coconut muffin, which is grilled to perfection.
Wine Tasting Event, Friday, April 27th from 7pm-10pm. Held at Heritage Vineyards (South Jersey). Get an exclusive chance to taste hand-selected wines from Joe Canals of West Deptford. 75+ wines from around the world will be available for tasting along with a tasty buffet of dinner items from Toscana Restaurant. This event is held by the Mullica Hill Rotary Club, all proceeds from this event help fund local and international projects. To purchase tickets 
Spring Wine Festival, Friday, April 27th from 7pm-10pm. At the Hilton Short Hills (North Jersey). 100+ fine wines hand-selected for your tasting pleasure by the experts of the Wine Library. Relax, mix n’ mingle with wine lovers just like you! Sip a diverse array of wines, nibble on delicious accompanying light fare, and kick back with the smooth sounds of live jazz. For tickets and more information, 
Asbury Park Restaurant Tour, Sunday, April 29th from 12pm-4pm. This inaugural event, hosted by The Chamber of Commerce, will feature small “bites” and one-of-a-kind sampling experiences at over 25 Asbury Park restaurants, lounges, juice bars and bakeries. For more information, 
5th Annual Cooking for Kids: Gourmet Fare From Everywhere, Monday, April 30th from 6pm-9:30pm. Held at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel, East Rutherford, to benefit the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s pediatric programs and services. **Chefs who will be offering samplings of their signature dishes include Lidia Bastianich, Michael Carrino, Ryan DePersio, Ariane Duarte, Scott Cutaneo, and Jim Weaver. $200 general admission, $250 for a VIP ticket that includes a special gift bag. For more information, visit Click or call the St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center Foundation office at 973-754-4408.
Feasting on History, Tuesday, May 1st at 6pm. This restaurant gala is the Village’s signature fundraiser event. Each year on the first Tuesday in May, over 40 local and popular restaurants sample their signature entrees and specialties for guests to enjoy. In addition, local wineries and distributors sample over 100 wines. The event is held in Hangar #1 at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. For more information, 
Big Brew Beer Festival, Friday & Saturday, May 4th & 5th. 
Forks & Corks: A Culinary Experience, Monday, May 14th at 7pm (6pm for VIP). Jersey City. This exciting new culinary event with Host Chef Chris Siversen, will include some of New Jersey’s most popular restaurants preparing delicious bites alongside unique wine and cocktail pairings. Proceeds from the event will go to support critical programs and services for people living locally affected by multiple sclerosis and to help fund research to find a cure for MS. For tickets and more information, click here.
Glassboro Vintage South Jersey Wine Festival, Saturday & Sunday, May 19th & 20th from 12pm-5pm. The South Jersey Tourism Corp. and Glassboro Marketplace are proud to present the first ever wine festival featuring Outer Coastal Plain wines exclusively! This event is held on Rowan Boulevard. For more information and tickets, 
Garden State Beer Expo, Saturday, June 2nd. Two sessions: 12pm-3:30pm & 5:30pm-9pm. Come sample some of the best brews available in the great Garden State at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Tickets are available online or at Spirits Unlimited locations. 
Farm-to-Fork Fundraiser, Saturday, June 9th at 6pm. Brady Life Camp in Pottersville, NJ. There will be a farm fresh meal catered, live entertainment, 50/50 and live and silent auctions. Proceeds go towards America’s Grow-a-Row’s mission to positively impact as many lives as possible through a volunteer effort of planting, picking, rescuing, and delivering free fresh produce. For more information and to be a sponsor, please visit: 
BrewFest at the Ballpark, Saturday, June 23rd. Two sessions: 12pm-4pm & 6pm-10pm. Held at the Lakewood BlueClaws Stadium. There will be over 100 styles of beers to taste. There will be local, regional, national, and international brews. There will also be giveaways and a live broad casting from the WRAT. For more information and tickets, 
By 
The pizzettes, individual pizzas baked in the kitchen’s brick oven, are also stellar ($11-$14). Popular options are the classic Margherita with tomato, bufalo mozzarella and basil, the Salsiccia with fennel sausage, pomodoro and mozzarella and the Funghi with salsa bianca, wild mushrooms, mozzarella and garlic oil.
I recently attended Bellview Winery’s Spring Wine Release, specifically to taste their Dandelion Wine. This obsession with dandelions here in South Jersey is new to me. I grew up in Pennsylvania, where the only dandelions I worried about were the ones messing up my father’s pristine yard!
A world class performing arts center needs a restaurant of the same caliber, and 
Brought to life by the capable hands of Ryan DePersio, Nico recently opened in the space previously owned by the Theatre Square Grill. And while Theatre Square made for a decent place for a quick bite or a drink before or after a show, it was never a destination restaurant. That’s all about to change.
The evening began with a Trio of Tartares consisting of Scottish Salmon, Truffled Beef, and Yellowfin Tuna, served with small slices of toasted Italian bread. I loved the mix of flavors as the seafood played off the beef. But the Beet Pinwheel was the star of the first course. Paper-thin slices of beets dusted with goat cheese “snow” and topped with a red wine syrup and mache salad were incredible. If beets were cooked like this more often, they wouldn’t be such a maligned vegetable!
The second course brought us some of the Chef’s pasta that we know and love. No one beats Ryan’s Ricotta Gnocchi – little pillows of lightness enveloped in a sweet sausage Bolognese – heaven here on earth. The other half of the pasta course was equally delicious, but diametrically opposed – black as night Squid Ink Cavatelli with peppadew peppers, pomodoro, and gremolata. Perfectly spiced with just the right bite.
But wait – there was still another course before dessert! Direct from Fascino’s much lauded menu, the Porcini Dusted Sea Scallops sitting on a crispy eggplant round, gently floating in a peperonata, red pepper emulsion. I have enjoyed these many times at Fascino, but the lightly fried eggplant platform gave the scallops a whole other delicious dimension.
The parade of desserts began with Praline Ricotta Cheesecake with Grand Marnier Sauce, followed by Chocolate Sour Cream Cake with Fudge Pot, Cherry Compote, and Pistachio Mousse; and bringing up the rear, but by no means a lesser player, Rum Raisin Bread Pudding with Caramel Pecan Gelato. For those of you who know me and read my articles on 
FUDGE POT
Morristown Restaurant Week, Monday, April 23rd – Sunday, April 29th. Think global, dine local. Restaurant Week businesses will offer prix fix menus for lunch and/or dinner, not to exceed $35 per person, or special promotions in their establishments. Look for the 2012 Morristown Restaurant Week window decal and posters at participating businesses and ask for their Restaurant Week menu or special promotion. For complete event participation list, menus and special promotions, please visit 
The eagerly anticipated Jersey Shore Restaurant Week™ returns to the area. Nearly 70 restaurants from the Highlands to Toms River will be participating, offering three course meals with three choices in each category for $20.12 or $30.12. This year, Restaurant Week will also offer a specially priced lunch option at selected restaurants.
Maifest 2012, Kicks off Friday, April 20th with several events through May 31st. Maifest is an annual celebration throughout Germany to welcome the arrival of spring. Join Pilsener Haus & Biergarten in Hoboken as they celebrate spring and good beer. Kickoff includes an opening ceremony and barrel-tapping. For a full list of events click here.
Fundraising Event with Tuckahoe Brewing Company, Saturday, April 21st from 3pm-6pm. Raising funds for The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine. The event will be held at Yesterday’s in Mamora, NJ 609-390-1757. For more information, click or call Tuckahoe at 609-827-5375.
Brownstone Specialty Sauce Tasting, Sunday, April 22nd from 12pm-3pm. Dearborn Market, in Holmdel, will host members of the Manzo Family, from Bravo’s hit series, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, as they sample and discuss the creation of their new line of specialty tomato sauces. guests will be able to taste “The Brownstone” line of pasta sauces and meet members of the Manzo family, including Albert and Caroline Manzo. For more information, click here.
Wine Tasting Event, Friday, April 27th from 7pm-10pm. Held at Heritage Vineyards. Get an exclusive chance to taste hand-selected wines from Joe Canals of West Deptford. 80+ wines from around the world will be available for tasting along with a tasty buffet of dinner items from local restaurants. To purchase tickets please call Phyllis at from the Mullica Hill Rotary Club at 856-223-9900 or Heritage Vineyards at 856-589-4474.
Beer, Cheese and Chocolate Party, Saturday & Sunday, May 5th & 6th. Chocolate Lovers’ Club, Princeton. Come all you beer lovers, cheese lovers and chocolate lovers. We’ve included everyone’s favorite food groups in this 2 hour tasting extravaganza. Meet the elite in craft beers, cheese, and chocolate who do what they do for you. Delicious appetizers provided and a cooking demo is included. To purchase your tickets call 609-851-0660.
Garden State Brewfest, Saturday, May 12th from 2pm-6pm. Support your local community! Come on out to sample great beers from local breweries while supporting charities. Enjoy music from live local bands. For more information and tickets: 
Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, Saturday, May 19th from 11am-5pm. Come to one of the biggest events in Downtown Toms River to taste tons of chili and salsa. There will be live entertainment, vendors and crafts. For more information: 
Jersey Shore Food Truck Wars, Sunday, May 27th. Join us for the first ever Jersey Shore Food Truck Wars! The top food trucks in town (and out of town) will be rolling in to serve up their delicious dishes and try to earn your vote for People’s Choice. 
