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What’s Brewing in NJ?

Kerry Brown
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As a foodie, have you ever noticed how brewpubs in New Jersey are significantly different from those in surrounding regions like Philadelphia and New York? State regulations here restrict businesses that brew beer making them choose between selling their product for consumption on the premises or making it available for wider distribution. There are other constraints, as well.

In NJ, microbreweries produce small batches of beer for sale to wholesalers and retailers. You can find it in liquor stores in NJ and elsewhere, or in pubs outside of NJ.
Brewpubs are the friendly, casual and atmospheric restaurants that produce small batches of craft beer on site for sale by the glass for consumption on premise. They may also sell their beer for carry out in bottles, jugs known as growlers, and in kegs. Brewpub beer is not available outside the restaurant.

On Monday, March 5th, 2012, the NJ Senate Law and Public Safety Committee will vote on bill S-641. The bill, developed by the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, would give craft brewers in the state more flexibility in how, when and where they may sell, distribute and promote their product. Current regulations are highly restrictive putting NJ brewers at a disadvantage to brewers in the surrounding states of NY, PA and DE. NJ beer-makers also want parity with the state’s wine-makers’ sales, promotion and distribution capabilities.

Garden State Craft Brewers Guild member, Gene Muller, founder of Flying Fish Brewing Co. in Cherry Hill, summarizes the points of the bill as follows:
Allow one company to open more than 2 brewpubs
Allow production breweries to sell beer for on and off premise consumption
Allow breweries and pubs to conduct informational tastings off premise
Allow brewpubs to distribute beer through wholesale network
Allow brewers parity with wineries and with brewers in surrounding states
Current regulations don’t mesh with a growing and changing industry having many small, local breweries rather than large national ones. This bill will address issues that constrict business while still promoting responsible alcohol consumption.

If access to craft beer matters to you, please use your voice. You can make a difference and help NJ brewers and consumers. This will lead to a healthier  business environment for small brewers, more choices for craft beer consumers and hopefully lead to a few more cool brew pubs to hang out in, grab dinner or watch a game.
By Friday, March 2nd, please call or email the five members of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (listed below) to let them know that you support the legislation as a craft beer consumer and ask them to VOTE YES on the bill.

When calling or emailing members of the committee, you can comment on how this bill will help small brewers continue to create jobs and improve tourism opportunities in NJ. The bill will also give consumers better access to locally made craft beers.

Committee members are listed below.
Donald Norcross, (856) 547-4800
  [email protected]
Linda Greenstein(609) 395-9911  
[email protected]
Christopher (908) 526-3600
  [email protected]
James Holzapfel, (732) 840-9028
  [email protected]
Nicholas Sacco, (201) 295-0200
  [email protected]

NJ Craft Beer Guild Members

Road Sips – A Wine Lover’s Guide to the Finger Lakes

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie
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Road Sips begins a series of wine destination articles that we know you will find informational.

Finger Lakes Wine Country is the largest wine producing region east of California with over 100 wineries throughout the area.  It is also one of the top wine regions in North America for award-winning, and affordable, Rieslings.  Finger Lakes wines have earned top ratings from industry a-listers like Jancis Robinson (Master of Wine, British wine critic), Josh Greene (Editor & Publisher of Wine & Spirits), and James Molesworth (Senior Editor of Wine Spectator).

Grapes of the Finger Lakes

The most noteworthy grape varietals of the Finger Lakes are Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.  Riesling, the region’s most popular varietal, is planted on over 500 acres throughout the Finger Lakes region.  Finger Lakes Wine Country wineries continue to be recognized globally for their award-winning Rieslings.

For those of you who think Riesling = overly sweet wine, I have good news – there are fabulous dry, food-friendly Rieslings from the Finger Lakes!  Finger Lakes Rieslings fall into three main categories of sweetness: dry, semi-dry and late harvest, the sweet ‘dessert’ wine some, including me, enjoy.

Getting to Know Finger Lakes Wineries

Below are some of my favorite wineries from the region.  Many of these wineries have small productions and their wines must be ordered directly with their facilities.  Restaurants around the country now offer a good Finger Lakes wines selection and some specialty wines stores carry some of these more popular brands:

  • Anthony Road Wine Company – originally started in 1990 by Ann and John Martini in a farm shed on their property, Anthony Road Wine Company has since prospered into an award-winning winery.  During a recent visit, I enjoyed every wine poured, but thought Tony’s Red ($8.99), pitched as the ‘pizza red’ with its light fruitiness, was a fun wine to pair with casual dinners.
  • Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars – declared by Wine Enthusiast as “Finger Lakes’ Most Award-Winning Winery” in 2007, Dr Frank’s wines are just great.  Especially interesting is its Château Frank Célèbre ($20), a Crémant-style sparkling wine.
  • Heart and Hands Wine Company – founded in 2006, this winery makes stellar Pinot Noir that can rival some of California’s Russian River favorites.
  • Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard – born to Mosel winemaker parents, Hermann J. Wiemer is regarded as one of the pioneers of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes.  Rieslings are award-wining here, but Gewurztraminer and late harvest wines are also delicious.
  • Heron Hill Winery – perhaps the most architecturally beautiful tasting room of the region.  Heron Hill offers a wide range of Rieslings to please any palates.  Visit around lunchtime and dine at Heron Hill Bistro, offering tasty fares.
  • Ravines Wine Cellars – this winery does it all, and very well.  Although famous for its dry Riesling, Ravines produces outstanding Pinot Franc and Pinot Noir.  A wonderful treat while at this tasting room is a wine and chocolate pairing featuring decadent Hedonist Artisan Chocolates.
  • Red Newt Cellars – giving Alsace and Germany a run for their money with its Dry Riesling Reserve ($22), this winery produces one of my favorite affordable Rieslings, top-rated Red Newt Circle Riesling ($13).
  • Red Tail Ridge – Red Tail Ridge is the first LEED®-certified green winery in New York.  Beyond the Riesling, the unoaked Chardonnay is super and the Lemberger ($19.95), a little-known but tasty wine that’s a mouthful of ripe cherries, spicy, slightly chocolaty notes, is a must-try.

A great time to visit Finger Lakes wineries is in the off-season, December – April.  During this time, tasting room employees have additional time to spend with visitors and to customize their tastings.

“At Heron Hill Winery, we really enjoy tailoring a tasting to a person’s specific wine drinking style”, says Tambi Schweizer, Tasting Hall Manager at Heron Hill Winery.  “For the semi-dry to sweeter wine drinker, a “must-try” is our best seller, the Semi-Dry Riesling.  It is a wine that almost everyone likes, with a soft fruitiness of peach, pear and green apple skins.  Our very floral Muscat is also a good choice for the sweeter wine drinkers. For the drier drinkers, I steer towards our slightly oaked Ingle Vineyard Chardonnay, and of course my personal favorite, the Pinot Blanc Reserve.  After a few whites, I usually head over to the “dark side” and try some Cabernet Francs.  It is always very interesting to have the visitors try the triple line up of our Cabernet Francs”.

Make the Finger Lakes region of New York State your next getaway destination any time of year.  In the meantime, look for Finger Lakes wines at your local wine shop and begin enjoying what fans and critics alike know –Finger Lakes wines are tops on taste and affordability.

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.

Brunch at The Sweet Life Bakery in Vineland

JMalme
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If you live in South Jersey, then you probably know that The Sweet Life Bakery in Vineland makes cakes very well.  You don’t win “The Best Wedding Cake in South Jersey” from the readers of SJ Magazine, or “Best of SJ” from The Knot and Wedding Wire without a delicious cake and stellar designs.  So it may come as a surprise that The Sweet Life has branched out into new territory – Saturday Brunch.  Owner Stephen Wilson says, “It was inspired by many yummy brunches that we’ve gone to…in both Philly, NYC, and San Fran.  I wanted to do something a little more fancy, kinda fun.  It’s a work in progress.”  The brunch menu changes seasonally with ingredients sourced from local farms as much as possible.  Entrees are served with a side salad, a different spin on the usual brunch fare.  “Jill’s Aunt Reg turned us onto that.  She’s a great cook,” adds Wilson.  Jill McClennen is The Sweet Life’s co-owner, pastry chef, and Stephen’s “better half.”

In a city full of family-owned diners that have been serving brunch for years, I asked Stephen where he finds inspiration for his constantly changing menu.  “Inspiration comes from anywhere,” he replies, “an idea, an ingredient, something we ate somewhere.”  Wilson adds that the Crab Cakes Benedict and French Toast made with bakery-fresh challah are very popular.  “And of course, the breakfast sandwiches fly out the door!”

My recent visit to The Sweet Life Bakery began with a Cafe Americano, made from coffee roasted in Millville by Kaffe Magnum Opus.  It’s hard to find an Americano in the Vineland area, and The Sweet Life does it well.  After ordering at the counter, we were lucky to find seats in the small dining area.  This is a popular place, and it fills up quickly!  My husband ordered the Crab Cakes Benedict – two bakery made biscuits topped with poached eggs, (real!) crab cakes and Hollandiase sauce.  After trying a bite of this savory entree, I don’t think I could ever eat “regular” eggs benedict again.  The crab cakes make such a big difference!  I had Huevos Rancheros – 3 corn tortillas topped with spiced and shredded chicken, beans, white cheddar, guacamole, sour cream and poached eggs.  Whew!  It was a generous portion with just the right spiciness.  I didn’t need to eat again until dinner.  Finally, my son had a made-to-order egg sandwich which he proclaimed was “perfect.”  Other brunch entrees include French Toast (which looked amazing), Apple Pancakes, and a Veggie Frittata.

The Sweet Life Bakery is located at 601 East Landis Avenue in Vineland and offers brunch every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.  Reasonable prices from $3.99 for an egg sandwich to $8.99 for the eggs benedict.  Eat-in or carry-out.  Baked goods and pastries also available (and highly recommended).

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

Favorite Bar Uses Irish Charm To Raise Funds For Local Family

Vikki Hurley-Schubert
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An annual St. Patrick’s Day contest at Princeton’s Alchemist & Barrister Restaurant & Pub puts Irish fun and frivolity to good use: raising funds for local charities.

This year is no exception; the watering hole’s 38th Annual Longbeard Contest is helping the DiGregorio’s, a Princeton family whose middle son has a rare genetic disorder called ataxia telagiectasia (A-T). After the child’s diagnosis, family friends set up a fund called Derek’s Dream, to help the family with the expenses of caring for now 14-year-old Derek.

“I came up with the idea after going to a fundraiser to help a sick friend, and we started a committee, led by Steve, to plan an event. The idea was to raise money to help the DiGregorios deal with Derek’s illness,” said Howard Levy, Derek’s Dream’s co-founder. “We wanted them to be comfortable using the money for anything that they needed without any restrictions. Being who they are, the DiGregorios have also committed funds to help other A-T families and also for A-T research. “

A-T is a progressive, rare genetic disease that affects about 600 Americans. The disease attacks children. Both parents need to be carriers for the disease to strike. There is no treatment or cure for the disorder, said Steve DiGregorio, Derek’s father. “This disease compromises the kid’s immune system to the point they can’t be X-rayed and they are susceptible to cancer,” he said. “You have the worst of two worlds combined.” Many of the deaths related to the disease are caused by leukemia.

Derek, who uses an electric wheelchair to get around while out of his home, attends the local middle school as the disease is progressing and robbing him of his motor skills. Eventually, the family’s Princeton house will need to be modified for his needs.

The A&B’s Longbeard contest began in early February with men signing up to grow their facial hair until it is measured at the restaurant’s St. Patrick’s celebration on March 17.

Local officials, police and other local “celebrities” pitch in on Tuesdays between now and March 17th, guest bartenders will mix Celtic cocktails and take donations for a prize drawing for items they have donated to benefit Derek’s Dreams.

February 28 – Princeton Township Police and Mayor Chad Goerner.

March 6 – Princeton University Coaches and the DiGregorio Family.

March 13-  Princeton Borough Police Department

On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, the fun begins with bagpipers kicking off an evening that includes high-stepping traditional dancers, Irish music, great food and drink and the annual Longbeard Contest.

A&B Chef/Owner Arthur Kukoda is planning a special Irish menu, including a Steamship Round of Corned Beef, sliced from a station on the enclosed patio. In the dining room, guests can choose from an array of specialties. Start with Dublin Shrimp, wrapped in Crispy Potatoes and served in a Horseradish Cream sauce.

Entrees include the Danny Boy, an 8 oz. Filet Mignon with Irish Blue Cheese and Fizzled Onion; Guinness Braised Short Ribs of Beef and Grilled North Atlantic Salmon With Cockles, Mussels, New Potatoes and Mustard Cream; Cork County Lamb Chops in a Mint Pesto, Corned Beef and Cabbage, and Chicken Pot Pie. The A&B’s fabled Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Stew are always on the menu.

The A&B is known for its outstanding selection of beers, and the brews will flow liberally with plenty of Guinness, and other Gaelic favorites. Fine wines are offered by the bottle or the glass. Irish Mist, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Jameson’s add to the list of Irish spirits.

The Alchemist & Barrister Restaurant and Pub
28 Witherspoon Street in the heart of downtown Princeton.

Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Regional Editor Ocean County, is a true Jersey girl. Raised in Marlboro, Vikki  has lived in the area her whole life. She loves to experiment in the kitchen and is happiest when feeding a houseful of friends and family. A journalist for 10 years, she now serves on the staff of the Princeton Packet. Vikki is happiest on the road, so it should be no Surprise she is a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations.   Follow her on Twitter @vikkihs.

Foodie Things To Do This Weekend And Beyond

Jon Faronea
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3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off & Homebrewing Contest, Saturday, February 25th from 2pm-6pm. To support HOPES CAP, Inc. and their adult services that provide clients assistance with employment, self-sufficiency and education, Hoboken Volunteers holds this event. For more information: Hoboken Volunteers

“Feast in February” Wine Festival, Saturday, February 25th from 12pm-5pm. Natali Vineyards, Cape May Court House, NJ. Featuring six local Cape May County food vendors offering some light samples of their newest dishes, as well as foods for sale. 12 Natali Wines in stock (enjoy five wine samples for $5 all day), purchase wines by the bottle or try sipping on some heated mulled spice sangria for $5 a glass. The Ravioli Shanker Band will be returning to the stage and guests will be able to shop the wares of local vendors. Free admission and free educational vineyard & barrel room tour at 2:30 pm.

8th Annual Taste of the World, Monday, February 27th from 6pm-9pm. Hosted by the West Orange Rotary, held at Mayfair Farms, Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange. ; $45 in advance, $55 at the door. For tickets, e-mail [email protected] or call 973-768-0773.

A Taste of Morristown, Monday, February 27th from 6pm-9pm. Sponsored by Gary’s Wine & Marketplace, held at the Hanover Marriott, 1401 Rt 10 E, Whippany, to benefit the Morristown Rotary Club’s local and international service projects. Tickets are $60. For tickets or more information, call 973-631–7985 or click here.

An Evening in Spain, Tuesday, February 28th from 6pm-9pm. Culinary Workshops Offer Taste of Global Cuisine at Atlantic Cape. Experience the classic tastes of the Iberian Peninsula. Start with assorted Tapas, Almond Soup and Paella Valencia. The night wouldn’t be complete without a classic Flan. To register, call 609-343-4829 or visit www.atlantic.edu/conted.

Dine Out For CASA, Wednesday, February 29th. Arthur’s St. Moritz will make a generous donation to CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties based on your lunch or dinner check on February 29th. Enjoy Arthur’s famous hand-cut Delmonico steaks, burgers, seafood, pasta, and salad dishes while taking in the scenery of beautiful Lake Mohawk. For more information please call: 973-729-5677

5th Annual New York Wine Expo

Friday, March 2, 2012
 6:00 – 10:00 PM

Saturday, March 3, 2012
2:00 – 6:00 PM

Don’t miss this opportunity to sample over 760 wines from over 190 winemakers from around the globe in the Grand Tasting. The Expo is open on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon allowing consumers to take a tasting tour around the world. Several seminars will be available as well.

This event will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in NY. For more information: NY Wine Expo

Food For Thought, Sunday, March 4th from 12:30pm-4:30pm. Celebrate all the roles food plays in our lives! The New Jersey Center for the Book and the Monmouth County Library will play host to a food festival featuring speakers American Chef David Burke of David Burke Fromagerie in Rumson and Lynne Bugai of Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, whose topic will be: Hope is Delicious: Food as Community Service. Also featured will be a demonstration by Kiwi Magazine’s Next Great Young Chef Chloe Rosen. For more information: Monmouth County Library Free and open to the public!

Atlantic City Restaurant Week, March 4th – March 10th. During the week, fine restaurants throughout Atlantic County will offer value priced three-course lunches and three-course dinners. A full list of participating restaurants, menu items, chef biographies and other details are available online. Restaurant Week hotel packages will also be available through the site, as well as the ability to book reservations online through Open Table at restaurants that use the Open Table reservation service. www.acrestaurantweek.com

A Taste of the Two Rivers, Monday, March 5th from 6pm-9pm. The Molly Pitcher Inn hosts area restaurants serving up a night of delicious food, decadent desserts and wine and spirits to benefit The Community YMCA. Participating restaurants and purveyors will be vying for the “Best Display” and “Best Dish,” as selected by votes from the evening’s guests. There will be live music and a chance to win prizes. For more information call 732-671-5505 ext. 20 or visit cymca.org.

Revel Begins Reservations for Preview, Monday, March 5th. Revel Entertainment, the newest resort to open in Atlantic City, will open it’s doors for an 8-week preview. Opening will be 12 restaurants! RevelResorts.com

19th Annual Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, Friday-Sunday, March 9th-10th. Fri & Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Held at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ. There will be crafts representing “a sensory celebration,” gourmet food and favorites, live demonstrations and family entertainment. For more information and tickets: Sugarloaf Festival

Chili & Chowder Cook-Off, Saturday, March 10th from 12pm-4 pm. The Marquis de Lafayette Pub, Cape May, NJ. Some of the best restaurants and home chefs in the area will be spicing things up while preparing their tastiest dishes! All who attend not only have a chance to sample the delicious food, but also to judge the competition in various categories. Admission is $5 and benefits the Cape May Food Bank. For more information or to enter, call 609.884.5508 ext 102.

Belmar Restaurant Tour, Sunday, March 11th from 11am-4pm. Sample chefs creations at many of Belmar’s fine restaurants. Buy tickets early and save. For tickets and more information: Visit Belmar

Forum on the Green – Farm to Table Dinner, Friday, March 16th at 6 pm. Go “green” this St. Patrick’s Day weekend as Cape May Forum partners with Slow Food South Jersey Shore in Congress Hall’s Ballroom. Acclaimed farm-to-table Executive Chef Lucas Manteca of The Virginia Hotel’s Ebbitt Room will craft this five course dinner using the freshest of ingredients from Beach Plum Farm and other local sources. Tickets are $50/ person with proceeds to benefit Cape May Forum & Slow Food South Jersey Shore. For more information, call 609.770-2626 or visit www.capemayforum.org. Congress Hall is located at 251 Beach Ave. in Cape May.

New Hope/Lambertville Restaurant Week, Sunday-Friday, March 18th-23rd. This year, 28 restaurants will participate in the week, long promotion of either a fine dining $29.95 pre-fixe dinner or $19.95 pre-fixe dinner. The following sponsors make new Hope/Lambertville Restaurant Week possible:  E&J Gallo Winery, River Horse Brewery, Stoli Vodka, Local Living Magazine and Packet Publications. Please visit www.VisitNewHope.com andwww.Lambertville.org to view the pre-fixe menus and detailed information on all of the restaurants.

Atlantic Bakery Expo 2012, Industry Expo. Sunday & Monday, March 19th & 20th. A complete educational program with demonstrations, seminars and hands-on classes to go along with a trade show floor packed with all the exhibitors you need for your business. This years expansion will help meet your need for new products to help increase profits. For more information:Expo 2012

Taste of Montclair, Monday, March 19th.  AND Montclair Restaurant Week, March 20th – April 1st (no Joke). For more information: Montclair

15th Annual Taste of Middlesex on March 19, 2012, at the Pines Manor, 2085 Lincoln Highway/Route 27, and Edison, NJ presented by the Edison Chamber of Commerce.

29th Annual Atlantic Cape Restaurant Gala, Thursday, March 22nd at 6:30pm. Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino. The event celebrates food by highlighting thousands of hors d’oeuvres prepared by students at the Academy of Culinary Arts and showcasing the specialties of 40 of the area’s best restaurants at a progressive dining experience. The Gala raises money for student scholarships. There will be 3 lucky winners will share up to $15,000 in the 50/50 raffle. For tickets and raffle tickets, please contact Lauren Canzanese at (609) 463-4672, [email protected], or online atwww.atlantic.edu/gala.

Beers on the Boards, Saturday, March 24th. Two sessions: 12:30pm-4pm & 6pm-9:30pm. A craft beer tasting festival on the boardwalk! With over 20 breweries and an all day gourmet buffet. Taste a tremendous variety of beer flavors. Buffet to include some cool beer inspired fare and different beer/food pairings to sample. Held Indoors at Martell’s Tiki Bar.For more information and tickets: BeersontheBoards.com

Taste Of Home Cooking Show, Thursday, March 29th. Edison, NJ. A traveling culinary event produced by “Taste of Home Cooking.”  Each show features live cooking demonstrations of up to 10 new seasonal recipes performed by a Taste of Home Culinary Specialist. Attendees will take away cooking tips that will make anyone a star in their own kitchen. They’ll also receive a gift bag chock full of more than $40 in valuable merchandise, including cooking magazines, cooking tools/utensils, promotional items, coupons and more. For ticket & venue information click here.

Husdon County CASA’s 6th Annual Wine Tasting, Sweets & Eats, Friday, March 30th from 6pm-9pm. Atrium in the Harborside Financial Center on the Jersey City waterfront. Enjoy sampling over 90 wines with sweets and treats gathered from the metropolitan area’s best purveyors. The night will also include hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction featuring one-of-a kind prizes, free parking, and much more!

New Jersey Wine & Food Festival, March 30th-April 1st. Held at Crystal Springs Resort this even is a celebration of the world’s best wines and renowned local and national chefs. The weekend’s events are designed to allow food and wine lovers to meet and mingle with chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and fellow wine aficionados. For more information: Crystal Springs

Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival 2012

The focus of The Atlantic City Beer Festival is the promotion of craft beers and the brewers that create them. Now in its 7th year the festival has taken a truly organic turn with the addition of original music from artists across the Tri-State area.

Session 1: Friday, March 30th from 7pm-11pm. Session 2: Saturday, March 31st from 12pm-4pm. Session 3: Saturday, March 31st from 6pm-10pm.

The 2012 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival will not only highlight great beer and music but will also feature culinary demonstrations from local area chefs, beer seminars hosted by author and television personality Gary Monterosso as well as others and we can’t forget the amazing festival vendors… lots and lots of food and beer related vendors. This year’s festival will appeal to absolutely everyone.

For more information and tickets: AC Beer & Music Fest

Taste Of Home Cooking Show, Thursday, April 26th. Mays Landing, NJ. A traveling culinary event produced by “Taste of Home Cooking.”  Each show features live cooking demonstrations of up to 10 new seasonal recipes performed by a Taste of Home Culinary Specialist. Attendees will take away cooking tips that will make anyone a star in their own kitchen. They’ll also receive a gift bag chock full of more than $40 in valuable merchandise, including cooking magazines, cooking tools/utensils, promotional items, coupons and more. For ticket & venue 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

Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, Saturday, May 19th from 11am-5pm. Come to 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

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

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: 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

Kale Chips, Kale Pie, Kale Crazy

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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We are very excited to announce our new partnership with WHYY’s Newsworks New Jersey. Starting this month, we are now the official source of food news for Newsworks, and we couldn’t be more excited or honored to be working with such a well respected organization. When I was tossing around story ideas with the producer, I mentioned this delicious soup that I’d been practically living off of since the beginning of the year and how it featured Kale. I went on to mention that South Jersey is the fourth largest producer of Kale in the country.  So,  South Jersey grows its fair share of Kale and for the most part, people are still buying it for garnish, and that’s just downright disgraceful.  People, do you realize you are taking one of nature’s super foods; a food that fights five types of cancer, not to mention bad cholesterol and inflamation, and using it to make iceberg lettuce look pretty? Oh, the humanity.

Well, luckily, some crazy youths (Jersey translation: yutes) took hold of this disrespected cousin to Collard Greens and started a new krispy kale craze. Kale chips as they’re called are making their way into specialty stores and hip cocktail parties all over the country. Since I am the hippest person in my house (I’m the only one home right now) I had to try them.

And, the verdict? Kale Chips are a super easy to make treat and pretty darn tasty. Even my 14 year old son enjoyed them. Be prepared to eat the whole bowl. They’re very light and terribly addicting.

INGREDIENTS

1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt

1/2 Bunch Kale, stems stripped.

DIRECTIONS:

Cut Kale into 3 inch pieces, lay in one layer on a baking sheet. Make sure chips are thoroughly dried. Drizzle oil over top and toss to coat. Sprinkle salt evenly over leaves (be generous with the salt, these are supposed to be salty chips) and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 – 15 minutes. Test after 10 minutes, Kale should be krispy. If not, keep baking.

Get Creative with your Krispy Kale Chips

So, now, on to the Kale Pie adventure. A recent tweet from my new friend Louisa of Louisa’s Cafe in Cape May about her Kale and Cheddar Cheese Pie, led me to a long Thursday night chat with the restaurateur.  Louisa has owned her tiny restaurant in Cape May for 30 years with her husband, its a story unto itself and one I plan to tell very soon. But, for now, I’m happy to share her rendition of a Kale Pie that was adapted from Marcus Samuelsson’s Spinach, Cheddar Cheese and Caramelized Onion Pie. I think it demonstrates quite nicely how Kale can be easily substituted for spinach.

INGREDIENTS

Crust

1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 Tbs. salted and roasted sunflower seeds

1 Tbs. whole flax seeds

2 teaspoons white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix ingredients together in a bowl. If dough is not forming, add a dash more milk.  Place mixture in a pie plate and spread evenly across bottom and up sides. Bake for 15 minutes.

Filling

2 cups of raw kale, sliced/slivered and then steamed. Let come to room temperature
1/3 cup milk
3 tbsp cream
3 eggs
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar
½ large white onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a pan, sauté onions on medium/low until they are golden brown, approximately 10 – 15 minutes.

In a bowl, beat eggs, milk, and cream. Mix in remaining ingredients, including onions.

Pour mixture into prepared crust. Bake about 25 minutes, or until crust is browned and the middle is solid.

Cool 10 minutes before serving.

The end result is a tasty quiche with a lovely, nutty crust. Think about the variations you could create here, add artichoke hearts, mushrooms, roasted red peppers. I think any combination would work beautifully.

For another great Kale recipe, be sure to check out our Kale and Turkey Sausage Soup on Newsworks New Jersey. Do you have a favorite Kale specialty?  We’d love to hear about it. Please leave a comment or share with us on Facebook.

Deborah Smith , Founder and Executive Editor of jerseybites.com.  Launched in 2007 as a home for her growing collection of recipes, Jersey Bites soon grew into a hub for all things edible in the Garden State. Deborah is also the owner of 3SquareDeals.com a Deals program that benefits Hunger Relief organizations in New Jersey. In her spare time, (Ha) she works as a Social Media consultant and speaker.  You can learn more about her services and marketing through social media on her blog www.DeborahLSmith.com

Cooking With Nunzio in Collingswood

Beth
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It was one of those rare weekends where no commitments loomed on the horizon. This turned out to be a good thing, since I never would have gotten the opportunity to attend the wonderful “Cooking With Nunzio” class that I attended if my dance card had been full. When my friend Allison called to offer me her spot in the Saturday morning cooking class which she has been raving about, I was there in a New Jersey minute.

Nunzio Patruno’s eponymous Collingswood restaurant (Nunzio’s Ristorante Rustico) has been a fixture on the Collingswood dining scene since it opened several years ago. On certain Saturday mornings during the year, Nunzio shares his enormous Italian cooking talents with eager students during his “Cooking With Nunzio” classes. During the Saturday morning class I attended, we watched Nunzio as he showed us how to make 3 different dishes from Venice in celebration of the pre – Lenten Carnivale festival.

First up were the Potato Gnocchi. Nunzio showed us how to turn simple ingredients consisting of potato, egg yolk, flour and salt into plump little pillows that were just begging for the tomato and mushroom sauce that he made next. A few helpful tips from Nunzio: handle as little as possible, don’t over-flour, and make little grooves in the gnocchi dough with a fork to soak up the sauce later.

Next up were Calamari Con Piselli e Polenta (Calamari with Peas and Polenta). Nunzio gently sautéed sliced calamari with tomato sauce, white wine and sweet fresh peas. By this time, I was on total sensory overload in a good way. The aroma of the sautéing garlic and onion base for the calamari, the beautiful color of the tomatoes and peas, and the beauty of Nunzio’s lilting Italian accent had my rapt attention.

The last dish that Nunzio demonstrated was a traditional Venetian pastry known as Chiacchiere di Carnivale . What was fascinating about this dish is the fact that one of its main ingredients is 3 cups of dry white wine. So save your Pinot Grigio, friends-it will be worth it to use it as a base for this dish.

Recipes are provided during class, and I saw my classmates furiously taking notes as Nunzio shared tricks of the trade and entertaining stories of life and traditions in Italy. While it was easy to observe Nunzio cooking up front, he also had a mirror set up overhead so that you could look down at the cooking process.

The best part was yet to come: tasting time! You didn’t think Nunzio would send you home on an empty stomach, did you? We feasted on light and airy gnocchi in a delicious sauce. The calamari was a welcome surprise. In addition to perfectly cooked calamari, I loved the crisp fresh peas. Believe it or not, it was the first time in my foodie life that I have tasted fresh peas, since I grew up with an active dislike of the mushy frozen variety. The dessert was also amazing, with strips of airy pastry lovingly dusted with powdered sugar and finished with fresh orange zest and raspberry sauce. A little vino sealed the deal.

Nunzio and his lovely wife Maribel were gracious, warm hosts. In addition to providing a fun and delicious class, they also sent us home with each recipe. And because I know that you are saving that newly purchased bottle of Pinot Grigio for cooking rather than imbibing purposes, here is the recipe for Chiacchiere di Carnivale:

2 pounds of flour
1 ½ cups extra virgin olive il
3 cups dry white wine
1 pinch salt
Granulated or powdered sugar for coating
Or honey or wine molasses or fig molasses or raspberry sauce for drizzling

Place wine in pot and bring to a boil. Whle heating wine, put flour in food processor and add olive oil and salt. Add the hot boiling wine to the flour mixture a little at a time, pulsing after each addition. Remove dough and work the flout into a satiny dough with the heel of your hand. Work the dough about 10 minutes until it is smooth and shiny.

Roll dough into thin sheets. Take a pinwheel cutter and cut dough into strips that are 4 to 5 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Fry the dough at a 375 degree temperature using grapeseed oil or vegetable oil until lightly colored and firm. Remove and place on parchment paper. Dust with granulated or powedered sugar or drizzle with homey, molasses or raspberry sauce. Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or ricotta cheese. Garnish with oranhe peel for color if you like.

Nunzio’s Ristorante Rustico is located at 706 Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, NJ. The phone number is 856-858-9840. For information about upcoming cooking classes, visit: www.nunzios.net. There are also numerous recipes posted on the restaurant’s website.

Beth Christian subsisted primarily on cheeseburgers and liverwurst sandwiches during childhood and refused to try most new foods.  Her culinary horizons were expanded during her college days in Schenectady, New York, where she learned the joys of trying slow-simmered Italian dishes, Szechuan cuisine, and everything in between.  When not engaged in the practice of law in Monmouth County, Beth is busy scouting out interesting restaurants,  farmer’s markets and food purveyors near her home in Burlington County. Beth’s primary dining sidekick is her husband John, but she also enjoys having her daughter Meghan, son Michael and her wonderful friends come along for the ride. Email Beth at [email protected]

Tantalizing Truffles – Winter’s Edible “Jewels”

Deanna Quinones
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black truffleEvery season offers its own mix of irresistible fresh gems. Think of a gorgeous summer peach and fat juicy melons, autumn’s luscious golden pears, bright spring asparagus. Winter’s root vegetables and leafy greens, in comparison, can sometimes seem a little dull. But shining there among those nutrient-rich but slightly pizzazz-free options are winter’s ace in the hole … truffles.

Referred to as “the diamond of the kitchen” by 18th-century French epicure Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, truffles are the edible fruiting body of certain types of underground mushrooms, and have become such a staple of modern haute cuisine that they can fetch ridiculous prices for even the most petite serving. I recently had dinner at one of Lidia Bastianich’s restaurants in NYC and was shocked when the polenta dish ordered from the day’s specials, carefully topped with freshly shaved truffle, amounted to a roughly gelato-scoop-sized portion floating in the center of a lavishly oversized dish; price: $45.

With such a caviaresque pedigree, truffles are usually something you just get a small sample of, whether a dish includes wafer-thin fresh truffles, truffle-infused olive oil, or a combination of preserved truffles and truffle paste. Above Restaurant recently hosted a special four-course Truffle Dinner, however, that made the most of this gourmet ingredient with a varied and playful sampling that showed off both the truffle’s unique appeal and the South Orange eatery’s successful approach to fine dining without the fuss.

The four courses featured:

An amuse-bouche of thick, grilled hickory-smoked bacon layered over a mound of crunchy-sweet jicama cantaloupe slaw with a cloud of citrus truffle foam. Airy and a little tart, the foam added a cool layer of texture with just a hint of earthy truffle flavor.

Snapper ConsumeA beautifully prepared Snapper Consume that made me swoon. Tipped from a pitcher over an artful mound of chick pea fritter swirled with red snapper mousseline, the fishy broth was soothing and rich. Shaved truffles and a few scattered greens added to the combination of textures, and the result was a delectable treat.

The main course was listed on the menu as “Heaven and Earth” – an upscale cousin of the seaside favorite surf & turf combo, perhaps. Here, a tender petit filet mignon was layered with a plump mushroom-stuffed scallop, centered in a pool of truffled foie gras sauce sidled up against a creamy truffle Moscato dressing that graced a handful of celery leaf salad. Fresh truffles generously shaved over the dish offered the opportunity to take a simple, clean bite of the fungus and really taste its shroomy richness.
Heaven & Earth
Last but not least the dessert course, a beautiful trio of miniature indulgences, was a winner: a square ramekin filled with rich crème brulee with thin truffle slices stickily adhered to the browned sugar topping; a juicy sliced strawberry drizzled with a crunchy maple Grand Marnier glaze; and the true stand-out, a cool scoop of caramelized white chocolate and truffle ice cream nested on a thin cookie crisp on a base of something humorously termed “Coriander Chocolate Dirt.” Never mind that I was eating ‘dirt’ – that stuff was awesome! When asked to explain his inspiration for this unusual treat, Chef Joe Catalano described how the ground chocolate he was working with reminded him of the coffee grounds he added to the soil in his mom’s garden as a kid. Combining it with sugar and toasted coriander, his hope was to create a unique flavor where “the chocolate is going to coat, the sugar is going to pop, and the coriander’s going to break right through.”
truffle dessert
It was a treat to sample the fancy food delicacy in so many ways and a great introduction to Above Restaurant & Bar, which I’d been hoping to visit for a long while. Situated one floor above the Eden Marketplace gourmet grocer on South Orange Avenue (directly across from the train station), Above features American cuisine with plenty of French and Italian influence, as well as sushi from their Sushi Bar. Lunch and dinner are served daily (closed on Monday); a special brunch menu and “Sunday Night Family Dinner” are offered on Sundays. There is also a late-night bar menu from 10pm to midnight every night. Monthly dinners and other special events are listed on their website.

To learn more about truffles and order specialty truffle products online, check out this treasure trove of information at GourmetFoodstore.com.

Above Restaurant & Bar

1 South Orange Avenue

South Orange, NJ 07079

973-762-2683

free parking at the rear of the building

www.aboverestaurantbar.com

Deanna Quinones is the Jersey Bites Regional Editor for Morris County. A freelance writer, blogger, and unrepentant chocolate addict, Deanna spent 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area where life was good and the burritos even better. She recently returned to the Garden State and now resides in Morristown, where she and her Texas-born/Jersey-raised/California-found husband are raising two wild and wonderful kids. An experienced book marketer, award-winning greeting card writer, and entertainment writing dabbler, Deanna can be reached at [email protected]. (photo credit Pete Genovese/The Star-Ledger)

Vegan Valentine Buffet and Book Signing at Caremes

Jennifer Miller
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When you think of dating someone, the first thing you think of isn’t normally what their food preferences happen to be. But, if you are a vegan it can be one of the things you consider. The American Vegan Society hosted a Valentines Dinner Buffet, at Caremes Restaurant which featured a book signing by Anne Dinshah,  daughter of Vegan Society president Freya Dinshah. Anne’s book called Dating Vegans:Recipes for Relationships talks about vegans socializing with non-vegans and how it can be a source of frustration or an opportunity for positive interaction and fun activities.

My two friends and their husbands joined us for the Vegan Valentine dinner buffet prepared and served by the culinary students under the supervision of their faculty; and while the women were excited about the night’s offerings, the men were a little apprehensive but willing. It was Valentine’s Day after all! The dining room was  abuzz with people and the music for romance was performed by Dylan Martello on acoustic guitar in the backround. Everyone was talking and laughing, it had a party atmosphere almost. The menu was extensive for the event, which impressed the men. The more food the better, bring it on. They thought they would never be filled up on veggies.

We were served our first course which was Creamy  Squash Soup with roasted fennel and toasted pecans and packed a spicy hot kick, so far so good. The men were all pleased and said they would eat the soup again. Progress! Our table was called to the buffet, we pulled a  low number from a hat, good thing, our table was feisty. The buffet was pretty impressive and started with the appetizers. There was Hummus with Charred Whole Wheat Flatbread, Beet and Onion Salad with Mint,  Roasted Grape Tomatoes with Corn,Olive Oil and Basil, Arugula Salad with Spiced Pumkin Seeds and a Meyer Lemon Dressing, Fennel Salad with Avocado and Red Grapefruit, Quinoa Tabouli, and Sea Vegetable Salad with Dried Cranberries and Miso Dressing! Needless to say we tasted some of everything and it became very quiet at our table.

After the appetizers came the mains, this time around the men were talking positive about what they were about eat. Grape Leaves Stuffed with Pine Nuts and Spiced Rice,  “Buttery” Garlic Potatoes with Green Beans and Caulflower, Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and White Beans, Millet with Red Beans and Kale, and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Sweet Potato, Roasted Peppers, Dandelion Greens topped with Cashew Cream Sauce. Everything was scrumptious! The pasta and the mushrooms were a major hit with the table, leading the men to talk about how they could eat veggies if they were prepared like this at home. Progress folks!

Time for dessert! I was full and my friends were too. The men were even pretty full. Men are never totally full are they? But no one is ever too full for dessert. The dessert table was covered with delectable Lemon-Caramel and Kiwi Napoleons with Mango Sauce (my personal favorite), Shortcake with Winter Compote, Pine Nut Anise Cookies, and Pumpkin Cake with Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache and Cinnamon Coffee Sauce (the winner with the rest of the table). We sipped our tea and coffee and ate our desserts at a leisurely pace talking and laughing. It had turned out to be a wonderful Valentine’s Day in the company of good friends with delicious and lets not forget healthy fare. And not one man was hurt in the process. And who knows, maybe the men will eat all their veggies next time.

American Vegan Society, PO Box 369, Malaga, NJ 08328 phone: 856-694-2887 or www.americanvegan.org

Michele Errichetti is from South Jersey born and fed. She comes from an Italian family where they eat, live, and breathe FOOD. Michele was cooking and eating under her grandmom’s feet every Sunday for “gravy” and at home with her mother ( a Medigan’ or American) during the week. Nowadays, she cooks for her two sons, husband, and father most days of the week. She takes “Girl Road Trips” with her friends at least once a month that always culminate with you guessed it, FOOD. She hopes fresh, local, organic, and free range will become the norm. Michele is searching Atlantic County for everything that has anything to do with good food and she’s taking you along for the ride.

Foodie Things To Do This Weekend And Beyond

Jon Faronea
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Cape May Wine Weekend, February 17th-19th. Triple your enjoyment by combining a Wine Tasting Dinner, Winery Cellar Tour & Tasting and Wine School Class for a weekend of total indulgence!

The four-course Wine Tasting Dinner will be held on Friday at the Washington Inn and will feature wines themed to the Sunday Wine School Class. Seating is at your convenience and guests will be treated to individual attention by the wine steward.

On Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 pm, visit the award winning Cape May Winery located in North Cape May for a Winery Cellar Tour & Tasting that includes vineyard tour, introduction to winemaker’s art, and a barrel tasting with cheese and fruit.

“Great Italian Reds” is the topic of Wine School Class on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1 pm.  Learn the finer points of wines, meet other wine enthusiasts, and  expand your knowledge.  The complete package is $135 per person (gratuity extra).  The wine school class can be purchase separately for $30 per person. Call 609-884-5404 for more details.

Death By Chocolate: Murder Mystery Dinner Show, Friday, February 17th at 6pm. The Engleside Inn. Death by Chocolate will be the perfect ending to Long Beach Island’s Chocolate Week and a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend. Proceeds from the dinner theatre event will benefit Tuckerton Seaport’s educational programs. For more information or tickets: 609-296-8868, [email protected], Tuckerton Seaport.

Soul Food Celebration, Saturday, February 18th from 2pm-4pm. Lawrenceville, NJ. In honor of Black History Month, Mrs. G’s TV & Appliance is launching a new free community cultural cooking series with a soul food celebration. Executive Chef Mary Beth Madill and her special guests, sisters Beverly Queen, Adrian King, and Cindy Fulmore of ABC Dadlites in Trenton, will dish up a tasting menu of southern home cooking. The menu will feature: fried chicken wings, macaroni ‘n’ cheese, collard greens, and pork BBQ. Seating is limited so registration in advance is requested. Call 609-882-1444 or email [email protected]

Wine & Chocolate Weekend, Saturday & Sunday, February 18th & 19th from 12pm-5pm. Celebrate Valentine’s Day and the love of fine wines and chocolates at Alba Vineyard. Learn all about wine, as well as wine pairings from the vineyard staff and local vendors. For more information: Alba Vineyard

Eat Slow Winter Farmers Market, Sunday, February 19th from 11am-3pm. Music – Prepared Foods – Full Bar. Tre Piani is the original site where the Markets started seven years ago with Slow Food Central New Jersey. For directions to Tre Piani, visit www.trepiani.com.

D’Angelo Italian Market One-Year Anniversary, Sunday, February 19th from 4pm-8pm. Celebrating with a Carnevale-inspired event on Sunday, February 19th, from 4pm-8pm. Mayor Moore will begin the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, to be followed by Entertainment, Food and Prizes. Some children-friendly activities will include face-painting and balloon animals. Please click here for more information.

And Beyond…

Individual Chocolate Desserts, Wednesday, February 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 a variety of confectionery creations with Chef Mary Lou D’Angleo. Learn how to prepare Truffles, Lava Cakes, Chocolate Obsessions and more. To register, call 609-343-4829 or visit www.atlantic.edu/conted.

South Jersey’s Men R’ Cookin’ Thursday, February 23rd from 6pm-8pm. The Pool at Harrah’s. Joe and Scott from 100.7 WZXL, in collaboration with Chef Davies, will prepare Salmon Portabello Ravioli with Smoked Tomato Crema and Arugala Orange Fennel Salad, at the Men R Cookin’ event, which benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City. For tickets and more information: ACBGC

3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off & Homebrewing Contest, Saturday, February 25th from 2pm-6pm. To support HOPES CAP, Inc. and their adult services that provide clients assistance with employment, self-sufficiency and education, Hoboken Volunteers holds this event. For more information: Hoboken Volunteers

“Feast in February” Wine Festival, Saturday, February 25th from 12pm-5pm. Natali Vineyards, Cape May Court House, NJ. Featuring six local Cape May County food vendors offering some light samples of their newest dishes, as well as foods for sale. 12 Natali Wines in stock (enjoy five wine samples for $5 all day), purchase wines by the bottle or try sipping on some heated mulled spice sangria for $5 a glass. The Ravioli Shanker Band will be returning to the stage and guests will be able to shop the wares of local vendors. Free admission and free educational vineyard & barrel room tour at 2:30 pm.

An Evening in Spain, Tuesday, February 28th from 6pm-9pm. Culinary Workshops Offer Taste of Global Cuisine at Atlantic Cape. Experience the classic tastes of the Iberian Peninsula. Start with assorted Tapas, Almond Soup and Paella Valencia. The night wouldn’t be complete without a classic Flan. To register, call 609-343-4829 or visit www.atlantic.edu/conted.

Dine Out For CASA, Wednesday, February 29th. Arthur’s St. Moritz will make a generous donation to CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties based on your lunch or dinner check on February 29th. Enjoy Arthur’s famous hand-cut Delmonico steaks, burgers, seafood, pasta, and salad dishes while taking in the scenery of beautiful Lake Mohawk. For more information please call: 973-729-5677

5th Annual New York Wine Expo

Friday, March 2, 2012
6:00 – 10:00 PM

Saturday, March 3, 2012
2:00 – 6:00 PM

Don’t miss this opportunity to sample over 760 wines from over 190 winemakers from around the globe in the Grand Tasting. The Expo is open on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon allowing consumers to take a tasting tour around the world. Several seminars will be available as well.

This event will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in NY. For more information: NY Wine Expo

Food For Thought, Sunday, March 4th from 12:30pm-4:30pm. Celebrate all the roles food plays in our lives! The New Jersey Center for the Book and the Monmouth County Library will play host to a food festival featuring speakers American Chef David Burke of David Burke Fromagerie in Rumson and Lynne Bugai of Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, whose topic will be: Hope is Delicious: Food as Community Service. Also featured will be a demonstration by Kiwi Magazine’s Next Great Young Chef Chloe Rosen. For more information: Monmouth County Library Free and open to the public!

Atlantic City Restaurant Week, March 4th – March 10th. During the week, fine restaurants throughout Atlantic County will offer value priced three-course lunches and three-course dinners. A full list of participating restaurants, menu items, chef biographies and other details are available online. Restaurant Week hotel packages will also be available through the site, as well as the ability to book reservations online through Open Table at restaurants that use the Open Table reservation service. www.acrestaurantweek.com

A Taste of the Two Rivers, Monday, March 5th from 6pm-9pm. The Molly Pitcher Inn hosts area restaurants serving up a night of delicious food, decadent desserts and wine and spirits to benefit The Community YMCA. Participating restaurants and purveyors will be vying for the “Best Display” and “Best Dish,” as selected by votes from the evening’s guests. There will be live music and a chance to win prizes. For more information call 732-671-5505 ext. 20 or visit cymca.org.

Revel Begins Reservations for Preview, Monday, March 5th. Revel Entertainment, the newest resort to open in Atlantic City, will open it’s doors for an 8-week preview. Opening will be 12 restaurants! RevelResorts.com

19th Annual Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, Friday-Sunday, March 9th-10th. Fri & Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Held at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ. There will be crafts representing “a sensory celebration,” gourmet food and favorites, live demonstrations and family entertainment. For more information and tickets: Sugarloaf Festival

Belmar Restaurant Tour, Sunday, March 11th from 11am-4pm. Sample chefs creations at many of Belmar’s fine restaurants. Buy tickets early and save. For tickets and more information: Visit Belmar

New Hope/Lambertville Restaurant Week, Sunday-Friday, March 18th-23rd. This year, 28 restaurants will participate in the week, long promotion of either a fine dining $29.95 pre-fixe dinner or $19.95 pre-fixe dinner. The following sponsors make new Hope/Lambertville Restaurant Week possible:  E&J Gallo Winery, River Horse Brewery, Stoli Vodka, Local Living Magazine and Packet Publications. Please visit www.VisitNewHope.com and www.Lambertville.org to view the pre-fixe menus and detailed information on all of the restaurants.

Atlantic Bakery Expo 2012, Industry Expo. Sunday & Monday, March 19th & 20th. A complete educational program with demonstrations, seminars and hands-on classes to go along with a trade show floor packed with all the exhibitors you need for your business. This years expansion will help meet your need for new products to help increase profits. For more information: Expo 2012

Taste of Montclair, Monday, March 19th.  AND Montclair Restaurant Week, March 20th – April 1st (no Joke). For more information: Montclair

15th Annual Taste of Middlesex on March 19, 2012, at the Pines Manor, 2085 Lincoln Highway/Route 27, and Edison, NJ presented by the Edison Chamber of Commerce.

29th Annual Atlantic Cape Restaurant Gala, Thursday, March 22nd at 6:30pm. Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino. The event celebrates food by highlighting thousands of hors d’oeuvres prepared by students at the Academy of Culinary Arts and showcasing the specialties of 40 of the area’s best restaurants at a progressive dining experience. The Gala raises money for student scholarships. There will be 3 lucky winners will share up to $15,000 in the 50/50 raffle. For tickets and raffle tickets, please contact Lauren Canzanese at (609) 463-4672, [email protected], or online at www.atlantic.edu/gala.

Beers on the Boards, Saturday, March 24th. Two sessions: 12:30pm-4pm & 6pm-9:30pm. A craft beer tasting festival on the boardwalk! With over 20 breweries and an all day gourmet buffet. Taste a tremendous variety of beer flavors. Buffet to include some cool beer inspired fare and different beer/food pairings to sample. Held Indoors at Martell’s Tiki Bar.For more information and tickets: BeersontheBoards.com

Husdon County CASA’s 6th Annual Wine Tasting, Sweets & Eats, Friday, March 30th from 6pm-9pm. Atrium in the Harborside Financial Center on the Jersey City waterfront. Enjoy sampling over 90 wines with sweets and treats gathered from the metropolitan area’s best purveyors. The night will also include hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction featuring one-of-a kind prizes, free parking, and much more!

Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival 2012

The focus of The Atlantic City Beer Festival is the promotion of craft beers and the brewers that create them. Now in its 7th year the festival has taken a truly organic turn with the addition of original music from artists across the Tri-State area.

Session 1: Friday, March 30th from 7pm-11pm. Session 2: Saturday, March 31st from 12pm-4pm. Session 3: Saturday, March 31st from 6pm-10pm.

The 2012 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival will not only highlight great beer and music but will also feature culinary demonstrations from local area chefs, beer seminars hosted by author and television personality Gary Monterosso as well as others and we can’t forget the amazing festival vendors… lots and lots of food and beer related vendors. This year’s festival will appeal to absolutely everyone.

For more information and tickets: AC Beer & Music Fest

Make Your Own Mozzarella Cheese, April 21st. ***This event sells out FAST.  The cost is $85.00 per person or $160.00 per couple and includes the following: Hands-on instructions on how to make your own mozzarella, Notes and recipe provided, and much more! To reserve tickets and more information: The Grape Escape 609-409-9463

***SAVE THE DATE:  Farm-to-Fork Fundraiser, 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: America’s Grow a Row

A Culinary Adventure in Paterson

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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So, where do two Jersey guys of Italian descent and one Irish-German girl go for a bite to eat on a typical Friday afternoon?  Why Al Hilal Meat & Fish market in Paterson, of course. I guess when you invite yourself to lunch (yes, I did) with the Mayor of nearby Haledon Borough and the author of EthnicNJ.com, Anthony Ewing, you really need to be prepared for just about anything.

Mayor Domenick Stampone, was born and raised in and around Paterson (not counting his year in Italy in the third grade). Brought up surrounded by a vast selection of ethnic cuisine choices in Paterson, he is the quintessential Jersey Bites tour guide.  Our tour began on the street in front of Al Hilal as Stampone showed off the Paterson Farmer’s Market just a stone’s throw away from the front door of the restaurant. As we entered Al Hilal which is operated by Palestinian natives, Domenick explained to me that the term Halal refers to the religious dietary code that observant Muslims must follow in butchering, cleanliness, and in the absence of pork. To one side of the market was a very impressive selection of fresh fish. The selection was so impressive, I felt a bit intimidated and gravitated to more familiar waters, shrimp. I know, I’m a wimp. Mr. Mayor on the other hand, went for a beautiful Bronsino which he would escort to the cook to have grilled.

So, how does a Mayor take his lunch? In a bucket?

The fish monger handed me my catch of the day in a plastic bag and we made our way to the location of rising smoke. We met Anthony on the way who was coming from the Butcher counter with his choice of Lamb chop and Lamb sausage.

If the fish intimidated me, you can be sure this counter presented no temptations. We worked our way to the rising smoke and handed over the beginnings of our lunch. I asked to have the shrimp grilled on their charcoal grill. Anthony repeated those instructions for his meat platter and the Bronsino. While we waited for the food to cook, we perused the available side dishes which included grilled vegetables, rice, creamy hummus, sweet red pepper spread, and a Turkish salad.

As you can see, the end result was a glorious mix of colors and tastes, much like the population of Paterson. We sat at the only seats in the house, a bar hugging the front window of the store and chatted about Paterson and Mayor Stampone’s political career, a career that began when he ran for the School Board at age 20 while he was still in College. It was fascinating to learn about the many nationalities that have come to settle in Paterson since the first German and Jewish immigrants arrived in the 1800’s. Paterson’s designation as the first planned industrialized city in the United States drew immigrants from all over the world with the promise of employment. Today, Paterson is home to Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Peruvian, Colombian, Mexican, Central American, and various South American natives and more.  It is the ultimate melting pot.

We left Al Hilal (it is spelled three different ways throughout the store) and headed for a “sweets” shop called Nablus Patries. The colors and textures were like nothing I had ever seen. Mayor Stampone explained that there are subtle differences in ingredients and naming of the various dishes from country to country.  We sampled a dessert known as kanafe.  It is the dessert she is cutting in the picture.   It was very sweet with a unique grainy texture similar to polenta as Anthony pointed out.

We finished our ethnic cuisine adventure with a trip to Taskin Bakery for some Turkish bread. I sampled the Börek also known as burek which is a baked or fried filled pastry made of a thin flaky dough and stuff with various ingredients. Today it was the spinach and cheese variety.

We said our goodbyes in the parking lot of the bakery. In just a few short hours, I had been exposed to the sights, smells and tastes of what might as well be another world to this Jersey Shore girl whose most exotic choices growing up were between Pizza and Chinese.  I was extremely grateful to my twitter friends @EthnicNJ and @DomStampone for the great company, conversation and culinary adventures.

So, what country are we visiting next fellas?

Deborah Smith , Founder and Executive Editor of jerseybites.com.  Launched in 2007 as a home for her growing collection of recipes, Jersey Bites soon grew into a hub for all things edible in the Garden State. Deborah is also the owner of 3SquareDeals.com a Deals program that benefits Hunger Relief organizations in New Jersey. In her spare time, (Ha) she works as a Social Media consultant and speaker.  You can learn more about her services and marketing through social media on her blog www.DeborahLSmith.com

The Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala’s 29th Annual Dining Extravaganza

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor
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The Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala’s 29th annual dining extravaganza will feature original dishes from more than 50 of the region’s best restaurants. With the theme “Dine Like Royalty,” the 2012 Gala will feature upscale décor, trumpeters and delectable dishes and desserts from a variety of restaurants at the March 22 event at Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino.

The annual event celebrates food with mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres prepared by students at the Academy of Culinary Arts and the house specialties of area restaurants served at a progressive dining experience. An elegant dessert reception, headed by Master Pastry Chef Eugen Ess of Trump Taj Mahal, will complete the night’s events.

Participating restaurants include: Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, Atlantic Grill at Caesars, Buddakan Atlantic City, Carmine’s Atlantic City, Carriage House, Chart House, Chelsea Prime, The Continental, Dakota Prime, Deauville Inn, Dos Caminos at Harrah’s, The Ebbitt Room, Foundation Room at Showboat, Girasole Ristorante & Lounge, Gourmet Italian Cuisine, Harrah’s Chester, Harry’s Oyster Bar and Seafood at Bally’s, House of Blues, Il Mulino, Kwi Restaurant & Noodle Bar at Caesars, Linwood Country Club, Luke Palladino at Harrah’s, Mama Mia’s Ristorante & Catering, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Mia at Caesars, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Nanking Asian Fusion at Bally’s, Nero’s Tuscan Steakhouse at Caesars, The Palm Restaurant, Ram’s Head Inn and Redding’s Restaurant.

Also featured are: Renault Winery Resort, Resorts Casino Hotel, The Reserve at Bally’s, Sammy D’s at Harrah’s, Scannicchio’s, Scarduzio’s at Showboat, Sheraton Atlantic City, The Smithville Inn, Sofia, The Steakhouse at Harrah’s, Steve & Cookie’s By the Bay, The Tap Room Bar and Grill at Atlantic City Country Club, Teplitzky’s, Tropicana Casino Resort, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Waterway Inn, Washington Inn and the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor.

Gluten-free options will be offered and identified on the menu.

The Gala has raised more than $2.5 million since 1984 for scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts and Atlantic Cape Foundation operations. Tickets to the Gala are $200 per person. For more information about the Gala, visitwww.atlantic.edu/gala or contact Lauren Canzanese at (609) 463-4672 or [email protected].

*Connect with the Restaurant Gala on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/nn4Xo7 and follow @AtlCapeRestGala on Twitter.

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