Page 185 ⋆ Jersey Bites

5 New Jersey Hot Spots to Watch the Super Bowl

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie

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February 1, 2012

New Jersey has some of the best sports bars in the nation and here are five suggestions where you can catch the Big Game on Sunday and catch some nice specials as well. Where will you be spending the Super Bowl? Leave a comment if you’ll be going out for the big game and tell us where. If you’ll be staying in, stay tuned for some of our favorite Super Bowl recipes.

Morris County

NJ Bar & Grill – Mine Hill, NJ (100 Randolph Ave., Mine Hill, NJ 07801)

$16.99/person – $8 pitchers of Bud or Bud Light

Platter of chicken chips for the table at the start of the game
1st quarter: Choice of either homemade chili or soup of the day
2nd quarter: Choice of platter: spinach & artichoke dip, bacon-wrapped chicken with jalapeno and BBQ sauce, nachos (buffalo chicken or chili)
3rd quarter: Choice of one per person: penne a la vodka, fish n’ chips, blackened burger with blue cheese topping, pulled pork sliders
4th quarter: Assorted dessert platter (one per table)

PLUS – 6′ sub served at halftime

Reserve by February 2nd at 973.989.1999.

Morris Tap & Grill – Randolph, NJ (500 Route 10 West, Randolph, NJ 07869)

Super Bowl Bash 2012 – All You Can Drink Craft Beer and Open Bar

$50 gets all you can drink beer, including our acclaimed craft beer selection, or for $60 you can have open bar.

Included is: Endless appetizers: signature wings, chicken quesadilla cigars and hearty chili.

Six – 50″ HD TVs / 70″ projection and audio throughout the game.

Call for information or to reserve: 973.891.1776.

Monmouth County:

The Downtown – Red Bank, NJ (10 West Front Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701)

4-Hour Open Bar Package $35
Special secondary NFL menu with kicked up classics from Chef Will
$1 drinks for ladies ($3 wine) and $3 drinks for the guys

Tons of giveaways including iPads, iPods, Ahmad Bradshaw signed ball, Darrelle Revis Autographed Jets Helmet and more.

Reservations suggested. Call 732.741.3232.

Salem County

Ten22 Bar & Grill – Pittsgrove, NJ (1022 Almond Road, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318)

Super Bowl Sunday Special:

½ price wings (any style)
½ price nachos grande
$8 domestic draft pitchers and $12 Coors Light buckets.

Touchdown Specials for patrons wearing a Giants or Patriots team jersey (ask for details). Win a Ten22 gift certificate if you guess the winning team and final score before the game.

Call for information: 856.358.3325.

Hudson County

Pilsener Haus & Biergarten – Hoboken, NJ (1422 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030)

NJ’s most traditional biergarten featuring Chef Thomas Ferlesch’s authentic Austro-Hungarian cuisine – SUPER Sausages from the grill, SUPER Pretzels – SUPER Beer Selection.

Three – 20 feet wide projection screens (largest in Hoboken). Bowl Special: $4 for ½ liter of Radeberger Pilsner during the game.

Call for information: 201.683.5465.

Whatever your plans are for the Big Game, drink responsibly and be sure to select a designated driver if you opt to go to one of these fine establishments.

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. Cheap Sports Tickets Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.

Ramsey Food Notes

HeidiR

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January 31, 2012

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There are some good things going on for foodies in Ramsey, most notably the rash of new restaurants recently opened and my favorite indoor farmers market. The Ramsey Farmers Market open Sundays from 10am-2pm at the Eric Smith School at 73 Monroe Street is a treasure trove of organic vendors and locally sourced produce, cheese, meat, honey, breads, confections, coffee, tea, eggs, baked goods, jams and preserves, pickles, body care products and more.

Ramsey native Guy Jones is owner of Blooming Hill Farm and has several varieties of potatoes, squash, lettuce, hardy greens, ginger, pears and cabbages to choose from. Across from Blooming Hill Farm is Teaneck-based Lux Naturals, makers of exquisite shea butter rich skin creams, fragrant soy candles and soap, all hand-crafted and gift-worthy.

Be sure to sample the luscious toffee from Charley’s Toffee and meet lovely Heather, mom of four and founder of this organic, gluten-free, pristine line of toffee. Heather’s family has been preparing toffee for multiple generations and Heather’s products would do her family proud. Beautifully packaged in an earthy simplicity and available in a several varieties, starting at $7 for a box of 9 pieces (I am a purist and love the Sea Salt Toffee with a sprinkling of crunchy Maldon sea salt flakes enrobed in the smooth, stretchy toffee.)

LL Pettenger Farms carries NJ grown meats and sausages and Mahwah’s Southtown Farms carries pasture/free range eggs and hens. You will find the vendors to be knowledgeable, service-focused owners who are proud to share valuable information about storage, preparation and more to get the most pleasure out of their products.

Ramsey Farmers Market founders Nancy Boone and Carol Watson have done a fine job assembling quality vendors that offer the diversity of a full scale farmers market, complete with natural wool and hand-knit goods and crafts, within the cozy confines of a middle school lunch room.

Shopping at the Ramsey Farmers Market may whet your appetite for lunch and you have several options. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is a good choice. I visited during the grand opening phase and liked the fact that my sports loving husband and kids were able to watch any of the multiple flat screens adorning the walls of this lively eatery while enjoying fresh, tasty food without any fighting (a big deal when there are three kids, two of whom are teens). The Anthony’s Classic Italian Salad ($9.25) is fresh, cold and loaded with crispy romaine, tomatoes and cukes and tossed with a really well-seasoned dressing. Meatballs are serious here and be sure to get them. These beauties are large, hand-rolled, slow cooked orbs served with a tomato sauce (not overly assertive, just right) and a dollop of ricotta cheese ($5.95 for an order of 2). Get them.

Broccoli Rabe and Sausage ($10.95) is delicious, another healthy portion which had everyone digging in. The Coal Oven Roasted Chicken Wings ($9.50 for 10 pieces) come under a topping of carmelized onion and served with Anthony’s ubiquitous Focaccia bread, hand made and baked off for each order. The wings aren’t Buffalo style and we appreciated their fresh, robust quality which showcased the chicken as opposed to a spicy sauce. The pizzas (starting at $12.25) are, according to the menu, “well done” which means they are both baked in an 800 degree coal oven, emerging with blackened blisters and a sublime taste thanks to simple, fresh ingredients that comprise both sauce and toppings. The Paul and Young Ron pie with Meatballs, Sausage, Hot or Sweet Peppers and Ricotta Cheese is a winner. If you want to keep it simple, the traditional won’t disappoint. I give Anthony’s a thumbs up for family and guy friendly vibe and menu offerings. This is fresh, tasty fare with an emphasis on quality ingredients.

The Shannon Rose Irish Pub, newly opened at 1200 Rt. 17 North at Franklin Turnpike, will likely be compared to Houlihan’s, but here’s where the difference lies: this Irish pub is serving up a smart selection of micro-brews and some good grub in a milieu that makes people, well, happy it seems. A recent visit showed this celebration of all things Irish to be successful from both a concept and execution standpoint. Packed with young families, single professionals, guys grabbing a beer with friends and watching sports on any of the bar’s multiple flat screens, large and small parties, The Shannon Rose has struck a balance between decent food, recession-sensitive menu pricing and perceived value served up in a vibe that says times are good.

Go for a micro brew and Irish Potato Skins ($8.99) or Chunky New England Clam Chowder ($5.49) for starters, the latter a cream, silky rendition with a lovely smokiness from Irish Bacon. The Filet Mignon ($19.99) is 7 oz. of nicely charred tender beef with a tasty demi-glace and a mountain of mashed potatoes, clearly fresh, creamy and full of comfort thanks to plenty of cream and butter. The Homemade Shepherd’s Pie ($12.99) is a tasty blend of ground beef and veggies baked underneath more of those creamy mashed potatoes. A hefty portion is served with Irish soda bread and what tasted like whipped margarine. (Why not butter?) The menu will appeal to the masses and The Shannon Rose’s Murder Burger ($11.99), featured on foodbeast.com, a Harp beer battered and fried massive burger with the works will surely have its share of fans. Meatloaf ($13.99), blackened salmon ($16.99), an array of burgers, salads, apps and more Irish fare will keep this place hopping and the bar, I predict, will be a favorite amongst the younger set thanks to an enticing series of weeknight promos. Desserts, if you have room, range from a brick-sized Irish soda bread pudding (enough for a party of 6 to split) to a petite Harp beer infused pudding.

Heidi Raker Goldstein is our Bergen county regional editor. A locavore, cooking enthusiast, publicist and mother of three junior gourmands, Heidi is equally comfy in greasy spoons and high-end restaurants. When not visiting local farmers markets and farm stands in Bergen and Rockland counties, this New England native, former Manhattanite and Bergen county resident is busy running her PR and green marketing agency, Raker Goldstein & Co., buying food, planning menus, cooking food, writing about food or simply eating. To reach Heidi, email her at [email protected].

3SquareDeals has arrived! Deals that Fight Hunger in New Jersey

Uncategorized

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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January 30, 2012

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It’s here, it’s here, I can’t believe it, it’s here. Six months of planning, preparing, learning, sweating, worrying, and scurrying, and its finally HERE!!!!!

Our first deal is brought to you by The Mill in Spring Lake Heights. If you’ve never been to the Mill, now is the perfect opportunity to give it a try. And, if you have, you know you want to take advantage of this offer. Voted the most “scenic & romantic” restaurant in Monmouth County for the 2010 & 2011 in the Asbury Park Press readers’ poll, the food, the views, and the service are all top notch. You can check out some of their pictures on the directory. The Mill’s deal will run until Saturday, but quantities are limited, so grab it while you can. If you buy a deal, hey, even if you don’t, how about hopping over to the Mill’s Facebook page and giving them a big “Thank You” for helping us get 3SquareDeals off the ground.

On Thursday, we have another great deal coming from LongBoard Grill in Point Pleasant Beach. Get $10 for $20 worth of food. You may recall, Longboard won the people’s choice award at the Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest put on by Jersey Shore Restaurant Week.

And, on February 6th, we’ll be introducing a great deal from another romantic Monmouth County location, The Wine Loft in Long Branch. You can read more about the Wine Loft in a post I did back in 2009.

So, don’t delay. Be sure to register your email address on 3SquareDeals.com. It’s FREE! And, you will be certain not to miss any of the great dining deals coming your way in 2012. Watch as the Tally of Meals donated begins to grow. We can’t wait. Get your Deal.

If You Love Crab Cakes, Bobby Chez Crab Cakes and Seafood Specialties is the Place!

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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January 29, 2012

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Robert Sliwowski aka Bobby Chez is well known in South Jersey for his delicious crab cakes as well as his earlier days as the chef/owner of Chez Robert restaurant in its’ three different locations from 1976 until 1995. Chez Robert was a landmark French restaurant “back in the day” as they say nowadays. People still talk about the amazing seafood bar and consistently scrumptious entrees he served. After the closing of Chez Robert, Bobby decided to reinvent his talent in 1997 using his fathers’ crab cake recipe and his mothers’ help into what again became a new landmark in the food business, Bobby Chez Seafood Specialties in Voorhees. Today his business and commissary is located in the Tuscany Marketplace shopping center in Cherry Hill.

However, Bobby’s business acumen goes way back to his childhood days selling water ice on a wagon at the pool club where he lived. Then at age 15 it was on to the Woodcrest Country Club in Cherry Hill where he and his mother Phyllis ran the food concession. After graduating from college at age 23, Bobby ran the kitchen at the Country Squire Motor Lodge and six months later decided to open his own restaurant, Chez Robert. Fast forward to today, and Bobby Chez has stores in Cherry Hill, Mt Laurel, Collingswood, Egg Harbor Township, Washington Twp., and Margate with crab cake sales exceeding 30,000 weekly, including wholesale sales to restaurants and supermarkets and a run on QVC.

His Famous Lump Crab Cake is a six ounce, hand rolled, lightly breaded crab cake full of juicy white meat with just the right amount of creamy goodness to hold it altogether. No filler here! The lines outside the store give proof to that. The menu has expanded over the years to include Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Lobster and Chicken Pot Pies, Coconut Shrimp, Rotisserie Chicken and Fresh Veggie Sides just to name a few of the many delicious offerings daily. Bobby Chez also creates great holiday fare so you don’t have to. Starting this past December, due to high demand from appearing on QVC, Bobby with the help of his wife Linda, has launched Bobby’s Gourmet Grocery Store. They ship crab cakes, mini crab cakes, shrimp puffs, and stuffed shrimp anywhere in the country. Check out their webpage at

www.bobbychezcrabcakes.com for directions and daily specials.

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!

Events

Jon Faronea

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January 27, 2012

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NOFA 22nd Annual Winter Conference, Saturday & Sunday, January 28th & 29th. Northeast Organic Farming Association Winter Conference. Theme: Cultivating Change: Growing the Organic Food Movement. The premier sustainable food and agriculture event in New Jersey! Two full days of sessions for farmers, gardeners, foodies and food activists, plus a Kids’ Conference with crafts and food projects! For more information: NOFA

Fire & Ice Festival in Historic Mount Holly, Saturday January 28th 10:30am-4pm. Both professional and amateurs ice sculptors and chili cooks will be bringing the coolest heat to Historic Mount Holly this weekend. The public is invited to try the chili entries after the judging takes place. Also, the Gingerbread Decorating Contest which began with kits given to registered participants back in December will finally be judged. For more information: Fire & Ice Fest

Havana Nights, Sunday, January 29th at 1pm. Old York Cellars. Chef Ronaldo Linares will be bringing a touch of Cuba to Old York Cellars. He will be demonstrating and preparing traditional Cuban style dishes. The audience will then get a sampling of the dish paired with Old York Cellars wines. For more information: Havana Nights

Wassailing the Apples, Sunday, January 29th from 1pm-4pm. Terhune Orchards. Owners Pam and Gary Mount honor an old English custom by gathering around a big old apple tree to sing songs and toast their health. Activities include music, songs, toasts of hot cider, gifts of cider-soaked bread placed in the tree branches, and a bonfire with marshmallows. Entertainment by Spiced Punch Consort and Molly Dancers. Farm wagon rides available. Wine tasting room open for hot mulled wine and snacks. www.terhuneorchards.com

Hudson Restaurant Week, January 23rd – February 3rd. Please visit Hudson Restaurant Week for more information.

And Beyond…

Cooked & Uncorked: Food & Wine Festival, Monday, January 30th from 6pm-9pm. With over 40 restaurants and 12 New Jersey Fire Departments participating in a Cook-off you get to taste from over 50 top chefs. In addition last year we had 21 tables of wines, spirits, beer,etc. This year all attendees will get to vote for their Firehouse chef! All proceeds go to the St. Barnabas Burn Foundation and the NJ FMBA Foundation. For more information: 973-322-4344 Cooked & Uncorked

Custards: More Than Just Pudding, Wednesday, February 1st from 6-9pm. 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 classical custard desserts like Crème Brulee, Crème Caramel and the Italian favorite, Panna Cotta. To register, call 609-343-4829 or visit www.atlantic.edu/conted.

International Great Beer Expo, February 4th. Meadowlands. This international beer tasting extravaganza will showcase more than 50 breweries from across the globe, each providing samples of their country’s proudest brewing achievement. Shoulder to shoulder with some of America’s best breweries, will be amazing breweries from Japan, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Austria, Nicaragua, Thailand, Poland, New Zealand, Indonesia, Sweden, China, and others. For more information: Beer Expo

Oyster Bowl, Sunday, February 5th from 11am-2pm. Blue Point Grill, Princeton. The annual oyster eating contest benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central and South Jersey. Individual and corporate team contests. $45 includes shirt and all the oysters you can eat in two minutes. Register. Lunch available., www.oysterbowlnj.com

A Taste of Spring, Friday, February 10th. Join members of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church for an evening of tasty food samples show-casing delicious foods from a variety of local restaurants and caterers, including On Call Catering in Flanders, NJ, All in the Icing in Netcong, NJ, the Budd Lake Diner in Budd Lake and many many more! Tickets are $20 purchased in advance and $25 at the door. To purchase tickets please call 973-898-0751.

An Evening in Tuscany, Tuesday, February 14th from 6pm-9pm. Culinary Workshops Offer Taste of Global Cuisine at Atlantic Cape. There are few things better than the flavors of Italy. Learn to prepare Fennel and Aged Pecorino Salad, Artichoke Custards with Fava Bean Sauce, Sausage Bread and Chicken Liver Spiedini, and Meringata with Chocolate Espresso Sauce. To register, call 609-343-4829 or visit www.atlantic.edu/conted.

LBI Chocolate Week 2012

Lets Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels – Free Program. Saturday, February 11th from 10:30am-11:30am. 15 person limit – come in and make a chocolate covered pretzel surprise for your parents/friends/ or sweetie. For ages 9 and up. Stop in the Tuckerton Library on 380 Bay Avenue in Tuckerton, Call 609-296-1470 or go online at http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/ to register.

Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels for your sweetheart! Tuesday, February 14th. Celebrate Valentine’s Day by coming in and making chocolate covered pretzels for that special someone! All ages, drop in at the Long Beach Island Branch of Ocean County Library in Surf City. 609-494-2480

Platinum Design Build Company presents Post Valentine’s Party and 20 ways to re invent your Kitchen- Wednesday, February 15th from 5:30-7:30pm. Join Platinum Design for complimentary chocolate martinis and chocolate covered strawberries, raffles and fun conversation at Dave’s Appliance in Oscar Huber. For more information or to RSVP 609-994-3244 or visit www.platinumbc.com/chocolate

TGI Friday’s Chocolate Week Bartenders Competition, Thursday, February 16th at 8pm. Add some flair to your Thursday with the best local bartenders mixing the best drinks in town to benefit the Southern Ocean County Community Foundation Hunger Relief Dinner. The bartenders will be creating libations featuring chocolate while being judged for their showmanship. Drinks will be auctioned to crowd! $5 entry to benefit Hunger Relief Dinner For more information contact TGI Friday’s Manahawkin, 609-489-0950 http://www.worldbtc.com/about Come out and be part of the live video broadcast and meet the B98.5 van for prizes and giveaways!

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.

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.

Individual Chocolate Desserts, Wednesday, February 22nd from 6-9pm. 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.

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

Atlantic City Restaurant Week

March 4th – March 10th. During the week, fine restaurants throughout Atlantic County will offer value priced three-course lunches for $15.11 and three-course dinners at just $33.11. 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

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

15^th 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. Tickets are $200 per person and can be ordered by contacting Lauren Canzanese at (609) 463-4672, [email protected], or online at www.atlantic.edu/gala.

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

Lots of Options at Medford Seafood Market

Kerry Brown

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January 26, 2012

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Every day, in the early morning hours, Fred Glasgow hand selects all of the fresh fish and seafood he’ll bring back to stock his recently-opened Medford Seafood Market. “We want to make sure we are offering the freshest fish available,” said Fred’s wife and business partner, Toni Glasgow.
The new Medford Seafood Market is a seafood lover’s dream. On any given day fresh, high quality familiar fishes like flounder, tilapia, cod and haddock can be found along with specialty fish including sushi-grade yellow fin tuna, Chilean sea bass, Scottish salmon, Hawaiian butterfish and bronzini, a European sea bass.

Along with the large variety of fish, you’ll also find Texas Gulf Coast shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels, lump and jumbo lump crab meat, frozen king crab legs, snow crab and lobster tails of various sizes as well as live Maine lobsters. “We also make our own crab cakes two ways; Cajun as well as regular. And last but certainly not least, our homemade soups – New England and Manhattan Clam Chowder, Spicy Maryland Crab, She Crab and Shrimp Bisque,” said Toni.

Fresh seafood is a popular menu selection when dining out but is quick and easy to prepare at home, as well. Seafood not only tastes delicious, it’s also really good for you. Nutritionists have said for decades that seafood is a low-fat source of protein, and that the health benefits of eating seafood make it one of the best choices for all ages. Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated their dietary guidelines recommending that consumers eat at least two servings of seafood each week.

Customers are very pleased with the new market so far. “Medford Seafood Market is awesome. We get the sushi-grade tuna and flounder; very fresh,” said one patron I spoke to, Another patron told me she had the salmon filet and described it as outstanding. “We have a variety of fresh fish daily which changes as the availability at the market changes,” said Glasgow. So far, Medford Seafood’s best sellers have been the Hawaiian butterfish, Scottish salmon, homemade crab cakes and homemade soups.
The Glasgows decided to enter the seafood business with the help and guidance of a good friend who has owned a successful seafood market in Bucks County, PA for 19 years. “We decided to open our store in Medford because it is close to home (Hainesport) and we saw a need for a seafood market in this area,” Toni explained. “We wanted to give the consumer another option for purchasing seafood. We also wanted a location that was on a well-traveled road with access to parking. We are a stand-alone building with a spacious parking lot so it is very convenient for our customers,” she added.

If You Go:
Medford Seafood Market
629 Stokes Road, Medford
(Next door to A Rose in December Florist)
Business Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:30am – 6:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays
609-953-FISH(3474)
You can also find them on Facebook or at their website:
http://www.medfordseafoodmarket.com

Mark the Shark Burger Day at 709 in Point Pleasant Beach

Ocean County

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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January 26, 2012

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Tomorrow, January 27, 709 Point Beach will celebrate the life of a very young, very great burger lover! In April of 2009, Mark Levine was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone tumor that generally develops during the growth period of adolescence. Throughout his treatment, Mark’s exceptional and loveable personality continued to shine. Mark and his family enjoyed dining at various places throughout the area taste testing all of the burgers in Ocean County!

To honor Mark, 709 Point Beach is introducing the “Mark the Shark Burger,” featuring a burger recipe by Mark himself!

709
709 Arnold Avenue,
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 | P: 732-295-0709

Salt Ayre Bistro Opens in Ventnor

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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January 26, 2012

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Salt Ayre Bistro opened in the tiny gem of a space once occupied by Gertrude’s at 7309 Ventnor Ave. in Ventnor. The beautiful new sign out front is very impressive and sure to catch the eye, I love the compass. The eatery is decorated with a coastal vibe, pale gray and white brick wall with striking black and white photographs of seaside architecture. The staff were at once very friendly and helpful. We learned that they were the owners son and wife. The owner is the chef and opened their new restaurant for his sons. They came from another local, LoBianco in Margate, where Salts’ owner was a chef. Did you follow that?

Salt Ayre refers to their style of cooking as American Bistro Style. I was glad to see they use local produce and organic chicken. (I would love to see more organic and free-range options). Tonight’s menu special, oysters from area locales seemed to be quite a hit with most diners we heard slurping around us. Not that we were eavesdropping! And the server was so nice trying to pronounce the names of the oysters just right. He did a great job! When I asked him what he would recommend for my main course, (he is the owners son after all) he immediately mentioned the oxtail, so I went with his first recommendation.

For the appetizer I decided on the roasted beet salad with goat cheese and almonds on a bed of spinach and the braised oxtail shredded over polenta with gorgonzola and pecorino Romano and my girlfriend had the carmelized onion soup with gooey gruyere cheese and the grilled shrimp with romanesco sauce and jasmine rice. The salad was delicious, everything was fresh and the beets were sweet and earthy. I would have preferred a sweeter dressing, but the almonds were a nice twist from the norm. The onion soup was piping hot with lots of yummy cheese but my friend said it needed a little more salt seasoning. My oxtail was so tender it melted in my mouth and was perfectly paired with the gorgonzola polenta which was soft, creamy and like a pillow for the beef to rest upon. The side of grilled asparagus with blue cheese was grilled perfectly with just the right amount of smokiness and the blue cheese added just the right creamy tang. Like potato chips, you can’t eat just one or ten.

The grilled Gulf shrimp were skewered and cooked just right with a lemony romanesco sauce for dipping. The Jasmine rice was salty and could have been a little more inspired. On to dessert! Homemade apple pie with vanilla ice cream and cheesecake. What’s not to like. We took turns tasting each. The pie was flakey and buttery and the ice cream was uber creamy with strong vanilla bean undertones, the cheesecake was also creamy and needed no embellishment on top of a buttery graham cracker bottom. A nice finish to a tasty new restaurant in town. We definately plan on coming back to give them another try again soon. One small suggestion though, could you use the shuffle mode for the music. Salt Ayre Bistro are a welcome addition to the southern shore town of Ventnors’ growing list of fine restaurants. Ventnor has a Chefs’ Night Out event in April, it features 9 to 10 restaurants that offer small plates and everyone walks, bikes or rides around the town from one restaurant to the next. Great Fun! I will keep you posted for tickets! For reservations call 609-428-6952. Their website is www.saltayrebistro.com

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.

ACA Chef Educator Annmarie Chelius Creates Healthy and Budget-Friendly Recipes

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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January 25, 2012

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January is a month for new beginnings, and often a time of the year to establish healthier eating habits. Chef Annmarie Chelius of Ocean City, chef educator at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College, has created two healthy, tasty and budget-friendly recipes, perfect for a busy family—for less than $10 each.

Ginger Carrot Soup: Six “hearty” portions of Chef Chelius’ “Ginger Carrot Soup” will run the family shopper about $6.50; pair bowls of soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on Whole Grain Bread, for another $3.50, for a protein-packed meal.

Spagh-A-Beanie: Chelius created a healthy version of Alfredo sauce using Chick Peas and named the dish “Spagh-A-Beanie.” For a family of four, Chelius estimates the pasta dish will cost the family shopper $6.50. View complete recipes below.

Chelius is involved with the Chefs Move to Schools program through First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, “America’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids.” Chelius often promotes her kid-friendly recipes to students during cooking demonstrations throughout Atlantic and Cape May counties. She puts effort into developing fun recipes, proving that healthy meals can be both simple and delicious.

The ACA, located at Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing Campus, has been training future chefs and food service professionals since 1981. The Academy is celebrating 30 years of culinary achievement all year with celebratory events. Learn more at . For more information about the Academy, call 1-800-645‑CHEF, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.atlantic.edu/aca.

Curried Ginger Carrot Soup

Yield: 6 hearty portions

Ingredients:

2 lb. Carrots

1 ea. 12 oz. can Evaporated Milk

2 tsp. Curry Powder

2 tsp. Fresh Ginger, chopped fine

2 T Olive Oil

1 bunch Green Onion

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Method:

Wash and peel carrots

Cut carrots into 1-inch pieces

Heat oil in a medium-sized pot; add curry powder

Stir curry powder until it releases aroma

Add carrots, ginger, salt and pepper

Add enough water to cover the carrots

Add evaporated milk and simmer on medium heat until the carrots are tender.

Remove soup from the heat

Using an immersion blender, puree the soup*

Wash and slice green onions on the bias; use as a crunchy garnish

*If soup is too thick, simply add more water or milk.

Cost: $6.50*

Carrots: $2.75

Evaporated Milk: $1.25

Green Onion: $1

Ginger and Curry Powder: $1 (assuming you have Curry Powder as part of your pantry spices. Ginger can be purchased as small pieces in most produce stores).

Olive Oil: $.50

*Cost can vary slightly depending on grocery store.

Spagh-A-Beanie

Yield: 1 pint/4 portions

Ingredients:

1 ea. 15-ounce can Chick Peas

1 cup Milk

2 T Olive Oil

2 cloves Garlic, minced

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Pepper

1 lb. Spaghetti pasta

1 box Kale

½ cup Parmesan Cheese

Method:

Open beans and drain liquid from can.

Place beans in a small pot and cover with milk

Add the remaining ingredients, including: olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper

Simmer ingredients on medium heat for 20-30 minutes, but do not boil

Puree in food processor or blender until smooth

Boil 1 lb. spaghetti pasta, but do not rinse

Reserve a cup of pasta water

Place bean sauce in a sauté pan and heat

Add drained pasta and toss to coat

Thin out sauce with some reserved pasta water if necessary

Cook kale according to package directions; add to pasta*

Top with parmesan cheese

*For a heartier meal, add shredded chicken and other sautéed vegetables.

Cost: $6.50*

Sauce: $2.50

Pasta: $1.25

Kale: $1.25

Cheese: $1.50

*Cost can vary slightly depending on grocery store.

Nicole’s 10 – Lady Chef Rocking the Kitchen in Morris County

Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie

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January 24, 2012

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Nicole’s 10, which opened in 2007 in Randolph, offers casual dining in an upscale atmosphere. The restaurant is located in an unassuming shopping center in Morris County and wows guests with its welcoming vibe as they walk in. The space is warm and comfortable without feeling formal. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and its ingredients and can make solid recommendations to diners overwhelmed by all the tempting options.

The restaurant’s name is derived from Chef Nicole’s nine fresh menu fish options plus one nightly fish special. The selections range from classic favorites like the seafood pot pie ($23) and broiled scallops ($24) to modern creations like the Drunken Sailor ($24), a medley of Belgian tempura shrimp in Malibu rum sauce, coconut sea scallops in Kahlua-citrus reduction and crabby-lobster balls with a touch of Midori-lime coulis and the Lighthouse Lobster, Crab and Shrimp ($22), three shrimp-stuffed crab / lobster cakes on guard amidst a sea of lobster and lemon basil bisque served with a savory seafood risotto and sautéed spinach streaked with raspberry reduction. A favorite on the night I visited, was the Coastal Lobster and Shrimp ($21), sautéed shrimp and lobster, Prosciutto de Parma, sweet peas, and reduced plum tomato in a savory roasted-garlic Sherry shrimp broth with rosemary, herbs and pecorino over penne.

Non-seafood items that are diner-favorites are the Kobe Burger ($18), nearly a pound of Tajima Black Wagyu beef, smoked applewood bacon, port-wine cheddar, caramelized onion and all the toppings and the Wild Boar Campagonola ($19), a platter of Lancaster-farmed chicken, wild boar-merlot / cranberry sausage, braised French onion, silver dollar mushrooms, sun-dried tomato and broccoli in a caramelized demi-garlic emulsion tossed with penne. The menu also boasts an extensive selection of Certified Angus Beef served with a medley of butters for the meat lovers who frequent Nicole’s 10.

Although unlikely after such a copious meal, those who save room for desserts can satisfy their sweet tooth with the Chocolate Indulgence, an over-the-top chocolate cake concoction, the Raspberry Bomb, raspberry sorbet coated in chocolate and a variety of other sorbets on the menu.

The restaurant showcases a full bar, somewhat of a novelty for Morris County, and features ten wines by the glass, an affordable wines by the bottles list and perhaps one of the most extensive and creative craft beer menu around.

After sampling Nicole’s 10 Executive Chef and Owner, Nicole Ann Dabal’s food, you’ll agree that a woman’s place is indeed in the kitchen. An Institute of Culinary Education (I.C.E.) for Culinary Arts graduate and French cooking enthusiast, Chef Nicole insists on fresh, high quality ingredients in her kitchen. With the support of Head Chefs, Christopher M. Masey and Luis Ocampo, Chef Dabal prepares solid food from a creative menu that rivals many restaurants east of the Hudson River.

Nicole’s 10

246 Route 10 West

Randolph, NJ 07869

973-442-9311

www.nicolesten.com

Dinner
Tuesday – Thursday: 5:00PM – 10:00PM
Friday & Saturday: 5:00PM – 10:30PM
Sunday: 5:00PM – 9:00PM

Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie. Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.

Recipe: Orange Glazed Chicken with Toasted Almonds

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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January 23, 2012

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In a dinner jam? Get a little help from a breakfast staple to make your ho hum chicken breasts shine as the star of your dinner. Orange juice is the main ingredient in the velvety sauce which coats pan sautéed chicken breasts. Add in the crunch of toasted almonds and dinner will be ready in about 20 minutes.

Toasting almonds is an easy way to add another taste dimension to your dish. A simple way to toast nuts is in a small pan over the stove. Place the nuts in a pan over medium high heat and stir or shake the pan often so the nuts do not burn. In about 5 – 6 minutes you will smell the toasty almonds that will be lightly browned and ready to enjoy. Remove the almonds from the pan immediately as the hot pan will continue to cook the nuts and they will burn.

The inspiration for this recipe came from the Cuisine at Home Weeknight Menus cookbook which I got as a free gift when I renewed my subscription a couple years ago. I am a cooking magazine junkie and Cuisine at Home magazine is one of my go-to sources for quick dinner recipes for my family and my EAT! A Personal Chef Service clients. The recipes offer impressive results with minimal effort.

By using ingredients you most likely have in your refrigerator and pantry, dinner can be on the table in a flash. Serving a dish that is a little out of the ordinary keeps dinner time interesting and your family will be coming back for more.

adapted from a recipe in Cuisine at Home Weeknight Menus cookbook

serves 4

4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless about 6 ounces each
salt
pepper
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup white wine
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons butter
4 thin orange slices, halved
3 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in flour. Heat a nonstick sauté pan to medium high heat and add the olive oil. Add the chicken and sauté for 3 – 5 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from pan and keep warm.

In the same pan over medium high heat, add orange juice, wine and mustard. Whisk to combine and reduce liquid by half. Turn heat to low and whisk in the butter. Return chicken to pan and add orange slices and heat through. Sprinkle with almonds and parsley and serve.

Amy Casey has had a lifelong love of food. It began at an early age with many hours watching Julia Child on The French Chef and learning to cook from the many fabulous cooks in her family. Her love of food lead her to become a personal chef, and she is the chef/owner of EAT! A Personal Chef Service in northern New Jersey, and also a member of the United States Personal Chef Association. Always wanting to share her love of food, she chronicles her collection of recipes in the blog Dinners for a Year and

Collingswood Farmers Market Wins the Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award

Camden County

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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January 23, 2012

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The New Jersey Agricultural Society awarded Betsey Cook and David Hodges of the Collingswood Farmers Market the Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award, for excellence in promoting New Jersey’s agricultural products on January 18, during the New Jersey State Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City. The market first opened in 2000 as a project of the civic group Proud Neighbors of Collingswood to bring local farm products to the area. It is now a project of the Borough of Collingswood and boasts more than 20 farmer/grower-related participants each season, as well as many other vendors.

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Recipe: Orange Glazed Chicken with Toasted Almonds

Collingswood Farmers Market Wins the Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award

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