Foodie Things to Do This Weekend and Beyond

Jon Faronea

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November 4, 2011

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week has begun! November 4th – 13th. Various locations. For more details, participating restaurants and tickets for the events below, please visit: www.jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com

Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest, Saturday, November 5th at Bar A, Belmar. Taste and Vote for the Shore’s Best Burger. Jersey Bites will be participating on the Judges Panel.

“Great Chefs Cook Italian” Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake Heights, Monday, November 7th. “Chopped” champ Matthew Zappoli of Tre Amici, Top 25 Zagat rated Piccola italia chef/owner Brian Gualtieri and legendary Joe Leone prepare a 5 course meal paired with Italian Wines.

Sushi and Sake Night at 709, Point Pleasant Tuesday, November 8th. A sushi, sake and white wine tasting.

“Souper Happy Hour” The Mill, Spring Lake Heights. Wednesday, November 9th. “Soup and Sammy”….delicious harvest soups paired with savory mini sandwiches.

The After Party “Cocktails and Cupcakes” Watermark, Asbury Park. Thursday, November 10th. Killer after dinner cocktails, make your own cupcakes and dance the night away.

Charley’s Craft Beer & Comedy Night Charley’s Ocean Grill, Long Branch. Friday, November 11th. Sample craft beers and delicious appetizers and enjoy some of the Shore’s top comedians.

“Burgers, Bloodies and Brews” at Harpoon Willy’s, Manasquan. Saturday, November 12th. Enjoy your choice of burger with a Bloody Mary or Shinerboch Beer.

A Taste of Italy at Undici. Sunday, November 13th. This popular event features tastings of over 50 Italian wines paired with delicious cheeses, meats and pastas from the regions of Italy. Spirits table.

2011 Somers Point Restaurant Week is Nov. 4 – 13: The dinners are Price fix 3- course meals for $25.07, some restaurants are offering a Price Fix menu for $11.07. Somers Point is not just for the summer months. Check out this year round destination for dining. Also participating with an art exhibit, “Flavors of Fall” is the Great Bay Gallery. You can check out the menus and get more information on http://www.somerspointba.org/

Wine and Cheese Tasting Fundraiser to Benefit Holiday Express, Sickles Market greenhouse, Little Silver, NJ. Friday, November 4 from 7-10 p.m. Sickles Market will dress up its greenhouse in magical holiday style, serve spectacular gourmet foods, artisanal cheeses and pour premium wines. The event – which is denim casual – will offer live entertainment by some of the best talent from the Holiday Express band; a silent auction brimming with rare, collectible wines; and a live auction that includes the hugely popular Wine Crawls – progressive tours of some of the Jersey Shore’s best private wine cellars. Plus so much more! Last year’s event was sold out so attendees are urged to reserve tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are $125 and sponsorships are available. To reserve tickets or make a sponsorship please call Tori Sickles at 732.741.9563. Or, purchase online at www.sicklesmarket.com/holidayexpress

Restaurant Week at Cork Genuine Food & Drink, Westmont, NJ. Friday, November 4th: Enjoy a special 4-course $35 menu created with the help of Cork’s chef Anthony Marini. Chef Philippe Chin from Paris, France, a celebrity and master chef, will be providing a menu. Philippe is well known for is cross culture cooking inspired by his Chinese Father and his French mother. Philippe had a restaurant in Philadelphia and most recently in Augusta, Georgia. He was featured numerous times on the Food Network.For details please visit: corknj.com

Wine Tasting & Food Event, Friday, November 4th from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Wedgwood Country Club, 200 Hurffville Rd, Turnersville. This event will benefit the Washington Township Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Foundation. The tasting will include more than 200 wines, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, a sauté station, desserts, and live music. Tickets from $40 to $75. For more information and tickets please call: 856-227-1776

Bound Brook RiverFest, Saturday, November 5th from 10am-4pm. The day will feature merchants and artisans selling wares, amusement rides, petting zoo, live entertainment and dance on two stages, lots of delicious food, fun, prizes and surprises! For more information: Bound Brook RiverFest

Spirits & Spirits 2011, Saturday, November 5th from 6pm-10pm. The Historic Smithville Mansion and South Jersey Ghost Research will host a wine tasting complete with light refreshments, and SJGR will release the results of investigations at the haunted mansion. Tickets are $30. For more information: Smithville Mansion

All-Grain Brewing Seminar & Beer Tasting, Saturday, November 5th from 4pm-7pm. The Brewers Apprentice will be conducting an all grain seminar in celebration of Teach A Friend To Brew Day! They’ll be going through the basics of all-grain brewing… Including the equipment needed, ingredients, as well as the basic principles. We’ll take the mystery out of the process by showing you every single step from building your own equipment (or what to buy), how to set it up, how to prepare your grains, how to mash and sparge, etc. At designated points during the event, attendees will also be able to sample some great beer from The Brewers Apprentice! Tickets MUST be purchased in advance…they will not honor walk-ins. Tickets are $25 each. To purchase your ticket, visit the store or call: 732-863-9411

Six Flags Grape Adventure: Wine and Food Experience, Saturday and Sunday, November 5th & 6th, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ. The second annual post-season wine and food event is sponsored by & TD Bank, Cabot Creamery & and Kitchen Magic. The event will feature NJ wineries offering nearly 150 locally produced wines for sampling and music. Schedule a time for the Safari Tasting Tour which includes a private tour and stop in the Wild Safari. (Theme park is not open during this event.) For more information and to buy tickets: Six Flags

And Beyond…

March of Dimes: Signature Chefs Event, Monday, November 7th at 6pm. Eagle Oaks Country Club in Farmingdale, NJ. Tickets are just $100 each and entitle you to one of New Jersey’s premier food and wine tasting events. The event also features a live and silent auction and the opportunity to network with several of New Jersey’s business and community leaders. Your ticket price is tax deductible and supports the mission for stronger, healthier babies. Please call 732-859-5595 for tickets or additional information.

Soups & Sauces, Monday, November 7th at 6:30pm. A cooking class that includes a three-course meal, wine, a lecture, and a demonstration, will be held at Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique, 188 Spring St, Newton. Tickets are $65. For reservations please call: 973-300-4192

From Land to Sea: Cooking With Marilyn, Wednesday, November 9th at 6:30pm. A cooking class taught by chef/restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach, will be held at Langosta Lounge, Third Ave Pavilion, 1000 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, to benefit the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Tickets are $50, including dinner. For more information and reservations, call 732-455-3275 or e-mail [email protected].

Autumn Cocktails, Thursday, November 10th at 7pm. A class including Bourbon Apple Pie Martini, Rosemary Apple Martini, and Autumn Sidecar will be held at Stone House at Stirling Ridge, 50 Stirling Ave, Warren. The event will include appetizers and take-home recipe cards. Tickets are $30 with reservation, $35 at the door. To reserve please call: 866-683-3586

Wine Tasting with Food, Friday, November 11th from 7pm-10pm. Held at the Mercer Oaks Country Club & Golf Course, 725 Village Rd W, Princeton Junction, to benefit the Res-Q-Pets Foundation. Tickets are $50 in advance, $55 at the door. To order tickets, go to www.laurentiwines.com.

First Annual Harvest Celebration, Saturday, November 12th from 1pm-3pm. Joe Canal’s Discount Liquor Outlet in Iselin, NJ. The Liquid Learning Center will hold this event that will feature wine tastings with Deborah Brenner, author/founder, Women of the Vine, and will have a menu of seasonal, locally grown appetizers prepared by Jim and Andrea Carbine, owner/chefs of A Toute Heure. The event is free, but reservations must be made by calling: 732-726-0077

An All-American Thanksgiving, Saturday, November 19th at 11:30am. This cooking class will be held at Phillips Seafood, Pier Shops at Caesars, 1 Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City. Tickets are $65, including a chef demo, wine, and lunch. Call 609-348-2273 for reservations or go to www.phillipsseafood.com.

Leftover Halloween Candy = Shortbread Candy Bars

MStavrou

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November 3, 2011

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In the days following Halloween, it’s not unusual to work through the candy overflow by having a candy bar with every meal. But after the initial euphoria and sugar high fade you’re still left with piles of leftover candy. One way to ensure the candy isn’t still lying around by next Halloween is to make a batch of these shortbread bars. The buttery shortbread crust is first baked, then topped with chocolate chips and the candy of your choice. We tried it out with dark chocolate peanut butter cups, but any chocolate candy would work. There’s nothing like taking candy and making it into an even more decadent treat.

Shortbread Candy Bars (from Everyday Food)

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups assorted chocolate candies or roughly chopped candy bars (12 ounces)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and salt on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. With mixer on low, add flour in three additions and beat until combined (dough will be crumbly). Press dough evenly into an 9×9 baking dish. Bake until golden brown and firm, 25-30 minutes.

Scatter chocolate chips on top of shortbread. Bake until soft, 1 minute. With the back of a spoon, spread chocolate evenly over shortbread. Scatter candies over top. Let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate briefly to set chocolate, then cut into 16 bars.

Michelle Stavrou, Union County Regional Editor, has hop-scotched across the Garden State, growing up in Bergen County, then moving to Hoboken (after a stop over in Queens) before finally settling in Cranford. After too many years stuck in tiny kitchens Michelle finally has a kitchen that can accommodate multiple batches of cookies. Her husband and her co-workers are probably even more thankful than she is. Michelle’s baking adventures are documented here: http://jerseygirleats.blogspot.com/.

A Trip Through Italian American History with Lidia Bastianich

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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November 2, 2011

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Television chef, best-selling cookbook author, and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich is most known for her exploration of Italian cuisine, but in her latest book, Lidia’s Italy in America, she goes on a road trip across the United States into the heart of Italian American cooking today. We had the pleasure to catch up with her recently to learn what exciting discoveries she made on this journey throughout Italian American kitchens.

What inspired you to write your new book?

You know, I profess the Italian cuisine, so all these years I’ve dedicated my career, my passion to bringing the Italian cuisine and culture to Americans. And in traveling around, I noticed there were so many Italian Americans and so much Italian American culture based on Italian culture that is alive and well throughout the U.S. And I said to myself, I’m going to have to address this at some point. In this book, I am traveling around America, sharing with Americans their Italian heritage. And it’s certainly intense and vibrant, and there’s a lot of good food being cooked.

What do you hope your readers will get out of this?

I think the message is how great of a place America is, how immigrants came and really made it their home. It’s about how they developed their families and made a good living and business, and all this is what makes America strong. The matrix that makes America so resilient is precisely this diversity of cultures. It’s amazing how much the Italian immigrants have taken for themselves but also contributed to making America what it is today.

Out of all of the places you went to on this tour of Italian American communities, which was the most memorable?

They were all charming in their own way. It was fascinating to find that there were three major ports of entry of the Italian immigrants: New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. I knew about New York and Philadelphia, but didn’t realize New Orleans was such a big entry port for Italians, specifically for Sicilians. New Orleans was a cheaper way to enter, and also it offered a lot of work in the Gulf of Mexico with fishing, so that surprised me. One would expect to find hints of French, Creole, and Spanish in New Orleans but I was amazed to find such strong Italian influences down in the French Quarter, such as muffuletta sandwiches and fried artichokes.

But I also loved the Northern California wine industry. Yes, we know there’s Mondavi and Sebastiani, all these Italian wine producers, but the Italian immigrants were at the base of this whole industry, in making Napa and Sonoma what it is today. The northern Italians came and began to transform the fields—they grew mostly corn and sugar there—and transformed it into vineyards, and now it’s a vibrant big industry in America. All these are amazing segues of a culture and how it influenced the U.S. and how we eat today.

How do you think Italian cuisine has been most Americanized today?

The Italian American cuisine is a different cuisine—it’s not Italian cuisine. It doesn’t represent what happens in Italy. You won’t find spaghetti and meatballs in Italy today. You won’t find veal parmagiana, as it is made here, in Italy today. So I think that Italian American cuisine is a great, venerable, and tasty cuisine, but it represents more of the American history. And the difference—let’s take, for example, the simple Sunday sauce, which you think of as tomato sauce and some meat—if you go to Italy around Naples and southern Italy where the sauce is usually made, you find a nice fresh tomato sauce with a piece of pork, or on the other hand, the Sunday sauce transported here in America, has much more garlic, much more dry herbs, and much more meat. Here you have the meatballs, sausages, ribs, and this is because here in America meat was plentiful and in Italy, they didn’t have meat. Therefore, having the meat and adding it meant living well. So there are major differences because of what the immigrants found here. Also, I think to capture the flavor of their memories, they added a lot of garlic because garlic was the one flavor that was constant in Italy and here. Because if you go to Italy, the use of garlic is nowhere near as it is in Italian American cuisine. So you really can trace the evolution of this Italian American food from the products that they found.

Do you have a favorite recipe from the book?

I have a few. I like the fried artichokes very much because of the simplicity. But in the desserts, there’s the Boston Cream Cake which turns into Italian flavored Boston Cream cupcake where orange and lemon juice is added to the batter, and rum to the chocolate, and so on. That’s a key one that I think Americans will really relate to.

What can your Jersey fans expect at your upcoming book signing at Dearborn Market tonight?

I’ll be there with a presentation, but also, the market itself will make available some of the dishes in my book and they have a deli counter where people can try them. We will be also tasting my sauces and pasta, so they will have an opportunity to talk to me, get the book signed, ask questions, and also taste my flavors of some of the other things that I do.

November 2: Holmdel

Lidia’s Italy in America Book and Sauce Signing

Dearborn Market

2170 Hwy 35

Holmdel, NJ 07733

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Ana Montoya, Hudson County Regional Editor. Ana is a magazine editor by day and freelance writer by night. During the past six years she’s become quite the sunglass expert at her current post at Sunglasses Magazine, a retail trade publication that covers the sunwear industry. When she’s not writing or editing, Ana is usually plotting where to go next since she’s an avid traveler with infinite wanderlust. And of course, one of her favorite parts of traveling is finding new places to eat! Though she’ll be the first to admit her lack of skills in the kitchen, Ana loves food, especially when one of the main ingredients is either garlic or bacon. And while many might describe her as a meat and potatoes kind of girl, she’s currently gradually expanding her taste buds to change that.

Bites from the Editor: November

From The Editor

Deborah Smith, Executive Editor

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November 1, 2011

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It’s hard to believe after the weekend we just had here in New Jersey that winter doesn’t officially start until December 22nd. We sure have been taking it on the chin from Mother Nature lately. I’m hoping all of our North Jersey friends are back in the light again soon. I was up in Morristown on Saturday for the Own it Ventures conference, which was a fabulous experience but unfortunately the weather caused many of us, including me, to hit the road early. (When the hotel lights start to flicker, it’s time to go in my book.)

Before the white knuckled drive home, my job at the conference was to serve on the media panel and listen to pitches from woman owned New Jersey companies who are looking for press exposure for their products or services. It was a fascinating experience and I hope I get invited back again next year. There were several yummy presenters who brought samples for everyone to taste. Two stand-outs were the MarionBerry girls with their delicious cookies and the amazing chutneys and relishes from HerbNZest. Their Chive Tomato Relish is amazing. I could taste it over ravioli, as a dipping sauce for Fried Calamari or Mozzarella Sticks, just about anything. I also had the opportunity to chat with the incredibly sweet, Bridget Graham, owner of Sweetable Eatables whose creations are almost (I said almost) too pretty to eat. You’ll be reading more about this construction worker by day, party favor queen by night later this month.

As Jersey Shore Restaurant week launches this Thursday, we have some special discounts for our Jersey Bites readers. Get $5 off the ticket price for two very exciting events; Sushi and Saki Night at 709 in Point Pleasant Beach and Charley’s Craft Beer and Comedy Show at Charley’s Ocean Grill in Long Branch. Just use promo code: JB when checking out online to get your $5 discount. I will once again be serving as a judge during restaurant week. This time it will be at the Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest this Saturday at Bar Anticipation in Belmar. I hope you’ll join me for some delicious burgers and a really great time. Click the link for all of Jersey Shore Restaurant Week’s events.

October was a busy month for our Biter Writers and you’ll be reading all about their adventures in the coming month. Ana Montoya got the chance to chat with the one and only Lidia Bastianich in anticipation of her upcoming book signing at Dearborn Market on November 2nd. I can’t wait to read her interview. I just love Lidia.

This month we are excited to welcome several new contributors. Our new Atlantic County Regional Editor, Michele Errichetti, will be spotlighting Atlantic County Community College’s cafe called Careme. Melody Kettle from the fabulous blog Hot From the Kettle will be bringing us the latest North Jersey restaurant news in her monthly column similarly named, Hot From the Kettle and Kerry Brown, a recent addition to the Burlington County Team, will be sharing her experience with a Shoprite catered Thanksgiving Day feast.

Kathryn Blaze will give us a taste of the Red Monk Asian Bistro in Metuchen while Heidi Raker will be covering the sweeter side of things at the new Sugar & Plumm in Paramus. Sheila Hill breakfasts at the Blue Peach Cafe in Manasquan and Laurie Lee introduces us to one of her favorite Vietnamese restaurants, Mekong Grill in Ridgewood. Our Diner aficionado, New Jersey Nick, will be sharing his review of the Hillsboro Star Diner and Melissa Yurasits gives us the details on her recent visit to Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City and their new chef, Ken Trickilo. Deanna Quinones will once again be covering the 14th Annual Chocolate Show in New York City. (A tough assignment but she’s will to make the sacrifice for the sake of a good story.) There’s more, so much more that it is impossible to cover everything here. You’ll just have to tune in every day to see what’s happening.

Speaking of tuning in, this past Saturday I was a guest on the Culinary Conversations radio program hosted by Joe Leone. It’s a fun half hour chat about food in New Jersey. It is now available online for your listening pleasure. You can also catch me chatting about Social Media on the Work Smart Lifestyle show hosted by Britt Michaelian. Next week, I will be donning my apron and taking part in the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Culinary Education program as an honorary student for a day. Look for my story on that provided all fingers survive. And, of course, what would November be without lots of great Thanksgiving recipes? We promise to deliver some fabulous new ideas and some old favorites for your table.

Two last announcements, I know this is getting out of control. There’s just so much going on. We will finally be launching our Restaurant Directory in about a week!! We are just fine tuning and testing, but most of the hard work is behind us. Thank goodness. And, last, but definitely not least, we will once again be hosting a fun Giveaway sponsored by Emile Henry. Look for that announcement in a few days and don’t forget to enter.

As always, thank you for reading and thank you for joining in the conversation. If you haven’t done so already, head on over to our Facebook page to hang with the rest of the Jersey Biters. You can also find us on Twitter @JerseyBites.

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 founder of 3SquareDeals.com, a Deals program that gives back to The Community FoodBank of New Jersey and other local hunger relief programs in your neighborhood. Register Today.

Woodbury Station Café

aaccardo

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October 30, 2011

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As the leaves are turning shades of red, yellow and orange, and the air feels crisp, it is the perfect time to sit down with a friend, a great cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast. If you’re in Gloucester County, that place is The Woodbury Station Café. An old train station turned quaint and cozy breakfast nook, the train station is the place to be in Gloucester County.

Owners Pat and Lonnie Finney are passionate about delivering “American cuisine with an upscale twist at an affordable price” and are opened for breakfast from 8am-2:30 pm and lunch from 11am-2:30 pm, Monday-Friday. Their breakfast items include a variety of dishes such as pancakes, waffles, and omelets, but their big breakfast draw are the beignets.

Specials are offered every day and differ every time you visit. Currently, there is a special surf and turf brunch offered only on Saturday and Sunday mornings. For $18.95 you can enjoy a variety of delicious, homemade dishes! Catering is also available, where you can hold your next event for parties up to 100, and create a unique menu fit for your party. Sign up for The Woodbury Station Café’s newsletter, where you will be in the know about special events and dining opportunities.

During my visit, I enjoyed a fluffy, savory omelet, filled with veggies and American cheese. Omelets are served with a fruit “kicker” and I substituted the house potatoes for crispy potatoes, made with onions. My friend had a stuffed French toast special with whipped cream and fruit, with a side of bacon. Another friend tried eggs, bacon and the crispy potatoes.

If you are looking for a unique place to meet friends for breakfast or lunch, The Woodbury Station Café is where you have to go. No matter what time of year you visit, it always feels like you are home. Rather than dining at a traditional diner, this gem is unique and that special place you always wanted to visit, again and again. The service is great, the coffee is hot, the food is excellent, and there is a beignet with your name on it.

Allie Coremin, regional editor for Gloucester County, is a fashionable food enthusiast trying her best to eat healthy while enjoying all that there is to taste. On most days you will find her cooking something delicious in the kitchen, wearing a fashion savy apron of course. Join Allie as she cooks, dines and experiences all things food related Gloucester County has to offer – and shares it with you. Feel free to check out Allie’s personal blog and follow her on Twitter: @allieat.

Foodie Things to Do This Weekend and Beyond

Events

Jon Faronea

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October 28, 2011

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Roots & Wings’ Oktoberfest, Friday, October 28th at 7pm. Roots & Wings, an organization dedicated to helping former foster children, will host Oktoberfest, its largest and most popular fundraiser. The event will include a German biergarten, dinner, entertainment, and silent and live auctions, and is expected to draw more than 300 people. For more information: Roots & Wings

Pama Pomegranate Liqueur Party, Jeffrey’s of Westwood, Friday, October 28th from 7pm-9pm. Jeffrey’s of Westfield will be fully transformed into a haunted house, with staff in costume and their entire menu Halloween-themed. Festivities throughout the weekend include the Pama Pomegranate Liqueur Party on Friday, a costume contest on Saturday, and a kids costume contest on Sunday. For more information please call: 908-232-4517

Wine & Food Classic, Friday, October 28th from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Join the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties, in partnership with Canal’s Bottlestop Route 70 Marlton, for the 2nd Annual Wine & Food Classic, benefiting Y programs that support a healthier and more active lifestyle for children.Guests will enjoy more than 700 of South Jersey’s finest selection of wines and dishes prepared by premium chefs. A limited number of tickets will be sold for a V.I.P. reception, featuring premium wine and menu selections. For more information call: 856-234-6200

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, Somerset. Friday & Saturday, October 28 & 29 from 10am to 6pm, & Sunday, October 30, 10am to 5pm. The festival will feature crafts including functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, wood, metal, furniture, home accessories, photography and fine art. Gourmet foods and seasonal favorites—including candies and chocolates, hearty soups, artisan breads, jams and dips, syrups, and olive oils—will be available to sample and purchase from dozens of specialty food purveyors. For more information: www.sugarloafcrafts.com

Beer Festival, Somers Point Fire Department Sta. 2. Saturday, October 29th from 1pm-4pm, VIP 12-1pm. Come help benefit the men and women of 2 House. VIP is $50 and includes exclusive beers. General Admission is $35. They will be serving 20 to 30 different crafts brews and there will be food vendors from some of your favorite local eateries! For those who want to attend and don’t want to drive home the Pier 4 is offering a 10% discount on rooms with a copy of your ticket to the event! For more information: Facebook Event

Halloween Costume Party and Beef & Beer, Saturday, October 29th from 8pm-Midnight. Bettin’ On A Cure is hosting their annual party and fundraiser at St. Mike’s Mutual Club in Gibbstown, NJ. There will be a costume contest, a DJ, buffet dinner and dessert, unlimited beer and soda, raffels and more. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. Tickets at the door will be $5 more. For more information: 609.617.1036 or Fb Event

Tewksbury Harvest Festival, Saturday, October 29th from 11am-4pm. Christie Hoffman Farm, Califon, NJ. The festival will feature hot-air balloon rides, pony rides, hayrides, handmade crafts, classic car show, petting zoo, pumpkin painting, face painting, live music, exhibitions, pig roast, contests, and prizes. $20 admission includes ALL activities, plus free pumpkins, cotton candy, and popcorn. For more information: Tewksbury Fest

Halloween Fest & Street Fair, Ridgefield Park. Saturday, October 29th from 10am-5pm. Main St. will become an open air pedestrian marketplace with live entertainment, festival foods, local merchants and restaurants displaying their specialties and a variety of family activities. Kiddie Rides, face painting, games, activities and much more! For more information: Ridgefield Park Halloween Fest

Halloween Wine & Brewfest, Sunday, October 30th from 12pm-6pm. Enjoy a grown-up Trick or Treat at Meet, Drink and Be Scary. Wines, Champagnes and Craft Beers take the place of candy as you stroll the stations at Kean University’s Harwood Arena. Come in costume and you’ll be rewarded with your choice of a souvenir pilsner or wine sampling glass! Prizes given for the funniest, scariest and best costume! Also take in The Star-Ledger Travel Show where you’ll be eligible to win lots of door prizes including free trips. TV’s will be on to show the football games! Tickets are only $15 per person and include 10 sampling tickets (use 1 per beer sample, use 2 per wine sample). Tickets at the door are $20. For more information: Brewfest

And Beyond…

Garrett Oliver: A Tasting & Signing, Amanti Vino, Montclair. Tuesday, November 1st from 7pm-9pm. Come meet Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster Garrett Oliver, editor-in-chief of the new Oxford Companion to Beer. Copies of the ultimate beer guide will be available for purchase and signed by Garrett. Attendees will enjoy tastes of The Companion Ale, a Brewmaster’s Reserve beer created to commemorate the book’s publication, and brewed in an old style called “wheat wine,” a wheat-based equivalent to barley wine. For more information: Amanti Vino

Crab Cake Dinner, Tuesday, November 1st. Mud City Crab House will be hosting the 1^st annual crab cake dinner to benefit David’s Dream and Believe Foundation. They will be hosting 2 seating’s, 5: 30 and 8, in the dining room, each seating accommodating approximately 75 people. The night will consist of dinner, wine & beer cash bar, and an auction. Tickets can be purchased at Mud City Crab House for $35.00/ticket. The meal will consist of family style appetizers, soup or salad course, a crab cake dinner, (there will be a non-seafood option), and dessert. Mud City Crab House 609-978-3660

Wine and Cheese Tasting Fundraiser to Benefit Holiday Express, Sickles Market greenhouse, Little Silver, NJ. Friday, November 4 from 7-10 p.m. Sickles Market will dress up its greenhouse in magical holiday style, serve spectacular gourmet foods, artisanal cheeses and pour premium wines. The event – which is denim casual – will offer live entertainment by some of the best talent from the Holiday Express band; a silent auction brimming with rare, collectible wines; and a live auction that includes the hugely popular Wine Crawls – progressive tours of some of the Jersey Shore’s best private wine cellars. Plus so much more! Last year’s event was sold out so attendees are urged to reserve tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are $125 and sponsorships are available. To reserve tickets or make a sponsorship please call Tori Sickles at 732.741.9563. Or, purchase online at www.sicklesmarket.com/holidayexpress

Restaurant Week at Cork Genuine Food & Drink, Westmont, NJ. On November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th they will have celebrity chefs cooking a special 4-course $35 menu created with the help of Cork’s chef Anthony Marini. For details please visit: corknj.com

Wednesday, November 2nd: Master chef Olivier de St Martin, born and raised in Champagne, France, is the owner of Caribou Café & Zinc Restaurants in Philadelphia and winner of the Food Network’s “Chopped.” He will be creating a bistro menu featuring French comfort foods and cultural dishes.

Thursday, November 3rd: Chef Jim Coleman, cookbook author and host of PBS’ long running “Flavors of America” will be providing a menu inspired by flavors of America. Coleman was a longtime chef of the 4 star Rittenhouse Hotel and then the Normandy Farms Hotel in Blue Bell, Pa.

Friday, November 4th: Chef Philippe Chin from Paris, France, a celebrity and master chef, will be providing a menu. Philippe is well known for is cross culture cooking inspired by his Chinese Father and his French mother. Philippe had a restaurant in Philadelphia and most recently in Augusta, Georgia. He was featured numerous times on the Food Network.

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week: Various locations. For more details and tickets for the events below, please visit: www.jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com

“The Kick-off Party” The Breakers Hotel, Spring Lake. Thursday, November 3rd. Great Jersey Shore chefs prepare their favorite “Comfort Foods” including: Wine Bar, Cheese Station, Pate Bar, Desset Bar.

Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest, Saturday, November 5th at Bar A, Belmar. Taste and Vote for the Shore’s Best Burger.