EXECUTIVE CHEF CHASE GERSTENBACHER FROM BRICK FARM MARKET, HOPEWELL
On Saturday June 27, executive chef Chase Gerstenbacher from Brick Farm Market, 65 East Broad Street, Hopewell, will prepare the following five-course farm-to-table, Middle Eastern dinner:
Fresh baked pita for the table from the brick oven with roasted carrot hummus and labneh with za’atar
Fattoush with tomato, cucumber, celery, radish, fresh mint, lemon, and sumac
Caramelized cauliflower with tahini yogurt, date puree, and crushed hazelnuts
Pan-roasted trout with mafghoussa (charred zucchini and tomatoes with buttermilk, walnuts, lemon and Aleppo pepper)
Grilled lamb kofta with truffled quince puree and saffron rice with pistachios and herbs, and fresh pomegranate seeds
Olive oil cake with fresh fig and white chocolate-toasted sesame ice cream.
7 to 10 PM; $75 plus tax; BYO. Reservations: 609-466-6500.
BRIAN HELD
Brian Held, owner of Brian’s in Lambertville, has opened a Mediterranean-themed restaurant, NoLa By Brian, at Bridge and Main Streets, Stockton (609-460-4148). Cash only and BYO.
TONY IBANEX
Tony Ibanez is the new chef de cuisine at Mr C’s Beach Bistro, Ocean Place at Allen Avenue, Allenhurst (732-531-3665). The restaurant had been closed because of damage from Hurricane Sandy.
ETHAN OH
Ethan Oh, who was previously sous chef at Blue Bottle Café in Hopewell, is the executive chef at Tenderhill Restaurant, a farm-to-table restaurant with a garden in the back, at 405 Rt 22 E, Whitehouse Station (908-823-0234); BYO.
LISA STANKO
Lisa Stanko is the chef de cuisine at The Black Swine, 1142 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright (732-345-0700); BYO. She was previously at Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck and Pastaio in Spring Lake.
GREGORY TORRECH
Gregory Torrech, co-owner of Union Republic in Jersey City and previously executive chef at Ho-Ho-Kus Inn in Ho-Ho-Kus, is the new executive chef at The Beehive in Boston.
MELODY AND DMITRIOS VATHIS
Melody and Dmitrios Vathis, a husband-and-wife team, who previously owned and operated several restaurants including Santorini Grill in Middletown and Jimmy’s Greek American Grill in Spotswood, have opened Melody’s Café at 650 E Newman Springs Road, Middletown, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner; 732-933-4800; BYO.
WINNING BARTENDERS
Congratulations to bartender Carlos Ruiz from Agricola in Princeton on winning the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association’s 2015 Mixologist of the Year award for his drink “The Mr. Ruiz” made with gin, fresh lime juice, Demerera syrup, Chicha Morada, egg white and cinnamon powder for garnish. Second place went to Blair Shea of The Iron Room in Atlantic City with a drink called, “St. Bader” that included cucumber water, lemongrass cane syrup and Prosecco. Third place winner was Raymond Keane of Batello of Jersey City, with his drink named “The Adventures of Huckleberry Gin,” which contained muddled strawberries and pomegranate juice. There were 21 bartenders competing in this year’s competition.
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