Restaurant News

TABLE HOPPING WITH ROSIE

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

BY ROSIE SAFERSTEIN



CALLING ALL BAKERS! TOMATO GROWERS TOO!

On August 24, the Morris County Historical Society is holding contests for homemade dessert pies, Jersey tomatoes, and picnics at its annual garden party, which will be held at Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, from 1 to 4 PM.

 

Entrants in the contests should bring their pies (with recipes), tomatoes, or picnic spreads, along with completed application forms, to Acorn Hall between 1 and 2 PM. Entry forms and contest rules are available at www.acornhall.org and at Acorn Hall on the day of the event. There is no limit to the number of categories you may enter, but a separate application must be filled out for each pie, tomato, or picnic. All three contests are open to legal residents of Morris County, ages seven and up, except where prohibited by law.

PIE CONTEST:
The two categories for dessert pies are fruit and other. Food experts will judge the entries for taste, texture and consistency of crust and filling, appearance, and creativity, all being equal. Judging starts at 2 PM.
 
Photo courtesy of Richard Gorman.

TOMATO CONTEST: The three categories to be judged are largest (by weight), oddest (based on color, shape, and other subjective qualities), and best looking (also based on color, shape, and other subjective qualities). All entries must be homegrown in New Jersey.

PICNIC CONTEST: Picnics should be set up on Acorn Hall’s back lawn between 1 and 1:30 PM. Judging will begin at 1:30 PM. Picnic spreads will be judged on theme, creativity, food, tablescaping, and other intangible qualities.

There will also be an exhibit opening, Who’s Minding the Store?, a traveling display from the Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest that includes a reconstructed store from Morris County’s earlier days. The exhibit will demonstrate how people once shopped for food and other essentials and will be augmented with agricultural, dining, and food merchandising artifacts from the collection of the Morris County Historical Society.

For more information log on to www.acornhall.org. Psst…I will be one of the pie judges.


AVENUE, LONG BRANCH

Parisian bistro fare and the ambience of a Mediterranean beach resort are found at Avenue, Pier Village, 23 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch. Start your meal with a specialty cocktail (Blue Velvet and Blueberry Lemonade were created for the summer) on the wraparound oceanfront balcony. Wine lovers have 300 bottles to choose from on a list of boutique labels, and a dozen wines are available by the glass. The daily happy hour from 4 to 6 PM features clam and oyster specials as well as $5 martini drinks.

The interior of Avenue, Long Branch.

Executive chef Antonio Mora’s signature dishes include: Moroccan duck spring roll; warm octopus salad; rabbit gnocchi; yellowfin tuna Niçoise; potato-crusted halibut; steak frites; and paella for two. Early birds can opt for a daily three-course prix-fixe dinner from 5 to 6 PM for $28.95, which is also offered all evening on Tuesdays throughout the summer. For reservations call 732-759-2900.
 


LOBSTER, ANYONE?

If you’re craving lobster, here are a few places that will satisfy your hunger:

Every Thursday evening is Lobster Night at David Burke Fromagerie, 26 Ridge Road, Rumson, with a five-course prix-fixe dinner for $42. The following menu is offered: Maine Lobster bisque, cold-water-lobster roll, lobster and asparagus risotto, Jersey Shore lobster bake, and lobster-tail pastry. For reservations call 732-842-8088.

There are just a few Fridays left to feast on the New England-style lobster bake that will be served till Labor Day at the Walpack Inn, Route 615, Walpack Center. The menu will include New England clam chowder, brown bread, a salad bar, steamed littleneck clams, Maine lobster, corn on the cob, baby red potatoes, a quarter charbroiled chicken, blueberry cobbler, and coffee or tea. 7 PM; $38 plus tax and tip. For reservations, which are required, call 973-948-3890.

Through August, Thursday evening is Lobster Night at Nero’s, 618 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, with a clambake dinner featuring New England clam chowder, steamers, 1 1/2-pound Nantucket lobster, corn on the cob, homemade coleslaw, and oven-roasted potatoes for $39.95. For reservations call 800-55-NEROS.
 


HAPPY 240th BIRTHDAY TO THE GRAIN HOUSE, BASKING RIDGE

The Grain House at the Olde Mill Inn, 225 North Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge, will be celebrating its 240th birthday the week of August 17. Sunday brunch on the 17th will have a special price of $17.68 ($9 for children ages four to ten) to honor the year the inn was built, and there will be a special $17.68 lunch menu Monday the 18th through Friday the 22nd. For reservations call 908-221-1150.

ALL THINGS TOMATO

On August 21, the tomato will be celebrated at a History of the Tomato in Seven Courses dinner at Stage Left, 5 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. The following menu will be served:

Hors d’oeuvres: yellow tomatoes with Jonah crabmeat and ginger 

Berkshire pork bracciola with a classical tomato sauce à la carême 

Vermicelli with tomatoes and summer herbs 

Varietal tasting of heirloom tomatoes with disks of house-made mozzarella, roasted pumpkin seed oil, aged balsamic vinegar, and Maldon salt 

Skirt steak sous vide with Aztec sauce and cornbread 

Dessert: tomato sorbet, tomato basil ice cream, and sweet gazpacho 

7 PM; $79; $149 with wine and cocktail pairings. For reservations call 732-828-4444.

TASTE OF THE QUARTER
On August 25, sample dishes from all of the restaurants located at the Tropicana Casino and Resort, 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, at Taste of the Quarter, a culinary event to benefit the Southern New Jersey/Shore Region Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. There will be special appearances by local celebrities and a prize table where attendees can purchase raffle tickets. 7 to 9 PM; $25 per person. Tickets are available at the IMAX box office at the Quarter or through Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or www.ticketmaster.com.

LOOKING AHEAD
Brian Walter will be the executive chef at Char, 777 Route 202 North, Raritan, a new steak house that’s expected to open in October in the space where Acqua was located. Acqua has closed.

DINING DEALS
On Wednesdays through the end of August, Braddock’s Tavern, 39 South Main Street, Medford, offers three courses for $30, which includes a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert. For reservations call 609-654-1604.

Stephen’s Chalet, 233-235 Diamond Bridge Avenue, Hawthorne, serves a five-course early bird menu on Sundays from 11:30 AM to 6 PM for $13.95. For reservations call 973-423-5992.

Bistro 44, 44 Washington Street, Toms River, offers a three-course twilight menu Tuesdays through Saturdays from 4:30 to 5:30 PM for $16.95. For reservations call 732-818-7644. 

Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].

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