JAMES BEARD DINNER AT THE PLUCKEMIN INN, BEDMINSTER
One March 8, the Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 202 and 206, Bedminster, will host a Friends of James Beard benefit dinner. The seven-course meal will feature the culinary talents of host David Felton, who’s the executive chef at the Pluckemin Inn, and Inn pastry chef Joseph Gabriel, as well as: Scott Anderson, executive chef/owner, Elements, Princeton; Steven Cameron, executive chef, Noble American Cookery, Philadelphia; Jason Cichonski, chef de cuisine, Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, Philadelphia; Michael Gabriel, executive pastry chef, the Sea Grill, Cucina & Company, and Rock Center Cafe, NYC; and Chris Broberg, executive pastry chef for BR Guest, Long Island City, NY. Pluckemin Inn wine director and sommelier Brian Hider will pair the dishes with wines. The following menu will be presented.
Hors d’oeuvres: herbed spring pea fritters with malt vinegar mayonnaise; foie gras and chicken liver truffles with smoked brioche
(Champagne Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut NV)
Hamachi with chicken skin, artichokes, and buttermilk
(2007 Domäne Wachau Federspiel Terrassen Grüner Veltliner)
Pumpernickel-crusted Alaskan sablefish with nettle purée and marinated mussels
(2006 Tin Knocker Viognier)
Foie gras with sous-vide lychees, cashews, and butterscotch
(2005 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies’chen Alte Reben Spätlese Riesling)
Axis venison with winter truffles, black trumpet mushrooms, and marmalade
(2004 Clos Montirius Vacqueyras)
Sicilian pistachio and goat cheese gâteau with honey and kataifi
(2004 François Chidaine Clos Baudoin Vouvray)
Mango–lemongrass aspic with Valrhona Ivoire cream and mint syrup
(Champagne A. Margaine Le Demi-Sec NV)
Chocolate coffee cake with white chocolate ice cream and chocolate sorbet
(2006 Mas Amiel Muscat de Rivesaltes)
Petits fours
5 PM; $150; James Beard Foundation members $130; all inclusive. For reservations and more information call the Pluckemin Inn at 908-658-9292 or visit www.jamesbeard.org.
The Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster.
************************
MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE RESTAURANT WEEK
Maplewood Village Restaurant Week will run from Monday, March 2, through Sunday, March 8, with participating restaurants featuring special promotions.
Arturo’s Osteria & Pizzeria (973-378-5800), three-course dinner $25
Bagel Chateau (973-762-1707), free order of potato salad with any corned beef, pastrami, or turkey deli sandwich
Cent’Anni Restaurant (973-763-3083), three-course dinner $20
Crane’s Deli and Cheese Shoppe (973-763-2050), BBQ pork sandwich, chips, and a drink $10
Samurai Sushi (973-378-8336), assorted specials all week Village Ice Cream Parlour (973-762-2646), present a receipt from participating restaurants to buy any item and get one free
Luke’s Kitchen (973-763-4005), three-course dinner $39
Maple Leaf Diner (973-763-8833), four-course dinner $12.95
New World Catering (973-378-9445), complete lunch $7.95
Restaurant Lorena’s (973-763-4460), three-course dinner $30
Roman Gourmet (973-762-4288), 10 percent off when you mention Restaurant Week
St. James Gate (973-378-2222), three-course lunch $10, 3 course dinner $20
Verjus (973-378-8990), prix-fixe dinner
Village Trattoria (973-761-7711), assorted specials all week
Call participating restaurants for reservations, details, and availability. For other information call Dan at 908-358-8414.
****************
THE IRON MONKEY, JERSEY CITY
We remember when the Iron Monkey, 99 Greene Street, Jersey City, opened thirteen years ago, as we dined there often and especially loved the rooftop area in the summer. I also remember when Marco & Pepe opened in Jersey City. The mac and cheese was unforgettable. So I was thrilled to learn that executive chef Ian Kapitan is now manning the stoves at the Iron Monkey and still offers the opulent mac and cheese, which is made with farfalle pasta, truffle essence, bacon, wild mushrooms, and three different cheeses (crème fraiche, Gruyere, and mascarpone). Since it’s very rich and comes in an entrée-size portion, you many want to order one serving for the table to share.
For dinner we started with a variety of appetizers: highly recommended Moroccan meatballs; fried rice balls; and three tacos (one filled with pulled pork, one with fish, and one with avocado, corn, and black beans). Entrées were the mac and cheese plus pork tenderloin with white beans. And for dessert we had warm chocolate pudding cake with vanilla gelato, which had a kick from cardamom and a hint of ginger. What I really appreciated about the menu is that you can order apps to dessert here or a light meal or snack such as a grilled cheese sandwich, meat and cheese board, or burger. Recession specials are available, including soup and half a sandwich for $6. Additionally, menu items are marked with a V for vegetarian, a C for carnivore, and an asterisk for dishes that contain booze.
The Iron Monkey has three floors: the bar area, which can get noisy; the second-floor dining room; and the rooftop. Upon entering the restaurant, be sure to take a look at the whimsical wrought-iron door as well as the iron monkeys situated throughout the building. Paintings by a local artist are on the walls, and yes, they’re for sale.
Chefs, take note, as I know you’re always looking for someplace to go after you close your restaurant. The Iron Monkey is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 AM to midnight; Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 1 AM; Sunday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM; and brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 4 PM. For reservations call 201-435-5756.
**********
FARM 2 BISTRO, NUTLEY
Chef/owner Michael Madigan Jr. has a new menu and has added more tables at Farm 2 Bistro, 177 Franklin Avenue, Nutley (973-667-3276), a casual storefront BYO that purchases ingredients from local farms and markets when in season and whose motto is “Farm to plate in a day.” We love the comfort food and very reasonable prices here. The most expensive entrées—braised short ribs or a full rack of BBQ spareribs—are $19. We had the spareribs with an orange chipotle sauce on a recent visit, and they were scrumptious. Do try them. Other comfort-food items are: four-cheese grilled cheese; roasted garlic cheesy bread; “Mama’s meatloaf”; shepherd’s pie; and warm brownie sundae. You also don’t want to pass up the addictive mashed potatoes. Vegetarians are not forgotten, with dishes such as curried vegetable stew, four-cheese baked penne, and risotto and polenta of the day. If you just want something light, there’s a myriad of appealing soups, including carrot ginger, chicken tortilla, and Moroccan lentil, plus value combos of soup and salad, soup and sandwich, or sandwich and salad. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Visit www.farmbistro.com for more info.
***********
CHASE AWAY THE WINTER BLUES
If, like I do, you feel that spring can’t come fast enough, then the Apps for Spring class at the Urban Kitchen, 108 Adams Street, Hoboken, on March 6 should help to shake off the winter blues. Stuffed artichokes, stuffed mushrooms, and shrimp with tangy peanut sauce will be featured. 7 to 9 PM; $55. Register by phone at 201-805-5703 or on the Web at www.urbankitchen.biz.
*************
ATLANTIC CITY RESTAURANT WEEK
March 1 through 7 is Restaurant Week in Atlantic City, with participating restaurants offering a prix-fixe lunch for $15.09 and dinner for $33.09. For more information log on to www.acrestaurantweek.com.
***********
CHRISTOPHER’S RESTAURANT, NEW BRUNSWICK
If you’ve been saving a special bottle of wine or champagne for weeks, months, or much longer, Open That Bottle Night is being celebrated on February 28 at Christopher’s Restaurant & Bar, Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, from 5:30 to 11 PM. To help you celebrate, Christopher’s will offer a special prix-fixe menu for $29.99, in addition to its seasonal à la carte menu. For those who want to join the event but don’t have that special bottle of wine for the evening, Christopher’s is offering 50 percent off bottles from a special wine list. For reservations call 732-214-2200.
**************
SAVE THE DATE
South Jersey Restaurant Week will be held from March 22 through 27, with participating restaurants offering four courses for $35 plus tax and gratuity. Go to www.sjhotchefs.com for more information.
*********
DINING DEALS
Receive 20 percent off your bill Wednesdays through Sundays from 4 to 6 PM at Bayou Café, 32 W Main St, Freehold (732-845-1800); BYO.
A three-course Sunset Dinner is offered at Chakra, West 144 Route 4 East, Paramus, Mondays through Fridays from 5 to 7 PM; $20.09 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 201-556-1530.
Sundays through Thursdays, Market in the Middle, 516 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner for $25. For reservations call 732-776-8886.
The Brass Rail, 135 Washington Street, Hoboken, is offering half-price bottles of selected wines with a dinner entrée on Sunday and Monday nights, and a prix-fixe menu for $29 on Monday nights. For reservations call 201-659-7074.
All wines are discounted by 25 percent on Sundays at the Park Steakhouse, 151 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge. For reservations call 201-930-1300.
***********
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS BY MARCH 15
Don’t forget to vote in the New Jersey Monthly Annual Readers’ Choice Poll here:
http://njmonthly.com/articles/restaurants/26th-annual-readers-choice-restuarant-poll.html.
*******************
Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].