CHEF’S GALA TO FIGHT HUNGER
On April 23, a black-tie chef’s gala, with guests of honor Tim and Nina Zagat, will be held at the Alpine Country Club, 80 Anderson Avenue, Demarest, to benefit Table to Table, an organization that fights hunger by collecting prepared and perishable excess food and delivering it to organizations that feed the hungry in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, and Hudson counties. The following chefs will be presenting their signature dishes: David Burke (Fromagerie), Peter Kelly (Xaviar’s at Piermont, NY), Kevin Kohler (Cafe Panache), Craig Shelton (Docs of Sparta), George Georgiades (Varka), and Pichet Ong (P*ONG, NYC). Desserts are by Nicholas Gatti of the Alpine Country Club. 6:30 PM; $300. For reservations call 201-444-5500 or go to www.tabletotable.org.
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ARTURO’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA COMPANY, MAPLEWOOD
Simple or elaborate? You have a choice at Arturo’s Brick Oven Pizza Company, 180 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood. The restaurant offers pizzas, pastas, salads, and sides such as roasted meatballs and cured meats, and will create a three- to nine-course dinner using seasonal ingredients and local produce. Just call chef/owner Dan Richer 24 hours in advance and tell him how many courses you want and what you want to spend, and he’ll create a dinner for you. If you’d like to match dishes with a wine’s flavor profile or region of origin, he will do that as well. On a recent visit we wanted something a bit less elegant, and we started with a creamy Gorgonzola and pine nut salad made with baby greens and topped with sun-dried tomato pesto and balsamic vinaigrette. It was large enough for two to share. We then opted for a thin-crust Quattro pizza, made in the wood-burning oven; it was divided into four sections, with each quarter representing a season. Artichokes, peppers, mushrooms, and sausage were the toppings. Pasta choices run the gamut and include pasta with wild boar ragú and mushrooms, and pasta with pancetta. Our favorite was cheese ravioli baked with homemade marinara and mozzarella. For reservations call 973-378-5800; BYO.
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FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER CLUB AT THE PLUCKEMIN INN
The Friday Night Dinner Club will continue through May at the Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 202/206 and Pluckemin Way, Bedminster. The evening begins with butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, and attendees choose a themed cocktail or glass of sparkling wine. The three-course dinners include a wine pairing with each course. The following themes will be featured.
April 17: All About Asparagus & Artichokes
May 1: Eat With the Fishes (Sicily)
May 15: The Morel of the Story
May 29: Do You Come From the Land Down Under? (Australia)
7:30 PM; $100 plus tax and gratuity. Call 908-658-9292 for more information and reservations.
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ANOTHER NJ CHEF IS GOING TO THE BEARD HOUSE
On June 1, a Bordeaux wine dinner with executive chef Mitchell Altholz from Highlawn Pavilion and the Manor, both in West Orange, will be held at the James Beard House, 167 West 12th Street, New York City. 7 PM; $165; James Beard Foundation members $125. For reservations call 212-627-2308. Mention the “friends of the restaurant” code word MARJORAM for the member price.
Chef Altholz has also announced that not only has Highlawn Pavilion changed its dress code to business casual but it’s also offering a $30 three-course “stimulus tasting menu” for parties up to thirteen, Sundays through Thursdays in April, excluding Easter Sunday. For reservations call 973-731-3463.
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SALT CREEK GRILLE FUNDRAISER
On April 23, an anniversary wine and martini tasting fundraiser will be held at Salt Creek Grille, 4 Bingham Avenue, Rumson, to benefit the Parker Family Health Center, which provides free primary health care to the uninsured and working poor in Monmouth County. Artisan cheeses and accompaniments will be by Sickles Market, raw bar by Lusty Lobster, and passed hors d’oeuvres, carving stations, pasta stations, salad stations, and desserts by Salt Creek Grille. Premium wines and martinis will be served. 7 to 10 PM; $100. For more information and tickets call 732-212-0777 ext 106.
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TASTE OF THE NATION PRINCETON
On April 20, Taste of the Nation Princeton will be held at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, 201 Village Boulevard, Princeton, to benefit Share Our Strength, an organization that works toward ending childhood hunger. Participants include A Taste of Rubies, Acacia, the Alchemist and Barrister, Anton’s at the Swan, the Blue Bottle Cafe, the Blue Rooster Bakery & Cafe, the Brothers Moon, Catherine Lombardi, Ciao Bella Gelato Company, the Cranbury Inn, Crossing Vineyards and Winery, Donna & Company, Due Mari, the Ferry House, the Frog and the Peach, JL Ivy Restaurant and Tiger Bar, Jack’s Cafe and Taste Appeal Catering, Jones Two Enterprises, Elements, Karsay Coffee, the Nassau Club, the Original SoupMan, Parallel 40 at the Westin Princeton, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Salt Creek Grille, Slow Food Central New Jersey, Steakhouse 85, Taking Tea in Style, Tre Piani, Triumph Brewing Company, Unionville Vineyard, the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village Take-Out, Witherspoon Bread Company, and Yankee Doodle Tap Room. 6 to 9 PM; $85 in advance; $95 at the door. To order tickets log on to www.tasteofthenation.org or call 877-26TASTE.
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BBQ CLASS FOR BOLD MEN AND FEARLESS WOMEN
On May 22, Hugh Carpenter, a popular Napa Valley chef, cooking teacher, and cookbook author, will be teaching Hugh Carpenter’s Hot Barbecuing: A Class for Bold Men and Fearless Women at Viking Culinary Center, 4 Sperry Road, Fairfield. The following will be demonstrated: how to barbecue the perfect burger with avocado and bacon highlights; how to barbecue the perfect steak topped with garlic herb butter; barbecued Asian salmon cooked on lemon slices and topped with dill, lemon, and butter glaze; jumbo shrimp with spicy tomato glaze; grilled corn and Portobello mushrooms with garlic-basil rub; and homemade lemon ice cream with chocolate sauce. 6:30 to 9 PM; $69. To register log on to www.vikingcookingschool.com or call 973-244-1580.
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ITALIAN CLASSICS AT RARE, LITTLE FALLS
Rare the Steakhouse, 440 Main Street, Little Falls, is now featuring Italian classics from Il Tulipano, Rare’s catering facility in Cedar Grove. Menu items include rigatoni amatriciana, grilled veal chop giambotta, and La Margherita, a chicken breast topped with artichoke hearts, olives, and mozzarella in a light pizzaiola sauce. For reservations call 973-256-6699.
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STAR SIGHTING
On April 11 from 10 AM to 1 PM, meet movie star Dan Aykroyd at Gary’s Wine & Marketplace, 1308 Route 23 North, Wayne, where he’ll be signing bottles of his new Crystal Head Vodka. For more information call 973-633-3900.
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SAVE THE DATE
On November 2, the YCS Festival of Flavors will be held at the Panasonic Corporation of North America, 1 Panasonic Way, Secaucus, to benefit the Youth Consultation Service (YCS), a nonprofit agency that provides services that educate, shelter, advocate, and care for children in need and their families. More than 30 restaurants and wine vendors will showcase their signature dishes and wines while guests listen to live music and participate in an elegant raffle. 6 to 9 PM; $75. For more information and to become a sponsor call Kathy at 201-678-1312 x128.
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RESTAURANT MONTH IN RUMSON
Sundays through Wednesdays throughout the month of April, restaurants in the borough of Rumson will be celebrating Restaurant Month with special prix-fixe menus. Participants include Barnacle Bill’s, David Burke Fromagerie, Murphy’s Tavern, Murray MacGregor’s Publik House, Salt Creek Grille, and What’s Your Beef. For information log on to www.rumsonnj.gov.
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ISRAELI WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL AT MEDITERRA, PRINCETON
From April 13 through 19, an Israeli wine and food festival will be hosted by Mediterra Restaurant, 29 Hulfish Street, Princeton, featuring the cuisine and wines of Israel along with the regular lunch and dinner menus. On April 19, a special dinner created by Michael Solomonov (executive chef at Zahav, Philadelphia) and Mediterra executive chef Luis Bollo will be offered for $95, including wine, tax, and gratuity. For reservations call 609-252-9680.
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STEAK HOUSE DINING DEALS
A good time to be at Morton’s the Steakhouse, Riverside Square Mall, 1 Riverside Square, Hackensack, is during “power hours” in the bar/lounge: Mondays through Fridays from 5 to 7 PM, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 6:30 PM, and every day from 9 to 11 PM. Patrons can select wines by the glass, beers, and cocktails priced at $4 to $7 each and enjoy free filet mignon sandwiches. Diners can also order from the regular Morton’s dinner menu in the bar; the menu features prime USDA steaks and a variety of fresh seafood, including lobster. For reservations call 201-487-1303.
Sunday is a great time to dine at the Park Steakhouse, 151 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, as it offers a 25 percent discount on any wine from the list. For reservations call 201-930-1300.
A three-course prix-fixe menu with choices is being offered daily between 5:30 and 7 PM at the Strip House, Westminster Hotel, 550 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston. Entrée choices include a six-ounce petite filet mignon, lobster linguine, and pan-seared Atlantic salmon; $49 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 973-548-0050.
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