9/18: A three-hour Sunset and Wine Lovers’ Cruise on the Delaware Bay will depart from the Cape May Terminal. 6 PM; $39, which includes a round-trip foot passenger ticket, wine samples, heavy hors d’oeuvres, an informal discussion about the wine, the opportunity to purchase featured wines by the glass, and live music. For reservations call 800-64-FERRY.
9/19: A Craft Beer Fest will be held at Trump Marina, Huron and Brigantine Blvd, Atlantic City. 2 to 7 PM; $25. For more information log on to www.trumpmarina.com. Rain date 9/20.
9/19: A cooking class, Flash in the Pan Pasta Sauces, will be taught by Arlene Ward at Conturso’s Market & Fine Catering, 446 Rt 202, Red Barn Plaza, Towaco. 10 AM to noon; $49. For more information and to reserve a spot call 973-588-7888.
9/19 and 9/20: WineFest 2009 will be held at Valenzano Winery, 1320 Old Indian Mills Rd, Shamong. Noon to 5 PM; advance tickets $8, at the gate $10, children enter for free. For more information and to purchase tickets call 609-268-6731.
9/20: A four-course dinner featuring the harvest bounty from local farms will be held at Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique, 188 Spring St, Newton; $45. For more information and reservations call 973-300-4192.
9/21: A Culinary Affair featuring samplings of food and wine will be held at the Renaissance Plaza, 39 Rt 12, Flemington, to benefit the Hunterdon Medical Center Foundation. 6 to 9 PM; $70. For tickets call 908-788-6141.
9/22: A four-course Greek wine dinner will be held at Nisi Estiatorio, 90 Grand Ave, Englewood. 7 PM; $75 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 201-567-4700.
9/22: A Harvest cooking class will be held at Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique, 188 Spring St, Newton. 6:30 PM; $65. For more information and reservations call 973-300-4192.
9/22: A five-course Weyerbacher beer dinner will be held at Acacia, 2637 Main St, Lawrenceville. 6:30 to 10 PM; $59.99. For reservations call 609-520-0008.
9/23: A Red Wines of Italy tasting with hors d’oeuvres will be held at One 53, 153 Washington St, Rocky Hill. 6:30 PM; $65 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 609-921-0153.
9/23: An Argentinean wine dinner will be held at the Atlantic City Country Club, 1 Leo Fraser Dr, Northfield. 6 to 9 PM; $99. For reservations call 609-236-4465.
9/23: A Spanish Wine Exploration & Appreciation class with tapas will be held at High Street Grill, 64 High St, Mount Holly. 6:30 to 8:30 PM; $30. For reservations call 609-265-9199.
9/24: An Italian regional cooking class will be held at the Cooking School at La Campagne, 312 Kresson Rd, Cherry Hill. 7 to 9 PM; $45. Call 856-429-7647 for more information and reservations.
9/24: A Collector’s Taste of Italy wine tasting and food event will be held at Joe Canal’s, 489 Rt 1 S, Iselin, with Massimo Galvano from Kobrand (previously the sommelier at Le Cirque, NYC). Twenty wines will be poured, and an Italian buffet will be presented by LouCas, Edison. 6:30 PM; $100. For reservations call 732-726–0077.
9/25: An evening of dinner and dancing, Sunset at Sandy Hook, will be held at the Sea Gulls’ Nest Deck Restaurant, Area D inside Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, to benefit the group Clean Ocean Action. 6 to 10 PM; $100 in advance, $125 at the door. For tickets call 732-872-0111.
9/25: A three-hour Sunset and Wine Lovers’ Cruise on the Delaware Bay will depart from the Cape May Terminal. 6 PM; $39, which includes a round-trip foot passenger ticket, wine samples, heavy hors d’oeuvres, an informal discussion about the wine, the opportunity to purchase featured wines by the glass, and live music. For reservations call 800-64-FERRY.
9/25: Chef Jesse Jones will be serving a five-course dinner with wines at the Union Elks Lodge #1583, 281 Chestnut St, Union. 6 to 10 PM; $65. For reservations call 973-580-2203.
9/25: The Annual Sunset at Sandy Hook dinner will be held at the Sea Gulls’ Nest Deck Restaurant, parking area D, Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, to benefit Clean Ocean Action. Dinner is from 6 to 8 PM, followed by dessert and dancing; $75. For tickets call 732-872-0111.
9/25: A four-course Provence dinner with wine will be held at the Pluckemin Inn, 359 Rt 202/206 and Pluckemin Way, Bedminster. 7:30 PM; $100 plus tax and gratuity. For more information and reservations call 908-658-9292.
9/26: A Rhone wine tasting with small plates from Chef Anthony Pino will be held at Bin 14 Trattoria & Wine Bar, 1314 Washington St, Hoboken. 2 PM; $45 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 201-963-WINE.
9/26: A Wag’n & Wine’n event will be held at Mill Race Village, Church & White Sts, Mount Holly, to benefit the Burlington County Animal Alliance. 2 to 6 PM; $25 in advance; $30 at the door. All human and animals friends welcome (the latter on leashes, please). For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.millraceshops.com or call 609-518-8895.
9/27: A Feast in the Fields presented by the 1895 Organic Farm and South Jersey Hot Chefs will be held at the 1895 Organic Farm, 303 Landing St, Lumberton. 4 to 7 PM; $45 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 856-546-8840 and mention this event.
9/27: A five-course dinner featuring the harvest bounty from local farms will be held at Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique, 188 Spring St, Newton; $55. For more information and reservations call 973-300-4192.
9/27: A Garden Harvest dinner will be held at the Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Rd, Bernardsville, with a family-style meal accompanied by cardamom-mint lemonade, blood orange iced tea, and Canyon Road wine and craft beer. 6 PM; $125 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call Tracey Mancini at 908-766-7300 ext 155.
9/27: An Oktoberfest hosted by the nonprofit German School of Monmouth County will be held at the Elks Lodge, West Front St, Red Bank. Noon to 5 PM. Advance tickets, which include a German buffet and all activities (“the tapping of the keg,” German music and folk dancing, a Swiss alphorn player, yodeling lessons and contest, a beer stein race, sack races, a pretzel toss, and more), are $25 for adults and $10 for children ages sixteen and under. Tickets at the door are $30 for adults and $10 for children. Call 888-368-5300 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
9/29: A Beginner’s Class in Wine will be held at Joe Canal’s, 489 Rt 1 S, Iselin. 7 to 8:30 PM; $15. For reservations call 732-726–0077.
9/30: An Italian red wine tasting with hors d’oeuvres will be held at One 53, 153 Washington St, Rocky Hill. 6:30 PM; $65 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 609-921-0153.
10/1: A Greek cooking class will be held at the Cooking School at La Campagne, 312 Kresson Rd, Cherry Hill. 7 to 9 PM; $45. Call 856-429-7647 for more information and reservations.
10/1: A wine tasting and dinner buffet hosted by Wine Legend of Livingston will be held at the Manor, 111 Prospect Ave, West Orange, to benefit the Children’s Home Society of NJ. 6:30 to 10 PM; $85; $100 VIP ticket allows early admission at 6 PM plus admission to a special walk-around sake and scotch tasting. For tickets call 973-992-4441 or log on to www.winelegend.com.
10/1: A wine sampling with gourmet cheeses, chocolates, and music will be held at the Clinton Inn Hotel, 145 Dean Dr, Tenafly, to benefit Giants of Generosity, a volunteer organization helping people in communities who are experiencing desperate times. 7 to 10 PM; $80 at the door. For more information call 201-567-2622.
10/3: Cuisine from local restaurants, bakers, and personal chefs will be served in the seven homes that will be featured in a self-guided Hearth & Home Kitchen Tour in Westfield to benefit Holy Trinity Interparochial School. 10 AM to 4 PM; $30 in advance, $35 on the day of the event. For tickets call 908-233-0456, log on to www.htisnj.com, or e-mail [email protected].
10/3: The Hopewell Harvest Fair will be held on the grounds of Hopewell Elementary School. 10 AM to 4 PM. Farmers and local food producers will be in attendance, and meats, produce, flowers, and artisanal foods will be available. For more information log on to www.hopewellharvestfair.org. Rain date 10/4.
10/3 and 10/4: An Octoberfest will be held at Westfall Winery, 141 Clove Rd, Montague. Complimentary brats and dogs, discounted wines by the glass, and live music will be featured. Noon to 4 PM; $5. Reservations are not required. For more information call 973-293-3428.
10/4: A Valtellina Wines of Aldo Rainoldi dinner will be held at Berta’s Chateau, 7 Grove St, Wanaque. 4:30 PM; $79. For more information and reservations call 973-835-0992.
10/4: A Taste of Glen Ridge will include a reception and kitchen tours with food samplings from local chefs and specialty stores. Noon to 4 PM tour, 3 to 5 PM reception; $40 in advance, $45 at the door. For more information log on to www.glenridge.org/afc/kitchen.html or call 973-429-8300 ext 4000.
10/4: A Chowder Cook-Off with unlimited chowder tastings, live music, children’s entertainment, and a food court will be held at the Taylor Avenue ball field, Ninth St and Taylor Ave, Beach Haven. 11 AM to 4 PM; $20, $10 for children ages four to twelve, VIP tickets $50. For more information and tickets call 609-494-7211 ext 100.
10/4: A four-course Autumn in Tuscany and the Marche dinner will be held at Camillo’s Cafe, 301 N Harrison St, Princeton. 6:30 to 9 PM; $75. For reservations call CoolVines at 609-924-0039.
10/4 to 10/8 and 10/11 to 10/15: Restaurant Week will be celebrated in Bergen County, with participating restaurants offering a prix-fixe three-course lunch for $16.95 and dinner for $29.95. A donation will be made to Table to Table, a community-based food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable excess food and delivers it to organizations that feed the hungry in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, and Hudson counties. For more information call 201-646-6954.
10/5: A five-course vegetarian dinner with wines to benefit the Hunterdon Humane Animal Shelter will be held at Anton’s at the Swan, 43 S Main St, Lambertville. 6:30 PM; $100. For reservations call Eric at 609-397-1960 ext 6.
10/5: A Signature Chefs Latin Fusion tasting event will be held at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe Hotel, 100 Frank W Burr Blvd, Teaneck, to benefit the March of Dimes New Jersey. 6 to 9 PM; $100. Tickets can be bought online; go to www.marchofdimes.com/newjersey and click on Signature Chefs Latin Fusion in the calendar of events. For more information call 973-882-0700 ext 717.
10/6: A five-course dinner featuring wines from Argentina and Spain, along with music by a Spanish guitarist, will be held at Casa Dante, 737 Newark Ave, Jersey City. 6:30 PM; $95 plus tax and gratuity. Only 46 slots are being held; the first 20 customers to make reservations now through September 30 and to mention that they read about this dinner on the New Jersey Monthly Website will be charged the discounted rate of $75 per person plus tax and tip. For reservations call 201-795-2750.
10/7: A Cakebread Cellars wine dinner hosted by Dennis Cakebread will be held at Equus, 1 Mill St, Bernardsville. For time, cost, and menu information call 908-766-3737.
10/8: A German cooking class will be held at the Cooking School at La Campagne, 312 Kresson Rd, Cherry Hill. 7 to 9 PM; $45. Call 856-429-7647 for more information and reservations.
10/10: A home brew contest will be held at High Street Grill, 64 High St, Mount Holly. Noon to 4 PM; $30 including buffet, two beer tickets, tasting, and voting for the “people’s choice” winner. For more information and reservations call 609-265-9199.
10/10: The Annual German American Society Chili Cook-Off will be held at the German American Club, 215 Uncle Pete’s Rd, Yardville. 1 to 6 PM; $30 team entry fee, $10 for patrons, children under twelve free. For more information or an entry packet e-mail [email protected] or call 609-208-2170. Rain date: 10/11.
10/11: A family-friendly Harvest & Music Festival will be held at Witherspoon Grill Plaza, 57 Witherspoon St, Princeton, with live music, kids’ activities, farmers’ fall favorites, food, and spirits. The event will benefit the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Noon to 5 PM. For more information call 609-924-6011.
10/11: A Chocolate Fantasy buffet with light and dark chocolate desserts prepared by Kathleen Cressman-Pastiu, in-house pastry chef, will be held at the Washington Inn, 801 Washington St, Cape May. 2 PM; $35. For more information call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278.
10/15: An Italian regional cooking class will be held at the Cooking School at La Campagne, 312 Kresson Rd, Cherry Hill. 7 to 9 PM; $45. Call 856-429-7647 for more information and reservations.
10/15: Food Network star Christina Pirello, host of Christina Cooks, will speak about the politics of food at a buffet luncheon at the Hunterdon Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. 12:30 to 2 PM; $25. For tickets call 908-782-7115 or log on to www.hunterdon-chamber.org.
10/15: A three-course dinner and demonstration cooking class will be held at Bàcio Italian Cuisine, 2801 Rt 130 N, Cinnaminson. 6:30 PM; $35 plus tax and gratuity. For more information and reservations call 856-303-9100.
10/15: A Heart and Soul Cooking class with Chef Jesse Jones will be held at South Orange Middle School, 70 N Ridgewood Rd, South Orange. 7 to 9 PM; $45. To register log on to www.somadultschool.org or call 973-378-2772 ext 2133.
10/15: A Fall in Love Martinis cocktail class will be held at Liberty House Restaurant, 78 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City. 7 PM; $35. For reservations call 201-395-0300.
10/17: The 89th annual Far Hills Race Meeting will be held at Moorland Farms, Far Hills, to benefit the Somerset Medical Center. This event is also known for extravagant fall picnics with beautiful floral centerpieces, hay-bale seating, ice carvings, and more. Grounds open to the public at 8 AM; post time for the first race is 1 PM. General admission tickets prior to the day of the event are $50, and a parking pass is $30. Tickets and parking passes are available at local merchants or online at www.farhillsrace.org while supplies last. On the day of the event, general admission is $100. For more information contact the Far Hills Race Meeting Association at 908-685-2929 or visit the Website listed above.
10/17: An Oktoberfest will be held at Rat’s, 16 Fairgrounds Rd, Hamilton; 5 PM. For more information and reservations call 609-584-7800. Rain date: 10/24.
10/18: A vineyard and winery tour and tasting hosted by the Northern & Central New Jersey Chapter of Women for WineSense will be held at Villa Milagro Vineyards, 33 Warren Glen Rd, Finesville. 12:30 to 4 PM; $55, members $45. To register log on to www.womenforwinesense.org; follow the NJ Chapter link and then go to the events page.
10/21: A Santa Rita wine dinner will be held at Legal Sea Foods, 1 Garden State Plaza, Paramus. 6:30 to 9 PM; $75. For reservations call 201-843-8483.
10/22: A Fall in Love Martinis cocktail class will be held at Stone House at Stirling Ridge, 50 Stirling Ave, Warren. 7 PM; $35. For reservations call 908-754-1222.
10/22: Arthur Schwartz will host a cooking demonstration and signing of his new book, The Southern Italian Table: Authentic Recipes From Traditional Kitchens, at Chef Central, 240 Rt 17 N, Paramus. 6:30 PM; free. For more information call 201-576-0100.
10/23: A four-course wine pairing dinner will be held at Soho on George, 335 George St, New Brunswick, to benefit Water for People, a nonprofit organization that improves the quality of life for people in developing nations by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs. 8 to 11 PM; $100. For reservations call 732-590-4741.
10/24: A Diwali Festival of Lights dinner with chefs Suvir Saran, Hemant Mathur, and Joshua Thomas from American Masala, Jersey City, will be held at the James Beard House, 167 W 12th St, New York City. 7 PM; $125, James Beard Foundation members $100. For reservations call 212-627-2308.
10/25: Alanna Kaufman and Alex Small, authors of The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: 200 Gourmet Recipes for Any Budget, will appear at Highland Park Library, 31 N Fifth Ave, Highland Park. 2 PM; free. For more information log on to www.hpplnj.org or call 732-572-2750.
10/25: A Riedel Wineglass Tasting Experience with Maximilian Riedel will be held at Morton’s the Steakhouse, Riverside Square Mall, 1 Riverside Square, Hackensack. 3 to 5 PM; $95 including a Riedel three-glass tasting set ($135 value), a $25 Morton’s gift card, and a selection of appetizers and wine samplings. For more information and tickets call Chef Central, Paramus, at 201-576-0100.
10/25: A five-course dinner with wine, Every Bite Counts, will be held at Perona Farms, 350 Andover-Sparta Rd, Andover, to benefit Katie’s House, a home for young adults with development disabilities. 4 PM; $100. For more information and reservations call Tracey at 973-300-9840 or log on to www.katieshouse.org.