CHAKRA, PARAMUS
Executive chef Nelson Martinez has introduced his new winter menu at Chakra, West 144 Route 4 East, Paramus. Some items are: appetizer sampler with coconut shrimp, chicken satay, and spring rolls; snapper wrapped in a banana leaf; tandoori-spiced short ribs; and lemongrass-scented seafood hot pot. Pastry chef Robert Gonnerman has also put his mark on the new menu, with tempting dessert selections such as chocolate banana dome; blood orange cheesecake with citrus ricotta doughnuts, raspberry sauce, and chocolate fondue; and apple spring roll with pomegranate coulis and ginger-infused ice cream. We’ve been following the new general manager and trained sommelier, Evelyn Hsu, from the time she was at Copeland in Morristown and then restaurant.mc in Millburn, and her expert advice on wine pairings has always been spot on. At Chakra she has spiced up the cocktail list with drinks such as Shanghai Tea (Pierre Ferrand cognac, spice-infused sweet vermouth, green tea, Pama pomegranate liqueur, and fresh lime) and has fine-tuned the wine options to make them more user friendly and wallet friendly. Every Thursday is Ladies’ Night, with half-price cocktails. Chakra also has a three-course sunset menu, which changes weekly, Mondays through Thursdays from 5 to 7 PM, for $26 plus tax and gratuity; the restaurant offers specially priced $6 glasses of wine to accompany this menu. The restaurant space is sultry and sexy, with silk organza curtains dividing the comfy banquettes in the main dining room as well as candles in niches, a floor-to-ceiling waterfall that changes color to represent the seven major chakras (life energy forces in the body), and Cambodian friezes. For reservations call 201-556-1530.
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ARTURO’S, MAPLEWOOD
Chef/owner Dan Richer of Arturo’s Osteria & Pizzeria Company, 180 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, has announced that his Saturday-night tastings have been so popular that he will also host these events on Tuesday nights. The four-course menu changes weekly as determined by market availability and features produce from sustainable NJ farms prepared using regional Northern Italian techniques. Reservations are taken from 5 PM; walk-ins are welcome, but reservations have priority, as space is limited. The price is $30 per person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 973-378-5800; BYO.
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DAVID BURKE FROMAGERIE, RUMSON
On February 3, a five-course Casa Lapostolle wine dinner will be held at David Burke Fromagerie, 26 Ridge Road, Rumson. The following menu created by Chef David Burke will be presented:
Hors’ d’oeuvres
(2008 Château de Sancerre, Loire Valley)
Shrimp dumplings with grapefruit chili and watercress
(2009 Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley)
Smoked salmon with horseradish mousse and beet blinis
(2007 Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Atalayas Vineyard Casablanca Valley Chardonnay)
Goat cheese and lamb tartlette, frisée, spinach leaves, and Brussels sprouts
(2008 Casa Lapostolle Carmenère, Rapel Valley)
Dry-aged beef and braised short ribs, celery root purée, and caramelized mushrooms and shallots
(2007 Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Merlot, Colchagua Valley, and 2007 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley)
Warm chocolate cake with coconut and orange anglaise and cheesecake pops
(Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge)
6:45 PM; $85 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call general manager John Ansell at 732-842-8088.
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REAL MEN COOK MEXICAN AT ROSA MEXICANO, HACKENSACK
Rosa Mexicano, Shops at Riverside, 390 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, is celebrating its Real Men Cook Mexican festival at Riverside Square with a free cooking class hosted by executive chef David Suarez on January 30 at 10 AM, plus special menu items, from hot dogs and pork ribs to potato chip nachos and s’mores, available through Super Bowl weekend (February 7). For more information and reservations call 201-489-9100.
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UPCOMING CHARITY EVENTS
On February 5, a wine and chocolate tasting will be held at the Hyatt Morristown, Headquarters Plaza, 3 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, to benefit Deirdre’s House, a social services center in Morris County for child victims of abuse and neglect and for children who have witnessed domestic violence. The evening will feature food, a silent auction, wines from the Wine Library of Springfield, and chocolates provided by Pink Cake Box of Denville. 7 to 10 PM; $65. For tickets call 973-631-5000.
If oysters are your passion, join the NJ Oyster Bowl eating contest on February 7 at Blue Point Grill, 258 Nassau Street, Princeton, to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Central and South Jersey chapters). 11 AM to 2 PM; $45 entry fee, or $200 per four-person corporate team. Contestants can register on-site at 11:30 AM. For more information call Blue Point Grill at 609-921-1211 or visit www.oysterbowlnj.com.
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THE JUNCTION, WHITEHOUSE STATION, ON TV
The episode of Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Gordon Ramsay that was filmed last May at the Junction, 157 Main Street, Whitehouse Station (908-534-6900), will be aired on Friday, Tuesday February 2, at 9 PM on Fox TV channel 5. According to the restaurant’s Website, the tropical décor is gone, and the Junction has “gone country.” Menu changes are ongoing.
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HAWK HAVEN VINEYARD & WINERY
Every Friday night, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, 600 South Railroad Avenue, Rio Grande, hosts a three-course petite entrée dinner with a Cape May restaurant preparing the meal and each course paired with a half glass of Hawk Haven Wine. Live jazz music complements the evening. 6:30 to 10 PM; $48 per person, gratuity included. For reservations, which are required, call 609-846-7347. If you’re not in the mood for dinner, the Hawk Haven Wine Bar serves wine by the glass, and reservations are not required.
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LOOKING AHEAD
Food and wine lovers should ink in May 7 through May 9 as the Summit Wine and Food Festival 2010. The event will be held at Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg. For more information visit www.summitwineandfood.com.
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DINING DEALS
Black Trumpet, 1505 Ocean Avenue, Spring Lake, offers a five o’clock fixe menu Mondays through Fridays from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. For reservations call 732-449-4700.
Hudson Restaurant Week will be held on weekdays from February 1 through 12, with restaurants offering prix-fixe lunches starting at $13 and dinners starting at $23. More than thirty restaurants will be participating, including 3 Forty Grill, Amanda’s, Casa Dante, Edward’s Steakhouse, the Madison, the Pointe, Porto Leggero, the Quays, South City Grill, Trinity, and Zylo. For a complete restaurant list, plus menus and more information, visit www.hudsonrestaurantweek.com.
Children younger than twelve years old eat for free on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8 PM at Elysian Cafe, 1001 Washington Street, Hoboken (201-798-5898). Limit two kids per adult when the adult orders an entrée.
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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].