HELDRICH HOTEL CHEF AT JAMES BEARD HOUSE
On December 16, Chef Peter Csikos from the Heldrich Hotel & Spa, New Brunswick, will participate in the Annual Benchmark Holiday Dinner at the James Beard House, 167 West 12th Street, New York City. Along with Chef Csikos, the chefs in attendance will include Francisco Aceves of Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, WV; Alan Gould of the Villas of Grand Cypress Golf Resort, Orlando, FL; Brian West of Hotel Contessa, San Antonio, TX; and chief sommelier Mary Watson-DeLauder of Benchmark Hospitality International, the Woodlands, TX. The following menu will be presented.
Hors d’oeuvres: bone marrow cones; pattypan squash with tapenade; grass-fed steak tartare; Florida stone crab mélange
(Champagne Korbel Natural NV, Champagne Korbel Brut Rosé NV,
Signature Cotton Candy Cocktails)
Maine lobster with couscous and poached quail egg
(2009 William Hill Estate Winery Chardonnay)
Seared scallops with ginger, persimmon, and heirloom tomatoes
(2005 Arrowood Vineyards & Winery Late Harvest Riesling)
Long Island duck trio with vintage port reduction
(2007 Primus Veramonte)
Southwestern intermezzo
Colorado free-roaming bison with ranchero demi-glace, mezcal béarnaise, sweet potato, and corn
(2007 Quintessa)
Assorted artisanal cheeses, including Nettle Meadow Kunik Triple Crème, Twin Maple Farm Hudson Red, and Old Chatham Sheepherding Shaker Blue, with accoutrements
(2009 Terra d’Oro Moscato, Samuel Adams Double Bock, Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port)
Mignardises: truffles, macarons, and petite pastries
(2006 Edmeades Perli Vineyard Late Harvest Zinfandel)
7 PM; $170, James Beard Foundation members $130. Call 212-627-2308 for reservations.
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ROSE, CALDWELL
I was going to cook, but at the last minute we decided to eat out. It was a fluke (not the fish, but a stroke of good luck) that we happened upon Rose, 435 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell (BYO), on the day it opened. We were the first dinner guests. Occupying this location previously were Italianissimo, Trattoria Fresco, and Oggi. We hope that owner/executive chef Joe Albergo has success, as Rose fills a niche in the area’s options, and we had a most enjoyable dinner. In addition to Italian dishes such as fried calamari, mussels marinara, chicken or veal Milanese, pizzas, and pastas, Rose also reflects other Mediterranean areas, with dishes such as chicken tagine, paella, bouillabaisse, scallops and Serrano ham, and duck with figs and Calasparra rice. We tried the tagine and loved the mixture of chicken, apricots, almonds, and raisins atop couscous and the Moroccan sauce that tied all of the ingredients together. Another unusual dish that we shared as an appetizer was a thin pasta sheet filled with mozzarella, spinach, and pesto, lightly fried and served with tomato sauce. It was like a homemade mozzarella stick with vegetables. The double-cut pork chop was moist and accompanied by peppers and mushrooms in a light tomato sauce. For dessert we had Grandma Rose’s moist Italian ricotta cheesecake. For reservations call 973-403-7673.
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HOLIDAY TASTING DINNER AT THE BERNARDS INN, BERNARDSVILLE
On December 2, executive chef Corey Heyer of the Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville, will present a six-course holiday tasting dinner paired with wines selected by wine director/sommelier Terri Baldwin. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Turn the Towns Teal, a campaign to promote the awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms. 7 PM; $200. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 908-766-0002.
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CHAMPAGNE SEMINAR
Decide what to sip through the holidays at a champagne seminar and tasting taught by certified sommelier Sharon Sevrens at Amanti Vino, 30 Church Street, Montclair, on December 4. 4 PM; $35. For reservations e-mail [email protected] or call 973-509-WINE.
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LOOKING AHEAD
The Third Annual Atlantic City Restaurant Week is set for February 27 through March 5, with restaurants offering three-course lunches for $15.11 and three-course dinners for $33.11. Visit www.acrestaurantweek.com for more information.
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Congratulations to the following New Jersey Restaurant Association honorees, who will be recognized on November 29 at the Thirtieth Anniversary Awards Dinner that will be held at the Palace at Somerset Park, Somerset.
2010 Restaurateur of the Year: Antonio Grande, chef/owner of Il Capriccio Ristorante in Whippany
2010 Gold Plate Award Winner: Marilyn Schlossbach, chef/owner of Langosta, Lounge, Pops Garage, Labrador Lounge, Trinity and the Pope, and Dauphin Grille in Asbury Park and Normandy Beach
2010 Gold Plate Award Winner: Ed Doherty, owner of Doherty Enterprises, which includes Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Chevys Fresh Mex, El Pollo Loco, and Shannon Rose Irish Pubs located statewide.
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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].