ULTIMATE CHEF OF BERGEN COUNTY CONTEST
Find out who’s the Ultimate Chef of Bergen County in an Iron Chef–style competition on March 22 at 6:30 PM at Chef Central, Paramus Towne Square, 240 Route 17 North, Paramus, when Chef Jesse Jones, owner of Heart and Soul Catering, competes against last year’s winner, Christine Nunn of Picnic Caterers. Jones previously won against John Marsh of Green Door Cafe, Tenafly; Adam Weiss of Esty Street, Park Ridge; and Ike Koutrakos of Cooking In Your Kitchen. Jones and Nunn will submit two starters, an entrée, and a dessert to a panel of four judges, with the secret ingredient being rice. I will be a judge along with food editor Susan Sherrill of 201 magazine and master chef Tom Griffiths, who is the executive chef and director at the Campbell’s Culinary Institute. For more information call 201-576-0100.
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FULL MOON DINNER AT RAT’S, HAMILTON
Rat’s, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, will be offering a three-course dinner for two followed by a docent-led group tour by the light of a full moon at Grounds for Sculpture on March 30, April 28, and May 20. 7 PM; $55 all-inclusive. For more information and reservations call 609-586-0616.
Rat’s Restaurant.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
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AN EVENING OF WINE AND ROSES
On March 25, an Evening of Wine and Roses with guest chef David Burke will be held at 3000 Morris Crossroads Corporate Center (former BASF Headquarters), Mount Olive, to benefit the Newton Memorial Hospital Foundation. 6 to 10:30 PM; $125, VIP tickets $200 or $350 per couple. Call 973-579-8309 for tickets.
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CRU VS. BREW CHALLENGE
On March 23, a Cru vs. Brew event with master sommelier Fred Dexheimer and Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver will be held CulinAriane, 33 Walnut Street, Montclair. Dexheimer and Oliver will be competing against each other by picking wines and beers to pair with a five-course meal prepared by Chef Ariane Duarte. At the conclusion of each course, a panel of judges will evaluate the pairings, including diners’ votes, and will select a winner. The following menu will be presented: snapper crudo, avocado, orange tapioca, Maldon sea salt, extra-virgin olive oil; Szechuan peppercorn salmon, baby bok choy; dry-barbecue-rubbed flank steak, spinach gratin potato; a selection of artisanal cheeses (donated by Tallmadge Cheese Market, Upper Montclair); and flourless chocolate cake. 7:30 PM; “wine geek and hop head” tickets $160, “wine and beer connoisseur” tickets $500 (connoisseur ticket includes attendance to a VIP cocktail party from 6:30 to 7:30 PM; a seat at Dexheimer and Oliver’s table; an autographed copy of Oliver’s book, The Brewmaster’s Table; and more). The event will be held at the Woman’s Club of Upper Montclair, 200 Cooper Avenue, Upper Montclair, and will benefit World Cares Center, a nonprofit group working within Haitian communities. For reservations call Amanti Vino at 973-509- 9463.
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EARTH DAY AT HIGHLAWN PAVILION, WEST ORANGE
To honor the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, executive chef Mitchell Altholz of Highlawn Pavilion, Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, has created a special prix-fixe four-course dinner for $32 plus tax and gratuity, which will be available from April 19 through 22. The following menu, featuring locally sourced ingredients, will be offered: creamless organic asparagus soup with garlic-herb croutons; local baby greens with breakfast radish, shaved baby carrots, sherry vinaigrette, and Valley Shepherd Creamery goat cheese; Griggstown organic chicken with spring onions and garlic and natural jus with tarragon essence; and crème brûlée tasting with honey from the farm at Pleasantdale Chateau and local eggs and milk. For reservations call 973-731-3463.
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NJM SENIOR EDITOR FINALIST FOR FOOD/DINING ARTICLES
Congratulations to Eric Levin, senior editor of New Jersey Monthly, who has been named a finalist in this year’s National City & Regional Magazine Awards. Levin is one of five contenders in the Food/Dining Writing category. The nomination was for the following articles:
“Something New Under the Bun,” about Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace in Eatontown.
“The Wizard of Zod,” a profile of Zod Arifai, chef/owner of Blu in Montclair.
“A Little Bit of Pluck,” a review of the Pluckemin Inn in Bedminster.
Levin will be competing with writers from Cincinnati magazine, Los Angeles magazine, Orange Coast magazine, and Seattle Metropolitan magazine. The winners will be announced at the CRMA convention, June 5 through 7 in Providence, Rhode Island.
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NJ AUTHORS NOMINATED FOR BOOK AWARDS
Congratulations to photographer Steve Legato and stylist Chris Fenison, plus authors Nicholas Harary, chef/owner of Restaurant Nicholas in Middletown, and Peter Zuorick, for being nominated as finalists in the Food Photography and Styling category by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) for Nicholas: The Cookbook. Eileen Yin-Fei Lo of Montclair was nominated as a finalist for the Le Cordon Bleu Award for her book Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking. The 2010 winners will be recognized at the IACP Gala Awards ceremony on April 22 at the Portland Art Museum in Oregon as part of IACP’s annual conference.
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DINING DEALS
Rumson Restaurant Month will be celebrated Sundays through Thursdays in March with prix-fixe menus, specially priced dishes, family meal deals, bar specials, and much more being offered at participating restaurants. For more information log on to www.rumsonnj.gov.
On Wednesdays during happy hour (5 to 7 PM), Zylo Tuscan Steak House, W Hotel, 255 River Street, Hoboken (201-253-2500), serves $1 oysters. Mondays through Fridays, half-price signature cocktails, $5 glasses of wine, and $3 Peroni beers are offered.
Mad Batter, 19 Jackson Street, Cape May, offers an early bird special on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 5:30 PM: Buy one dinner entrée, and get one entrée at half price. For reservations call 609-884-5970.
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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].