Restaurant News

This week Rosie tells us about Amanti Vino in Montclair, an Outstanding in the Field dinner in Branchville, a Craft Beer and BBQ Festival at Monmouth Park Racetrack, and much more news about NJ restaurants.

AMANTI VINO, MONTCLAIR
When we want handmade boutique wines that have been tasted and approved by the owner and the staff, we head on over to Amanti Vino (“wine lover” in Italian), 30 Church Street, Montclair. Owned by diploma-certified sommelier Sharon Sevrens, this modern store (check out the chandelier made from wine bottles and the Amanto Vino name created from beer bottles at the checkout counter), with blond wood floors and shelving—no floor-clogging stacks of wine here—displays wines efficiently, allowing the customer to easily browse the selections. There is also a glassed-in “cool room” that houses old, rare, and limited bottles, some of which are restaurant allocations unavailable elsewhere, and an upstairs classroom/event space that can accommodate 30 people. This is where the Wine School @ Amanti Vino holds its education series. Event planning and catering are available, as is a wedding registry.

The knowledgeable staff (including Will the GM, Thad the craft beer consultant, and Jason the spirits and dessert wine buyer) receive training through the prestigious U.K.-based Wine and Spirits Education Trust and graciously answer your questions and direct you to what you’re looking for. Shoppers won’t find market-driven wines in the ever-changing selections (the inventory turns ten times a year) but will find artisanal producers from around the world—half each of old- and new-world choices, organized by country and region. And don’t think that boutique means expensive. Wine prices start below $10. But it’s not all about wine here. Terroir-focused champagne, more than 120 craft beers, and artisanal spirits are available. Can’t decide what to buy? There’s a Vino wine or beer club, which will pick mostly new wines or craft beers monthly; members receive a detailed newsletter with tasting notes, food-pairing recommendations, and bottle or case discounts.

Amanti Vino is open daily, with free delivery to the 30-plus BYO restaurants in downtown Montclair. For more information log on to www.amantivino.com or call 973-509-WINE.



Wines and craft beers at Amanti Vino, Montclair.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.

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STUFFED CUPCAKES GO TO HOLLYWOOD
What do the HBO miniseries The Pacific, the Fox show Glee, and AMC’s Mad Men have in common with the Petite Cafe at 231 Franklin Avenue in Nutley? Well, they’ll all be at the Emmy Awards on August 29 in Los Angeles. Petite Cafe owners Keith and Maureen Jaret have been chosen to supply their outrageously delicious stuffed cupcakes as the exclusive dessert for the presenters, nominees, managers, agents, and publicists. For more information about stuffed cupcakes log on to www.stuffedcupcakes.com.

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BREAKFAST AT ALICE’S, LAKE HOPATCONG
Alice’s Restaurant, 24 Nolan’s Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong, is now open for breakfast on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 11 AM. Start your day with steak, eggs, granola with Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, oatmeal, or buttermilk pancakes with local blueberries. An à la carte Sunday brunch is also offered, from 10 AM to 2 PM. For more information call 973-663-9600.

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TOMATO DINNER AT THE PLUCKEMIN INN, BEDMINSTER
Through September 4, the Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 202/206 and Pluckemin Way, Bedminster, will feature a five-course prix-fixe tomato menu for $65 (paired with wine for an additional $40). For reservations call 908-658-9292.

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FARM TO TABLE DINNER
On September 4, an Outstanding in the Field dinner will be held at Mosefund Farm, Branchville, with host farmer G.C. Anderson and chefs Michael Clampffer of Mosefund Farm and Scott Anderson of Elements, Princeton. 3 PM; $220 plus tax and gratuity. For tickets log on to www.outstandinginthefield.com.

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CRAFT BEER AND BBQ FESTIVAL
On September 4 and 5, a Craft Beer and BBQ Festival will be held at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceanport Avenue, Oceanport. 11:30 AM to 5 PM; admission to Monmouth Park is $3, ten two-ounce samples of your choice and a commemorative two-ounce pilsner tasting glass are $10, and BBQ will be available for cash purchase. For more information log on to www.monmouthpark.com.

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CHARLIE BROWN’S AND JERSEY FRESH
Kudos to Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, with 35 locations throughout NJ, as the restaurant has partnered with Jersey Fresh farmers on a new menu using local, sustainable ingredients. Five family-operated Jersey Fresh farms (Barsuglia Farms, Cassaday Farms, Ed Wuillermin & Sons Farms, Glossy Farms, and Maugeri Farms) will provide Charlie Brown’s locations with produce including eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, peas, bell peppers, blueberries, asparagus, and zucchini.

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SAVE THE DATE
On October 15, a six-course black-tie organic Dinner of Hope to benefit Creative Heartwork Inc., which provides therapeutic arts programs to Northern New Jersey children who have experienced trauma, loss, illness, or disability, will be held at the Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park. Along with culinary coordinator Craig Shelton, the following chefs will be in attendance: Anthony Bucco from Uproot in Warren; Scott Cutaneo from Equus Tavern in Bernardsville; Ike Koutrakos from Cooking In Your Kitchen in Fair Lawn; Josh Kroner from Terrapin in Rhinebeck, NY; and Arnold Kruck from the Park Avenue Club. The sommelier is Terri Baldwin from the Bernards Inn in Bernardsville. One more chef will be revealed for the dessert course. 6:30 PM; $1,000 per plate or $5000 for a table of ten. For tickets call 973-889-0809.

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DINING DEALS

Kids’ Restaurant Week is being celebrated from August 31 through September 2 at Blue Plate, 47 South Main Street, Mullica Hill, with three courses for $9.99. For more information and reservations call 856-478-2112.

On Sundays from 5 to 6:30 PM, a prix-fixe menu for $39 is offered at Izakaya, SeaBlue, Wolfgang Puck, and Fornelletto at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City (609-317-1000).

Filet Mignon Night is celebrated every Tuesday at Clancy’s Pub, Route 130 North, Brooklawn Circle, Brooklawn (856-456-4100), and 485 Woodbury-Glassboro Rd, Sewell (856-589-8989). This promotion includes an eight-ounce filet with baked stuffed potato and fresh vegetables for $11.95.

On Wednesdays, the Tortilla Press Cantina, 7716 Maple Avenue, Pennsauken, offers a twelve-ounce New York strip with two sides for $18.95. For reservations call 856-356-2050.

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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to rosie@njmonthly.com.