6/30: Salt Creek Grille, 1 Rockingham Row, Forrestal Village Shopping Center, Princeton, will host a Wine & Dine charity event to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County. 5 to 9 PM; $60 in advance, $75 at the door. For tickets, call 609-419-4200 or visit www.saltcreekgrille.com.
6/30: A malted scotch tasting will be held at Equus, 1 Mill St, Bernardsville; $55. For time information and reservations, call 908-766-3737.
7/8 to 7/10: More than 25 restaurants will be in attendance at the ShrimpFest of Ocean Township, which will be held at Joe Palaia Park, Deal and Whalepond Rds, Ocean. Free admission; July 8, 5 to 10 PM; July 9, 2 to 10 PM; July 10, 2 to 8 PM. For more information, call 732-897-1111 or visit www.gotcc.org.
7/8 to 7/10: A Fresh From the Farm three-course prix-fixe dinner will be held at High Street Grill, 64 High St, Mount Holly; $30. For time information and reservations, call 609-265-9199.
7/10: A five-course Crab and Lobster Fest will be held at Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique, 188 Spring St, Newton; $65. For more information and reservations, call 973-300-4192.
7/14: The second annual World According to Wine tasting will be held at Witherspoon Grill, 57 Witherspoon St, Princeton. 7 to 9:30 PM; $75 including tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 609-924-6011.
7/14: A Bastille Day party and waiter race will be held at Grounds for Sculpture, 19 Fairgrounds Rd, Hamilton. For the event, park admission is half price ($6) after 4:30 PM, or pay $12 for the tailgate party at 4:30 PM, which includes hors d’oeuvres and park admission (cocktails not included). At 6 PM, teams of servers from Central Jersey restaurants will compete in the waiter race, with prizes being awarded. A family-style country French dinner will be offered at Rat’s Restaurant at 7 PM. Reservations for dinner can be made by calling 609-584-7800.
7/16: A wine and cheese tasting with hors d’oeuvres will be held at the Liberty Hall Museum’s carriage house and gardens, 1003 Morris Ave, Union, to benefit the Arc of Union County, which provides services to individuals (and their families) with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 4 to 8 PM; $30 until July 9, $35 afterward and on the day of the event. For tickets, visit www.arcwinetasting2011.eventbrite.com or call 973-315-0020.
7/16: A Sip ’n’ Smoke vodka tasting will be held at Meadowlands Racetrack, 50 Rt 120, East Rutherford. Gates open at 5 PM. Sample six vodkas for $10, and specialty cigars will be available for purchase. Call 201-843-2446 for reservations.
7/17: A five-course Crab and Lobster Fest will be held at Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique, 188 Spring St, Newton; $65. For more information and reservations, call 973-300-4192.
7/21: A Feast of the Farm event featuring hors d’oeuvres, a four-course meal, and wine pairings will be held at the Mill at Spring Lake Heights, 101 Old Mill Rd, Spring Lake Heights. 6:30 PM; $100 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 732-449-1800. Rain date 7/28.
7/21: An artisanal ale and cheese tasting will be held at Valley Shepherd Creamery, 50 Fairmount Rd, Long Valley. 7 to 9:30 PM; $59. For reservations, call 908-876-3200 ext 25.
7/22: A dessert wine tasting will be held at the Wine Cellar at Lambertville Station, 11 Bridge St, Lambertville. 7 PM; $45. For reservations, call 609-397-8300.
7/22: A walk-around tasting with wines from the Mediterranean islands of Greece, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Mallorca will be held at the Frog and the Peach, 29 Dennis St, New Brunswick. 7 PM; $49. For reservations, call 732-846-3216.