Restaurant News

This week Rosie tells us about the Bernards Inn in Bernardsville, Amanti Vino in Montclair, Tbones in Bridgewater, Picnic in Fair Lawn, and much more news about NJ restaurants.

THE BERNARDS INN, BERNARDSVILLE
Along with a new spring menu, executive chef Corey Heyer of the Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville, is now offering a three-course seasonal à la carte prix-fixe dinner on Sundays for $39 plus tax and gratuity. The menu changes frequently and features new dishes and ingredients as well as selections from the regular menu. Reservations: 908-766-0002.

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AMANTI VINO, MONTCLAIR
A Farmers of France event, with 35 French winemakers representing 19 regions and offering 165 wines, was held in early April at the Vault at Bangz Salon in Montclair. Sponsored by Sharon Sevrens, owner of Amanti Vino, the boutique wine and spirits shop located at 30 Church Street, Montclair, this tasting was also a benefit for the Montclair Film Festival, which runs May 1 through 6. Cheeses were supplied by the Affinage Cheese Shop in Fairfield.

Lowell and I drank our way through some estate wines from Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, and other regions. No large co-ops at this French portfolio tasting. What did we like? A few of our favorites, in no particular order, were: Château Maucoil Châteauneuf du Pape 2009 ($40.99), Roger Perrin Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc 2010 ($37.99), Vins de Vienne “Heluicum” Syrah 2008 ($34.99), Serge Laloue Sancerre “Cuvee Silex” 2010 ($29.99), La Ferme St. Pierre Cote de Ventoux Rosé “Cuvee Juliette” 2011 ($14.99), and Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV ($79.99). It was a learning experience for us to taste lower-end as well as high-end bottles from the same winery, proving that although an expensive wine can be fabulous, a lower-priced one can be just as drinkable. We loved the Domaine Tortochot Morey St. Denis 2010 ($39.99) as much as the Domaine Tortochot Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2009 ($119.99). Wines ranged in price from $12.99 for a Château Pigoudet Rosé Coteaux d’Aix en Provence 2011 to $324.99 for a Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve 2006.

Amanti Vino, which is open daily, will be offering 10 percent off bottles and 15 percent off cases from the French portfolio tasting through May 7. For more information, visit www.amantivino.com or call 973-509-WINE.

Amanti Vino Farmers of France tasting.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.

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TBONES, BRIDGEWATER MARRIOTT
The Bridgewater Marriott, 700 Commons Way, Bridgewater, home of Tbones, a Tuscan Steakhouse, and Martini’s Lounge, has doubled the size of its kitchen garden and will be using the produce in summer dishes. Tbones offers 21-day dry-aged, naturally raised beef, as well as lamb, fish, chicken, pasta, and a selection of appetizers, soups, and salads. A chef’s-table area in the kitchen is available for parties of four to eight and allows patrons to enjoy a six-course tasting menu. Reservations: 908-482-0007.

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PICNIC, THE RESTAURANT, FAIR LAWN
On weeknights during May, Picnic, the Restaurant, 14-25 Plaza Road North, Fair Lawn (BYO), will be featuring a number of dishes from chef/owner Christine Nunn’s The Preppy Cookbook, which will be available in September 2013. Ten percent will be taken off the cost of your entrée if you choose from the cookbook dishes and fill out a brief survey about the dish. Reservations: 201-796-2700.

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BELTANE FESTIVAL AT BOBOLINK, MILFORD
On May 13, watch the cows grazing in the field while you feast on roast suckled veal, pastured poultry, winter and spring vegetables, and cheese, with ales from the Ship Inn and elsewhere, plus other gleanings, at a Beltane Festival at Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, 369 Stamets Road, Milford. Owners Jonathan and Nina White write, “There will be music and perhaps dancing, but not naked ’round the fire, so don’t bother asking!” Festivities begin at 1 PM; $50 including food, drink, music, and a grand tour of the farm. For tickets, log on to www.cowsoutside.com, call 908-86-GRASS or e-mail [email protected].

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LOOKING AHEAD

Here are some events for Monday, June 11, that may be of interest:

CancerCare’s 10th Annual Taste for Hope will be held at the Royal Manor, 454 Midland Avenue, Garfield. 6:30 to 9:30 PM; $100. For tickets, log on to www.cancercare.org/taste or call 201-301-6813.

Enjoy eighteen holes of golf paired with eighteen wines at the Great Wine, Music & Golf Pairing at Liberty National Golf Course, 100 Caven Point Road, Jersey City, to benefit FIKS (Fixing Instruments in Kids’ Schools). 1 to 6 PM; $1,500 to $25,000, depending on sponsorship level. For more information, call 212-608-0555 ext 716.

A Podere Sapaio dinner will be held at Undici Taverna Rustica, 11 West River Road, Rumson; $99 including dinner, seminar, tasting, tax, and gratuity. For reservations, call 732-842-3880.

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FOURTH SUMMIT WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
VIP passes are now available for the Fourth Summit Wine & Food Festival, which will be held September 21 through 23 at the Grand Summit Hotel, 417 Springfield Avenue, Summit. VIP pass #1 is $527; VIP pass #2 is $400 (see website for details). For more information and tickets, call 908-277-6565 or log on to www.summitwineandfood.com/packages.html.

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DINING DEAL
Treno, 233 Haddon Avenue, Westmont, is offering a four-course family-style meal on Sundays for $19 (children $5). Reservations: 856-833-9233.

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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].

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