SATURDAY, APRIL 28
As part of the Annual Spring Festival, a Sweet & Savory Smackdown will be held throughout properties in Cape May. Sample signature sweets or savory snacks, vote for your favorites, and get the recipes via e-mail. 1 to 3 PM; $25, children ages three to twelve $15. There will also be a beer and chocolate tasting at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. 2 PM; $30. For more information and reservations, call the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts at 800-275-4278 or log on to www.capemaymac.org.
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting a restaurant tour featuring small bites and samplings at more than 25 Asbury Park restaurants, lounges, juice bars, and bakeries. Participating venues are located downtown, on and off Main Street and at the boardwalk. Free transport will be provided. Noon to 4 PM; restaurant tour wristbands are $30 at www.asburyparkchamber.com/news.asp?id=121 or by calling 732-775-7676. A limited number of wristbands will be available for purchase on the day of the tour. For a list of participating venues, visit www.LoveAsbury.com/tour. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned food, which will be donated to a local charity.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL 28 AND 29
The Annual Shad Festival will be held in Lambertville, with food, family entertainment, artists, and crafters. 12:30 to 5:30 PM, rain or shine; free admission.
MONDAY, APRIL 30
The Fifth Annual Cooking for Kids: Gourmet Fare From Everywhere event will be held at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel, 2 Meadowlands Plaza, East Rutherford, to benefit the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s pediatric programs and services. Chefs who will be offering samplings of their signature dishes include Lidia Bastianich, Michael Carrino, Ryan DePersio, Ariane Duarte, Scott Cutaneo, and Jim Weaver. 6 to 9:30 PM; $200 general admission, $250 for a VIP ticket that includes a special gift bag. For more information, visit www.stjosephshealth.org/chefevent, contact the St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center Foundation office at 973-754-4408, or e-mail [email protected].
A Wines of Donnafugata, Sicily dinner will be held at Undici Taverna Rustica, 11 W River Rd, Rumson, $99 including dinner, seminar, tasting, tax, and gratuity. Call 732-842-3880.
TUESDAY, MAY 1
A Feasting on History restaurant gala to benefit Historic Cold Spring Village will be held in Hangar #1 at the Naval Air Station, Wildwood Aviation Museum, 500 Forrestal Rd (Cape May Airport), Cape May. 6 PM; $70. For ticket information, log on to www.hcsv.org/events/feasting-on-history.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2
Arthur Schwartz will teach a demonstration cooking class, Seafood City, at Kings Short Hills, 778 Morris Tpk. Menu highlights include clams casino (clams baked with seasoned butter and bacon), the Grand Central Oyster Bar’s oyster pan roast (oysters stewed in seasoned cream), Lundy’s biscuits (tiny baking-powder biscuits), shrimp Newburg (the original was lobster Newburg), and Zarela’s snapper hash (in tacos). Autographed copies of Arthur’s book New York City Food will be available after the class. 6:30 to 9:30 PM; $85. To enroll, call 973-258-4009.
A California wine tasting will be held at La Tavola Cucina, 700 Old Bridge Tpk, South River, which will include a tasting of red and white wines, plus a lecture, discussion, and buffet dinner. 7 PM; $40 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 732-238-2111.