APPETITE™A GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE
From August 1 to 3, a three-day culinary and epicurean arts festival will be held at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank with celebrity chefs Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods) on Friday August 1, and Food Network star, author and Today Show regular Giada De Laurentiis on Saturday, August 2. On Sunday, August 3, Appetite™ will feature Blues & Brews, a daylong celebration of craft and artisanal beers, capped by an evening performance by the Edgar and Johnny Winter Bands, Vanilla Fudge, Peter Rivera (Rare Earth) and Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown. This event will also have culinary celebrations featuring wine pairings, tastings, cocktail and mixology workshops, gourmet cooking and dessert demos and more. Tickets available through the event website, the Count Basie Theatre website, or by calling 732-842-9000.
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21
ATELIER TOUR & DINNER AT RAT’S
An Atelier Tour & Three-Course Dinner will be held at Rat’s Restaurant, Grounds for Sculpture, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. 5:30 PM; $79; members $69. Reservations: 609-586-0616.
EVENTS FOR THURSDAY, MAY 22
TABLE TO TABLE BBQ & BEYOND
On May 22, Table to Table will host BBQ & B’yond with BBQ, burgers, bacon, bourbon & the blues with chef Anne Burrell, who hosts the Food Network shows Chef Wanted, Worst Cooks in America and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. This event which will be held at the Hackensack Golf Club, 880 Soldier Hill Rd, Oradell, will feature 28 area restaurants and will benefit the Table to Table food rescue program. 6:30 PM; young professional 31 or younger $150; individual ticket $195. For tickets, visit the event website or call 201-921-9381.
WILD MUSHROOM & BURGUNDY DINNER AT RAT’S
The Annual Wild Mushroom & Burgundy dinner will be held at Rat’s Restaurant, Grounds for Sculpture, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton; 6 PM. Price information and reservations: 609-584-7800.
SATURDAY, MAY 24
ONLY IN NJ: PORK ROLL FESTIVAL
Since 1856, when the first Pork Roll was made in Trenton by John Taylor this meat product has been a favorite in many NJ homes. I have never tasted it, but if you have and you love it, the 2014 Pork Roll Festival will be held at Trenton Social, 449 S Broad Street in Trenton with food, beer, music, special events and much more. Information at the event website, or call 609-815-1343.
SUNDAY MAY 25
Smoke ‘N Blues Jazz & Food Festival
Barbecued and grilled foods along with local craft beers and wines will be available at a Smoke ‘N Blues Jazz & Food Festival that will be held at Red Tail Lodge, Mountain Creek, 200 Rt 94 Vernon; Noon to 8 PM. Ticket information at the event website or call 973-827-2000.
EVENTS FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 28
MYCO EXOTICA MUSHROOM DINNER
The Brothers Moon, 7 W Broad Street, Hopewell, will host a five-course Myco Exotica mushroom dinner. Reservations taken from 5 to 9 PM; $65.99. Reservations: 609-333-1330; BYO.
CRAFT BEER TASTING
The Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, One East Franklin Turnpike, in Ho-Ho-Kus, (201-445-4115), will host a Craft Beer Tasting with bar bites. Featured beers include: Speakeasy Prohibition 6.1% Amber Ale; Cricket Hill Colonel Blide’s Cask Ale; Hebrew Messiah Nut Brown Ale and Erie Rail Bender 6.8% Scottish Ale. Reservations are suggested and participants are encouraged to stay for dinner afterwards. 6:30 PM; $20, plus tax & gratuity.
PATRON TEQUILA DINNER
Chef/owner Mark Smith of Tortilla Press Cantina, 7716 Maple Ave, Merchantville, is throwing a special, reservation-only Patron Tequila dinner from 7 to 9 PM; $50. Patron representatives will be on hand to talk about the manufacture and history of tequila in Mexico. Guests will be offered gift bags, recipes and tasting notes on the varying kinds of tequila being consumed that evening. Reservations: 856-356-2050.
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