Ready, set, eat! We’re nigh on the holidays; and it’s prime time for all those in the Garden State who love nothing more than a good feeding to practice the sport of eating before gathering with the family for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s.
On the docket today is a special dinner, classes and even a proper tea. Reserve, and indulge. In moderation, of course.
First up, a serious chef-collaborative dinner.
There are only a handful of seats left for “Into the Woods,” the collaborative dinner with chefs Greg Vassos of The Brick Farm Tavern in Hopewell and David Viana of Heirloom Kitchen set for Sunday, November 12 at Heirloom Kitchen, The Village at Town Center, 3853 Route 516 in Old Bridge.
The multi-course dinner will feature woodland game and foraged fall ingredients.
Here’s the menu:
* Buffalo Sirloin Tartare with Spruce, Egg Yolk Confit, Black Trumpets, Gin
* Toasted Fettuccine with Wild Boar Ragu, Smoked Brown Butter, Pine Nuts, Apples
* Lovage Rye Berries with Chicken Heart, Angelica, Black Mint, Chestnut, Cranberry
* Brook Trout with Forrest Romesco, Hazelnuts, Pickled Blackberries, Smoked Trout Roe, Pumpernickel
* Dry-Aged Pekin Duck with Sumac, Queen Anne’s Lace Gelee, Upland Cress, Chanterelles
* Persimmon Cremeux with Hazelnut, White chocolate, Pomegranate
Complimentary wines will be offered. The cost is $125 per person, not including tax and tip. To reserve, call 732-727-9444 or email[email protected].
*
Meanwhile, tomorrow (Wednesday, November 8) Oasis Farms, located at 89 Sleepy Hollow Road in Middletown, will hosts Social Graces Tea. Tea times—that is, seatings—are at 3 pm and 4 pm.
This traditional tea service is prepared and served by the student interns at Oasis Farms, a working farm where adults with autism learn farming, practice the life arts, and are instructed in painting, pottery, wood-working and other arts and crafts at a college-like “campus.”
Additional dates for Social Graces Tea are Wednesday, November 29 and Wednesday, December 13. Reservations are required.
For more information, including prices, and reservations, email [email protected].
*
The Farm Cooking School at Gravity Hill, 67 Pleasant Valley Road in Titusville, was founded by Gourmet magazine veteran Ian Knauer. His colleague at Gourmet, Shelley Wiseman, joined him and together they have created a destination for culinary instruction and the occasional special dinner.
Upcoming classes at Farm Cooking School include:
* Techniques in Mexican Cooking, a four-class series starting Friday, November 10; each class runs from 6 to 10 pm.
* Pressure Canning with Marian Bolum, from 11 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 11.
* Kids Cooking Classes, including one this coming Sunday, November 12 that runs from 10 am to 1 pm and features instruction on making tortillas and tacos, and another on Saturday, December 2, also from 10 am to 1 pm, that teaches knife skills.
* The Perfect Turkey, from 6 to 10 pm on Thursday, November 16, and another Thanksgiving-prep class on how to make pies and sides from 10 am to 1 pm on Tuesday, November 21.
* Gourmet magazine’s “Best of the Holidays” class is taking place from 10 am to 1 pm on Friday, December 8.
* Cheesemaking, from 6 to 10 pm on Thursday, December 14.
For information and reservations for classes, visit thefarmcookingschool.com.