A Mac & Cheese Competition in Jersey City

Plus: Other upcoming food events in Hamilton Township, Montclair and Verona.

mac madness
Mac Madness dishes at Automat Kitchen
mac madness

Mac Madness dishes at Automat Kitchen

Mac Madness at Automat Kitchen

Jersey City • Until April 5

Five new mac-and-cheese specials are being added to the menu at Automat Kitchen, where contactless ordering and pickup are the priority. Coinciding with the NCAA’s March Madness, the version that proves most popular will be added to the restaurant’s permanent menu. The specials include a Mac and Cheese–stuffed Meatballs Parm Sandwich, BBQ Brisket Mac and Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza Mac and Cheese, a Mac and Cheese Sandwich on Ciabatta, and Vegan Mac and Cheese (made with vegan cheeses, oat milk and optional grilled tofu on top). Open daily at 10 am; closed Sundays.

Automat Kitchen, 525 Washington Blvd., Jersey City; 201-918-5131

Easter Brunch at Rat’s Restaurant

Hamilton Township • Sunday, April 4

Celebrate the Easter holiday with country French cuisine from Rat’s, beginning at 11 am. The pre-fixe menu includes dishes like Avocado Toast (with radish and pickled onion) and a Smoked Salmon Mini Bagel for the first course, a Seared Chicken Breast (with white tomato stew) and Lobster Quiche for the second course, and dessert tapas to end the brunch, with options of Mini Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake Bites and more. $65 per person; call to make a reservation.

Rat’s Restaurant, 16 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton Township; 609-584-7800

Champagne Taittinger Wine Dinner at Faubourg

Montclair • Thursday, April 15

The French restaurant will host a wine dinner (the April 15 date was announced after the April 14 dinner sold out). Led by Sommelier Philippe Marchal, it will feature Champagne Taittinger and a 4-course meal paired with hand-selected wines. The first course will be Japanese Madai with a Taittinger Prestige Rose. Second course is Scarpinoc Pasta with a Prelude Brut. Roasted Chicken & Morels will be paired with Comtes de Champagne for course three. Dessert is Apple Tarte Tatin with Nocturne City Light Dry. $185 per person; email [email protected] for reservations.

Faubourg, 544 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; 973-542-7700

Due Chef Italiani Wine Dinner at Ariane Kitchen & Bar

Verona • Sunday, April 18

Chef Ariane Duarte, owner of Ariane Kitchen & Bar, will be joined by chef Michael Ruglio for a special Sunday night dinner (5–8 pm). For an Italian-style menu, the chefs have crafted dishes to be paired perfectly with a wine of their choice. The menu includes Caponata Eggplant (with roasted veggies and house-made olive sourdough), Shrimp Bolognese (topped with lemon-garlic bread crumbs), Porchetta (with sage stuffing) and Strawberry Panna Cotta for dessert. $85 per person; call or email [email protected] for reservations.

Ariane Kitchen & Bar, 706 Bloomfield Ave., Verona; 973-744-0533

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