On Sunday, May 17, chef Bryan Gregg, owner of Escape (345 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) will turn his kitchen over to Peter Minaki, cookbook author and Greek chef. Minaki will host the following five-course dinner: amuse of Santorini tomato fritters with feta yogurt sauce; smoked mussels Saganaki; seared Halloumi, grape and orange salad with arugula. A bonus course by chef Gregg will include duck sausage, buckwheat blini, and cured duck yolk; rack of lamb, Greek chimichurri, boulangère potatoes; and phyllo-cigar filled with Bougatsa custard. 6 PM; $68 excluding taxes and gratuities. Chef Minaki will have signed copies of his latest book The Everything Mediterranean Cookbook, for purchase at the dinner. Reservations: 973-744-0712.
Additionally on May 19, chef Peter Minaki will join chef Todd Villani at Terre á Terre, 312 Hackensack Street, Carlstadt, for the following Mediterranean-style feast: An amuse of Yellow Springs Farm feta cheese in puff pastry (chef Todd); black Berkshire braised pork “gyro” (chef Peter); Blue Moon Acres Farm arugula fennel and orange salad (chef Todd); charred baby octopus, smoked eggplant in tomato sauce (chef Peter); Elysian Fields Farm rosemary lamb, oregano-roasted potato coins, crispy artichokes with mint yogurt (chef Todd); and for dessert a chefs’ collaboration of Mastiha crème brulée. 7:30 PM; $79 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 201-507-0500.
MAIFEST BRINGS SPRING TO THE BIERGARTEN—AND THE BEACH!
A party in May, Maifest, which celebrates the arrival of Spring, will be held at Pilsener Haus & Biergarten, 1422 Grand Street, Hoboken (201-683-5465) through May 23, and sister biergarten, Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, 527 Lake Avenue, Asbury Park (732-997-8767) through May 30. An Austro-Hungarian menu will feature: roasted pork shank with pickled salads; roasted suckling pig for two with sauerkraut and pretzel dumplings, and fluffy caramelized pancake with seasonal fruit compote; served Friday through Sunday.
OTHER FOOD EVENTS
THURSDAY, MAY 7
TABLE TO TABLE CHARITY EVENT
Chef Michael Romano, director of culinary development for Union Square Hospitality Group will be honored at the Chefs Gala that will be held at the Alpine Country Club, 80 Anderson Avenue, Demarest, to benefit Table to Table, a community-based food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it to organizations serving the hungry in the Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties. 6:30 PM; $450. Tickets at their website.
FRIDAY, MAY 8
WINE DINNER AT STEAKHOUSE 85
Steakhouse 85, 85 Church Street, New Brunswick, will host a five-course Silver Oak & Twomey Cellars Winery dinner. 7 PM; $185. Reservations: 732-247-8585.
SATURDAY, MAY 9
THE BIG BREW SUSSEX BEER FESTIVAL
The Big Brew Sussex Beer Festival, featuring over 200 unlimited craft beers, 6 gourmet food trucks and much more will be held May 9 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, to benefit the Newton Fire Museum. Tickets are available at their website.
SUNDAY, MAY 10
FARM TO FORK FUNDRAISER
Local food artisans, a wine and craft-beer tasting, a farm fresh dinner and fine art auctions will be part of an America’s Grow-a-Row event that will be held at LifeCamp, 67 McCann Mill Road, Pottersville to benefit hunger relief agencies in New Jersey. 5 to 10:30 PM; $125. For tickets, visit this website.
TUESDAY, MAY 12
LE MALT AT BEARD HOUSE, NYC
Chef Duke Estime, F&B Consultant Kunal Lamba, and beverage director Richard Tandoc from Le Malt, Brown Spirits and Wine Lounge, Colonia, will be presenting Malt Luxury, a five-course dinner with hors d’oeuvres, at the Beard House, 167 W 12 Street, New York City. 7 PM; $170; members $130. Reservations: 212-627-2308.
PINOT NOIR WINE CLASS
George Staikos, a wine educator, sommelier, and corporate speaker will teach a Pinot Noir…The World’s Most Versatile Red wine class at 55 Main Restaurant, 55 Main Street, Flemington. 7 to 9 PM; $80. Each class will include educational facts, interactive conversation and an opportunity to taste and enjoy 7 wines paired with 3 dishes and cheeses. To register, go to this website or call George at 973-699-2199.
DINING DEAL
From Tuesdays through Thursdays, St. Eve’s, 611 N Maple Avenue, Ho-Ho-Kus, is offering a three-course tasting menu for $35. For reservations, call 201-857-4717; BYO.
Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].