16th Annual “Chefs at the Shore” Festival
Thursday, June 13, 5–9pm
If you didn’t get a chance to kick off beach season over Memorial Day, this food-fest thrown by the Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey is just as good (maybe better). For just $50, you’ll get four hours of access over 30 of South Jersey’s best restaurants at “The Pool” at the Golden Nugget Casino. Weather permitting, that means soft beachy breezes, live music, and lots of lovingly prepared bites from South Jersey’s top talents. (There will be a cash bar, but no alcohol is included.) Granted, it’s a last-minute ticket, but it’s also a great way to kickstart your weekend. Proceeds go to the Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey scholarship fund. Golden Nugget Casino, 600 Huron Avenue, Atlantic City; 609-441-2000
Wildwoods Restaurant Week
Sunday, June 16 – Thursday, June 20
It’s a Restaurant Week so nice, they’re doing it twice. The Wildwoods is hosting not one but two restaurant weeks this summer and the first begins this Sunday. (Round two takes place from August 25 through August 29). At least 25 restaurants are signed up participate so far, serving four courses for $30 plus tax and tip. Among the restaurants already signed up to participate in this first restaurant are the Blue Water Grille, Schellenger’s Restaurant, Cattle & Clover, Joe’s Fish Company, Urie’s Waterfront, and MudHen Brewing Co. Check ahead with any restaurant to see if reservations are required. Wildwoods Restaurant Week, The Wildwoods, locations vary. For more information, call 609-707-7295
Summer Farm to Table Dinner at Beach Plum Farm
Wednesday, June 19, 6pm
A long shot—these tickets tend to go fast, but if you’re in the mood to taste some exquisite farm-to-table on a Wednesday, look no further than Beach Plum Farm, the agricultural gem in Curtis Bashaw’s Cape Resorts hospitality crown. This Wednesday kicks off their “Summer Farm to Table” series, which will find newly christened executive chef Josh Liwoch highlighting peak-season produce with a specially prepared family-style, four-course dinner every Wednesday evening. (Liwoch had been a sous chef for Cape Resorts for several years prior.) Tickets are $112.50 after tax and gratuity; if you can’t score any for the 19th, fear not—the series runs through August 28. Beach Plum Farm, 140 Stevens Street, West Cape May; 833-327-6268
CBD Dinner at Caffe Anello
Monday, June 24 , 6:30pm
CBD dinners aren’t as widespread as wine dinners yet, but they’re getting more and more popular. If you haven’t hit one yet, John Vitale and Caffe Anello are throwing a doozy (you’ll be a CBD expert by the time it’s over). Vitale and his executive chef Matthew Borgersen are putting together no less than eight courses, each prepared with a unique strain of CBD. Lest you feel overwhelmed, Vitale will have a small army of CBD professionals on hand: Rob and Beth Mejia of Our Community Harvest (cannabis educational company), Max Padula of Kompass Life (CBD health and wellness products), and Andrew Gruver of organic hemp producer Tweedle Farms. (And yes, there will be a few CBD retail products on hand.) As for the dinner itself, Vitale and Borgersen are serving up things like Anello Epi Loaves with “Sapphire”-infused European Butter, Smoked Duck Breast with Grilled Fennel and “Hawaiian Haze”-infused honey, and Fresh Lobster Tail with “Bast”-infused Creole Drawn Butter. Dessert? Hemp Brownie. Bobby Spagnuolo is sous chef. Dinner costs $125 per person, with a gift back included; reservations are limited and likely to go fast. Caffe Anello, 11 Madison Avenue, Westwood; 201-786-8137