Some of our favorite NJ “star” chefs will be in attendance at the Gala dinner that will be held on June 8 at The Manor, 111 Prospect Avenue, West Orange as part of the Montclair Food & Wine Festival.
A special amuse bouche series will be presented by: chef Francesco Palmieri, The Orange Squirrel; Thomas Ciszak, Blue Morel & Chakra; Meny Vaknin, Mish Mish and chef Zod Arifai, Blu & Next Door, who will be closing both of his restaurants on August 30. Dinner chefs are: Mitchell Altholz, Highlawn Pavilion; Michael Carrino, Pig & Prince; Ryan DePersio, Fascino, Battello, NICO Kitchen + Bar; Ariane Duarte, Ariane Kitchen + Bar; and guest chef Kevin Sippel, Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen. Wines will be curated by Sharon Sevrens of Amanti Vino. 6:30 to 10 PM; $175. In addition to the Gala dinner a Bourbon & Biergarten will be held on Friday, June 12 and a Grand Tasting on Saturday, June 13. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the event website.
SUNDAY DINNER ON THE DELAWARE: Newly renovated ballroom offers view of the Delaware River.
The Lambertville Station Inn, 11 Bridge Street, Lambertville is offering a Sunday dinner buffet served from 3 to 8 PM in the inn’s newly renovated Riverside Ballroom, which has a view of the Delaware River. Menu items include: hand-carved smoked ham, Black Angus prime rib with a peppercorn crust; garlic-herb turkey breast; salads; pasta made to guest’s specifications at the sauté station; a table of shrimp, salmon and assorted cheeses; and a dessert table with petit fours, individual mini mousse parfaits and freshly baked pies, cakes and cookies. Coffee and non-alcoholic beverages are included. A full bar is available. $35; children under 10, $18. A Sunday Champagne Brunch is also served in the Riverside Ballroom from 10 AM to 2 PM. Brunch is priced at $29.95 for adults and $16.95 for children under 10. Taxes and gratuities are additional. Parking is free. Reservations: 609-397-4400.
OTHER FOOD EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
EARTH DAY AT CHAKRA
Guest chefs Bobby Varua from Blue Morel Restaurant and Wine Bar, Westin Governor Morris Hotel, Morristown and Todd Villani from Terre à Terre in Carlstadt will join Chef Thomas Ciszak of Chakra and Blue Morel to celebrate Earth Day at Chakra, W 144 Rt 4, Paramus with a five-course dinner with wine pairings. 6:30 PM; $89 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 201-556-1530.
BACON & BOURBON DINNER AT THE RYLAND INN
A three-course Bacon & Bourbon dinner with passed hors d’oeuvres will be held at The Ryland Inn, 115 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse Station. 6 PM; $65 plus tax and tip. Reservations: 908-534-4011.
EXPLORING THE MEDITERRANEAN AT RAT’S RESTAURANT
An Exploring the Mediterranean dinner with wines from Sicily, Greece, Lebanon and Israel will be held at Rat’s Restaurant, Grounds for Sculpture, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. 6 PM; $85. Reservations: 609-584-7800.
LE CHIUSE WINE DINNER AT THE PEACOCK INN, PRINCETON
The Peacock Inn, 20 Bayard Lane, Princeton, will host a four-course Le Chiuse Wine Dinner with Head Agronomist at Le Chiuse, Lorenzo Magnelli. 7 PM; $150 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 609-924-1707.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
CHEFS EXTRAORDINAIRE CULINARY AND WINE TASTING
A Chefs Extraordinaire, Culinary and Wine Tasting will be held at Spring Lake Manor, 415 Rt 71, Spring Lake Heights, to benefit the Common Ground Grief Center in Manasquan. 6 to 10 PM; $125; at the door, $135. Tickets: 732-606-7477.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
NEW JERSEY SPRING WINE FESTIVAL
Light hors d’oeuvres, artisan foods and 150+ wines will be available at the New Jersey Spring Wine Festival, which will be held at the Hilton Short Hills, 1 John F Kennedy Pkwy, Short Hills. 7 to 10 PM; $89. VIP tickets for $179 includes 12 high-end wine selections and passed hors d’oeuvres. Hotel rooms are available; call 973-379-0100 to reserve. Net proceeds will benefit the Family Promise of Bergen County, an organization dedicated to alleviating the plight of the homeless in Bergen County. For information or to purchase tickets, visit the event website.
THE FOODBANK HUMANITARIAN GALA
“Boots and Bling,” a gala to benefit the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, will be held at The MAC at Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch featuring country music star John Rich. 6 to 11 PM; $250. Tickets at the foodbank website.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
CHOCOLATE TASTING TOUR
Tour the Historic Inns and B&Bs in Cape May, where tastings of chocolate delicacies are offered as you tour the property. 1 to 3 PM; $20; children (ages 3-12) $15. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit their website.
SKYLAND REGION TASTE OF THE TOWN
Sample dishes from 15-plus regional food restaurants and sample wines, craft beers and distilled beverages at the Skyland Region Taste of the Town hosted by the Allamuchy Township Education Foundation that will be held at the Panther Valley Golf & Country Club, 1 Forest Drive, Allamuchy. Chef and cookbook author Alex Guaraschelli will be guest of honor. 7 to 10 PM; $60; VIP from 5:30 to 7 PM an additional $50. Information at their website or e-mail [email protected].
SATURDAY, APRIL 25 AND SUNDAY, APRIL 26
FAST TRACKS & FOOD TRUCKS
Gourmet food trucks, live music and wine tastings from NJ wineries will be available at the Fast Tracks & Food Trucks event that will be held at Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson; noon to 5 PM. Updates and information at their Facebook page.
MONDAY, APRIL 27
CHEF MICHAEL CARRINO AT BEARD HOUSE, NYC
A Dynamic Duo dinner will be held at the James Beard House, 167 West 12th Street, New York City, with Michael Carrino, executive chef/owner of The Pig & the Prince, Montclair and winemaker Maynard James, Keenan of Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards, Jerome, AZ. 7 PM; $170; members $130. Reservations: 212-627-2308.
FOLONARI WINERY DINNER
A Folonari Winery dinner will be held at Undici Taverna Rustica, 11 West River Road, Rumson. 6:45 PM; $79 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 732-842-3880.
CHEF’S COUNTER TASTING AT ANTHONY DAVID’S, HOBOKEN
Anthony Pino, chef/owner of Anthony David’s at 953 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, and chef de cuisine Justin Antiorio will create Chef’s Counter Tastings (there are 10 seats), featuring the cuisine of Basilicata (also known as Lucania). They will prepare and serve a five-course meal; BYO. Tickets can be obtained via [email protected] for $100, which includes tax and gratuity. For more info, call 201-222-8399.
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
BEAUJOLAIS AND ALSACE WINE CLASS
George Staikos, a wine educator, sommelier, and corporate speaker will teach a France’s Rising Regions-Beaujolais and Alsace 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 seven wines paired with three dishes and cheeses. To register, go to his website or call George at 973-699-2199.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
OUTDOOR WINE TASTING AT ROSIE’S WINE BAR
Ten pink wines along with cheese, hummus, pita and crudité will be tasted at an outdoor rosé tasting that will be held at Rosie’s Wine Bar, 514 North Avenue, Garwood. 7 PM; $25. Reservations: 908-518-9463.
Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].