ST PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVITIES
ALCHEMIST & BARRISTER FESTIVITIES HAVE BEGUN
Celtic celebrations have already started at the Alchemist & Barrister, 28 Witherspoon St, Princeton with cocktails served by guest bartenders and a Shamrock Fund Raiser to benefit the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. Guests are asked to bring a donation of canned foods and are invited to purchase a paper shamrock for $2 (3 for $5), which will then be posted on the restaurant walls. On St Patrick’s Day, there will be bagpipes, Irish music, dancing, Irish fare by executive chef/owner Arthur Kukoda, specialty cocktails, wine and beer. The restaurant is also celebrating its 40th anniversary, and is donating to the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. The winner of the Annual LongBeard Benefit, which started in the beginning of February will be announced. There will be prizes for the Best Beard and other categories. Information: 609-924-5555 or go to the restautant website.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 TO MONDAY, MARCH 17
RED KNOT at GALLOPING HILL GOLF COURSE
Executive chef Ralph Romano at Red Knot Restaurant, Galloping Hill Golf Course, 3 Golf Drive, Kenilworth will have a series of dinner specials, including a traditional corned beef dinner ($18) with potatoes, cabbage and carrots; corned beef sandwiches; shepherd’s pie; Guinness-steamed mussels; and, of course, Irish Soda Bread. On Saturday night, a live band playing Irish music will be featured. On March 15, from noon to 2 PM, create St. Patrick’s Day-themed cake pops at a Cake Pops Cooking Class with pastry chef Cassandra Carlstrom; $25. Reservations and information: 908-241-2211, or visit the restaurant website.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 16
LAURITA WINERY
Don your festive green attire for a St Patrick’s Day Festival that will be held at Laurita Winery, (GPS address 85 Archertown Road, New Egypt). Saturday 11:30 to 9 PM; Sunday 11:30 to 8 PM; free admission. Information at the winery website.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 16
4 JG’s ORCHARDS & VINEYARDS
Wear green to the pairing of 4JG’s wines for St. Patrick Day from Noon to 5 PM at 4JG’s, 127 Hillsdale Road, Colts Neck, and have an Irish lunch of potato soup, corned beef, and chocolate brownies with Irish cream frosting. No reservations required; $12 includes tasting and lunch.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 16
EVERYONE’S IRISH CELEBRATION
Follow the rainbow to Four Sisters Winery, Matarazzo Farms, 783 Rt 519, Belvidere, for its St. Patrick’s Day Wine Weekend, which will include a wine pairing, sampling of Irish foods, embossed wine glass, and a wine cellar tour. 11 AM to 5 PM; $10. Reservations not necessary.
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 17
PARTY AT TIM KERWINS TAVERN
A St. Paddy’s Day party starting at lunch and going through late night will be celebrated at Tim Kerwins Tavern, 353 Boundbrook Road, Middlesex (732-968-3805).
THE WINES OF ANTINORI DINNER
If you prefer Italian food and wines to corn beef and cabbage, there will be a Wines of Antinori tasting, dinner and seminar at Undici Taverna Rustica, 11 West River Road, Rumson. 6:30 PM; $79, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 732-842-3880.
MORE UPCOMING FOOD EVENTS
EVENTS ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
“VIC’S” LIBRARY TASTING AND DINNER
A “Vic’s” Library Tasting and Dinner will be held at Undici Taverna Rustica, 11 West River Road, Rumson. The following wines will be tasted: Scarbalo My Time 2010 Friuli; Casanova Di Neri Etichetta Bianca Brunello Di Montalcino 2008; Michele Chiarlo Tortoniano Barolo 2007 Piemonte; Carmigliano Gaulto Brunello Di Montalcino 2003; and Vietti Lazzarito Barolo 2003. 6:30 PM. $99, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 732-842-3880.
STONY HILL WINE DINNER
A Stony Hill wine dinner will be held at Stage Left, 5 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick. 7 PM; $149 plus tax and service. Reservations: 732-828-4444 or e-mail [email protected].
NEAPOLITAN DINNER WITH ALBA VINEYARD
A five-course Neapolitan dinner with Alba Vineyard will be held at A Mano, 24 Franklin Ave, Ridgewood. 6:30 PM; $50 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 201-439-2000.
RAMSTEIN BEER TASTING
A four-course Ramstein Beer Tasting dinner will be held at Pig & Prince, 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair. 7 PM; $55. Reservations: 973-233-1006.
EVENTS ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13
A TASTE OF TUSCANY AT SATIS, JERSEY CITY
A four-course Taste of Tuscany wine dinner will be held at Satis, 212 Washington St, Jersey City, hosted by journalist and author of Food & Wine’s Annual Wine Guides, Anthony Giglio. If his name sounds familiar it is because he was a restaurant reviewer for New Jersey Monthly from 1996 to 2006. Executive chef Michael Fiorianti and chef de cuisine, Galice Ryan will be presenting the following menu items: crostini of whipped duck; seared diver sea scallops; pappardelle with wild boar ragu; slow-roasted pork belly; and an Italian cheese plate all paired with wines. 6:30 PM; $95, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 201-435-5151.
WHISKEY PAIRING DINNER
A five-course Whiskey Pairing dinner paired with whiskeys from Bean Global including, Connemara Peated Malt, Two Gingers and Kilbeggan will be held at David Burke Fromagerie, 26 Ridge Road, Rumson. Some menu items include: ash-crusted elk carpaccio and laughing bird shrimp with chili vinaigrette and shaved garden vegetables; seared scallop with parsnip, blood orange, and crispy leeks; and coconut profiterole with passion-fruit mousse, coconut ice cream and chocolate ganache. 7 PM; $95. Reservations: 732-842-8088.
WHISKEY TASTING AND DINNER
A Whisky Tasting and Dinner will be held at The Madison Hotel, One Convent Road, Morristown. 7 to 9:30 PM; $95. Call 877-3-WHISKY, ext 107 for tickets.
THE GREATEST GALA ON EARTH, ATLANTIC CITY
The 31st annual Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala will be held at Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City with the theme, “The Greatest Gala on Earth.” This fundraiser to benefit student scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College and Atlantic Cape Foundation, will feature a vintage carnival environment. For more information, contact Torrina Bennett-Michael at (609) 463-4672, [email protected] or visit the event website.
PRINCETON FARMERS & CRAFTERS MARKET
The Princeton Farmers & Crafters Market will be held at the Princeton Public Library Community Room, 65 Witherspoon St, Princeton with produce, fruits, meat, eggs, cheeses, honey, desserts, gluten-free products, crafts and more; 11AM to 5 PM.
OPUS ONE WINE DINNER
An Opus Wine dinner will be held at The Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 206 South, Bedminster; 7 PM. Information and reservations: 908-658-9292.
BARELI’S RESTAUANT, SECAUCUS
There have been changes at Bareli’s Restaurant, 219 Route 3, Secaucus with a new management team which has renovated the dining room, updated the menu, and implemented an elegant happy hour with specials on the food and drinks. On March 13, Bareli’s will host a five-course Franciscan Winery dinner. 7 to 9 PM; $90 plus tax and tip. Information and reservations: 201-865-2766.
EVENTS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 14
BEER VS WINE KNOCKOUT DINNER
You be the judge at the Beer vs Wine Knockout, five-course dinner, with each course having an Asian theme, which will be held at The Frog and the Peach, 29 Dennis Street, New Brunswick. 7 PM; $110 including tax and tip. Reservations: 732-846-3216.
ARTISANAL CHEESE DINNER
A “Beyond the Board” dinner will be held at the Ebbitt Room, Virginia Hotel, 25 Jackson St, Cape May, featuring artisanal cheeses from New Jersey’s Valley Shepherd Creamery, highlighting the creamery’s distinct cave-aged cheeses; $75. Reservations: 609-884-5700.
EVENTS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15
BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH
A five-course Italian themed dinner will be held at Andres Restaurant, 188 Spring Street, Newton (973-300-4192) featuring antipasti, hand made pasta, Caesar salad (of course, as this was the day that he was assassinated), grilled steak with garlic and sage, figs and honey and ice cream; $55.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT FOURCHETTE, CLINTON
Stop by Fourchette, 36 Main St, Clinton between 11 AM and 6 PM, and have a piece of “cheesecake, ” a cake made of cheese, in celebration of its first anniversary. This cheese and gourmet shop offers a selection of more than 50 artisan cheeses from France, England, Italy, Spain, and the United States as well as high quality olive oils kept in stainless steel pots, aged balsamic vinegars, small production gourmet foods and gifts for the kitchen. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 908-442-8675.
FRIDAY MARCH 14 TO SUNDAY MARCH 16
SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY WEEKEND
A Sherlock Holmes Mystery Weekend will be held in Cape May. Full weekend packages include the welcome reception, performances, tour and luncheon; $200 per couple or $105 per person. Weekend overnight packages are also available and attendees are asked to wear Victorian attire. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278.
SUNDAY, MARCH 16 THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 21
SOUTH JERSEY RESTAURANT WEEK
Over 30 South Jersey restaurants will be participating in South Jersey Restaurant Week, which will feature four-course menus for $35. Visit the event website for participating restaurants and more information.
TUESDAY, MARCH 18
RED BLEND BASH WINE CLASS
George Staikos, a wine educator, sommelier, and corporate speaker will host a wine class, “The Red Blend Bash…Old World vs. New World Blends” at 55 Main Restaurant, 55 Main St, Flemington. 7 to 9 PM; $75, which will include educational facts, interactive conversation and tasting of 7 wines paired with 3 dishes and cheeses. To register, go to The Educated Grape or call George at 973-699-2199.
George Staikos
EVENTS ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19
CROSSBARN/PAUL HOBBS WINE TASTING
A Crossbarn/Paul Hobbs Wine Tasting with hors d’ouevres paired with each pour will be held at One 53, 153 Washington St, Rocky Hill hosted by Matt Hobbs. 6:30 PM; $80. Reservations: 609-921-0153.
RAT’S ATELIER TOUR & THREE-COURSE DINNER
An Atelier Tour & Three-Course Dinner will be held at Rat’s Restaurant, Grounds for Sculpture, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. 5:30 PM; $79; members, $69. Reservations: 609-586-0616.
COOKING WITH MARILYN AND FRIENDS
Cooking with Marilyn and Friends, a charitable cooking demonstration that includes a six-course dinner and wine and cocktail pairings will highlight seasonal, vacation-inspired cuisine featured at chef Marilyn Schlossbach’s restaurants (Labrador Lounge, Normandy Beach; Langosta Lounge, Pop’s Garage, Asbury Park Yacht Club and Libby’s Beach Shack and Dauphin Grille all in Asbury Park). The event will be held at Langosta Lounge, 1000 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park. The theme of the evening will be Spring Cooking with Cheese with the Purr’ n Pooch Foundation for Animals will be the local beneficiary. 6 PM; $65. Reservations: 732-455-3275.
WINE 101 CLASS
A Wine 101 Class will be held at Red Knot Restaurant, Galloping Hill Golf Course, 3 Golf Drive, Kenilworth. 6:30 to 8:30 PM; $25. Reservations and information: 908-241-2211.
EVENTS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 20
SCOTCH TASTING AT THE STRIP HOUSE, LIVINGSTON
Brugal 1888, Macallan 18-year, Macallan 21-year and Highland Park 25-year scotches will be featured at a Scotch Tasting that will be held at Strip House, Westminster Hotel, 550 West Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston. The evening will start with a Piper Heidsieck Champagne reception at 6:30 PM; $25 plus tax and gratuity. Customers have an option to stay for dinner and can bring wines from their cellar that are not available at the Strip House to dinner and will not be charged a corkage fee. Reservations: 973-548-0050.
WILD GAME DINNER AT RAT’S
Have a “wild” night at A Wild Game dinner paired with wines. The event will be held at Rat’s Restaurant, Grounds for Sculpture, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. Menu items include: rabbit ravioli, quail crepinette, seared bison and got milk gelato. 6 PM; $89. Reservations: 609-584-7800.
EVENTS ON SUNDAY, MARCH 21
PREPPY KITCHEN VISIT COOKING CLASS
A Preppy Kitchen Visit cooking class with chef Christine Nunn will be held Kings Cooking Studio, 778 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills. 11 AM to 2 PM; $65. To register, call 973-258-4009.
SALON & DELAMOTTE CHAMPAGNE DINNER
A Salon & Delamotte Champagne dinner will be held at The Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 206 South, Bedminster; 7 PM. Information and reservations: 908-658-9292.
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