Food Events

Rosie dishes about delectable things to do, including the Manischewitz All-Star Cook-Off and the Seventh Annual Cooking for Kids fundraiser to benefit St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Paterson.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27
ALL-STAR QUEEN OR KING OF KOSHER WILL BE CROWNED AT MANISCHEWITZ® COOKOFF.

It is the only national live Kosher cooking competition and I was asked to be one of the judges who will select the winner of the Manischewitz® All-Star Cook-Off this year in NYC. The Grand Prize valued at $25,000 includes cash, trophy, magazine subscription and bundle of Maytag Appliances. OMG … That is a lot of moolah!

This year will feature an all-star line-up of top competitors from previous cook-off events in a new head-to-head competition for a second chance to win. Four finalists have been chosen: Jamie Brown-Miller, Napa, CA—Chicken and Waffles (2010); Naylet LaRochelle, Miami, FL—Halibut Couscous (2011); Ronna Sue Farley, Rockville, MD—Beef Tenderloin Puffs (2012); Dina Burcat, New York, NY—Latke-Crusted Chicken with Apple Cider, Mushroom and Rosemary Sauce (2011); and one more based on Internet voting.

The cook-off will be held at The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, The Samuel Priest Rose Building, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76th Street in New York. A recipe tasting will be held from 10 to 11:30 AM followed by the live cook-off from noon to 2 PM. Come by and watch the five, all-star finalists prepare their recipes. Learn why kosher products are gaining popularity among all types of home chefs (kosher and non-kosher consumers), and hear about hot food trends; see new Manischewitz® Passover products, including coconut-crisp cookies, almond-pecan granola, pistachio-orange macaroons. Sample contestants’ recipes during a luncheon buffet. Not only did I grow up eating Manischewitz® products but I use them to this day, my cupboard always has Tam Tams in it as well as Manischewitz® extra-wide noodles, dried, bean-soup mix, Clover Honey Bear, and matzo, even when it is not Passover, so I am thrilled to be able to participate in this event.

Manischewitz® has been around a long time. They started in 1888 at a small matzo bakery in Cincinnati, Ohio and opened a factory in Jersey City in 1932. In June 2011, they relocated to Newark. We have always wondered, “How do you make matzo?” Last year, Lowell and I had an informative and impressive tour of the facilities.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2
COOKING FOR KIDS: GOURMET FARE FROM EVERYWHERE

Sample delectable dishes and drinks on April 2 at the Seventh Annual Cooking For Kids: Gourmet Fare From Everywhere, which will be held at Westmount Country Club, 728 Rifle Camp Road, Woodland Park to benefit St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Paterson.

Confirmed participants include: chef Ariane Duarte of CulinAriane in Montclair, chef Michael Carrino from Pig & Prince Gastro Lounge in Montclair; chef Ryan DePersio of Fascino in Montclair, Nico Kitchen + Bar at NJPAC and Battello in Jersey City; Colleen Grapes from The Red Cat in New York, NY; chef Eric B. Levine of Morris Tap & Grill in Randolph; chef Francesco Palmieri of The Orange Squirrel in Bloomfield; chef Anton Testino of Tony’s Touch of Italy II in Wayne; and almost 30 other chefs. Gary’s Wine & Marketplace will be serving tasting pours of fine wines and spirits.

6 PM, VIP ticket includes admission to VIP reception, featuring an exclusive gourmet food and wine tasting hosted by Gary Fisch of Gary’s Wine & Marketplace; $275. Reception; 6:30 to 9:30 PM, general admission $195.
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OTHER UPCOMING FOOD EVENTS

EVENTS FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19
CROSSBARN/PAUL HOBBS WINE TASTING

A Crossbarn/Paul Hobbs Wine Tasting, with hors d’oeuvres paired with each pour, will be held at One 53, 153 Washington Street, 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, which includes a six-course dinner and wine and cocktail pairings, that highlights 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) will be held at Langosta Lounge, 1000 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park. The theme of the evening will be Spring Cooking with Cheese, and the Purr’ n Pooch Foundation for Animals is the 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 can be made here.

EVENTS FOR THURSDAY, 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 Avenue, Livingston. The evening will start with a Piper Heidsieck Champagne reception at 6:30PM; $25, plus tax and gratuity. Customers have the option of staying for dinner and can bring wines from not available at the Strip House without paying 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 at Rat’s Restaurant, Grounds for Sculpture, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. Menu items include: rabbit ravioli, quail crepinette, seared bison and goat-milk gelato. 6 PM; $89. Reservations: 609-584-7800.

EVENTS FOR FRIDAY, 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, visit their website or 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.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22
SPRING WALK AROUND WINE TASTING

A Spring Walk Around Wine tasting will be held at The Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 206 South, Bedminster; 2:30 PM. Information and reservations: 908-658-9292.

SUNDAY MARCH 23
SLOW FOOD NORTHERN NJ MEETING, LUNCH & BOOK SIGNING

Slow Food Northern NJ’s annual meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at The Farm Barn at Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough. Keynote speaker will be Judy Wicks, founder of Philadelphia’s White Dog Café and author of Good Morning, Beautiful Business: The Unexpected Journey of an Activist Entrepreneur and Local Economy Pioneer (Chelsea Green Publishing), where she writes about her transformation from owner of a small muffin shop to founder of one of the nation’s first restaurants to feature local, organic and sustainably-raised food. There will be a question-and-answer session, after which Ms. Wicks will sign books.

Slow Food Northern NJ 2014 School Garden Grants will be announced at this meeting and attendees will be updated on the latest attempts to get genetically engineered foods labeled in New Jersey.

Anthony Bucco of The Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station, Dan Richer of Arturo’s in Maplewood and Razza in Jersey City, and Diane Pinder of Donna & Company Artisanal Chocolate will be preparing a local-foods lunch.

1 to 3:30 PM; $12 for members; $18 for non-members; includes local-foods lunch. Tickets in advance at this website.

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