Farm and Fin Dinner at Beach Plum Farm
Friday, July 10, 6:30pm
Curtis Bashaw worked tirelessly through the spring to get Cape May’s Cape Resorts into a healthy place to open back up. Now that his resort is up and running with the lesser restrictions of Phase 2, Beach Plum Farm is able to host socially-distanced events like its Farm and Fin Dinner Series on Fridays and Saturdays in July and August. The night’s begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6:30pm, followed by a special menu that combines seasonal produce and wild-caught seafood. The night comes out to $124 after taxes and fees, but given the culinary and service standards at Cape Resorts in general, and Beach Plum Farm specifically, it’s likely summer dining money well spent. Beach Plum Farm, 140 Stevens Street, West Cape May; 609-602-0128
“Pie in July At Home” with The Farm Cooking School
Thursday, July 16, 11am–12:30pm and beyond
As New Jersey opens up, The Farm Cooking School in Titusville is balancing both online virtual cooking classes and a few in-person classes, in “full adherence to the guidance of the state of NJ,” says the website. For instance, you can sign up for this “Pie in July At Home” class with chef Ian Knauer taking you through some of the basic steps to sublime pie crust and fillings online, or you can do “Mexican Street Food” from 6–9pm on July 16 at the school itself, and learn to make fresh corn tortillas as well as Chicken & Cheese Flautas (among other things) from chef Shelley Wiseman, who ran a cooking school in Mexico for five years. Online classes are a bit cheaper—$60 compared to about $100; subjects abound (French Fine Dining, Fresh Pasta, Indian Cooking, French Sauces, etc.). The Farm Cooking School doesn’t appear to be abandoning virtual instruction just yet, so keep your eyes on their (full) schedule as summer rolls into fall. The Farm Cooking School, 67 Pleasant Valley Road, Titusville; 610-299-4806
Virtual Sunset Happy Hour and Fundraiser with Monmouth Museum
Friday, July 24, 7pm
Who knew you could support the arts, local business, and Happy Hour, all in one lovely sunset? That’s the idea behind Monmouth Museum’s Sunset Fiestas, which are basically low-key Zoom-supported donor galas from home, complete with cocktail kit and reception link. Each reception is cocktail-themed—the June date has passed, but July 24 is Espolon Margarita and August 21 is Three Olives Transfusional Virtual Sunset Fiesta. Each event is at 7pm and costs $75, but that comes with a drink kit and recipe instructions to make the night’s cocktail. Call for more info or sign up here and get your long velour museum donor gloves out of storage, because you support the arts now. Monmouth Museum, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft; 732-747-2266
Haddonfield Farmers Market
Saturdays, July and August, 9am–noon
As of June 20, Haddonfield Farmers Market (where you can find produce from places like Free Haven Farms) opened back up for “walk-up purchasing” (don’t worry, they have guidelines set in stone for vendors and buyers alike). They’re setting the cap at 50 people total, with tape demarcating six feet distances where necessary and sanitizing stations as needed. But if you take proper precautions, you’ll be able to hit the market any upcoming Saturday and enjoy a little chit chat with your vendor as well as access to fresh product from vendors like Garden State Mushrooms, Kings Road Brewery, The Soup Bar, aforementioned Free Haven Farms, and more. Participating vendors will vary from Saturday to Saturday. Keep up with the market via social media or take a chance and stop by any Saturday from 9am to 12pm (with a mask); chances are you leave with something tasty. Haddonfield Farmers Market, 33 East Euclid Avenue, Haddonfield; 856-216-7253