We’re on the eve of November, and the autumnal dinners are springing up…like daffodils in spring.
“Into the Woods,” a landmark collaboration between two of the top chefs cooking in New Jersey today, will take place starting at 6 pm on Sunday, November 12 at Heirloom Kitchen, 3853 Route 516 in Old Bridge.
Guest chef Greg Vassos, who leads the kitchen at the acclaimed Brick Farm Tavern in Hopewell, will join Heirloom’s executive chef/partner David Viana to present a seven-course dinner spotlighting game and foraged fall ingredients.
The collaboration continues a popular series orchestrated by Viana and Heirloom’s owner, Neilly Robinson. “Into the Woods” will also feature organic, artisan wines curated and paired by Nick Pizzonia of Court Liquors in the West End enclave of Long Branch.
The cost per person is $125, not including tax and tip. Seating is limited. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 732-727-9444. For more information, visit heirloomkitchen.com.
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Up in Hoboken, Halifax will offer a “Taste of Fall” from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, November 16 at the restaurant located at 225 River Street.
This is a cocktail-style, small-bites affair, with samples of a variety of new seasonal fare, including Hudson Valley Duck Confit Flat Bread with Squash, Oysters with Cucumber-Cranberry Mignonette, Chestnut Soup Shooters, Smoked Mussel Crostini with Chive Cream, and Duck Liver Pate on Brioche with Brandied Cherries from Halifax’s chef Seadon Shouse.
Wines chosen to partner with the foods will be offered.
The cost is $29 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 201-253-2500. For more information, visit halifaxhoboken.com.
In other eating news:
The Fall Jersey Shore Restaurant Week is set for Friday, November 3 through Sunday, November 12. More than 60 restaurants are participating, with some offering lunch, others offering dinner, and a handful offering both. Prices are $15.17 for lunch and either $22.17 or $32.17 for dinner, typically a three-course deal. For information about the restaurants taking part in the 10-day “week,” visit jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com.
If you don’t score enough chocolate tonight by poaching from your kids’ trick-or-treat bags, mark Sunday, November 12 on your calendar. That’s Chocolate Expo day, taking place from 10 am to 7 pm at New Jersey Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Avenue in Edison. If you sign up ahead of time by using Eventbrite, admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 5 to 10. If you pay at the door, the respective charges are $20 and $15. Kids under 5, either way, are free. These prices do not include tax. For more information, visit thechocolateexpo.com.
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Important note on deadline for inclusion in Thanksgiving holiday dinner round-up:
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 23. The round-up of selected restaurants with special dinners for the day will appear in Table Hopping’s Events column on Tuesday, November 14. To be considered for inclusion, submissions with complete information must be received no later than the end of business on Friday, November 3. All submissions must include the following in the text of an e-mail: Complete name, street address, phone and the venue’s Website; name of head chef and style of restaurant’s cuisine; hours for Thanksgiving service; price of dinner, if it is a fixed-price meal, or range of entree prices, if a la carte; if reservations are required, how they are to be made and what the deadline is for making them. All submissions are to be e-mailed to: [email protected].