First Ever “Chef’s Table” Dinner Series at Ironbound Farm
Sunday, June 30, 4:30pm
Ironbound Farm—the Hunterdon County home of Ironbound Cider—will be hosting a series of monthly, open fire “Chef’s Table” dinners, and they’re starting strong this month with AJ Capella. Head chef of the recently-reviewed A Toute Heure in Cranford, Capella is a Culinary Institute of America grad with experience under Anthony Bucco and Grant Achatz, among others. As part of the Chef’s Table series, Capella will be using Ironbound’s freshly constructed open-air cooking and dining sheds, most impressively, the 26-foot Argentinian-inspired open flame grill where visiting chefs can do everything from spit-roasting to grilling to smoking product. Speaking of product, the emphasis is squarely local, and Capella’s menu takes ambitious advantage of both the new amenity and local abundance with dishes like wood-fired bread and charcuterie, plank-roasted local trout, and Maori pit-roasted goat. Ironbound Farm is throwing the dinners in collaboration with the Highlands Dinner Club (a “mobile culinary and social laboratory”). Tickets cost $125 and include tastes of specialty Ironbound ciders as well as red and sparkling white wines. Ironbound Farm, 360 County Road 579, Asbury; 908-940-4115
A Food Tour of Bloomfield
Saturday, June 22, 2-5pm
Bloomfield is declaring its rightful status as an up-and-coming foodie destination with a tour of seven of restaurants and businesses. For $30, guests will gather at the Bloomfield Train Station and follow the leader from stop to stop, sampling foods and interacting with local area chefs and culinary talent. Among participating restaurants are places like the Wooden Spoon, Essex Junction, Aki Asian House and Anthony’s Cheesecake. They recommend you get your tickets sooner rather than later. Bloomfield Train Station, Bloomfield.
Whiskey and Food Pairing Dinner in Pequannock
Saturday, June 22, 7pm
Tiff’s 23 Indian restaurant recently underwent a sort of internal makeover, resulting in a second, Indo-American culinary concept, Rivaaz Gastro Bar. If you haven’t checked it out yet, this Saturday’s whiskey pairing dinner is a very good chance. Not only will you get a chance to explore the menu at Rivaaz, but you’ll get a primer on the fine, relatively under-explored, area of whiskey and food pairing. Enjoy a complimentary starter whiskey cocktail in the Rivaaz private area before the dinner itself, which will find seven small plates with Indian flavors paired with seven whiskies from around the world. International Whiskey Expert Franck Mounier of Whisky Gourmet (co-sponsor of the event) will be on hand to elaborate on the night’s pairings. Tickets are $99 before tax and tip. Rivaaz Gastro Bar & Indian Restaurant, 23 Route 23, Rivaaz at Tiff’s 23, Pequannock, 973-686-6040
“Project Eats” Food Festival in Jersey City
Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 22, 11am – 7pm
Running since every summer in June 2014, the annual “Project Eats” food festival in Jersey City is a bit of a staple by now—so much so that this year they’re expecting no fewer than 30,000 people. There should be plenty to go around, though: Project Eats is two days of over 60 food vendors (this year) spread out at City Hall Plaza (conveniently near the Grove Street PATH station, ahem). The festival is run by the Jersey City Project, a local area non-profit dedicated to serving the people and interests of Jersey City (their “Project Market” was the first to debut in the winter of 2013). Among vendors on hand will be places like Canteen To Go (one of several businesses from District Kitchen), Angry Archie’s, Gusti di Sicilia, Piggy Back Bar, and even the Shake Shack food truck. The festival’s been a launching pad for local area small food businesses, like Eemas Cuisine in 2015, and this year sees the debut of Empanada Monster, Jersey’s “one and only Colombian food truck.” No ticket fee. Project Eats, City Hall Plaza, 280 Grove Street, Jersey City.