Rosie will be on vacation until mid-March. Guest blogger Tammy LaGorce will post in her place, unless otherwise noted.
Don’t worry if you missed Camden County Technical School teacher Timothy Witcher winning Chopped last week (Tuesday)—the Food Network will rerun the episode at 9 pm. Feb. 25. Spoiler alert if you haven’t yet seen the show: Witcher’s first dish was tomato soup with pig snout and fava beans, a big hit; next he made “Mama’s Curry Stew,” with fried sweet potatoes, which wasn’t as well loved. In the final round, he brought home the win by serving a raspberry doughnut with coconut and cocoa nib mousse. In the process of the three heated rounds, he beat out Anastacia Song, chef at Porta in Jersey City, as well as New York’s Gilbert Delgado and Model Meals Kitchen founder Danika Brysha. Witcher won $10,000 from “Chopped,” but he’s not new to winning: last September, he won the Food Network’s Rewrapped, too.
Le Malt Brown Spirits and Wine Lounge, at 1021 St. George’s Ave. in Colonia, bears the distinction of being recommended as a “featured restaurant/lounge” by the James Beard Foundation. On March 8, it’s hosting a tasting featuring Napa Valley’s Stags’ Leap Winery. Stags’ Leap has been named one of the Top 100 Wineries of the year by Wine & Spirits Magazine two years running. On hand for the event will be by associate winemaker Joanne Wing, who will present five distinct varietals:
Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley Merlot
Napa Valley Petite Sirah
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The Leap, Napa Valley Cabernet
Le Malt will guide guests through a group of hand-selected reds and whites, which will be paired with six courses of specially created dishes.
Cost of the tasting and dinner is $65 per person; arrive at 6:45 p.m. for the tasting, which starts promptly at 7 pm. For reservations, (732) 510-7700.
Seven Hills Winery Founder Casey McClellan is hosting a tasting at the winery, at 153 Washington St. in Rocky Hill, at 6:30 p.m. on March 9. Featured wines will be:
Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Seven Hills Vineyard
Red Blend “Ciel du Cheval” 2013
Red Mountain
Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Columbia Valley
Merlot 2013
Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla
Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Klipsun Vineyard Red Mountain
Wines will come in 2-ounce pours and be accompanied with hors d’oeuvres. The cost is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Seating is limited to 24; call (609) 921-0153 for reservations.
Satis Bistro, at 212 Washington St., Jersey City, is hosting a Sottimano Wine Tasting at 7:30 p.m. March 10. TJ Maxwell of Michael Skurnik Wines will present a 2014 Dolcetto d’Alba “Bric del Salto,” a 2013 Barbera d’Alba “Pairolero,” a 2013 Langhe Nebbiolo “Basarin” and a 2011 Barbaresco “Cotta.” The menu is to be determined. $65 per person, limited seating, by reservation only.