COPELAND, MORRISTOWN
We hoped that an elegant, relaxing dinner would be the perfect cure for the winter blahs, and it was at Copeland, Westin Governor Morris Hotel, 2 Whippany Road, Morristown, where Robert Trainor is the new executive chef. Chef Trainor, who has some impressive credentials, was the executive chef at the Dining Room at the Short Hills Hilton and has also cooked as guest chef at the James Beard House and in the home of the late Julia Child.
For starters, we can recommend the horseradish-crusted crab cake with no fillers, artistically presented with a stack of snow pea shoots dressed with a tangy mustard seed vinaigrette. A more robust choice is the spicy bucatini pasta with short rib ragu, a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs dish. And if you’re looking for New England clam chowder, try Chef Trainor’s version, which is chock full of clams, potatoes, and celery and topped with bacon foam and dill oil. It’s one of the best renditions of this dish that we’ve had in a long time.
Entrées range from $19 for a vegetarian eggplant tart to $44 for a prime 28-day dry-aged NY sirloin. We opted for sous-vide lamb presented two ways—as an olive-crusted shoulder and a center-cut loin. Served with an olive sauce and a cylinder of chickpea hummus topped with raisins, pine nuts, and a scoop of goat cheese, this dish was alive with flavor. The eggplant tart was a purse made from eggplant slices, filled with a creamy eggplant-potato stuffing and accompanied by ratatouille, sautéed French green beans, and bok choy for a delightful and colorful dish. A five-course tasting menu, with or without wines, is also available. We drank a bottle of 2008 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua, Chile, which at $36 was one of the lower-priced choices. Dessert was skipped, as we were stuffed, but some choices were pain perdu panna cotta with bourbon-braised Bosc pears; warm Valrhona chocolate brioche pudding with raspberry compote and Tahitian vanilla ice cream; and an artisanal cheese plate. For reservations, call 973-451-2619.
Copeland crab cake.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
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ZITA KEELEY’S WINE SCHOOL
Starting on March 7 and running six consecutive Monday nights (March 14, 21, and 28 and April 4 and 11), Zita Keeley will be teaching a Wine Appreciation class at the Melting Pot, 100 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken. Learn about how to taste; the winemaking process; old-world versus new-world wines; how to buy, store, and serve wine; reading restaurant wine lists; and pairing wine and food. 7 to 9 PM; $390. Any missed class can be made up at the next session, based on availability. Log on to www.allidoiswine.com to register, or call 201-963-4986.
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CHEF JESSE JONES ON FOX 5
On March 8 at 9:30 AM, Chef Jesse Jones will be cooking dishes for Mardi Gras on the Good Day New York segment “Good Day Cafe,” on Fox 5.
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UPCOMING WINE, BEER, AND WHISKEY EVENTS
On March 7, a four-course Palmaz wine dinner will be held at Chakra, West 144 Route 4 East, Paramus (201-556-1530). 6:30 PM; $82 plus tax and gratuity.
Also on March 7, an Apokries (Greek Carnival) wine dinner will be held at Kuzina by Sofia, Sawmill Shopping Center, 404 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill (856-429-1061); $35.
Beer seems to be the theme on March 9. A six-course Craft Beer Dinner with Rick Reed, owner of Cricket Hill Brewery, will be held at the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, 1 East Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus (201-445-4115). 7 PM; $48 plus tax and gratuity. Also on the 9th, a five-course Beer Maker’s dinner will be held at Rat’s Restaurant, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton (609-584-7800), at 6 PM.
On March 10, a Whisky Guild Tasting Classic New Jersey dinner and tasting will be held at the Madison Hotel, 1 Convent Road, Morristown. 7 to 10 PM; $85. For tickets, call 877-3WHISKY or go to www.whiskyguild.com.
On March 15, head over to Stage Left, 5 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick (732-828-4444), for a Hendry Vineyards wine dinner with owner/winemaker George Hendry. 7 PM; $129.
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NJ SEMIFINALISTS NAMED FOR JAMES BEARD AWARDS
Congratulations to the following New Jersey chefs, who are semifinalists for awards from the James Beard Foundation.
Dan Richer of Arturo’s in Maplewood has been nominated for Rising Star Chef of the Year.
Andrew Araneo of Drew’s Bayshore Bistro in Keyport, Michael Krikorian of the Copper Canyon Restaurant in Atlantic Highlands, and previous finalist Maricel Presilla of Cucharamama in Hoboken have been nominated in the Best Chef: Mid Atlantic category.
Finalists in each category will be announced on March 21, and winners will be honored at an awards ceremony that will be held on May 9 at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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RUMSON RESTAURANT MONTH
Rumson Restaurant Month will be held throughout March, with participating restaurants offering dining deals including prix-fixe menus, specially priced dishes, drink specials, St. Patrick’s Day fun, live music, and more. Visit www.rumsonnj.gov for more information.
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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].