Benefit Spirits Night with the Moorestown Visiting Nurse Association
Friday, October 12, 6–9 PM
It’s hard to argue with a night out for a good cause, especially when the good cause in question has 25+ tables of craft beer, wine, and spirits. Sponsored by Cherry Hill’s Benash Liquors, this year’s annual Benefit Spirits Night raises funds for the Moorestown Visiting Nurse Association, which provides home and hospice care for patients in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties. Beyond the promised beverages, your ticket gets you bites from various area restaurants, including Bellaggio, Harvest Seasonal Grill, the Chop House, and Monsoon (more are promised). General admission is $60, though $125 gets your name as a sponsor in the night’s program book. The Westin Mount Laurel, 555 Fellowship Road, Mount Laurel; 856-552-1300 x-2181
Spirits Infusion Class at Jersey Spirits Distilling Co.
Saturday, October 13, 2–4 PM
Jersey Spirits Distilling Co. has won awards for their flavored spirits from the American Distilling Institute and the New York International Spirits Competition, and one of their newer tasting room offerings (Redrum) is a rum infused with cocoa and cherries, so you’ll be in good hands at Saturday’s spirits infusion class. Tickets are $50, which buys you a tour of the facility (just off Route 46), lessons in slow- and fast-infusion methods you can do at home and a bottle of your very own infused Main Street Vodka or Boardwalk Light Amber Rum. Jersey Spirits Distilling Co., 1275 Bloomfield Avenue, Building 7, Unit 40B, Fairfield; 973-227-5333
Harvest Opera Gala at Tomasello Winery
Sunday, October 14, 2 PM
Not every Sunday afternoon calls for coffee and the paper. For $79.95 you can get a bit more sensory stimulation at Tomasello Winery’s seasonal opera galas. (We recently highlighted Tomasello Winery in our NJ wine trails story in the October issue.) Starting at 2 PM, the afternoon is all refined hedonism: beautiful music, local wine, and a four-course meal prepared by their in-house chef, Jason Hall. This Sunday’s supper includes dishes like Harvest Bounty Bisque, Petit Filet Mignon, and Pumpkin Tartufo, each paired with Tomasello wines (which are also sold at Stokes Farm in Old Tappan). Tomasello Winery, 225 North White Horse Pike, Hammonton; 800-666-9463
The 12th Annual Taste of Elizabeth
Monday, October 15, 5–8:30 PM
Plenty of towns have restaurant weeks (and we’re grateful), but Elizabeth lets you get it all devoured in one night. The 12th Annual Taste of Elizabeth is a steal at $40, and a way to taste plenty of local area culinary talent, including places like Ursino Steakhouse, Tequila Bistro, Noodlefan, Parador Rojo, Red Knot at Galloping Hill, with plenty of beverages on offer. The night is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Elizabeth, and all proceeds benefit local area charities and the Albert & Louise Davis Scholarship Fund. Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel, 1000 Spring Street, Elizabeth; 908-809-9896
Second Annual Tartufesta Dinner at Rutgers Garden
Friday, October 19, 6:30–9:30 PM
Part of the Due Mari restaurant and Rutgers Gardens Food & Wine Series, and one heck of a way to usher the seductive cold weather ingredient, Tartufesta is for fungi lovers with $80 (plus tax and fees) to spare on dinner. But dishes will be judiciously truffle-studded, truffle-infused, and truffle-rich. In Rutgers Garden’s historic Hort Farm log cabin, you’ll dig into Black Truffle Burrata-stuffed Pasta, Short Rib Croquettes with Truffle Pecorino—truffles even show up in a Truffle Honey Panna Cotta for dessert. The night is BYO, so Due Mari itself might be a good place to call for vino recommendations. Reservations can be made online, and refunded up to a week in advance. Rutgers Gardens, 140 Log Cabin Road, East Brunswick; 732-932-8451