Teresa’s Pizza and Wine Bar at 23 Palmer Square East in Princeton will host “The Joy of Pizza,” a dinner and book signing with Dan Richer, on March 7 starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in half-hour increments from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at https://www.teresacaffe.com/store/product/thejoyofpizza/. Tickets are $65 per person, which includes a signed copy of The Joy of Pizza, dinner to taste Richer’s pizzas, antipasto, and salad. more
Image Source: Mediterra Restaurant and Taverna
Taking place from March 5 through March 11, Princeton Restaurant Week is an annual celebration of the town’s vibrant culinary scene. Featuring some of Mercer County’s most popular restaurants, diners can check out a new spot, catch a quick bite at a familiar favorite, or enjoy a curated meal at a sought-after eatery during this special week. Best of all, many participating restaurants offer not only special Restaurant Week menus, but also prix fixe and reduced pricing during the event. more
Join MarketFair Mall on February 10 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for a special Galentine’s Night Out with your favorite friends. This fun evening combines shopping, drinking, dining, and laughter.
Each participant will receive gift bags valued at over $100 compliments of Mystique Hair & Skin, OrangeTwist, and The Lash Lounge. more
Montclair Hospitality Group has announced the launch of Ani Ramen House’s ninth location in downtown Princeton at 140 Nassau Street. The brand is excited to bring its popular ramen concept to Mercer County.
In Princeton, Ani Ramen will be open seven days a week, with takeout and delivery options. The restaurant will serve its signature craft ramen featuring custom-made noodles from Sun Noodle, flavorful proteins, and a variety of extras for guests to customize their ramen, including Ani’s “Umami Bomb.” The menu also offers delicious appetizers for sharing: Bao Buns, Kurobuta Sausage, Chili Charred Edamame, and Chicken Karaage. more
COVID-19 has had a major impact on food supply chains and the ways we shop, dine, and eat. Restaurants have had to revamp their menus, while many families have learned to stretch the amount of money they typically spend on groceries due to rising food costs. more
Skil-Lit Cafe, located at 113 South Warren Street in Trenton, has been voted the best restaurant of 2022 by the Trenton Eat Local Club. Praised for its high-energy atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious brunch and lunch menu, Skil-Lit Cafe is a new community favorite. To view the complete menu, visit https://skillitcafe.com. more
Chef Kris Welz and his team at The Fox & Falcon have come to the aid of stressed Thanksgiving cooks — just make the turkey and the rest is done. Order four delicious sides and fresh baked pies by 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 20 for pickup between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23. Orders can be made by calling the restaurant Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 973.419.6773. You can also visit https://www.thefoxandfalconnj.com/menus/#holiday-catering-menu, download the menu form, and email it to events.thefoxandfalcon@gmail.com. more
On Thursday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m., sip your way into a deliciously festive fall dinner at Osteria Morini, located at 107 Morristown Road in Bernardsville, with wine selections provided by Amanti Vino of Morristown.
Osteria Morini Executive Chef Bill Dorrler and Chef di Cucina Jonathan Rice will work alongside Amanti Vino Sommelier Sharon Stevens for the ultimate combination of Old World food and wine. Four courses of Morini specials will be paired with wine. The dinner menu includes grilled octopus, scallops in almond and sage brown butter sauce, Barolo braised short rib with roasted root vegetables, and fried sweet cheese ravioli with figs. more
Join Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn in downtown Lambertville for the first annual Fall Fest on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This free festival is open to all, rain or shine.
Experience two days full of fall fun along the banks of the Delaware River. The Station’s Fall Fest community celebration will offer games, family activities, delicious food, a beer garden, and live music. more
The Mercer Museum’s annual fall fundraiser, Cocktails at the Castle, returns to Doylestown, Pa., on Saturday, October 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. for a night of culinary delights and cocktails, all in support of the Mercer Museum’s education programs, exhibitions, and community initiatives.
Guests will enjoy a lively evening on the grounds of Mercer Museum with delicious food options from Bucks County culinary purveyors, along with craft cocktail creations and exceptional entertainment. more
Standing on the plot of land once owned by Joseph Bonaparte — former King of Naples and Spain and brother of Napoleon – garden steward Lara Periard shares her enthusiasm for developing the Point Breeze Historic Garden.
“This project is unique for several reasons,” Periard says. “Unlike a standard vegetable garden or farm, its purpose is to represent the history of the land, as well as to grow food for donation to the community. We are growing historic crops, primarily what would’ve been grown by Bonaparte’s gardener at the time.” more
Join The Watershed Institute for the 47th Annual Watershed FEST on October 1 at 6:30 p.m. FEST is the largest fundraising event of the year and supports The Watershed Institute’s mission of keeping water clean, safe, and healthy. Last year’s FEST was an evening to remember, and the organization is hoping to beat last year’s amount of $140,000 raised. All funds support The Watershed Institute’s conservation, advocacy, education, and scientific research efforts. more
When the temperature begins to drop in New Jersey after a long, hot summer, some people might think to reach for a glass of hard cider. What they may not know is that Burnt Mills Cider Company is serving up some of the best cider around and they are also proudly based in Bedminster. more
On Thursday, September 1 from 5 to 7 p.m., celebrate “Grazin’ in the Garden” at Hopewell’s most beautiful organic garden, Van Dyke Farm. Live music will be provided by Grant Peterson, an artist, musician and teacher based in Hopewell. The music will be complemented not only by the late summer scenery, but also by the food and wine. more
The Arts Council of Princeton has partnered with Old Hights Brewing Company to bring a pop-up beer garden to downtown Princeton on September 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. Old Hights’ balanced, hand-crafted beers are derived from the finest, locally sourced ingredients. Sip brews from a custom handmade beer stein designed by Arts Council Executive Director Adam Welch. Music will be provided by the Sourland String Band. more
The 2022 Surf & Turf Seafood Festival at Monmouth Park will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Presented by 107.1 The Boss, Thunder 106, and Kona Brewing, the Jersey Shore’s freshest seafood festival features lobster rolls, crab cakes, calamari, and more. Expect live music from 12 to 4 p.m. and lots of family friendly activities and entertainment. Participating food vendors include Cousins Maine Lobster, Four Boys Concessions, Kiersten’s Creations, Highway Ohana, Sherri’s Crab Cakes, Point Lobster, Green Dog Mobile, Playa Bowls, Star of the Sea Seafood, Sweetpepper Venezuelan Specialties, L’Acquario Seafood Italiano, and Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda. more
(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com)
From the Casual to the Chic
By Wendy Greenberg
“There are few things so pleasant as a picnic eaten in perfect comfort.”
– W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor’s Edge, 1943
When cookbook author Mary Abitanto eats al fresco, she appreciates both the landscape and the escape.
“A picnic to me is a chance to become grounded in the literal and figurative sense,” she says. “You become engulfed by the beauty of nature’s landscape and awaken your sense of smell (fragrant flowers, ocean breezes), sense of sound (birds chirping, ocean waves crashing), and taste (yummy picnic food).”
Abitanto calls it an “awe-inspiring backdrop that we cannot find anywhere else except in nature’s midst.”
Think Monet’s Luncheon on the Grass or The Picnic, or Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Eating outdoors enjoyed a renaissance during the pandemic as socializing moved mostly outside. Even now, shared outdoor meals remain a go-to social event, an experience that can be casual or upscale.
The modern picnic is accessible to all levels of merriment and communing, keeping in mind food safety and environmental responsibility, along with a great culinary experience, and a delightful view. (It has also become a popular Instagram opportunity.)
“Picnicking has become a popular trend,” says Suzette Louis-Jacques, a luxury picnic planner at La TAS Events in Somerset County. She said it started before the pandemic in the U.S. South and on the West Coast, and had been pivoting to the Northeast.
Louis-Jacques adds that “picnics are not for everyone,” so she discusses personal taste with the picnic-goer. “You want to plan it out,” she says.
Whether the emphasis is on the food or the mood, there are choices to be made: what food to bring, how complex a meal, and location. Additionally, we might think about how to reduce food waste, and, perhaps just for fun, step up our accoutrements: there are some pretty amazing backpacks that include glasses, utensils, blankets, and much more. more
Have you ever wondered about the history of Atlantic City, which was once a melting pot of newly arrived immigrants and even bootleggers during the prohibition era?
On Saturday, July 23 at 2:30 p.m., Atlantic City Food Tours will be talking about all that and more during their walk through Ducktown, a district of Atlantic City that was heavily settled by Italian immigrants during the 20th century. Over the years, the neighborhood has gone through changes, but many of the historic culinary institutions have survived. more
Hoboken native Brad Finkel never set out to enter the food business. In fact, back in the 1990s, he was more interested in touring the country with his musical group, trying to make an impact in the world as a working artist.
However, when Finkel left Hudson County, he noticed that his fellow bandmates were homesick for fresh mozzarella, meats, homemade bread, and tomato sauce like the Italian Grandma’s made it. That meant nothing but the freshest ingredients and no additives like sugar. Nothing is dried and everything is bottled at the peak of freshness. In this way, Finkel sought to make his friends a little more comfortable. more
Nestled midway between Manhattan and Philadelphia at 678 Cranberry Road in East Brunswick, Park Chateau Estate & Gardens is quickly becoming the noteworthy wedding venue in New Jersey.
Spanning 15 rolling and manicured acres, visitors will be struck first by the 17th century classical French architecture and garden designs. This setting provides the bride and groom with a range of locations to move their wedding party through; from the chapel to the outdoor gardens and sparkling ballroom, every site is picture perfect. more
