Dining Out… | Princeton Magazine

New York City Wine and Food Festival is Back

The Food Network and Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF), presented by Capital One, will be held this year on October 14-17. The four-day annual event showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs, culinary personalities, and America’s most beloved television chefs while raising critical funds to support New Yorkers affected by severe illness and food poverty. Proceeds will benefit Food Bank for New York City and God’s Love We Deliver. more

LBI ChowderMonth 2021

Typically, the annual Long Beach Island (LBI) Chowderfest signifies the end of the summer season on the Jersey Shore. To extend the festivities this year, Chowderfest is becoming ChowderMonth, a month-long celebration of delicious chowders and seafood stews in Ocean County, New Jersey. Dine at participating restaurants from September 4 through October 2, then vote online for your favorite chowder dish and restaurant!

To participate, first go to chowderfest.com to download a pass. You will instantly receive your pass via text and email. Your pass can also be saved to your home screen on your smartphone for easy, one-tap access. When you arrive at your destination, simply click “check in,” then allow GPS to validate your current location. The final step is to vote for your favorite chowder in Red, White, and Creative categories at any participating restaurant. Voting closes at 11:55 p.m. on October 2. more

Wonder Bar Yappy Hour in Asbury Park

Image Credit: https://wonderbarasburypark.com

Open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m., Asbury Park’s famous Wonder Bar at 1213 Ocean Avenue hosts “Yappy Hour” where owners can mix and mingle while their dogs run free. Yappy Hour was founded 12 years ago by Debbie DeLisa, a former Eastern Airlines flight attendant and current manager of the Wonder Bar.

DeLisa wanted to recreate a “Cheers” feeling, where “everybody knows your name and everybody knows your dog’s name,” says DeLisa. Asbury Park has already earned the moniker of one of the most pet-friendly towns on the Jersey Shore, and this summer event seems to confirm it. more

Local Cookbook Authors Offer Recipes That Draw Us Together

Cucumber pomegranate salad.

And the Timing Couldn’t Be Better!

By Wendy Greenberg

The food couldn’t be more different. But meals as a means to gather, to celebrate, and to connect with friends and family is the underlying theme of three newly published cookbooks by local authors.

Mary Abitanto of Mercer County, Jen Carson of Princeton, and Joy E. Stocke of Stockton take the power of shared meals a step further by giving us their advice and recipes. They are passionate about their food, and the aromas practically permeate the print. For them, preparation can be as significant as the meal itself.

The cookbooks from home cook and prolific author Abitanto; baker Carson at LiLLiPiES; and from travel and food writer Stocke extend the boundaries of the region’s reputation as a mecca for flavorsome and meaningful meals.

As we all emerge from different degrees of isolation, the timing is ripe for food that inspires us to gather together. Meet three authors who encourage us to do so. more

Hunterdon County’s 579 Trail in Rural NJ — A ‘Must Visit’ for Garden State Travelers

Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/Hunterdon579Trail

Did you know you can experience goat yoga, learn about cheese making, and sample award-winning local wine all in the same region of Central New Jersey? The 579 Trail, a historic agricultural corridor running through Hunterdon County begins its peak season for visitors this month as Jersey harvests begin to yield fruits and vegetables and the summer weather leads to a bounty of outdoor recreational activities. more

Harlem Hops Celebrates 3rd Year with Black-Owned Brewery Collaboration

Beer and Bites at Harlem Hops: Bourbon aged Execution Rock Imperial Porter 8.1% accompanied by Maroons Jerk Chicken Sausage served on a pretzel bun with a bed of cilantro lime slaw topped with pineapple pepper relish and a drizzle of the in-house execution Rock Imperial Porter BBQ sauce and plantain chips (Image Source: www.facebook.com/harlemhops).

To celebrate the third anniversary of their acclaimed craft beer bar, the only Black-owned bar of its kind in Harlem, the HBCU-educated partners of Harlem Hops (Kim Harris, Stacey Lee, and Kevin Bradford) are celebrating with the drop of a special beer brewed in collaboration with Black-owned Montclair Brewery: JUBILEE – a Hibiscus Red Ale, whose name also celebrates Juneteenth 2021. It’s been a challenging year of bringing exceptional beer from local craft brewers to Harlem (often by bicycle) and continuing to bring diversity to the world of craft beer. more

Spring Classes at The Farm Cooking School

Ian Knauer Aad Shelley Wiseman (PhotoCredit: Guy Ambrosi)

The Farm Cooking School in Titusville has reopened classes at 50 percent capacity (eight students per class). A lineup of spring classes is the perfect excuse to sharpen your skills in the kitchen while meeting new people and enjoying delicious, farm-to-table cuisine. more

Easter Sunday Brunch at The Reeds at Shelter Haven

“The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing.” – S. Brown

On Sunday, April 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor will say hello to spring with a special prix fixe menu. Reservations are required by calling 609.368.0100.

The adult menu includes:

For the table

Danish, muffins, bread

First Course

A sampling of…

Deviled egg radish and tomato salsa cruda

Poached shrimp remoulade

Crispy pea risotto cake with chervil aioli

Pickled carrot mustard seed more

Terra Momo’s Exclusive Pi Day Box

In honor of Princeton’s annual Pi Day celebrations in commemoration of Albert Einstein’s birthday on March 14^th (also known as 3.14, the numeric equivalent of Pi), Terra Momo Bread Company will be offering a unique “to-go” box that celebrates the unique genius of Einstein. more

Heart & Dinner Feeds the Elderly of New York City’s Chinatown

Image Source: https://www.heartofdinner.org

New York City-based restauranteur Moonlynn Tsai (https://www.kopitiamnyc.com) and podcaster Yin Chang of 88 Cups of Tea (https://88cupsoftea.com), didn’t expect to spend the pandemic serving over 20,000 meals to the elderly of New York City’s Chinatown, but that’s exactly what they did. Beginning in April 2020, the couple watched and experienced displays of outright racism towards Asian Americans. They also observed how hardly hit Manhattan’s restaurants were and immediately thought that there was a need to make sure that New York’s elderly Asian population didn’t go hungry. more

NJ Chef to Compete on Season 19 of FOX’s “Hell’s Kitchen”

The MC Hotel, in the heart of Montclair, N.J., has announced that its top chef competing on Season 19 of the hit culinary competition series, Hell’s Kitchen, starring Chef Gordon Ramsay. The new season premieres on Thursday, January 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. more

Join Peddler’s Village for Thanksgiving Dinner

This year, Peddler’s Village in Bucks County, Pa., presents a safely served buffet with multiple stations and socially distanced tables at the Cock ‘n Bull as well as a la carte Thanksgiving specials at Earl’s New American (Buttonwood Grill will be open for breakfast only). Online reservations are encouraged. You can also make reservations by calling the restaurants directly. more

Soul Sweet Boutique Confectionary, Bakery, and Café Rises to the Top

It’s no surprise the best Brazilian desserts north of the equator come from Soul Sweet Boutique – the cozy, welcoming bakery and eatery nestled in the Ironbound section of Newark, the heart of the Brasileiro population in the Garden State. more

Outdoor Dining is in Full Swing at Bernardsville’s Osteria Morini and Nicoletta Pizzeria

Like so many restaurants, Osteria Morini and the casual, collocated Nicoletta Pizzeria have had to be nimble in adapting to the state’s dining restrictions. more

ALTO Rooftop at Montclair’s MC Hotel Now Welcoming Guests

Boutique Property Reopens Rooftop with Stunning Views of New York City Skyline

The MC Hotel, in the heart of Montclair, has reopened its doors to its popular ALTO rooftop, the city’s only rooftop bar. Located on the ninth floor of the hotel through the building’s Bloomfield Avenue entrance, the spacious rooftop space is now open for drinks Wednesdays-Sundays, with reservations encouraged through opentable.com. Guests can sip on a glass of sparkling rose or a handcrafted cocktail while enjoying sweeping views of the New York City skyline. more

Peach Month at Peddler’s Village

August is peach month at Peddler’s Village, and every day the Bucks County location will offer special peach-themed food and drinks at restaurants and eateries. There will also be live entertainment on select weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays, guests can enjoy made-to-order sandwiches and burgers at the Water Wheel Food Tent. more

“Sunday with Dorie” Friends of PPL Fundraising Event

Cook along with five-time James Beard Award winner and New York Times best-selling cookbook author Dorie Greenspan in this special virtual fundraising event for Princeton Public Library (PPL) on Sunday, July 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. more

Princeton Insider: Summer Cookout

Image Source: Cookingchanneltv.com

Get into the great outdoors for a summer cookout.

Photo Credit: Kristin Perers/The Guardian

Dating back to the early British settlers of North America, cobblers are based on a tradition of baking seasonal fruit and covering it with a sweet, dry scone-like mixture. The result is a cousin to the humble pie, but somehow even more satisfying. Perfect for an early summer barbecue, Claire Ptak’s cobbler makes for a crave-worthy sweet, tart dessert. more

Spring Offerings from The Meeting House

The Meeting House restaurant at 277 Witherspoon Street is offering a tantalizing spring menu for takeout that will elevate any mealtime. Their Family Supper is now offered daily, with Family Brunch on weekends. Throw in a great bottle of wine at a reduced price. The Meeting House is happy to deliver all orders to your home. Better yet, order a spectacular meal for your social distancing friends! more