EDIBLE EVENTS: SUMMER 2008
2008 COUNTY FAIRS From exhibits to games, rides and food, New Jersey’s agricultural fairs offer something for everyone. Mark your calendar now for this Garden State summertime tradition. See full listing.
Through September 30, 2008
“FEAST YOUR EYES: THE UNEXPECTED BEAUTY OF VEGETABLE GARDENS”, a Smithsonian traveling exhibition, traces the visual appeal of vegetable gardens across centuries, continents, and cultures, from the floating gardens of the Aztecs and the highly manicured potager of Louis XIV’s Versailles to the emergence of World War II victory gardens in America. A companion exhibition, developed by the Historical Society in collaboration with the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, explores the evolution of community gardening in New Jersey. The New Jersey Historical Society, 52 Park Place, Newark, NJ, one-half block from NJPAC. Tues. through Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. www.jerseyhistory.org.
May 31, 2008 – March 15, 2009
KEY INGREDIENTS: AMERICA BY FOOD This exhibit, part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program, traces 500 years of American food history and the culinary and agricultural traditions of New Jersey. Hosted by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, it will make 6 six-week stops throughout the state with an array of activities and events planned along the way. Visit njch.org/keyingredients for information, recipes and details.
June 21
12TH ANNUAL GARDEN STATE CRAFTBREWERS FEST Enjoy the view on deck while tasting fine and fun offerings from 16 great breweries in a family-friendly environment. Tickets are $40 (includes tasting glass and self-guided tour of the ship) and can be purchased at battleshipnewjersey.org. Attendance limited to 750 people. Live music. Food available for purchase. Noon – 4 pm, Delaware River Waterfront, Camden. For more information visit www.njbeer.org .
June 24 and 25
OFF THE HOOK Seafood lovers take note. Eight South Jersey restaurants celebrate the bounty of Garden State waters with special four-course seafood menus. Enjoy the delicious creativity at Mirabella Café, Andreotti’s Viennese Café and Emerald Fish in Cherry Hill; Tortilla Press, Collingswood; A Little Café, Haddonfield; Blueplate, Mullica Hill; Filomena’s, Berlin; Tortilla Press Cantina, Pennsauken and High Street Grill, Mt. Holly. $30 per person. Reserve early. www.sjoffthehook.com or contact Chef Joe Palombo at 856-296-3682.
June 28
25TH ANNUAL WHITESBOG BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL An annual celebration of all things blueberry and considered to be one of the top “old-fashioned” festivals in the region. Located in the heart of the Pinelands, Historic Whitesbog is the birthplace of the cultivated blueberry. Enjoy walking and wagon tours of the agricultural museum, research fields and other structures depicting Pinelands life in the 1920s, including the home of Elizabeth Coleman White, who cultivated the first commercially viable blueberry at Whitesbog in 1916. Additional attractions include Pinelands crafters and artists, antique engine displays, live bluegrass music, the outrageously messy blueberry pie-eating contest and, of course, PYO blueberries. 10 am – 4 pm. Parking $7 per car, $3 per person arriving via bus/tour. Proceeds benefit the Whitesbog Preservation Trust. Whitesbog is located at mile marker 13 on Route 530 in Browns Mills (Pemberton Township). Visit www.whitesbog.org for more details.
June 28 and 29
1st ANNUAL SLOW FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Slow Food of Central Jersey pairs up some of the area’s best restaurants and wineries for two days of sampling and celebrating. Enjoy summertime dishes prepared with seasonal, locally grown vegetables, fruits, seafood and meats by some of New Jersey’s most exciting chefs. Participating restaurants include Tre Piani and Brother’s Moon; wineries include host Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Alba Vineyard, Unionville Vineyards, Cape May Winery and Laurita Vineyards. Cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, a farmer’s market, exhibitors, jazz music and more. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and include wine tasting, souvenir wine glass, parking, demonstrations and seminars. Additional food available for purchase. Noon – 5 pm, rain or shine, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington. www.slowfoodandwinefestival.com .
July 11 – 13
NEW JERSEY STATE BARBECUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ready for mouth watering ribs, chicken, brisket and pork, masterfully marinated and seasoned, then smoked for hours to the point of perfection? This ain't just grilling, this is art. Witness barbecue teams from around the country show off their skills in a quest for the best. Smokin’ hot blues music, live cooking demos, antique cars and fire trucks will also be on hand in this event to benefit the Anglesea Volunteer Fire Company, which has served the community since 1897. 201 New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood. Free. www.njbbq.com .
July 12 and 13
SICKLES MARKET 100TH ANNIVERSARY SUMMER BLUES FESTIVAL Sickles Market hails its centennial with one happy event celebrating all things blue from blueberries in the Gourmet Food Market to butterfly bushes in the Garden Center. Special prices for things blue. Blueberry pie eating contests, cooking demonstrations, live blues music. One Harrison Avenue, Little Silver. Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm; Sunday 9 am – 4 pm. Free. For more information, call 732-741-9563 or visit www.sicklesmarket.com .
July 18
FROG & THE PEACH 25TH ANNIVERSARY WINE DINNER A pioneer in modern American cuisine, this critically acclaimed restaurant has been the training ground for some of New Jersey's best chefs. In the spirit of reunion, alumni Chef David Drake, chef-owner of David Drakes in Rahway and Daryl’s in New Brunswick, and alumni Chef Eric Hambrecht, chef-owner at the Stage House Restaurant in Scotch Plains, will join current F&P Chef Bruce Lefebvre to create a four-course menu featuring signature dishes from the Frog’s past. Tickets are $150 per person and include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, wine and gratuity. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the New Brunswick Ronald McDonald House. For more info, call 732-846-3216 or www.frogandpeach.com . The Frog and the Peach, 19 Dennis Street, Hiram Square, New Brunswick.
July 19
6TH ANNUAL NEW JERSEY STATE ICE CREAM FESTIVAL. July is National Ice Cream month, so celebrate America’s favorite cool treat at the 6th annual festival in Downtown Toms River. The event features inflatable rides, street performers and live musical entertainment. Browse handcrafts and other vendors while sampling the entries in the ice cream tasting contest. 11:30 am to 5:00 pm, Washington Street, Toms River. Free. Tasting kits available for a small fee. www.downtowntomsriver.com
July 27 – August 1
FARM TO FORK WEEK Join the South Jersey Independent Restaurant Assocation, a.k.a. SJ HOT Chefs, for their 2nd annual tribute to local farmers. Over 35 local restaurants will create $35, four-course menus made from the finest locally grown ingredients sourced from dozens of area farms. Zallie’s ShopRite of Medford is the official sponsor. Visit www.sjhotchefs.com for a list of participating restaurant locations.
August 10
TOMATO DAY at Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Join Slow Food Northern New Jersey for a taste of lots and lots of New Jersey tomatoes from featured Garden State farms, seed saving workshop, cooking demos (using tomatoes, of course), tomato tour of the garden, etc. Although this event is free, there is a charge for demos. RSVP to slowfoodnnj@yahoo.com . Questions? Call Margaret 908-654-3242
August 27
snyder research farm 18TH ANNUAL Great Tomato Tasting Taste more than 90 tomato varieties (including heirlooms and hybrids), stroll through the teaching garden and take a wagon tour highlighting Rutgers' latest agricultural and horticultural research. Master Gardeners, faculty and staff will be on hand to answer gardening questions. 3 pm – dusk. $5 per person, children free under 10. To register, call 908-713-8980. Rutgers University's Snyder Research Farm, Locust Grove Rd., Pittstown. www.snyderfarm.rutgers.edu .
September 6
3rd Annual Northwest jersey Farm & Food Open House Tour a dozen farms for a first-hand view – and taste – of great New Jersey food, then enjoy an evening cookout featuring food from all participating farms prepared by top Jersey chefs. Presented by Buy Fresh, Buy Local Northwest Jersey, Foodshed Alliance, and Slow Food Northern New Jersey. Tours: 10 am – 4 pm; dinner: 5 – 8 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children for the tour; $30 per person for dinner. Visit www.slowfoodnnj.org or www.buyfreshnwj.org for more info.
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