Calendar of NJ Events - August 2008 Event Date: 8/2/08 A Taste of Organic Gardening Description: Learn which crops can be planted now for the fall harvest; taste the difference between organically grown and commercially grown vegetables. Time: 3:30-5 pm Address: Plainsboro Preserve, 80 Scott Corner Rd, Cranbury, NJ Phone#: 609-897-9400 Event Date: 8/7/08 Lobster Tasting Dinner Description: A lobster tasting dinner will be held at Rosemary and Sage. $64 plus tax and gratuity. Address: Rosemary and Sage, 26 Hamburg Tpk, Riverdale, NJ Phone#: 973-616-0606 Event Date: 8/8/08 Taste of Plainfield Description: Annual Wine Tasting and Jazz Concert. Featuring live Jazz sounds of the Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, food galore, plus there will be a Casino Room. This fun-filled night is all part of an annual fund-raiser to help rebuild the Children's room at the Plainfield Public Library. Time: 6:30pm to 11:00pm - $40.00 per person. Address: Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ Phone#: 908 756-2300 Event Date: 8/9/08 Korean Cooking Demonstration Description: Korean cooking demonstration: John Nihoff of the Culinary Institute of America will demonstrate kimchi consommé, scallion pancakes, kimchi fried rice and fried chicken roulade at 2 p.m. on Aug. 9th at Bloomingdale’s. The event is free, but reservations are suggested at specialeventrsvp@gmail.com Address: The Shops at Riverside, 400 Hackensack Ave, Hackensack, NJ Phone#: 201-457-2000 Event Date: 8/9/08 and 8/10/08 Jersey Fresh Food & Wine Festival Description: Jersey Fresh Food & Wine Festival will feature hundreds of wines from 25 New Jersey wineries, as well as cuisine from a half-dozen central Jersey restaurants that focus on local produce. Time: Noon to 5 p.m. on Aug. 9th and 10th at Hopewell Valley Vineyards. Tickets are $18. Address: Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Rd, Pennington, NJ Phone#: 609-737-4465 Event Date: 8/10/08 Tomato Day Festival Description: The Frelinghuysen Arboretum and Slow Food New Jersey team up to explore and celebrate the tomato. New Jersey’s tomatoes are legendary for their taste. Enjoy some heirloom varieties. Sample freshly prepared tomato based dishes. Learn how to save tomato seeds... how to grow the best tasting tomatoes & how to use the tomato as a garnish. Time: 1pm - 4pm. FREE Admission. Address: The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 East Hanover Avenue, Whippany, NJ Phone#: 973-326-7600 Event Date: 8/10/08 Summertime Dinner Dance Social Description: Music by Peter Lieberman, buffet menu, coffee, tea, dessert. Beer, wine, soda included. Cash bar available. Time: 2:00p to 6:00p - $25. Address: Athenia Veterans Post, 147 Huron Ave, Clifton, NJ Phone#: 973-778-0931 Event Date: 8/13/08 Five-Course Tomato Extravaganza Dinner Description: A five-course Tomato Extravaganza dinner will be held at Restaurant Serenade at 7 PM; $150 all inclusive. Address: Restaurant Serenade, 6 Roosevelt Ave, Chatham, NJ Phone#: 973-701-0303 Event Date: 8/13/08 Four-Course Salad Tasting Luncheon Description: A four-course salad tasting luncheon will be held at the Blackbird Dining Establishment. Time: 12:30 PM; $29 plus tax and gratuity. BYO. Address: Blackbird Dining Establishment, 619 Collings Ave, Collingswood, NJ Phone#: 856-854-3444 Event Date: 8/13/08 Lions Peach Festival Description: Fresh peaches and ice cream at 6 pm and listen to the Sterling String Band at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair for the free outdoor concert. Address: Historic Whitman Stafford Farm House, 315 Maple Ave., Laurel Springs, NJ Phone#: 856-783-8040 Event Date: 8/14/08 Seafood Dinner Featuring White Wines from Italy Description: On August 14, a seafood dinner featuring white wines from Italy will be held at Pierre’s Restaurant and Wine Bar. Time: 7 PM; $95 including tax and gratuity; casual dress. Address: Pierre's Restaurant and Wine Bar, 995 Mount Kemble Ave, Morristown, NJ Phone#: 973-425-1212 Event Date: 8/14/08 Tequila Dinner Description: Tequila Dinner at Branches on Thursday, August 14, 2008. Time: 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM - Cost: $62.00 per person... all inclusive. Address: Branches, 123 Monmouth Road, West Long Branch, NJ Phone#: 732-660-6700 Event Date: 8/15/08 70s/80s Dance Music Description: Featuring Live Guest DJ's - $3 Well Drinks / $2 Drafts - Time: 8-11pm - No Cover. Address: La Riveria Restaurant, 113 Main Street, Matawan, NJ Phone#: 732-566-8400 Event Date: 8/16/08 Latin Music Night Description: Featuring Latin Music... Salsa/Merengue/Bachata - $3 Well Drinks / $2 Drafts - Time: 8-11pm - No Cover. Address: La Riveria Restaurant, 113 Main Street, Matawan, NJ Phone#: 732-566-8400 Event Date: 8/16/08 Summer Harvest Festival Description: Come on out to the farm to celebrate Jersey's best fruits and vegetables. Tomato tasting, tomato catapult, live music, & kids activities! Date: Sunday, August 16, 2008; Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm. Address: Peaceful Valley Orchards, 150 Pittstown Road, Pittstown, NJ Phone#: 908-730-7748 Event Date: 8/16/08 International Food and Cultural Festival Description: Now in its second year, the International Food and Cultural Festival features a wide range of ethic entertainment and delicious global cuisines served to the beat of popular cultural music. This “virtual vacation in Vineland” is everyone’s passport to good food and great fun! Time: 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Address: 500 block of Landis Ave, Vineland, NJ Phone#: 856-794-8653 Event Date: 8/17/08 5th Annual Sunset & NJ Wine Event Description: Join us and Bon Secours Community Hospital for our 5th Annual Sunset & NJ Wines Event. Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting, great entertainment and fine local cuisine for the benefit of the Bon Secours Community Hospital. Date: Sunday, August 17th - Time: 3-7pm - Ticket price: $75. Address: Westfall Winery, 141 Clove Road, Montague, NJ Phone#: 973-293-3428 Event Date: 8/17/08 A Sunday of Italian Opera Description: Lyric soprano Annamaria Stefanelli and tenor Rory Angelicola will present A Sunday of Italian Opera on Sunday, August 17 at Villa Laura Ristorante. Seating for the dinner/performance is at 5:30 p.m. Accompanied by pianist James Lubrano, Stefanelli and Angelicola will perform some of the best-loved Italian operatic arias and duets, including "Un Bel Di" from Pucciniís Madama Butterfly, "O Soave Fanciullaî from Pucciniís La Boheme," and "The Cherry Duet" from Mascagni's L'Amico Fritz. The program will also include popular Italian favorites such as "Parlami D'amore Mariu" and "Mattinata." Tickets are $58 and include a prix fix dinner menu (including appetizer, entree, and dessert) and the performance. Diners are welcome to bring their own wine and spirits (BYOB). Address: Villa Laura Ristorante, 365 Spotswood-Englishtown Road, Monroe, NJ Phone#: 732-723-9045 Event Date: 8/19/08 Four-Course Prix-fixe Dinner Description: A four-course prix-fixe dinner will be held at Mirabella Cafe to benefit the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) Association; $50. Address: Mirabella Cafe, 210 E Rt 70, Cherry Hill, NJ Phone#: 856-354-1888 Event Date: 8/20/08 NJ Wine and Food Table-Top Showcase Description: The NJ Wine and Food Table-Top Showcase is presented by Terranova Imports, national importer of fine wines and U.S. Foodservice Philadelphia Division. Come see, sip and sample fine wines, food products and services to improve your operation. Complimentary admission and show badge will be issued for all attendees who register to attend on-line. Starting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Address: Ramblewood Country Club, 200 Country Club Pkwy, Mount Laurel, NJ Phone#: 856-235-2118 Event Date: 8/22/08 Splendors of the Sea “Dining with the Chefs” Description: Under The Sea … Under the Sea! Recipes from the deep blue will leave your mouth watering. Call early for this is sure to be one of our most popular Dining with the Chefs ever! Cocktails at 6:30 PM; Dinner at 7:00 PM. $75 per person plus tax and gratuity. Address: Renault Winery Resort & Golf, 72 North Bremen Ave, Egg Harbor City, NJ Phone#: 609-965-2111 Event Date: 8/22/08 4th Anniversary Beer Dinner Description: It's the High Street Grill's 4th birthday and we are kicking off the weekend with a visit from Sly Fox at our beer dinner, featuring 4 of their great beers, each paired with a delicious course. Hosted by the brewer, Brian O'Reilly and Suzanne Woods, there will be lots of trivia prizes, fun for all and a great way to say "Happy Birthday" to your favorite Craft Brew Bar! Help us celebrate on this momentous occasion! Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Cost: $50.00 pp. Address: High Street Grill, 64 High Street, Mount Holly, NJ Phone#: 609-265-9199 Event Date: 8/24/08 3rd Annual Chili Cookoff Description: We invite you to test your culinary skills at our 3rd annual Chili Cookoff. Bring a pot of your favorite Chili recipe and compete! If you don’t think your cooking skills are up to snuff, come anyway! Taste and judge the chili, drink wine and have fun (no reservations required for tasters and fun-seekers!). Free of Charge 1-4pm. Address: Westfall Winery, 141 Clove Rd, Montague, NJ Phone#: 973-293-3428 Event Date: 8/27/08 18th Annual Great Tomato Tasting Description: Sample more than 90 tomato varieties, including heirlooms and hybrids, at the 18th Annual Great Tomato Tasting that will be held at Snyder Research and Extension Farm. Time: 3 PM to dusk; $5 per person; children ages ten and under free. Address: Snyder Research and Extension Farm, 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ Phone#: 908-713-8980 Event Date: 8/28/08 Tapas & Sangria Description: Join us for Tapas y Sangria on Thursday, August 28th. Featuring 9 Tapas Courses and All you can drink Red or White Sangria! Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - $35 per person. Address: Tavern 344, 344 French Hill Road, Wayne, NJ Phone#: 973-696-9440 Event Date: 8/30/08 Herb Vinegars, Oils, and Pesto Description: With an abundance of herbs to choose from, you will learn how to make your own herb vinegars, oils and pesto. In this class we will make two oils, three vinegars and a pesto to take home. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations required. Time: 1:30 - 3:30 / $34.00. Address: Well-Sweep Herb Farm, 205 Mount Bethel Road, Port Murray, NJ Phone#: 908-852-5390 Event Date: 8/31/08 Scandinavian Fest '08 Description: The 24th Annual cultural heritage festival celebrates the traditions of the Nordic areas: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Featuring food, crafts, music, dancing, talks, presentations, and special kids' events. There will also be artisan’s demos, lectures, literature, and various organizations. Time: 10 AM to 6 PM Rain or Shine! Address: Vasa Park, 1 Wolfe Rd, Budd Lake, NJ Phone#: 610-417-1483   The tallest water tower in the world is in Union, NJ Please submit press releases and restaurant events, wine tastings, and all food-related information to: Calendar of NJ Events