Montclair Food & Wine Festival Gala Dinner Recap

Montclair Food & Wine Festival Gala Dinner Recap

TablesettingLast night, I was invited to attend the Montclair Food & Wine Festival Gala Dinner at The Manor in West Orange. The Gala Dinner is an exclusive night of collaborative culinary magic showcasing a six-course dinner designed and prepared by some of the area’s most talented chefs.

A fun part of the event this year was the new Amuse Bouche Series that each guest was treated to from four of the most creative chefs in the area. From the Caesar Salad Ice Cream by Chef Zod Arifai (Blu & Next Door) to Chef Meny Vaknin’s salmon on beet focaccia to Chef Francesco Palmieri (The Orange Squirrel) serving an outrageously-tasty smoked corn and goat cheese panna cotta with pickled asparagus and popcorn shoot stem, smoked sea salt and popcorn petal served in a river stone to Chef Thomas Ciszak (Blue Morel & Chakra) offering a perfect bite of foie gras in a puff pastry with quince and black truffle-Balsamic glaze – the amuses set the tone for the meal to come.

 

The rest of the meal went as follow:

Chef Ariane Duarte (Ariane Kitchen & Bar) started off the meal with her Perfectly Poached Shrimp, Toasted Garlic Lemon Aioli, Avocado Corn Salad. In her words “elevated shrimp cocktail”. I could have used a whole bowl of the avocado corn salad – fresh and tasty.

Chef Ryan DePersio (Fascino) had the fish course and served Pancetta-Wrapped Bronzini, Filled with Tomato Confit, Crispy Couscous, Asparagus Salsa Verde. Bronzino is likely my favorite fish, so the dish was right up my alley. The crispy couscous – clever, very clever.

Chef Mitchell Altholz (Highlawn Pavilion) served what the folks at my table and some guests I spoke with called the dish of the evening – Spring Lamb Ravioli, Merguez Jus, Fresh Mint, Brunoise of Heirloom Carrots. Great lamb flavor, bright punch of mint – a winner.

Chef Kevin Sippel (Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen) had the meat dish and served Veal Cheeks, Bone Marrow Gremolata, Fava Beans, Pecorino. The veal cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth.

Chef Michael Carrino (Pig & Prince Restaurant & Gastrolounge) ended the meal with an elegant dessert of Lemon Sponge Cake, Goat Cheese Mousse, Lemon Meringue, Cucumber, Melon, Herb Flowers.

Wine pairings were expertly-selected by Sharon Sevrens of Amanti Vino. Here were the wines served (available for sale at Amanti Vino):

  • Gobelsburger Rosé 2014 – one of my favorites for summer – dry, light strawberry flavors, served with the amuses.
  • Patrick Piuze – Chablis Terroir de Courgis 2014 – simply gorgeous wine we were told would be a very sought-after name in Chablis in a few years.
  • Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont 2007 – loved this demi-sec wine but was my least favorite pairing with the light bronzini.
  • Graci – Etna Rosso 2012 – a natural match to the flavorful lamb ravioli.
  • Tenuta di Trinoro le Cupole 2010 – tart with lovely acidity to cut through the richness of the veal cheeks and marrow.

Dessert was paired with an ultra-refreshing rum cocktail by Busted Barrel Rum.

For those of you who missed the Gala Dinner, you’re in luck as the Montclair Food & Wine Festival goes into next weekend with two must-attend events held at the Montclair Art Museum (3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair):

Bourbon & Biergarten – Friday June 12, 7PM – 9PM.

The fun event will feature food samplings from over 25 local restaurants and food artisans. Each attendee will receive a commemorative sampling glass. Beers and bourbons curated by Amanti Vino. A portion of the proceeds from this evening will go to support education and exhibition programs at Montclair Art Museum.

Click here for a list of participating restaurants at the Bourbon & Biergarten.

Grand Tasting – Saturday June 13, 7PM – 9PM.  

At the Grand Tasting, guests will enjoy an evening of diverse culinary offerings from many of the state’s finest restaurants.

Click here for a list of all the restaurants participating in the Grand Tasting.

Plus, Amanti Vino has an incredible list of wines being poured. For my fellow wine aficionados, here’s the list of wines for this event.

Want an exclusive experience? The VIP ($135) hour, hosted in Lehman Court of the Montclair Art Museum, from 6PM – 7PM, will feature select restauranteurs and curated wines, as well as galleries open for viewing.

VIP Lounge Participants: Escape Montclair, Fresco da Franco, Restaurant Latour, Samba Montclair.

While the events are fun and tasty, the goal of the festival is to raise funds for three very worthy charities. Click here to learn about them.

Hope you’re able to join the rest of the festivities!

Cheers,

Veronique

Montclair Food & Wine Festival 2015

Montclair Food & Wine Festival 2015

LogoThe Montclair Food & Wine Festival will be back in 2015 with new events, educational seminars and fun for all.

Monday, June 8, 2015 – THE GALA DINNER at The Manor

An exclusive evening of collaborative culinary wizardry!

A six course custom dining experience, designed and prepared by:

  • Chef Mitchell Altholz, Highlawn Pavilion
  • Chef Michael Carrino, Pig & Prince
  • Chef Ryan DePersio, Fascino, Battello, Nico
  • Chef Ariane Duarte, CulinAriane
  • Chef Francesco Palmieri, The Orange Squirrel
  • Kevin Sippel, Jockey Hollow Kitchen & Bar

To learn more about the chefs – CLICK HERE.

Wines paired by Sharon Sevrens, proprietor of Montclair’s Amanti Vino

CLICK HERE for additional information, for pricing and to buy tickets to the gala dinner.

Friday, June 12, 2015 – NEW – Bourbon & Biergarten at the Montclair Art Museum

Join the Montclair Food & Wine Festival’s first ever Bourbon & Biergarten!

A casual evening filled with the finest bourbons and craftiest brews, the Bourbon & Biergarten will feature food samplings from over 25 local restaurants and food artisans.

Each attendee will receive a commemorative sampling stein. 

Beers and bourbons curated by Amanti Vino.

PARTICIPANTS (check back for an updated list)

Montclair Bread Company

Escape Montclair

CLICK HERE for additional information, for pricing and to buy tickets to Bourbon & Biergarten.

Saturday June 13, 2015 – THE GRAND TASTING at the Montclair Art Museum

Gala Dinner by Christina Nuzzo | LifeMosaic Photography

Gala Dinner by Christina Nuzzo | LifeMosaic Photography

Enjoy an evening of diverse culinary offerings from many of the state’s finest restaurants and purveyors!

Amanti Vino will be presenting wines and spirits from around the world.

DETAILS ON PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS COMING SOON!

Want an exclusive experience? 

The VIP Grand Tasting Ticket ($135) gets you into the Museum at 6 pm (LIMITED).  Sip your favorite wines and spirits, and nibble on diverse, exquisite fare one hour before the crowd arrives. 

CLICK HERE for additional information, for pricing and to buy tickets to the Grand Tasting.

To stay abreast of all things Montclair Food & Wine Festival, visit:  http://montclairfoodandwinefestival.org/

About the Montclair Food & Wine Festival

The Montclair Food & Wine Festival, Inc. was incorporated in September 2011 by of a unique group of community volunteers, local chefs, restaurateurs, and industry professionals. As food and wine enthusiasts, our Board of Trustees has designed a two-day event that will recognize, celebrate and share the culinary wealth and diversity of Montclair, while pursuing charitable and educational purposes.

Cheers,

Veronique

MACHE Begins Cooking Series

MACHE Begins Cooking Series

Anthony Bracco & Bryan Gregg

Anthony Bracco & Bryan Gregg Photo credit: Melody Kettle

Chef Bryan Gregg, Chef/Owner of Montclair’s popular Escape and farmer extraordinaire, Anthony Bracco of Bracco Farms were the first guests to kick off a series of cooking demos/classes at Montclair High School in collaboration with Montclair Academy of Culinary & Hospitality Excellence (MACHE). Fitting Chef Gregg and Mr. Bracco, the theme of the seminar was “Cooking CSA Style”.

Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut Squash Soup Photo credit: Melody Kettle

Nearly fifty students of Montclair High School attended the seminar and Chef Gregg and Mr. Bracco, explained why locally-sourced produce is so popular with chefs these days and how consumers can avail themselves of such products. Attendees were treated by a butternut squash soup prepared by Chef Gregg.

The “Cooking CSA Style” seminar was deemed a success by Pam Wright, MACHE faculty advisor and teacher at Montclair High School, and by Melody Kettle, founder of the Montclair Food & Wine Festival and students can look forward to monthly presentations.

Cheers,

Veronique

Montclair Food & Wine Festival – You’ll Like These Classes

Montclair Food & Wine Festival – You’ll Like These Classes

MFWF LogoNew to the Montclair Food & Wine Festival is a series of culinary-focused seminars. The four-seminar lineup will take place on Sunday June 1. “The selection of seminars we arrived at serves a dual purpose – demonstrating micro and macro gastronomy. We showcase the enormous talent and passion in our immediate community with people like Lou Palma, Laura Schenone, and Sally Owens, but we also want to broaden the scope of seminars – in both geography and doctrine,” said Melody Kettle, President & Treasurer of the event. ”As a leading food town of New Jersey, I felt it our responsibility to address topics beyond what’s currently trending in the food world. We want to explore larger ethical issues like foie gras, and sustainable practices in NJ aquaculture – which will affect not only what we eat now, but what, and how our children will eat as well,” continued Kettle.

Sunday, June 1, 2014 – Seminar Series at The Commonwealth Club (26 Northview Ave, Montclair, 07043).

The Pasta Show with Lou and Laura – 11:30AM – 1PM.

Laura Schenone, the James Beard  award winning author of “The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken,” and “A Thousand Years Over a Hot Stove,” will team up with “The Gastomechanic” culinary mentor Lou Palma for “The Pasta Show with Lou & Laura”. The duo will demonstrate how to make and roll out a basic dough that can be used for many different shapes and types of pasta.  They will demonstrate tagliatelle and ravioli, while discussing different varieties of flour, fillings, and sauces. Attendees of the demonstration will receive a tasting portion of freshly prepared pasta topped with Lou and Laura’s own tomato sauce, paired with wine.

New Jersey Aquaculture: Consider the Oyster + The Clam – 1:15PM – 2:45PM.

Attendees of the NJ aquaculture seminar will enjoy four varieties of oysters, and NJ hard clams. Oysters are donated by Chris Cannon of the upcoming Jockey Hollow Bar + Kitchen in Morristown. 

Panelist will include Gef Flimlin, Gef Flimlin a Professor and Marine Extension Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension who has been working with commercial fisheries and aquaculture for over 35 years.  Flimlin runs the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program and has recently formed a hard clam growers cooperative, Heritage Shellfish Coop. 

Matt Gregg, Edible Jersey Local Hero and grower at Forty North Oyster Farms, will also be on the panel. Matt will give a crash course on oyster tasting and discuss the fundamentals of becoming a connoisseur.

Oysters will be custom paired with a wine by Chris Cannon.

Debunking Myths of Foie Gras with Ariane Daguin  + Ariane Duarte – 3PM – 4:30PM.

The dynamic Ariane Daguin, owner of D’Artagnan, will discuss the controversial subject of foie gras, including policy and her company’s role in the market.  Celebrity Top Chef Ariane Duarte  commands the kitchen at CulinAriane, one NJ’s most consistently acclaimed restaurants. During our Foie Gras seminar, Chef Ariane will create a custom D’Artagnan foie gras dish for guests to enjoy, while they sip a custom paired wine.  

Latin Vegan Tapas with Sally Owens of SO Tasty Vegan & Leaf Vodka – 4PM – 6PM (this seminar is being held at Designer Appliances – 208 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, 07042).

Complete details, including pricing and ticket buying, can be found at: http://montclairfoodandwinefestival.org/seminarseries/

Best,

Veronique