5 Traditional Quebec Recipes to Celebrate Saint Jean Baptiste

5 Traditional Quebec Recipes to Celebrate Saint Jean Baptiste

flag_quebecToday is Quebec Independence Day (also known as Saint Jean Baptiste) and all my friends and family ‘up north’ will be celebrating with fireworks, food and adult libations. Here are 5 traditional Quebec dishes to get everyone in the mood for a very happy holiday.

Bonne Saint Jean a tous!

Veronique

June Fork & Cork at Chakra – June 26

June Fork & Cork at Chakra – June 26

 

Chakra Dining Room

Chakra Dining Room

Chakra Chef Thomas Ciszak and GM/Beverage Director Evelyn Ciszak team with Tuthilltown Spirits distiller Gable Erenzo for the next Fork & Cork supper club dinner featuring four different Hudson Whiskey spirits on Wednesday June 26th at 6:30pm. Dinner starts with passed hors d’oeuvres and the debut of Chakra’s first barrel-aged cocktail: Summer Bloom.

After the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests will enjoy a four-course dinner with whiskey pairings where Chef Thomas Ciszak cleverly weaves elements of grains and malt into the dishes.

WhiskeyGuests will receive a bottle of Hudson Baby Bourbon autographed by the distiller Gable Erenzo ($45 value). Paired dinner is $98 per person.

RECEPTION

  • Passed Hors d’œuvres paired with Hudson Whiskey Barrel-Aged Summer Bloom Cocktail
  • Four Grain Bourbon Cured Salmon – barley-cucumber salad paired with HUDSON WHISKEY Four Grain Bourbon
  • Malt Beer Glazed Duck – spicy carrot coconut broth paired with HUDSON WHISKEY Manhattan Rye
  • “BBQ” Pork Tenderloin – bacon, molasses, pork jus paired with HUDSON WHISKEY Single Malt
  • Peanut Dacquoise – caramelized bananas, jivara milk chocolate chantilly, Hawaiian sea salt paired with HUDSON WHISKEY Baby Bourbon

Chakra (W 144 Route 4, Paramus, NJ 07652) and is $98. For reservations email fork.cork@icloud.com or call 201-556-1530.

About Fork & Cork
Chef Thomas Ciszak of Chakra in Paramus and Blue Morel in Morristown launched his dining club Fork & Cork – a series of intimate monthly dinners for adventurous diners. During the Fork & Cork events, limited to only 25 guests, diners will join Thomas on a culinary adventure – a gastronomic journey across the globe and time (on occasion), with a different theme each month, showcasing Chef Ciszak’s creativity and diverse culinary background, from Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe to New York, and allowing him the opportunity to introduce diners to new flavors and experiences. Join the Fork & Cork club by emailing fork.cork@icloud.com for a free membership through which you will receive advance email invitations to upcoming dinners.

Washington Lake Park Wine Festival June 22 – 23, 2013

Washington Lake Park Wine Festival June 22 – 23, 2013

Wine in ParcThe summer season will uncork in style when 18 of New Jersey’s finest wineries come together for the Washington Lake Park Wine Festival – the best new wine festival in New Jersey.

The event takes place Saturday and Sunday June 22-23, from 12PM – 5PM each day. The weekend of great New Jersey wine, local culinary treats, fabulous live music, hand-made artisan crafts and kids’ activities is the right way to “sip into summer”!

The event has something for everyone…wine sampling and sales of some of the top award winning wines found in New Jersey, amazing performances by “The Gashouse Gorillas” and “The Funktion”, sales of beautiful wine related crafts, culinary treats for purchase from some of the area’s best eateries and fun activities for kids.

The Washington Lake Park Wine Festival is proud to feature some of New Jersey’s finest wineries: Amalthea Cellars, Auburn Road Vineyards, Bellview Winery, Cava Winery, Cedarvale Vineyards, Chestnut Run Farms, Coda Rossa Winery, DiBella Winery, DiMatteo Vineyard, Heritage Vineyards, Monroeville Vineyard, Plagido’s Winery, Renault Winery, Sharrott Winery, Silver Decoy Winery, Tomasello Winery, Valenzano Winery, and Wagonhouse Winery.

Tickets for the Washington Lake Park Wine Festival can be purchased in advance at the discount rate of $15 and at the gate for $20. Spectators and those under 21 are free. Paid admission to the Washington Lake Park Wine Festival includes wine tasting of more than 300 New Jersey wines and a souvenir wine glass. Attendees will be able to not only sample wine but also purchase wines by the bottle or case.

To learn more about the Washington Lake Park Wine Festival or to buy advance discount tickets, go to www.newjerseywineevents.com.

If you opt to go, please leave me a comment so we can meet up!

Cheers,

Veronique

Montclair Food & Wine Festival Gala Dinner

Montclair Food & Wine Festival Gala Dinner

Culinariane Halibut

Culinariane Halibut

Sunday night, I attended the first annual Montclair Food and Wine Festival Gala Dinner held at the Women’s Club of Upper Montclair. The upscale event, for which I was a guest of Devil Gourmet, one of the event sponsors,  featured some of Montclair best culinary talents and showcased fabulous wines by Amanti Vino, Montclair’s premier wine store.

The dinner was a six-course food extravaganza that encompassed the following menu:

Pig & Prince Amuse-Bouche

Pig & Prince Amuse-Bouche

Amuse Bouche by Chef Mike Carrino of Pig & Prince Gastrolounge

Deviled quails egg, cornichon, sriracha, “PB+J” stone fruit and pistachio butter macaroon, Ahi Poke, avocado mousse, Tokyo green onion, Petite porc pâté en croute.

Wine Pairing: OCD Riesling 2010 SRP $14.99

Orange Squirrel Duck and Oyster

Orange Squirrel Duck and Oyster

First Course by Chef Francesco Palmieri of The Orange Squirrel

Warm Pickled Oyster Mushroom, Duck Confit and Chilled Oyster with Green Apple Fennel Mignonette.

Wine Pairing: My Essential Rose 2012 SRP: $15.99

Second Course by Chef Ryan Depersio of Fascino

Crab-Scallion Agnolotti, Clam-Herb Broth.

Wine Pairing: Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Blanc 2011 SRP: $10.99

Fascino Agnolotti

Fascino Agnolotti

Third Course by Chef Ariane Duarte of Culinariane

Pan Seared Halibut, Bacon Lardon Corn Chowder, Pea Tendrils.

Wine Pairing: Capiaux “Chimera” Pinot Noir 2011 SRP: $31.99

Highlawn Pavillion Short Ribs

Highlawn Pavillion Short Ribs

Fourth Course by Chef Mitchell Altholz of Highlawn Pavilion

Duo of Grass Fed Boneless Short Ribs and Côte de Bœuf with Celery Root Puree, Brunoise Vegetables and Early Summer Truffle Sauce.

Wine Pairing: Jean Edwards “Stagecoach Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 SRP: $64.99

Blu Caramel Panna Cotta

Blu Caramel Panna Cotta

Fifth Course by Chef Zod Arifai of Blu

Caramel Panna Cotta with Banana Juice & Black Pepper Crumble.

Wine Pairing: Echeverria Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2007 SRP: $19.99

BallroomCoffee: Java Love Coffee Roasters & The Chocolate Path

Wonderful olive oil was provided by Olive That! And More and I’m looking forward to visiting Jen O’Sullivan’s store in the next few weeks.

The event was attended by who’s who of Montclair and Essex County and I’m hearing a second annual event is in the works. Connect with the Montclair Food & Wine Festival on Twitter and Facebook to be in-the-know about the 2014 event.

Cheers,

Veronique

New Jersey Beer & Food Festival

New Jersey Beer & Food Festival

NJ Beer Fest 3The New Jersey Beer & Food Festival takes place at Crystal Springs 6/14 – 6/15. This weekend-long celebration of craft beers also coincides with Father’s Day June 16 making it the perfect destination with something for everyone: beer lovers, golfers and families, with two top US ranked spas and the Biosphere indoor/outdoor pool complex as well.

The two days of beer fest events include the “NJ Chefs & Brews” walk-around reception on Friday 6/14 (8-11pm, $95), with six chefs serving food paired with six New Jersey and New York beers. Participating chefs include Timothy Fischer and pastry chef John Sauchelli of Crystal Springs, Mike Carrino of Pig & Prince Restaurant & Gastrolounge (Montclair), John Halligan of Park Steakhouse (Park Ridge), Carlo Carbonara of Bottagra (Hawthorne) and Eric Levine of Morris Tap & Grill (Randolph).

NJ Beer Fest 9On Saturday 6/15, the ” Beer and BBQ Fest” tasting event gives attendees the opportunity to try 135 beers from 50 breweries including many craft brews from New York and New Jersey paired with delicious barbeque in a picturesque outdoor setting (3pm-7pm, $75 early bird, $85 after June 1st).

Also on Saturday 6/15 starting at 9am golfers will have the chance to participate in the “Brews & Birdies” golf tournament on the resort’s award-winning Wild Turkey and Ballyowen courses. Tastings of craft beers will be available on six holes of the course ($195 for golf and beer tastings). Other activities include a free outdoor grilling class Sat. 6/15 10-11am by Crystal Springs chefs in the resort’s lovely Chef’s Garden and free daily tours of the wine cellar, which is the deepest, most extensive collection in the Northeast US situated in over an acre of underground space and featuring some of the most prized bottles, rare vintages and perfect score 100-point wines.

All weekend, the resort’s two main restaurants, Crystal Tavern and Restaurant Latour, will each be serving special tasting menus paired with craft beers. Crystal Tavern features a three-course “Highlands” menu while Restaurant Latour offers an eight-course tasting menu in addition to a three-course prix-fixe and a five-course vegetarian Garden Menu.

On Sunday 6/16, the beer festival will wrap up with a special Father’s Day Lunch 12-4pm in the Chef’s Garden, a beautiful outdoor restaurant surrounded by a lush garden full of herbs and vegetables used in the resort’s restaurants. Three chefs will each prepare a course that will be paired with a different craft beer ($70 inclusive of food and unlimited beer; lunch menus sans beer will be offered to those under 21).

Reservations for all events can be made at www.njbeerfestival.com or by calling 973-827-5996 x 3.

Family, Friends and Food in Quebec

Family, Friends and Food in Quebec

Beet Salad

Beet Salad

Last weekend, I flew up to Quebec to surprise my dad for his birthday. As always, the weekend was filled with an abundance of food and adult libations.

Lobster Dinner

Lobster Dinner

Friday, the weather was nice and we opted to grill pork tenderloin kebabs that my brother-in-law, Etienne, had marinated in his special concoction a good part of the afternoon. Since it was also my mom’s birthday a couple days prior to my arrival, my nieces and me made my Chocolate Éclair Squares, an easy-to-fix, tasty and light dessert (perfect for Memorial Day celebrations).

Wines for Lobster Dinner

Wines for Lobster Dinner

Saturday, my sister Josée, her daughters and me decorated her home for dad’s party and began cooking for the memorable dinner party. On the menu was a springtime salad of roasted beets, heirloom tomatoes, red onions, Mozzarella and basil. My brother-in-law boiled some lobsters and made his now-famous Lemon Butter Cream for dipping – fantastic. Dessert was a plate of vanilla bean cupcakes and my Zesty Key Lime Tart (minus the meringue and topped with whipped cream instead). The wine lineup wasn’t half bad either.

Poutine

Poutine

Sunday morning, mom fixed us a big breakfast of eggs benedict with homefries and after spending the morning at our horse ranch, I headed back to the airport to catch my flight back to New Jersey. As I’ve grown accustomed to doing when I fly out of Quebec, I had a poutine to mark the end of my wonderful weekend.

Hope your weekend adventures were as delicious as mine were.

Cheers,

Veronique

Dishcrawl Jersey City Ticket Giveaway

Dishcrawl Jersey City Ticket Giveaway

GiveawayI recapped my recent participation in Jersey City’s Dishcrawl and I’m happy to say I have FREE TICKETS to give away to the next event taking place on 6/12 at 7PM in the Hamilton Park area of Jersey City.

Hamilton Park is home to several unique and delicious restaurants. Dishcrawl is pulling out all the stops as it incorporates not only great restaurants, but also non-traditional food vendors as foodies explore four different eateries in the Hamilton Park neighborhood of Jersey City.

It’s a SECRET: All the participating vendors will be announced closer to the date of the event but follow Dishcrawl Jersey City on Twitter @DishcrawlJC and Facebook (Dishcrawl Jersey City) for hints along the way. All ticket holders will be notified of the meeting location via email, 48 hours prior to the event.

 How do you win 2 tickets to this event?

Option 1: Food and Wine Chickie on Facebook

Comment on what your favorite Jersey City restaurant is: “My favorite Jersey City restaurant is _________” and fill in the blank with your answer.

OR

Option 2: Food and Wine Chickie on Twitter

Tweet: “@foodwinechickie I heard great things about _____________, a restaurant in __________, NJ” and fill in the blank with the name of the restaurant and the city it’s located in.

OR

Option 3: Food and Wine Chickie Blog

Comment on this post with what Jersey City restaurant you’d like to try: “I’d love a chance to eat at _______________ in Jersey City” and fill in the blank with your answer.

The winner of the free ticket will be announced on 6/3!!!

Tickets are available here: http://dishcrawl.com/hamiltonpark/

About Dishcrawl: Food, Fun, and Exploration! We here at Dishcrawl aim to provide you with a premier culinary social experience by bringing together neighborhood restaurants, local chefs, regional food producers and fellow food enthusiasts. Join us if you’d like to embark on a one-of-a-kind gastronomic adventure!

Cheers,

Veronique

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Bellagio 2I find myself in Las Vegas constantly for business. For anyone who’s worked a tradeshow in Vegas, you know how tiring that can be. Although I often feel like simply hanging out at my hotel to relax after work, one thing I try never to pass up is a visit to the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

While walking through the Bellagio lobby with its indescribably beautiful Dale Chihuly flowered ceiling is breathtaking, a stroll through the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens never ceases to amaze me.

Bellagio 1An astounding 140 professional horticulturists work to embellish gazebos, bridges, ponds and water features to reflect the season. My favorite is perhaps the spring theme with its thousands of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and more. Other seasonal themes are the Chinese New Year, Summer Garden Party, Autumn Harvest and Winter Holiday.

A 20-minute walk around the space has such a soothing effect and makes me forget I’m in the desert with long hours behind and ahead of me.

The exhibit is free to the public and open around the clock. I highly recommend it.

Cheers,

Veronique

Montclair Food & Wine Festival Promo Code

Montclair Food & Wine Festival Promo Code

MFWF LogoWe are less than one month away from the first annual Montclair Food & Wine Festival!

Enter promo code “onemonth” for 20% off  VIP Prelude or General Admission ticket class at the Grand Tasting on Saturday, June 1, 2013.

Enter the same code, “onemonth” for 20% off the ticket price at the Gala Dinner on Sunday, June 2, 2013.

These codes will expire by 1:00 am, Monday, May 6, 2013.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.

Leave a comment if you plan to attend, I’d love to meet you!

Veronique

Local Adventures – Manhattan’s Upper West Side

Local Adventures – Manhattan’s Upper West Side

FISHTAG Hair-of-the-Dogfish

FISHTAG Hair-of-the-Dogfish

Thanks to fellow New Jersey food and wine writer Peter Conway of Mano A Vino for publishing my “Local Adventures” post about eating through the Upper West Side.

Read about it here: http://bit.ly/YVrWpw