newjerseynewsroom.com

BY MARGARET MORGAN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

September 3 - Tomato Festival in West Cape May featuring Jersey Fresh tomatoes

September 3 & 4, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. – BBQ & Brew – BBQ and craft beers at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceanport – Taste the best craft breweries plus an outrageous array of smokin' hot barbecue from some sizzling restaurants: Chop Smoke Barbeque, Ben's BBQ & Catering Company, Memphis Pig Out, A-maize-ing Roast and Southern Smoke - Cajun & Caribbean BBQ

September 7, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Cherry Grove Farm — Enjoy a beautiful fall day at Cherry Grove Farm. Participate in a fun activity, visit the farm animals, shop at our farmstead store and just relax on our quaint lawn overlooking the pastures. Visiting the farm is free, activities are $5 per person

September 7 – The beginning of Sickles Harvest Dinners at David Burke Fromagerie on Wednesday and Thursday night is the Fall Harvest Dinner Series as Bob Sickles "cooks up" a feast featuring Sickles Market produce and products.

September 9-11 (Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. & Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – Asbury Park Oysterfest stretches over three days, turning waterfront Lake Avenue into one long runway of oysters, restaurant samplings and non-stop music with children’s rides and amusements, more than 100 crafters and gift vendors, and cold beer and wine stops. A vast selection of oysters will highlight the Festival, featuring signature specials from Lusty Lobster, Jake’s Crab Shack, Harvest Specialties and FISH. Also participating are more than 25 Jersey Shore eateries.

September 15-25 - Guess What’s Coming for Dinner? The Politics of Food in The 21st Century - The city of Cape May transforms into a campus of activities and events designed to explore the politics of food. Enjoy lectures, workshops, arts and cultural offerings, special restaurant menus. Click through for information about this comprehensive 10-day event presented by the nonprofit Cape May Forum Chautauqua at the Shore.

September 16-25 - Cape May Food and Wine Celebration - This 15th annual celebration features 10 days of events and activities for food and wine lovers. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). This year's festivities will also include a Scotch Tasting Dinner and Self-Guided Wine Trails. Visit the website for all the details and participating restaurants.

September 18-25 - Dine Out, Dine Often during “New Jersey Restaurant Week." Savor the last of Jersey's favorite summer produce sponsored by New Jersey Restaurant Association. Dinners are $35 or less; Lunches are $19 or less. Some participating restaurants are in Monmouth County: David Burke Fromagerie, Dauphin Grille, Due Amici; in Ocean County – Martells Water Edge, Buckalew’s Restaurant & Tavern and The Neighborhood Nook; in Atlantic County – The Ram’s Head Inn and Old Waterway Inn; Essex County – Culinariane, Lorena’s and Highlawn Pavilion; Bergen County – Assembly Steakhouse and Maggiano’s Little Italy; Hunterdon County – Hamilton Grill Room and Milford Oyster House. For all participating restaurants in the state, visit the New Jersey Restaurant Association. Some NJ Restaurant Week participating restaurants are making a donation to the Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry campaign which supports programs to eliminate childhood hunger.

For other stories covering food news, cooking and recipes, please visit my Shore Region Food Examiner page or on my website, TastefuLiving.net.