On the Menu: March 30 through April 7

by jbfauthor on March 29, 2012

Here's what's happening this week at the Beard House and beyond:
 

Friday, March 30, 7:30 P.M. through Sunday, April 1

New Jersey Food and Wine Festival
The 4th annual New Jersey Wine & Food Festival at Crystal Springs Resort is a celebration of wines and chefs from around the nation. Held at the state's only four-season resort, Crystal Springs, the weekend's events are designed to allow food and wine lovers to meet and mingle with chefs, winemakers, and fellow wine aficionados. The centerpiece of the Festival is the Grand Tasting, featuring 25 restaurants, 30 wineries, a VIP experience, a live orchestra, and an exciting silent auction. The weekend also includes a variety of dynamic chef- and winemaker-led seminars featuring award-winning small-production wines; a unique look at Crystal Springs's 120,000-bottle wine cellar; and tastings of chocolate, cocktails, rare Johnnie Walker whiskies, and more. This year’s festival will benefit the James Beard Foundation and Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation.
 

Monday, April 2, 7:00 P.M.
Cherry Blossom Celebration
The springtime arrival of the delicate, ephemeral cherry blossoms is a beloved event throughout Japan. For our annual homage to this breathtaking phenomenon, chef Toni Robertson and wine director Annie Turso of Asiate at the Mandarin Oriental New York have crafted a menu as exquisite as the magnificent blossoms themselves.
 

Tuesday, April 3, 7:00 P.M.
Modern Farmhouse Cuisine
A protégé of JBF Award winners Traci Des Jardins and Michael Schlow and the former chef at the acclaimed Aujourd’hui at Boston’s Four Seasons, William Kovel is striking out on his own at Catalyst, his stimulating contemporary-American eatery in Cambridge.
 

Wednesday, April 4, 12:00 P.M.
Enlightened Eaters: Sam Talbot
In his book, The Sweet Life: Diabetes Without Boundaries, executive chef and Top Chef runner-up  Sam Talbot proves that a diabetes-friendly diet doesn’t need to be restrictive, bland, or predictable.  With nearly 100 innovative recipes and heartfelt guidance, Talbot shares his personal and professional  advice for handling diabetes without compromise.
 

Wednesday, April 4, 7:00 P.M.
Rites of Spring
Celebrate spring at this whimsical, artfully conceived dinner prepared by chefs Thomas Ciszak and Kevin Takafuji. Playing off of their distinct culinary styles, the chefs have designed an extraordinary seasonal menu in which each course will showcase a traditional French dish paired with its modern iteration.
 

Thursday, April 5, 7:00 P.M.
Passport to Luxury
Celebrity Cruises brought fine dining to the high seas when it recruited John Suley, a protégé of JBF Award winner Alfred Portale, to captain the luxury cruise line’s culinary operations.
 

Saturday, April 7, 6:00 P.M.
Second Night of Passover Seder
Why will this night be different from all other nights? On this night we’ll recline at the Beard House during an intimate seder and an extravagant dinner prepared by chef Joe Dobias. Thanks to mixologist Jill Schulster, all guests (including Elijah) will sip a selection of fine wines and Manischewitz cocktails