Garden State Wine Growers Association

Festivals

Garden State Wine Growers Association to Host
"Jersey Fresh Food and Wine Festival"
August 9 & 10, 2008 (Noon to 5:00 p.m.)
at Hopewell Valley Vineyards
Pennington, New Jersey

The Jersey Fresh Food & Wine Festival, featuring hundreds of award-winning New Jersey wines and the gourmet fare of five restaurants and a dessert shopthat encourage fine food over fast food, will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9 and 10, from noon to 5 p.m. at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington.

More than 25 New Jersey wineries will showcase their wines at the event, sponsored by the Garden State Wine Growers Association. The state's Jersey Fresh program will also be displaying an array of gourmet, fresh food and produce from the Garden State. The festival will be held at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington is a picturesque winery nestled in the northwest corner of Mercer County. The Association's major partners for the event are SLOW Foods of NJ, an organization of restaurants in the state that encourages slow eating and fine food over fast food and Jersey Fresh, the state-supported program that promotes New Jersey farms, produce markets, restaurants and supermarkets that carry produce and other products from the Garden State.

Fresh is the key word for all of the six restaurants participating in the festival. They include:

Tre Piani Restaurant, in business since 1998 in The Princeton Forrestal Village, opened to acclaimed reviews under the direction of Chef Jim Weaver The menus feature fresh local foods and Italian specialties. Tre Piani works closely with local farmers and fishermen to make sure that the food is always at the peak of freshness and in season. There is also an award winning wine list with over 75 selections and a full bar that stocks all of your favorite beers, spirits, port wines, scotch and cordials.

Nomad Pizza Company in Hopewell features pizza and salads made with organic, locally sourced and fresh ingredients, including its own basil and herbs in season. Pizza dough is made in small five-pound batches at least 24 hours in advance, allowing the dough to rise slowly during refrigeration. Nomad uses hard wood, usually cherry or apple, to heat the oven and it takes at least 5 hours of preheating before it is ready to cook pizza.

The Underground Café in Princeton is the result of the dream of Bulgarian Soccer Star Assen Tchongov, who is the owner. He grew up in the restaurant business working for his father who presently owns five successful restaurants in Bulgaria. Mr. Tchongov knows that the delicious and healthy cuisine of his homeland will be enjoyed here in America. Because of the location and history of Bulgaria, the cuisine is equally as interesting, based on fresh ingredients including lots of wonderful fruits and vegetables in season, grilled and slow cooked meats, fresh seafood, nuts, farmstead cheeses and yogurt.

The Brothers Moon in Hopewell is an 80-seat full-service restaurant also featuring take-out cases filled with the freshest salads, cheese, specialty meats, olives, and breads with delicious goodies from our own ovens. Health-conscious and vegetarian foods are always available. The Chef: Chef Will Mooney is the co-owner and Executive Chef of The Brothers Moon, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked at The Hotel Pierre in New York, The Frog and the Peach in New Jersey, Patina in Los Angeles, The Peacock Inn, The Stockton Inn, Wild Oats, and Bon Appetit.

High Street Grill in Mt. Holly is an exquisite venue housed in a 150-year old building featuring the best food quality, ambiance, efficient service and creative menu offerings. The High Street Grill is a friendly place where the locals can meet and feel at home, where strains of blues and jazz fill the bar, where fine dining aficionados will want to frequent, and everyone will enjoy a meal at a fair price.

The Bent Spoon in Princeton takes the ice cream sandwich to the next level. The Bent Spoon uses 'one miniature croissant' on either side of their delicious ice cream. The ice cream is gelato-style and is made using fresh products like local organic eggs and hormone-free cream. The array of 400 flavors ranges from standard vanilla bean and mango to lavender mascarpone. If it's cold outside, order a cup of European-style hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows for a 'fabulous winter treat. This quaint little shop with a charming atmosphere is nestled in downtown Princeton and is considered one of the town's best-kept secrets.

-No pets are allowed
-Ticket sales end at 4:00 pm each day
- All advanced ticket sales end 11:59 p.m. the night before the festival

Directions to Hopewell Valley Vineyards
From the North:
Take Route 202 South to Flemington. At the circle, continue on Rt. 202/31 South for approximately 6 miles. Take the exit to the right for Route 31 South. Take 31 South for 7.5 miles to Yard Road (Stony Brook Garden Center is on the corner). Make a right and follow 7/10ths of a mile to the winery on the left.

From the South:
Take Route 295 to Exit 4, Route 31 North. Take Route 31 North to the Pennington Circle and continue on Rt. 31 North for approximately 2.5 miles. Make a left onto Yard Road and follow 7/10ths of a mile to the winery on the left.