Health & Fitness
Eating, Drinking and Cooking in South Jersey This Weekend: Wine & Chocolate (and Some Snow) Weekend
Lots of food and wine events going on this weekend. Then again, there's snow too.
Dear The Weather Channel,
I am not going to use the names you are using to label winter storms. So there, nyah.
Even though I am going to be providing a slew of food and drink options for the weekend, by all means please stay home if the weather is going to be as nasty as it might be. I’m just providing the information; do with it as you will.
Find out what's happening in Laceywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This is the Garden State Wine Growers Association’s big Wine & Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend. It’s a great event if for nothing else to get you out of the house and mingle with other adults during the dead of winter. We went to Valenzano back in 2010 for the event and had an enjoyable day. Here are some highlights of what’s going to be on the schedule for the South Jersey wineries:
Amalthea Cellars (Atco) – Chocolate, cheese and some 2010 vintage releases will be available for tasting.
Find out what's happening in Laceywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery (Pilesgrove) – A chocolate fountain as well as chocolates from Sweet Mary’s Chocolates of Woodstown will be available along with the wines.
Bellview Winery (Landisville) – Why just wine and chocolate when you can have cupcakes too! And cupcakes from Sweet Life Bakery? Oh my. And why just have it for one weekend when you can have it for TWO weekends. So if the weather keeps you indoors, you have a second chance!
Hawk Haven Vineyard (Rio Grande) – Sample eight wines with four chocolate pairings for $10 (and keep the glass). They will also be offering their Signature Series Gewurtztraminer to be sampled.
Laurita Winery (New Egypt) – They will be sampling their new dessert wines all weekend, and they will have a special menu available on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.
Natali Vineyards (Cape May Court House) – Homemade chocolate treats and chocolate covered fruits will be available in the tasting room to sample with some of their more fruitier wines.
Sharrott Winery (Blue Anchor) – Wine, chocolate, food, music…and a flower for the ladies. Tastings are $10.
Swansea Vineyards (Shiloh) – For only $30 a couple, you will each get five wines to try with chocolate, the glass, a cheese platter to share and one glass of wine each. Sounds like a nice afternoon. Call to make reservations.
Let’s see what else is going on (weather permitting)…
Friday night is the annual Chocolate Walk along Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday night is also Aunt Berta’s Kitchen 15-Year Anniversary Special, which is being held at the Collingswood Senior Community Center. The event starts at 7 p.m. and the cost for tickets is $25 per person. And, Renault Winery is holding a Wine Education Class on French wines from 6:30 to 10 p.m. for $59 a person.
On Saturday it’s the Chili Bowl at the Cumberland County Eagle Festival at the Mauricetown Fire Hall at 6 p.m.
LBI’s Chocolate Week begins on Saturday and runs through Feb. 18. Look here for the full list of events.
For Sunday, the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill will be holding its annual Gourmet Wine and Dine. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The cost $75 per person.
Two more food weeks begin on Sunday: Martini Week at Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, and Pancake Week at The Pop Shop in Collingswood. Martinis and pancakes…maybe not together.
If you care to venture out of South Jersey this weekend…
Just be careful in your travels, wherever you are going.
Here is your cooking class schedule for the weekend:
Friday: An Evening in Lombardy at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing, Cooking for Couples: Ragin’ Cajun Dinner at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell, Date Night: Valentine’s Dinner at Sur la Table in Marlton, Sushi 101 at Kitchen Kapers in Moorestown, and Chocolate Truffles from the Heart at ExtraordinaryED in Collingswood.
Saturday: Advanced Hearth Cooking Workshop at Peachfield in Westampton, Brunch with Friends by Better Homes and Gardens and Date Night: Night of Romance at at Sur la Table, Cape Cuisine: All Things Chocolate at Cape May County Library in Cape May Court House, and Mardi Gras! at Kitchen Kapers.
Sunday: Gnocchi Workshop at Sur la Table and Kids in the Kitchen: Valentine Candy Crazy! at Kitchen Kapers.
And if you are holed up this weekend due to the weather, check out our site for other events that are coming up.
