Friday Foodstuffs: Eating, Drinking and Cooking in South Jersey This Weekend

Old school South Jersey will be on display in full force in Burlington on Friday. The A.J. Meerwald, the official tall ship of New Jersey, will sail around from Bivalve up the Delaware and dock in Burlington to be part of an event called Oysters Overboard.

The festivities will start with a sail on the ship starting at 3 p.m., and then will be followed by dinner at Cafe Gallery on High Street from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. And yes, oysters will be served. The cost for the event is $35 per person and $15 for kids.

On Friday night at Borgata in Atlantic City (remember Borgata?) there will be a special Dinner with Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian & Chef Stephen Kalt at Fornelletto. Dinner starts at 7 p.m., and the price is $149 per person.

There are always… always… wine and beer tastings going on around South Jersey. One of those locations is Joe Canal’s in West Deptford, and they have a weekly wine tasting from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays. Check it out if you’re in the area.

Saturday is the day of the annual Somers Point Bayfest on Bay Avenue. According to them, it’s the biggest single day festival in South Jersey, and who am I to argue? They will have almost 40 different food vendors there, so you will not run out of noshing options. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This weekend also is the start of the Cape May Spring Festival, and as always there are food events that will be happening. On Saturday, there will be a Sweet & Savory Smackdown competition that will be going on in locations throughout Cape May. Take the tasty tour of competitors from 1 to 3:30 p.m. for $25 per person ($15 for kids ages 3 to 12).

At 2 p.m., Gary Monterosso will be hosting a Chocolate & Beer Tasting at the Inn of Cape May. Listening to Gary chat about beer is a pretty happy thing on its own, and then you get to drink and munch on chocolate as well. The cost is $30 per person.

Natali Vineyards in Cape May Courthouse will be holding its Spring Fling from noon to 5 p.m.. Enjoy live music and $5 tastings of their wines. 

Then it’s back to Borgata (The Water Club, more specifically) for Spring Sips & Bites with Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian at Vintage: A Wine Boutique from 4 to 5 p.m. The cost is $49 per person.

At 5 p.m., Blue Monkey Tavern in Merchantville will have its Springfest, where over 80 brews will be available to enjoy.

There’s going to be a wonderful dining event on Sunday. A Restaurant Tour of Asbury Park will be happening from noon to 4 p.m. for $30 a person. It’s the first major dining tour that has happened in Asbury Park since its revival, with over 25 restaurants participating.

Here is your cooking class schedule for the weekend:

Friday: Date Night: Springtime in Paris at Sur La Table in Marlton and Friday Night is Pizza Night! at In The Kitchen Cooking School in Haddonfield.

Saturday: Homemade Breakfast Pastries at Sur La Table, Sausage Making at The Culinary Arts Center of Burlington County College in Mount Holly, and Best of Class: Grilling Seafood at Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City.

Sunday: Sushi Workshop and Italian Alfresco Dinner Party at Viking Cooking School, Cheese Making Workshop at In The Kitchen Cooking School, Kids in the Kitchen: Asian Delights at Kitchen Kapers in Moorestown, and Vegetarian Cooking for Non-Vegetarians at The Culinary Arts Center of Burlington County College.

For more upcoming food events, check our website!