Christmas Carol(s)

By Brianne Harrison

It’s a great week for music lovers. And really, even if you’re not particularly musical, isn’t there something about holiday tunes that still makes you want to join in (or at least get caught up in the spirit)? Here are just a few of the most “noteworthy” events:

Classical Christmas Concert: Internationally recognized pianist, composer, and conductor Siegfield Tepper and his son, critically acclaimed violinist Christer Tepper, will be performing at the Flemington Assembly of God church in Flemington on December 18 at 7 p.m. Call 908.782.5232 or visit flemingtonassemblyofgod.org for more information.
Kids Helping Kids Concert: Heading up to the city? Catch Red Bank-based band Six Volt headlining this concert, which features young artists from across the country performing to raise money to help feed homeless children over the holidays. For tickets, go to theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/161885 or call 212.352.3101

Celtic Holiday Classic: The Pipes of Christmas: The Pipes of Christmas will celebrate its 11th season with two performances in Summit this Saturday (2 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and one performance in Manhattan on Sunday (2:30 p.m.). For more information or to order tickets, visit pipesofchristmas.com or call 212.868.4444.

The Masterwork Chorus Performs Handel’s Messiah: The Masterwork Chorus will be performing one of Handel’s most celebrated works at 8 p.m. this Saturday at the Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts in Morristown. If you miss the show, you can still catch them at Carnegie Hall on the 23 at 8 p.m. Visit mayoarts.org or carnegiehall.org for more information.
PSO Pops! The Holiday Concert: The Princeton Symphony Orchestra will present its annual family holiday concert at 4 p.m. December 19 at Richardson Auditorium. For more information, visit princetonsymphony.org

Homegrown for the Holidays: Grab dinner and a show at McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury Park this weekend. This concert benefits ReVision Theatre. Visit ReVisionTheatre.org to order tickets.

Candlelight Carol Service: Yearning for a good old-fashioned holiday service? The First Presbyterian Church of Englewood is holding its 98th annual Candlelight Carol Service, featuring the Cancel Choir, soloists, violin, harp, and the junior choir leading traditional carols. The event is Sunday, December 21 at 4 p.m. Free and open to the public.

A German Christmas Eve

By Pat Tanner

I’ve known Maren and Werner Pinnow of Hamburg, Germany from when their two young daughters, now grown, arrived for pre-school at the Princeton Waldorf School - without understanding a word of English. The youngsters amazed us all when, within a month, they were comfortably chatting with their classmates. The Pinnows stayed on in the U.S. years longer than they intended, returning home only when they feared their daughters might forever lose touch with their heritage.

I recently got a glimpse into that heritage when I received an email from Maren describing the family’s traditional Christmas Eve celebrations. “On the evening of the 24th we begin by opening presents. Then we have our traditional dinner: potato salad with German sausage. Werner and I had this kind of dinner even when we were little – maybe because it can be prepared in advance and you don’t have to spend so much time in the kitchen. It’s very common, especially in the north of Germany.”

In fact, that dinner sounds just right for any night during the busy holiday season. This year, I will combine German tradition with New Jersey specialties by serving assorted sausages from my favorite farms – Griggstown and Cherry Grove – and whipping up my version of German potato salad, which replaces the usual boiled potatoes with fluffy baked ones. I’ll serve beer from a New Jersey brewery and end the meal on a German note with a platter of pfeffernusse. Who knows: if time allows, I may even make the cookies myself.


GERMAN POTATO SALAD
Serves 6

5 large baking potatoes
Vegetable oil, for rubbing on the potatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (you might want less)
1/4 cup minced parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil, such as safflower oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce each potato once with the tines of a fork. Rub a small amount of vegetable oil over the potatoes and bake for 45 minutes, or until tender. Meantime, combine onion, garlic, mustard, and parsley in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the olive oil, vegetable oil, and white wine vinegar in a saucepan. Heat until mixture just begins to boil (do not let it boil), remove from heat, and carefully pour over the onion mixture. Stir and set aside.

Cut potatoes in half and scoop out the insides, forming chunks. Pour the dressing over the potatoes and combine gently.

Gifts Galore

By Brianne Harrison

It’s that time of year when many of us are staring down a list of gift recipients and wondering just what we’re supposed to get them. Sure, you can hit the mall or troll the internet for some inspiration, but if you’re really looking for something unique, there are two events this weekend that will ensure you give a gift they’ve never seen before.

If there’s a bibliophile in the family, be sure to swing by the 18th annual Antiquarian Book Fair. More than 60 dealers of rare books, prints, maps, and ephemera will be gathering at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in East Hanover to offer their best wares. Find literature that covers all the bases, from history to law, Americana, sports, travel, and music. Even if the giftee isn’t impressed by being handed a first edition, they’re sure to enjoy receiving a book on their favorite subject that can’t be found at Barnes and Noble. Visit newjerseybookfair.com for more information.

Forget the crowds and frustration of the mall—head over to Tuckerton Seaport this weekend for Christkindlmarkt. Sip mulled cider and munch roasted chestnuts while listening to strolling carolers and shopping for unique gifts from the many crafters and vendors in attendance. There’ll also be ice cutting demonstrations, decoy carvers, a wine tasting by Valenzano Winery, and children’s rides, so everyone can have some fun! Visit tuckertonseaport.org or call 609.296.8868 for more information.

Visions of Chocolate

By Pat Tanner

Who doesn’t like to give or receive a gift of chocolate? With that in mind, here are delectable ideas for the devoted chocoholics in your life.

Support your local chocolatier. No matter where you live in the Garden State, some local confectioner is whipping up chocolate bonbons, truffles, and holiday-themed candies. Forego the big-name chocolates this year in favor of helping a talented community artisan to thrive.

Restaurant Guys Chocolate. That said, you might just want to look into these chocolates for the over-the-top chocolate gourmand on your list. These “American-size” chocolates (i.e. bigger than most) from New Brunswick-based restaurateurs Francis Schott and Mark Pascal come in four interesting flavors: elderflower, Austrian roasted pumpkin seed with Maldon sea salt, Irish cream (made with real Irish whiskey), and the diablo, which gets its kick from chilies. restaurantguyschocolate.com

Kallari Chocolate. For those who insist on a clear conscience while chomping on chocolate, the bars from this Bridgewater-based company can’t be beat. Their cocoa beans are Rainforest Alliance certified, organically grown, and harvested by a cooperative of more than 900 Kichwa family farmers in the Ecuadorian Amazon. 100% of the profits are returned to the growers. The bars are sold at Whole Foods, Zabar’s in NYC, and Rojo’s Roastery in Lambertville and make excellent stocking stuffers.

Bent Spoon European Hot Chocolate Mix. Think you’re too old for hot chocolate? You’ll think differently once you taste this Princeton ice cream shop’s exceptionally thick, rich hot chocolate mix. The 16-ounce cans make terrific gifts and come in classic and habenero flavors. Plus, owners Gab and Matt put a Bent Spoon and New Jersey tattoo prize inside every can, for the child in all of us.

Inhalable chocolate. For the chocolate lover who has everything, a Harvard science professor, now living in France, developed aerosol chocolate you puff via a contraption similar to an asthma inhaler. “Le Whif” is virtually calorie free, comes in three flavors, and has received mixed reviews. Check it out at lewhif.com. (Orders placed before December 10 will arrive by Christmas.)

Visit a big-city chocolate café. Why not incorporate chocolate into a fun day trip?
In New York, start with free ice skating at the Bryant Park pond and then indulge at Lily O’Brien’s Chocolate Café right inside the park. Every hot drink comes with cozy, European ambiance and a complimentary chocolate from this Irish candy company. lilyscafenyc.com. In Philadelphia, Naked Chocolate Café has three locations in neighborhoods close to tourist and culture hotspots. Plus, the cafés have bona fide Jersey chocolate roots: Tom Block, a founder of Thomas Sweets (which happens to be my local confectionery), created Naked Chocolate with his daughter, Sara. nakedchocolateonline.com.

The Holiday Spirit

By Brianne Harrison

As we noted in our most recent issue, the holiday season seems to bring out people’s charitable sides. We donate our pocket change to the Salvation Army, or perhaps a gift to a needy child. Some, like seven-year-old Jake Rothstein, go a little further.

Jake is a second grader at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School, a Woodbridge resident, and a major animal lover. While picking up his newly adopted cat, Felix, from Angel PAWS in Colonia, he noticed the many other needy animals housed at the shelter and decided to do something to help them. So, Jake is organizing a collection of supplies the shelter needs at the BarronArtsCenter’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, which takes place today from 5-7 p.m.

Items the shelter needs include cat and dog food (wet and premium dry), litter, paper towels, paper plates, cleaning supplies (bleach, soap), towels, pet beds, toys, bathroom throw rugs, plastic garbage bags, grooming items (q-tips, cotton balls), and office supplies (paper, pens, etc). The collection box will remain at the ArtsCenter until December 31.

Santa Paws
Why should kids get all the fun? Take your pets to see Santa and have their pictures taken this weekend!

The Morris Animal Inn (120 Sand Spring Rd., Morristown) will have holiday pet photos on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Morris K9 Campus (1 Aspen Dr., Randolph) will have photo sessions on Sunday, December 6, also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photos will be taken by professional photographer, Hugo Juarez. A $10 sitting fee includes one 5 x 7 photo. Additional images may be ordered. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey. For reservations, call Morris Animal Inn at 973.539.0377 or Morris K9 Campus at 973.252.5100.

Santa will also be stopping by the Jersey Shore Animal Center (185 Brick Blvd., Brick) this Saturday and Sunday from 12 Noon to 3 p.m. for pet photos. Cost is $10 per photo and all proceeds benefit the homeless animals at the Center. For more information, call 732.920.1600 or visit jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

Princeton-based SAVE, a Friend to Homeless Animals, is hosting Photos with Santa at PetCo in the Mercer Mall on December 5 and 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the animals at SAVE.

Happy Howl-idays!