New Jersey & Julia Child: Perfect Together

By Pat Tanner

With the opening of the movie “Julie & Julia,” there have been a flurry of stories about personal encounters with Julia Child. (See, for example, my colleague Maureen Petrosky’s blog from last week.) So I am tossing my own story into the ring and am proud to say that it concerns that great lady’s intimate connection to the Garden State.

About a decade ago, having more or less fallen into food writing as a sideline, I was contemplating leaving my “real” job to write full time. To help me decide whether to make that move – one, by the way, I have never regretted – I signed up for a food writers' workshop. Among the speakers was Ms. Child.

Before our first writing exercise, each attendee was asked to stand and give a short personal introduction. Sitting in the first row – not on the dais because she wasn’t speaking that day – was that famous face and six-foot-plus frame. When it came her turn, she stood and turned to the room and without a hint of irony said, “My name is Julia Child and I teach cooking on television.” The room erupted, as you may well imagine.

But it gets better. Going down the line, a fellow from the culinary program at Atlantic Cape Community College introduced himself. The next person quipped something to the effect that he was delighted to hear that New Jersey had a cooking school in addition to oil tanks – and oh, yeah - which exit off the turnpike was it anyway.

When it came my turn, I began by saying I write food columns and restaurant reviews for newspapers and magazines in New Jersey because, contrary to popular belief, we do actually have them. After that, many of the attendees made humorous references to our fair state and their connection to it.

When everyone had had a turn, Julia Child stood up to say she had forgotten to add something very important to her introduction. To whit: She also had a connection to New Jersey. Her husband, Paul, was born in Montclair and over the years the couple visited his parents there. I seem to recall that she also attested to the merits of Montclair and the surrounding area.

One more sidelight: When it came time to do the writing exercise, Julia Child completed it along with us students. Without a hint of irony.

New Jersey: More Than Just Corrupt Politicians

By Brianne Harrison

It seems like New Jersey really can’t catch a break. Just when we start clawing our way toward respectability, some new corruption scandal erupts, and we’re back to being the subject of national jokes, much eye-rolling, and comments of “Of course, it’s New Jersey!”

Which really isn’t fair at all. New Jersey has a lot of good things going for it, although out-of-staters seem to think it’s one giant mob-run garbage dump populated with characters from the Sopranos and the Real Housewives. I grew up in and very near New Jersey, and when I think of the state, I tend to think of charming small towns like Lambertville, where I now work, and Princeton, where I now live. Or Collingswood, Haddonfield, or Westfield. I’m not naïve—I know there are lots of non-idyllic places in the state, but the charming spots are out there. People don’t think of small towns when they think of New Jersey—they think of dangerous cities. I’ll admit to falling victim to that once myself, feeling nervous the first time I had to go into Trenton on my own, but what I found surprised me. The area I was in (granted, it was the nice area of town, near the Capitol building) was lovely, and the people were quite friendly. They smiled at me as we passed on the sidewalk. When was the last time someone did that to you in New York?

New Jersey is a small state, which means it’s easy to criss cross it and take advantage of everything it has to offer. You could, theoretically, spend your morning strolling along the Delaware or popping in and out of antiques shops in Lambertville, perhaps sipping a nice, house-roasted coffee from Rojo’s Roastery; then head north and enjoy the nightlife and views of the Manhattan skyline from Jersey City or Hoboken. After you’ve slept off the night’s revelries, you can cruise down to the shore, choosing from a wide array of towns to suit your mood (hip and happening? Laid back and quiet? You’ve got it!) and work on your tan. On our way home, pick up dinner fixings at one of the many farm stands, farmers’ markets, or mom-and-pop specialty shops that dot the state. There aren’t too many places where you could accomplish all this in a single weekend, if you have the stamina.

Does New Jersey have its problems? Yes, but what state doesn’t? New York’s politicians certainly can’t brag about their squeaky-clean noses, but I don’t remember too many “Oh, of course, it's New York,” comments after the Spitzer scandal.

There will always be corrupt politicians out there. Another scandal will come, and we Jersey defenders (or apologists) will roll our eyes and cringe. When that happens, we’ll do just what we’re doing now—smile grimly at others’ jokes at our state’s expense, try to put our faith in the good politicians out there (and we do have a few!), and remind ourselves of the many great things New Jersey has to offer.

40 Years Old and Looking Better Than Ever

By Brianne Harrison

In 1968, a group of women in Montclair decided to open a one-room schoolhouse devoted to progressive education. As with any venture, this one needed money to survive, so to provide funding, they also began an arts and crafts fair. The first event mostly featured a collection of handmade items displayed on card tables.

Now, 40 years later, that arts and crafts fair has exploded into a three-day juried exhibition that draws in some of the best artisans from around the country. Art in the Park, held at the Montclair Art Museum and still presented by the Montclair Cooperative School (which has outgrown its single room considerably), also brings in thousands of visitors and is a staple of the local calendar.

What can one expect to find there? Work by more than 80 artisans, chosen by a distinguished panel that includes the curator of decorative arts at the Newark Museum, the executive director of the American Craft Council, and a highly respected artist who has shown extensively both nationally and abroad. Works of art in sculpture, glass, metal, ceramics, and fibers as well as exquisite and unusual jewelry will be available for sale. For a preview, visit montclaircoop.org/artinthepark.

For those who would rather take in the good weather than the art for sale, there will also be live musical performances throughout the weekend, including hometown band Parents who Rock. Applegate Farms will be providing a make-your-own sundae tent, and a Whole Foods barbeque will take place on Saturday. For the youngest members of the family, there will be arts and crafts activities, including doll making, beading, toobers and zots, and t-shirt decorating; as well as a rock-climbing wall.

The 40th Annual Art in the Park will be held May 1-3 at the Montclair Art Museum, 3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair. Suggested admission for families is $10.00. Hours of operation are Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Earth Day In the Garden State

By Brianne Harrison

Earth Day is just around the corner (it falls on April 22 this year). Why not celebrate at some of the family-friendly events going on in and around New Jersey?

At the shore, the Mirth & Earth weekend kicks off on the 18th with the annual Doo Dah Parade (featuring 500 Basset hounds!). This year, the long-running parade will have a green theme. Sunday morning, the End to End Family Bike Tour marks the beginning of the Earth Day celebration. Participants will ride from one end of Ocean City to the other to support local high school programs (register for the bike tour online at OCNJ.us/earthday). The rest of the day will feature environmental exhibits, an entertainment show by the Philadelphia Zoo, games for children, music, food, boat tours, and exhibits from environmental organizations such as the Stockton marine Science Club, the Wetlands Institute, and the New Jersey Academy of Acquatic Sciences.

Up north, the Bronx Zoo is going a bit further by celebrating Earth month. For the month of April, will feature activities ranging from musical performances to eco-crafts to yoga sessions. On April 25, the zoo will host the Run for the Wild 5K run/walk. Funds raised during the event will go towards saving gorillas. Run for a good cause, then stick around for some of the family-friendly activities or the Earth Expo—a showcase of eco-friendly products.

If you can’t make it to the Bronx or Ocean City (or if 5K’s aren’t your cup of tea) there are other ways you can help the earth and environmental causes this year. To find out what you can do, visit earthday.net.

South Jersey Restaurant Week: Why You Should Go

By Pat Tanner

Here we are barely into 2009 and we’ve already seen what has to be a record number of multi-course, fixed price, geographically-based restaurant weeks – a sign of the times, no doubt.

From March 22 to 27, South Jersey will take its star turn. Below are my Top Ten Reasons why you should head south (or west, or possibly even slightly north) during that week, when upwards of 60 restaurants will be featuring four-course dinners for $35.

1. You meant to take advantage of one of the restaurant weeks that have already come and gone, but somehow never did.

2. You’ve read favorable reviews of several South Jersey restaurants - maybe even cut out the reviews - but the clippings are just yellowing on your fridge.

3. You’re always on the lookout for a good, new place that’s midway between your house and friends or family and this is the perfect way to check one out without committing a lot of cash.

4. About those same friends and family: Maybe they keep taking you to places in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester counties that are awful and you would like nothing more than to be able to suggest a different one. Or two.

5. Your wallet could use a break right now and you wouldn’t mind a fine four-course meal without the attendant I-shouldn’t-have-splurged guilt.

6. You’ve been meaning to head down that way anyway, to shop at Trader Joe’s in Marlton, say, or tour historic Mount Holly, or go antiquing in Mullica Hill. (You get the idea.)

7. Spring arrives March 20th and you simply must celebrate!!!!

These final three reasons are really just my personal favorites:

8. BLACKBIRD DINING ESTABLISHMENT Alex Capasso is, in my book, South Jersey’s leading culinary light for his accomplished New American cuisine - and his stylish Collingswood cafe is the beacon.

9. MAX’S SEAFOOD CAFÉ This historic saloon within sight of the Walt Whitman Bridge in Voorhees won me over with its laid-back attitude and gorgeous 1912 oak-and-mahogany bar piece. Its simple seafood and Italian dishes aren’t bad either.

10. THE CHOPHOUSE I am not customarily a fan of steakhouses but this one, with contemporary Craftsman styling and lake views in Gibbsboro, 10 minutes down Route 73 from Trader Joe’s, impressed me with its succulent steaks, savory seafood, and deep wine list.

For the full list of restaurants visit sjhotchefs.com. Bon appetit!